With the 2022 season winding down for both MLB and MiLB, it’s time to look to the future. Specifically, one full season ahead as I try and project the top fantasy baseball prospects for dynasty leagues in 2024. This list will include any potential 2023 draftees and the timeframe we’ll be looking at is pre-2024 season. I’ve broken this down into three parts, continuing with my projected top prospects 20 through 11 here today. Part 1 (Top-10) will be out soon.
Current Top Prospects Expected to Graduate by 2024: Corbin Carroll, Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Volpe, Ezequiel Tovar, Miguel Vargas, Grayson Rodriguez, Josh Jung, Kyle Manzardo, Colton Cowser, Royce Lewis, Francisco Alvarez, Triston Casas, Eury Perez, Joey Wiemer, Gavin Williams, Connor Norby, Curtis Mead, Taj Bradley, Esteury Ruiz, Nick Gonzales, Sal Frelick, Austin Wells, George Valera, Alexander Canario.
If you missed the first part of this series, check out Projected Top Prospects 30-21.
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Projected Top Prospects in 2024: 20-11
20. Termarr Johnson (SS – PIT)
The # 4 pick in the 2022 draft got off to a slow start to his professional career but really finished the season strong. In his last 10 games (40 PA), Johnson slashed .357/.500/.607 with five extra-base hits, four steals, and nearly as many walks (10) as strikeouts (11). Many lauded Johnson’s hit tool in the draft, saying it was potentially the best hit tool in the entire class. With that type of hit tool coupled with plus speed and potential plus raw power down the road, Johnson possesses the all-around offensive profile to stand out at a shortstop position that is now known for it’s offensive prowess. He’s a great buy right now in dynasty leagues.
19. Endy Rodriguez (C – PIT)
Over the course of the 2022 season, I’ve developed a serious prospect crush on Endy Rodriguez. You can scoff at the C next to his name all you want, but this bat is legit. Rodriguez has now excelled in two consecutive seasons and posted a stellar .322/.406/.584 slash line in 124 games this season with 39 doubles and 24 home runs. He wont provide much speed, but this is a plus hitter with above-average to plus power and a sound approach as well.
18. Spencer Jones (OF – NYY)
This is one prospect in particular that I wanted to put even higher, but just couldn’t do it when looking at the names above him. Jones is one of the most exciting players from the 2022 draft class offensively with massive upside for fantasy purposes. Stepping into the box at a listed 6’7/225, Jones possesses the big-time raw power you’d expect that should have him taking aim at the short right field porch at Yankee Stadium in a couple of years. He’s also at least an average hitter, probably above-average that moves well for his size as well.
The Yankees just took Vandy OF Spencer Jones with their 1st round pick.
Safe to say he can mash pic.twitter.com/UYV7Xgisho
— The Short Porch (@short_porch) July 18, 2022
With his ability to hit for both power and a high average while adding in some speed to the mix, Jones could be an impactful fantasy player for a long time and one that should soar up prospect rankings in 2023. Get him now while the price tag is at least somewhat reasonable. It won’t be for long.
17. Jasson Dominguez (OF – NYY)
Alright, so maybe Jasson Dominguez isn’t going to be Mickey Mantle, Bo Jackson, or Mike Trout, but there’s still a path to him becoming a very good Major Leaguer one day. In 120 games this season across three levels, Dominguez slashed .273/.376/.461 with 46 extra-base hits, 16 home runs, and 37 steals. To be honest, I’m surprised to see this level of speed from him and still don’t expect a 30-steal player moving forward. However, 15-20 steals is certainly possible and Dominguez has more power in the tank, maybe putting him in the 25-30 home range down the road. Once you get past the fact that the hype on him was ridiculously overblown a few years ago, you can accept that he’s still one of the most exciting and talented prospects in baseball.
16. Andrew Painter (RHP – PHI)
You could make a strong case to put Andrew Painter as the #1 pitching prospect on this list, even over the two names below him in this article. Even as a first-round pick with all the hype and expectations that come along with it, Painter blew past those expectations with a 2022 campaign for the ages. In 22 starts, Painter finished with a stellar 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 6.2% walk rate, and a 38.7% strikeout rate. Painter’s dynamic four-pitch mix can miss bats with ease and he’s able to generate plenty of swing and miss outside of the zone. With this level of stuff, command, and projectability, Painter has ace written all over him. It’s going to be an absolute blast watching him and Ricky Tiedemann debut in the next year or so.
