Ottoneu Hot Right Now: May 22, 2025
The 2025 version of Hot Right Now will typically include three sections:
- Current Auctions: A closer look at players being auctioned at a high rate.
- Roster Adds: Analysis of players with high add% changes.
- Hot Performers: Players with a high P/G or P/IP in recent weeks.
The FanGraphs Ottoneu team plans to run this feature weekly, updating fantasy managers on the biggest movers in Ottoneu leagues with an analysis of how these players could or could not help your roster.
Current Auctions
Robert Hassell III – 50 current auctions
As Dylan Crews heads to the IL, the speedy 23-year-old Hassell III heads to the big leagues to make his debut. Last season, he played 85 games across three minor league levels and slashed .241/.319/.328 with five home runs and 15 stolen bases. In 43 AAA games this season, he’s taken a big step forward, slashing .288/.337/.405 with nine stolen bases. We don’t have an updated scouting report on Hassell III for 2025, but there has been an interesting progression of reports over the past few months:
May 2024 – Washington Nationals Top 32 Prospects: Eric Longenhagen did not see Hassell III with a hit tool that projected him as a starter.
November 2024 – Scouting the Players Added to 40-Man Rosters: Longenhagen mentions Hassell III’s impressive Arizona Fall League performance.
February 2025 – Sunday Notes: Robert Hassell III Made a Lightning Quick Change: David Laurila interviews Hassell III and reports on his development as a hitter:
“I think about that often,” Hassell admitted. “I think about what my goals are, and how much I want to play in the big leagues. I think about all of these little bumps in the road I’ve gone through, and how they’ve made me realize how much I love the game. The way I’m looking at is that my career has only begun. I haven’t touched the big leagues yet, and that’s the end goal. I want to get there and play for a long time.”
While none of this gives us insight into the fantasy production Hassell III will provide in his debut, it does tell a story of a developing player with promise. Remember that Hassell III came to the Nationals in the Juan Soto trade and that he had been one of the Padres’ most promising prospects. Projection systems don’t tell us much, and that’s mostly because of the uncertainty surrounding his playing time. For example, ATC using Depth Charts for PA projections thinks Hassell III will get 151 plate appearances and slash .227/.288/.320 with two home runs and four stolen bases. Regardless, there’s enough here to suggest Hassell III should be considered a player to pick up and stash for $1 or $2.
Mick Abel – 49 current auctions
Are you able to tell the difference between one excellent start and the true talent level of this 23-year-old Phillies righty? In his debut, he threw six innings and struck out nine hitters while giving up five runs and no walks. That was on May 18th. But then the Phillies said, “Thank you very much” and sent him back down to AAA Lehigh the next day. They are opting to keep Taijuan Walker in the rotation. Projection systems seem to have no idea who Abel is and what he may be able to do (sorry…I’ll stop). Each system on his player page gave him the arbitrary 23.0 IP projection with ERAs in the 4.50 to 5.00 range. Let’s check in on an Eric Longenhagen prospect report from January:
He’s posted double-digit walk rates at each minor league stop and regressed on that score in 2024, when he labored through a 15% mark at Triple-A.
Did Abel prove he’s fixed his control issues in one six-inning start? Probably not, but we should at least take it as a sign of progress. One look at the Stuff+ visualization on Abel’s player page might have you saying “Wow” out loud in an empty room. It shows each of his pitches as above average. But Longenhagen’s report never really doubted Abel’s stuff:
The arm-side action of Abel’s curveball gives it utility against lefties, and his best sliders are 87-90 mph darts. Abel’s fastball velocity still peaks in the upper-90s, but it doesn’t sustain there, and his command and lack of explosive movement cause it to play down. He also has very little feel for locating his changeup, or really any of his offerings with any consistency.
He did, however, continue to question his control. Abel threw only four changeups in his debut and relied heavily on his curveball. That pitch earned a 31.8% swinging strike rate in his debut. Among pitchers who have thrown at least 20 curveballs this year, Abel’s single-game SwStr% mark triples the league average. At this point, you may be rushing to the player page to send Abel to auction, only to find that he’s already been picked up by others. His average salary now sits at $4, and he’s rostered in over 50% of leagues. But, the question remains as to whether Abel can sustain this control at the big league level and if the Phillies have room in the rotation to give him a chance to prove it.
Will Benson – 39 current auctions
Benson went on a four-day home run hitting spree last weekend, crushing five homers in four games. Yet, in that time, he struck out 25% of the time. Benson continues to deploy a feast or famine approach, and his 2025 K% through 38 plate appearances sits at 26.3%, which is an improvement compared to his 35% career K%. Benson is on the strong side of a platoon and may stick in the lineup while Jake Fraley is on the IL, but keep a close eye on his production, as his performance is a roller coaster of highs and lows. By the time he’s added to your roster, he may have gone cold again.
Roster Adds
Jordan Romano – Add% Change (7 Days) – 35.8%
When your player-page Rotowire blurb reads as:
Rotowire: Romano struck out three batters in a perfect inning while earning his fifth save of the season in Sunday’s 1-0 win over the Pirates. (5/18/2025)
…you get added to fantasy rosters. Why was he even available in the first place, you might ask? Perhaps only recording two saves in April with a near 12% BB% and 12.19 ERA may have had something to do with his being available. But, after a bump in the road where his K% dipped and his BB% climbed, Romano seems to be righting the ship
His most recent performance included increased velocity. He’s still listed as the Phillies closer on RosterResource.
Luis Mey – Add% Change (7 Days) – 29.7%
The 23-year-old Cincinnati Reds reliever has two holds, a 1.80 ERA, and a 32.5% K% thanks to an unbelievable slider. It grades out to an elite 143 Stuff+. Still, RosterResource lists him three spots away from the closer role (Emilio Pagán) behind Tony Santillan (next-in-line), Graham Ashcraft, and Taylor Rogers. He’s a good pick-up for holds and may be a player who moves up in the ranks, but he may also be wielding a hot hand and on the side of Lady Luck as his BABIP is .190 through 10 IP.
Hot Performers
Stats reflect the last 14 days for both hitters and pitchers. Players selected are usually rostered at lower levels.
Kody Clemens – (8.5 P/G)
With a .435 BABIP and a 28.9% K% in his last 14 games, Clemens slashed .333/.409/.718. That was aided by four doubles, a triple, and three home runs. In 2025, Clemens has increased his Barrel% and his HardHit%. He’s displayed a mix of luck and skills improvement. He’s mostly served as the DH for the Twins.
Liam Hicks – (8.4 P/G)
The 25-year-old Miami Marlins catcher is slashing .277/.344/.494 through 95 plate appearances this season. He is in his rookie year and has split catching duties with Nick Fortes. He is more of a contact-first hitter, but has tapped into power in his last 14 games, hitting two doubles, a triple, and four home runs.
Will Warren – (7.7 P/IP)
In his last two starts, Warren accumulated 19 strikeouts with only two walks in 10.2 innings pitched. He’s utilized an above-average curveball by Stuff+ to generate an above-average SwStr% and has landed his sinker for called strikes with great success. He has a season-long (46.2 IP) 20.8% K-BB% and could be on his way to a breakout season.
Jonathan Cannon – (6.9 P/IP)
Cannon’s recent success is much more accredited to his limiting of walks and home runs than it is to strikeouts or longevity. In his last two starts, he’s walked none and given up no home runs, but only has nine strikeouts across 11 innings. His ability to limit damage may be a trait to be utilized as a streamer.