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Which unheralded player needs to be on your 2025 roster?
With spring training games now underway, baseball is once again being played and we can start to fine-tune the top of our draft lists by seeing what players actually look like on the diamond.
However, many fantasy managers will tell you that fantasy championships are not won in the first few rounds, but rather by what bargains you can get in the middle of the roster-allocation proceedings.
With that in mind, we asked our quartet of fantasy experts -- Eric Karabell, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Todd Zola and Derek Carty -- to highlight one player they were targeting as one of these middle-round must-haves. If these names are currently nowhere to be found on your own draft lists, you might want to make some adjustments.
Which player ranked outside the top 50 are you most excited about potentially drafting to as many of your fantasy baseball teams as possible?
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
He's one of the few players you'll routinely draft outside the top 50 (other than in dynasty and keeper leagues) who has a legitimate chance at a top-25 overall season, thanks to his immense raw power potential.
That power is a true 80-grade skill and, to underscore how much punch he packs at the plate, note that he had the highest exit velocity of any player at the Triple-A level last season (minimum 150 batted balls). Then, after getting the call in mid-August, he had what would have been better-than-70th-percentile Barrel and hard-hit rates in his 177 plate appearances with the Rays.
The more hitter-friendly confines of the Rays' temporary home at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa should help his cause, as will hitting regularly in the heart of the order. Expect a big breakthrough from Caminero in 2025. -- Cockcroft
Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Yelich produced a stellar .909 OPS over 315 plate appearances during the 2024 season, offering up 11 home runs and 21 stolen bases before his balky back eventually shut him down just before August. Offseason surgery was expected to fix the problem, and Yelich should be ready for Opening Day.
Fantasy managers would be quite pleased if Yelich approaches numbers reflecting his 2023 pace. Remember, Yelich was a five-category provider and top-10 outfielder that season, and lest we forget, he was an All-Star just last season. He has proven upside, yet doesn't need to return to his 2018 NL MVP form to get back to top-50 fantasy status. -- Karabell
Christian Walker, 1B, Houston Astros
First base is loaded in 2025, with five players at the position currently with an ADP inside the top 50. Walker should make it six, but his ADP is borderline top 100.
Being able to wait for Walker allows fantasy managers to focus on other lineup spots early in drafts while still rostering one of the best at his position. He's averaged 32 homers, 94 RBI, 81 runs and five steals while hitting .250 over the past three seasons -- and that's with having missed 32 games last year due to an oblique strain. He had missed only seven total games in 2022-23.
Moving to a new team can be a challenge, but Walker's current home field is much more homer-friendly to right-handed batters than his old digs in Arizona. -- Zola
Taylor Ward, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Yeah, yeah. I know you wanted me to say Dylan Crews or Jackson Jobe or literally anything sexier than Taylor Ward. Tough. You get what you get, and you don't get upset. But trust me: You'll be upset if you don't get Ward.
A 31-year-old Angels outfielder without a single standout skill is hardly someone I'd expect you to already be excited about, but that's exactly why he's my pick. Old, boring veterans (especially on bad teams) are perpetually undervalued -- and they're also perpetually the key to winning leagues.
Ward won't carry a single category for you, but he'll contribute in all five and, most importantly? Ward is good at baseball. He can hit. My projection system (THE BAT X) sees Ward as the 52nd-most-valuable hitter in fantasy this year, but he's being drafted more than 100 spots below that. Take advantage of the market's biases and take the value where you can get it. -- Carty
South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard will leave Leicester Tigers at the end of the season to rejoin Bulls in his home country.
The two-time World Cup winner signed for the Premiership club before the 2022-23 season and has made 45 appearances, scoring 395 points.
But the versatile back said family reasons and the lure of a club where he started his career in 2014 was too difficult to resist.
"It was a hard decision to make, to leave Leicester Tigers, because I love this club and being a part of this group," the 30-year-old told the club website., external
"After a lot of thought, the opportunity to go home to South Africa after six years in Europe and to be able to return to the club where I began my career was one I felt was right for me and my family to take.
"That's really all there is to say for now because I don't really want to start talking like this is already over. There is a lot of rugby to be played and a lot of time left for me at Leicester Tigers, which I am focused on finishing successfully."
Pollard made his breakthrough with Bulls in 2014 before a stint at Japanese club NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in 2015 and a spell with French side Montpellier in 2019.
Pollard's World Cup wins came in 2019, when South Africa beat England in the final, and in 2023, when he scored all of the points in a 12-11 win over New Zealand.
Pollard will continue to play for Leicester, who are fourth in the Premiership, until the end of the campaign.
CHICO, Calif. Silver Dollar Speedway hosted the Silver Cup on Friday night to kick start the 2025 racing season.
Twenty-eight 360 winged sprint cars attended night one with Shane Golobic claiming the victory.
Golobic passed early leader Kaleb Montgomery at the halfway point and never looked back. Golobic made the move on a restart.
Braden Chiaramonte passed Montgomery with under ten laps to go and secured a second-place finish. Montgomery hung on to finish in the third spot. Golobic thrilled the large crowd with hammer down, on an old school Chico type of surface.
Andy Forsberg gained eight starting spots to capture a fourth-place finish. Same with Austin Wood, who passed eight cars enroute to a fifth-place finish.
Golobic started the night by turning the fastest lap in qualifying, a blistering 11.531 seconds on the quarter-mile track.
The finish:
Shane Golobic, Braden Chiarmonte, Kaleb Montgomery, Andy Forsberg, Austin Wood, Dominic Gorden, John Michael Bunch, Kalib Henry, Caden Sarale, Jennifer Osborne, Brad Bumgarner, Jayden Bunch, Justin Sanders, Tanner Holmes, Carson Hall, D.J. Freitas, Seth Standley, Max Mittry, Chance Grasty, Tanner Carrick.
INVERNESS, Fla. Teenager Colton Bettis outran a star-studded field to claim victory on the opening night of the Childrens Dream Fund 50 weekend for winged asphalt sprint cars at Citrus County Speedway on Friday.
Driving the No. 61 sprint car, Bettis finished the 50-lap event 4.060 seconds ahead of veteran open-wheel racer Bobby Santos Jr.
Eight-time USAC Silver Crown Series champion Kody Swanson finished third, with Daniel Miller and Jeff Montgomery completing the top five.
The finish:
Colton Bettis, Bobby Santos III, Kody Swanson, Daniel Miller, Jeff Montgomery, Kaylee Bryson, Davey Hamilton Jr., Steven Hollinger, Joe Ligouri, Aaron Willison, Dodge Carlbert, Scott Adema, Arie Luyendyk Jr., Johnny Gilbertson, Tommy Nichols, Natalie Waters, Mike Anderson, J.J. Dutton, Billy Boyd, Jimmy McCune, Jim Childers, Dylan Reynolds, Troy DeCaire.
SWAINSBORO, Ga. Veteran late model racer Chris Madden went to victory lane on night one of the Peach State Doubleheader for the Schaeffers Spring Nationals at Swainsboro Raceway.
Madden started outside the front row and led all 40 laps en route to a $7,553 pay day.
He led Wil Herrington to the checkered flag by 1.786 seconds to earn his first victory of the season.
Trey Mills, Ethan Dotson and Dalton Cook completed the top five.
The finish:
Chris Madden, Wil Herrington, Trey Mills, Ethan Dotson, Dalton Cook, Drake Troutman, Sam Seawright, Carson Ferguson, Ben Watkins, Ashton Winger, Zack Mitchell, Ches Chester, Beckham Malone, Jackson Hise, Michael Leach, Derek Dent, Jordy Nipper, Cody Overton, Michael Brown, Cory Hedgecock, Garrett Smith, Tanner English.
BRADENTON, Fla. After five thrilling Pro Modified qualifying sessions, Mark Micke claimed the $10,000 low qualifier bonus Friday night at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, the final race of the DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service, at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
Mickes 3.575-second pass from Fridays fourth qualifying session was enough to keep him and his twin-turbocharged M&M Transmission 69 Camaro at the top of the quickest 32-car Pro Mod field in drag racing history. Three-time PDRA Pro Nitrous champion Tommy Franklin is the No. 32 qualifier with a 3.637-second effort.
