Welcome again to a different season of fantasy baseball prep—as a result of what else would you be doing in January? The 2025 season is shaping as much as be an enchanting yr. The children are formally working the present, with Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson, and Bobby Witt Jr. staking their declare as first-round mainstays. In the meantime, the Athletics and Rays are transferring to new digs and interim stadiums. How will that have an effect on participant values? Solely time will inform. Because the offseason begins, we’re kicking issues off by diving into a few of my favourite breakout gamers for the 2025 fantasy baseball season. For our functions, a breakout participant is outlined as somebody being drafted outdoors the highest 5 rounds who has the upside to ship considerably extra worth by season’s finish. With that free definition in thoughts, we’re certain to have some enjoyable. Welcome to the primary version of Hitter Profiles for the 2025 Fantasy Baseball Season!
Kerry Carpenter (ADP 185)
Kerry Carpenter has been sitting at an ADP of 185 because the forty seventh outfielder off the board. He’s sandwiched between Taylor Ward and Victor Robles. Carpenter quietly put collectively a strong 2024 season regardless of being shortened by harm. In 87 video games final season, he belted 18 homers whereas hitting .284. Extrapolate that energy output throughout a full season, and also you’re a 30-homer bat. Much more intriguing? Carpenter posted an 18% barrel price, a metric that places him in elite firm. Amongst certified hitters, that will have trailed solely Aaron Decide, Shohei Ohtani, Giancarlo Stanton, and Juan Soto. That’s not too unhealthy of firm for a sixteenth rounder with the form of energy that can play wherever.
Whereas Detroit’s offense isn’t precisely a juggernaut, Carpenter must be batting fourth driving strong RBI alternatives to pair with a superb common and the aforementioned energy. For a man along with his ability set, that’s a recipe for fantasy success. After all, no breakout candidate is with out flaws, and Carpenter’s is painfully apparent. His wRC+ towards lefties final season was 18. The Tigers will platoon him, that means he’s extra priceless in every day leagues. There’s nonetheless quite a bit to love, and with this price ticket you need to be shopping for all day.
Michael Toglia (ADP 178)
I wrote about this man late final season as we looked for the subsequent Brent Rooker, however he deserves extra consideration. Michael Toglia had a powerful 2024 marketing campaign with 25 lengthy balls, 52 RBI, and a disappointing .219 common. Toglia additionally managed to tack on eight steals on the season with league-average velocity. Toglia confirmed regular development as a hitter as a few of his metrics improved because the season progressed together with his stroll price practically doubling from the primary to the second half and a six-point bounce in his line drive price. Toglia’s underlying metrics spotlight quite a lot of potential. He was actually unfortunate and must be nearer to a .250 hitter than the .219 he delivered. Moreover, he’s within the prime 10% of the league in practically each energy class, seeing a major enchancment in his means to barrel the ball. The strikeouts proceed to be a problem, as his pitch choice stays merely league-average. If he can see any enchancment within the plate strategy, he will likely be extremely harmful. The excellent news for Toglia is that that is the important thing situation in his profile, and it will probably enhance with expertise. Simply get pleasure from watching what he can do in that skinny Colorado air:
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Jordan Westburg (ADP 87)
We’re going a bit additional up the draft desk for this subsequent breakout hitter in Jordan Westburg. Going because the fifth or sixth participant at each the second and third base positions, Westburg is poised to hitch the higher echelon of hitters. Let’s begin by trying on the underlying Statcast measures. He’s prime 10% of the league in anticipated batting common, anticipated slugging and dash velocity. The batted ball profile compares equally to guys like Manny Machado or Rafael Devers. These are components for manufacturing throughout all 5 rotisserie classes.
2024 throughout 107 video games, Westburg slugged 18 homers, 63 RBI, 57 runs whereas sneaking in six steals, and a decent .264 common. If something, he suffered a bit of robust luck throughout the season and confirmed little or no platoon danger. All these items add as much as a really promising season in a powerful Baltimore lineup the place he ought to hit within the center third. I’m projecting 25 homers, 90 RBI, 85 runs, 10 steals, and a .280 common. That may be a steal on the present ADP, signal me up!
Tommy Edman (ADP 178)
Is it unfair to incorporate a Dodger in an inventory of breakout hitters? Possibly, however when a participant like Tommy Edman goes off the board within the fifteenth spherical, equity isn’t the purpose—discovering worth is. Edman is being drafted alongside names like Ceddanne Rafaela and Lane Thomas, but his upside is considerably larger. As of now, Edman is penciled in because the Dodgers’ beginning middle fielder and can doubtless bat on the backside of one of many league’s finest lineups. Whereas hitting close to the underside of a lineup could seem much less interesting, the truth is it positions Edman completely to be on base for the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. That alone makes him a sneaky supply of runs, and if he stays wholesome, he has the potential to attain over 100 in 2025.
Pace is one other enormous a part of Edman’s enchantment. Even in a league trending towards extra stolen bases, his dash velocity nonetheless ranked within the eighty fifth percentile or higher throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This provides him constant 25+ stolen base upside, and the Dodgers’ prime 10 base-running tendencies solely add gasoline to the fireplace. Mix that along with his regular bat and strong monitor document, and also you’re a participant who can quietly replenish your stat sheet. Projections aren’t giving Edman the credit score he deserves, however the numbers communicate for themselves. If he stays wholesome, you may depend on a .265 common, 15 homers, 25 steals, and a boatload of counting stats in runs and RBIs. At his present ADP, Edman is the form of participant who can considerably outproduce his draft price. Plus, everyone knows he can ship within the clutch.
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