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Dynasty Takeaways from 2025 Small Samples: Hitters

Dynasty takeaways from 2025 small samples for hitters

John Villavicencio
Dynasty 11/3/2025

As we start to shift our attention to 2026, we need to analyze the performances we saw in 2025. This can be especially difficult for those who do not have a large sample size to analyze. This year, we saw several young hitters make their debut and perform well late in the season. This article breaks down the performance we saw from five different hitters and helps shed light on what fantasy baseball and dynasty managers can expect from these hitters in 2026 and beyond.

 

Former Hitting Prospects with Small Sample Sizes

 

Daylen Lile, OF, Washington Nationals

2025 Results

Lile made his professional debut on May 23rd, serving as an injury replacement for Dylan Crews. Up until his call-up, he had a .337/.383/.509, along with a 13% strikeout rate, three home runs, and nine steals. During his initial 11-game audition, Lile didn’t display much of the contact prowess he was showing over two levels in the minor leagues with a .194 average and 20% strikeout rate. He was sent back down before getting a second chance, and he didn’t go as quietly this go around. He homered in his first game back and went on to finish out the final 80 games with a much stronger .310/.357/.514, a 15% strikeout rate, nine home runs, and eight steals. Combining his major league and minor league numbers, Lile finished with .310/.358/.500, a 15.7% strikeout rate, 13 home runs, and 20 steals.

 

The Positives

A 5’11” four-hole hitter is certainly a rarity, but it shouldn’t be a factor in whether or not to add Lile to your roster. He worked his way up from the bottom of the lineup by gradually improving his slugging percentage while displaying consistent plate discipline. Although the 6% walk rate leaves a little to be desired, Lile has not carried a strikeout rate over 18.4% since his 40 games in High-A back in 2023. During the 2025 season, he improved his strikeout rate each month. In fact, his 22% strikeout rate against lefties is the main blemish on his player card, but he was still starting against the majority of them at the end of the season.

 

Despite some of the questionable power metrics mentioned below, Lile does strike the ball well. He is hitting the sweet spot of launch angle on 44% of his batted ball events, which boosts his .309 xBA and .395 xwOBACON. He may not put the ball in the seats often, but Lile is certainly stinging the ball effectively enough that it is more likely to land safely somewhere in the field.

The Concerns

The third or fourth lineup spots are typically reserved for a big bopper, which Lile is not. His below-average bat speed is producing minimal barrels and a poor hard-hit rate. He likely overshot his expected home run rate since he has only put the ball in the air 36% of the time.

Additionally, some fielding metrics suggest he is not a quality fielder. Depending on any free agents they acquire, Lile may find himself relegated to the designated hitter spot when it is open for him. The Nationals may be rotating through James Wood, Dylan Crews, Robert Hassell III, and Jacob Young across the outfield and DH spot, which could leave Lile on the outside looking in.

2026 & Dynasty Outlook

Without knowing much about Lile before August 2025, his profile is someone to track as a late-round fourth or fifth outfielder who can boost your fantasy team’s batting average. With 92nd percentile sprint speed, there is a high probability that he can eclipse twenty steals for the fifth year in a row. Even with all the shade thrown on his power forecast, Lile did display enough pop to be projected for 10+ home runs with a full run of playing time. The 20% pulled air rate suggests that he can leverage his power to continually overachieve in the home run category.

 

TLDR

An unexpected heart of the order outfielder who excels in strong line drive contact.

 

Kyle Teel, C, Chicago White Sox

 

2025 Results

Kyle Teel met the expectations thrust upon him after being the main piece in the Garrett Crochet trade with Boston before the 2025 season. Teel joined Triple-A Charlotte at the start of the season, where he formed a dynamic catching duo with Edgar Quero. Teel put up eight home runs and seven steals to go along with a .295/.394/.492. The strikeout rate ticked up while the fly ball rate dipped, yet he was hitting the ball harder when he did make the right kind of contact. With his strong offensive performance, he earned his debut on June 6th, a few months after Quero got the call. By mid-August, Teel forced his way into the top third of the lineup and was starting at least five out of seven days at catcher or designated hitter. He had a strong September when he banged four home runs, stole one base, and had a slash line of .237/.370/.434. In 2025, Teel played 128 games, hitting 16 home runs, stealing ten bases (only three with the White Sox), a 25.6 K%, a 13.1 BB%, and an overall slash line of .282/.383/.445.