Andrew Painter went 7 IP, 8 H, ER, 9 K, no walks on Saturday. FB sat 95-98 mph, mixed slider at 83-86 mph, CB at 79-80 mph, and changeup at 88-89 mph. 92 pitches, 69 strikes, 18 called, 10 swinging and 11 ground balls. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/JLph54iTVt
— Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA) September 4, 2022
15. Ricky Tiedemann (LHP – TOR)
If you listen regularly to Fantrax Toolshed, you probably heard me mention that Ricky Tiedemann is the most impressive arm I’ve seen live in the last few years outside of Grayson Rodriguez. In early August, I was in attendance to watch Tiedemann’s Double-A debut at the age of 19, and he certainly impressed.
Ricky Tiedemann's Double-A debut is over.
3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 5 K
FF 94-96 with great life. Slider and changeup were both filthy.
All 5 strikeouts below.#NextLevel #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/MTDOPxauOQ
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) August 6, 2022
Tiedemann showed incredible poise and feel for his age, commanding all three of his pitches well. You could make an argument that his four-seamer, slider, and changeup could all be plus pitches eventually, and Tiedemann is able to miss bats with all three regularly. This looks like a frontline pitcher in the making and one that could grab the title of “#1 pitching prospect” by mid-2023.
14. Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF – CHC)
It’s amazing how underrated Pete Crow Armstrong is. After being selected 19th overall by the Mets in the 2020 draft, all PCA has done since then is slash .318/.388/.519 in 503 plate appearances with 22 doubles, 10 triples, 16 home runs, and 34 steals. He’s shown a great feel for hitting with a plus hit tool and a solid approach at the plate. He won’t walk a ton, but enough to flirt with a .380+ OBP long-term when you factor in his ability to hit around .300 annually. There’s also plus speed in the profile and more power than people give him credit for. All in all, this has the feel of a .280+/15/25 profile with maybe a hair more power given the hitter-friendly confines of Wrigley Field. It’s not a sexy profile, but certainly, one that can lead to a high level of fantasy success.
13. Daniel Espino (RHP – CLE)
Is it discouraging that we haven’t seen Daniel Espino in game action since late April? Absolutely. But this does nothing to sour me on his long-term projections or upside. You could make an argument that Espino has the highest upside of any current pitching prospect if everything clicks. He mixes a mid to upper-90s heater with two devastating breaking balls and a promising changeup as well. Command and control have also steadily improved which just adds to the luster surrounding Espino. Assuming he’s 100% healthy entering 2023, he’s one of the leaders in the clubhouse to take over the title of “#1 pitching prospect” once Grayson Rodriguez graduates sometime before the all-star break.
12. Noelvi Marte (SS – CIN)
While his season was a bit tumultuous overall, Noelvi Marte turned in another strong performance that nearly mirrored his 2021 campaign.
2021 (A/A+): 107 G, 511 PA, .273/.366/.460, 28 2B, 17 HR, 24 SB (7 CS), 11.7% BB, 22.9% K, .187 ISO
2022 (A+): 115 G, 520 PA, .279/.371/.458, 23 2B, 19 HR, 23 SB (9 CS), 11.2% BB, 20.6% K, .179 ISO
Marte still has some areas to work on, like being more efficient at stealing bases, but he continues to flash his 20+ homer/20 steal upside while trimming his strikeout rate and maintaining a solid walk rate. I’m not convinced we’re done seeing him add power either. And with him now in the Reds organization, Marte has a hitter-friendly home ballpark awaiting him in the next year or two.
11. Jackson Holliday (SS – BAL)
Even though he looks 12, Jackson Holliday has already shown what he’s capable of with the bat, quickly showing maturity beyond his years at the plate. Holliday received 90 plate appearances this season after being drafted and walked at a ridiculous 27.8% rate to go along with a .489 OBP, five XBH, four steals, and a 13.3% strikeout rate. With his ability to hit for a high AVG, get on base at an elite clip, and provide above-average power and speed, Holliday could be the next Baltimore infield prospect to ascend to top-10 status.
Media Credit: Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA), The Short Porch (@short_porch), Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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