Orioles' Hitters Fantasy Baseball Preview | Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Tyler O'Neill and More

Let's continue our fantasy baseball team preview series with the Baltimore Orioles. We'll look at hitters in this article - check back soon for the pitching writeup

We've covered the Reds (hitters and pitchers), Red Sox (hitters and pitchers), Mets (hitters and pitchers), Twins (hitters and pitchers), Giants (hitters and pitchers), Athletics (hitters and pitchers), Pirates (hitters and pitchers), Mariners (hitters and pitchers), Rockies (hitters and pitchers), Rays (hitters and pitchers), Braves (hitters and pitchers) and White Sox (hitters and pitchers) already.

Check out Fantasy Baseball Average Draft Position data for 2025 and get ready for your fantasy drafts by utilizing the FantasySP Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Simulator. Also be sure to check out the FantasySP 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit!

Top Fantasy Hitters

Gunnar Henderson is the top fantasy hitter from the Orioles, going at pick 8.94 on average according to the FantasySP ADP list.

Adley Rutschman is next at pick 43.89. Jordan Westburg checks in at pick 114.14.

Jackson Holliday is going around pick 136.73, while Colton Cowser (153.25) and Tyler O'Neill (156.5) are just a couple picks apart. Cedric Mullins is another late pick in standard leagues.

Henderson was the No. 7 fantasy hitter in points leagues a season ago, so it makes sense to see him going so early in fantasy drafts.

In 159 games, he hit .281 and got on base at a .364 clip. Henderson hit 37 home runs, drove in 92 runs, stole 21 bases and scored 118 runs.

He's one of the top fantasy hitters in the game, and I have no issues spending a first-round pick on him. I think the only way Henderson is a draft bust in 2025 is if he gets injured and misses a bunch of time.

Rutschman took a step back in his third MLB season.

In 148 games, Rutschman had a .250 average and .318 OBP. He had 19 home runs, 79 RBIs, one stolen base and 68 runs scored. Outside of his runs scored, most of his other counting stats were the same as 2023, but a 27-point decrease in average and a 56-point decrease in OBP has fantasy owners a bit concerned about the catcher.

Being a catcher, Rutschman is still one of the top fantasy options, only going after Milwaukee's William Contreras right now. I'd definitely consider Rutschman around his ADP, but prefer him closer to pick 50, or even after, if possible. He's still an everyday fantasy starter, even if he replicates his 2024 numbers.

Westburg was on his way to a big season, but injuries derailed things a bit.

He had 107 games played, tallying a .264 average, .312 OBP, 18 home runs, 63 RBIs, six stolen bases and 57 runs scored. If he can get in a full season with a similar pace, we're talking about an elite fantasy season.

I think Westburg is a draft steal candidate around his current ADP, and I'd say the same if he rose 15 picks still. The fact that he can play second or third base adds to his fantasy value. I think Westburg will be a daily starter, and easily exceed his expectations for his ADP, as long as he stays healthy.

Holliday was the top prospect in baseball in 2024, but failed to deliver at the big league level.

In 60 games, he had a .189 average and .255 OBP, along with five home runs, 23 RBIs, four stolen bases and 28 runs scored. Averaged over a 162-game season, Holliday's numbers would be pretty good, but they'd still be underwhelming for a top-end prospect.

He's projected to be in a platoon to start this season, but being a left-handed hitter, should still play plenty. If Holliday hits better, he'll likely start everyday. He's a bit of a gamble despite his ADP being in the 130s - he could still bust if he matches last season's numbers, but there's enough upside to make a case to draft him at that spot. I'd definitely want another fantasy 2B to pair with Holliday in case the youngster struggles again.

Cowser had some big-time performances over a 153-game season in 2024.

He had a .242 average and .321 OBP. Cowser also scored 77 runs, hit 24 home runs, drove in 69 runs and stole nine bases. He struck out 172 times.

Even after a pretty solid showing in 2024, his ADP is respectable for 2025. As one of your final starting outfielders, or top backup, I like the value Cowser brings at his ADP. I wouldn't want to take him much earlier than his ADP though.

