In an incredible turn of events, I’ve done all the infield 2025 fantasy baseball rankings. Less incredible, you’ve read them. It’s like that time your favorite team won because they played better than that other team but you convinced yourself they won because you cheered loudly. When I win the Fantasy Baseball Blogger of the Millennial in 2099, and my frozen head is accepting the award, I’m going to thank you, the readers, but I’m secretly going to be thanking myself. Without me, none of this would be possible. You’re a close second though! Okay, enough ranking of you and me, let’s rank some outfielders! Here’s Steamer’s 2025 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Hitters and 2025 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Pitchers. Subscriptions are up and running, and you can already get Rudy’s Draft War Room. Anyway, here’s the top 20 outfielders for 2025 fantasy baseball:
NOTE: All my 2025 fantasy baseball rankings are currently available on Patreon for the price of a Starbucks coffee, if you get one of those extra grande frappuccino jobbers. Don’t wait for the rankings to come out over the next month, and get them all now.
NOTE II: Free agents are marked as such and not yet projected. They are ranked for where they’re currently worth drafting.
NOTE III: Watch us discuss the top 40 outfielders:
1. Aaron Judge – Already went over him in the top 10 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
2. Juan Soto – Already went over him in the top 10 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
3. Kyle Tucker – Already went over him in the top 10 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
4. Fernando Tatis Jr. – Already went over him in the top 10 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
5. Corbin Carroll – Already went over him in the top 20 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
6. Julio Rodriguez – Already went over him in the top 20 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
7. Mookie Betts – Already went over him in the top 20 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
8. Yordan Alvarez – Already went over him in the top 20 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
9. Jarren Duran – Already went over him in the top 20 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
10. Jackson Chourio – Already went over him in the top 20 for 2025 fantasy baseball.
11. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Doyle. I call this tier, “Dropping a rap diss so crazy the other guy sues.” Not sure how many of you are caught up on the Drake and Kendrick diss news. What, you don’t read World Star? Geez, free heads! You must sleep well. To catch you up, Kendrick and Drake were trading diss tracks, which is being nice to Drake. It was basically Drake released one, then Kendrick released, like, four in quick succession and one, Not Like Us, was so good it became the song of the summer. Then in November, Drake sued saying it was bots pushing the song up the charts. The song that was ubiquitous everywhere was a Russian bot farm. Not very convincing by Drake. Not Like Us was released on May 4th. That means for six months Drake’s representation tried to dissuade him from filing that lawsuit while offering reasons why the song was so popular besides the obvious: Everyone hates you, Drake. This is very funny. “No, man, everyone loves you, it’s the bots! The bots are pushing Not Like Us!” Very, very funny. Kendrick Lamar’s next diss song, The Streisand Effect, will teach Drake that a lawsuit against him is the best way to get Kendrick to do another diss song about him. Anyway, this tier is so good it will get people to sue because it’s too good.
As for Jazz, already went over him in the top 20 3rd basemen for 2025 fantasy baseball.
12. Ronald Acuña Jr. – This is a tricky We’re Back Era ranking because I don’t know when Tildaddy’s We’re Back Era will begin. Braves have already said that he won’t be back for Opening Day. Tildaddy is ready? Yes, we don’t know. About to start calling him Whendaddy. I ranked him this high because there’s no doubt that If-and-Whendaddy is Tildaddy, Thendaddy will be great. To talk less Seussian, when he’s back, I want him on my fantasy team. This could be the last chance to get him at a discount, which is kinda what I said before the 2023 season, when he went 41/73/.337, after he was coming off another knee injury. If I’m being realistic (which is no fun), how many knee injuries can he have before the Braves are like, “Dude, we like your exciting brand of baseball, but can you chillax on the steals?” I’m going to project the We’re Back Era starts for him mid-April and he’s his old self again, but I’d be lying if I didn’t think there was at least an outside chance he’s out until May-June and he’s more of a 20/30 guy upon return. Here’s hoping his We’re Back Era is so Back. UPDATE: Announced he wouldn’t run as much, so I had to lower him. 2025 Projections: 73/26/51/.269/24 in 441 ABs
13. Brent Rooker – First, feast your eyes:
Welcome to the Smoke Show. Last year, Rooker went 39/11/.293 and this year he’s in a minor league park for his home games. Daddy wants more of whatever is cooking in the kitchen. Some guys are so good batted-ball profile-wise that I’m more tempted to try to find fault, which is what I did with Rooker and I found very little. I guess the A’s might not provide a ton of counting stats, but he had 112 RBIs and 82 runs last year. Another issue might be his .362 BABIP, but look again at how hard he hits the ball. The only real drawback for some leagues is he doesn’t have outfield eligibility. So, play at Yahoo fantasy more! 2025 Projections: 86/36/105/.268/10 in 539 ABs
