10 target prospects for 2025

In this week's Prospect Podcast, Chris Clegg and I discussed over a dozen potential candidates for production in 2025, grouping them by position (SP, RP, C, MI, CI, OF):

Here's essentially the article version where I highlight my favorite candidates for production in 2025 while factoring in projected costs. I'm thinking of these candidates primarily in the NFBC Draft Champions format, as these draft-and-hold leagues will begin drafting before the end of the postseason, but hopefully you'll find it useful in all formats.

Dalton RushingC/O, Dodgers

We could still see Rushing play this year, as he played 26 of 33 games at Triple-A in left field while only making the starting lineup as a catcher three times. Regardless of how the rest of this year goes, I envision Rushing winning a spot on the Opening Day roster next year and getting about 30-40 percent of the starts behind the plate, with a few starts in left field each week. Rushing improved his Hard% from 25.1 percent in 2023 to 35.6 percent this year, while improving his K% from 24.4 percent to 20.2 percent and his Contact% from 67.9 percent to 75.8 percent while facing tougher pitchers. He probably won't steal many bases at the major league level, but he could be a plus in AVG/OBP, hitting about 20 home runs per season. For the NFBC Draft Champions formats, I see Rushing as a top-notch third catcher or really cheap second catcher.

Edgar QueroC, White Sox

It is possible

In this week's Prospect Podcast, Chris Clegg and I discussed over a dozen potential candidates for production in 2025, grouping them by position (SP, RP, C, MI, CI, OF):

Here's essentially the article version where I highlight my favorite candidates for production in 2025 while factoring in projected costs. I'm thinking of these candidates primarily in the NFBC Draft Champions format, as these draft-and-hold leagues will begin drafting before the end of the postseason, but hopefully you'll find it useful in all formats.

Dalton RushingC/O, Dodgers

We could still see Rushing play this year, as he played 26 of 33 games at Triple-A in left field while only making the starting lineup as a catcher three times. Regardless of how the rest of this year goes, I envision Rushing winning a spot on the Opening Day roster next year and getting about 30-40 percent of the starts behind the plate, with a few starts in left field each week. Rushing improved his Hard% from 25.1 percent in 2023 to 35.6 percent this year, while improving his K% from 24.4 percent to 20.2 percent and his Contact% from 67.9 percent to 75.8 percent while facing tougher pitchers. He probably won't steal many bases at the major league level, but he could be a plus in AVG/OBP, hitting about 20 home runs per season. For the NFBC Draft Champions formats, I see Rushing as a top-notch third catcher or really cheap second catcher.

Edgar QueroC, White Sox

It's possible that Quero's back injury in mid-August that prevented him from making his major league debut will help limit his early cost to NFBC DC, as fewer redraft players will be familiar with him. As with rushing, I expect Quero to make the opening game roster, as both players should be on all of the required preseason top-100 lists to qualify for a Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick. He had some luck with balls in play at Triple-A while posting a slash line of .313/.408/.506, but Quero easily could have flunked in his Triple-A debut after playing 72 games at Double-A. Aram Leighton, who was a guest on the Prospect Podcast on Aug. 21, noted mechanical adjustments Quero made early in the season that increased his power output. As of May 30, Quero, a 21-year-old catcher in the top two levels of the minors, had a batting average of .344/.424/.550 with nine home runs and a strikeout rate of 14.7 percent in 53 games.

Coby Mayo3B, Orioles

Mayo is a blue-chip prospect coming out of a small but poor MLB sample. This is a chance to capitalize on that, both in redraft and dynasty. His MLB strikeout rate will stay the same all offseason to keep the price in check, but there's a real chance Mayo pulls a 2024 Colton Cowser and shows up to Spring Training to secure a job in camp. Mayo will be eligible for third base in fantasy, but I expect him to add first-base eligibility as the season progresses. I'd consider pairing Mayo and Ramon Urias in Draft Champions, as Urias has been quietly pretty good this year, and I'd be surprised if neither player was a regular for Baltimore in early 2025.

