A fantasy baseball sleeper can be defined as a player whose projected production is set to be greater than where that player is being drafted, which is called their Average Draft Position. It is dictated by what the market has set through other drafts. In other words, it is an opportunity to gain an advantage over your competition.
While it can be tricky to rely on ADP as a means for sleeper designation, it is prudent to understand where, in general, a player will be drafted. After all, if someone drafting likes a player who has not been drafted within the first 50 picks over a large sample size, it would make sense to wait on that player and draft him closer to his ADP.
Utilizing this methodology can come in handy by maximizing one’s value at a cost that is quite minimal. Entering the 2025 season, we asked our staff to name one sleeper at every position. As you’ll see, in many cases our analysts picked the same player as their sleeper. This should tell you something
2025 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers
Catching Sleepers
Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
An Opening Day oblique injury torpedoed Sean Murphy’s 2024 season, and he never really got back on track. He hit below the Mendoza Line and posted career-worst marks in wRC+ and OPS. However, there are reasons to be optimistic for 2025. Murphy will start the year healthy and get the lion’s share of work with Travis d’Arnaud in Anaheim. Additionally, there wasn’t a major decline in his skills. In the second half of 2024, Murphy’s quality of contact metrics were on par with his career norms, and he walked at a double-digit clip. With health and more playing time, a rebound year could be in store for Murphy. – Lauren Auerbach
Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
For catchers, the name of the game is playing time. With catcher being the most physically taxing position in the sport and so many platoons, securing a catcher locked into an everyday role should be a primary focus of fantasy managers. With Danny Jansen being traded at last year’s trade deadline, Alejandro Kirk is locked in as Toronto’s everyday catcher. Yes, the last two seasons have been disappointing offensively but there is hope for a bounce back in 2025. During the second half last year, Kirk saw his average jump from .234 to .269 and even hit .297 over the final month of the season. He also posted his highest launch angle since 2021 and set a new career-high max exit velocity. Kirk is not going to be a league winner, but his early draft price of C22 makes him a perfect sleeper pick and a great draft day value. – Matt Heckman
Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
Going into 2024 the expectations for Sean Murphy were of a top three catcher in fantasy. However, his severe oblique injury and resulting slumps prevented him from coming anywhere close to his projections. Sometimes a player’s recent poor performance needs to be excused due to an injury-plagued season. Entering this draft season there will be a deep discount on Murphy despite his past successes prior to 2024. – Todd Hedberg
Ivan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals
Herrera will be splitting time with Pedro Pages as the Cardinals’ catcher next season, but it’s Herrera whose bat is better. After being sent down in June, he began tweaking his swing and stance and hit five home runs over 93 Minor League at-bats with a .280/.402/.875 slash line. He continued that hot pace by hitting .368 with two home runs over his final 18 games with St. Louis after getting recalled. The offensive talent is there for him to be one of the best catchers out there. – Dave Funnell
Joey Bart, Pittsburgh Pirates
At this point, it’s been a long time since Joey Bart was the second overall pick in 2018. The Giants moved on from Bart, and now he’s in the middle of Pittsburgh’s batting order. In 80 games last season, Bart hit .265 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI. With a .198 ISO, Bart showed off some power ability. With a 9.4% barrel rate, Bart made solid contact. He took advantage of both his experience and regular playing time while also bringing his strikeout rate down to 25.9%. Bart’s currently between the 20th and 25th catcher off the board with an ADP of around 280. At that price, there’s only upside. – Ray Kuhn
Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
Sean Murphy is hugely undervalued in fantasy leagues this season. As of writing, he is the sole catcher on Atlanta’s roster with Travis d’Arnaud leaving for the Angels. He had a down year last season after dealing with injuries, and never seemed to be able to get into a groove while splitting time at the plate. Between 2021 and 2023 he improved in every roto category from year to year except steals. This could be the year when he gets back on track. – Taylor Tarter
First Base Sleepers
Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs
