Welcome back to the Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 series. Today is the end of the road for this series as the focus falls on the right fielders as well as the few designated hitters worth talking about.
Before focusing on the right fielders, I want to give a quick rundown of the top 10 designated hitters. A few of the players may be able to get eligibility in the field in 2025, but most will likely remain tethered to the UTL slot in 2025. But thanks to their ability to hit, they are still solid to great players to have on your team.
As for the right field position, it ranks as one of the best positions as far as depth and talent. Lots of sluggers live in right field while there are also a host of players who can provide steals as well as a solid slash line.
But enough chatter. Let’s get on with the rankings, first the top 10 designated hitters followed by the top 50 right fielders.
Designated Hitters
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Andrew McCutcheon | PIT | 38 |
| 9 | Harold Ramirez | WAS | 30 |
| 8 | Eloy Jimenez | BAL | 28 |
| 7 | Masataka Yoshida | BOS | 31 |
| 6 | Joc Pederson | ARI | 32 |
| 5 | Giancarlo Stanton | NYY | 35 |
| 4 | Kyle Schwarber | PHI | 32 |
| 3 | Brent Rooker | OAK | 30 |
| 2 | Marcell Ozuna | ATL | 34 |
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | LAD | 30 |
There are a group of players who are outstanding bats to have on your team but do not have a position to play. They are thus stuck slotting in as a utility player and providing value only at that one spot. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have them on your team, especially those ranked in the top 5. But even the players ranked 6-10 can offers some value.
Just Keeps Hitting
Andrew McCutcheon will be 38 on Opening Day and is now a free agent. But I would not be surprised to see him land with a team in 2025. Why? Because he can still drive the ball out of the park. In 120 games this past season he hit 20 homers for the Pirates while slashing .232-.328-.411. In really deep leagues, McCutcheon offers some value.
Worth a Look?
At what point is it time to give up on a player? Should we move on from Eloy Jimenez, or should we continue to give him one more shot? At this point, it may be time to just let someone else deal with Jimenez. The only thing saving him from being off this list right now is the fact he is 28.
His career 162-game average is fantastic – 29 homers, 90 RBI and a .269/.318/.462 slash line. But you know how many times Jimenez has even played in 140 games during a season? Zero. How about 130 games? Zero. The most games he has ever appeared in is 122 when he was a rookie. Since 2021, his average season is 89 games, 13 homers and 45 RBI. Over the last three seasons his SLG has gone from .500 to .441 to .336 last season.
Since he just turned 28, there is the chance he can duplicate his rookie season, but those chances are getting slimmer and slimmer.
The Sluggers
The combination of Joc Pederson, Giancarlo Stanton, Kyle Schwarber, Brent Rooker and Marcel Ozuna played a total of 19 games in the field in 2024, with Schwarber making five appearances in left field while Rooker played in nine games in right field and five in right field.
But all five of these players should have a spot on your team as a UTL player.
Pederson hit 23 homers and drove in 64 runs while slugging .515 this past season and Stanton had 27 homers and 72 RBI while slugging .475. Schwarber continues to struggle with his batting average, but he hit 38 homers, drove in 104 runs and walked 106 times to provide a .366 OBP while slugging .485.
Rooker had a second consecutive great season for the Athletics. After posting 30 homers, 69 RBI and a .488 SLG in 2023, Rooker slashed .293/.365/.562 with 39 homers and 112 RBI this past season, and he put those numbers up despite playing with an elbow injury that required surgery days after the season ended. There is a good chance he returns to the outfield next season or at least appears in the outfield enough to give him eligibility in right field or perhaps left. If/when that happens, his value greatly increases.
Only twice during Marcel Ozuna’s career has he failed to hit at least 10 homers – his rookie season in 2013 and in 2021 when he appeared in only 48 games and hit seven homers. And only one other time (2015 when he hit 10 homers) has Ozuna failed to hit at least 20 homers. When it comes to Ozuna, the point is this – he can hit and he can slug. His career slash line is .272/.378/.475.