14. Oneil Cruz – Already went over him in the top 20 shortstops for 2025 fantasy baseball.
15. James Wood – In a half season, he went 9/14/.264. [Mr. Prorater breaks through the wall] There’s literally a door right next to where you broke through the wall! “Sorry. I was just excited to tell you James Wood would’ve went 19/28 last year in 162 games.” Yeah, tough to figure that out. Thanks, now leave. Through the door! James Wood, star of Salvador and co-star of Oliver Stone’s JFK, has one of the prettiest Statcast sliders I’ve seen. Just smoked all balls like in a gorge way. When sorting by 150 batted ball events, Wood was 16th best exit velocity and 14th best Hard Hit%. At 21 years old! Just absolute smoke show. Want stank on it? Wood will do it! 2025 Projections: 89/26/77/.272/25 in 556 ABs
16. Wyatt Langford – Coming into last year he was a lock for 20/20, then disappointed. OR DID HE?! Jesus, Mr. Reversal, take it easy, you’re wrong, Langford did disappoint. OH, SORRY. AT LEAST I DIDN’T BUST THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE MR. PRORATER. Langford went 16/19/.253. He was the 23rd best outfielder on the Player Rater last year, and around 100th overall. Not bad, and that was only in 134 games (499 ABs) as a rookie. If he stays on the field and doesn’t start slow, then he’s easily meeting expectations. HENCE THE ‘OR DID HE?!’ NO? No, he did disappoint, but he was close to not disappointing. GOT IT. MY BAD. That was with only a 20.6 K% and 9.2 BB% and a .296 BABIP, which seems incredibly low for a guy with his insane speed. Speaking of which, he could steal 45 bags if the Rangers let him. The floor here is 20/20/.260 which is basically returning value, but the upside is top five players in fantasy. Still buying, big-time. 2025 Projections: 86/22/83/.267/26 in 553 ABs
17. Jackson Merrill – Pretty sure that I have most of these guys flipped from their ADP, but one that might stand out the most is Merrill. I did this pretty straightforwardly. I said to myself do I want Merrill or Jazz or Cruz or Wyatt or Wood or Doyle and Merrill ended up here. All the guys in this tier ahead of him have 20/20 floors and Merrill has 25/15. Basically the same diff, but counting on power rather than speed worries me just a tad bit more, i.e., I’d draft Merrill, but only in theory since he’s ranked after guys who are below him in ADP. 2025 Projections: 88/27/86/.294/14 in 531 ABs
18. Brenton Doyle – Yeah, I know, Nolan Jones. Yeah, I get it, Bud Black. Here’s how I’m looking at it: Brenton Doyle is not coming off a great half season like Nolan Jones. He was not a rookie. Last year was his 2nd year when he went 23/30/.260. As for Bud, he’s played him for two seasons, so I don’t think he’s suddenly going to pull the plug and euthanize our dreams. Don’t love that Doyle’s 2nd half was demonstrably worse than his first, but easy 30-steal speed and cutting his Ks has me fully bought in. 2025 Projections: 80/25/76/.252/32 in 578 ABs
19. Cody Bellinger – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until the top 40 outfielders. I call this tier, “Goldilocks of adults.” This tier refers to me being a grown-ass adult and not acting foolish by ranking these guys too high or too low, but just right, like I’m the Goldilocks of adults. As for Cody, already went over him in the top 20 1st basemen for 2025 fantasy baseball.
