Rookie Revolution: Five MLB Newcomers Set to Dominate Fantasy Baseball in 2025

As the 2025 fantasy baseball season looms on the horizon, savvy managers are already hunting for the next big thing—those unheralded rookies who can catapult a roster from middling to championship-caliber. This year’s crop of newcomers brings a tantalizing mix of power, speed, and pitching prowess, each with the potential to deliver category-defining stats in standard 5x5 leagues. From fleet-footed outfielders to a Japanese ace ready to dazzle, these five rookies—Dylan Crews, Jasson Domínguez, Matt Shaw, Roman Anthony, and Roki Sasaki—stand on the cusp of stardom, offering high-upside gambles that could pay off big for those bold enough to draft them.

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• Dylan Crews (OF, Washington Nationals)
  • Why He Could Be Huge: Crews, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, showcased his speed and hitting ability in his 2024 debut, stealing 12 bases in 31 MLB games while hitting .221 with 3 homers. In the minors last year, he swiped 25 bags across 100 games, hinting at elite stolen base potential—possibly 30+ in a full season. His bat should improve with more experience, and playing in a Nationals lineup desperate for offense gives him a clear path to everyday at-bats.
  • Fantasy Outlook: A potential 20 HR/30 SB contributor with a decent average, Crews could be a five-category asset if he hits closer to his minor-league .270 mark.

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• Jasson Domínguez (OF, New York Yankees)
  • Why He Could Be Huge: Known as "The Martian," Domínguez brings a rare power-speed combo. At age 22, he’s expected to start 2025 in the Yankees’ outfield after hitting .314 with 12 HR and 16 SB across three minor-league levels in 2024. His brief MLB stint in 2023 (4 HR in 8 games) showed his upside, though injuries have slowed his hype. With Juan Soto’s departure, he’s likely to get consistent playing time.
  • Fantasy Outlook: Projections peg him around 18-20 HR and 15-20 SB with a .240-.250 average, but his ceiling could push 25/25 in a potent Yankees lineup.

• Matt Shaw (3B, Chicago Cubs)
  • Why He Could Be Huge: Shaw, a 2023 first-rounder, smashed 21 HR and stole 31 bases across Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, posting a 146 wRC+. With Alex Bregman now in Boston, Shaw’s path to the Cubs’ third base job looks wide open. His plus power and speed, paired with a solid hit tool, make him a prime breakout candidate.
  • Fantasy Outlook: A 20 HR/20 SB season with a .250-.260 average is realistic, offering multi-category juice at a thin position.

• Roman Anthony (OF, Boston Red Sox)
  • Why He Could Be Huge: The No. 1 prospect in baseball (per some rankings), Anthony hit .344 with a .982 OPS in 35 Triple-A games in 2024 at age 20. His plus power and average tools could translate quickly, and while Boston’s outfield is crowded, an injury or trade could see him up by midseason. Fenway Park’s hitter-friendly confines only boost his appeal.
  • Fantasy Outlook: If he gets 400+ plate appearances, 15-18 HR and a .270+ average are in play, with 10-15 SB possible as he matures.

• Roki Sasaki (SP, Los Angeles Dodgers)
  • Why He Could Be Huge: The 23-year-old Japanese phenom brings electric stuff (upper-90s fastball, devastating splitter) to a stacked Dodgers rotation. While he’s an international rookie with some 2024 fatigue concerns, his 2023 World Baseball Classic dominance suggests ace potential. A six-man rotation with Shohei Ohtani could keep him fresh.
  • Fantasy Outlook: Think 10-12 wins, a sub-3.00 ERA, 1.00-1.10 WHIP, and 150+ strikeouts in 140-160 innings—elite numbers if he adjusts to MLB.

 With spring training just weeks away as of February 28, 2025, the fantasy spotlight is firmly on these five rookies, each poised to turn potential into production. Whether it’s Crews and Domínguez racking up steals, Shaw anchoring third base with multi-category flair, Anthony emerging as a midseason phenom, or Sasaki piling up strikeouts in Hollywood, their impact could redefine fantasy rosters. Keep a close eye on their roles this spring—because in a game where sleeper picks often decide titles, these newcomers might just be the difference between a good season and a great one.