Minor League Hitters With Traits To Target In Fantasy For 2025

Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox 

Now the No. 1 prospect in baseball, this is Anthony’s second time being featured on this list, as he cracked the 2023 edition, as well. Anthony is an extremely well-rounded prospect, but it’s his combination of skills at the plate that puts him into a different stratosphere. His exit velocity data is outstanding, ranking within the top two percent in both 90th percentile exit velocity (108.4 mph) and max EV (116 mph). While standalone EV data like Anthony’s is enough to make people take notice, it’s his ability to pair that with average contact (17.6% zone miss) and above-average swing decisions that has helped him reach Triple-A at 20 and produce a line of .286/.379/.499 across all levels in 2024. Anthony has the elite power and baseline skills to make a smooth translation to the big leagues in 2025.  

Coby Mayo, 3B, Orioles 

This is third time Mayo has appeared on this list, and while his major league debut was less than stellar, his Triple-A performance was just that. Mayo is another hitter with easy plus power and solid plate skills to match. His .426 xwOBAcon is one of the highest in the minors among hitters with a minimum of 200 batted ball events, and sis contact quality stems not only from high exit velocities but his ability to consistently elevate on his hardest contact. Mayo has a 61% flyball+line drive rate and an air pull rate of 38%, highlighting his ability to optimize his well-struck drives. Mayo shows fringe-average bat-to-ball skills and average approach. His blend of contact and power gives him the ability to one day hit for plus power in the big leagues without posting a low batting average and on-base percentage.

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Kristian Campbell, 2B, Red Sox 

No one enjoyed a breakout season quite like Campbell. In fact, no one in the last 25 years may have. Campbell went from being unranked in the Red Sox Top 30 to becoming a top 30 prospect in baseball overall in just six months. After training to add bat speed and optimize ball flight, Campbell has taken the minor leagues by storm, hitting .330/.439/.558 across three levels and 115 games. Campbell’s underlying data is outstanding, as his .428 xwOBAcon is elite while showing above-average to plus bat-to-ball skills and plus swing decisions. The addition of bat speed to Campbell’s profile without sacrificing his natural contact ability has allowed him to climb to the top of prospect rankings. 

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers 

Entering the 2024 season, McGonigle was viewed by many as a lower-upside, higher-floor, hit-over-power second baseman. However, just months into the season, McGonigle showed he has more than just strong bat-to-ball skills. Over 60 games with Low-A Lakeland, McGonigle hit .326/.407/.470 with 24 strikeouts to 34 walks. He was promoted to High-A West Michigan on July 23rd but featured in just 16 games before his season was cut short with a hamate bone fracture in his right hand. The diminutive infielder shows elite bat-to-ball skills with an eight percent zone-miss rate and an 88.1% contact rate overall on the season. McGonigle pairs that excellent bat-to-ball skill with an elite chase rate of just 17.6%. While his power and angles on contact aren’t elite, for an advanced contact hitter who’s just 20 years old, his 90th percentile exit velocity of 103.1 is squarely average. 

Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs 

Entering 2024, there was plenty of buzz around Shaw potentially helping the Cubs this season. That didn’t come to fruition, but Shaw did reach Triple-A in early August and has hit .275/.371/.464 across 111 games in 2024. Shaw’s underlying data earned him a spot in this article last year after a strong pro debut. His data this year keeps him on this list. Shaw’s .362 xwOBAcon is above-average and showcases his strong quality of contact. What makes him unique is his pairing of average-or-better plate skills with good angles and strong exit velocity data. Shaw’s 105.1 mph 90th percentile places him within the top 90th percentile in the minor leagues in that metric. Shaw shows an all-fields approach with the ability to pepper the ball with power to the opposite field. Optimizing his swing path to generate more contact to his pull side with likely be a point of emphasis for Shaw going forward. Despite this, his baseline plate skills and power provide him with a strong foundation and a blend of power and contact. 

