With the 2025 MLB season roughly a month away, it’s time to prepare for fantasy baseball drafts. Last season saw the emergence of several rookie pitchers, including Jared Jones, Spencer Schwellenbach, and most notably, Paul Skenes. So, which rookie pitchers could provide the most value to fantasy players in 2025? Here’s our list of 10 pitchers to highlight.
Bubba Chandler
We’ll start our list with Bubba Chandler, arguably the top pitching prospect in the Pirates’ farm system. Chandler was a third-round pick by the Pirates in the 2021 MLB Draft but was given first-round money ($3MM). The Bucs allowed him to be a two-way player in 2022 before transitioning into a full-time pitcher in 2023.
Chandler struck out 60 over 41.1 IP in abbreviated pitching action in 2022. The right-hander mowed down hitters over the last two Minor League seasons. Chandler struck out 148 over 119.2 IP and opposing batters hit only .189 off the 22-year-old.
The Pirates prospect is a non-roster invitee to Pirates Spring Training and at some point, may factor into the rotation in 2025. As we noted in February 2025, Chandler has the makings of a big-time arm. The 22-year-old boasts a power fastball that can sit in the upper-90s with movement, coupled with a hard slider.
Yilber Diaz
Diamondbacks right-hander Yilber Diaz is one of four pitchers on this list with Major League experience. The 24-year-old feasted on Double-A and Triple-A pitching last season, striking out 140 over 104.1 IP. Diaz then made two brief cameos in Arizona, one in July and the other in Arizona. Between the two, Diaz struck out 19 over 28.1 IP with a 3.81 ERA.
Diaz can pump it up to the upper-90s with his fastball, one that doesn’t have plus vertical break (15.6”) but above-average horizontal movement. The 24-year-old uses two breaking balls, a curve and harder slider, to work off the four-seamer, both of which have depth. Diaz also has a changeup but rarely used it in the Majors; it was used two times with Arizona.
The real question with Diaz is whether he’ll get a chance to start in 2025 with Arizona. The Diamondbacks have a deep rotation and Diaz, a primary three-pitch arm, could fit better in a relief role.
Jackson Jobe
The first two picks of the 2021 MLB Draft — Henry Davis & Jack Leiter — were considered safe, high-floor players expected to make the Majors quickly. But while both did make it to the Majors, neither have had significant success. The third-overall pick in 2021, Jackson Jobe, could surpass the two in 2025.
Jobe raced up the organization ladder over the course of three years, despite being sidelined with lumbar spine inflammation in 2023. The right-hander rolled in 2024 during limited outings, as he struck out 96 over 91.1 IP and opposing batters hit just .178 off him. Jobe ended 2024 in the Tigers’ bullpen.
The 22-year-old boasts an electric sweeper that regularly had over 3,000 RPM on the pitch spin, which would rate among the best in baseball. His fastball showed impressive ride (17.4”) in Detroit, and Jobe will also pair it with a cutter and change. He projects to be a power pitcher with immense strikeout potential.
Quinn Mathews
Cardinals left-hander Quinn Mathews went from Stanford ace to Minor League Pitcher of the Year, all in a 15-month time span. Mathews was selected after a strong four-year career with the Cardinal, one that included a great summer in the Cape in 2021, and a 158-strikeout season in 2023.
Mathews ran the gauntlet in 2024, starting in Low-A and ending in Triple-A. No, his numbers in Memphis were not good. Mathews gave up 12 runs over 16.2 IP in what is a hitter-friendly league. But overall, Mathews was incredible in the Minors. The 24-year-old struck out 202 batters over 143.1 IP. As we noted earlier in the year, Mathews has numerous weapons to beat hitters with, including a four-seamer with great carry and higher velocity.
Mathews is one of several Cardinals pitching prospects to watch in 2025. Both him and Tink Hence could be Major Leaguers, as St. Louis looks to progress their rebuild.
Jacob Misiorowski
It took Jacob Misiorowski two years to go from junior college to Triple-A, mowing down hitters thanks to an impressive arsenal. The 22-year-old struck out 110 batters over 71.1 IP in abbreviated action in 2023, then notched 127 more in 97.1 IP in 2024, between Double-A and Triple-A. Opposing batters hit just .167 off him.
The 22-year-old hurler boasts a plus-plus fastball that can hit the triple-digits, coupled with a power slider and curveball, all in a deceptive delivery. However, keeping everything together with his mechanics has not been particularly easy. The right-hander issued 60 free passes over those 97.1 innings.
