Fantasy Baseball Spring Training Roundup (3/3)

Spring training is a wild time for fantasy baseball players, as we see considerable overreactions to tiny sample sizes, changes in player value due to velocity jumps or drops and other big swings. As we head toward the start of the season, we aim to examine notable news, value changes or other valuable nuggets. We’ve got you covered.

Fantasy Baseball Spring Training Roundup (3/3)

AL East

Baltimore Orioles: Gunnar Henderson (SS, ADP 6), Jordan Westburg (2B/3B, 90)

After dealing with minor injury scares, this pair of young Baltimore batters are looking to be returning to spring training games soon. Henderson was removed from a spring game as he had some minor side pain, but everything seems to be fine with him, so he should be good to go.

Westburg has already begun hitting, and his back injury should be not a major factor this season. I will still draft these players like they are fully healthy since these tiny injuries do not concern me.

Boston Red Sox: Brayan Bello (SP, 334)

Opening Day is not guaranteed for Bello, as he is building up after dealing with a fairly minor shoulder issue. Bello would need a steady and consistent buildup to reach Opening Day without an IL stint. I do not mind a cheap dart on him in the reserve rounds. 

New York Yankees: Luis Gil (P, 227)

Gil is slated to undergo an MRI on his shoulder, and his status for Opening Day is far from assured. Gil is close to off my board outside of the last few rounds to draft him and just see how this plays out. I felt like regression was going to hit him hard, but the injury bug got him sooner. I do hope to see him pitching soon in The Bronx, as he is electric and a ton of fun to watch. This opens up an opportunity for Marcus Stroman to prove he is a “starter,” but this also benefits Will Warren, a nice pitching prospect who has been receiving steady helium.

Toronto Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho (OF, 323)

After being drafted post pick-400 in plenty of DCs, Varsho might be ready for Opening Day, as he appeared in a Grapefruit League game and appears to be ahead of schedule. For a player with an ADP of 322.63 in DCs over the last two weeks, I am loving the cost for a 20-homer, 10-steal guy, but the price is likely to increase soon.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox: Andrew Benintendi (OF, 381)

Benintendi suffered a non-displaced right hand fracture, but he thinks he can be ready for Opening Day. For a player who has to scratch and claw for any production, missing the entire spring training is sub-optimal, and I am less interested in Beni now, as he will likely miss the ST as a whole. 

Detroit Tigers: Matt Vierling (3B/OF, 325), Jace Jung (3B, 460), Parker Meadows (OF, 194)

The Tigers are dealing with many injuries, as Vierling has been ruled out for Opening Day with a strained rotator cuff on his throwing arm. Not ideal. This opens up a great path for Jace Jung, Josh Jung‘s younger brother. Jace is also a talented batter, but not as good as Josh. I prefer Jace Jung in DCs or AL-only leagues, as his profile is more solid than a true difference maker, but he will be an option in all 15-team NFBC leagues. I don’t see a carrying tool for Jung, but he should be decent depth in 15-team leagues.

Meadows has been dealing with a nerve issue in his upper arm, which is a bit of a scary ordeal. Hopefully, he can get his health right, but given the uncertainty, this development has me fading Meadows hard. His ADP of 193.63 would need to fall well into the 300s for me to take a chance on Meadows. 

Minnesota Twins: Bailey Ober (SP, 79)

The 6-foot-9 skyscraper, Bailey Ober, provided some serious length for the Twins, as he recorded three innings and racked up six K’s in the process. I understand why Ober is good and a nice player, but I had a mental block against a pitcher with such low velocity. Despite the good results, I felt that regression might strike him hard. I am finally more open to Ober. However, I am a few years too late! Better late than never.

AL West

Houston Astros: Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, 711)

Though we haven’t seen Lance McCullers Jr. pitch in a very long time, I am intrigued by his comeback. He has been tossing bullpens, and we know he can rack up K’s if he is healthy. I like him as a last-round flyer option in most leagues. He is not quite 12-team worthy yet, though. 

Los Angeles Angels: Nolan Schanuel (1B, 311), Caden Dana (SP, 608)

Regarding recent prospects, Schanuel debuted faster than almost any other college hitter I can remember, as he has 738 MLB PAs before his 23rd birthday. Schanuel debuted in his draft year (2023), which is exceptionally rare. Schanuel only had 109 PAs in the minors before he debuted — for comparison, Wyatt Langford had 225 MiLB PAs and transitioned from prospect to big leaguer very quickly. My point is that Schanuel is not a finished product. 

Schanuel’s power output has been poor, but at age 22, surviving in the MLB is impressive. The fact that he is working to improve bat speed is a very promising sign this spring. I like him as a filler guy with a modicum of upside at an ADP of 311.

