Seven Fantasy Baseball Prospect Risers - Dynasty Gems In Double-A

May 14, 2026

Andy's fantasy baseball prospect sleepers, risers, stashes currently in Double-A. His fantasy baseball dynasty gems and breakouts to target in dynasty leagues.

With a month of MiLB data in the books, it's time to begin identifying the most promising prospects who have seen their value increase. While some of these prospects are likely rostered in most dynasty leagues, some remain under the radar and could likely be stashed in most formats.

Below, we will highlight seven prospects who have turned in a strong opening month, including a potential budding superstar in Boston and potentially another emerging arm in the Marlins system, among others.

Let's take a look at seven dynasty risers at the Double-A level that you should either stash in your dynasty league or acquire via trade before they begin to showcase this upside at the Triple-A level.

Franklin Arias, SS, Boston Red Sox

Among hitters, there may not be a prospect who has improved their standing during the opening month of the Double-A season more than Franklin Arias.

The Boston infielder has enjoyed a scorching start to the campaign and is pushing for a Triple-A promotion much sooner than expected. Through his first 26 games of the campaign, Arias has held a .366/.444/.699 slash line with seven doubles, eight home runs, and two stolen bases.

He has only struck out 12 times while drawing 10 walks. This quality of production is even more impressive as Arias spent most of his 2025 campaign with High-A before earning a brief 10-game taste of Double-A late in the second half. During this stint, Arias posted a much lower .261 AVG while striking out six times with no walks.

Even though the sample size is still very small, Arias is taking the necessary steps to extend this portion into Triple-A. Compared to his batted-ball marks a season ago, Arias has raised his fly-ball rate to 43.8% (a jump from 30.8%) and lowered his ground-ball rate from 47.7% to 35.0%. He has also generated an elite 50.0% pull rate, which has been the catalyst for his surge in home run totals.

Despite facing tougher pitching, Arias' K% has only increased by 1.0% (11.1% - 10.1%) and has actually increased his walk rate from 7.2% to 9.3%. Currently considered the overall No. 26-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com, Arias is surging up dynasty boards and could establish himself as a consensus top-15 prospect in the coming months.

Franklin Arias with his 3rd hit of the game.

(Didn't get a video of the second hit as someone stood up in front of me as he hit the ball) #DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/ekMulbPmBQ

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) May 10, 2026

Jace Avina, OF, New York Yankees

After spotlighting a top name, let's go a bit deeper for our next surging hitter. Jace Avina is currently ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the Yankee system on MLB.com and is likely on the waiver wire in most dynasty formats. Avina spent half of his 2025 campaign with High-A before joining Double-A Somerset for the second half.

Over 46 games with Double-A (first stint), Avina posted a modest .224/.314/.341 line with a low .655 OPS. During this stint, the outfielder went deep just three times while holding 25.8% K%. These numbers do not jump off the page, which is why Avina was not emerging as a name to watch in the early going.

However, the former 14th-round selection has seen his power totals soar. Through 29 games with Somerset this season, Avina has launched nine round-trippers while carrying a .227/.290/.521 line. While his strikeout rate (32.8%) has slightly increased, he has begun to tap into his raw power at a far more consistent rate.

Avina has drastically lowered his infield-fly-ball rate from 20.0% to a much lower 8.6% in the opening month. As a result, by barreling and making much harder contact, Avina's HR/FB rate has soared, from 5.5% to 25.7%. While this mark is likely unsustainable over the course of the season, he has put together double-digit HR campaigns over short stents throughout his career.

He remains a name for deeper leagues, but if this trend continues, he could be worth stashing ahead of a promotion to Triple-A in the second half.

Xavier Isaac, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays

Xavier Isaac missed nearly the entirety of the 2025 campaign after undergoing brain surgery after a scan revealed a tumor. Given the severity of this operation, fantasy managers should not take Isaac's 2025 production at face value.

During spring training, the Rays' coaching staff said they did not have high expectations for their young first baseman and instead wanted to ensure he was comfortable before taking the field again.