Over the last two seasons he has averaged 153 games, 90 runs scored, 40 homers, 102 RBI and a .552 slugging percentage. Ozuna may not be able to play in the field, but he certainly should be in your lineup because he has produced at the plate his entire career.
The Unicorn
What is there to say about Shoehei Ohtana that you don’t already know? If he was just a hitter and never pitches again, you still need Ohtani on your team. He is that special at the plate. In case you somehow have no idea what he did this past season, he slashed .310/.390/.646 with 134 runs scored, 54 home runs, 130 RBI and 59 steals.
In 2021 he was the AL MVP. Then he slumped in 2022 when he finished second in the MVP voting. Then came another MVP season in 2023 and yet another this past season. His OPS+ the past four seasons have been 157, 144, 185 and 190 with 46, 34, 44 and 54 homers. His 162-game average is 106 runs scored, 42 homers, 107 RBI, 27 steals and a .282/.371/.575 slash line.
There is nothing more that needs to be said about Ohtani.
Right Fielders
Outside of shortstop and center field, this is my favorite position group. There is a lot of depth at this position as there is great talent in Tier 1 and really good talent in Tier 2 spilling into Tier 3. This position features multiple players who can hit for average, power and steal bases – the three main things one looks for in their fantasy players.
This is also a relatively young group of players are only 13 of the 50 ranked players are 30 years old or older.
Just Missed the Cut
Starling Marte will be 36 next season and is coming of a seven homer, 40 RBI campaign with a .269/.327/.388 slash line. But he did have 16 steals, so there is still some value in Marte.
Ramon Laureano played in only 98 games last year, but he hit 11 homers, drove in 33 runs and stole eight bases while slashing .259/.311/.437.
If you are looking for possible power, then Gavin Sheets and Mitch Hanniger could be options, while Tyrone Taylor can add some steals if you need to fill a hole in the category.
Top Prospects
- Chase DeLauter, Cleveland
- Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Braden Montgomery, Boston
- Lazaro Montes, Seattle
- Owen Caissie, Chicago Cubs
Tier 5
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Hunter Goodman | COL | 25 |
| 49 | Will Benson | CIN | 26 |
| 48 | Rece Hinds | CIN | 24 |
| 47 | Jake Fraley | CIN | 29 |
| 46 | Hunter Renfroe | KC | 33 |
| 45 | Mike Yastrzemski | SF | 34 |
| 44 | Ryan O’Hearn | BAL | 31 |
| 43 | Jesse Winker | NYM | 31 |
| 42 | Joey Loperfido | TOR | 25 |
| 41 | Sal Frelick | MIL | 24 |
He Can Hit Homers
Hunter Goodman qualifies as a catcher and right fielder and will likely get some time at first base and DH, allowing him to continue to hit home runs for the Rockies. In 70 games he hit 13 homers and drove in 36 runs with a .417 SLG. But Goodman also hit only .190 with a .228 OBP, 28.6% strikeout rate and a measly 3.6% walk rate. The fact he can serve as a catcher gives him a lot of value, but only as a backup.
Pick a Red
Jake Fraley will likely be the starter in right field for the Reds in 2025 after slashing .277/.330/.386 with 20 steals in 2024. Fraley hit only five homers after hitting 12 and 15 the two previous seasons. I expect him to get back to the 12 to 15 range. Add the modest power and speed, and he is a solid depth player.
If Fraley loses playing time, it will likely be to Will Benson, who can also play left and center. It looked like Benson was a sleeper heading into this season after he slashed .275/.365/.498 with 11 homers and 19 steals in 108 games in 2023. But this past year saw that slash line drop to .187/.274/.376 in 128 games, though he did hit 14 homers and steal 16 bags. But he had a 39.7% strikeout rate and for his career it is 35.5%. He’s not a starter, but in super deep leagues, he can offer something off the bench.
