Under the Radar: Late-Round Outfielder Who Will Go 20/20 in 2025

What if you were told an urban legend of an outfielder who – after swiping 16 bases and bashing 18 home runs the season prior – was only rostered in 71% of Fantrax leagues? And what if that same outfielder had a 244 ADP, making him a perfect late-round draft target?

That fabled player’s name is Jesus Sanchez, and his power-speed combination – as well as his revamped plate approach and decreased strikeout rate – is no myth. Here’s why Sanchez could break out in 2025, and why he merits consideration as a late-round addition to your fantasy roster.

5 Reasons Jesus Sanchez is a Late-Round Bargain

Reason #1: He hits the ball extremely hard

Even as a farmhand in the Marlins’ system, Sanchez was known to have massive power potential. In his 2019 MLB Pipeline scouting report, the Miami outfielder was lauded as having “an innate ability to impact the baseball” and the report noted that “there are few within the organization who consistently hit the ball as hard as Sanchez.” And he certainly hasn’t stopped impacting the baseball at the MLB level; in fact, he’s done quite the opposite.

2024 MLB Hard-Hit Rate, min. 500 PA

1. Aaron Judge, NYY (61.0%)
2. Shohei Ohtani, LAD (60.1%)
3. Juan Soto, NYM (57.0%)
4. Kyle Schwarber, PHI (55.5%)
5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR (54.9%)
6. Oneil Cruz, PIT (54.9%)
7. Gunnar Henderson, BAL (53.9%)
8. Ketel Marte, ARI (53.8%)
9. Marcell Ozuna, ATL (53.4%)
10. Rafael Devers, BOS (52.6%)
11. Jesus Sanchez, MIA (51.3%)

Sanchez hits the ball as hard as the best players in the game, which is largely due to his elite swing speed. He swings the bat faster than 90% of big leaguers, which helps him launch baseballs 480 feet like he did against the Reds in August. Provided he continues to raise his launch angle in 2025, Sanchez could be due for his first 25-homer season as a big leaguer.

Reason #2: Decreasing strikeout rate

By swinging hard as he does, the Marlins outfielder sacrifices some contact ability for power. Sanchez struck out 31.1% of the time during his first full big league season in 2021, which lowered the ceiling on his offensive potential. His penchant for punchouts has largely limited his fantasy value since then, but he’s begun to strike out less year after year. His 26.1 K% in 2024 was the lowest of his career, and his power potential is worth sacrificing a few strikeouts – especially as a late-round draftee.

Reason #3: He was unlucky in 2024

Luck – or the lack thereof – played a significant role in Sanchez’s 2024 season. While unfortunate for the back of his baseball card, the gap between his results and expected statistics provide a huge opportunity for fantasy managers to find value with a late-round draft pick. In fact, the difference between Sanchez’s .416 SLG and his .468 xSLG was among the largest last season.

2024 MLB xSLG – SLG, min. 500 PA

1. Juan Soto, NYM (0.077)
2. Salvador Perez, KCR (0.066)
3. Julio Rodriguez, SEA (0.054)
4. Christopher Morel, TBR (0.053)
5. Jesus Sanchez, MIA (0.051)

The image below shows the 2025 NFBC ADP of players with a .468 SLG in at least 500 PA last season:

The orange column represents Sanchez’s 2025 ADP, which is significantly lower than hitters who performed as well as he was expected to last season.

Reason #4: An improved plate approach

Making plate approach adjustments are often the best indicators of future success for hitters. If the batter alters something he can control, he can more consistently implement it and be productive.

Among the most successful changes any hitter made this season? Jesus Sanchez’s increased aggressiveness at the plate. Sanchez’s production in 0-0 counts during the 2023 season was significantly better than his performance overall. His 89th percentile tOPS+ in such counts meant that Sanchez performed better relative to his standards than most MLB hitters. Because he was so successful on the first pitch compared to later in the count, he became significantly more aggressive in 0-0 counts in 2024.

MLB 2023-2024 Change in First Pitch Swing %, Qualified Batters (per Baseball Savant)

1. Alejandro Kirk, TOR (+15.8%)
2. Jesus Sanchez, MIA (+14.8%)
3. Jake Fraley, CIN (+12.9%)
4. Brent Rooker, OAK (+9.6%)
5. Rowdy Tellez, SEA (+9.3%)

Sanchez’s increased first-pitch aggressiveness in 2024 allowed him to not only cut down on strikeouts, but take advantage of first-pitch fastballs.

MLB 2024 First Pitch Fastball xBA, min. 500 PA (per Baseball Savant)

1. Juan Soto, NYM (.474)
2. Colton Cowser, BAL (.466)
3. Brent Rooker, OAK (.451)
4. Oneil Cruz, PIT (.436)
5. Jesus Sanchez, MIA (.434)

Provided he continues being aggressive early in the count, the Marlins outfielder should cut down further on strikeouts and tap into his enormous power potential in 2025.

Reason #5: Late-round base stealing bargain

On top of all that, Sanchez can also steal a base. He swiped 18 bags in 2024, and his power and base-stealing ability is a rare combination to come across in a late-round draft pick. Given that Sanchez continues to decrease his strikeout rate and get on base more in 2025, he could join the 20-20 club in his age-27 season. That type of year from a late-round pick would be a massive bargain for fantasy managers.

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.