Fortunately, Isaac has not only returned to the field, but he is looking like his 2024 self. Through his first 26 games of the Double-A regular season, the former 29th overall pick has posted a .247/.440/.605 line with an elite 1.045 OPS. Isaac made his Double-A debut last summer, but given the ample time he missed, this is nearly his first "full" look at the level since the second half of the 2024 campaign.

The former first-round selection has looked far from overmatched and is flashing high-end power production. In 2024, Isaac split his time between High-A and Double-A before moving up to Double-A later in the second half. Through 102 total games, the first baseman carried a .264/.370/.480 line with an .850 OPS.

While the sample size is small, the East Forsyth HS product is looking quite comfortable against this level of pitching. He has generated an eye-catching 48.6% fly-ball rate while maintaining a low 35.1% ground-ball rate, both of which are improvements over his 2024 marks.

The lone knock on his profile has been his eye at the plate. While he has posted a high 24.8% BB%, he has also struck out at a 39.3% rate. In 2024, his 33.3% K% was just as concerning. If Isaac can continue to draw walks and improve his swing decision, we could be looking at one of the best raw power hitters in the minor leagues.

Don't forget, in his scouting report, FanGraphs graded him with an 80 future score in raw power (and 70 future score in game power). The raw upside is there, and seeing him quickly rebound from a serious injury makes him a prime target to monitor in 2026.

Zyhir Hope, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

The final hitter we will spotlight has the highest prospect pedigree among those previously noted. Zyhir Hope is currently the No. 22-ranked prospect in all of baseball on MLB.com and has near superstar potential.

He spent the 2025 campaign with High-A before earning a short six-game taste of Double-A. With High-A, Hope held a .264/.377/.428 line with 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases. He swung a hot bat in his brief week at Double-A, going 6-for-19 with a stolen base.

Hope has picked up right where he left off in the opening month, holding a .282/.348/.460 line through 32 games. During this stint, Hope has gone deep six times while swiping another five bags. While the sample size is small, Hope is showing a stronger eye, especially regarding his K%.

At Double-A, Hope has posted a 23.2% K%, a nice three-point drop from his overall 2025 marks. While his walk rate has dipped, his current 8.7% BB% remains solid, especially given his surge in power.

Howe has raised his Pull% from 41.2% to 45.2% and drastically raised his HR/FB from 10.3% to 21.4%, which is sure to normalize over the summer. Additionally, despite facing tougher pitching, Hope has lowered his swinging-strike rate (13.1% - 11.6%), which is on par with his infield marks from Low-A and the Arizona Complex League.

The only concern regarding Hope is that the Dodger outfield is currently one of the deepest in baseball and will likely not have a permanent spot for Hope and his teammate and fellow top prospect Josue De Paula. However, if the Dodgers are looking to make another run for a third-straight World Series and need an impact player at another position, do not be surprised if either Hope or De Paula is put into trade packages.

Nonetheless, Hope remains a must-stash prospect in all dynasty formats as he should carry immediate five-category upside when he reaches the big leagues.

Zyhir Hope had four hits today, including his 3rd home run of the season.

Slashing .291/.333/.491 this season in Double-A.#Dodgerspic.twitter.com/3z4FtubAcg

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) April 19, 2026

Karson Milbrandt, SP, Miami Marlins

The Marlins system has become a prospect pitcher's paradise for nearly half a decade. Between Sandy Alcantara taking him a Cy Young, the emergence of Eury Perez, and more recently, Robby Snelling and Thomas White, there always seems to be another high-end pitcher waiting in the wings in Jacksonville.

While Milbrandt is still with Double-A, he would be on his way to Triple-A Jacksonville much sooner than expected. Through his first six starts of the season, Milbrandt has been nothing short of dominant, holding a 1.48 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP. Across these 30 1/3 innings, Milbrandt has struck out 40 hitters while walking only 12.

Milbrandt spent most of his 2025 season with High-A before earning a short 10 2/3-inning taste of Double-A late in the second half.