2024 NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock world champion and two-time PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion Johnny Pluchino maintained his No. 1 position in the third annual Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational in his Ross Environmental Services 13 Mustang. John Carinci claimed his No. 1 spot Friday night under the lights in the second annual Pro 10.5 Challenge in his turbocharged 2004 Corvette.
After struggling unexpectedly on Thursday, Mark Micke returned to his dominating ways on Friday, jumping to the top of the qualifying sheet with a 3.575-second pass at 223.65 mph. The pass extended Mickes No. 1 qualifying streak to an incredible 13 events in a row in his twin-turbocharged M&M Transmission 69 Camaro.
We got behind during testing, and Thursday we just couldnt put it together, said Micke, who also collected the $10,000 low qualifier bonus. We had changed the car up a lot at U.S. Street because theres radial prep, and we found out we couldnt run it like that at this race. We put our heads together, looked over the data, and were pretty confident this morning.
We ran a .61 in the morning, and that got our confidence back, Micke continued. Things just fell our way in the next round we watched the weather falling and the track getting cooler, and I said, Boys, I think this is our run. To put together 13 No. 1s in a row against the baddest Pro Mod racers in the world, Im just really proud of our guys. Thick and thin, hot or cold, whatever the prep, weve been able to pull it out with the car. To be standing on top, thats pretty badass.
As the No. 1 qualifier, Micke was the first driver to pull a poker chip out of the bag in Friday nights chip draw. He pulled the No. 2 chip along with No Prep Kings star and 2024 Snowbird Outlaw Nationals winner Kye Kelley, setting up what will be the marquee matchup of round one between two drivers with points championship aspirations.
Reigning back-to-back PDRA Pro Boost world champion and 2023 WSOPM semifinalist Jason Harris ran a 3.583 at 209.04 mph to take the No. 2 spot in his ProCharged Party Time Racing 69 Camaro. Hell take on Jay Cox in the first round on Saturday.
2017 WSOPM champion Mike Bowman returned to his previous form, taking the No. 3 position with a career-best E.T., running a 3.589 at 220.37 mph in his twin-turbo 69 Chevelle. He drew 2025 U.S. Street Nationals runner-up Lyle Barnett in the first round.
Also running a career-best was 2025 U.S. Street Nationals semifinalist Rian Hayward, who used a 3.593 at 208.62 to put his ProCharger-powered Code Blue 69 Camaro in the No. 4 spot. 2025 U.S. Street Nationals winner and current DI Winter Series points leader Ken Quartuccio rounded out the top five with 3.594 at 208.75 in his Scott Tidwell Racing screw-blown 69 Camaro.
Tommy Franklin, a three-time PDRA Pro Nitrous world champion, ended up on the 32-car bump spot in the third iteration of his infamous Jungle Rat 69 Camaro. His 3.637 at 208.36 in the final session of the night secured his spot.
John Carinci proved the potential of his turbocharged 04 Corvette in the final Pro 10.5 qualifying session when he laid down a 3.903 at 205.69 to take the No. 1 spot from young gun Joel Wensley Jr. He steadily improved throughout the four qualifying sessions on Thursday and Friday, starting with a 5.072 followed by a 4.049 that put him in the middle of the pack going into the final session. Tuner Carl Stevens Jr., winner of the 2018 WSOPM in Denver, then sent Carinci on a chart-topping pass under the Friday night lights.
Carinci continued to thank the people in his corner who contributed to his success to this point in the event.
It was a validating performance for Carinci, who has competed in Outlaw 10.5 for years. He was one of the 24 participants in the first Pro 10.5 Challenge last year, and now hes leading the 25-car qualifying order at the second running of the $25,000-to-win race.
Its fun, its exciting, Carinci said. I drove 30 hours to come down here [from Canada]. Ive been doing 10.5 for a long time, and when they opened up the 10.5 in the World Series of Pro Mod, I said, Weve got to be part of that because thats what we love. The 10.5 tire is the wildest tire the cars look cool and people love them.
