Padres' Hitters Fantasy Baseball Preview | Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth and More

Let's wrap up our fantasy baseball team preview on the San Diego Padres by looking at the team's hitters. We already looked at pitchers.

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Top Fantasy Hitters

The ADP list is loaded with San Diego hitters, beginning with Fernando Tatis Jr. at pick 18.74 on average.

Manny Machado is going at pick 31.81, while Jackson Merrill sits at pick 37.78. Luis Arraez checks in at pick 70.3.

Xander Bogaerts (132.96) and Jake Cronenworth (151.33) are two more standard league options.

Tatis is going pretty early in drafts, and would be even higher if not for durability concerns.

He's played over 129 games just twice since debuting in 2019. In 102 games last season, Tatis had a .276 average and .340 on-base percentage, along with 21 homers, 49 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 64 runs scored.

Simply put, Tatis is one of the best fantasy hitters in the game when healthy. He's a risky pick that early in drafts, but if he gets in a full season, or close to it, Tatis could challenge for the top overall fantasy hitter mark.

I have no issues taking Tatis around his ADP, but would be sure to have a backup plan or two in place in case he misses extended time again.

Machado had a productive 2024 season across 152 games.

He had a .275 average and .325 OBP to go along with 29 home runs, 105 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 77 runs scored. He'll turn 33 years old this season but still looks to have plenty in the tank.

Machado was a top-25 fantasy hitter in points leagues last season and took second among third basemen. He's the 20th hitter off draft boards and third third basemen. I personally think Machado is going too early in drafts, but nothing too outrageous. Getting him around pick 40 is my preferred spot for him.

Merrill is one of my favorite picks for the 2025 season.

He was great in his 156-game rookie season. Merrill hit .292 and got on base at a .326 clip. He also had 24 homers, 90 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and 77 runs scored.

He'll hit in the heart of the team's lineup this season, which should help him to a great fantasy showing. I expect growth in his second season and have him as a top-10 outfielder. Taking him around his ADP feels like a steal to me, as I think he'll finish inside the top-25 hitters.

Arraez was moved to the Padres last season, and posted fantastic numbers across 117 games with the team.

He had a .318 average and .346 OBP with the Padres. He also posted four homers, 41 RBIs, nine stolen bases and 61 runs scored.

Over a full season, Arraez has the chance to be a really good fantasy asset again. He probably has first and second base eligibility, which helps offset some lower fantasy production in his power numbers. 

Arraez is a better pick in points leagues, but can also help in categories leagues with his average, OBP and runs scored marks. I have no issues taking him around his ADP, but you have to assess him based on what kind of league you are in.

Bogaerts has bounceback potential this coming season.

To start, he has shortstop and second base eligibility, which is great for fantasy leagues. He only got in 111 games last season - he had a .264 average, .307 OBP, 11 homers, 44 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and 50 runs scored. Bogaerts has a career .289 average and .352 OBP, and in his age-32/33 season, I expect him to finish closer to those marks than the ones he posted in 2024.

There's less risk involved when taking him because of his lower ADP. Getting him as a starting second baseman or shortstop is fine by me, but I'd draft an additional player at that position to cover yourself if he gets injured again. Getting Bogaerts as a secondary option at 2B or SS, or to start at an extra infield or utility spot is how I best like Bogaerts for the coming season. Finally, I'm fine taking him around that ADP, and see plenty of room to exceed that pick.

Cronenworth had solid numbers across 141 games last season.

He had a .241 average and .324 OBP, along with 17 homers, 83 RBIs, five stolen bases and 72 runs scored.

Cronenworth is likely to play first most days, but should have second base eligibility as well. One way or another, he should find his way into the starting lineup. Taking him as a secondary 2B or 1B is a good pick in my eyes, and I think he'll be a draft steal by the end of the season.

Other Starting Options

According to FanGraphs, we've almost talked about every projected starter already.

Jose Iglesias is the projected starter at second base, while Elias Diaz is the projected starter at catcher. Jason Heyward is the other starter, but in a platoon with Connor Joe.

Luis Campusano is the projected backup catcher, while Eguy Rosario and Tyler Wade are the projected bench options.

If Iglesias does play everyday, he's got some fantasy value in all leagues. In 85 games with the Mets last season, he had a .337 average and .381 OBP, along with four homers, 26 RBIs, six stolen bases and 39 runs scored.

I like him in deeper leagues to start the season, but he could work his way into standard leagues quickly, especially if he hits close to last year's marks.

Diaz played 96 total games between stints with the Rockies and Padres. He combined for a .265 average, .313 OBP, six homers, 39 RBIs, no stolen bases and 27 runs scored.

Even hitting near the bottom of the order, Diaz could be a decent fantasy asset if he gets on base enough. He's a deep-league option to start the season, but could work into standard leagues if he's playing everyday and in a hot stretch.

Heyward is just a deep-league option if he indeed falls into a platoon. Joe probably isn't going to have much fantasy value if he's only starting against lefties.

Campusano might not be listed as the projected starter, but he is probably in the same boat as Diaz going into the season. Keep tabs on who is starting and producing at catcher for San Diego and add Campusano if he starts to take the starting role.

Rosario and Wade would need some injuries to stars ahead of them to work their way into the starting lineup often. This team has a notable injury history with several guys, so keep these two in mind if anyone goes down.

Top Prospects

Leodalis De Vries (No. 18) and Ethan Salas (No. 33) are on the top-100 prospect list to kick off the season. Both have 2027 ETAs though.

De Vries is a shortstop who had a .237 average, .361 OBP, 11 homers, 38 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, 63 runs scored, 50 walks and 84 strikeouts across 75 minor league games last season.

Salas is a catcher with 177 minor league games under his belt. He has a .222 average and .304 OBP, along with 13 homers, 94 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, 78 runs scored, 77 walks and 173 strikeouts.

Tirso Ornelas is the only other top-30 hitting prospect of the Padres with a 2025 ETA.

Ornelas has played in 726 minor league games since 2017, but is still just 25. He has a career .267 average, .352 OBP, 64 homers, 379 RBIs, 37 stolen bases, 407 runs scored, 349 walks and 621 strikeouts.

Brandon Valenzuela, Anthony Vilar and Romeo Sanabria are three more hitting prospects age 25 or below who are in big league camp with the team this year.