In the middle of every fantasy season, there’s a moment where you have to choose: chase wins now, or build for what could come. This year, I’ve made a conscious pivot to chase upside plays and position my roster for breakout success later in the season — and possibly beyond. The best example of the kind of player I’m targeting is Marcelo Mayer. After a two-homer night, I’m sweating whether I’ll be able to re-acquire him. But his profile — a potential Kyle Tucker type who does a little of everything well — represents the exact archetype I want to bet on. These are the kinds of players who can quietly develop into fantasy cornerstones, and I’m willing to be patient to find out.

I wanted to start with Mayer because he’s the best example of what I’m after at the moment. Since I’m looking to add upside players I can be patient with them in waiting for the breakout, a top prospect getting his first shot in MLB is a great place to start. While Mayer doesn’t have the stolen base prowess Tucker possesses, it may develop over time, and considering he came up through the minors as a shortstop, I would bet he has the speed and athleticism to steal bases as well. The main reason for the Tucker comp for Mayer is the physical tools both possess. They are the most alike in that they do a little bit of everything well but aren’t necessarily special in any one area. I will add that Tucker has developed elite plate discipline, but that’s a trait any hitter has the potential to learn. I view Tucker so highly in a points league because he has power and speed, and walks more than he strikes out. It essentially makes him a perfect points league player, and if Mayer becomes anything resembling that he is a great stash at the moment.

While Tucker can’t be the comp for every player, I couldn’t help but see the similarities between him and Evan Carter as well. He’s a player who was once an exciting prospect and looked like a breakout when he debuted at the end of 2023 and had a postseason where he helped the Rangers win the world series. Since then, Carter has dealt with a lot of injuries and has been unable to get on the field. This season, when he did return he struggled to the point of being sent down, so when you add all that up it’s easy to see how he was forgotten. Now that he’s come back up and gotten another chance he may finally be turning the corner. Today against the Twins he homered and had a stolen base, and what’s made me always like him in a points league is the elite plate discipline he already has, where he limits strikeouts and takes walks. As a left-handed outfielder who has both power and speed with a great eye at the plate, it sounds a lot like Kyle Tucker to me. That would be the ceiling of outcomes for Carter, so I’m not saying he is Tucker, but he has all the tools to become that. Carter is the exact type of player I’m trying to add and be patient with at the moment, so he’s a great example of what I’m currently trying to pursue.

These last few will not be so in-depth, but I want to name some other players I’m currently interested in and have my eye on. One I’ve mentioned in a recent post is Addison Barger, who is developing all the tools of a player I like. He swings hard, has elite exit velocities, but doesn’t have the swing and miss or strikeouts that usually comes with such a skillset. It’s hard to see how this combination of skills wouldn’t work, regardless of league format. Other players I’m prioritizing are Drake Baldwin, Ronny Mauricio, and Noelvi Marte. Baldwin is a player we already know is good, it’s just a playing time question at this point. I’m convinced that if he was the Braves full-time catcher that he’d be rostered everywhere, so I’m hoping to add him before that happens. Since Sean Murphy returned from injury, the two have been splitting the catching duties basically right down the middle. Baldwin also hits the ball hard with good plate discipline as well, and is the safest bet of all these players to be an impact player in fantasy baseball once he gets the playing time. 

Ronny Mauricio is probably the most raw player, but his size and ability to hit from both sides of the plate with power and speed really reminds me of Elly De La Cruz. He doesn’t have the same stolen base upside, but in 2023 he had a 20 home run and 20 stolen base season at Triple A. He was once a top prospect as well, but was a bit forgotten when he tore his ALC and missed the entire 2024 season. He’s now back in the major leagues and healthy with the Mets, and really intrigues me as a player who will soon be eligible at 3B, SS, and 2B as well. In the minor leagues, Kyle Tucker also had a 20/20 season, and while Mauricio has the riskiest profile, he also has as much upside as anyone. Mauricio being very boom or bust is worth stashing in case he actually breaks out. Marte is a very similar player to Mauricio, possessing great power and speed potential as well, and has a chance to break out in a big way once he’s back healthy with the Reds. He’ll be in a great hitters park where the ball flies out once the weather really heats up in the summer.

To recap, I’m prioritizing these 6 hitters in the order of Marcelo Mayer, Evan Carter, Addison Barger, Drake Baldwin, Ronny Mauricio, and Noelvi Marte. If you’re not going to win the week, make moves that could help you win the league. Building for the future doesn’t mean punting, it means positioning yourself to catch the next wave before it’s too late. Marcelo Mayer might just be the prototype for what I’m chasing: balanced skill, elite potential, and the chance to become a foundational fantasy piece. As long as he doesn’t get too hot to stash again, he’s the kind of player I’ll keep targeting, and patiently waiting on.