Hitter Profiles: Lessons Learned

We’re closing out the 2025 fantasy baseball season with those final, crucial games that will decide your league’s ultimate champion. This also brings our Hitter Profile coverage to an end for the year. While all good things must eventually wrap up, it’s the perfect chance to step back, review the season, and uncover the lessons we’ve learned about the ever-shifting fantasy landscape and how they’ll shape our plans moving forward. While many have already turned their attention to fantasy football, if you’re here reading this, you’re one of the true diehards: a manager committed to understanding the trends, rhythms, and surprises that define fantasy baseball. So let’s take one last deep dive into the season together, our final hurrah of 2025.

Need for Speed

League-wide stolen base totals dipped slightly in 2025 compared to 2024, but what really stands out is how steals have become concentrated at the very top. In 2024, seven of the top 15 players in Fangraphs WAR swiped 20 or more bags.  Looking at those that did not eclipse the 20 steal barrier, players like Juan Soto, Cal Raleigh, and Ketel Marte merely delivered single-digit results. This year, that number has shifted significantly. Among the top 15 WAR leaders, only two players are set to finish below 20 steals between Aaron Judge (12) and Cal Raleigh (14). Their totals are surprising as well, but the broader trend is clear: premium hitters are padding their stat lines with speed.

For 2026 drafts, speed will be at even more of a premium. If you don’t secure it early, you’ll be chasing the category all year long. Fortunately, steals don’t require elite sprint speed anymore; smart baserunners who pick their spots can still make a big impact. Heading into next season, managers should prioritize speed in the first few rounds as it’s no longer optional.

Catcher Depth

The catcher position has always divided fantasy managers. Do you invest early, or settle for a part-timer who logs 130 games with average production? In 2025, the position finally broke through. Established names like Cal Raleigh and Will Smith delivered major value, with Raleigh playing his way into first-round consideration for 2026 thanks to his 50-homer upside, improved batting average, and even a handful of steals.

Behind them, a wave of young catchers has arrived. Hunter Goodman, Kyle Teel, Drake Baldwin, and Agustin Ramirez all made noise this season as under 25-year old upstarts.  Beyond those names, there are additional new faces on the horizon with players like Dalton Rushing, Samuel Basallo, and Harry Ford waiting in the wings. For the first time in a while, catcher feels deep. Next year’s decision boils down to Raleigh or the field, but either way, you don’t need to spend early draft capital here. Even in two-catcher formats, there will be plenty of options.

Being Above Average

Batting average is creeping back up across the league. The 2025 average sits at .246, slightly higher than last year and the best mark since 2019. Expected batting average (xBA) climbed even higher to .252, also its best since 2019, suggesting a genuine shift in contact quality. That said, power and batting average still don’t always go hand in hand. Of this year’s dozen most prolific sluggers, only three are hitting above .265 in Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Pete Alonso. Unsurprisingly, those three will be gone within the first two rounds of 2026 drafts with Ohtani and Judge being top three bats. Later-round options like Eugenio Suárez, Jo Adell, and Taylor Ward can provide plenty of pop, but they also come with batting average risk. As always, beware the temptation of power at the expense of building a balanced roster.  This trend will continue into 2026 and you do not want to be caught chasing counting statistics without another eye on the prize.

Numbers Game

The Minnesota Twins made headlines this past week by cutting four of their five pro scouts, a move that highlights MLB’s growing reliance on analytics. The trend dates back to Moneyball, but the data revolution has only accelerated, with teams constantly tweaking hitters’ approaches for optimal outcomes. Strikeout rates dropped in 2025 to their lowest level since 2017, a sign that hitters are making more contact. At the same time, launch angles, barrel rates, and hard-hit rates continue to climb, fueling a power surge. We could see five players finish with 50 or more home runs this year if Aaron Judge and Eugenio Suárez add a few late long balls. For fantasy managers, the lesson is simple: scout the talent profile, not just the stat line. A player with strong underlying skills will often break through once a team fine-tunes his approach. Trust the data, but don’t ignore the eye test.  The ironic view here should not be lost on owners looking to find 2026 breakouts.

As we close out the season, I want to thank you for reading Hitter Profiles and checking in on the Top 100 Hitter Rankings throughout the year. Over the past five seasons at Razzball, I’ve written 180 articles and interacted with countless readers, and it’s been a joy every step of the way. Thanks for making the late nights worth it. Good luck down the stretch, and may the best team win!