A player to monitor is Rece Hinds. He appeared in only 24 games for the Reds this year, but he hit five homers and drove in 11 with two steals while slashing .261/.333/.717. In 344 career minor league games he has 61 homers and 62 steals, though with a .240/.310/.463 slash line.
Where Will He Play?
Ryan O’Hearn had a solid year for Baltimore, slashing .264/.334/.427 with 15 homers and 59 RBI. In addition to right field he can also be slotted at first base. But how much playing time O’Hearn gets is the big question as he won’t be the starter in right or first. But he will likely get close to 400 at-bats as he fills in at those positions as well as at DH.
Tier 4
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | Garrett Mitchell | MIL | 26 |
| 39 | Mickey Moniak | LAA | 26 |
| 38 | Lars Nootbar | STL | 27 |
| 37 | Matt Vierling | DET | 28 |
| 36 | Luke Raley | SEA | 30 |
| 35 | Luis Matos | SF | 23 |
| 34 | Victor Robles | SEA | 27 |
| 33 | Jo Adell | LAA | 25 |
| 32 | Jesus Sanchez | MIA | 27 |
| 31 | George Springer | TOR | 35 |
Solid Depth Players
During a baseball season, injuries are going to happen. Having solid depth players will help you overcome those injuries. That is where Mickey Moniak, Lars Nootbar and Matt Vierling slot in.
Moniak can play center and right field, and despite the return of Mike Trout looming, he should still get plenty of action at both positions. Moniak did not match his 2023 production, but he can provide 15 homers and five or so steals. Nootbar can play all three outfield spots and provide a bit of power as he has hit 14, 14 and 12 the last three seasons.
After slashing .261/.329/.388 with 10 homers and 63 RBI in 2023, Vierling socked 16 homers and drove in 80 runs while slashing .257/.312/.423 in 2024 while playing all three outfield spots as well as third base. With Detroit getting some injured players back in 2025, Vierling may not get as many at-bats, but he still should get enough to be a solid depth player.
Father Time Catching Up
It pains me to see George Springer no longer be the player he once was as he is one of my favorite players. But since signing with the Blue Jays in 2021, Springer’s numbers have not come close to what he did in Houston and he is coming off his worst season in 2024. In seven years with the Astros (which includes the 60-game 2020 season), Springer averaged 114 games with a .270/.361/.491 slash line, 25 homers, 65 RBI and seven steals. His 162-game average was 35 homers, 93 RBI and 10 steals.
In his four years with the Blue Jays he has averaged 128 games, 22 homers, 64 RBI and 14 steals with a .251/.328/.436 slash line. His 162-game average is 28 homers, 81 RBI and 17 steals. So the only thing he has done better since joining the Blue Jays is steal bases. And he is coming off a 2024 season in which he slashed .220/.303/.371 with 19 homers, 56 RBI and 16 steals. Spring will be 35 next season, so while he may have a productive season or two left, I wouldn’t count him to be the player he once was.
Tier 3
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Bryan De La Cruz | PIT | 28 |
| 29 | Adolis Garcia | TEX | 32 |
| 28 | Jorge Soler | ATL | 33 |
| 27 | Jhonkensy Noel | CLE | 23 |
| 26 | Josh Lowe | TB | 27 |
| 25 | Wilyer Abreu | BOS | 25 |
| 24 | Cody Bellinger | CHC | 29 |
| 23 | Andy Pages | LAD | 24 |
| 22 | Alec Burleson | STL | 26 |
| 21 | Jake McCarthy | ARI | 27 |
The Veterans
Adolis Garcia and Jorge Soler likely have several more solid years of production left in them, but at the ages of 32 and 33 next season, there are a host of players I’d rather rely on.
