Fantasy Baseball 2025 Rankings: Deep Sleepers, Hidden Gems to Target

Fantasy baseball, more so than any other sport, is overflowing with deep sleepers and hidden gems. The length of the season, the ebbs and flows of any given week, and hot and cold streaks make it possible for a guy who may have been completely overshadowed or undervalued to be a significant piece of the puzzle for managers chasing a league championship.

Ahead of a 2025 season that will see superstars such as Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge drafted at the top of the draft order, take a look at these four players who may prove to be the difference between a successful campaign and a disappointing one filled with other, under-performing hitters and pitchers.

Heston Kjerstad, OF, Baltimore Orioles

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Kjerstad has not had enough of an opportunity to this point in his Orioles career to prove himself as a legitimate starter, thanks in large part to a roster brimming with young talent across the board.

The arrival of Tyler O'Neill and presence of Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser, incoming veterans Dylan Carlson and Francisco Laureano, and to prospects Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Vance Honeycutt only further crowd the outfield, limiting opportunities for someone.

It does not appear as though it will be Kjerstad, though, as general manager Mike Elias was adamant entering Spring Training that he had earned the chance to get "a lot of at bats," both as an outfielder and a DH.

The 26-year-old has plenty of potential to be a 30-home-run hitter for the Orioles and given how the team let Anthony Santander walk in free agency, they will need all of the deep balls they can get.

If those opportunities do present themselves, do not be surprised to see Kjerstad become a breakout fantasy stud and the latest "baby bird" to grab attention in Charm City.

Especially with O'Neill being somewhat injury prone during his run in Boston.

Austin Hays, OF, Cincinnati Reds

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Austin Hays had a tumultuous last year, with his longtime stint in Baltimore ending when the Orioles traded him to Philadelphia and injuries keeping him at less than 100 percent.

One such injury was a kidney infection that cost him valuable time in September, but now he is healthy and ready to take advantage of the opportunity the Reds gave him in the off-season when they signed the veteran outfielder to a one year, $5 million deal.

Hays should find success in a ballpark that is kinder to right-handed batters, ranking fourth among all 30 Major League parks, according to Statcast. The former All-Star and quality defender still has plenty to give a team and the relatively young Reds squad will benefit from having him in their clubhouse.

As will fantasy managers who keep an eye on him and grab him for their roster when the time is right.

Hunter Renfroe, OF, Kansas City Royals

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Hunter Renfroe's presence is essentially non-existent in fantasy in 2025. He currently has an ADP of 86 among right fielders, 340 among hitters, and 643 overall.

Much of that can be attributed to an injury-plagued season that saw him suffer from back, toe, and hamstring injuries. He has not been particularly impressive during Spring Training but he has also been rediscovering his swing and focusing more on his health.

If he can get back to the level of play he was at before injuries dampened his 2024, Renfroe has the potential to be a fantasy factor. He has consistently hit for extra bases and averaged 21 home runs a season.

Renfroe gets on base and scores runs. While he may not be a household name, he is a value pick and hidden gem if (and hopefully when) he can back to full health.

Max Scherzer, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

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It seems rather odd that a future Hall of Famer like Max Scherzer is a "deep sleeper" or "hidden gem" but that is the situation the 40-year-old finds himself entering the 2025 season.

The Toronto Blue Jay has an ADP of 86 among starting pitchers and 278 overall, which means there is a likelihood that he is not even being selected in some drafts, with questions about his ability to stay healthy and his age making managers hesitant to waste a pick on him.

That would be a mistake.

Scherzer still has ace-level stuff and showed it Saturday against the Twins. Coming off of a thumb injury, he allowed just two hits in four scoreless innings. As a result of that quality appearance, he should be on the mound for a Toronto club looking for wins and a legitimate shot at World Series contention.

Does he bear watching as the season progresses and his body is tested? Absolutely, but managers should not hesitate to add Scherzer to their lineup if the opportunity presents itself, especially since he recently added a sinker to his repertoire.