Avoid giving up on rookies too early
Patience can be your best friend in the first month of the fantasy baseball season.
The temptation to drop a struggling rookie after a slow start can be overwhelming, and with names such as Cam Smith, Matt Shaw and Kristian Campbell generating buzz as top prospects, fantasy managers have a tendency to over-project and expect instant production.
Nevertheless, history shows that even the brightest talents often need time to adjust to the big leagues. Being patient with rookies who start slowly can yield massive rewards for those willing to weather the storm.
Smith, the new starting right fielder for the Astros and the key component going back to Houston in the trade for Kyle Tucker, brings a tantalizing mix of power and speed to the table.
His minor league numbers suggest he could be a five-category contributor, but making the jump directly from Double-A can be difficult. His patience at the plate will be tested by big league starters, and the pressure he puts on himself will likely have an early effect on his performance.
Similarly, Shaw, the new starting third baseman for the Cubs, has shown a polished bat and above-average pop, yet he is likely to face growing pains against elite pitching.
Campbell, a Red Sox farmhand, dazzled in the minors with his contact skills and athleticism, but adapting to the speed and complexity of MLB defenses could take time.
For fantasy managers, the key is resisting the urge to cut bait when these rookies post a .200 average or a handful of strikeouts in April.
Take Wyatt Langford as a recent example.
The Rangers’ hyped outfielder debuted in 2024 with sky-high expectations after tearing through the minors. Yet, through his first 30 games, Langford hit just .224 with one home run and a 26 percent strikeout rate.
Fantasy managers who panicked and dropped him missed out on a turnaround. By June, Langford found his footing, finishing the season with a .253 average, 16 homers, and 19 steals — solid production for a rookie.
His early struggles were a classic case of adjusting to major league pitching, and those who held firm were rewarded with a cornerstone player.
The takeaway? Rookies such as Smith, Shaw and Campbell might not light up box scores right away. Heck, even Mike Trout struggled in his debut.
Pitch recognition, timing and confidence often take weeks — or even months — to develop against MLB competition. Fantasy managers should lean on roster depth early in the season, stashing these talents on the bench or in reserve spots rather than expecting Day 1 dominance.
In 2025, don’t let a sluggish April fool you. Smith could be mashing by June, Shaw might unlock his power in July, and Campbell could emerge as a steals machine by August.
Patience isn’t just a virtue in fantasy baseball, it’s a strategy that can turn a good team into a championship one.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.