Garcia has power, as evidenced by his average of 30.5 homers per season since 2021. But his 2023 season, in which he hit 39 homers and drove in 107 runs, is likely a career year. In his other seasons he has hit 31, 27 and 25 homers and driven in 90, 101, and 85 runs. So even if he just hits 25 homers and drives in 90 runs, that is a solid outfielder and likely starter for many fantasy teams. But he doesn’t hit for a high average or have a strong OBP and he has a high strikeout rate. He will be 33 next season, so I think his window of being a top offensive player is closing.
Jorge Soler will be playing for his fourth team since 2023 when he takes the field for the Angels in 2025 after playing for Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta the past two seasons. Soler is pretty much the same player Garcia is. He can hit homers, he will drive in runs (though not as many as Garcia), he will have a below average slash line outside of his SLG and he will strike out. Like Garcia, his window is closing.
The Wild Card
Johnkensy Noel could be ranked too low here or he could be too high – it all depends on what happens this upcoming season. There is no questioning his power. He had a 6.6% home run rate with Cleveland, leading to 13 dingers in 67 games. His average and OBP .218/.288 isn’t great, and he had a 31.8% strikeout rate. However, a 162-game average of 31 homers is nothing to gloss over.
But will he get 450 at-bats with the Guardians? If he can keep the strikeouts under control (his K% in the minors is 23.6%) then he likely will.
Right Field for Pages?
With Juan Soto playing for the Mets in 2025 and not headed to the Dodgers, there is a spot in right field that may be reserved for Andy Pages, who just turned 24. Pages had a solid debut with the Dodgers in 2024, slashing .248/.305/.407 with 13 homers and 65 RBI in 116 games. If he gets 450 at-bats, he could close in on 20 homers and 70 RBI in the Los Angeles lineup.
Ranked for a Third Time
If you’re thinking you’ve seen Jake McCarthy ranked before, you are correct as he appeared in my left field and center field rankings. McCarthy debuted in 2022 and slashed .283/.342/.427 with eight homers, 43 RBI and 23 steals in only 96 games as a rookie in 2022. He regressed in 2023 before bouncing back this past season with a .285/.349/.400 slash line with eight homers, 56 RBI and 25 steals in 124 games.
His 162-game average is .270/.338/.388 with nine homers, 53 RBI and 34 steals. If he can approach those numbers, he provides great outfield depth as he plays all three outfield positions and can be a fringe starter in deep leagues.
Tier 2
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Lane Thomas | CLE | 29 |
| 19 | Jordan Walker | STL | 22 |
| 18 | Nick Castellanos | PHI | 33 |
| 17 | Matt Wallner | MIN | 27 |
| 16 | Tyler O’Neill | BOS | 29 |
| 15 | Bryan Reynolds | PIT | 28 |
| 14 | Seiya Suzuki | CHC | 30 |
| 13 | Anthony Santander | BAL | 30 |
| 12 | Lawrence Butler | OAK | 24 |
| 11 | Teoscar Hernandez | LAD | 33 |
The Surprise
Jordan Walker showing up at No. 19 may be a surprise to some or maybe even many. But I am not ready to jump off the Walker bandwagon, as small as it may be. Remember, it was only one season ago when Walker, who turns 23 in May and was a top five prospect entering the 2023 season, hit 16 homers, drove in 51 runs and slashed .276/.342/.445 in 117 games.
Yes, 2024 was a disaster for Walker as he slashed .201/.253/.366 with five homers and 20 RBI in 51 games as he was demoted to Triple-A after April and didn’t return to St. Louis until August. But in September, Walker looked more like the 2023 version we saw as he slashed .253/.286/.494 with five homers and 16 RBI. For a full six months that is 30 homers and 96 RBI.
He may not approach those numbers in 2025 but he is much better than what he showed in April and August of this year.
Hoping for a Full Season
Matt Wallner has never played in more than 76 games in a season. In 76 games in 2023, Wallner hit 14 homers, drove in 41 runs and slashed .249/.370/.507. This past season in 75 games he went 13 and 37 with a .259/.372/.523 slash line. In 169 career games he has hit 29 home runs and driven in 88 while sporting a .251/.366/.500 slash line. I believe (hope) Wallner can get into at least 130 games and provide 25 homers and 75 RBI.
