Jose Ramirez is elite. Austin Riley, Rafael Devers, Jazz Chisholm, and Manny Machado all have solid histories of being above average options. Junior Caminero, Mark Vientos, and Royce Lewis all provide exciting upside opportunities but also corresponding risk. The middle rounds are my preferred targets this year with Alec Bohm and Eugenio Suarez definitely on the radar. A bit later on Matt Shaw, Connor Norby, and Jose Tena have my attention. You have plenty of differing options to explore. Pick the one that works best with your team build and roll with it.
1. Jose Ramirez, CLE – We’ve now seen six consecutive full seasons of 20-20 ball, and he’s coming off a career best 39 home run 41 stolen base 2024. Ramirez is a consensus Top-5 overall pick and at 32-years-of-age don’t be at all surprised if he ups that total to seven consecutive 20-20 seasons in 2025.
2. Austin Riley, ATL – The mid-to-high 30 home run power witnessed in three consecutive seasons disappeared courtesy of a fractured right hand that cost him the final six weeks and about 200 at-bats worth of production. A return to form in 2025 is a relatively safe bet.
3. Jazz Chisholm Jr., NYY –. Chisholm finally stayed healthy and the reward was 24 home runs and 40 thefts. Combined with the third base/outfield eligibility at the table, he is also looking at gaining second base eligibility early into the 2025 season. There’s a lot to like in Jazz Chisholm heading into 2025. OF-97
4. Rafael Devers, BOS – Devers slugged 28 homers, drove in 83 runs, and scored 87 runs. It was a very good but not great season for the 29-year-old slugger. A bounce back into triple-digit RBI would change the good to great in a hurry.
5. Manny Machado, SDP – You have to go all the way back to 2014, to find what one could consider a down year, and it was as a result of lost time due to a partially torn ligament in his right knee. If you want safe solid production, Manny Machado is your guy.
6. Junior Caminero, TBR – He hits the ball hard. He hits the ball to all fields. He will be a star. Would anyone be surprised if he put together a 30-100 season in 2025?
7. Jordan Westburg, BAL – There will be a 25 HR, 85 RBI season in his future and that could be as early as 2025. 2B-53
8. Mark Vientos, NYM – It was Bret Baty’s job until it wasn’t and when Vientos took over he hit and continued to hit right through the playoffs. Enjoy the Third Base eligibility this year as it appears the Mets have plans for Vientos taking over for Pete Alonso at First Base.
9. Alex Bregman, FA – It’s now the beginning of February and Bregman is yet to find a home for 2025. Spring training is just around the corner. Be prepared to downshift if he hasn’t inked a deal by then.
10. Royce Lewis, MIN – In 2023 Lewis hit 15 homers in 217 at-bats. In 2024, 16 homers in 292 at-bats. There’s 30+ home run pop in the bat. All that’s missing is one thing, a healthy season with 500+ at-bats.
11. Alec Bohm, PHI – The power is a bit light for a typical Third Baseman, but with back to-back 97 RBI seasons he moves them around the bases just fine. Toss in the .280, .274, and .280 BA over the past three years and you have a boring but very functional corner-infielder.
12. Eugenio Suarez, ARZ – Suarez has now hit 30 homers in five-of-the-past-seven seasons with100+ RBI in three of those seasons. If he can hold the strikeouts in check, or at least in check by his standards, we could see a BA in the .240-to-.250 range which is more than adequate to support those great power numbers.
13. Matt Chapman, SFG – In 3-of-the-past-4 seasons Chapman has hit 27 homers. In those three years he also drove in 72, 76, and 78 runs. Expect more of the same, taking into account the lyrics from the Jerry Reed classic. “When you’re hot, you’re hot and when you’re not, you’re not.” It truly applies in Chapman’s case.
14. Jake Burger, TEX – Texas and the strong supporting cast will provide significantly more opportunities to drive in runs than the Marlins anemic O. 1B-69
15. Maikel Garcia, KCR – Even a half dozen more homers to go along with the high-30’s stolen base potential and Miakel Garcia will quickly move up this list. He did experience a bone chip issue in his right elbow but should be ready for Spring Training. 2B-37
16. Luis Rengifo, LAA – Rengifo has both power and speed potential. What we need to witness is it being on display for that first season of 500+ at-bats. 2B-31
17. Max Muncy, LAD – When healthy, Muncy is a 30 home run,90 RBI bat who knows how to work a walk. He’s a solid option in Leagues using OBP if he can accomplish something he has failed to do in two-of-the-past-four seasons – stay healthy.
18. Isaac Paredes, HOU – The 31 homers in 2023 appears to be an outlier, but 20 is well within the realm of possibility. If he can stay in the two-hole, the runs scored should improve dramatically.
19. Josh Jung, TEX – There will be pressure on the BA with his free swinging ways, but a 25-80 type season is possible if he can stay on the field, something he hasn’t consistently accomplished early-on in his career.
20. Nolan Arenado, STL –What was once an elite offensive talent, Arenado watched his production fall to 16 homers and 71 RBI. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
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