The Positives

Obviously, his eye at the plate makes him a more prominent add in leagues that use on-base percentage instead of average. Teel has turned in a double-digit walk rate through every stop of his professional career. It does appear that he is a selective hitter, with a 44% swing rate in the major leagues, and one of the lower rates among the players selected for this article. Although he had the highest strikeout rate this season, it isn’t because he is chasing pitches out of the zone or whiffing more than in previous seasons. The bottom line is that his walk rate is a sticky skill that serves him well during those periods when his bat isn’t making much contact.

Given that he may not be putting as many balls in play as other hitters, Teel needs to make the most productive contact possible. His above-average launch angle sweet spot percentage is what helped him put up a new career max exit velocity of 113.7 mph, along with a decent 9.6% barrel rate. Admittedly, the 37% hard hit rate is not one of a power hitter, but if he is striking the ball at the best angle, he can be safely expected to mash 12-18 home runs as he has done the last three seasons.

The Concerns

Teel faces the strong possibility of being on the bench when the team faces a lefty due to the sub-200 average and a 39% strikeout rate against southpaws. Fortunately, this would mean he is on a strong-side platoon against right-handed pitchers. The White Sox have suitable replacements in Edgar Quero as a switch-hitter and Korey Lee as a right-handed hitter, but neither offers the high offensive upside that Teel does. Nevertheless, the team will expect him to consistently deliver with the bat or start considering their platoon options.

Teel’s batted ball profile doesn’t display someone capable of stepping into more power than currently being shown. His 104 mph EV90 is pretty low, meaning that he will need to replicate the perfect launch angle more often to drive balls out of the park. Unfortunately, his fly ball rate is below 40%, which limits the number of opportunities for the long ball. He will be reliant on the above-average 20% pulled air rate that signals an intentional approach to hitting the ball to the shortest point on the field.

For Teel to tap into this power, he will likely have to do it against fewer and fewer fastballs. The changeup gave him fits (>33% whiff rate) at both levels in 2025, while the slider has been a nemesis (41% whiff rate and .206 average) in the major leagues. If he doesn’t turn that around early in 2026, he will be spoon-fed breakers and offspeed pitches all game.

2026 & Dynasty Outlook

Assuming that the playing time remains similar to the end of 2025, Teel should see 75%+ of the opportunities each week, making him a good bet to reach 500+ plate appearances. This would make him a valuable addition to a fantasy roster, as he would be near the top ten in playing time for catchers. The above analysis is doubtful of the power, but really, 10+ home runs would be a solid contribution if it came with a .270+ batting average and/or a .350+ on-base percentage. In fact, the range of OBPs is probably much higher than that since Teel is not chasing pitches out of the zone and not whiffing much more than he did in the minor leagues. Teel is in serious consideration as a starter in single-catcher leagues.

TLDR

Teel is an intriguing, hitter-friendly catcher who has a keen eye at the plate with a good shot at chipping in some steals.

 

Jakob Marsee, OF, Miami Marlins

 

2025 Results

Of all the players listed here, Jakob Marsee has the highest expectations placed on him to duplicate his breakout season in 2026. The 24-year-old outfielder put up a 133 wRC+ over 55 games in Miami with his slash line of .292/.363/.478. In addition, he almost put up a 20/60 season across all levels, falling one home run short. Although the power was heavily weighted to his first 17 games (4 home runs, 1.241 OPS), Marsee is a leadoff hitter with a keen eye at the plate and the ability to drive the ball over the wall. He has a modest 8% barrel rate, 41% hard hit rate, and a 44% pull rate. Yet, it is the above-average launch angle sweet spot rate that should help him reach double-digit home runs again.

 

The Positives

Marsee has an excellent eye at the plate. He showed us this with a 24% chase rate and 83% contact rate with the Marlins. He is also controlling his aggression, as seen by the 7% swinging strike rate and 90% zone contact rate. These are excellent traits for a leadoff hitter to have, especially one who has reached 41+ stolen bases three seasons in a row.

 

While you aren’t buying him for the power numbers, you should expect an improved walk rate in 2026. There was a dip below 10% for the first time in his professional career. This makes him a highly sought-after player in leagues with an on-base percentage because that rate could push .400 if everything clicks. He was fairly strong against breaking pitches, so any improvement against fastballs (.344 wOBA) would boost his profile even more. Marsee isn’t able to stay perfectly balanced against all pitch types, as his whiff rate does jump up to 34% against offspeed pitches.