A Career Year! And a Career Year?
I like Anthony Santander, but I do not expect him to hit 44 homers again and driving in 100 runs may be tough to duplicate again as well. Santander’s previous career high in homers was 33 and in RBI it was 95. He also has a career slash line of .246/.307/.469, so only his SLG is above average. But while I don’t think Santander will duplicate what he did in 2024 going forward, he is a solid 30-homer, 90-RBI player.
As a rookie in 2023, Lawrence Butler slashed .211/.240/.341 with four dingers, 10 RBI and zero steals to go with a 27% strikeout rate and 3% walk rate. In 2024, his season started much like his 2023 campaign went. From April through June, Butler slashed .179/.260/.269 with two home runs, eight RBI and four steals while posting a 31% strikeout rate. But from July through the end of the season, Butler was a force at the plate for the A’s. He slashed .302/.346/.597 with 20 homers, 49 RBI and 14 steals in 73 games. His strikeout rate dropped to 20.5% during that span.
Unlike Santander, I fully expect Butler to improve on his numbers from this past season and be at least a 25-85-20 player with room to improve on those numbers for years to come.
The Depth in Right Field
Teoscar Hernandez was my fourth-ranked left fielder. Here he comes in at No. 11 and I thought about dropping him a bit further. I don’t dislike Hernandez now. His dropping speaks to the depth of the right field position and the fact Hernandez may be more of a fulltime left fielder in the future. But while his position may be up in the air, his ability to hit is not.
This past season for the Dodgers saw him slash .272/.339/.501 with 33 homers and 99 RBI. Since 2021, his average season is 147 games, 29 home runs, 96 RBI, nine steals and a .273/.327/.486 slash line. He does strike out a lot as he has a career 29.6% strikeout rate. But he also has a 5% home run rate and I fully expect him to continue hitting for at least the next three years.
Tier 1
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Dylan Crews | WAS | 23 |
| 9 | Mookie Betts | LAD | 32 |
| 8 | Colton Cowser | BAL | 25 |
| 7 | Kerry Carpenter | DET | 27 |
| 6 | Corbin Carroll | ARI | 24 |
| 5 | Jackson Chourio | MIL | 21 |
| 4 | Fernando Tatis | SD | 26 |
| 3 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | 27 |
| 2 | Kyle Tucker | HOU | 28 |
| 1 | Juan Soto | NYY | 26 |
Getting Ready for Prime Time
Dylan Crews didn’t set the world on fire during his 31 games with the Nationals this season as he slashed .218/.288/.353. But he did show why he is considered one of the top young players in the game. He hit three homers, though two of them came in his first four games, and stole 12 bases. It is his power-speed combo that has everyone so excited about his future. One of the best players in college while at LSU, Crews had a .275/.351/.455 slash line with 18 homers, 97 RBI and 29 steals in only 135 career minor league games before being recalled by the Nationals. It would be surprising if Crews doesn’t go 20-20 this season and only get better over the years.
Only a Future Shortstop?
Mookie Betts is one of the best overall players in baseball as he excels at shortstop, second base and right field (and likely anywhere else on the field if he played there). He has all of the tools to build a winning fantasy team – speed, hitting and power. But as a right fielder, his time there has come to an end as the Dodgers have said Betts will be playing shortstop in 2025. Will Betts play enough in right field to maintain his eligibility? Maybe. But the fact no one knows for sure bumps him down in the rankings.
Ready to Bust Out
Kerry Carpenter has one problem – he can’t stay healthy. He was limited to 87 games this past season due to a lumbar stress fracture in his back. A shoulder sprain due to running into the wall while making a catch in 2023 limited Carpenter to 118 games. But when he is healthy, he is an exciting player to watch. In his 87 games last year he slashed .284/.345/.587 with 18 homers and 57 RBI. His 162-game average in the majors is 30 home runs and 90 RBI. If Carpenter can stay healthy, he should be able to reach those numbers in 2025 and future seasons.