O'Neill joins the Orioles after spending a couple seasons with the Red Sox.

In 113 games last season, O'Neill had a .241 average and .336 OBP. He added 31 home runs, 61 RBIs, four stolen bases and scored 74 runs. Durability is an issue, but he's a massive power threat when on the field.

At his ADP, there's not a ton of risk involved in taking him. Like Cowser, getting O'Neill to be my last fantasy outfielder or top backup option seems like a great route. He could greatly outperform his ADP if he just sticks on the field.

Mullins is another Baltimore hitter in a projected platoon, although he's expected to hit near the top of the order.

In 147 games last season, Mullins had a .234 average and .305 OBP. He also posted 18 home runs, 54 RBIs, 32 stolen bases and 69 runs scored.

He's another pretty low risk, high upside fantasy outfielder to take a stab on late in fantasy drafts. I have no issues taking a gamble on him.

Other Starting Options

According to FanGraphs, Ryan Mountcastle is the only projected everyday starter we haven't discussed yet. Ryan O'Hearn is another platoon guy. 

Gary Sanchez, Ramon Urias and Ramon Laureano are the projected right-handed hitters in the platoons. Sanchez is also the backup catcher, while Heston Kjerstad is the other projected bench player.

O'Hearn is a streaming option in standard leagues when he's in the starting lineup, and is a good deep-league option. In 142 games last season, O'Hearn had a .264 average, .334 OBP, 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, three stolen bases and 60 runs scored.

I don't think he should be drafted in standard leagues, but he'll be rostered in plenty throughout the season, especially if he can replicate last year's marks. 

Mountcastle appeared in 124 games last season, hitting .271 and getting on at a .308 clip. He had 13 home runs, 63 RBIs, three stolen bases and 54 runs scored.

He's a better deep-league option to begin the season, but probably will have stretches where he's a standard league option too. Durability holds him back a bit to begin the season.

Laureano and Urias will probably get a decent amount of appearances, but only starting against maybe lefties, it'll be hard for either to be fantasy assets outside deep leagues. Kjerstad will likely need an injury or two to play enough to be a fantasy asset in any leagues.

Sanchez won't get many starts at catcher, but if he's also starting at designated hitter, he could be a deep-league option - and standard league threat if he's really hitting well.

Jorge Mateo is another option, but probably is just a depth guy. He can play all over the field, so if he's hitting, he could get into the lineup in different ways. 

Top Prospects

Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo are ranked 13th and 14th on the MLB's top-100 list to begin the season and both should factor into things this season.

Basallo has a .286 average and .364 OBP across 325 minor league games. The catcher/first baseman has accumulated 50 home runs, 202 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, 183 runs scored, 141 walks and 275 strikeouts. An injury to Rutschman or struggles from Sanchez might result in a Basallo call up, as would him raking in Triple-A.

Mayo got 41 big league at-bats in 2024, but hit just .098 and got on at a .196 clip. The corner infielder has a .283 average and .381 OBP across 390 minor league games, along with 82 home runs, 282 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, 267 runs scored, 204 walks and 404 strikeouts. He's got nothing left to prove in the minors, but probably needs an injury or trade to make it to the bigs permanently.

Outfielders Dylan Beavers and Jud Fabian are two more of the team's top-30 prospects from the end of last season who could maybe factor in during 2025.

Beavers has played in 267 minor league games, posting a .270 average, .369 OBP, 26 home runs, 129 RBIs, 64 stolen bases, 159 runs scored, 154 walks and 259 strikeouts. 

Fabian has appeared in 270 minor league games, totaling a .228 average, .337 OBP, 47 home runs, 155 RBIs, 48 stolen bases, 154 runs scored, 157 walks and 367 strikeouts.

Silas Ardoin, Livan Soto, Luis Vazquez, Jeremiah Jackson, Jordyn Adams and Enrique Bradfield Jr. are other players age 25 or younger who are in big league camp this spring.