 

The Concerns

The production did fall off over the back half of his time in Miami, right when he started hitting in the top third of the lineup. In two of his last four weeks, Marsee hit zero home runs with a batting average below .160 and an on-base percentage below .192. Fortunately, he plays on the Marlins, and the competition for his center field position is minimal, especially given his solid fielding abilities. Nevertheless, Marsee is not immune to cold streaks as he put up a .557 OPS in May. Even then, he still posted a .337 OBP that month with 13 steals to ease the pain. September was his worst month in the major leagues, and the OBP fell below .300 as the strikeout rate ticked up to 19.5%.

Stolen bases feature prominently as part of the Jakob Marsee package. Yet, we do have to highlight the inefficiencies on the basepaths. He was caught stealing 22% out of his 79 attempts in 2025. For an organization that is now controlling the pitches from the dugout, they may start limiting the movement on the bases if the RE24 matrix says so.

2026 & Dynasty Outlook

The 2025 overall results for Marsee represent the ceiling for his outcomes. Over 663 plate appearances, Marsee went .264/.373/.453 with 19 home runs, 61 steals, with a 13.5% walk rate and 19.5% strikeout rate. He hit the ball at the best angles with enough power, while getting on base at a high enough pace to take advantage of his speed. With the assumption that he will bat in the top third of the lineup ahead of Kyle Stowers and AgustĂ­n RamĂ­rez, Marsee offers a strong possibility of reaching 100 runs and 40 steals with a .275+ average. This forecast will likely push his ADP into the low 100s as folks see the potential for another step forward.

TLDR

A speedy leadoff hitter who has a high floor and significant draft buzz, given his keen eye at the plate and likelihood of stealing 40+ bases.

 

Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals

 

2025 Results

Carter Jensen finally made his professional debut on September 3rd as part of the expanded rosters after 2,087 plate appearances in the Minor Leagues since being a third-round pick in the 2021 draft. During his ascension, he has been viewed as an above-average catching prospect with moderate pop and speed. Jensen ascended at the right time as it appeared that the 20-year-old Blake Mitchell, another power and speed catching prospect in the organization, would catch up to him in the order of call-ups after Mitchell posted a near 20-20 season in 2024. For his part, Jensen left no doubt as to who is ready for prime time by going .290/.377/.501 with 20 home runs and ten steals over 492 plate appearances in the minor leagues. Jensen parlayed that success into a great slash line of .300/.391/.550 with three home runs over 69 plate appearances with the Royals that included a ridiculous 20% barrel rate.

The Positives

Jensen took his skills up a notch in Triple-A by being a selectively aggressive hitter and having success against fastballs.  Over 164 plate appearances in Omaha, he hit .288/.404/.647 with 13 home runs and three steals. Of those 14 home runs, 12 were on a fastball despite the 28% strikeout rate on all pitch types. Even witnessing his 100 mph average exit velocity and .442 wOBA on fastballs in the major leagues, it is apparent that he was seeing the ball really well. Jensen matched his 58% hard hit rate from Triple-A with the Royals as he put up a .403 wOBA while improving his contact rate to 77% and reducing his swinging strike rate to under 11%.

 

He was likely applying an intentional approach with a 20% Pulled Air Rate that gave him those three home runs and six doubles in 293 pitches seen. Furthermore, his 13% walk rate adds to the case for solid plate discipline and boosts his profile should the power gains fall off slightly. On the other hand, any dip would be coming from a high ceiling of 35% HR/FB rate in Triple-A, where he bombed out 14 dingers.

The Concerns

As a left-handed hitter, the platoon splits are a minimal concern, but still present. Yet, any concerns that he would sit more often are reduced, given that he is on the strong side of any platoon and plays alongside the aging Salvador Perez. Between Perez, Jensen, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jac Caglianone, there will be plenty of options to rotate the players among first base, designated hitter, catcher, and the outfield. Nevertheless, the reality is that he doesn’t hit left-handed pitchers with much authority and could find himself on the bench if the Royals want another roster look against a specific pitcher.

In terms of plate discipline, Jensen had a high strikeout rate in Triple-A that could reemerge if he begins suffering from seeing more non-fastballs. Any lack of contact could require a change in his approach that would further complicate his bloated power numbers. Jensen had a 45% ground ball rate with the Royals that would draw down that unsustainable 19% HR/FB rate.