Dalton Rushing, C, Dodgers 

In another organization, Rushing would likely already be up with the big league club. But he’s a Dodger. Rushing’s combination of quality of contact and plate skills puts him in rarified air from a data-based perspective. His .426 xwOBAcon is elite, and his ability to hit his best-struck drives and good angles boost that metric. Rushing’s 106 mph 90th percentile EV places him in the top six percent in MiLB, and he pairs it with an extremely good zone-miss rate of 16.5% and a minuscule chase rate of 18.8%. It’s not just his ability to hit the ball and hit it hard that makes Rushing unique, but also his ability to consistently elevate. His 62% flyball+line drive rate puts him into the 94th percentile in that metric. Rushing’s ability to elevate on his best struck drives while minimizing swing-and-miss make him one of the most attractive hitters in the minors from a data perspective. Look for him to break into the major leagues in 2025. 

Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers 

One of the benefits of in-person scouting is that live looks can often provide insight that numbers can’t express. That was the case with De Paula over the first few seasons of his professional career. De Paula’s numbers were good but they didn’t scream superstar. That began to change in 2024, as across two levels, the 19-year-old De Paula has hit .268/.404/.405 with 10 home runs and 27 stolen bases. One of the youngest players to get significant playing time in High-A this season, De Paula has shown he’s better than his slashline. His in-game power has ticked up with the data to back it. His 105.2 mph 90th percentile is elite for a teenager, putting him within the 95th percentile of that age group. While optimizing his bat path and improving ball flight is likely a focus going forward, De Paula has outstanding foundational skills. He rarely swings and misses and hardly, if ever, expands the zone. His .367 xwOBAcon is above-average but looks even better when placed in the context of age and level.

Jesus Made, SS, Brewers 

This might seem like hyperbole, but Made has the makings of a future No. 1 overall prospect, and the data and scout feedback support this statement. In 2024, Made hit .331/.458/.554 with six home runs and 28 stolen bases across 51 Dominican Summer League games. Despite turning 17 years old a month before the DSL season, Made was the most outstanding player in the league this summer. Not only do Made’s skills show up in his slashline, his underlying data is also eye-popping for a 17-year-old. His 104.2 mph 90th percentile EV is easily plus for his age, and he pairs that with elite plate skills. Made’s in-zone miss rate this season was just 9.6% while chasing only 14.9% of the time. It’s extremely rare to see a player this optimized in terms of plate skills and power at such a young age. Made will need to learn to elevate the ball a little more, but when he does elevate he’s shown he can drive the ball to his pull side with consistency. I value Made as a top 10 prospect in fantasy and would be wildly aggressive in the pursuit of acquiring him this offseason. 

Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants 

Despite a limited showing in his professional debut, Eldridge cracked this list last year, and now it looks prescient. The 6-foot-7 slugger climbed three levels this season, reaching Double-A by early September. Over 107 games, Eldridge hit .292/.375/.535 with 23 home runs. He is an excellent athlete despite being a first baseman, which shows in his elite power output, as Eldridge’s .437 xwOBAcon is among the top markers in the minor leagues. Eldridge hits the ball hard, as shown by his 106.6 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, which is plus-plus for a 19-year-old. Eldridge pairs that power with good swing decisions and fringy contact skills. Despite longer levers, Eldridge was able to limit his swing-and-miss with a 25% strikeout rate across all levels. The Giants lack depth at the first base position, meaning Eldridge has a shot to hit his way to the majors in 2025.

Luke Keaschall, 2B, Twins 

Another one of the top breakout prospects in the minors in 2024, Keaschall received excellent reviews from scouts almost immediately upon entering pro ball. He hit .303/.420/.483 with 15 home runs over 102 games before going down with an elbow injury in early August that required Tommy John surgery. Still, his ability to optimize contact with excellent plate approach earns Keaschall a spot on this list. His 13.4% zone-miss rate is elite, while his 18.2% chase rate is easily plus. While Keaschall’s raw power is below-average (102.6 mph 90th percentile EV), he shows the ability to optimize his best contact, illustrated by his .367 xwOBAcon. Keaschsll also shows the ability to consistently elevate the ball with a 59% flyball+line drive rate and a 31.3% air pull rate. While Keaschall lacks big raw power, his combination of elite plate skills and bat path leads to strong production. 

