In the world of fantasy baseball, we often talk about “pedigree,” but rarely is it as literal as it is right now.
We are living through a second-generation gold rush.
Look no further than the early rounds of your draft: Bobby Witt Jr. has evolved into a five-tool monster, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. possesses a hit tool that mirrors his Hall of Fame father’s (with better plate discipline) and Fernando Tatis Jr. remains one of the most electric talents in the game. And let’s not forget names like Cody Bellinger, son of Clay, Jackson Holliday, son of Matt and Bo Bichette, son of Dante.
These “nepo babies” didn’t just inherit elite hand-eye coordination, they grew up in big-league clubhouses, learning the professional routine before they could drive. If you want to find the next breakout star, following the bloodlines is a proven strategy. This season, there are two legacy names primed to reward fantasy managers who buy in early and both are flying under the radar in fantasy circles.
If you remember the perfect storm that was Carl Crawford in his prime, you know exactly what his son Justin brings to the table. Much like his father — a four-time All-Star and stolen base king — Justin Crawford is an elite burner.
The younger Crawford has spent the past four seasons terrorizing minor league pitchers. Though his power is still developing, his ability to put the ball in play and create chaos on the basepaths is already elite. In fantasy terms, he is a category-winner in waiting.
Unlike some raw speedsters who struggle to reach base, Justin has shown a refined approach, using his speed to turn routine grounders into infield singles.
Across multiple levels, he wrapped up his time in the minors with a .322 average with a .385 OBP, and having broken camp with the Phillies, thanks to Johan Rojas’ 80-game PEDs suspension, his ceiling is a .280 hitter who can swipe 40-plus bags.
While Crawford provides the lightning, Kyle Karros is bringing the thunder. The son of 1992 NL Rookie of the Year Eric Karros, Kyle is carved from the same cloth as his father: a sturdy, reliable corner infielder with a penchant for driving in runs.
Nevertheless, Kyle has one massive advantage his father never had: Coors Field. As a member of the Rockies organization, Karros has developed in a system that rewards his fly-ball profile.
He has shown an impressive ability to limit strikeouts — a trait often missing in young power hitters — and he possesses the defensive chops to stick at third base long-term.
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For fantasy managers, Karros is the ultimate “post-hype” sleeper. Since he isn’t as flashy as a Jackson Holliday, he often slipped in drafts. But now locked in at the hot corner in Colorado, he is likely available on your waiver wire.
If he can tap into his father’s “clutch gene” while playing 81 games a year in the thin air of Denver, he could easily become a 25-home run, 90-RBI threat at the hot corner.
Betting on DNA isn’t just a hunch, it’s a calculated investment in a player’s support system and developmental floor. Crawford and Karros might have “famous” names, but their tools are entirely self-made.
Secure them now before they become the next household names on the level of Witt or Tatis.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy, catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Ch. 87) weekdays from 6-8 p.m. and dominate your leagues with the latest baseball news and advice from Fantasy Alarm.
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