Gaining in the runs category can sometimes be as simple as finding the undervalued leadoff hitters in MLB.
The generally accepted idea for runs scored is that the higher in the batting order, the more runs a hitter will score. Like RBI, looking at a team’s batting order and predicting changes can create an advantage for fantasy owners looking to beef up the runs scored category.
These eight hitters have a good chance to either start the season in the leadoff spot, or work their way up to that position, boosting their runs upside.
Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals
Crews was already mentioned as a potential stolen base sleeper, and that works in conjunction with his spot in the Nats batting order. He got most of his work last season in the leadoff spot, starting 17 games and scoring seven runs in spite of a poor .474 OPS. CJ Abrams stands as a threat to Crews’ status in the leadoff spot, but even an opportunity to hit No. 2 for the Nationals would be a great position for his runs.
TJ Friedl, OF, Reds
Coming off an injury-plagued season that limited him to only 85 games, Friedl is hoping to rebound as the Reds center fielder. He gained some competition when the team signed Austin Hays recently, but finding the offense he showed in his first three MLB seasons should allow Friedl to keep playing every day. He started 22 games in the leadoff spot last season, and the opportunities could increase after Cincinnati traded former regular leadoff hitter Jonathan India. An NFBC ADP of 252 in January is reasonable for a hitter with the potential for 20/20 and 90 runs scored.
Jung Hoo Lee, OF, Giants
The contact-hitting Lee saw 31 of his 36 starts in the leadoff spot last season before suffering a season-ending injury in mid-May. He didn’t have much time to get off the ground, but the Giants have provided no reason this offseason to think Lee won’t get another shot at the leadoff man. He was a career .340 hitter with a .407 OBP in Korea, so the on-base skills are there for Lee to shine in the role. His January ADP of 225 leaves room for profit.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B/SS/3B, Pirates
The Pirates acquired Kiner-Falefa from Toronto last season, allowing them to move young star Oneil Cruz to center field. Kiner-Falefa’s career OBP is only .313, yet he saw the majority of his playing time in the leadoff spot with Pittsburgh. We don’t know if that trend will continue, but a relatively quiet offseason on the part of the Pirates does give IKF a better chance to keep the role. He hasn’t shown the qualities of a mixed league regular since stealing 22 bases in 2022, but Kiner-Falefa could still be a profitable option in deeper leagues with an ADP of 440.
Parker Meadows, OF, Tigers
The start of Meadows’ season couldn’t have gone much worse in 2024, hitting .131 in 35 games. He finally found himself after a minor league demotion, however, hitting .296-6-23 with five steals in 47 games during the second half. Meadows also saw a near-full time promotion to the leadoff spot in mid-August, and did some of his best work in the role. The Tigers added Gleyber Torres this offseason, a hitter with some leadoff history under his belt, but Meadows provides more speed upside if he continues to hit.
Mike Tauchman, OF, White Sox
The White Sox were record-breaking bad in 2024, and they aren’t looking much better in 2025 after trading ace Garrett Crochet. For all their weaknesses, the team did bring in veterans like Tauchman and Josh Rojas to provide more competitive at-bats. Tauchman got some run with the crosstown rival Cubs before Pete Crow-Armstrong’s arrival, and the veteran has been a very formidable on-base option over the last two years with a combined OBP of .360. We can’t count on Tauchman staying in Chicago or remaining in the leadoff role for the entire season after signing a one-year deal, but he has the chance to help early in the season as a leadoff hitter.
Anthony Volpe, SS, Yankees
Volpe had a somewhat disappointing sophomore season in New York, leveling out his swing to hit for a higher average but launching only 12 homers compared to 21 home runs in 2023. After getting about three months of leadoff opportunities early in the season, it became clear that the Yankees needed a better option with Volpe’s OBP hovering near .300. That doesn’t mean he won’t get another chance, particularly after the team lost on-base machines Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto in the offseason. There’s some uncertainty with Volpe’s power and batting average projection, but another shot to leadoff would greatly boost his overall fantasy value.
Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics
Wilson is in a similar position to Jung Hoo Lee in terms of on-base skills, but he doesn’t have the surefire opportunity to hit leadoff. The former first-round pick played only 28 games in the majors, as his time was disrupted by a hamstring injury. Still, he managed a .314 OBP over that time, and had and other-worldly .433 batting average and .474 OBP during the minor league season. Wilson will likely need to work his way up to leadoff duty, but he has a chance to be a major contributor and leadoff man if he reaches his potential at the plate in 2025.
--Seth Trachtman