As with the names above, the current sample size is small, but Milbrandt is flashing just as much upside as he did against High-A hitters last season. Currently, at Double-A, he holds a 23.9% K-BB%, which is a nice jump from the 17.3% he held at High-A. He has been able to raise his strikeout rate by four points (30.1% - 34.2%) and lower his walk rate (12.8% - 10.3%).

Additionally, Milbrandt has raised his ground-ball rate (58.7%), which is on pace to be the highest of his career. Per his FanGraphs scouting report, Milbrandt has two pitches (his four-seamer and slider) that have a 60 futures grade, while his No. 3 pitch, his curveball, holds a 50 futures grade.

The 22-year-old remains on track for a second-half promotion to Triple-A, which could come even sooner if he maintains this trajectory.

Michael Forret, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

The No. 7-ranked prospect in the Rays system began his MiLB career bouncing between the bullpen and the rotation but has since carved out a full-time role as a starter and has done more than hold his own. Through 32 1/2 innings with Double-A Montgomery, Forret has posted a minuscule 1.71 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP. He has struck out 32 hitters while showing uneven command, allowing 14 free passes.

He spent most of his 2025 campaign with High-A, where he was just as sharp with a 1.51 ERA before moving up to Double-A later in the second half, similar to Milbrandt.

However, while he has been able to limit the damage in his surface-level box scores, Forret's command and slightly different strikeout upside have been a slight knock on his early-season production.

Last summer, at High-A, Forret posted a high 33.5% K%, the highest single-season mark of his career. However, his K% has dropped to 26.2% so far. His command has also slightly declined, as the 11.5% BB% is four points higher than the 7.5% BB% he held last season.

Despite this, Forret has shown above-average command throughout his career and should begin to see some positive regression once he finds his footing against this level of hitting. If Forret can return to his sub-8.0% BB% and see a slight uptick in strikeout production, the right-hander should contend for a second-half promotion to Triple-A Durham.

Kade Anderson, SP, Seattle Mariners

Rounding out our list is potentially the biggest riser in terms of prospects throughout the opening month. Kade Anderson joined the Mariners last spring with the third overall pick in the MLB Draft and has made quite a statement to be viewed as the overall top pitching prospect in baseball.

The former LSU superstar has looked more comfortable at Double-A than even the Mariners could have hoped for. The young southpaw made his professional debut at this level at the beginning of the season and has been near unhittable. Through his first 30 innings (six starts), the lefty has posted an incredible 0.60 ERA with a 0.67 WHIP.

He has struck out 47 hitters while walking only five total batters. Given his current production, Anderson may be on the way to Triple-A in a matter of weeks at this point, as he has proven himself more than capable of shutting down Double-A bats.

Entering his first professional campaign, Anderson was given a 70 current and futures grade on his fastball while holding a 60 futures grade on his slider, curveball, and changeup (per FanGraphs). Command was a concern, but given that he holds a 4.7% BB% through his first taste, managers should not be worried.

Like Hope, the only "knock" is his path to the majors. Currently, the Mariners have one of the deepest staffs in baseball and do not even have a spot on the roster for Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo, who will both "piggyback" each other in the short term. They also have another elite pitching prospect in Ryan Sloan, who is also at Double-A.

Anderson may not debut unless they need immediate depth in the second half, but that shouldn't deter dynasty managers from attempting to acquire this potential superstar. Those in a rebuild should look to buy Anderson before he surpasses the likes of Seth Hernandez, White, and the soon-to-graduate Trey Yesavage for the title of the top pitching prospect.

Kade Anderson awesome again. Final line: 5.2IP, 2H, 1R, BB, 9K, 22 whiffs, 75 pitches, 49 strikes.

In his first 6 professional starts:
0.60ERA, 30IP, 15H, 2R, 5BB, 47K pic.twitter.com/PTZzkcfynq

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) May 8, 2026

Other Prospect Risers in Double-A

• Cam Collier, CIN
• Jefferson Rojas, CHC
• Dylan Dreiling, TEX
• Wei-En Lin, ATH

More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies