The 2025 fantasy baseball season is fast approaching, but the designated hitter fantasy baseball rankings is already shifting due to key injuries and unexpected risers.
Giancarlo Stanton continues to battle elbow injuries, raising concerns about his short-term and long-term fantasy value. Meanwhile, Masataka Yoshida suffered a spring training injury, casting doubt on his early-season availability.
But while some hitters are trending downward, others are making waves—Matt Mervis (pictured above) has officially secured a spot with the Miami Marlins, putting him on the fantasy radar as a potential breakout bat.
Here at RotoProspects, we provide position-by-position 2025 fantasy baseball rankings and projections, broken into tiers. Check out a quick look at the first two tiers below. You can check out the entire list of the top designated hitters, with where they slot into eight tiers, by clicking here (subscription required). We even provide downloadable PDFs of our tiered rankings and projections for each position.
TIER 1: The Elite
Shohei Ohtani (LAD)
Even after not pitching in 2024, Ohtani remains the best fantasy hitter in baseball after a historic 50/50 season. His unmatched power-speed combination makes him a top-3 overall fantasy pick, regardless of format. Already making a 2025 impact in the Dodgers’ sweep of the Cubs in Tokyo, expect MVP-caliber production across the board, with 40+ homers, elite run production, and many stolen bases. Oh, and did we mention that he will be pitching again?
| No. | TIER 1 | Age | PA | HR | R | RBI | SB | Avg. | OBP | SLG | OPS | BB% | K% |
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani, LAD | 30 | 647 | 44 | 111 | 113 | 34 | .289 | .380 | .596 | .976 | 12.3 | 22.8 |
TIER 2: The Power Bats
Brent Rooker (OAK)
Rooker is fresh off another impressive power season, solidifying himself as Oakland’s top slugger. While his projected elevated strikeout rate (29.8%) remains a concern, his barrel rate and raw power make him a valuable fantasy asset. If you need 30+ homer upside, Rooker is your guy.
Marcell Ozuna (ATL)
Ozuna had a resurgent 2024 campaign, continuing to be a key bat in the Braves’ powerhouse offense. His ability to consistently deliver 30+ homers and 90+ RBIs makes him a safe and reliable DH option in fantasy leagues.
Kyle Schwarber (PHI)
Schwarber is one of the most unique fantasy sluggers—capable of hitting 40+ homers while sporting a low batting average. His elite projected walk rate (14.7%) makes him an OBP-league monster, and as long as he continues to crush baseballs, he’ll remain a top-tier DH option.
| No. | TIER 2 | Age | PA | HR | R | RBI | SB | Avg. | OBP | SLG | OPS | BB% | K% |
| 2 | Brent Rooker, A’s | 30 | 623 | 36 | 82 | 96 | 8 | .254 | .333 | .501 | .834 | 9.4 | 29.8 |
| 3 | Marcell Ozuna, Atl | 34 | 645 | 35 | 82 | 97 | 0 | .265 | .337 | .493 | .830 | 9.6 | 24.3 |
| 4 | Kyle Schwarber, Phi | 32 | 656 | 40 | 93 | 102 | 3 | .232 | .349 | .493 | .842 | 14.7 | 29.0 |
The DH position is stacked with elite power hitters, and these four sluggers should be on every fantasy manager’s radar for 2025. Whether you’re targeting Ohtani’s all-around dominance, Rooker’s upside, Ozuna’s steady production, or Schwarber’s moonshots, landing a top-tier DH can give your team a major power boost.
Who are you targeting as your DH in 2025 fantasy drafts? Drop a comment and let’s talk strategy!