1. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
The 24-year-old continues to get better. After a 2023 season that saw him slash .276/.319/.495 with 30 HR, 96 RBI, and 49 stolen bases, Bobby Witt Jr. put together an even better 2024 season slashing .332/.389/.588 with 32 HR, 109 RBI, and 31 stolen bases. After Shohei Ohtani, there is no better first-round fantasy baseball draft pick than Bobby Witt Jr. The Kansas City shortstop can be drafted with a projection of another .300+/.350+/.570 season with 30+ HR, 100+ RBI, and 30+ stolen bases.
2. Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
Fantasy baseball players had high hopes choosing De La Cruz in last year’s drafts. The Reds shortstop didn’t disappoint, finishing with 25 HR, 76 RBI, and 67 stolen bases. The mind-boggling fact is De La Cruz produced these numbers while accumulating 218 strikeouts in 618 at-bats. He will need to cut down his strikeout totals but should once again be expected to slash .250+/.320+/.450+ with 25+ HR, 78 RBI, and 55+ steals. This production warrants his current 9.8 ADP.
3. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Betts’ ability to carry SS/OF eligibility makes him one of the better first-round picks in fantasy baseball. Playing with one of the most potent MLB offenses, Betts had a disappointing 2024 season after suffering a hand fracture early into the season. This limited Betts to 116 games where he posted 19 home runs and 75 RBI. Before 2024, Betts had two straight seasons with 35+ HR, 80+ RBI, and 12+ steals. Barring any setbacks, Mookie Betts should be projected for close to 30 home runs, 95+ RBI, and 15-20 stolen bases.
4. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
Back-to-back seasons with 28+ HR and 82+ RBI, Gunnar Henderson enters 2025 as one of the best young fantasy shortstops. He doesn’t turn 24 years old until June, and the blossoming Baltimore superstar is ready to lead the up-and-coming Baltimore Orioles. The first-round pick should be drafted comfortably and projected to reach 35+ HR, 90+ RBI, and 15+ stolen bases.
5. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
Lindor’s first season in New York was a down year compared to his career averages. Since 2021, Lindor is averaging 30 HR, 98 RBI, and 25 stolen bases. Still in his prime, expect Lindor to have another monster season posting a .267/.340/.490 slash line with 30+ HR, 95+ RBI, and 20+ steals.
6. Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Seager joined Texas after six seasons with the Dodgers and has posted three straight seasons with 30+ HR, 74+ RBI, and a .772+ SLG. 2024 was a down year for Texas, but expect the Rangers to rebound from below .500 a season ago. Seager will once again lead the Rangers with 30+ HR, 90+ RBI, and a .530+ SLG.
7. Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
Turner suffered a hamstring injury early in 2024 but still produced solid numbers slashing .295/.338/.469 with 21 RBI, 62 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases. Trea Turner turns 32 years old on June 30th and continues to hit for power while stealing bases. Projecting Turner to play 150+ games, fantasy owners should expect 20+ HR, 81+ RBI, 90+ runs scored, and 25+ steals.
8. Willy Adames, San Francisco Giants
Adames never reached his full potential as a member of Tampa Bay. During the past four seasons with Milwaukee, Adames averaged 26 HR and 87 RBI. His 21 stolen bases were a career-best mark, and he enters 2025 in his first season with San Francisco. After the top shortstops come off the draft board, Willy Adames is one of the best options to produce top five SS numbers at a discounted draft value.
9. CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals
CJ Abrams continues to get better, and the 24-year-old is primed to blow away his 2024 numbers that saw him slash .246/.314/.433 with 20 HR, 65 RBI, and 31 steals. A realistic expectation is 20+ HR, 70+ RBI, and 35+ stolen bases.
10. Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres
Bogaerts’ first season in San Diego was modestly successful, but last season saw him limited to 111 games, finishing with 11 HR and 44 RBI. A return to health should see Xander Bogaerts reach 15+ HR, drive in 60+ RBI, and steal close to 20 bases.
11. Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins
As with numerous Twins players, Carlos Correa’s major concern is health. He’s only reached 140 games played twice in his 10 Major League seasons. Still, Correa is one of the more consistent shortstops and produces when he’s on the field. If Correa can reach 450+ at-bats, he should be expected to hit 20+ HR and 70+ RBI.
12. Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
Winn had success during his first full season, slashing .267/.314/.416 with 15 HR, 57 RBI, and 11 steals. Fantasy baseball players should see a leap in year two projected Winn to slash .260+/.310+/.380+ with 15+ HR, 55+ RBI, and 20+ steals.
13. Tommy Edman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Edman is middle-of-the-pack in both MLB and fantasy baseball. However, he fits a perfect role with the Dodgers, and because of this, he becomes a relevant fantasy option, especially given his SS/OF eligibility. Edman won’t supply much in terms of home runs and RBI, but hitting in this lineup, he should project for home runs in the low teens, 50+ RBI, 25+ stolen bases, and 70+ RBI.
14. Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
Strikeouts continue to be a concern, but Cruz’s potential and SS/OF eligibility make him a dynamite mid-round target. At 6’7”, he possesses surprising speed and will aim for a second-straight season with 20+ steals. A modest projection is Cruz hitting 20-25 home runs with 75-80 RBI, and 20+ steals.
15. Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros
Pena won’t post eye-popping numbers, but he’s been consistent in his three-year career, averaging a slash line of .261/.307/.399 with 15 HR, 61 RBI, and 14 steals. Fantasy baseball players that wait for a shortstop will have steady production with Pena, and he is a solid play at utility spots.
16. Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
Bichette dealt with injuries the past two seasons, seeing him total 24 HR, 104 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Before 2023, the Blue Jays’ shortstop averaged 26 HR, 97 RBI, and 19 stolen bases between 2021 and 2022. Health will tell the story of Bichette’s 2025 season, and if he’s back to full health, he can be a steal of 2025 drafts with projections of 20+ HR, 70+ RBI, and 12+ stolen bases.
17. Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds
After hitting the scene in 2023 and finishing with 16 HR and 50 RBI in 365 at-bats, shoulder surgery cost McLain the entire 2024 season. This was devastating for any fantasy baseball player that drafted McLain with high hopes. There will be rust, but a healthy Matt McLain can reach 20+ HR, 70+ RBI, and 20+ stolen bases with both 2B/SS eligibility.
18. Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs
Swanson had a down year in 2024 as his HR and RBI fell short of his career averages as well as his overall defensive play. The acquisition of Kyle Tucker and Cubs’ hunt for the NL Central should see a bounce-back from Swanson. He can safely be projected for 20+ HR, 80+ RBI, and 15-20 stolen bases.
19. Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
Volpe’s second season saw his home run total drop from 21 to 12, but he raised his average 34 points and OBP 10 points. He once again stole 20+ bases and showed signs of improvement. He enters year three with a Yankees team ready for a deep post-season run. Fantasy baseball players should draft Volpe expecting him to reach 20 HR, 60+ RBI, and 30+ steals.
20. Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins
Xavier Edwards will never hit for power, but as a second shortstop, fantasy teams can help secure stolen bases categories. Edwards featured in 70 games a season ago, slashing .328/.397/.423 with one home run, 26 RBI, 39 runs scored, and 31 steals. This season, fantasy baseball players should expect Edwards to hit 3-5 HR, drive in 40 runs, and steal 35+ bases.
21. Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies
Tovar took a step forward in 2024, finishing with 26 HR, 78 RBI, and 83 runs scored. He also saw his strikeout total jump from 166 (2023) to 200. His power is evident, but he must cut down on his swings and misses to take another jump in 2025. A realistic expectation is for Tovar to reach 25+ HR and 75+ RBI.
22. Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels
Zach Neto provided great numbers in his second Major League season, slashing .249/.318/.443 with 23 HR, 77 RBI, and 30 stolen bases. He enters 2025 familiar with Major League pitching, and fantasy baseball players should draft Neto as a late-round target, posting similar numbers as 2024 and solidifying a utility spot.
23. Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins
Castro finished off a career year in 2024 finishing with 12 HR, 60 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. His uptick in power saw a decrease in stolen bases (14) from the 33 he accumulated in 2024. However, he has SS/2B/3B/OF eligibility, and this makes Castro a must-draft in the later rounds. He has the chance to set career highs across the board in 2025.
24. Ha-Seong Kim, Tampa Bay Rays
Kim underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, and while he’s not expected to make his Rays debut until May, he will be a sought-after free agent pickup in fantasy leagues. Kim should be projected for 10-15 HR, 50-55 RBI, and 20+ steals.
25. J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners
Crawford set a career-best mark with 19 home runs in 2023 but came back to reality finishing 2024 with nine. Never known for power, Crawford should not be drafted expecting another power surge. A late-round flier, Crawford should be projected for close to 10 home runs, 42+ RBI, and 70 runs scored.
26. Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs
The 13th pick in the 2023 draft, Matt Shaw, is ready to open the season in the Majors. The Cubs front office suggested Shaw will have every chance to break Spring Training with the Cubs regardless of if they sign Alex Bregman. This would start talks of the Cubs moving Hoerner to give Shaw a role at second base, but that’s a discussion when/if it happens. In 2024, Shaw slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 HR, 71 RBI, and 31 stolen bases between AA and AAA. He’s a true professional hitter, and assuming he receives at-bats every day for the Cubs, he is projected to hit 15-20 HR, drive in 50-60 runs, and steal 20-30 bases. His 3B/2B/SS eligibility would be a warm welcome for fantasy baseball rosters.
27. Jacob Wilson, Athletics
Wilson had modest success during his call-up at the end of 2024, slashing .250/.314/.315. He should open 2025 as the Athletics’ everyday shortstop with fantasy upside. He may not tap into power his rookie year, but fantasy baseball players can expect a slash line of .270/.320/.410 with close to 10 HR and 40 RBI.
28. Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox
Rafaela was a great waiver wire pickup in 2024 as he provided 15 HR, 75 RBI, and 19 steals. The former Red Sox prospect expects to see a leap in 2025 and should be projected to reach 15+ HR, 70+ RBI, and 20+ steals. His SS/OF eligibility makes him more valuable to fantasy teams.
29. Brooks Lee, Minnesota Twins
Lee received a late-season call-up in 2024 and should break camp with Minnesota. He may take a season or two to tap into his power potential, but a realistic expectation is 10+ HR, 55+ RBI, and close to 10 steals.
30. Tyler Fitzgerald, San Francisco Giants
Fitzgerald took fantasy baseball by storm last season, appearing in 96 games slashing .280/.334/.497 with 15 HR, 34 RBI, and 17 steals. The glaring issue was striking out in nearly 35% of at-bats. The power is real, but strikeouts could ultimately be his achille’s heel. A late-round, high-upside draft target, Fitzgerald should be projected to hit close to 20 HR while driving in 60 runs and stealing 20+ bases.
