Jace

LaViolette

LaViolette was the last first-round selection to sign prior to Monday’s deadline, agreeing to an over-slot $4 million deal with Cleveland over the weekend. The 21-year-old outfielder had a down final collegiate season at Texas A&M, but he possesses an abundance of fantasy-relevant tools and remains one of the most talented players in the entire draft class.

LaViolette gets a bonus of $4 million, which is a significant bump from the $3.382 million slot value that came from being the 27th pick. The 21-year-old didn’t live up to lofty expectations in 2025, but he offers considerable power and is absolutely a player to pay attention to in all keeper/dynasty formats.

LaViolette entered the draft as one of the favorites to be one of the first college bats off the board, but an inconsistent — at best — season saw his draft stock drop significantly. When he’s at his best, he’s an outfielder who shows plus power in his left-handed bat, and the exit velocities are generally good. You gotta put the ball into play for that to matter, and he didn’t do that nearly enough in 2025. There’s upside in LaViolette’s arm, but there’s also a good deal of risk.