Alex Freeland, SS, Dodgers 

One of Roboscout’s favorite prospects this season, Freeland has hit his way to Triple-A while showing a balance of hitting ability and defense. For our purposes, Freeland pairs excellent plate skills with the ability to optimize his best contact. A switch-hitter, he shows the ability to rarely miss in-zone (17% zone-miss) while rarely expanding the strike zone (17.8%). Freeland combined these plus plate skills with average-or-better power and the ability to consistently elevate his best drives, resulting in a 54% flyball+line drive rate and a 30% air pull rate. These attributes contribute to Freeland’s strong xwOBAcon of .380. Though he has struggled since reaching Triple-A, Freeland has the plate skills and bat path to right the ship early in 2024. 

Michael Arroyo, SS, Mariners 

There’s so many exciting prospects in the lower levels of the Mariners system that Arroyo is often an afterthought, but his late-season surge and production in 2024 has placed him on the map. Arroyo hit .285/.400/.509 over 120 games split between Low-A and High-A, showing shows average bat-to-ball skills with above-average swing decisions. His 22.9% chase rate is low despite a higher swing rate of 48.1%. This showcases Arroyo’s ability to balance patience and aggressiveness and is further backed by 84.7% heart-of-the-plate swing rate. Arroyo rarely, if ever, expands and doesn’t take many pitches over the middle of the plate. Arroyo’s 90th percentile exit velocity of 102.8 is already above-average for a 19-year-old, but it’s what he does with his best-struck drives that makes Arroyo interesting for fantasy. His .410 xwOBAcon is excellent and that’s rooted in his ability to elevate. Arroyo’s 57% flyball+line drive rate showcases his excellent ball flight numbers. It’s this combination of elite ball flight and swing decisions that make him a name to target for next season. 

Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers 

An early-season shoulder injury robbed Hope of two-and-a-half months in 2024. When he was actually on the field, he was impressive, hitting .290/.419/.484 with nine home runs over 61 games. While Hope’s production is strong, his underlying data is downright eye-popping. He pairs excellent plate skills with power, and though he can be overly-passive at times, his 13.1% zone-miss rate is elite with a 16.6% chase rate. His power is easily plus, particularly for a 19-year-old, as his 108.5 mph power is in the 99th percentile of all minor leaguers and is among the best for players aged 20 or younger. Hope is underrated right now on public lists but should be a universal Top 100 player based on the data, as he compares favorably data-wise to No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony. 

Brice Matthews, SS, Astros 

Despite being in one of the best player development machines in the game, Astros prospects seem to consistently be underrated in the public space. Astros 2023 first rounder Bruce Matthews is potentially another such player despite below-average contact. While that contact would likely have been a dealbreaker on previous year’s version of this article, the rest of Matthews’ data is strong enough to potentially overcome his swing-and-miss. First off, Matthews swing decisions are plus, with a low chase rate of just 16.4%. He also optimizes his contact as shown by his .416 xwOBAcon and 60% flyball + line drive rate. Matthews has power to go along with those plus swing decisions and he optimizes contact with a 106 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, which is a plus measure on that metric. Matthews has a batch of plus skills including power, speed and on-base ability, as well as the ability to stick in the infield. It’s simply a matter of if he can make enough contact. 

Eric Bitonti, 3B, Brewers 

A 2023 third round pick out of Aquinas High School, Bitonti showcases some of the highest exit velocity data in the lower minors while having the home run totals to match. In fact, of all the players featured in this article, Bitonti has the highest graded quality of contact, as evidenced by his .442 xwOBAcon. Bitonti posts eye-popping exit velocities with a 105.1 mph 90th percentile EV and a max EV of 111 mph. His 53.5% hard-hit rate is among the highest among players in this list and his 66% flyball + line drive rate shows elevation is not a problem. Bitonti shows strong swing decisions, as well, with a 20.6% chase rate and a 75% heart swing, showing he’s both patient and aggressive when needed. Contact and his future defensive home is a question, but Bitonti has a power hitters profile and a enough contact to make it work. 

