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Fantasy Baseball Players To Watch For The Week Ahead (April 21 - April 27)

Sal Frelick - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Dawn's fantasy baseball watch list -- hitters, pitchers, and relievers she's keeping an eye on for April 21 - April 27 (2025): hot bats, good matchups, pitchers on a roll, and more.

Welcome to RotoBaller's Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch for the Week Ahead series for 2025 as we look ahead to the week of April 21 - April 27. In this article, I'll look at players like Nick KurtzSal Frelick, Craig Yoho, and others.

Here at RotoBaller, we like to take a look around and discuss players who might be under-owned in redraft leagues, potential DFS candidates, players returning from injury, or some names that are just flat-out hot.

Looking ahead to this week's action, we've got some very fantasy-relevant names putting up some eye-opening numbers, a sleeper or two, and a few other tidbits. Let's dig in!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Hitters

Nick Kurtz, Athletics

What I'm Watching: How will Nick Kurtz perform in his MLB debut?

While many fantasy baseball managers are focused on established players, savvy owners should be watching the Athletics' top prospect, Nick Kurtz, who is set to make his MLB debut this week.

The A's fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft has progressed through the minor league system remarkably quickly. He has been dominating in Triple-A Las Vegas, beginning the 2025 season with a .367 BA, .409 OBP, and seven home runs in just 14 games.

The A's have a recent history of fast-tracking their top prospects, as they did with Jacob Wilson last year, who was called up after the All-Star break in his first full professional season. Kurtz could be an impactful addition to fantasy rosters as soon as he makes his first MLB start.

Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers

What I'm Watching: Contact specialist with elite average and emerging speed threat

I picked Frelick fairly early in my fantasy draft as I thought he might be a sneaky sleeper pick, and thus far, he hasn't disappointed. Frelick has been one of baseball's hottest hitters in April, yet remains woefully under-rostered at just 34 percent in Yahoo fantasy leagues.

Through 19 games, Frelick is batting an impressive .378, tied for seventh in the league, while posting a .912 OPS (35th in the league). Throw in five steals, six RBI, and 11 runs, and you've a batter with multiple weapons in his fantasy arsenal.

Milwaukee tends to be aggressive around the bases, recently swiping six bags in a single inning against the A's, with Frelick contributing one of them. Don't wait to see if Frelick's speed will be further unleashed; pick him up now, while you can.

 

Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Pitchers

Craig Yoho, Milwaukee Brewers

What I'm Watching: A changeup artist arrives to bolster the bullpen

The Brewers called up relief prospect Craig Yoho from Triple-A Nashville on Monday, giving fantasy managers an immediate opportunity to add one of the most dominant minor league arms from the past year.

What makes Yoho so intriguing is his elite changeup (the "yo-yo"), which drops almost four feet on its way to the plate and breaks a foot and a half horizontally, generating a 45 percent whiff rate in the minors.

With the Brewers' bullpen experiencing some recent instability, Yoho could quickly work his way into high-leverage situations. Fantasy managers in deeper formats and those that reward holds should add him as soon as possible.

Justin Slaten, Boston Red Sox

What I'm Watching: The future closer emerging in Boston

Justin Slaten has quietly been one of the more impressive relievers in the Red Sox bullpen this season, positioning himself as a potential high-leverage weapon for fantasy managers. Slaten features a diverse mix of pitches, giving him multiple ways to attack hitters.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora has previously said he envisions Slaten as a potential long-term closer option, which means he could emerge from a committee situation sooner rather than later.



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