Misiorowski, a non-roster invitee to Brewers’ 2025 camp, has a shot to be an impact pitcher with the Brewers in 2025. Robert Gasser, who made this list in 2024, is still recovering from elbow surgery and likely won’t pitch in 2025. While the Brewers — for now — have enough MLB pitching depth, one injury could give Misiorowski his first look at real MLB action.
Rhett Lowder
Out of all the pitchers on this list, Rhett Lowder is the one with the most notable MLB experience. Lowder only needed a year to make it to Cincinnati after the Reds picked him out of the pitching lab in Wake Forest. The right-hander was the ace for the Demon Deacons during their run to the 2023 College World Series.
Lowder was a smashing success during his September cameo with the Reds. He posted the seventh-lowest ERA (1.01) among MLB pitchers (min. 15 IP), limiting well-hit contact to the tune of a 3.3% Barrel%.
The 22-year-old will regularly pound the zone with a two-seamer, one with true sink. That will limit the strikeout numbers. Lowder struck out 22 over 30.2 innings with the Reds in 2024. However, his stuff makes him an intriguing arm who could net double-digits in wins if he sticks in the Reds’ rotation all year. That might be tough, though, given he may not be ready for Opening Day thanks to elbow trouble.
Marco Raya
Twins right-hander Marco Raya is one of several young arms who could break the Minnesota roster at some point in 2025.
Raya, on the Twins’ 40-man roster, was a fourth-round pick in 2020 who’s steadily risen up the organizational ladder. The 22-year-old struck out 103 over 97 innings pitched last season, one where he spent most of it in Double-A. There’s punch in Raya’s arsenal, although he did have a high opponent’s AVG (.243). He’ll work in a cutter and sinker on opposing batters.
The Twins didn’t make any notable pitching additions this winter, meaning the likes of fellow rookie Zebby Matthews and second-year pitcher David Festa to potentially take on big roles. Raya could also play a role on the Twins in 2025.
Kumar Rocker
While Rhett Lowder may have had the best September among rookie starters, it’s debatable that Kumar Rocker had the most impactful debut. Rocker, a first-round pick in 2021 and 2022, overcame UCL reconstruction early in his pro career to have a masterful 2024 in the Minors. He made his debut with the Rangers in September and was electric down the stretch.
The 25-year-old boasts two power fastballs, a four-seamer and sinker. Both are hard pitches that sit in the upper-90s, coupled with a biting slider with plus depth. Across three MLB starts, Rocker struck out 14 over 11.2 IP.
There’s room for Rocker to make the Rangers out of camp this spring. Should that happen, the 25-year-old could be one of the top rookie pitchers this season if he can stay healthy.
Roki Sasaki
It feels awkward putting Roki Sasaki on this list, when taking into account his resume. Sasaki was a decorated pitcher with Chiba Lotte of the NPB, as the 23-year-old was a former 200-strikeout pitcher against the top players from Japan. Now, the Dodgers will see if Sasaki can acclimate himself well to MLB hitters, much like Yoshinobu Yamamoto did in 2024.
Sasaki boasts a hard fastball that can sit in the triple-digits, although his velocity was down last season. Aside from the fastballs, Sasaki has a hard slider and splitter, both pitches were highly-effective against Major League hitters in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Sasaki is the highest-rated rookie pitcher on our preseason fantasy baseball ranking list, at #114. What may hold Sasaki back is how much he pitches in 2025, especially when taking into account the Dodgers could eventually move to a six-man rotation once Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound.
Brandon Sproat
The Mets drafted Brandon Sproat twice, once in 2022 and then again in 2023. Sproat was a fantastic arm at the University of Florida, one who boasted a fastball that could hit the triple-digits. But, command was an issue for him with the Gators. During the 2023 season, Sproat walked 48 over 106.1 IP (4.1 BB/9).
Sproat started the 2024 campaign in Brooklyn (A+) but didn’t stay long. The 24-year-old raced through High-A and Double-A, ending the 2024 season in Triple-A. Across three levels, the power pitcher struck out 131 over 116.1 IP and limited the walks (3.2 BB/9).
The Mets are dealing with numerous injuries to their starting rotation. Sean Manaea has an oblique strain that’ll keep him for at least the first few weeks of 2025. Frankie Montas, thanks to a lat strain, will miss at least the first month. Sproat has an opening — if he can seize it.