Hitter Profiles: Need for Speed

Chandler Simpson was just sent down by the Tampa Bay Rays in favor of Jake Mangum, much to the chagrin of fantasy managers. He was hitting .285 with 17 runs and 19 steals across 34 games. Since his call-up on April 19th, he had more steals than anyone else in professional baseball and more than seven entire teams. But despite the blazing speed and .285 average, Simpson posted just an 85 wRC+, meaning he was performing 15% below league average as a hitter. His OBP hovered around league norms, his slug was nonexistent, and fielding was not as good as hoped. This is the dilemma: elite speed plays in fantasy, often disproportionately. Yet in real life, if you can’t hit enough to justify a lineup spot, that speed becomes a tool without a stage.

Speed can be scarce, especially for those in rotisserie formats. Over the past few seasons, stolen bases have surged across MLB, but true category dominant threats remain rare. And when one flashes even a glimpse of that game-changing potential like Simpson, we have to pay attention. Even if the stay is short, the fantasy impact can be massive. This week, in our hitter profiles, we try to answer the simple question: who’s next? The minor leagues are filled with speedsters trying to hit just enough to get a shot. The challenge is finding the one who can stick because if they can, they might win you a category by themselves.  So let’s take a trip down to AAA and see what we can find.  In all of the minors, there are four guys that have delivered Simpson-lite fantasy lines with more than ten steals, better than 10% walk rate, and less than 25% strikeout rate. Let’s sift through and see where there might be some value to give your speed categories a boost.

Justin Crawford – OF

The 17th overall pick from the 2022 draft is putting together a fantasy-relevant profile that’s hard to ignore. He’s making consistent contact with an 84% contact rate this season and pairing it with high-end speed. After stealing over 40 bases in each of the past two minor league seasons, he’s already swiped 17 bags in 2025 while getting caught only four times. He’s also hitting .323 with 35 runs scored and a much-improved .394 OBP, thanks to a better walk rate. That means more opportunities to let his 70-grade speed work for fantasy managers.

There’s a path to playing time in the majors, as he’s currently only blocked by the underwhelming duo of Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler. That said, there are warning signs. He’s benefiting from a .415 BABIP in Triple-A, which makes the batting average a bit inflated. He also carries a long swing that could be exposed against major league pitching, and a concerning 64% ground ball rate limits any real power upside. The speed is real and should play, but fantasy managers should temper expectations. This looks like a bottom-of-the-order bat who could provide stolen bases and runs if he’s called up later this summer, but there may not be much else in the stat line.

Dylan Beavers – OF

The 6’5”, 23-year-old outfielder was enjoying a breakout campaign at Triple-A before landing on the injured list after an unfortunate collision with the wall during batting practice. Prior to the injury, Beavers was slashing .303 with 31 runs scored and 15 steals in just 39 games, flashing the rare power-speed combo that fantasy managers crave. He’s paired that production with strong plate discipline: a 14% walk rate and a 21% strikeout rate point to a maturing approach at the plate. Even more encouraging—he started the season slowly and has done most of his damage since mid-April, suggesting he was just heating up.

Defensively, Beavers brings a plus arm and the versatility to play all three outfield spots. There are still some questions about his ability to consistently handle velocity at the next level, but his performance over the past year has helped quiet those concerns. In terms of opportunity, he’s behind Heston Kjerstad, Jorge Mateo, and Dylan Carlson on the Orioles’ depth chart, with Cedric Mullins currently on the IL. If not for the injury, Beavers might already be in Baltimore. Once healthy, he’s a strong candidate for a mid-summer call-up and if he gets the nod, expect double-digit homer power and 30+ stolen base upside over a full season.

OF Dylan Beavers hit his 3rd home run of the season last night.

His line over the last three series (14 games):

.326 average, 1.040 OPS, 189 wRC+, 20.3 % BB, 15.3% K, 7/7 in stolen base attempts. pic.twitter.com/Iu7zqKB5xB

— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) April 26, 2025

Jordan Lawlar – 2B/SS

Lawlar is the closest to the majors on this list because he’s already been there with a recent promotion until two days ago when he was sent packing to continue working on pitch recognition. The former sixth overall pick had been tearing up Triple-A, posting a .336 average with 6 homers, 38 runs, 31 RBI, and 13 steals in just 37 games. He also boasts a 10% walk rate and 22.5% strikeout rate, showing solid plate discipline. Add in 99th percentile sprint speed, and it’s easy to envision a 40+ steal ceiling if he can get on base consistently.

But dig a little deeper, and there are some warning signs. Much of Lawlar’s production has been fueled by an unsustainable .421 BABIP. And even if the bat holds up, the path to consistent playing time isn’t wide open: Geraldo Perdomo has shortstop locked down, Ketel Marte is entrenched at second, and Eugenio Suárez continues to handle third. The biggest red flag? Lawlar’s brief MLB stint this season resulted in 19 hitless plate appearances. It’s the second time he’s struggled at the highest level, and while he has the tools to adjust, the Diamondbacks’ infield logjam means he’ll need to force the issue with undeniable performance in the minors. There’s still long-term upside here with double-digit homers and 30+ steals but the short-term outlook comes with playing-time risk and some clear volatility.

https://twitter.com/Jake_M_Garcia/status/1928585624753418462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The #Dbacks sent top prospect Jordan Lawlar down to the minors today.

Torey Lovullo doesn’t view consistent playing time as the problem. Instead, pitch recognition.

“He’s one dimensional with the fastball. That’s just not going to work at the Big League level.”@12SportsAZ

— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) May 30, 2025

Jakob Marsee – OF

Marsee rounds out our list of minor league speedsters with real fantasy upside. Acquired by the Marlins in last year’s Luis Arraez trade, he’s swiped 33 bases in 36 attempts across just 51 games this season, a profile reminiscent of Chandler Simpson when it comes to pure stolen base production. At the plate, Marsee doesn’t offer much pop. He’s averaging just 85 mph in exit velocity at AAA, and he likely tops out around 10–12 homers per season. Still, he gets on base at a strong clip thanks to elite plate discipline: a 17% walk rate has fueled a .368 OBP, even with a .211 batting average. That average has been dragged down by an unusually low .264 BABIP that doesn’t quite fit his speed profile but also reflects a fringe-average hit tool.

Defensively, Marsee is an aggressive center fielder who should grade out as average or better across all three outfield spots. Miami’s current center field situation includes Dane Myers and Jesús Sánchez, who are both serviceable, but neither is a long-term obstacle. If Marsee can string together a hot couple of weeks, he could force his way into the Marlins’ plans. For fantasy managers chasing steals, he’s arguably the best bet on this list to make a category-shifting impact down the stretch, especially in OBP formats, where his elite walk rate gives him even more value.