MLB Players Excelling in Spring Training: Matt Wallner, Casey Mize, Gavin Sheets, Bailey Ober, Eugenio Suarez and More

It's time for another check in on spring training stats. We're about a week away from the start of the regular season, and 26-man rosters are starting to take shape.

Here's the last story we did on spring training stats. I'll mention fantasy players of all statuses again, but be sure to identify what the numbers could mean for a player's fantasy outlook this coming season. I'll use FanGraphs when discussing players' projected roles.

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Top Hitters

There's now a four-way tie for the league lead in home runs in spring training. Milwaukee's Rhys Hoskins, San Diego's Gavin Sheets, Boston's Trayce Thompson and Minnesota's Matt Wallner all have six homers this spring.

Hoskins is locked in as the Brewers' everyday first baseman, so his hot start in spring training is good to see. He's a deep-league option to most fantasy owners this year, and his hot spring shouldn't change that. If Hoskins keeps mashing during the regular season, he can be added in standard leagues, but right now, I like him only in deeper leagues.

Sheets' hot hitting this spring has earned himself a spot on the team's active roster. He was a non-roster invitee, but now is projected to be in a platoon as the team's designated hitter. He can play first base or the corner outfield spots, so if he stays hot in the regular season, that position versatility could get him into the lineup daily. It's unlikely Sheets becomes more than a deep-league option, but he's worth watching after his big spring.

Thompson is still projected to start the season in the minor leagues despite his big spring. Boston is stacked in the outfield, has injured outfielders eventually coming back and also has top-end outfield prospects. I feel his only way to a regular big league role is going to be after several injuries, or a change in scenery.

Wallner is the projected starter for Minnesota in right field, but in a platoon. If he hits first, like FanGraphs is projecting, he'll have decent fantasy upside when he's in the lineup - not playing everyday could hold him back from being more than a deep-league option though. Keep tabs on him, especially after his big spring.

San Francisco's Jerar Encarnacion, Baltimore's Ryan Mountcastle, Arizona's Eugenio Suarez and Wallner lead the MLB with 14 RBIs each.

Encarnacion is in a projected platoon in San Francisco. He's a right-handed hitter, so he's just a deep-league option to kick off the season. He can play first base or in the outfield, so more hot hitting during the season could help him get regular at-bats, and maybe earn an everyday role.

Mountcastle is the everyday starter at first base for Baltimore, but is projected to hit near the bottom of a stacked lineup. That will limit his fantasy impact, but he still could be a pretty solid fantasy asset if he's able to drive in some runs and get on base consistently. He's a better deep-league option right now, but could work his way into standard leagues with hot hitting at any point this season.

Suarez is the everyday starter at third base for Arizona. His ADP (184.68) means he's a late-round option in standard leagues. Suarez is a player I wouldn't mind adding if I took a gamble on another fantasy third baseman, or simply don't have a ton of faith in my top guy. Suarez should be startable in all leagues most of the season, and I think he's a bit undervalued as a fantasy asset.

Among qualified hitters, Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz is the leader in on-base percentage with a .521 mark. St. Louis' Lars Nootbaar (.480) is second, while Chicago Cubs' Gage Workman (.474) is third.

De La Cruz is obviously a top-end fantasy option, and should hit in the heart of the team's lineup for 2025. I thought he was overrated to start the season, but his ADP has fallen to 26.46, which is a better spot for him in my eyes. As long as you don't grab him much earlier than that pick, I'm fine drafting the speedy shortstop.

Nootbaar is the projected everyday starter in left field for the Cardinals, and is in the No. 2 hole according to FanGraphs. That's a favorable fantasy spot to be in, even though I'm not extremely high on the Cardinals' lineup. Hitting near Masyn Winn, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan should help Nootbaar to a good fantasy season if he can stay healthy. He's a better deep-league option to kick off the season, but could work into standard leagues in a hurry.

Workman hit his way onto the Cubs' roster this year. Chicago opened the regular season already in the Tokyo Series - Workman didn't play in the brief two-game series. It'd probably take an injury or two to get Workman into a regular role, so he's off the fantasy radar for now.

Top Pitchers

Among qualified pitchers, Colorado's Antonio Senzatela leads the MLB in spring training with a 0.54 earned run average. Detroit's Casey Mize has a 1.13 ERA, while Minnesota's Bailey Ober has a 1.59 mark. Philadelphia's Cristopher Sanchez (1.62) and Cleveland's Logan Allen (1.89) also have sub-2.00 marks.

Senzatela has allowed just one earned run over 16 2/3 innings so far. He has struck out 13 batters, walked three and allowed just a .190 average against him. Senzatela is locked into the Colorado rotation, and could be a streaming option in standard leagues if he keeps pitching this well into the season. Pitching his home games at Coors Field drops his fantasy value a bit, but after his strong spring, he's worth rostering in some deeper leagues and keeping an eye on in standard setups.

Mize has earned himself a spot in the Detroit starting rotation with his effort this year. He's allowed two runs over 16 innings, tallying 18 strikeouts, seven walks and a .145 average against him along the way. Much like Senzatela, Mize is worth a roster spot in some deeper leagues after his spring training showings, and he could be a standard league streamer if he keeps pitching well and has a favorable matchup.

Ober has worked 17 innings in spring training - he has allowed three runs, struck out 15, walked four and has a .242 average against him. He's locked into the Twins' rotation and has an ADP of 88.04. Ober will be rostered in all leagues to kick off the season, and if he keeps pitching well, he'll be a great fantasy arm to turn to in 2025.

Sanchez has allowed three earned runs over 16 2/3 innings, while also having 19 strikeouts, two walks and a .197 average against him. He's locked into the Phillies' rotation and has an ADP of 141.39. I see a ton of fantasy value if you get him around that pick, and think he'll be a season-long keeper instead of a streaming option.

Allen is still projected to open the season in Triple-A despite a great showing in spring training. He has allowed four earned runs (seven total) in 19 innings, while also having 19 punchouts, four walks and a .219 average against him. Allen should get a crack at a starting rotation spot at some point this season, but will need to keep pitching well to be a fantasy asset in any league types.

Atlanta's Spencer Schwellenbach leads the MLB with 26 punchouts this spring. Cincinnati's Hunter Greene has 22, while Boston's Garrett Crochet, Kansas City's Cole Ragans and Clevelan's Gavin Williams all have 21.

Schwellenbach has a 2.41 ERA in spring training - over 18 2/3 innings, he has walked just two and has a .209 average against him. He's locked into the Atlanta rotation and has a 124.78 ADP. I think he's a big-time fantasy sleeper this season, and think he could emerge as one of the game's top pitchers by the end of the season. Target him in the middle rounds of your drafts.

Greene's ADP is 90, so it's great to see him showing his fantasy potential in spring training. Over 16 innings, he has a 5.63 ERA, but the strikeouts still stand out - he also has walked five and has a .254 average against him. It's great to see pitchers not allow runs in spring training, but it's also not the end of the world if they do. Greene is a good fantasy asset for 2025, and might be a bit underrated himself.

Crochet (29.54) and Ragans (34.17) are top-35 fantasy picks, so to see them excelling in spring training is a great sign. Crochet has a 0.87 ERA across 10 1/3 innings, while walking six and having a .222 average against him. Ragans has a 5.79 ERA, allowing five walks and a .350 average. Both should be top-10 fantasy starting pitchers if they stay healthy in 2025.

Williams has a 2.92 ERA across 12 1/3 innings this spring - he's walked four and has a .182 average against him. He's locked into the rotation, but is outside standard league draft picks on average. He should be rostered in most deeper leagues, and is a standard league streaming option right away this regular season.