Top 100 Hitters: Heat Of Summer

As the season heats up, so does the pressure on fantasy managers trying to stay in contention. In the real world, the summer weather feels a lot like playing on the blistering artificial turf of Veterans Stadium back in the ’70s and ’80s, where on-field temperatures could top 150 degrees. Players once described the rubberized turf as “walking on a griddle,” with the stench of melting shoe soles filling the dugouts. You almost have to wonder if that’s what it smells like for the bat boy picking up Cal Raleigh’s bat after yet another towering home run. With that in mind, it’s time to refresh our Top 100 Hitters for the rest of the fantasy season, where injuries, hot streaks, and surprises continue to shake up the rankings. Let’s dive in.

Rising

• Nick Kurtz – Kurtz is back from injury and picking up where he left off after a slow start to his Major League career. Since returning from a hip issue in early June, he’s slugged seven home runs with 16 RBI and 10 runs scored in just 17 games. Just when the league was moving on to the next shiny object in Jac Caglianone, Kurtz reminded us why many had him rated higher entering the season. The results are supported by solid underlying metrics that point to a brief learning curve and strong adjustment. Big names like Paul Goldschmidt and David Ortiz also struggled early in their careers, and they turned out just fine. While that’s lofty praise, Kurtz’s ceiling remains sky-high.
• Cal Raleigh – As noted in the intro, Cal Raleigh is the hottest hitter on the planet right now, and it’s not even close. A player with consistent power throughout his career, he’s now improving his plate approach and climbing to the top of the catcher rankings. He’s tallied 32 homers which is just one less than the guys behind him on the leaderboard, #2 Logan O’Hoppe and #3 Hunter Goodman, combined. His 27.8% HR/FB rate is unsustainable, especially with a dozen or so homers just clearing the fence. But no matter how he’s doing it, Raleigh displays immense value and deserves the rise in ranking.
• Riley Greene – Greene is quietly creeping into the top 50 overall hitters, now sitting within the top 10 in RBIs and top 20 in home runs at the season’s midpoint. He still brings little in the speed department, and the rising strikeout rate and falling walk rate are concerns. However, the talent has always been evident when he’s been healthy. If he stays on the field, this ranking might soon look too low.

Falling

• Corbin Carroll – The 15th overall hitter on the Razzball Player Rater, Carroll was having an excellent season with 20 home runs and 10 steals. After a bumpy 2024, he was looking like a perennial first-round pick again. But alas, the fantasy gods are cruel, as a hit-by-pitch led to a fractured wrist that will sideline him for weeks. Wrist injuries are notorious for slow healing and reduced short-term performance, and a return before August feels unlikely. Buy low in dynasty formats, but in redraft, he’s plummeting.
• Mookie Betts – For the second straight season, Betts has seen a dip in power metrics and a decline in aggressiveness on the basepaths. Add in a touch of bad luck, and it’s a recipe for disappointment for those who drafted him as a first-round anchor in L.A.’s star-studded lineup. He still holds strong value thanks to his multi-position eligibility and ability to pile up runs, but he’s starting to resemble more of a third-rounder as we head into the back half of 2025. Don’t let the Dodgers’ glitz fool you.

Watching

• Jurickson Profar – Returning from a PED suspension on July 2nd, Profar is expected to slot into the two-hole per Brian Snitker which is welcome news for a lineup that’s been a letdown in 2025. He’s had a volatile career arc, but just last year he posted a 24-HR, 10-SB season while batting .280 for 4.3 WAR. There’s real value here, but the range of outcomes is wide.
• Chandler Simpson – Simpson is back and still swiping bags. Since returning on June 24th, he’s played five games, stolen two bases, and collected six hits. A game-changer in fantasy and thrilling to watch, his defensive shortcomings and lack of power hurt his real-world outlook. If we were confident he’d stick on the roster, he’d already be in the Top 100. But until then, there’s still risk baked in.