Each week, we’ll look at a handful of different hitters who fantasy managers should consider picking up in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. Many of these players will have the most value in larger leagues where waiver wire options aren’t as plentiful. Still, they could also occasionally be useful additions in other, more standard-sized leagues, depending on your options at their position.
All roster percentages mentioned in this column are via FantasyPros as of Wednesday afternoon.
Jake Mangum – 6%
Sporting one of the league’s lowest strikeout rates, Jake Mangum has carved out a fairly regular role for the Tampa Bay Rays so far.
The 29-year-old entered play on Wednesday with just one home run in 186 plate appearances, but thanks in large part to the strikeout rate, the outfielder was hitting .314 with a .351 on-base percentage and a 113 wRC+.
Mangum isn’t suddenly going to hit for regular power, not at least if his quality of contact metrics continue as is. The 29-year-old was sporting a 2.6% barrel rate, a .366 xSLG and a 38.3% hard-hit rate as of the beginning of play Wednesday. All three ranked in the 26th percentile or lower league-wide.
However, thanks to the low strikeout rate and a high average, he’s been able to get on base plenty for the American League East club and make an impact on the basepaths when he does.
Mangum has stolen 11 bases so far in just 50 games and 186 plate appearances. Among hitters with at least 180 plate appearances in 2025, just 34 have more stolen bases than the Rays outfielder.
Of that group of 24, only Miami’s Dane Myers and Tampa Bay’s José Caballero have fewer than 260 plate appearances.
What’s more, Mangum is also starting to hit in the heart of Tampa Bay’s order. Since June 20, all but two of his starts have come batting fifth. One of the two times he didn’t bat fifth, he was hitting third.
If that lineup trend continues, Mangum should continue to see plenty of RBI chances with such a high contact rate.
Ramón Urías – 1%
Continuing to see regular starts at third base for the Baltimore Orioles, Ramón Urías has enjoyed a productive stretch as of late for the American League East club.
Since June 22, Urias is batting .290 with a .333 on-base percentage, a home run and a stolen base in 36 plate appearances – not to mention five RBI, five runs scored and a pair of doubles.
For the season, the infielder is batting .264 with a .318 on-base percentage, an even 100 wRC+, six home runs and a pair of stolen bases in 236 plate appearances, but he’s worth a look as a short-term stream option heading into the All-Star break for fantasy managers in leagues with 14 or more teams.
That’s partly due to the recent production at the plate, but also due to Baltimore’s upcoming schedule. After the O’s finish a three-game series against Texas on the road on Wednesday, they’ll close out the first half with nine straight against three National League East teams – Atlanta (on the road), New York (at home), and Miami (at home).
The first two clubs are both dealing with significant rotation injuries, with Atlanta recently placing Spencer Schwellenbach on the 15-day injured list due to a fractured right elbow.
The third team on that list, the Marlins, entered play Wednesday with the league’s fourth-highest FIP.
Highest FIP By Pitching Staff
Victor Scott II – 13%
It’s early July, and Victor Scott II is still on far too few fantasy rosters.
The outfielder is batting .245 with a .329 on-base percentage and four home runs in 287 plate appearances as of the start of play on Wednesday, logging a 93 wRC+ in the process.
And while the batting average and xwOBA (.289) are both low, Scott has made a significant impact on the basepaths, both for the St. Louis Cardinals and fantasy managers alike.
The 24-year-old has logged 22 stolen bases so far this season.
The list of players with more stolen bases than the Cardinals outfielder is a short one. It consists of José Caballero, Oneil Cruz and Pete Crow-Armstrong. And that’s it.
And while Scott has mostly hit ninth for the Cardinals as of late, he’s enjoyed a productive stretch at the plate recently, hitting .268 with a .348 on-base percentage, two home runs, and three stolen bases in his last 46 plate appearances dating back to June 17.
He’s a potential impact addition for fantasy managers in search of additional stolen base production, particularly in deeper Roto leagues.