The goal every draft season is to find the next league winner who jumps from the middle or late rounds into the first round of talent. Any short list of players who could fit that criteria would include Michael Busch. Finally given a shot at regular playing time with the Cubs last year, Busch excelled in every capacity. Now, heading into the new season he’s cemented into an everyday role and is poised to break out. – Todd Hedberg
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Cincinnati Reds
Did anything really change for Christian Encarnacion-Strand from a season ago? The first baseman is now coming off the board with an ADP of around 225 which is quite a far cry from his draft-day cost from last year. In 29 games, Encarnacion-Strand hit just two home runs while batting .190. After he hit 13 home runs in 63 games in 2023. It’s clear he’s better than that. Entering the season healthy is a good thing for the first baseman who had a .207 ISO in 2023. He also posted a 10.5%-barrel rate and 48.4% hard-hit rate so we know good things can happen when the bat hits the ball. Look for that to happen in 2025. – Ray Kuhn
Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles
There is nobody happier in Baltimore right now than Ryan Mountcastle, whose stock should rise because of the new ballpark dimensions. Since the team expanded the wall to make the field larger, the slugging first-baseman has hit 53 home runs at Camden Yards in three seasons. Had the team left the stadium with their past dimensions, StatCast data suggests that he would have increased that by 11. The left-field wall has been moved in and there is massive upside potential for someone being picked in the middle of drafts. He has the potential to be a top-10 first baseman, but won’t cost you nearly that much. – Dave Funnell
Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies
I usually don’t target players with high strikeouts and poor contact rates. But Michael Toglia’s power/speed combo is too juicy to ignore. After returning from an early Triple-A stint in 2024, Toglia hit 21 home runs and swiped 10 bases in 101 games. He slashed .233/.331/.469 with a 108 wRC+ in that span to go with a 17.5% barrel rate and 49.3% hard-hit rate. Sure, his 30%+ strikeout rate is ugly. But it’s mitigated somewhat with a double-digit walk rate. There’s risk with Toglia, but a 25/10 profile with room to grow is well worth chasing — especially at a position short on speed. – Lauren Auerbach
Tyler Soderstrom, The Athletics
Tyler Soderstrom feels like the most obvious sleeper pick out there. First-round draft pedigree, big Minor League numbers, and significant offensive adjustments at the Major League level. In 61 games last season, Soderstrom managed to post a 114 wRC+ playing his home games in Oakland. Now moving into a Triple-A hitter-friendly environment, his offensive numbers should boom. While playing in Sacramento is nice, the most compelling argument for a Soderstrom breakout is the improvements to his strikeout rate. Over his final 104 plate appearances, Soderstrom struck out less than 18% of the time which was always his biggest issue in the Minor Leagues. Soderstrom’s draft price is 1B29 making him an easy player to target and a prime sleeper candidate. – Matt Heckman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Cincinnati Reds
The Reds had a glut of offensive talent last season that made it hard for players like Christian Encarnacion-Strand to see consistent at-bats when he returned from injury. The injury to his wrist seemed to sap his power, which should return in 2025. He should also be able to earn more playing time both at first base and at designated hitter, and he may even rotate in at third base as well. – Taylor Tarter
Tyler Black, Milwaukee Brewers
Nothing can erase a prospect’s hype more than a failed debut. Tyler Black’s stock plummeted drastically after the rough start to his career. Known in the minors for his high OBP and rare stolen base potential for a third baseman, those skills weren’t carried into his MLB debut. Yet, it seems only a matter of time before they do and those willing to stash him during the draft can reap the rewards later on. – Todd Hedberg
Second Base Sleepers
Nick Yorke, Pittsburgh Pirates
Nobody is talking about Nick Yorke, but I have no idea why. The former first-round pick unlocked a new level to his game last season and carried that all the way to a Major League debut. Yorke hit well over .300 both with Boston and Pittsburgh’s Triple-a teams and saw his power numbers take off. His batted ball data in Triple-A was fantastic and that continued in a small Major League sample size. Yorke hits the ball hard, is a plus runner, and has really good plate discipline. On a Pirates team with plenty of holes in their lineup, his defensive versatility should keep him in the lineup on a regular basis. He is currently being drafted as 2B44 which is dumbfounding to me. Do not be surprised to see Yorke finish inside of the top 20 at the position in 2025. – Matt Heckman
Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels
Not known as a running threat, Luis Rengifo surprised many by swiping 24 bases in 78 games. He also hit six dingers and slashed .300/.347/.417 before wrist issues cut short his 2024 season. While Rengifo has never played in more than 127 games, he’s been an across-the-board contributor who’s good for 15 home runs and a .260 batting average. Now add in 20+ steals to go with corner and middle infield eligibility, and Rengifo is shaping up to be one of the best sleepers this draft season. – Lauren Auerbach
