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Starting about dozen years ago, I’d highlight the top rookie in all of baseball coming into the year and it was super obvious for about a decade. From Mike Trout through Corbin Carroll, I nailed each one, but everyone sorta did, if I’m being humble. Last year, I said, “There’s no top rookie for fantasy baseball, if I’m reading the tea leaves correctly, and, let’s hope I did, because I’ve already drank the tea so I can’t re-read them. Asked a few people their general take on who the top rookie would be in redraft leagues for fantasy baseball, and I got a bunch of names.” And that’s me quoting me! I went over a bunch of rookies last year, but, as predicted, there was no consensus rookie for redraft leagues. The most votes from prospect people who I asked went to two guys; Yamamoto and Evan Carter. Then, when it looked like he would break camp, Wyatt Langford moved into the lead for top rookie amongst everyone. And when I say “break camp,” it looked like they might have to unplug Spring Training, blow in it and plug it back in because Wyatt broke it so bad, Walter White. I liked and drafted Jackson Chourio everywhere when it was clear he was breaking camp, but it would be Hindsight Vision if I said he was as clearcut as Corbin Carroll his rookie year or Mike Trout or every top rookie in-between like JRod or LouBob or Acuña or Judge. So, how does this relate to this year? It looks like there’s a clearcut top two rookies, but it might be a top four. I will cover a bunch of rookies in the upcoming weeks for redraft leagues. That’s right! Welcome to our 2025 fantasy baseball rookie outlook series where I will cover all the 2025 rookies who will be worthwhile for 2025 fantasy baseball redraft leagues. I am not the dynasty guy. That is Itch. I am not the keeper guy, that’s Jakkers. I’m just your redraft guy. So, the top two rookies for 2025 fantasy baseball are a pitcher and hitter, and clearly I had to go with the hitter first, then there’s two more in the discussion. For those with Title Blindness: Jasson Dominguez is your top rookie for 2025 fantasy baseball. And for those who need a segue: So, what can we expect from Jasson Dominguez for 2025 fantasy baseball?

I am breaking from Itch with this. In Itch’s top 50 prospects for dynasty fantasy baseball, Jasson Dominguez is ranked 4th. Granted, that’s for dynasty, and not for redraft, but I asked Itch who his top prospect was for 2025 fantasy baseball and it was not Dominguez. I will get to who it was in the coming days. I tell you this to illustrate again how the consensus you desperately want, it is not there. For full disclosure purposes — or porpoises if dolphins have taken over the world since I wrote this — our old prospect writer Geoff who is at Baseball America, does not think Dominguez is the top prospect either. Top prospects for redraft are not always as simple as who will be the best player for their career, which is how I justify to myself the gap between what they’re telling me and what I’m seeing. I need at-bats, first and foremost. Jasson Dominguez is clearly a Yankees’ starting outfielder out of camp, barring an unforeseen injury or another random signing like Alex Verdugo, part two, i.e., Verdeuxgo. Dominguez would’ve been a starting outfielder this year if he wasn’t hurt, and needed Tommy John surgery. Then, because the Yanks can’t sit still, they went out and signed Alex Verdugo for a year while Dominguez rehabbed. But Verdugo, and his dookie-phat chains and weirdly shaved face, are out the door after this year, leaving The Martian, and I don’t mean Ray Walston (a very new reference — I googled him and he’d be 110 years old, let’s move on).

So, why do we care so much about The Martian aka Jasson Dominguez aka your top 2025 fantasy baseball rookie? Uh, he’s ridiculous:

I mean…

All right, one more…

The last one is the most impressive for me. Everyone knows he has huge power. He’s 21 years old and has 40-steal speed. Give me some of those “only a homer in two parks, Yankee Stadium and the Chuck E. Cheese Little League Park in Perth Amboy” and throw in 25+ bags and I don’t see how he can’t go 25/25 his rookie year. That’s better than what Jackson Chourio just did. Dominguez has 30/30 potential his rookie year. I say that conservatively, because I don’t want to get too Alan Parsons with my eye in the sky. The upside is absolutely there, though.

The biggest concern is he might hit .220. I think he can hit .250 but not until his 2nd year. Hopefully, the Yankees suck it up, buttercup, and play him consistently like they did with Anthony Volpe. Think of Bobby Witt Jr. It looked like he couldn’t hit .220, then he easily leads the majors in average this year. Players need reps. It’s what drives me crazy with Oli Marmol and how janked around Jordan Walker’s been janked. Dominguez is going to struggle to hit for a good average in 2025, but that can level out with reps. Assuming he doesn’t get janked around, The Martian is going to the moon this year. For 2025 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Jasson Dominguez projections of 68/26/76/.232/25 in 527 ABs with a chance for more.

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Harley Earl
Harley Earl
1 month ago

Maybe it was just because he was considered so much of an unknown — potential superstar or bust — but I cannot believe Elly De La Cruz didn’t draw more preseason top rookie honors among the experts. I sure believed in him. I have him on two of my three teams. I can assure you, I would not have traded EDLC for Yamamoto, Carter or Langford. Not for any rookie honestly.

I guess there was just too much risk for some people. But he seemed pretty obvious to me. Of course, maybe my opinion was skewed by having rostered him for several years prior. I don’t think he’ll last like some guys do, perhaps more like Javier Baez when he was in Chicago, eventually he’ll just fall apart.

Last edited 1 month ago by Harley Earl
Harley Earl
Harley Earl
Reply to  Harley Earl
1 month ago

Wait, he wasn’t a rookie. LOL. My bad.

Bterry
Bterry
1 month ago

Keeper question. Dominguez in rd18 or B Doyle in rd22? D crews in 19 also a possibility, but I figured the other two were in ahead of him.

Smitty
1 month ago

Top notch kid that is ready to roll, special talent

Stl Squat Cobblers
Stl Squat Cobblers
1 month ago

Good stuff Master Lothario de Universidad o’ Charleston!
Great stuff!

Though it’s hard to see due to multiple stops each season, here are his K%’s (and BB%’s) by year:

18 y/o, 2021: 30% (11%)
19 y/o, 2022: 24% (13.5%)
20 y/o, 2023: 24% (15%)
21 y/o, 2024: 22% (9%)

Not that I would know but, it seems he might be closer to a .250 guy than a .210 guy right from the jump.

Stl Squat Cobblers
Stl Squat Cobblers
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

Agreed. I see that .222 Babip (.207 BA) in 100 Major League PAs and think that has to rise to at least to your projection…or likely much more.

Stl Squat Cobblers
Stl Squat Cobblers
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

So weird. Getting play on a major stage would seem like a positive w/r/t his long-term growth. Like you say, it’s gonna change at some point. Hopefully soon

james
james
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

Cowser was one of the top rookie hitters this year and he hit 242. so a 230 is not as disastrous. The bigger fear is that the team runs less than many others, and a low average with lots of homers means less times he has a chance to steal

MarmosDad
1 month ago

That Verdugo portmanteau – *chef’s kiss*

Speaking of awesome, did you catch the Tribe Rock and Roll HOF induction? It was great.