Everyone playing 2025 fantasy baseball is looking for value in the late rounds. Fantasy baseball sleepers that hit are like finding gold when they return a strong investment on their ADP. However, fantasy baseball value picks often mean sacrificing some pieces of offense or pitching to gain something your team desperately needs. 

 

 

 

There may be no greater example of this in 2025 fantasy baseball than Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards. Currently being selected around pick 134 on average in fantasy baseball drafts, Edwards is the paragon of all-speed, no-power middle infielder who can boost your team’s steals but provide very little pop. 

However, Edwards’ contributions on the basepaths are so significant, and his approach at the plate is so strong, his assets might far outweigh the liabilities on our fantasy rosters. How will Xavier Edwards perform in 2025 and is he worth a valuable roster spot on our teams this season? Let’s look at his skillset and potential fantasy contributions for the upcoming year. 

Xavier Edwards Stats (2024)

After Xavier Edwards debuted in 2023 with just 84 plate appearances for Miami, he burst onto the scene with a half-season of 303 plate appearances in his rookie year in 2024. 

In that short amount of time, he dazzled fantasy managers with 31 steals compared to just four times being caught. Despite only playing 70 games, Xavier Edwards’ stats saw him finish 17th in Major League Baseball in total steals. 

These lofty totals were nothing new for the 24-year-old Edwards. In 2023, he stole 37 bases and swiped 34 as a 19-year-old in 2019. In the minor leagues, he became known as one of the best at using his combination of speed and plate discipline to get on base, and it immediately translated to the big leagues. 

Edwards posted a 10.9% walk rate in 2024, and a 78th percentile sprint speed. Among shortstops, his 4.14 second from home plate to first was bested only by David Hamilton and Bobby Witt at the shortstop position. After a short period of time, he was inserted into Miami’s leadoff spot and now seems to have that position (as well as shortstop) on lockdown. 

However, with the tremendous potential for speed, runs (39 in 2024), and batting average (.328 in 2024), came a massive tradeoff. Xavier Edwards stats saw him hit just one home run and drive in just 26 batters. Among the top 40 base stealers in 2024, just five of them had fewer than five home runs, and only Edwards had fewer than three. 

Heading into 2025, the real conundrum for Xavier Edwards in fantasy baseball is whether your team can manage a spot that could legitimately get you zero power. 

 

 

 

Xavier Edwards Fantasy 2025

Xavier Edwards is seemingly locked into the leadoff spot for the Marlins in 2025. His walk rate and speed ensure he will be a fixture at the top of the lineup, meaning his plate appearances are likely to double from last year, to about 600, barring any kind of major injury.

So, what’s that mean for Xavier Edards in fantasy? Does that mean we can pencil Edwards in for 60 steals in 2025, and battle Elly De La Cruz for the league lead? Not so fast. Several things went very right for Edwards in 2024 that will be hard to repeat this season. First, his walk rate was higher than it was since his time in A ball. He also had a .398 BABIP (batting average on balls in play) that would have been the highest in the league by 28 points had Edwards qualified. 

Last, while it’s possible, it’s unlikely Edwards will have an 89% success rate in stolen bases again in 2025. There is film on him now to pick up on his tendencies and pitchers will do everything they can to keep him honest on the bases. But then again, it’s the Marlins. They aren’t going anywhere, so why not let him try and steal every time he reaches base?

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As far as the power, what you see is what you get. There isn’t any sneaky home run upside lurking in there anywhere. Edwards’ high for any season in the minors was seven home runs, and he has one Major League home run in exactly 100 games. His barrel rate is 1.8% and average exit velocity is just 86.1 miles per hour. 

Edwards does draw walks and does not strike out (just 17% last year), and that plate discipline should give him the fantasy boost in average, runs, and steals that are elite. 

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Projections 2025: Xavier Edwards

Right now, the consensus fantasy baseball ADP for Xavier Edwards sits around pick 134 and as the SS12. That means right now, fantasy baseball managers view him as a borderline starter in 12-team leagues. Most 2025 fantasy baseball projections agree that Edwards will be around 35 stolen bases and a .285 average, with about 65-70 runs scored. 

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That’s absolutely valuable as a Middle Infield slot on a fantasy roster. But it can also push a team over the hump with steals as a starting shortstop if you plan for lots of power bats early in the drafts. 

A popular draft strategy I have tried this year is to zig when everyone else zags. When managers are trying to stock up on steals early in the draft, look for the best power options and then reach to grab Edwards a round early later in the draft. 

Edwards is a late-round source of bucketfuls of steals, which is a valuable commodity in this fantasy game. Don’t be scared away by the lack of power, but plan accordingly if you hope to draft Edwards in the later rounds.