Kristian Campbell, Boston Red Sox
Where did that come from? Kristian Campbell surged through the Red Sox minor league system in 2024 starting in High-A and finishing in Triple-A. Through the three levels, Campbell hit 20 home runs in 115 games. That came with 24 stolen bases, 77 RBI, and 94 runs scored. His batting average peaked in Double-A at .362, but his .286 mark in 19 games at Triple-A certainly plays. Cambell consistently has a walk rate in double digits which should help when he makes his major league debut. Based on Boston’s offseason activity, it’s very likely that we see this in early 2025. – Ray Kuhn
Otto Lopez – Miami Marlins
Few players finished the season stronger than Otto Lopez did. In his last 30 games he posted a .348 batting average and a .395 OBP. In addition to his excellent hit tool, Lopez proved a valuable source of steals with 20 steals in 117 games. An Xavier Edwards-like breakout could be in store for 2025. – Todd Hedberg
Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays will be playing their games outdoors in a new stadium for the 2025 season. The dimensions of that stadium are identical to that of Yankee Stadium. Not only that, but the humidity of Central Florida will likely play a role in how fast and far the ball travels. That leads to some powerful possibilities for all left-handed hitters there, and Lowe is one of the many who should benefit. He has back-to-back 21 home-run seasons and also a 39-home-run year in his recent past. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to lead all second basemen in home runs. – Dave Funnell
Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals
Luis Garcia had a breakout year in 2024, batting .282 with 18 home runs and 22 steals. He added to his Barrel and HardHit rates, and improved his launch angle. He improved his groundball rate as well, and although his contact rate dipped, it still landed at 81% – the second-best of his career. According to Steamer projections, only three second basemen project for both more homers and steals than Garcia, though Garcia’s AVG projects as the highest of the bunch. We may have seen just the tip of the iceberg with Garcia last season. He could be even better in 2025. – Taylor Tarter
Third Base Sleepers
Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
Nolan Arenado is coming off a career-worst season where his power metrics hit rock bottom. So why is he considered a sleeper? Simply put, Arenado should outperform his current 230 ADP. Despite a drop in power, Arenado is still an excellent hitter with elite contact rates (he hit .272 in his down year). Plus, he’s one of the most durable hitters in the league. Arenado’s 600+ PA for nine consecutive seasons (minus 2020) means he should volume his way into strong run production totals. If Arenado lands with a better team or ballpark, that’s just gravy. – Lauren Auerbach
Jeimer Candelario, Cincinnati Reds
Jeimer Candelario’s first season as a member of the Reds did not go as planned. After fighting lower body tendinitis, he fouled a ball off of his toe in a game that should have been canceled due to rain and ended the season on the Injured List. He enters the 2025 season fully healthy and looking for redemption. Remember the hype entering last season? That should all still apply here, and he’s being drafted late enough that it won’t cost you much. – Dave Funnell
Jake Burger, Texas Rangers
Jake Burger has been incredibly consistent the last three seasons, batting .250 exactly every year since 2022. He has also hovered around 30 home runs the last two seasons, averaging 139 games played since 2023. Burger heads to a high-powered Texas offense this season, and should be able to produce similar results. Burger has improved his strikeout rate and contact rate in each of the last three seasons, and if those trends continue into 2025, he will be an extremely valuable bat at third base. – Taylor Tarter
Eugenio Suarez- Arizona Diamondbacks
During the second half of last season, the only players with a higher wRC+ than Eugenio Suarez were Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Yordan Alvares, Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt Jr., Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Jackson Merrill. Pretty much everybody who was in the MVP conversation and Suarez. Playing on a new team, it took Suarez some time to adjust but once he did there was not a better offensive third baseman in all of baseball. The Diamondbacks helped bring Suarez back to the level of production we saw in 2018 when he was a prolific power hitter and posted a solid batting average. The changes in his profile all seem legit and he could be in for another monster season in 2025. Being drafted as 3B15 is disrespectful for the upside he has. – Matt Heckman
Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
Heading into last season, Josh Jung was on a lot of my teams. Instead, he sat on my bench for the majority of the year as he played in just 46 games. With a .264 batting average and 16 RBI, it’s difficult to judge Jung although he did hit seven home runs. That came after he finished 2023 with 23 home runs and 70 RBI in 122 games. It’s for good reason that he received a great deal of buzz prior to last season. Jung’s now healthy and we should his ISO climb back up to the .201 it was in 2023. He should also return closer to his 11.9%-barrel rate and 47.1% hard hit rate. That will make him better than the 16th-best stolen baseman (based on his ADP). – Ray Kuhn
Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers
Entering last season Keith was an appealing pick for a potential rookie season breakout. Unfortunately, he stumbled mightily out of the gates, hitting only .163 in April. However, as the season progressed he started to settle in. In July he flashed his potential by hitting .322. Going into his second season the expectation should be for a slash line around .275/.340/.450, making him a possible top 12 option at the position. – Todd Hedberg
Shortstop Sleepers
Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
After being a top draft choice for a few years, Bo Bichette is now coming off the board in MI range as roughly the 15th shortstop. To say that it has been a steep fall for Bichette might be an understatement as we are talking about a drop of roughly 100 picks. Health was an issue as Bichette played in just 81 games last year, but his performance was just brutal. He hit just .225 with only four home runs as nothing went right. We do have to accept the fact that Bichette is no longer a stolen base threat. In 2023, Bichette needed just 135 games to hit 20 home runs to go along 73 RBI. That wasn’t that long ago, and he’s still just 27 years old. Even if he hits closer to .275, there is a lot to like from this draft slot as Bichette hasn’t lost his talent which made him one of the best shortstops in the game. – Ray Kuhn
Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels
The negative stigmatism around the Angels seems to make fantasy managers more skeptical about drafting their players. Even when they have a 23-year-old shortstop who just hit 23 home runs and stole 30 bases just two years after being drafted. Neto does everything fantasy managers want. He is a plus runner, has a knack for hitting home runs, and should continue to develop with his hit tool. At worst, Neto is a 20/20 player with a batting average that is not going to kill you. At best, he could hit 25 homers, steal 35 bases, and see improvements to his batting average up to the .270 range. High-floor, high-ceiling is exactly what Neto presents. He is being drafted as SS13 which is lofty, but still far too low. – Matt Heckman
Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
There may be no more polarizing player in the draft than Bo Bichette. He has been an early-round darling for years, but disappointed fantasy managers with his worst season by far. He battled through leg and calf injuries that hampered his abilities to hit the baseball effectively and run efficiently on the basepaths. While his career-best seasons have been overshadowed by his potential upside, the fact remains that he’s hit at least 20 home runs with at least .290 average three times. Additionally, as bad as he was last year, he was running, leading to some belief that he will try to do more with his speed this season. His overall ADP isn’t as low as the others on this list, so the risk is real. However, he is being drafted late enough at the deepest position in baseball, making him worth a shot in drafts. – Dave Funnell
Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
Anthony Volpe’s sophomore season was a mixed bag as he traded power for contact. Besides fewer home runs, Volpe hit more groundballs. However, he also swiped a career-high 28 bags, improved his strikeout rate, and increased his batting average by nearly 35 points to .243. We may see more power from Volpe in 2025. He increased his launch angle in the second half of 2024 and is only a year removed from his 21-home run rookie season. If Volpe continues to elevate more this season, he’s a 20/30 bat. Buy his upside this draft season. – Lauren Auerbach
Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox
No player is more due for some good luck than Trevor Story, who has suffered consecutive seasons with major injuries. Early and late in the 2024 season, we saw the pure talent that Story has with five category contributions. Entering this season healthy he’ll hit in the clean-up spot of the lineup and could be poised to return to an elite fantasy option. – Todd Hedberg
Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels
Zach Neto quietly posted a 20/30 season in 2024 and Steamer projects him for a 20/20 campaign in 2025. As long as he can stay healthy, he should be able to live up to that projection. He managed league-average barrel and HardHit rates last season, which validate the power potential. And despite being more aggressive at the plate and a slight increase in chase rate, that aggressiveness also led to a career-high contact rate. Neto makes for a great sleeper in 2025 drafts. – Taylor Tarter
