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Opening Weekend Prospects To Watch At High-A

By Richard Haake
High-A Hitting Prospects to Stash in Dynasty Leagues

Opening Weekend is now in the books and the High-A season is off and running bringing back the daily prospects updates dynasty managers crave. The start of the new season brings the joy of watching the lower levels of the minor leagues get in on the ground floor of some of these prospects overlooked in the FYPDs over the off-season. In this article, we will dive into some of the prospects who performed well over the weekend and who I believe we should be stashing right now.

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Early Season Prospects To Stash

Noah Schultz, LHP CHW

Chicago’s first-round pick in 2022 has officially had the training wheels taken off as Noah Schultz put up an impressive debut in High-A Winston Salem. Schultz towers over batters on the mound standing 6’9” and 220 pounds. If the physical presence was not enough the high-90s fastball and sweeping slider will impress any dynasty owner. The 20-year-old made his debut for High-A Winston Salem going four innings while striking out 10 batters with two hits and no walks or earned runs. Of Schultz’s 54 total pitches 40 were for strikes and he was able to get nine whiffs on 21 swings. For Schultz, it was encouraging to see the control of his pitches as dominated this outing.

For dynasty Managers Noah Schultz is about to skyrocket up rankings the overpowering fastball with the elusive slider has the makings of a front-of-the-order monster for the White Sox long term.

Calvin Ziegler, RHP NYM

A second-round draft pick by the New York Mets in 2021 out of high school, Calvin Ziegler has dealt with injuries that have slowed his progress but he is making up for lost time. The 21-year-old from Canada features a 96-mph four-seam fastball that has an excellent ride up in the zone paired with a nasty curveball that hits 85 mph with a 12-6 shape. The mid-80s splitter has the potential to be a plus offering diving out of the zone. In his first start for High-A Brooklyn Ziegler struck out nine batters in four innings pitch allowing no hits, runs, or walks. Of his 53 total pitches, 35 were for strikes as Ziegler got 13 Whiffs striking out the first eight batters he saw.

This could be the beginning of a strong season for Calvin Ziegler. The Mets will ramp Ziegler up slowly but the early results are fantastic with an organization that has revamped the pitching development. Now would be the time to stash Ziegler where you can as there is an easy strikeout upside here it’s just to be determined if he will remain a starter long-term.

Chandler Simpson, SS TBR

Hands down one of the fastest men in the minor leagues right now is Chandler Simpson. Selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft by the raves out of Georgia Tech, Simpson finished the 2023 season with 94 stolen bases. Along with speed on the basepaths, Simpson offers a solid bat as he slashed .294/.373/.345 in 115 games between Low-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green. Simpson averaged a 12.3% walk rate while striking out just 8.65% in 503 plate appearances in 2023.

Now starting the season back in High-A Bowling Green Simpson is off to a blistering start. Chandler Simpson is currently slashing .714/.778/.714 with two runs scored and four stolen bases in five attempts in just two games. This is a prospect I highlighted several times throughout the off-season to stash and this might be the last call as he will more than likely not be in High-A Bowling Green for long.

Quinn McDaniel, 2B SFG

Selected in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Maine by the San Fransisco Giants Quinn McDaniel had a quiet yet productive debut after the draft. Playing in both Complex ball and Low-A McDaniel slashed .258/.424/.495 with six home runs, 25 runs scored, 19 RBIs, and stole eight stolen bases in 29 combined games. Despite the low batting average McDaniel walked 28 times in 125 plate appearances averaging 22.4% walk percentage. The Giants started the 21-year-old McDaniel in High-A Eugene where he is off to a hot start. In two games played he is slashing .750/.778/.875 with one run and RBI scored with four stolen bases in just nine plate appearances.

This is a solid prospect to stash in deeper dynasty leagues as drawing walks and high OBP is something McDaniel was proficient at while at the University of Maine. With the potential for 10-15 home runs and 20-30 stolen bases, McDaniel has some upside at little cost to acquire early on.

Sean Sullivan, LHP COL

Former Wake Forest Demon Deacon Sean Sullivan had a fantastic debut in High-A over the weekend. The second-round draft pick by the Rockies in 2023 stands at 6’4” and 190 pounds while featuring a mid-90s fastball with a rise up in the zone thanks to a low arm slot. The change-up sits in the high-80s with a solid fade. When it comes to the slider it will need some work as it lacks consistency. Regardless Sullivan showed nothing but dominance in his first outing of the season. In six innings pitched Sullivan struck out 13 batters giving up five hits, one run, and did not walk a batter.

It’s a solid start to the season for Sullivan and could be a prospect to watch as the Rockies organization is hurting for high-upside strikeout pitchers.

Chase Dollander, RHP COL

Taken in the first round of the 2023 MLB draft ninth overall Chase Dollander has some high expectations going into the season with an organization that is in desperate need of an ace. Solid in his time at the University of Tennessee Chase Dollander features a high-90s fastball that touches triple-digits with good carry-up in the zone. An 87 mph slider with sweeping lateral movement can touch 92 at times. The 76 mph curveball and upper-80s change have solid movement and create weak contact. In the 22-year-old Dollander’s debut, he struck out eight batters across five innings not allowing a hit or an earned run while walking three.

Chase Dollander has front-of-the-rotation upside and for most dynasty managers being in the Rockies organization can be less than ideal. Regardless of his team, Dollander should be a prospect to monitor in 2024 as he should move quickly.

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