20. Teoscar Hernandez – Re-signed with the Dodgers, as was the assumption when he said at the World Series, “I am a thousand percent staying with the Dodgers.” When he said that, you could almost hear his agent scream in slow motion. The only other person whose scream was in slower motion was James Outman. Sorry, James, you’re out, man. Also, Andy, it’s time to turn the Pages to a team that might actually play a rookie. This was the best place for Teoscar, obviously. Where else for a Teoscar than Hollywood? Plus, that stadium and lineup. If he stays in the lineup for 575 ABs, it’s hard to imagine a season that isn’t a top 20 outfielder year with zero upside. 2025 Projections: 81/34/94/.261/7 in 576 ABs
CONTINUE ONTO THE TOP 40 OUTFIELDERS FOR 2025 FANTASY BASEBALL
someone please explain how Chourio is a top 20 player and Lawrence Butler is going three rounds later when they had identical years last year and Butler gets a park upgrade?
would you rather have one of langford, wood, or butler over Luis Garcia? somewhat similar stats
probably all of those over l.garcia, for sure the first 2.
I have a good keeper dilemma where I am loaded at in outfield and have speed. 5×5, h2h, 6 keepers. I have no pitching lol.
I’m lucky to keep Wood and Tucker at good costs for this year. I have 2 infielders I am keeping too plus potentially Harper as my 5th at $26.
What would you recommend between –
Keep 1 (or 2 if no Harper at $26) of-
Teoscar – $20
Doyle – $14
Tatis – $38
Thanks!
Harper, Doyle
Appreciate it!
10 team salary cap team. Would you rather keep Yainer Diaz for $7 or Jasson Dominguez for $1. Thank you
Would you rather have $7 Kjerstad or $6 Encarnacion-Stand in a 12 team ottoneu points format? Thanks.
I love the youth on this list! My excitement quickly vanished as i suddenly had a Jordan Walker flashback.
Mariners making moves! Think they trade Castillo now and swap in their newest signing and hope no one notices.
“The Mariners have signed right-hander Luis F. Castillo to a minor league contract and invited
him to big league camp this spring, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The 29-year-old Castillo — obviously not to be confused with the eight-year MLB veteran of the same first and last name currently in Seattle’s rotation — pitched briefly with the Tigers in 2022 and has spent the past two seasons in Japan.”
He even pitched for the Marines in Japan, can you get any closer to Mariners?
Man with moves like that, they should be able to have a better offseason than the Rays and Marlins!
*Rays just signed Kim*
Just the Marlins then!
From the marines to the mariners, R you serious?! I’m so sorry
I can’t believe the Rays got Kim, not sure what kind of middle reliever he’s gonna make
I continually struggle with Doyle – his Statcast is very non-Rooker. It’s like, all blue. I would much rather have Lawrence Butler if I’m paying full price / expected ADP. I do think Doyle is going to swipe more than 40 bags, batting leadoff this year. Not sure he isn’t a major AVG/OBP vampire though
Meh, if he steals 40 and hits 15 while hitting leadoff, he’s fine
I am a Doyle fan. Traded for in dynasty when he got drafted. Was hoping for 20/20 or 15/30 .230ish with GG D. Obviously flew past that. Im just concerned the hit tool is still a work in progress and not as good as avg suggested last year. He is a bit of a late bloomer and room to grow. I think he had a high ceiling still, I just dont like the price he is going for with as many flags as he has.
Same, I like him a lot. Don’t get me wrong. I drafted him last year in our reserve draft (we do an auction for starting lineup and then a snake reserve draft) and he’s one of my keepers this year at the $5 price tag. I just don’t feel good drafting him at the full price.
I totally think that 40-15 is his floor this year, and happy to have him as a keeper, and absolutely think he’s capable of more. He has a great attitude and work ethic. But i feel safer drafting Butler and Teo ahead of him in redraft.
That sounds like a top 10 overall floor season. Man, I would love that. I am worried about Brandon Nimmo numbers with less runs and 10 more steals. Worth my price, but I was assuming maybe a $20 avg cost. Is it more / an earlier adp so far?
