10 Breakout Pitching Prospects To Target For 2025 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball


Image credit: Jack Perkins (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Earlier this week, we dug into 15 positional breakout prospects to target in fantasy. Today we assess the pitching side of things, looking for low-cost, high-upside pitching prospects who could be ready for bigger things in 2025.
Many of these targets have dealt with injuries or come with a limited track record as professionals. Often, this is the best time to buy in on these types of pitchers before their value explodes with more professional exposure, success and media coverage.
With so many well-researched writers in the fantasy space, it’s getting harder and harder to find an edge when it comes to prospects in dynasty. It’s therefore paramount you buy in on potential breakouts early and often.
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Here are 10 such pitchers you should be keeping an eye on heading into the 2025 season.
Jack Perkins, RHP, Athletics
After a college career in which Perkins never quite found his footing, he uncovered another gear in 2024. Upon returning from injury in May, Perkins showed a noticeable velocity bump. He now sits 94-96 mph from a lower release height with above-average spin rates. Perkins’ fastball was an effective offering in 2024, generating a 15.2% swinging-strike rate with a higher rate of chases and a solid in-zone rate. Perkins mixes a mid-80s sweeper that is the his best swing-and-miss offering, as well as low-90s cutter and low-80s curveball. After reaching Double-A last season, Perkins has a chance to pitch his way to the majors by season’s end if he can prove he can endure the rigors of a full season as a starter.
JR Ritchie, RHP, Braves
A 2022 supplemental first-round pick, Ritchie looked like he would break out in 2023, as he got off to a hot start. Unfortunately, he had Tommy John surgery in May 2023, ending his season. He returned in June 2024, first in the Florida Complex League and then with Low-A Augusta after the all-star break. He made the jump to High-A Rome in late August. Ritchie mixes a low-90s fastball, a slurvy low-80s slider with high spin rates and a low-to-mid-80s changeup. His offspeed is the standout of the arsenal, generating a 21.7% swinging-strike rate in 2024. The pitch features strong vertical separation, as well as an 8+ mph dip off his fastball. Ritchie has feel for spin, a changeup that already shows signs of being an above-average pitch at peak and room to add velocity. A fully-healthy 2025 could see Ritchie take the step forward we expected early in 2023.
Nestor German, RHP, Orioles
German was a 2023 11th-round pick out of Seattle University, the same school that produced 2024 Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. German enjoyed an excellent 2024 across both levels of A-ball, pitching to a 1.59 ERA and 2.17 FIP over 73.2 innings. German’s workload was limited by minor injuries, but he has some traits that could portend a future as a starter. He mixes a four-seam fastball with plus vertical break sitting 93-94 mph with an upper-70s curveball, a mid-80s splitter, an upper-80s cutter and a low-to-mid-80s slider. It’s a deep arsenal with multiple above-average pitches, and he ties it together with above-average command. German is a name to target in your dynasty leagues as a potential high-upside K/9 maven.
Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox
A two-way player his first two years at Wichita State, Tolle transferred to TCU and focused on pitching, logging a 3.21 ERA and 37% strikeout rate over 14 starts. The Red Sox selected the lefty in the second round and held him back post-draft. Tolle generates elite extension, averaging 7.2 feet in 2024. Though his fastball only sat 91-93 mph in 2024, his combination of elite extension and above-average ride make it an above-average offering. His above-average slider is his primary secondary pitch, and it performed well in 2024. Tolle will need to develop a changeup in order to take another step forward in pro-ball as a starter.
Grant Taylor, RHP, White Sox
The first time I saw Taylor was heading into his junior season at LSU in the Cape Cod league. He dominated, showing a deep arsenal of pitches and power across his mix. Taylor was injured in fall ball and had Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2024, making five starts before a lat injury sidelined him until the Arizona Fall League. While durability is certainly a concern, Taylor’s stuff is not. He sits 95-97 mph on a fastball with above-average ride and cut, making it difficult to barrel when he lands it. His slider sits 86-88 with moderate sweep, and he also mixes in a low-90s cutter and low-80s curveball. Taylor has the kind of stuff that, if he can prove he can handle a starter’s workload, he could see his prospect status explode.
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
Doughty was a top 50 player in the 2024 draft class and signed for a bonus of just over $2.5 million with the Guardians. While he has yet to debut, Doughty could be a name to target in FYPDs after the first 50 picks. He’s been up to 95-97 mph on his fastball while showing off an innate feel for spin, ramping up both his slider and curveball into the 3,000+ rpm range. Doughty has a chance to develop three above-average-to-plus pitches with average-or-better command. One of the most talented arms to come through Cleveland’s system in recent years, Doughty is a high-value target this offseason.
Eriq Swan, RHP, Dodgers
Could Swan be the next Dodgers pitcher to see his prospect status explode? Possibly, as Swan has shown elite pure stuff as a professional. One of the buzziest names in the Arizona Fall League, Swan showed off an upper-90s fastball that touches triple digits at peak, as well as an upper-80s cutter and a changeup. He was limited to just 28.1 innings in his pro debut but pitched in the AFL. Swan has struggled to get results dating back to college, but he has the type of elite swing-and-miss stuff you chase in fantasy. Swan is a low-cost, high-upside target this offseason.
Bishop Letson, RHP, Brewers
An athletic righthander with plenty of room to add good weight in the coming years, Letson shows a deep arsenal of defined pitch shapes. He features a low-90s fastball with above-average ride and run, a true sinker variant that’s materially different than his four-seam, a sweepy low-80s slider and a changeup. Letson ended the season with elbow soreness, but if he’s able to recover this offseason, he could take another step forward. While the Mariners, Dodgers and Rays rightfully receive praise for their pitching development, the Brewers are every bit in their class, and Letson could be their next pitching prospect to buy in on early.
Connor Prielipp, RHP, Twins
After establishing himself as one of the top pitchers in college baseball as an underclassman, the last few seasons have been a rocky road for Prielipp. He had Tommy John surgery in May 2021, returning to the mound in 2023. After the injury flared up again, he had internal brace surgery to stabilize his pitching elbow. Prielipp returned to action after the all-star break and showed off his signature plus slider, above-average fastball and a changeup for which he shows feel. While Prielipp has been limited by injuries, he’s a good low cost of entry, high-upside target heading into 2025.
Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners
There’s no pitcher from the 2024 draft class whose upside intrigues me more heading into 2025. Sloan has some of the best pure stuff in his high school class and will work with the Mariners’ vaunted pitching development group. This combination of talent and a strong player development environment has me buying into Sloan as a potential star in the making.