Thirty teams in major league baseball; thirty untapped sources for sleeper potential in fantasy baseball. That’s Dalton Del Don’s mission here — to identify one fantasy draft DEEP sleeper from every squad. Go here for standard Sleepers and here for Fantasy Fades.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Jake McCarthy, OF
McCarthy bounced back with a 110 wRC+ last season, and his 33 steals/homers came over just 442 at-bats. McCarthy doesn’t possess any splits, so he’s slated to be a regular in Arizona’s lineup (while Pavin Smith platoons at DH). McCarthy is set to bat fifth in the Diamondbacks’ lineup, and he has 35+ SB upside with 98th percentile Sprint Speed. McCarthy provides cheap speed while going undrafted in 35% of Yahoo leagues.
Athletics: Tyler Soderstrom, 1B
Soderstrom hit nine home runs with a 114 wRC+ over just 189 at-bats as a rookie last season, when he also produced impressive Statcast numbers. Seven of Soderstrom’s nine homers came on the road, where his slugging percentage jumped 78 points. Soderstrom will no longer be hitting in the Oakland Coliseum in 2025, as the A’s will be moving to a temporary home in Sacramento. Oakland has decreased homers by 19% over the last three seasons, which is the second-most in MLB. Soderstrom will benefit from the Athletics moving to a smaller park in much warmer weather.
Soderstrom was also drafted as a catcher and could gain eligibility there while possibly serving as the Athletics’ backup this season, so he’s a sleeper.
Atlanta Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver, SP
Smith-Shawver is coming off a disappointing 2024, when he finished with a 4.85 ERA across 89 injury-shortened (oblique) innings in the minors. He needs to improve his control, but he also had a 29% K% and an 18.3 K-BB%, and his projections are bullish in 2025. Smith-Shawver is just 22 years old and competing for the final spot in Atlanta’s rotation (coveted for fantasy given the Braves’ run support). Ian Anderson has a 6:13 K:BB ratio in spring, so Smith-Shawver’s opportunity may come sooner than expected.
Spencer Strider will return soon enough, but injuries always strike (and Grant Holmes is transitioning from relief). Smith-Shawver remains the Braves’ top pitching prospect and will be heavily in demand on waiver wires as soon as he gets a chance in Atlanta’s rotation.
Baltimore Orioles: Heston Kjerstad, OF
Kjerstad enters with questions surrounding his role, but Baltimore management sounds ready to give the former No. 2 overall pick a real…