2025 Fantasy Baseball: Corner Infielders (11 to 15)
11 – Rhys Hoskins, MLW (ADP – 285.5)
Hoskins didn’t play a game in 2023 due to a torn ACL in late March that required surgery.
He flashed power in April (.237/13/6/18/1 over 97 at-bats) last year, followed by two weeks on the injured list in mid-May with a hamstring issue. Over his final 311 at-bats, his strikeout rate (32.0) was a problem, leading to a .203 batting average with 42 runs, 17 home runs, and 55 RBIs.
His swing path remains fly-ball favoring (48.4%), and Hoskins posted a career average HR/FB rate (17.6). He finished with a lower exit velocity (88.7 mph – 90.1 in 2022 and 89.8 in his career). His launch angle (20.7) and average hit rate (1.958) support 30 home runs if given 550 at-bats.
Hoskins has the best skill set to hit cleanup this season based on the early Milwaukee lineup. In 2024, he only had 81 at-bats between second and fourth in the batting order.
Fantasy Outlook: Over his last six years, Hoskins hit under .250 each season, averaging 29 home runs if he logged 500 at-bats. The Brewers will pay him $18 million in 2025, putting him in a contract year. By drafting him, I feel like I settled for a drop-off at the corner position while taking a player with just as much risk as reward.
12 – Tyler Soderstrom, ATH (ADP – 292.8)
Soderstrom signed with the A’s in 2020 after getting drafted 26th overall. Over four seasons in the minors, he hit .272 with 176 runs, 72 home runs, 243 RBIs, and four steals over 1,155 at-bats. His bat delivered 29 home runs and 105 RBI over three levels in the minors in 2022.
Oakland gave him 306 at-bats at AAA in 2023, leading to repeated power (21 home runs and 62 RBIs), but Soderstrom struck out 26.3% of the time. The A’s called him up for 45 games, but he had a higher strikeout rate (31.2) with a sharp decline in his contact batting average (.244).
Last season, Soderstrom missed two months in the majors over the summer with a left wrist injury. He opened the season at AAA (.245/16/7/19 over 102 at-bats) before calling him up in early May. His bat offered power (seven home runs and 20 RBIs) over 146 at-bats, but he scored only 12 runs with a .219 batting average. Between AAA and Oakland, Soderstrom shined over his final 63 at-bats (.333/12/6/14).
His exit velocity (91.9 mph) and hard-hit rate (48.9) showed improvement with the A’s. Soderstrom lowered his strikeout rate (24.9) in the majors and at AAA (24.5%).
Fantasy Outlook: Soderstrom is getting a lot of respect in the early draft season. I don’t know if it's due to him possibly earning catcher eligibility or Roster Resource listing him as the Athletics starting first baseman with a middle-of-the-order opportunity. He has plenty of power while falling short in major league experience. I liked his bat in 2024 as a sneaky third catcher in Draft Champion formats (deeper BestBall leagues). Soderstrom has the bat to deliver over 25 home runs with 500 at-bats with a chance to beat the league average in runs and RBIs.
13 – Jeimer Candelario, CIN (ADP – 295.8)
Candelario set career highs in runs (77) and home runs (22) in 2023 while adding a surprising eight steals (seven stolen bases over his previous 606 games. He had the most production in July (.240/17/6/15/2 over 75 at-bats). Candelario landed on the injured list in September with a back issue.
Despite missing 50 games (broken toe), he finished two home runs shy of his previous record (22), supported by a career-best average hit rate (1.906). Candelario had a regression in his contact batting average (.307). His production came in June (.290/12/8/19/3 over 93 at-bats). He hit under .215 in April (.189 – 35 strikeouts over 90 at-bats), July (.181), and August (.213).
Candelario had a weaker approach (strikeout rate – 24.6 and walk rate – 5.8). His exit velocity (86.9) was his lowest since 2017, but he finished with a career-best HR/FB rate (15.7). Candelario struggled with left-handed pitching (.215 with 13 runs, three home runs, and 10 RBIs over 130 at-bats – .346 SLG).
