2025 Fantasy Baseball DH Rankings & Analysis
This Fantasy Baseball Strategy Guide is courtesy of Shawn Childs. Read Shawn’s expert fantasy analysis here.
Shohei Ohtani stands out as the premier designated hitter (DH) option for 2025, though I’ve already covered him as the first outfielder in an earlier profile. Below are the top 2025 fantasy baseball DH rankings from the players with secure full-time designated hitter roles.
1. Brent Rooker, Athletics (ADP: 73.9)
I completely misjudged Rooker in 2024—he was my biggest miss. Expecting his 32.4% strikeout rate to limit his playing time, I bet on him falling under 25.5 home runs in a player-prop parlay. Early in the season, an oblique injury sidelined him, and I was thrilled—until he returned after just 11 days.
By midseason (81 games, 66 played), Rooker was hitting .257 with 27 runs, 13 home runs, and 44 RBIs over 241 at-bats, striking out 35.8% of the time. I thought my “under” bet was back in play. Then his bat erupted over the next 140 at-bats (.350, 31 runs, 16 HRs, 39 RBIs, 5 SBs), with his strikeout rate dropping to 22.9%. In the final quarter, he hit .297 with 24 runs, 10 HRs, 29 RBIs, and 4 SBs over 165 at-bats, maintaining a lower strikeout rate (26.2%) than his career norm.
Rooker’s 20% RBI rate was elite, a mark typically reserved for top middle-of-the-order hitters. His average hit distance (1.919) dipped to a four-year low, hinting at untapped power potential. His contact batting average (.434) crushed his 2023 mark (.392) and minor-league career (.402). With a 91.9 mph exit velocity (27th) and 49.6% hard-hit rate, plus a fly-ball-heavy swing (47.1% and 45.6% the last two years), Rooker posted a strong 22.9% HR/FB rate.
Fantasy Outlook: Rooker’s 2024 FPGscore (6.81, 8th among hitters) makes him a draft steal. He hits hard, lifts the ball, and gained confidence last year. His contact ability will dictate his ceiling and floor. The A’s locked him in with a five-year, $60M deal in January, ensuring everyday at-bats. I project 30+ HRs with some speed, but a .260+ average may elude him. With a 15% strikeout rate more aligned with his career, I see 85 RBIs unless he tops last year’s HR total.
2. Marcell Ozuna, Braves (ADP: 73.5)
Ozuna has been a fantasy bargain for the past two years. In 2024, he set career highs in plate appearances (688), runs (96), and games (162), driving in 100+ runs for the second straight season. His contact batting average (.420) outpaced 2023 (.366) and his career (.359).
He slugged 34 of his 39 HRs against right-handers. Against lefties, he hit .319 with 5 HRs and 24 RBIs over 141 at-bats—solid, though less potent than his 12 HRs vs. southpaws in 2023. After 107 games, Ozuna was on a tear (.301, 67 runs, 31 HRs, 84 RBIs over 399 ABs), but he faded late with 29 runs, 8 HRs, and 20 RBIs over his final 207 at-bats. His 92.2 mph exit velocity (20th) and 53.5% hard-hit rate (11th) were elite, with 134 barrels over two years. Yet his fly-ball rate (38.4%) hit a five-year low, and his strikeout rate (24.7%) was the highest since 2014.
Fantasy Outlook: Ozuna’s recent success reflects better discipline and off-field habits. He’s a joy to watch when locked in. However, the Braves might rotate other players into the DH spot in 2025, especially with injuries in play—Ozuna’s logged just two outfield games in two years. I see him as a .270/80/30/90 hitter with no speed. Could he be a Nelson Cruz-esque force in his 30s?
3. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (ADP: 79.6)
Batting average shapes a player’s fantasy value, and Schwarber’s is a wild card. Over three years with Philly, he’s delivered runs, HRs, and RBIs despite a 29.4% strikeout rate (28.5% in 2024). His contact batting average has fluctuated (.390 in 2021, .334 in 2022, .311 in 2023, .378 in 2024), but he posted a career-best 21% RBI rate last year.
Schwarber mashed lefties in 2024 (.300, 12 HRs, 38 RBIs over 210 ABs), a leap from 2023’s .188 with 15 HRs over 207 ABs, thanks to 20 fewer strikeouts. September was his peak (.293, 22 runs, 10 HRs, 22 RBIs over 99 ABs). His 93.6 mph exit velocity (career high) and 55.5% hard-hit rate (5th) shone, though his fly-ball rate (40.1%) eased from prior years (49.5% and 51.1%). His walk rate (15.3%) remains elite.
Fantasy Outlook: Schwarber’s a three-outcome hitter—33% of his hits are HRs, and 44.7% of plate appearances end in walks or strikeouts. He’ll score, mash HRs, and flirt with a .225 average, depending on his loft vs. contact balance. Expect another 100/35/90 season from one of the top 2025 fantasy baseball DH rankings options.
4. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (ADP: 315)
Stanton’s missed nearly a full season (161 games) over the last three years. A hamstring injury limited him to three July games in 2024. He started strong (.225, 23 runs, 13 HRs, 29 RBIs over 191 ABs in April/May) but tapered off (13 runs, 9 HRs, 27 RBIs over 148 ABs in August/September). His postseason was electric (15-for-55, 9 runs, 7 HRs, 16 RBIs).
His strikeout rate (31.2%) keeps climbing, while his walk rate (8.3%) fades. Stanton’s fly-ball rates (44.5% and 43.8%) and 22.3% HR/FB rate hold firm. He ranked 6th in hard-hit rate (55.3%), 3rd in barrel rate (20.7%), and 4th in exit velocity (94.6 mph).
Fantasy Outlook: With two years left on his deal (plus a 2028 option), Stanton’s bat still packs a punch, but injuries sap his HR totals. The Yankees slotted him 4th or 5th for 407 of his 417 ABs in 2024, though offseason moves may push him lower. He’s a low-average power play with roster headaches.
5. Joc Pederson, Rangers (ADP: 335)
In 11 MLB seasons, Pederson’s never topped 480 ABs. Over the last three years, he’s hit .262 with 178 runs, 61 HRs, 185 RBIs, and a surprising career-high 7 SBs in 2024 at age 32. He struggles vs. lefties (.210, 15 HRs, 188 Ks over 567 career ABs), and Arizona limited him to 32 ABs against them last year (7-for-32, 1 HR).
Pederson was quiet in April (.288, 2 HRs) and September (.225, 2 HRs), but solid elsewhere (.282, 45 runs, 19 HRs, 55 RBIs, 6 SBs over 259 ABs). His .385 contact batting average (a five-year high) and 92.2 mph exit velocity were strengths, though his fly-ball rate (40.3%) dipped.
Fantasy Outlook: Pederson’s a pro bat stifled by platoon usage. The Rangers’ $37M, two-year deal signals trust, but he’ll likely face only righties. His 2024 FPGscore (-0.59, 84th) and late-round ADP (209th hitter) make him a deep-league gem. I project .260/60/20/60, with upside if he climbs the lineup.
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