Grey,
Love that it is rankings season! In a keeper league I have Riley Greene and Teoscar Hernandez and can likely only keep one of them. Given the age difference, team context, etc. how would you handle that one? It is keep-by-round and Greene also has much better value there (round 10 versus round 3).
The thing I wrestle with is that my team has a lot of win-now pieces. Do you feel Riley Greene is a potential future star that I need to hang onto, or would you lean into the win-now and keep Teoscar despite the fact that he is 32?
Riley
Are you a seller or a buyer for ketel marte if you hold him in a dynasty?
Seller
Thanks, Grey, for another entertaining and informative article. Keeper question for a 12-team, head-to-head mixed league. Standard 5×5 plus doubles and walks. Starting lineup is 1C, 3OF and 1DH (for purposes of my question). Would you keep William Contreras (lose 9th round pick) or Wyatt Langford (lose 10th)? Thanks.
Wyatt
Thank you, sir. Have a great day!
No problem
need 3 more. baseball fever…catch it
I feel like we are just gonna miss it….
i think greg and tom have a few guys on speed dial to fill the last slots
Yeah that’s right
Cool something to do besides dingers
Haha
One guy I have drafted on every team….no one seems to want him can you guess who it is?
Oneil Cruz?
No everyone wants him….pitcher
Can’t really tell you because we are about to draft
Ha, ok, tell me tomorrow
I’ll tell you after I win him haha
Ha, ok, but I may not be paying attention to the in-draft chat
Nah we’re good
Sweet
14! lets goooooooo
We’re good!
ima crush you albright!
No, sir! I will repeat then not three-peat bc Pat Riley trademarked that
you shan’t peat
I shall’t!
Hey Oaktown do remember how long the auction takes?
3 hours
Thanks!
For sure? Exactly?
approximately
Grey! It’s approaching keeper selection and I wanted to get your thoughts on the choices below. We can keep 10 players for up to 5 years at increasing values, so I noted the round and the years remaining below. Would you sub any of the guys outside my current list for guys on it?
Current Keepers
Elly DLC 25th round (4 years remaining including this year)
Carroll 21st (3 yrs)
Langford 26th (4 yrs)
Caminero 23nd (3 yrs)
Skenes 22nd (3 yrs)
Ragans 24th (3 yrs)
Abrams 25th (4 yrs)
Naylor 18th (3 yrs)
Jared Jones 28th (4 yrs)
deGrom 9th (3 yrs)
Other Options
Neto 27th (4 yrs)
McClanahan 15th (3 yrs)
Judge or Soto 1st (last year)
Forget Jones and keep Judge
Hey Grey. So I’m in a 12 team H2H keeper where we keep 6, and trying to decide on my 6th between Alonso (who would be a 3rd rounder for me, losing another in 2026) or Ozuna (who would be 11th rounder for me this year).
For context, my other keepers are : JuRod (6th round), Carroll (8th), Wood (10th), Riley (9th), Shota (12th) – so I have a full outfield, leaving me with 1b, 2 utility spots, SS, and 2B, plus bench
My league has two Utility spots so Ozuna would slot into 1 of those if I keep him.
I have the 12th pick (and 13th pick – 2nd round) for my draft and of the 1b who are not being kept, it goes, Feeeman, Olsen, Alonso (if dont keep him), and then big drop to Casas. There are also not many guys in your overall top 20 who are available outside of Betts.
So not sure if I consider Pete out of position scarcity despite having much less keeper value than Osuna. Its also possible I can draft Alonso with my 1st or 2nd pick if hes available, and I doubt I will be keeping him next year as a 2nd rounder. Im leaning Ozuna for keeper value and based on better production last year, although leaves me possibility of being vulnerable at 1B. Thanks Grey
Alonso
Just a follow up – would you consider Butler in 10th round over Alonso in 3rd? I only started to consider him recently. I already have the three other OF listed above so he’d start off as one of my utility – similar situation with Ozuna but with slightly more position flexibility where he can be OF and Utility. Thanks again Grey
Sure
think this auction fills before 3? i have a very very rare unavailabilty Thurs and Friday so if it gets rescheduled for then i’ll have to cut.
