5 Second-Year Fantasy Baseball Breakout Hitters

It sometimes takes younger players time to fully breakout. The best example that comes to mind last year is Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. He was good as a rookie in 2023 but took his game to the next level in 2024 behind a 25-home run, 76-RBI, and 67-stolen base season. De La Cruz is a prime example of a player who might have struggled a bit as a rookie before breaking out in his second season.

That will be no different during 2025, as several second-year hitters will break out. Most of the players on this list didn't have the best first season in the majors. However, they are all primed to break out and be strong fantasy options for managers this year. These potential breakouts could wind up being sleepers in fantasy drafts.

As a heads-up, players like Jasson Dominguez and Dylan Crews will not be on this list. Despite playing in the majors last season, they will enter 2025 as rookies. In this article, we will look at five second-year hitters ready to break out in fantasy baseball. So, let's dive in and find out who they might be.

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Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong got off to a dreadful start in 2024. Despite being a menace on the base paths, Crow-Armstrong was having a difficult time adjusting to the major league level. In his first 66 games, he was hitting .180 with three home runs, three doubles, 17 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. Although the stolen base numbers were high, fantasy managers weren't getting much production from him at the plate.

However, Crow-Armstrong ended the 2024 season on a high note. He hit .289 with seven home runs, eight doubles, three triples, 30 RBI, and nine stolen bases across his final 57 games. Although his stolen base numbers were down toward the end of the year, don't expect that to be the case this year. His 30 ft/sec sprint speed ranked in the 99th percentile in 2024.

After that strong stretch to end the season, there's a great chance those numbers carry over for Crow-Armstrong in his second MLB season. He is already off to a fantastic start in spring training—hitting 12-for-23 at the plate with three home runs, four doubles, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases—and his five-tool skillset could help him break out this year.

That makes him an excellent pick at his 150.7 ADP. Even if he struggles at the plate throughout the season, fantasy managers can always rely on his speed in category leagues. Crow-Armstrong, though, will be more than just a steals contributor this year because he has some serious pop in his bat as well. He hit 20 home runs and drove in 82 RBI in his last minor-league season in 2023. So, look for him to put it all together in 2025.

Jackson Holliday, 2B, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday really struggled in his first go around in the majors. He went 2-for-34 at the plate in his first 10 games before being optioned down to Triple-A at the end of April. Even when he was called back up to Baltimore from July 31 onward, Holliday was not the consistent hitter fantasy managers thought he would be.

That led to Holliday finishing his rookie campaign with a .189 batting average, five home runs, four doubles, 23 RBI, and four stolen bases in 60 games. However, it wasn't all bad for the former top prospect. He had a 45.1 percent hard-hit rate and showed his potential at times throughout the year. In 10 games from July 31 to August 10, the infielder went 10-for-36 (.360 average) with five home runs and 12 RBI.

While that was a small sample size, the talent is definitely there for Holliday. He is a former No. 1 overall pick, and in his last full minor league season in 2023, he posted solid all-around numbers. He hit .323 with 12 home runs, 75 RBI, and 24 stolen bases across all four minor league levels. Therefore, we shouldn't write him off after just one rough season.

Brandon Hyde on what he wants from Jackson Holliday:

"We don’t need him to hit for power. His game right now is going to be a game where there’s excitement. There’s going to be balls in play, hard line drives, ground balls, play really good defense, steal bases, drag bunt."

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) March 9, 2025

It takes players some time to adjust to the major league level. It happens all the time, and some players take longer to break out than others. Holliday will now have every opportunity to break out in Year 2. He should be the Orioles' primary second baseman, and having that rough rookie season could be helpful in his development. Given that he wants to steal 20 bases in 2025, he's worth a look at his 195.7 ADP.

James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood definitely showed signs of breaking out in his first season. He had an all-around solid rookie campaign, hitting .264 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, four triples, 41 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. Wood did all that in just 79 games after being called up by the Nationals on July 1.

Therefore, it's not out of the question for Wood to take a similar leap De La Cruz did in his second MLB season. That's just how talented the Nationals outfielder is. Don't forget, he had a 26-game stretch last year from July 27 to August 24 in which he hit .366 at the plate (34-for-93) with three home runs, six doubles, 17 RBI, and five stolen bases. That makes him a potential breakout candidate in 2025.

This somehow left the yard off of James Wood's bat the other way. 111 MPH at 16 degrees...I'd venture to say pulling the ball is much less important for a guy like him. pic.twitter.com/saLaI8aXUW

— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) March 5, 2025

He has the power and speed to contribute strong numbers in several categories, and that was on display in his 79 games last season. His metrics also suggest that this is just the beginning for the 22-year-old. His hard-hit rate (52 percent), average exit velocity (92.8 mph), chase rate (21 percent), and sprint speed (28.7 ft/sec) were all elite in 2024. So, there's a real chance that Wood can be a top-40 fantasy player this season.

Fantasy managers who believe that will need to spend a high pick on the young outfielder in drafts. His current ADP is 51.3, which means he is going in the early fifth round in most 12-team leagues. That's certainly a high price for a player with just 336 MLB plate appearances. However, there's no doubt that he has such a high fantasy ceiling entering Year 2.

Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero might have only played 43 games in the majors last season, but he is technically a second-year player entering 2025. He is no longer listed as a prospect and can not win the American League Rookie of the Year Award. That's because Caminero has over 130 at-bats at the major league level.

Despite only having 213 plate appearances with the Rays, there's a strong chance he will break out in 2025. The 21-year-old will have an everyday role in this Tampa Bay lineup and has shown his potential all throughout his career. Back in 2023, Caminero hit a combined .324 at the plate with 31 home runs, 18 doubles, and 94 RBI across High-A and Double-A.

Even in his limited showing in the majors last season, Caminero showed some nice things offensively. He hit six home runs, nine doubles, and 17 RBI over his final 34 games while carrying a high barrel rate (11.8 percent) and hard-hit rate (45.7 percent). If those numbers can continue into 2025, the third baseman should be in a prime spot to break out.

Caminero has also already shown a little bit of that raw power in spring training so far. He has hit three home runs to go with eight RBI in his first 22 at-bats. That makes the 21-year-old a nice target at his current 97.1 ADP, given his upside in this Rays lineup this season.

Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers

Almost every fantasy manager believed that Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford would be a star right away. He was selected fourth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and quickly rose up the minor league ranks. Langford hit .360 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles, 30 RBI, and 12 stolen bases across 44 minor league games at the end of the 2023 season.

Unfortunately, he did not have that same immediate success in the majors. Langford hit .229 at the plate with one home run, four doubles, 17 RBI, and two stolen bases in his first 42 games. The good news, though, is that the young outfielder really started to pick things up offensively toward the end of his rookie campaign. He hit .300 with eight home runs, seven doubles, 20 RBI, and seven stolen bases across 26 games in September.

As a result, Langford is a prime candidate to break out in his second season. He showed some major growth at the plate as the year went on, and the metrics from his rookie campaign were actually encouraging. His chase rate (23 percent), sprint speed (29.8 ft/sec), and expected slugging (.427) all ranked well.

First Spring AB for @langford_wyatt? 97.6 mph exit velo. pic.twitter.com/nTCYTjkcLh

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) March 8, 2025

Now, a lot of fantasy managers are predicting a breakout campaign from Langford this year, considering his ADP currently sits at 44.7. However, it's hard not to love him this early in drafts. He has the potential for a 25-25 season while driving in upward of 70 runs.

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