In MLB and in fantasy baseball, few rookie classes have generated as much excitement as the class of 2025. This subjective list of the top five MLB rookies has each individually created a stir of anticipation as the Spring Training schedule takes effect. All but one player were MLB September call-ups in 2024. Each player has already offered their fanbase and fantasy managers a glimpse of their electrifying talents on the diamond. While some are all but guaranteed a position on the opening-day roster, a couple will have to grind and prove themselves in camp.
There are, of course, no guarantees in sports. Having already been tested in their early and highly touted careers, these five have shown flashes of brilliance. As for fantasy managers, there are always risks in taking an unproven player. With Annual Draft Positions (ADP) that are way down the list of draft hopefuls. Conversely, adding a promising rookie to your fantasy baseball roster and taking on a slightly higher risk could be a potential ace in the hole that helps you rack up the points. Consider these five rookies on your draft day.
Crews was finally called up in late August and made a massive statement by homering off of Carlos Rodon in his third game and successfully stealing bases almost at will. Crews finished just under the playing time allowance for 2025 MLB rookie status.
He became a starter on the day he was called up, and there is no reason to believe that, along with other Nats outfield prodigy James Wood, he won’t be penciled in for the opening day lineup. Crews 12 stolen bases in just over a month’s play in Washington is a testament to his unique speed + power combination. A 20 – 20 season is probably an underestimate of what Crews can do in 2025. He is about as safe a pick as you will find in an MLB rookie.
With sky-high hopes and expectations, Sasaki is MLB’s latest Japanese pitching sensation. His stuff is elite, with fastballs regularly touching North of 100mph and pinpoint control, and a poetic motion to his delivery. His numbers in Japan show leading strikeout potential. The concern with Sasaki is the same as what was applied to Yamamoto in 2024. Arm fatigue and injury have presented obstacles for the Dodgers in recent years despite their phenomenal success.
Roki Sasaki has all of the makings of an ace. He will need regular innings to justify his selection. Will the Dodgers go to a six-man rotation? If so, fantasy baseball managers can expect about 120 innings from Roki Sasaki. With load management factored into the Dodgers playbook, this might be the number they were thinking for him anyway.
Jackson Jobe (230) Jobe’s popularity has soared in Motown, especially following his successful starts that helped push the Tigers into the playoffs. His cameo appearances from the bullpen solidified his status as one of the faces of the newly formed, contending Detroit Tigers.
With ace pitcher Tarik Skubal taking the ball on opening day, the staff now has at least one other reliable starter in Jack Flaherty to provide some sense of stability behind him. It is not inconceivable for Jackson Jobe to be the third starter behind the front two workhorses. With that being the case, Jobe is undervalued at an ADP of 230. He should definitely put in 25-30 starts—a wise sleeper pick.
Mayo supporters might have hoped for some movement in the Orioles infield this past offseason. Instead, the 23-year-old third baseman again finds himself on the outside looking in terms of playing time. Ryan O’Hearn will return as a backup first baseman and a possible DH option. Third baseman Jordan Westburg seems healthy to start at the hot corner.
This leaves Mayo looking at probably backup infield duties. Could the power-hitting Mayo be traded? If Mayo were to move on, it would likely be to a club offering a more straightforward path for reaching his potential. For now, it is probably best to hold off on drafting the still-very-young Orioles third baseman.
Martinez’s high ceiling was reduced when he was given a 60-game suspension for violating baseball’s PED policy. Blue Jays fans are quick to forgive, and the organization is allowing Martinez to start at 3B possibly. His home run totals should translate into a minimum of 20 right out of the gate. The Jays seem content with the reliable Ernie Clement to start the year.
With the DH position now seemingly set aside for recent signee Anthony Santander, Orelvis Martinez will need to rise to the challenge in camp. He has all of the tools to hit for great power. The Blue Jays just need to give him the chance. You could draft cautiously, but it might be wise to secure Martinez early on.
Predicting the rookie players that will have the most impact in the upcoming season is always fun. Baseball lineups are relatively secure for most clubs, depending on who managers can see putting in the lineup for opening day. There are always surprises during spring training that seemingly toss many of those plans aside. Someone will emerge as a rookie sensation in MLB for 2025. Whether it will be one of the five listed here remains to be seen.
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