Welcome to the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 25 Waiver Wire.
This is the final Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire of 2023, and it's full of must-add players that will win you the championship. Managers must keep the drive going forward at this point in the season. Star players like Alex Cobb, Nolan Arenado, Royce Lewis, and Willson Contreras are now on the injured list and out for the season, leaving gaps in Fantasy Baseball teams.
Six players are listed below that will help fill the hole left behind by one of these players. Four of the six are rookies, one being a pitcher. Behind them is a young pitcher returning to Major League Baseball from the injured list. Lastly, we have a shortstop from the American League West who is on a tear over his last ten games.
Thank you to everyone who has read the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire articles this season. I hope the advice and players listed every week helped lead each of you to the glory of a Fantasy Baseball Championship. Best of luck to you in the season's final week, and I can't wait to see you next season.
2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 25 Waiver Wire
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
What a moment for Junior Caminero and his family ? pic.twitter.com/6Ws0EqkFke
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) September 22, 2023
The Tampa Bay Rays promoted their top prospect to the major leagues. Junior Caminero joins the Rays as the sixth-best prospect in MLB. He is known for his immense raw power and excellent hit tool. This year, Caminero played 117 games in the minors, 36 at High-A and 81 in Double-A. He combined for a .324/.384/.591 triple slash with a 156 wRC+.
Caminero is expected to split time between third base and shortstop for the Rays. It's unclear where he will bat in the lineup, but I expect it to be towards the back of the order. Caminero will take playing time away from Osleivis Basabe and Taylor Walls, so getting these two players out of Fantasy lineups is recommended.
Zack Gelof, 2B, Oakland Athletics
A returning player this week is Zack Gelof. The second baseman is coming in with a seven-game hitting streak. He's scored three runs, two RBI, and stole three bases in this span. This brings his season-long slash line to .277/.342/.532 with a 141 wRC+.
The last time Gelof was on the list, I asked why he was still being left on the Waiver Wire, and the question still needs to be asked today. He gets on base, hits for power, and steals bases. He does everything. Why is he still available?
If you need other reasons to add Gelof, look no further than his Baseball Savant page. Gelof's barrel (11.9%), hard-hit (42.9%), sweet-spot (39.9%), and average exit velocity (90.6 MPH) all rank above league average.
Evan Carter, OF, Texas Rangers
Tha Carter III pic.twitter.com/o10uSwPDQb
— MLB (@MLB) September 23, 2023
Rookie Evan Carter is a top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire add for the third week in a row. Through 14 MLB games, Carter is slashing .333/.444/.694 with a 197 wRC+. He's belted three home runs while scoring 11 runs and eight RBI.
The outfielder ranks in the 97th percentile for sprint speed, which has led to two stolen bases thus far, but it shows up more with his two doubles and one triple.
Carter has batted chiefly ninth in the lineup, but it hasn't hurt his value. Batting at the bottom of the order puts Carter in front of superstar Marcus Semien. This has undoubtedly led to more runs for the rookie.
Sawyer Gipson-Long, SP, Detroit Tigers
Sawyer Gipson-Long is the first pitcher on the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 25 Waiver Wire. In 2023, Gipson-Long was seen as a lower-level prospect but has since shown he has the skills to be a league winner.
The Detroit Tigers promoted the right-hander earlier this month, and he made his MLB debut on September 10. He pitched five innings and earned the win against the Chicago White Sox. In those five innings, he allowed four hits for two earned runs while striking out five batters.
His next outing was even better. On September 16, Gipson-Long faced the Angels. He allowed two hits (one home run) and three walks for one earned run. He also struck out an impressive 11 batters.
Gipson-Long faces the Kansas City Royals on Thursday this week, and Fantasy managers should be all in on the rookie pitcher.
Triston McKenzie, SP, Cleveland Guardians
#Guardians RHP Triston McKenzie with his 1st strikeout of the night rehabbing at Columbus on a 93.7 mph fastball in the 3rd inning vs. Omaha.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/46vaSpL48j
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) September 19, 2023
The much-awaited return of Triston McKenzie is finally here after he's missed the last three-and-a-half months recovering from an elbow injury. In his two rehab appearances, McKenzie combined for 6.2 innings with four earned runs and six strikeouts.
McKenzie has appeared in two games this season, both coming in June. He threw ten innings, allowing five runs, eight hits, four walks, and striking out 15.
McKenzie is a must-add pitcher in all Fantasy Baseball leagues with a career 3.70 ERA, 9.72 strikeouts per nine innings, and 1.20 walks and hits per inning. At the start of the season, I predicted McKenzie would surpass teammate Shane Bieber as the ace of the Guardians rotation. Unfortunately, both dealt with injuries, and we must wait until next season to see if it comes true.
J.P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners
J.P. Crawford continues his hot streak at the plate. Over his last ten games, he is slashing .256/.347/.465 with a 128 wRC+. Seven of his 11 hits in this span have gone for extra bases, and he's scored five runs and seven RBI.
On the season, Crawford is slashing .263/.378/.427 with a 130 wRC+. He's hit 34 doubles and 16 home runs while scoring 89 runs and 57 RBI.
Heading into Championship week, Fantasy managers must go after the hottest players in the game, and Crawford is one of them.
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