The Reds gave him 258 of his 427 at-bats (60.4%) in the third and fourth slots in the batting order. He came to the plate with only 264 runners on base, leading to weakness in his output in RBIs.
Fantasy Outlook: Candelario delivered the league-average fantasy-hitting profile once in his career (2023). I don’t see any excitement in a higher batting average, and he didn’t play well enough last season to command a middle-of-the-order opportunity. His best chance of paying off is by being in the lineup every day, but Candelario isn’t better than Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, or Noelvi Marte. At best, .250 with 65 runs, 20 home runs, and 60 RBIs.
14 – Joey Ortiz, MIL (ADP – 297.0)
Over his first four seasons in the minors, Ortiz hit .286 with 205 runs, 33 home runs, 177 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases over 1,219 at-bats. His bat has improved at AAA (.327/88/13/72/17 over 453 at-bats) in 2022 and 2023. He graded well in his walk rate (9.3) and strikeout rate (17.2).
Baltimore gave Ortiz 33 at-bats of experience in 2023, but he only hit .212 with no home runs and four RBIs. The Orioles drafted him in the fourth round in the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft.
In his rookie season with the Brewers, Ortiz had the better side of a platoon role while landing on the injured list in early July for 10 days with a neck issue. His only fantasy month of value was in May (.307/16/4/12/1) despite only having 75 at-bats. After the All-Star break, he hit .211 with 25 runs, four home runs, 31 RBIs, and six steals over 213 at-bats.
Ortiz had a groundball swing path (48.8%) with a lower HR/FB rate (8.8) than in his minor league career. His exit velocity (87.8 mph) had more life in 2023 at AAA (90.1). He barreled only 4.6% of his balls in plays, with weakness in his hard-hit rate (38.2). Ortiz has a slightly favorable strikeout rate (20.2) while taking above-average walks (11.0%).
Fantasy Outlook: Ortiz upgrades the Brewers’ defense, but his bat still needs more major-league experience before helping fantasy teams. Next step: a .260 batting average with about 30 combined home runs and stolen bases. I don’t see a clear path to 500 at-bats, so be careful and do not overpay for his questionable fantasy skill set.
15 – Nolan Schanuel, LAA (ADP – 312.6)
In his rookie season, I was a big fan of Schanuel due to his free price point and unique skill set for a first baseman. During the year, he had some injury pockets (thumb, calf, back, and lower leg), leading to about 10 missed games. His FPGscore (-2.85) ranked 141st for hitters, giving him three rounds of value this draft season in 15-team formats.
Schanuel finished with a winning approach (strikeout rate – 17.0 and walk rate – 11.2). The Angels gave him 456 of his 519 at-bats in the top three slots in the batting order. After a slow start over his first 208 at-bats (.207/19/7/22 with 17 walks and 43 strikeouts), he was much more comfortable at the plate (.310 over 171 at-bats with 28 runs, five home runs, 19 RBIs, and four steals) while having more walks (32) than strikeouts (30). Besides stolen bases (6), Schanuel was a liability to fantasy teams over his final 140 at-bats (.243/15/1/13).
Left-handed pitchers held him to a .244 batting average with 12 runs, three home runs, and 16 RBIs over 119 at-bats. The Angels ranked 28th in runs scored (635).
His exit velocity (86.1 mph), hard-hit rate (25.3), and barrels (3.5%) won’t excite many fantasy drafters. Schanuel had a ground ball swing path (46.1%) with a reasonable HR/FB rate (10.1).
Fantasy Outlook: Schanuel made the jump to the majors from college with only 74 at-bats of minor league experience. His approach should continue to improve, and Los Angeles will hit him high in their batting order. With a push to a .280 batting average with 80 runs, 15 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases, he would have the foundation to be a top 60 fantasy hitter with no sexy stats. I prefer to start him at DH than at the corner infield position. Schanuel should outperform his ADPs by a wide margin, but he does need to get stronger to add more pop to his swing.