2026 & Dynasty Outlook

Jensen set a high bar for his 2026 projections by improving his strikeout rate, walk rate, and hard hit rate once jumping to the major leagues. By establishing other ways to get on base, he has built a high floor for his offensive profile. His exceptional hard-hit rate and barrel rate are also hard to ignore, given that they were an extension of gains made in Triple-A. The only thing left to be seen is whether or not he actually is a stolen base threat. In the end, you should expect 15-20 home runs with at least five steals and a strong case for a .270 average. This makes him a solid second catcher option in two-catcher fantasy baseball leagues.

TLDR

Jensen is a royally good player who posted elite power numbers in September and can toss in a few stolen bases from the catcher position.

 

Sal Stewart, 1B/3B, Cincinnati Reds

2025 Results

The 21-year-old corner infielder made his professional debut as one of the expanded roster call-ups on September 1st after 494 plate appearances across two levels of the minor leagues in 2025. Stewart was on fire after a mid-season promotion, as he hit ten home runs in both levels, but achieved the feat in half as many plate appearances in Triple-A. With Louisville, Stewart went .315/.394/.629 with 10 home runs and four steals over 165 plate appearances. Although he didn’t receive consistent playing time in Cincinnati, he managed a decent .255/.293/.545 with five home runs and zero steals in a measly 58 plate appearances. In his short stint, the strikeout rate jumped up to 26% and the walk rate dropped. His power numbers could look even better, given the likelihood that he would return to his historically better plate discipline numbers in 2026. The right-handed hitting Stewart started in only one of the two Reds’ playoff games, but he didn’t wilt. He went two-for-four with three RBI and a stolen base in the series-losing game against the Dodgers.

The Positives

A noticeable feature of Stewart’s game is seen in the high 29% home run to fly ball rate, which almost doubles the major league average. Obviously, this extreme outcome isn’t manageable over the course of the season, but we can expect him to strive for a desirable launch angle and bat path to put more balls in the air. He had a 21% HR/FB rate in Triple-A, pulling 39% of balls with a 38% fly ball rate. In the majors, he upped those rates to a 50% pull rate and a 43% fly ball rate. Stewart managed these great power metrics while mirroring a 51% hard-hit rate and posting an 18% barrel rate.

The next standout aspect of his profile is his well-rounded approach that allows him to drive all types of pitches. Although his major league home runs all came off a fastball, he popped plenty of fastballs, breakers, and offspeed pitches over the fence in the minor leagues.

 

One more takeaway is that he has the potential to qualify at three positions: first base, third base, and second base. He mainly played first base (11 games) and then third base (6) with Cincinnati, but also got time at second base (13 games), along with third base (23) and first base (2) in Triple-A. The knock on him is that he isn’t mobile, but this kind of positional flexibility will help the Reds shuffle their multitude of pieces around the diamond much more easily. Although he only started 18 of the final 29 games, he is expected to be a principal member of the starting lineup in the field or as the designated hitter.

 

The Concerns

Let’s start with his place on the field. Despite the below-average grades for his fielding, Statcast data shows that he has been a value add over his brief 114 innings at first base and third base. His 14th percentile sprint speed supports the lack of mobility scouting report, but he is making the plays that he can make. If Cincinnati expects more from its infielders, then Stewart would likely fall in the pecking order. He could find himself on the bench more often than not, as evidenced by the manager’s proclivity to keep him there late in September. On the other hand, it’s possible that the team was seeking more experience during their late-season playoff push, and it is not related to his future standing.

That first concern is easy to shrug off, so let’s examine his pitch recognition. Stewart didn’t fare as well as he did in Triple-A with pitches that break away from him like the cutter, slider, sweeper, and curveball. He saw more sliders during his time with the Reds and will see more breaking balls if he doesn’t adjust accordingly.

2026 & Dynasty Outlook

Any shortcomings with his fielding position or playing time are greatly outweighed by the high potential that he will develop into a prodigious power hitter. He has an 85% zone contact rate and a manageable 11% swinging strike rate that could foreshadow a return to a batting average over .300 like he had over two levels of the minor leagues in 2025.

TLDR

A big bat first basemen who should feature prominently in a Reds lineup that plays half of its games in a top three rated park for home runs.

 

Conclusion

All five of these players are strong contenders for your 2026 dynasty team and beyond. In terms of 2026 only, I lean towards Jaokb Marsee as making the biggest impact. Daylen Lile receives the highest level of skepticism due to his batted ball profile and unexpected rise.

 

 

Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on Instagram & Threads @kuwasemiller.bksy.social on BlueSky)

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