Luke Adams, 3B, Brewers 

From a data-based perspective, Adams might be one of the most underrated prospects in the minors. His swing is unusual and he can look awkward at times, but the results speak for themselves. Adams’ slashline looks below-average at .227/.443/.397, but his wRC+ of 154 states he was 54% better than the average Midwest League hitter. Adams has power and speed and underlying plate skills that his slashline has yet to catch up to. He shows plus plate skills with a 14.2% zone-miss and a 14.7% chase rate, though he does tend to be overly passive with a low swing rate and a low heart-of-the-plate swing rate. That means there’s potential for Adams production to skyrocket when he gets more aggressive (think 2023 Nolan Jones). Adams isn’t just plate skills, as his exit velocity data is well above-average, too. His 106.1 mph 90th percentile EV is among the best in the minors for players 20 years old or younger. Adams is a good bet to take another step forward in 2025. 

Paulino Santana, OF, Rangers 

Santana signed for $1.3 million out of the Dominican Republic in January and enjoyed a strong professional debut. He hit .292/.465/.364 and was selected a Dominican Summer League all-star. The outfielder has a good blend of plate skills and average power potential. Santana ran an 18% miss rate in his debut and a 14.9% chase rate. While his raw power is average for a 17-year-old, he shows enough bat speed to project to add power in the coming years. His .389 XWOBA shows Santana’s ability to produce strong results that could climb in time with added power. He’s a worthwhile flier to add in fantasy this offseason.  

Demetrio Crisantes, SS, D-backs 

Crisantes ended his breakout 2024 in the midst of a 57-game on-base streak, meaning he’s just nine games away from what Mookie Betts did in 2013-14 and 14 off Kevin Millar and Kevin Youkilis’ 71-game stretches entering 2025. Clearly Crisantes’ swing decisions are excellent with a 22.7% chase rate, a 73% heart swing and 43.3% swing rate. Crisantes pairs that with elite contact skills with a 17.9% miss rate and an outstanding 10.9% zone-miss. But it’s Crisantes’ ability to blend plate skills with average or better power that has our attention. This is showcased by a .388 xwOBAcon and a max exit velocity of 112 mph. Crisantes doesn’t hit worm-burners either, as his 56% flyball + line drive rate attests. He’s a strong all-around hitter that broke out in 2024. 

Jhostynxon Garcia, OF, Red Sox 

Nicknamed ‘The Password’ for his unusual first name, Garcia has made a name for himself on his production alone this season. Garcia hit .288/.358/.539 with 23 home runs across three levels, reaching Double-A by season’s end. He shows a nice blend of contact and power. Garcia is an aggressive swinger with a swing rate of 54.7% and a chase rate of 34.4%. While concerning, it’s likely low hanging fruit as you could coach better swing decisions over time. It’s Garcia’s excellent quality of contact (.421 xwOBAcon) and his 90th percentile EV of 105.1 that should excite you. Despite very aggressive swing decisions, Garcia’s 27.2% whiff rate is low for his chase rate. Garcia is a surging young power hitter with room to improve.  

Bo Davidson, OF, Giants 

The biggest sleeper on this list, Davidson enters 2025 as one of the surging prospects of 2024 despite a lack of prospect pedigree in the public space.The Giants signed him as a nondrafted free agent in 2023 and he hit .327/.437/.605 across 63 games this season. While Davidson is older for both the complex league and Low-A, his numbers and skills forced scouts to take notice. Davidson blends elite quality of contact (.440 xwOBAcon) with excellent chase rates. There’s also athleticism to go along with his eye-popping quality of contact and hitting ability. Davidson has a 79% heart swing rate paired with a 22.5% chase rate, showing his excellent swing decisions. His quality of contact metrics are backed by a 106 mph 90th percentile EV and a 56% flyball + line drive rate. Davidson is an off-the-radar sleeper who could blow up in 2025.