Outfield Sleepers
James Wood, Washington Nationals
As long as he stays healthy, James Wood should end up playing a full season in the majors in 2025 and could be one of the best outfielders, or even players, in the league. Steamer currently projects him for 21 home runs, 19 steals, and a .261 AVG, though he could outproduce all of those numbers. A 10% barrel rate and 52% HardHit rate from a 79-game stint last season suggest there is more power in his bat. Those numbers would have ranked 16th and third-best among outfielders last season if he qualified. He swiped 14 bags last season in 22 attempts, and if that can improve even slightly, Wood could be one of the most valuable players in the league in the coming season. – Taylor Tarter
Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers
Despite being relegated to a platoon role, Frelick still showed encouraging signs of progress throughout the year. In fact, he was a key factor in the Brewer’s postseason push where he hit .318 down the final stretch of the season and .364 in the playoffs. Frelick proved himself many times over in the minor leagues as a steady force at the plate with decent speed. This season could be the year he delivers on those expectations. – Todd Hedberg
Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers
How much of an issue was Adolis Garcia’s knee last season? For the second straight year, he didn’t run, with just 20 stolen bases in both 2023 and 2024. Garcia should be healthy now, but anything he does as far as stolen bases should strictly be considered a bonus. Even in a down season, Garcia still hit 25 home runs to go along with 85 RBI. His ISO did dip to .176 but a 12.2%-barrel rate and 47.9% hard-hit rate is nothing to take likely. At around pick 140, I’m willing to take the plunge that it was just a one-year blip as it’s not a terrible leap of faith to expect 30 home runs and 100 RBI this year. – Ray Kuhn
Victor Robles, Seattle Mariners
Victor Robles was traded mid-season and started seeing regular playing time on July 12. From that point on, he shined. Robles slashed .325/.390/.451 with three home runs, 28 steals, and a 149 wRC+ across 234 PA. Robles leads off and brings 30+ speed and a strong batting average to the fantasy table. While he doesn’t have a ton of pop, a 10-HR season isn’t out of reach (Robles hit 17 dingers in 2019 across 155 games). Robles packs in solid fantasy production late in drafts. – Lauren Auerbach
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
Primarily a post-hype prospect, Jo Adell is someone who has likely disappointed every fantasy manager who has ever rostered him. Still, we have to be encouraged with what the slugger produced in 2024. After many years of failing, he finished with 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases, albeit with a .207 batting average. While there are flaws in his game, such as the 10 times he was caught stealing, he does have some intriguing characteristics. First off, manager Ron Washington praised him for his work ethic last year, saying how much he has worked to improve his defense. Secondly, he lowered his strikeout rate to 27.9%, which is a lot more manageable than what we’ve been accustomed to seeing from him. His price is cheap enough that you can take a low-risk chance to see if this once highly-touted prospect can once again grow and develop. – Dave Funnell
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
Well, here we are. After years of hype and expectations, Jo Adell finally finds himself on my sleeper list. Very quietly, Adell played well in the second half for the Angels. His slash line from July 12 forward was .253/.341/.440 with six home runs and five stolen bases. Notably, Adell improved both his chase rate and contact rate during this strong second half. Adell has 98th percentile bat speed, 86th percentile sprint speed, and posted a barrel rate in the 79th percentile. Where things stand, he should be locked into an everyday role with the Angels to start the season. Adell has plenty of fantasy potential still but is being drafted as OF70. He is a great sleeper pick for fantasy managers late in drafts. – Matt Heckman
Pitchers
Matthew Boyd- Chicago Cubs
One of the feel-good stories from 2024 was seeing Matthew Boyd get back on a Major League mound. Boyd has dealt with injuries throughout his professional career, preventing him from ever reaching his fantasy ceiling. Boyd’s career was revived after a late-season stint with Cleveland, where he posted a 2.72 ERA across eight starts. He continued his dominance in the Postseason as well with a 0.77 ERA in three starts. Boyd has three pitches that can generate whiffs with his curveball, slider, and changeup all generating whiffs over 35% of the time. He signed a 2-year $29 million deal with Chicago this off-season and will be a major part of their rotation. Going outside the top 450 picks, nobody is paying Boyd any attention, making him a prime sleeper candidate. – Matt Heckman
Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners
Few pitchers made a bigger leap in 2024 than Bryan Woo, who shrank his WHIP from 1.21 in 2023 to 0.89. In addition, he did this with a large inning jump from his prior rookie season total. Though, these gains were largely overlooked given the star-studded cast in the Mariners rotation. Look for Woo to build on his momentum going into his third season. – Todd Hedberg
Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals
It was quietly announced that Kris Bubic would be headed back to the rotation for the 2025 season. After an underrated season in relief, Bubic looks to maintain the momentum he gained last year. He was used carefully and strategically last year, throwing every two to three days, all while utilizing his three-pitch arsenal and holding down the fort. In fact, his zero earned runs and 16:2 K:BB rate over his final 11 innings of the season show that he was one of the best pitchers on the team. Let’s also not forget that before he got injured in 2023, he was outstanding in his first two games before being blown up in his third start in which he was likely pitching through that season-ending injury. He is being drafted incredibly late and worth an add to see if he can reclaim some magic here. He is also cheap enough that you can cut bait and not have it hurt your team. – Dave Funnell
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
For good reason, David Bednar was drafted last season as CL1. While a step behind the truly elite options, he was going over 100 picks higher than this year’s early ADP of 190. Yes, Bednar was removed from the closer’s role in September, but there are no challengers to his role on the 2025 Pittsburgh roster. Bednar still saved 23 games last season, and he shouldn’t have a far path back to being a solid option. He still struck out a batter per inning last season, but walking 4.37 batters per nine innings is never going to be a path to success. There is clear value in his 4.28 xERA compared to his 5.77 ERA and Bednar should be able to bounce back this season. – Ray Kuhn
Shota Imanaga
According to multiple auction value calculators, Shota Imanaga was the sixth most valuable starting pitcher in 2024; yet, he has been drafted as the 19th starting pitcher. This is the definition of a sleeper. Imanaga should add to his 173 IP from last season when he posted a 2.91 ERA with a 9.0 K/9. He also tallied 19 quality starts in 29 games started. Imanaga leans on elite location and command to counter the lack of velocity. The Cubs’ offense should also be better in 2025, which could result in more wins for Imanaga. – Taylor Tarter
Shane Baz, Tampa Bay Rays
We haven’t seen much of Shane Baz in the majors. Tommy John surgery cost him all of 2023, and he’s totaled only 119.2 innings since 2021. But what we saw following his July return last season is enticing, especially as he closed out the season. In his final five starts, Baz struck out 28 batters across 30.1 IP to go with a 2.37 ERA and 0.69 WHIP. He also posted a 20%+ K-BB% in his final three starts. Baz is an ace in the making that can be had on the cheap. Scoop him up! – Lauren Auerbach
Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays
We saw Kevin Gausman drop substantially compared to last season, and I’m not sure it was fully warranted. However, we can’t ignore the fact that his strikeout totals dropped from 11.53 per nine innings to 8.06. That is something that clearly jumps out. If we are looking for good news, his average fastball velocity only dropped from 94.6 to 94 miles per hour. It was the fourth straight season that Gausman made at least 31 starts and he finished with a solid 3.83 ERA. Gausman’s 4.77 xERA does generate some concern but his 3.77 FIP brings some comfort. When compared to 2023, Gausman’s first pitch strike rate did improve. The best two months of Gausman’s season were August (2.89) and September (2.25) from an ERA perspective. Our expectation is that he brings that success into 2025. – Ray Kuhn
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
David Bednar is here for the simple fact that he had three consistently outstanding seasons in his career before last year’s injury-riddled campaign. He didn’t look the same on the mound in 2024 and possibly rushed back too soon causing his performance to deteriorate over time. Assuming he is healthy enough come Spring Training with no offseason setbacks, he looks to be back in the role he was destined to play as the Pirates closer. His price suggests that some may be scared of continued regression. – Dave Funnell
Ben Joyce, Los Angeles Angels
Hopes became a reality with Ben Joyce’s late-season emergence as a consistent and dominant reliever. Known for his extreme fastball speed, it was his control that was uncertain. Joyce put those concerns to rest in his debut by walking only fourteen batters in his 34 innings pitched. Most impressive was how he finished, with no walks and 10 strikeouts in his last seven games. – Todd Hedberg
Got a few fantasy baseball sleepers of your own? Don’t be greedy, drop some names in the comments below! For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