Matt Shaw3B, Boys

Shaw has been putting the finishing touches on his minor league development this year (148 wRC+ at Double-A, 143 wRC+ at Triple-A), so the question is where he fits in the Cubs' lineup. He should be very affordable all winter as long as he appears blocked, but if the Cubs can trade Nico Hoerner, for example, Shaw would be an immediate Opening Day second baseman. Shaw will be eligible to play third base this offseason, as that's where he played the most in 2024, but he's a more natural second baseman. He has 25/25 potential, but could be more of a 15/15 contributor in his first successful MLB season.

Colby ThomasOF, Athletics

The Athletics are running out of spots that aren't committed yet, and Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday seem to be emerging as starters for the foreseeable future this year. Thomas is my favorite to join them as the franchise's long-term outfield trio, and he could be ready in the first half of next season. His game is built around power and speed, as he may not have a high batting average long-term, and I certainly don't expect him to hit better than .230 or .240 as a rookie. Like Butler and Bleday, Thomas has the stuff to play at all three outfield positions, and he could be a 20/10 performer next year. There is hit tool risk (18.0 K% at Double-A, 30.7 K% at Triple-A) that could prevent Thomas from holding down a job in 2025, so the key to this pick is keeping the redraft price low.

Jacob MeltonOF, Astros

With Jason Heyward and Mauricio Dubon currently in prominent roles, it's fair to say only Kyle Tucker is a clear outfield starter for this team in 2025. Enter Melton, who would immediately challenge Jake Meyers as the team's best defensive outfielder. Melton has the arm for right and the speed/reading for center field. He also has more power than he's shown so far in Triple-A. While Thomas is a realistic 20 homer/10 steal threat, Melton is a realistic 10 homer/20 steal threat and has a chance to take a bigger step forward in terms of power. Neither outfielder will help on average as rookies.

Kumar RockerRight-hander, Rangers

Rocker's offseason appeal will depend heavily on whether he holds up in the next two MLB starts, but if he starts the offseason healthy and throws like he has over the last month or more, I'm interested depending on the price. This year he's currently averaging 40.2 innings, and while his innings will certainly be limited to 100-130 next year, that's enough innings to afford a top-300 pick at DCs. In the scenario I outlined where he finishes the year healthy, I think the price will only go up as the draft public fully gets up to speed on how well Rocker finished the year.

Bubba ChandlerRHP, Pirates

If I had to guess now, Chandler would be the candidate I paid the most attention to in my Draft Champions Leagues, which was also true for his teammate Jared Jones this year. I'm even more excited about Chandler right now than I was about Jones this time last year. Chandler, who played two sports in high school and was initially a two-way talent in professional baseball, has better size (6'2, 200 pounds) than Jones and a similar power arsenal. I think Chandler is clearly a top-15 dynasty prospect and arguably the best pitching prospect in the game. That's not a consensus opinion yet, but I think it will be when all the major real-world offseason lists are released in January, so fall and early winter seem like a good time to stock up on Chandler.

Zach MaxwellRHP, Red

Maxwell, who throws really hard and has an intimidating presence on the mound at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, could emerge as Cincinnati's closer of the future sometime next season. The stocky right-hander has 82 strikeouts and five saves in 51.2 innings in Double-A and Triple-A. Alexis Diaz hasn't lost the role this year, but 11.2 K-BB% is pretty awful for a closer, so it's easy to imagine him losing the job in the first half of next year. Maxwell has the same weakness as Diaz (too many walks), but Maxwell is four years younger than Diaz and probably has a better chance of fixing that flaw at this point, as Diaz has had a walk rate over 12 percent in all three of his major league seasons.

Jaden HillRHP, Rockies

I can't say I've studied the Rockies' late-inning situation closely this season, but guys like Tyler Kinley and Victor Vodnik can't match Hill's pure stuff (nasty sinker/changeup combo) or his pedigree (2021 second-round pick). Hill is excellent at generating weak contact, and his strikeout rate should steadily increase the more reps he gets (2024 was his first year in the bullpen). At the very least, Hill should spend all of next year in the major leagues, and I expect the price to be very affordable given his few saves this season and his home stadium.