Drafting for fantasy baseball success is an intricate dance between category specialists and overall balanced players. Marcell Ozuna, hitting 40 home runs in 2023, and Josh Naylor, a powerful RBI contributor now with Arizona, are prime examples of players whose abilities can skew your fantasy stats in one direction. However, selecting them necessitates careful additional picks to maintain balance.

For those aiming for stolen bases, Xavier Edwards of the Marlins is a breakout candidate, while Yainer Díaz from the Astros offers batting average prowess. On the pitching front, Logan Webb of the Giants has shown durability and effectiveness, leading in innings pitched over recent seasons. Meanwhile, Hunter Greene is an under-the-radar strikeout machine. These players present rich opportunities for savvy managers to exploit value in their drafts.

Batting average, once the quintessential measure of hitting prowess, is now relegated to a historical statistic in Major League Baseball (MLB). Despite its decline in relevance, batting average remains a crucial category in fantasy baseball, especially in traditional 5x5 leagues. Finding players who can meet or exceed a .300 average is increasingly challenging, with recent seasons showing a marked decrease in qualified hitters achieving this milestone. As fantasy players prepare for the 2025 MLB season, identifying lesser-known players with potential batting average upside is essential.

Xavier Edwards of the Miami Marlins, Jung Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants, Dylan Crews of the Washington Nationals, Luis Rengifo of the Los Angeles Angels, and Jacob Wilson of the Oakland Athletics are highlighted as possible contributors. Each of these players brings unique skills that could enhance batting average, making them valuable assets in fantasy drafts.

The Miami Marlins had a challenging 2024 season, finishing with a 62-100 record, but Xavier Edwards emerged as a bright spot. The 25-year-old infielder led the team with a .328 batting average and an .820 OPS, showcasing his offensive skills.

In addition to his hitting, Edwards excelled on the basepaths, finishing the season with six Baserunning Runs, ranking him among the top players in MLB. Despite a slower sprint speed, he was efficient on stolen bases, going 31-for-35.

His impressive performance earned him a pre-arbitration bonus, bringing his total earnings for the year to $918K, a significant achievement for a player still under team control for several seasons.

Otto López and Xavier Edwards have emerged as key players for the Miami Marlins, earning pre-arbitration bonuses for their impressive performances in the 2024 season. The MLB distributed a total of $50 million among 101 players who have yet to reach salary arbitration, with López receiving $340K and Edwards $313K.

López, who transitioned from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Marlins, showcased a breakout season with a .270 batting average and 20 stolen bases. Edwards, who took over as shortstop midseason, hit .328 and stole 31 bases, solidifying his role in the team.