Five MLB players we should be paying more attention to in 2025

The 28-year-old catcher has quietly been mashing for several seasons, though, reaching the 30-homer plateau the last two years in addition to a 27-homer campaign in 2022. 

In other words? It's time to ride the Cal Raleigh hype train if you're not already. 

2. SS Jacob Wilson, Athletics 

Wilson can flat out hit, as he sports a .354/.354/.500 triple slash and an .854 OPS over his first 21 games this season.

The 23-year-old doesn't have much pop in his bat (just two homers thus far), but his bat-to-ball skills are elite and his defense is solid, which helps explain why he's already worth close to a win above replacement in such a small sample. 

Overall, Wilson is a contact machine who looks primed for a big season hitting within the friendly confines of Sacramento. 

3. 1B Ben Rice, New York Yankees

Rice has consistently delivered hard contact over his first 20 games of the season, and it's paying off in the form of five home runs and a .988 OPS thus far. 

The Yankees needed someone to step up after losing superstar Juan Soto in free agency, and while that player was supposed to be outfielder Jasson Dominguez (who has largely struggled to begin 2025), New York will happily let Rice take on the important job of serving as lineup protection around Aaron Judge. 

Rice also has positional flexibility, which will help him achieve staying power at the big league level. In addition to being the Yankees' primary designated hitter, the 26-year-old can also play first base and catch behind the plate. 

4. 1B Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers

A former No. 1 overall draft selection in 2020, Spencer Torkelson's path to big-league success has been extremely turbulent. 

Outside of a 31-homer campaign with the Tigers in 2023, "Tork" has largely struggled at the dish since debuting with Detroit, with a career .712 OPS and just 56 total long balls. 

This year might be the one that clicks for the 25-year-old, though, as he's already sporting a robust 1.011 OPS with seven home runs through his first 23 games of 2025. 

If Torkelson's break-out continues, the Tigers will be quite pleased. 

5. OF Jung Hoo Lee, San Francisco Giants

Would you believe it if we said Lee was fifth in all of MLB in wins above replacement (1.4 fWAR)? Well, 22 games into the season, he's just that. 

Lee, who signed with the Giants last season after spending six years playing professionally in Korea, succumbed to shoulder surgery just 37 games into his rookie campaign in San Francisco. 

However, the 26-year-old is making the most of his return to game action this season, with a .329 batting average and a .983 OPS, both of which lead the newly resurgent Giants.