Needs four more? I’d guess it fills, yeah…hopefully, I can’t do thurs or friday either
Hi Grey,
Great work like always!
I’m in a 12 team h2h keeper and have to keep 8 players. Categories are: runs, hits, RBIs, BA, OPS, sbs, offensive ks, wins, ERA, WHIP, k:bb, saves and qs.
I’m likely keeping the following:
Betts
Trea Turner
William Contreras
Westburg
King
Pablo Lopez
Which 2 would you pick from the following list:
Gallen, Kwan, Bryan Reynolds, Christian Walker and Royce Lewis
Thanks a lot!
Cersy
Thanks! Walker and coin flip…I guess Gallen, but if you wanted to risk it with Lewis, then by all means
Wyatt changed his stance and swing in late August and immediately went ballistic. His .296 BABIP was driven by lazy fly balls got from a crouched stance. His launch angle was can of corn until suddenly dropping to 11% in September. Just for kicks, his September stats prorate to 130 runs, 120 RBI, 50 SB, 40 HR.
LFG!
Hi Grey….its keeper time. In a 12 team roto keeper auction with a $300 draft budget. From a champion team last year I can choose just 8. My options are as follows with some able to be kept for 2025 only and some for 2025 and 2026:
2025 ONLY
Nico Hoerner. $4
Seiya Suzuki. $11
Josh Jung. $1
Justin Steele. $10
Joe Ryan. $14
Andres Munoz. $10
The following can be kept for 2025 and 2026:
Logan O’Hoppe. $11
T. Stephenson. $10
Tristan Casas. $10
Jordan Westburg. $10
Mark Vientos. $10
Jr. Caminero. $10
Aaron Judge. $53
Dylan Crews. $10
Marcell Ozuna. $7
A. Santander. $14
Ian Happ. $10
Chris Sale. $13
Bryan Woo. $9
S. McClanahan. $10
Shane Baz. $10
Taj Bradley. $10
Which 8 do you like? I lean toward guys who can be kept two years. I appreciate your help as I like way too many of these players. Thanks!
Caminero, Judge, Crews, Santander, Westburg, Sale, Casas, and Vientos
By the time 2025 is all said and done and the numbers are in the books, Lawrence Butler will be a top 12 OF’er.
I think you could be right, he’ll be along shortly
So far, 6 or 7 drafts done. Have lots of Duran, Rooker…some Cruz, Belli and TheOscar.
I’m lacking Langford and Wood! (Derisively, that’s what she said!!)
In DCs, I must be taking my first SPs at that point? How should I remedy this Fantasy Master Lothario From The Fantasy College of Charleston Don’t Abbreviate?
HAHA….I think you’re gonna need to have a turn draft pick and take something like Wood/Snell
You could take part in the auction draft tonight and get Wood or Wyatt https://nfc.shgn.com/signup/baseball?for=0;2350,138,20008,60,1
4 spots left! Draft tonight!
U must not care about The Cobblers!! Got the wife’s Game Night. Hopefully it turns out better than the movie Game Night!
How much focus do you need on this game night thing?
HAHA! That would require a level of multi-tasking The Cobblers do not possess!
The Cobblers LURVE Auctions! Unfortunately, they require me total fuckus…which means ignoring our guests which makes us bad hosts! (Tho, now that I write that out, it *may* mean we no longer host these ever again?!?! So that’s a WIN!)
Hahaha
Stop taking Skenes wheeler and Skubal and take them instead
Currently have an outfield of Jazz, Oneil Cruz, and Jasson Domínguez.
I love the upside but a little nervous about the risk with all 3 for different reasons…here’s my question: should I try to trade for one of the top tier guys or just draft a “safe” 4th-5th outfielder as insurance.
Thanks!
Comes down to who you get really
2 have multiple position eligibility could draft 2 more OF
Skubal and Soto or Elly, Kirby, Yamamoto and Hader in a H2H 10-team keeper? Thank you!
Elly side
Morning Grey,
Trying to read between the lines but all I’m seeing is empty spaces as usual.
