Key Spring Training Standouts
A quick list of players who raised their stock during the 2025 Spring Training season
I’ve been over Spring Training since early March — mostly because the games don’t count. Every year, it’s the same cycle: I’m thrilled that Major League Baseball is back, lock in for the first week, and then quickly find myself wishing these games carried real significance.
While Spring Training stats should always be taken with a grain of salt, strong performances can still be worth noting. Whether it’s a player accelerating their path to the big leagues or solidifying themselves as an everyday presence, these early showings can offer valuable insight.
I’ll keep this blog sweet and to the point. Below is a rapid-fire list of names to watch, whether they could impact your favorite club this season or become a sneaky late-summer fantasy baseball pickup.
Vinny Capra - Brewers
Capra has been one of the biggest surprises in camp, slashing .292 with six home runs (tied for the spring lead), three doubles, two steals, and a 1.087 OPS.
The 28-year-old has struck out 14 times in 48 at-bats, but for a guy with just 36 career MLB plate appearances, this is a major step forward. Safe to say that he’s played his way onto Milwaukee’s 26-man Opening Day roster.
Rhys Hoskins - Brewers
Another Brewer swinging a hot bat, Hoskins has been launching baseballs all over the place. Like Capra, he’s gone deep six times — in fact, six of his 11 hits this spring have left the yard.
Over 42 at-bats, he’s posted a 1.082 OPS while flashing impressive exit velocities. The 32-year-old looks primed to hit in the heart of Pat Murphy’s lineup as he aims for a bounce-back season.
Austin Wells - Yankees
After finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting last season, expectations for Wells in 2025 are sky-high. If his spring numbers are any indication, he might just surpass them.
The Yankees backstop torched opposing pitching, slashing .348 with a 1.183 OPS, six homers, 12 RBI, and two doubles in 16 spring games. If he carries that momentum into the regular season, the Bronx will be buzzing.
Clay Holmes - Mets
A 0.93 ERA over 19.1 innings with a nasty new “kick” changeup? Holmes didn’t just impress Mets fans — he impressed the whole league.
The Mets’ pitching lab is trending up, and Holmes looks like he could legitimately hold down a frontline rotation spot. The veteran struck out 23 while limiting hitters to a ridiculous .109 average this spring. I can’t wait to see what he does as a full-time starter.
Garrett Crochet - Red Sox
Boston gave up some highly regarded prospects to land Crochet, and so far, the early returns have been nothing short of dominant, even if nothing’s counted yet.
In five spring starts, the southpaw struck out a league-best 30 batters while allowing just 13 hits across 15.2 innings. A lone earned run kept his ERA at a microscopic 0.57. Alex Cora, Craig Breslow, and Red Sox Nation have to be thrilled with their new ace.
Curtis Mead - Rays
Leaving Mead off this list would’ve been a crime. Going 22-for-52 is impressive in a backyard wiffle ball game, the Australian native did it against big-league pitching this spring.
Some have written off the 24-year-old, thinking he’s faded from the Rays’ plans. But a .238 career average over just 122 at-bats? That’s nowhere near enough to judge his future. I’m expecting big things from him in 2025, and I hope Spring Training was just the appetizer.
Oscar Gonzalez - Padres
He may have fallen shy of an Opening Day roster spot, but Gonzalez balled out this spring. The Guardians’ playoff legend did not propel a ball over the fence, yet he posted an OPS of .955 across 55 at-bats.
The SpongeBob SquarePants theme song may not play during March/April at Petco Park, but injuries happen, and Gonzalez is very close to getting the call.
Cody Bellinger - Yankees
Bellinger is a step down from Juan Soto, but make no mistake: he looked locked in at the plate this spring. The former MVP slashed .423 with a 1.214 OPS, drilling four homers and driving in eight runs over 52 at-bats.
For years, I’ve been hearing about how well Bellinger’s swing will play at Yankee Stadium. I’m thrilled to see it finally come to fruition.
Ty France - Twins
France came into 2025 Spring Training with something to prove, and he made his case loud and clear. The Twins’ first baseman clubbed two HR and posted a 1.233 OPS across 45 at-bats.
After an up-and-down 2024, France looks to reclaim his spot as a key piece in Minnesota’s lineup. I was never a big fan of this fit to begin with, but he’s proving me wrong.