Another player where age-to-level is key, Dana celebrated his 21st birthday a few months ago, yet he already has traversed the minors and tossed three starts at the show. That is an incredible feat for a prep pitching prospect. Dana lit up AA last year, with 135.2 frames of a 2.59 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP with 147 Ks to 39 free passes. Dana has looked sharp this spring and could contend for a rotation slot in Anaheim, and I love him for DC formats and deep 15-teamers.

Sacramento Athletics: Tyler Soderstrom (1B, 287)

A prodigious power bat, Soderstrom was fast-tracked to the MLB via 1B, but he appears to be regaining his catcher prowess, as the club is developing him behind the dish again. The addition of Nick Kurtz is likely causing this, but if he can catch 10 games before June, his value could skyrocket in fantasy leagues this season. 

NL Central

Cincinnati Reds: Spencer Steer (1B/OF, 133) 

Steer could open the season on the IL with a barking shoulder, which is a major hit to his value in most leagues. I do not like this development, so I would push him down a handful of rounds based on his ADP.

Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw (3B, 233)

There has been some buzz that Shaw will not make the trip with the Cubs to Tokyo, but Shaw played in a spring training game, easing the concerns of fantasy managers. I like him this year for a solid upside play who is balanced in all categories. 

Milwaukee Brewers: Brandon Woodruff (SP, 248), Trevor Megill (RP, 142) 

Woodruff is working his way back from a major shoulder injury, but he is advancing quicker than many expected. I like taking the chance on him late in drafts due to his front-line talent. Over his last 473.1 innings, he has a ridiculous 0.98 WHIP. 

Megill made his spring training debut Friday, and things went well, which should ease any concerns that fantasy managers had regarding his status. I love him as a great RP2 option, but there is some risk as he has never pitched over 50 MLB frames in a single season before. 

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll (OF, 10), Jordan Montgomery (SP, 452), Ryne Nelson (SP, 377)

Carroll was pulled from a spring game with a balky back. However, he doesn’t think it will be much of a big deal. He states he will be back to game action soon.

Coming off a disaster season, JoMo has yet to pitch in spring training, but he will be tossing a live BP session soon. This is a rotation to watch, as it seems already full with Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt filling it. A disastrous spring from one of the back-end starters or injury could open up a spot for Montgomery or Nelson, and it’s key to note Nelson does have minor league options which will likely place him in AAA to begin 2025. I would think Montgomery opens up the season as a long reliever, barring injury. 

Colorado Rockies: Thairo Estrada (2B, 307)

Estrada is not wasting any time in trying to cement his role as a full-time regular for the Rockies, as he has gone 8-15 at the plate this spring with 5 RBIs to boot. I do still think he could be dealt off at the deadline for any future value they can coup, but this is the same front office that could extend him too. His ADP of 307.38 is tasty for those seeking a Coors streamer with AVG upside. 

Los Angeles Dodgers: Will Smith (C, 109), Freddie Freeman (1B, 24)

Often, spring news is overblown and shouldn’t be valued too highly given our penchant to overreact. However, the Will Smith story is a concerning one for me. Smith suffered his ankle injury in June of 2024, and it has been giving him trouble ever since. It was deemed a bone bruise, which is a serious matter, even though it is called a bruise. They can be tricky to get fully healed and as a catcher, Will Smith may have to gut it out for the entire 2025 campaign. Smith produced a .691 OPS after the injury, so this development is a big concern for me. 

On a similar note, Freeman is also dealing with an ankle issue that has caused much consternation in the fantasy world. Freeman may not feel fully right on the ankle during the first half, which sounds scary, but is ultimately more common than we think for players coming off surgery. Freeman may also sit in some day games following a night game, another big concern. The difference between dropping a player multiple rounds versus just taking the news in stride can make or break a season. Many folks were out on Aaron Judge after knowing his toe would need “constant maintenance” for the rest of his career. I would be willing to imagine that plenty of players are in a similar boat, but we do not know those facts like we would a Yankee or a Dodger that is covered so closely. We must digest these tidbits and ask ourselves if we are overreacting or if it is cause to red-flag a guy on our draft boards. 

San Diego Padres: Manny Machado (3B, 36)

After being scratched last week with back tightness, Machado will be in the lineup Tuesday. This is a non-issue, and he should be good to go.

San Francisco Giants: Heliot Ramos (OF, 207), Landon Roupp (SP, 578)

Great news for those with Heliot Ramos, as he is already hitting again and is slated to be back early this week. I like him at as his ADP around pick 200. 

Roupp has been strong this spring, as he has tossed five frames and racked up eight strikeouts to just one walk. While Logan Webb, Justin Verlander and Robbie Ray are written into the rotation in pen, Jordan Hicks or Kyle Harrison could theoretically be booted out if Roupp continues to carve. I like Roupp as a flyer pick in all NFBC leagues.