Early Fantasy Baseball Regrets: 8 Players Making Me Rethink My Draft Strategy

We’re only a couple of weeks into the fresh fantasy baseball season, but like any fantasy manager, I’ve already started questioning a few of my preseason takes. Whether it was fading a player due to injury concerns or underestimating a lineup’s potential, a handful of names are making me reflect. Here are eight players who are proving me wrong — or at least making me reconsider my stance.

Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs
 My hesitation on Tucker was always a soft fade, not a full pass — I even drafted him once with a co-manager. I worried about the ballpark change from Houston to Chicago and whether he'd bounce back from a lost season due to injury. But Tucker’s elite plate discipline has already been on full display with 16 walks to just 11 strikeouts. Plus, Chicago’s offense looks deeper than expected. I may have underestimated him.

Jung Hoo Lee, OF, Giants
 Lee was practically free in drafts after missing most of 2024, and I questioned if he had enough power to hold down the No. 3 spot in San Francisco’s order. Fast forward: he leads MLB with eight doubles, has three home runs, and even three stolen bases. His .644 slugging percentage and willingness to run have made him one of the early breakout stars.

Ben Rice, 1B, Yankees
 Rice is showing major improvements across the board — better discipline, more hard contact, and increased pull power. What’s more, the Yankees are letting him face lefties, and with New York’s offense clicking, Rice has become a key part of the lineup’s success.

Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Tigers
 Yes, Torkelson’s strikeout rate has ticked up slightly, but his walk rate has improved too. More importantly, his hard-hit and pull rates are climbing fast. At just 25 years old and as a former No. 1 overall pick, Torkelson might finally be delivering on his long-hyped promise.

Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks
 I didn’t give Perdomo a second thought during draft season, but maybe I should have. He’s off to a .333/.448/.490 start with two homers, two steals, and an eye-popping 13:2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. That plate discipline is elite, and he's been temporarily elevated in the batting order due to Ketel Marte’s absence.

Wilyer Abreu, OF, Red Sox
 I was hesitant about platoon risks, but Abreu has crushed right-handed pitching to the tune of a .354/.466/.625 line and even started once versus a lefty. Boston’s upcoming schedule features mostly righties, and with his elite defense, Abreu’s playing time should remain steady.

Roki Sasaki, SP, Dodgers
 I was excited to land one share of Sasaki, but the early returns have been rocky. He has more walks than strikeouts through four starts and has only pitched five innings once. His 3.29 ERA feels like smoke and mirrors — advanced metrics peg it closer to 4.91. Patience is key with a 23-year-old rookie, but maybe I should’ve tempered expectations.

Aroldis Chapman, RP, Red Sox
I avoided Chapman because of Boston’s murky closer situation and his age, but he’s been electric. Despite four walks, he’s notched three saves and two wins while striking out 11 batters in seven innings. At 37, he’s still throwing gas and earning high-leverage chances.

Fantasy baseball is all about adapting — and these players are proving that early-season performance can flip preseason expectations on their head.

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