Multi-Positional Talents
The trio of Colton Cowser, Corbin Carroll and Jackson Chourio have been examined in previous rankings. Cowser, my 6th-ranked left fielder and 8th-ranked center fielder, finished second in the AL ROY voting this season after hitting 24 homers and driving in 69 runs while stealing nine bases and slashing .242/.321/.447. His power is real and his slash line should creep toward his minor league career numbers of .298/.420/.489. I think what he did this past season is his floor and the power should increase over the next few years.
Carroll, ranked fifth in the center field rankings, won the ROY in 2023 but slumped a bit at the plate last year with a .231/.322/.428 slash line with 22 homers, 74 RBI and 35 steals. But Carroll found his groove in the second half of the season for the Diamondbacks, slashing .259/.351/.568 with 17 homers, 42 RBI and 17 steals in 64 games.
Chourio, who I ranked second in left field, finished third in the NL ROY voting after slashing .275/.327/.464 with 21 homers, 79 RBI and 22 steals. As the season progressed, Chourio got better and better. He slashed .243/.294/.384 with nine homers, 35 RBI and 10 steals in the first half (covering 85 games). Over his final 63 games, he slashed .310/.363/.552 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 12 steals.
What’s up next for Chourio? Don’t be shocked to see him knocking on the door for a 30-100-30 season in 2025 and beyond.
Injury Concerns
Picking between the top four players in right field is almost like choosing which child is your favorite – it changes depending on the day, their behavior, and your mood. Fernando Tatis and Ronald Acuna Jr. come in fourth and third due in large part to the fact they have had a tough time remaining on the field. Since 2021, Tatis has averaged playing in 124 games and missed all of 2022 due to his PED suspension. As for Acuna, he has averaged playing in 102 games since 2021.
When they are on the field, both players are amazing to watch. The average season for Tatis since 2021 is a .271/.341/.514 slash line with 85 runs scored, 29 homers, 75 RBI and 22 steals. For Acuna, his numbers are .296/.385/.515 with 83 runs scored, 21 homers, 56 RBI and 34 steals.
A Close Second
I’m not sure if people give Kyle Tucker the credit he deserves. In addition to being a Gold Glove winning outfielder, he is also one of the top hitters in baseball. Until this season, when a hairline fracture in his right shin due to a foul ball limited him to 78 games, Tucker had played in 140 or more games from 2021-23. Since 2021, his average season is 131 games with a .280/.362/.527 slash line with 77 runs scored, 28 homers, 90 RBI and 20 steals. He drove in 107 runs in 2022 and led the American League with 112 in 2023 and was on pace to drive in more than 100 runs in 2024 if not for the injury.
Head of the Class
It is hard to believe that Juan Soto will still be only 26 on Opening Day in 2025. But that is a fact. And it is also a fact that Soto is one of the best hitters in baseball and one of the more durable players. Since 2021 the average season for Soto is 156 games, a .279/.423/.520 slash line, and 107 runs scored, 33 home runs, 94 RBI and nine steals. His ability to control the strike zone and an at-bat is amazing to watch.
Playing in the Bronx this past season, all Soto did was set career highs in runs scored (128) and home runs (41) and had his second-best RBI season (109). The only thing Soto doesn’t do well is steal bases. But that is no reason to ding a generational hitter.
Come Back Next Week
Thanks for reading and come back right after Christmas for the start of the Top 400 Dynasty Players for 2025 where players from all position groups will be thrown together and ranked, counting down from 400 to No. 1 over the next two-plus months.
Previous Rankings
Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Relievers
Top 100 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Starting Pitchers
Top 40 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Catchers
Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – First Basemen
Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Second Basemen
Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Shortstops
Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Third Basemen
Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Left Fielders
Top 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Center Fielders