Here’s my keepers so far in OF: Merrill $2, Cruz $22, Teoscar $14, Dylan Crews $5.
A guy in the league has a $17 Langford and I know he likes my $6 Volpe.
Would you do Volpe, Dylan Crews and an SP of either Ryan, Gray or Lugo for Langford?
I like Crews’ upside but I’m guessing he’d want him back. Don’t mind losing Volpe or a pitcher.
.
Volpe and Lugo? Sure
And I’m guessing Dylan Crews if he’d even do it. So 3 for 1
Meh
I thought so haha. Just value your opinion before I even offered. Kinda like Crews at $5 and I have for 2 years still. Thanks
No problem
Grey, love your takes on Langford and Wood! I’m hoping there’s a buy low window opening up.
Need to pin down some keepers in my 8 team league with a bunch of college friends. It’s OBP and SLG instead of AVG and HR. Need to pick 8 keepers.
Allahson
Witt Jr
EDLC
Judge
Corbin C
Fun the Jewels
Chourio
Riley
Cease
Hunter G
Who’s allahson again? In 8 team league I’m throwing back the pitchers.
Matt Olson
Thanks! So lose two? Hunter and Cease
Yeah, gotta lose two. I know the right answer in my head is to lose the SP. But my heart (as a Reds fan) loves me some Hunter! Thanks for the guidance …
No problem
I have usually found my draft strategy for 12 team roto is something like:
Rounds 1-3 or 4 – hitters baby and preferably 1 or 2 cat 5
Round 4/5 – sp
Round 5/6 – rp (hopefully top 5??). usually find around round 5 that good hitter still that I like there; if I have done sp in round 4. Quite often have found going rp in round 6.
Rounds 7-10 (3 hitters and 1 sp)
so come out of round 10 with like maybe 7 hitters, 2 sp, 1 rp.
And then maybe start alternating pitcher,hitter rounds 11-16 with aim to get 3 more hitters and 3 more pitchers (2sp,1rp??) by round 16.
I know have to see how things play out as draft progresses.
Does that sound about right and pretty standard??
Football soon done and on to baseball!!
It does make sense
Thanks again for the hard work put in with your rankings Grey!
….With regards to Drake and Kendrick…
‘Fart’….
That’s about as close as I can get to giving a shit about them (especially Drake;)!
Kendrick is good, Goldirocks
Great stuff Grey! Torn with the bottom few keepers in my 12 team roto weekly league. Keep 8 forever (+$3 / yr).
No Brainers
– $32 shohei
– $24 Yordan
– $4 James Wood
– $6 Skenes
Options for Last 4 Keepers
– $7 Ragans
– $10 Strider
– $4 Westburg
– $17 O Cruz
– $11 Turang
– $21 Teoscar
– $4 Woodruff
Thanks!
Thanks! Oneil, Westburg, Ragans, then Tesocar is way better than Strider for right now, but I’d go Strider
Cruz, Teo, Westburg and one of Ragans/Strider
Full keeper dynasty 12 team daily pts league. Sorry, sup, handsome face?!? Now, should I trade Pete “The Meat” Alonso and Jasson Dominguez for Harper and Rooker? I currently have Kwan in LF. My team is absolutely stacked. I won last year and expect that to be status quo. Not sure if I’m overthinking being a little weak in LF. And scared what Jasson could become. I will miss texting our group thread Pete The Meat!! Every time he homers.
The guy used to have springs. I’m worried about him in a minor league park. Maybe could swap Jasson out for Springs?
Here’s my lineup with bench options
Perez, Basallo
The Meat, Vinny Pa
Ketel, Kristen Campbell
Elly, treat urner
Manny
Kwan, Jasson
Julio
Tatis, acuna
Skenes
Jared jones
Keller
Sale
Snell
Bowden
Skubal
Wheeler
Verlander
Springs
Ha, Harper and Rooker sounds solid but does that mean you lose a future LF and are stuck with Kwan? Rooker’s just DH in your league?
i would be left with Kwan. I’m hoping Rooker plays at least 5 games at LF. Then i could switch them out. at least for this season. 20 is our carry over limit for positions.
Meh, don’t love that then