Last week, I went over my fantasy baseball sleepers at the catcher position. This week, I will share my first base sleepers. It’s never too early to dive into fantasy baseball research. To identify sleepers, you want to find players who are underpriced in fantasy drafts and who look well set up in their team’s lineup. I picked four players I believe are being drafted later than they should be.
Fantasy Baseball First Base Sleepers
Tyler Soderstrom – 1B/OF, Athletics: Average ADP (90)
Tyler Soderstrom had a breakout season last season. It was his third season in MLB, but his first playing more than 62 games. The 23-year-old posted a .276/.346/.474 with 25 home runs, 75 runs, and 93 RBIs. Although his power production looked great, his fly ball percentage dropped from 28.5 percent in 2024 to 23.5 percent last season, and his barrel percentage dropped from 14.6 percent to 11.4 percent in the same span.
Soderstrom had surprising home/away splits last season, as well. You’d think his power numbers would be better at home, given that he played in a minor league stadium as his home field last season. However, he only hit 10 of his home runs at Sutter Health Park. Soderstrom isn’t a major sleeper, but I think he’s going to produce better than his number 11 first baseman preseason ranking.
The drops in fly ball and barrel percentages are concerning, but Soderstrom should still produce 25-30 home runs and drive in runs batting in the middle of a much-improved Athletics offense.
Sal Stewart – 1B/3B, Cincinnati Reds: Average ADP (210)
I love the potential Sal Stewart has shown in the minors and in his brief MLB debut last season. In 58 plate appearances with the Reds, he hit five home runs, scored 11 runs, and had eight RBIs. His .291 ISO was exceptional; however, he needs to improve on his .257 BABIP and 25.9 percent strikeout percentage. If you’re unsure how to use BABIP, be sure to check out fellow Fantrax writer Taylor Tarter’s breakdown.
Stewart looked immensely more valuable to fantasy managers after the Reds traded away Gavin Lux. It looked like Lux and Stewart would be platooning at the DH position due to Lux’s struggles against left-handed pitchers. However, the Reds added Eugenio Suarez, who will be the full-time DH. Stewart will now be in a position battle at first base with Spencer Steer.
Stewart is too talented to be used only off the bench or in a platoon. The rookie offers more offensive upside to Steer. So keep an eye on how Spring Training goes.
Andrew Vaughn – 1B, Milwaukee Brewers: Average ADP (281)
Who knew Andrew Vaughn just needed out of Chicago to be fantasy relevant? Vaughn has been an average first baseman for fantasy managers over his five-year career. Although when he was traded at last season’s deadline to the Milwaukee Brewers, his bat was on fire.
He played in only 64 games with the Brewers, but he set career highs. His slash line, .308/.375/.493, was all career highs, along with his .186 ISO and .328 BABIP. He even set career bests with a 9.4 walk percentage and a 14.6 strikeout percentage.
Being in the middle of an electric Brewers’ offense for a full season could lead to Vaughn’s best season yet. His ADP seems too late to me, and I’m not sure why Kyle Manzardo, Luis Arraez, and Lenyn Sosa are being selected ahead of Vaughn.
Jake Burger – 1B, Texas Rangers: Average ADP (292)
Jake Burger was phenomenal with the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins during the 2023 and ’24 seasons, hitting 34 and 29 home runs, respectively. He took a step back last season, his first with the Texas Rangers. He hit only 16 home runs, 43 runs, and 53 RBIs with a .183 ISO and .272 BABIP.
Injuries were an issue last season, contributing to the lower statistics. An oblique strain landed Burger on the injury list in June, and a quadriceps injury caused him to go on the IL in July. His 16.1 launch angle with the Rangers was a career high, meaning if he had the 200 or more at-bats he missed, the 29-year-old would have likely reached his previous two-season marks.
If Burger can stay healthy, he has a chance to soar past his number 26 first baseman preseason rankings in our Fantrax consensus rankings.
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