While 25 drivers made qualifying attempts, only the quickest 16 will race on Saturday. Small-tire veteran Rob Valden, driving for Charlie Cooper in his turbocharged 22 Mustang, qualified second with a 3.914 at 204.39 in the final session. Wensley Jr., whose 3.925 at 194.32 gave him the provisional No. 1 spot on Thursday, slipped to third in his ProCharged 14 Camaro.
The late Lizzy Musis fan-favorite, nitrous-fed Bonnie 69 Camaro, now driven by Blake Denton out of the Tommy Franklin Motorsports camp, qualified fourth with Dentons 3.952 at 191.73. Second-generation Outlaw 10.5 driver Ty Kasper wheeled his familys turbocharged Victus Sports Sinatra 05 Mustang to a 3.953 at 199.76 to round out the top five.
Pluchino made his best qualifying run in Thursdays night session, but he also looked strong in Fridays two Mountain Motor Pro Stock sessions, which included a day session and one in the evening. He secured the No. 1 position on the strength of a 4.061 at 177.60 in the Kaase-powered Ross Environmental Services 13 Mustang that he drove to two PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world championships and the first-ever NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock world championship last season.
Weve made four really good runs all weekend, but our No. 1 run was good, Pluchino said. Im honestly more impressed with what we did in the heat. Both of our runs during the daytime were low for the session and very impressive runs. As happy as I am to be No. 1, Im really happy that we have a car thats capable of going out in the heat and going .09, .10 when the conditions are difficult.
Pluchinos performance would typically net him a first-round match with the No. 16 qualifier, but like the Pro Mod and Pro 10.5 classes at WSOPM, the $25,000-to-win MMPSI also uses random chip drawings to determine matchups in eliminations. Pluchino drew Dennis Firkus, who threw down a 4.069 at 178.99 in his Done Rite Auto 07 Cobalt in the final qualifying session to qualify No. 2.
After Pluchino and Firkus, two-time and reigning PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion Chris Powers used a 4.074 at 178.10 in his Sonnys Racing Engines/ATI Performance 21 Camaro to qualify third. Multi-time world champion John Montecalvo, who won the 2023 MMPSI, stepped up to a 4.08 at 178.00 in his Kaase-powered JM Racing 19 Mustang in the final session to end up fourth. Longtime MMPS wheelman Tony Gillig took advantage of the opportunity to fill in for 2023 PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion Alan Drinkwater, steering the Drinkwater familys Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets 08 Mustang to the No. 5 spot with a 4.096 at 176.93.
Nitrous-assisted hot rods led the way again in Top Sportsmans second and final qualifying session on Friday after topping the Thursday chart. Glenn Butcher, who won the 2024 PDRA Elite Top Sportsman world championship, locked in the No. 1 position with a 3.835 at 196.13 in his Albert-powered 69 Camaro. Virginias Thomas Brown moved up to second in his Camaro with a 3.967 at 190.35. Longtime Top Sportsman proponent Bruce Thrift took his Color Me Gone GTO to the third spot with a 4.006 at 183.54.
The top three in Top Dragster remained unchanged from Thursdays lone qualifying session after the second and final session on Friday. Russ Whitlock clinched the No. 1 position in his ProCharged 08 Race Tech dragster with his 3.885 at 188.96. Les Feist, who made the trip down from Minnesota, followed with a 3.888 at 184.93 in his 13 Miller dragster. Multi-time NHRA national event winner Matt Sackman in the supercharged SB Metal Fab 10 Spitzer qualified third with a 3.889 at 185.21.
Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez was nearly perfect in his debut with the Ducati Lenovo Team, winning Saturdays Tissot Sprint during the Grand Prix of Thailand at Chang Intl Circuit.
Marquez launched from the pole and ran away from the field to get his championship chase off to a winning start.
He finished 1.185 seconds ahead of his brother Alex, who rode the BK8 Gresini Racing machine to a second-place finish.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) earned some valuable points after having to settle for P3 in the first Sprint of the campaign.
