fantasy OF prospect help

by rlwhite on Aug 2, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

I'm have a choice between several A ball OFers for a 5x5 keeper league. How would you rank Rymer Liriano, Brandon Jacobs, Oscar Taveras, Christian Yelich, and Cory Vaughn? I'm more concerned about upside than distance from the majors.

Liriano has the best speed of the group.

I've gotten to see Jacobs live multiple times, and he can dominate games with his athletic ability when he makes contact, but he is raw at the plate. That seems to be improving now that he's focused on baseball.

Taveras is very intriguing for his contact ability, but it's hard to project contact from low A up to the majors, and the other tools are reportedly average. I don't know what the power projection is like.

Yelich got more attention preseason, and he's warmed up with the weather. Which version will we see long-term? Was the slow start injury related?

Vaughn is my least favorite of the group because of the sharp platoon split. My thinking right now is that that's not likely to be corrected given his career split.

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Read More: Cory Vaughn (OF - NYM), Oscar Taveras (PH - STL), Brandon Jacobs (OF - BOS), Rymer Liriano (CF - SDP)

Comments

One guys take ...

Yelich, Jacobs, Tavaras, Vaughn, Liriano

by MRDillow on Aug 2, 2025 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by sid2109 on Aug 2, 2025 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Another guy's take...

Jacobs, Yelich, Tavaras, Vaughn, Liriano

by dbreer23 on Aug 2, 2025 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

My Rank

1. Brandon Jacobs
2. Christian Yelich
3. Rymer Liriano
4. Oscar Taveras
5. Cory Vaughn

by John Black on Aug 2, 2025 4:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

* It was a coin flip between Taveras and surging Liriano

by John Black on Aug 2, 2025 4:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

While I like Jacobs

that K rate is something that very well could get him into trouble, he has made strides but I’m not convinced it come into play as he moves up. Also his babip really exaggerates his season IMO.

Yelich is probably the safest bet to hit at higher levels, though like Jacobs he has avg speed at best so his SB totals are misleading. Also not sure about his power, watching video makes me concerned that his swing is more inclined for avg/line drives.

Taveras still has a limited body of work in Low A, but I may think he has the best potential hit tool out there… just needs to learn some patience more patience though he makes enough contact that I don’t worry too much. Kid is so young it’s hard not to be excited about him.

Liriano I think has the best overall tools of the bunch, 5 tool guy who is really coming into his own…

Vaugn well I’m not sure he really belongs with this group at all. At 22 he was solid but nothing that makes you think anything that great about him besides his ability to walk.

Anyways afterall that random bable I’d prolly rank them (I personally think the top 4 could prolly go in any order though depending on preference):
Liriano - overall tools
Yelich - best bet to hit
Taveras - hit tool + potential
Jacobs - power, but k’s worry me

Vaughn - meh

by hybrid on Aug 2, 2025 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

ugh disregard my ability to edit my posts

by hybrid on Aug 2, 2025 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Vaughn definitely fits with this group

when you take his combo of tools & production (and the fact that he can play a good OF, unlike, say, Jacobs—aware that this is a fantasy list, but they have to make it to the majors to score points) I’d put him in the middle of this group. Probably like Taveras the best for an upside list. But don’t sleep on Vaughn’s tools.

by PrincetonCubs on Aug 3, 2025 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Vaughn

I don’t see how the production is anything to take note of besides a good walk rate. He ma have above avg power potential, but not showing that at Low A at 22 doesn’t really spark any optimism from me

by hybrid on Aug 3, 2025 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

a .250 ISO (at age 21, btw) is bad?

by PrincetonCubs on Aug 3, 2025 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I take SS ball production w/ a grain of salt

especially when he then shows little to no power in Low A and now showing even less in A+

by hybrid on Aug 3, 2025 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

for the record

I mean less overall production, he is hitting for more pop now though of course SSS

by hybrid on Aug 3, 2025 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Yellich reminds me of Casey Kotchman as a prospect

A pretty swing that is geared for line drives and AVG

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by mathisrocks5 on Aug 2, 2025 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

taveras

I like Oscar best, Yelich, then Liriano. Oscar has that hitting machine feel to me that Vladimir and others had.

by gpellet41 on Aug 4, 2025 12:35 PM EDT reply actions

Yelich as Kotchman...

though Kotchman never really matched his potential due to injuries. It is nice to see he is having a good year this year. What does everyone think his slash line might be? I dont know but I am guessing 290/380/480…

by rookie319s on Aug 4, 2025 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

slash

Yeilich’s

by rookie319s on Aug 4, 2025 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

No Marisnick?

I like Marisnick the best amongst the low-A OFs.

With the list as presented, I’d go:

Yelich
Jacobs
Taveras
Liriano
Vaughn

Liriano is very tempting for fantasy, but I’m still not sold he will hit enough in MLB to hold down a full time job. If he does, he could be a fantasy monster.

by guru4u on Aug 5, 2025 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Marisnick’s already owned in this league.

by rlwhite on Aug 5, 2025 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

My list

- Brandon Jacobs
- Cory Vaughn
- Oscar Taveras
- Christian Yelich
- Rymer Liriano

by Matt0330 on Aug 5, 2025 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Thank you

Thanks everyone. I ultimately chose Jacobs, but it was very close.

I gave Jacobs the benefit of the doubt because he is relatively new to being dedicated to baseball and his K rate has steadily improved over the season.

Yelich seemed to be about as popular as Jacobs, but I think the upside is lower.

Liriano’s age and twice failing to jump to high A scared me away from him. I want to see him succeed in high A before I pick him up.

I always love pure hitters, so Taveras was very tempting, but I’ve been burned by his type enough to be cautious. I’m watching and rooting for him.

I see no reason to think that Vaughn’s splits can be corrected.

by rlwhite on Aug 5, 2025 1:22 PM EDT reply actions