2025 Fantasy Baseball: Breakout and Sleeper Dirty Power Outfielders
These five outfielders bring "dirty power" to fantasy baseball—low batting averages offset by above-average home run potential—making them intriguing sleepers and breakout picks for 2025.
Deep Sleeper: Jhonkensy Noel, Cleveland Guardians
Think of Noel as a Franmil Reyes clone—capable of 30-homer seasons if given the chance. His success hinges on earning consistent at-bats against right-handed pitching. Noel’s boom-or-bust bat will deliver peaks and troughs in his second year with Cleveland, making him a high-variance option for drafters seeking raw power in deeper leagues.
Deep Sleeper: Luke Raley, Seattle Mariners
Raley has posted back-to-back career-best seasons, settling into a 20 HR/10 SB profile despite limited playing time (761 at-bats combined over 2023-24). In 2024, Seattle doubled his exposure to lefties (74 at-bats, up from 41 in 2023), but his .189 average (8 runs, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 1 SB) lagged behind his .268 mark from the prior year. He’s best as a short-term injury replacement or a deep-league stash, shining at home against right-handers. His 1B/OF eligibility adds roster flexibility.
Sleeper: Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
Adell should see ample at-bats in 2025, building on last year’s growth. His power-speed combo (home runs and steals) gives him a solid floor, and his contact batting average (.301 in 2024, .343 previously with the Angels) suggests he could creep toward .250 if he cuts down on his strikeouts. Turning 26 in April, Adell has 75 R/25 HR/70 RBI/15 SB potential with 500+ at-bats, fitting the dirty power mold perfectly.
Breakout: Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies
Jones’ 2024 struggles stemmed from injuries, not a skill decline, creating a prime buy-low window for 2025. A healthier swing path could unlock an 80 R/25 HR/75 RBI/10 SB season with 500 at-bats—his likely floor at Coors Field. He’s a draft-day steal now, though his stock will climb once spring training showcases his bat. Think of him as a potential Brent Rooker redux from 2024.
Breakout: Matt Wallner, Minnesota Twins
Wallner is a feast-or-famine slugger with plenty of empty at-bats, but a ceiling of 35+ home runs with 550 at-bats. His 2023 AAA success against lefties (.239, 8 HR, 26 RBI in 113 at-bats) hints at untapped potential, though his swing-and-miss tendencies could send him back to the minors if slumps persist. Project him for 450 at-bats in 2025, delivering a Joc Pederson-esque .250/70 R/30 HR/75 RBI line—an upgraded version of that dirty power profile.