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) finished fourth, with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) fifth.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has revealed defender Andreas Christensen has picked up another injury just three days after being cleared to return to action against Real Sociedad this weekend.
Christensen, 28, came off the bench against Valencia in Barça's first game of the season in August but was then sidelined until January with Achilles problem.
Upon his return to training at the start of the year, the Denmark international injured his calf, ruling him out until the end of February.
Earlier this week, Barça confirmed Christensen had been given the green light to play competitively again, but he received another setback on Saturday.
"What I can say now is that Andreas got injured in this morning's training session," Flick told a news conference.
"He was an option for Real Sociedad on Sunday, but again he is injured. We are looking now how heavy is the injury. Hopefully it's not so much."
Christensen joined Barça on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2022 and made 32 appearances to help the club win LaLiga in his first season.
He followed his debut campaign up with another 42 appearances last term, being used as a defensive midfielder at times by previous coach Xavi Hernández, but he has been limited to just one outing this season.
In his absence, Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez have emerged as Barça's first choice centre-back pairing, with Ronald Araújo and Eric García providing backup.
"We want at least four players for this position," Flick added. "Normally we have five really good centre-backs, but without Andreas, it's four.
"Ronald also had a huge injury but he's doing really good now. He's a leader. He has everything to reach a very high level. I am really happy with all of them."
Squad depth may be needed in the coming weeks as the games come thick and fast for the LaLiga leaders.
After Tuesday's 4-4 draw against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, Barça welcome Real Sociedad in LaLiga this weekend before travelling to Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Flick aid the fact his side are still in the running to win all three competitions, after already winning the Spanish Supercopa in January, is proof they are exceeding expectations this season.
"We have to accept [the busy schedule] and manage it with the players, maybe by using some fresh legs," he said.
"It's good to have [the games]. We have three competitions and can fight for three titles. When we start this season, at this time now, March 1, no one expected that. The team is going great."
Forwards Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford are quickly adapting to Aston Villa's style and growing in confidence, manager Unai Emery said after they linked-up again to lead the club into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.
Rashford set up fellow January singing Asensio for the opener against English second-tier side Cardiff at Villa Park on Friday, having also assisted the Spaniard for both his goals in their 2-1 last-gasp Premier League home win over Chelsea earlier this month.
England international Rashford is on loan from Manchester United while Asensio has joined from Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season.
"They are adapting of the structure ...," Emery told reporters.
"They have a lot of skills to add in our structure, helping us like they are doing. They are scoring goals and getting assists for their teammates, playing in our structure and feeling comfortable.
"They're getting more confidence. It's important how every player is trying to support and to help in our structure, getting us as strong as possible."
Emery said it was important to enjoy the moment as Villa entered the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 10 years, but he did not consider his side the outright favourites to win the title with Manchester City, Man United and Newcastle United still in the competition.
"We know this competition is a way for a trophy, a way for Wembley, a way for Europa League and prestige for the club and the supporters are excited and motivated to try and share this opportunity with us," Emery said.
Villa next take a trip to Belgian side Club Brugge for the Champions League round of 16 first leg tie on Tuesday.
Burnley players refused to shake hands with Preston North-End striker Milutin Osmajic during their FA Cup fifth-round clash on Saturday as a sign of solidarity with teammate Hannibal Mejbri.
The Burnley midfielder accused Osmajic of racially abusing him when the two sides met in the Championship earlier this month.
"I will not be silent about what happened today," Mejbri wrote on social media post-match.
"I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong person but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch."
Osmajic "strongly refuted" the claims per a statement released by Preston and the incident is being investigated by the English Football Association.
The rancor stemming from the incident carried into their FA Cup meeting on Saturday, where none of the Burnley players put their hands forward to Osmajic during the pre-match handshakes. Mejbri was fit to play at Deepdale but Burnley boss Scott Parker said he left him out of the squad to "protect" his wellbeing.
After realising he was going to be shunned by the Burnley squad, Osmajic walked past the line without any interaction.
The forward went on to score Preston's second goal in their 3-0 win and celebrated by cupping his hands around his ears to mock the away fans.
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