X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Baseball Prospect Risers (Week 11) - Rookies to Stash and Top Performers

Henry Davis - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Andy's fantasy baseball prospect sleepers and risers to know for 2024 (Week 11). He analyzes MLB prospects in the minor leagues and their recent performances.

The minor league baseball season is underway and many well-known prospects are already making their case for an MLB debut later this summer.

However, the question is do these performances truly matter for this season? How easy will it be for these prospects to reach the big leagues and are they worth stashing on your redraft roster?

Knowing which prospects to watch can put you ahead of your league mates and in the driver’s seat during the second half of the season. Adding the right prospect can fill the missing piece on your roster and power you to a fantasy baseball championship. This fantasy baseball prospects biweekly series will examine a few key players in the minor leagues and assess whether they have a path to fantasy stardom in 2024. 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Brennen Davis, OF, Chicago Cubs

Chicago No. 22 , Overall N/A

Davis is one of the feel-good stories in the minor leagues this season. After battling several injuries over the past two seasons, he went from the top prospect in the Chicago Cubs system a few seasons ago to now ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the system. However, that is sure to change due to his recent stretch. Through 27 games with Triple-A Iowa this season, he holds a .270/.434/.622, with eight long balls and a 15:21 BB:K ratio. From May 10 to May 18, he went hitless in only one game and launched seven of his home runs within this window.

Davis played in only 62 games at Triple-A last summer and struggled with a .187/.296/.279 and only four home runs. His last successful season at the plate was in 2021, where he posted a .260/.375/.494 line across High, Double, and Triple-A. The 24-year-old has never been this successful at Triple-A until this season. However, the question is, is this production legit? Currently, he has posted his best fly-ball rate in his career (at Triple-A), an excellent 52.8%. His ground-ball rate is also a career best at Triple-A, at 26.4%.

The only reason this would not be meaningful for 2024 is that his playing time is a serious question. The Cubs have three established starting outfielders in Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, and Cody Bellinger, and a solid bench option in Mike Tauchman. Also, Pete Crow-Armstrong looked good in his extended major league stint earlier this season and will be the first name called if the Cubs need an extra outfielder. That said, the Cubs may lean on the side of caution with Davis due to how limited his playing time has been the past few seasons. Unfortunately, it is hard to picture him being relevant from a fantasy perspective in 2024.

Verdict: Leave on waiver wires for now

 

Henry Davis, C/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

No Longer Considered a prospect

While Henry Davis is technically not a prospect anymore, he has logged only 85 games at the major league level and still has significant room for growth. The Louisville product has frustrated fantasy managers over the past two seasons and is more often than not available on every waiver wire.

Don’t look now, but since his demotion to Triple-A, the former No. 1 overall pick has been on an impressive stretch and could be back in the Steel City fairly soon. Since May 16, Davis has only gone hitless in one game and is riding a .385/.489/.974 line with six home runs, one stolen base, and a 5:8 BB:K ratio. 

The backstop posted similar numbers across a 14-game stint with Triple-A Indianapolis last season with a .375/.516/.604 line with two long balls and a 13:13 BB:K ratio. Unfortunately, this production has yet to translate to the major league level. He currently holds a cumulative .201/.297/.317 line with seven home runs and a 36:98 BB:K ratio through 85 games over the past two seasons.

When looking at his batted ball profile this season, he has a strong 48.9% fly-ball rate at Triple-A this season but a mere 39.0% rate in the majors. However, in 2023, he posted a slightly worse 36.9% fly-ball rate. Also, he improved his ground-ball rate in the majors this season from the 44.6% he put up last season to the 39.0% rate he posted this spring.

While these improvements still need a lot of work to be valuable fantasy assets, it is great to see Davis continue to accelerate in the minor leagues. He also showed improvement in his short stint in Pittsburgh in April. Davis should be back up with the major league roster sometime in June and is worth stashing in NL-only formats for the time being.

Verdict: Stash in deep redraft leagues, wait for promotion in shallow leagues

 

Tink Hence, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis No. 1, Overall No. 49

St. Louis Cardinals top prospect Tink Hence has been one of the biggest improvers in the minor leagues this season and nearing his Triple-A debut. Through 45 ⅔ innings at Double-A Springfield, the 21-year-old is holding a 2.76 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 14:59 BB:K ratio. He tossed 54 ⅓ innings at Double-A but posted a much worse 5.47 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and 22:53 BB:K ratio.

However, he did post a strong 2.81 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 41 ⅔ innings at High-A last season and an excellent 1.38 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 52 ⅓ innings at Single-A in 2022. So, how has Hence all of a sudden taken a major step in Double-A this season? First, his command has shown great improvements. Last season at Double-A, he posted a 9.2% walk rate compared to his 7.5% walk rate this season. In addition, he raised his K rate from 22.2% to 31.7% and overall K-BB% from 13.0% to 24.2%. 

These are drastic improvements in command and have helped Hence stay out of trouble. By limiting the free passes and getting more outs via the strikeout, he can set himself up for much stronger sustained success. This improvement is also prevalent when looking at his batted ball data. Ground-ball and fly-ball rate are significant indicators of whether a pitcher can remain successful for an extended period of time. Hence’s metrics directly correlate with the elite season he is enjoying.

He lowered his fly-ball rate from 34.6% to 29.1% this season and raised his ground-ball rate from 39.1%, which he held at Double-A in 2023, to a stellar 48.2% rate this season. In addition, this season, he holds a 2.88 xFIP compared to the hefty 4.61 xFIP he posted last season. While these improvements are amazing for his development as a prospect, does this truly matter for 2024?

MLB Pipeline projects Hence to reach the majors this season, which is a good sign, but that timeline offers very little margin for error. With how well he is performing at Double-A, he should be moved up to Triple-A fairly soon but has to carry that production right over to have a chance to reach the majors. Currently, the Cardinals rotation only has four true starters: Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson. Steven Matz (back) is on the 15-day injured list but is expected to return sometime in June and should slot in as the No. 5 option.

However, a few pieces in that rotation have not been performing up to par, and the Cardinals could have an outside chance of competing for a division title in a pretty mediocre NL Central. If the Cardinals remain in the hunt by August, Hence could easily slot in as the No. 3 option in this rotation. Fantasy managers should monitor his production at Double-A, especially if he is promoted to Triple-A in the next month.

Verdict: Stash in all keeper leagues, wait in redraft leagues for now



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Laken Tomlinson

Confident in Texans Offensive Line
J.K. Dobbins

the Starter in Denver?
JT Woods

Seahawks Release JT Woods
Darren Waller

Trade to Miami Becomes Official
Asante Samuel Jr.

Dolphins Interested in Asante Samuel Jr.
Nyheim Hines

Seeking Return to NFL
Dak Prescott

Expects to be Full-Go for Training Camp
Ajay Mitchell

Posts 16 Points in Summer League Win on Monday
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Waived by Bucks
Brice Sensabaugh

Logs 37 points in Summer League Win on Monday
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
GG Jackson II

Collects 27 Points in Summer League Loss
Ace Bailey

Scores 18 Points in Summer League Victory
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Kobe Bufkin

Cleared for Summer League Action
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Agrees to Contract Buyout with Bucks
PGA

Sungjae Im Still a Liability at Scottish Open
James Wiseman

Pacers Bring Back James Wiseman
Ludvig Aberg

is a Solid Option at Scottish Open
Tyrese Haliburton

to Miss Entire 2025-26 Campaign
Paolo Banchero

Signs Historic Five-Year Extension with Magic
Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
Kyle Lowry

Staying With 76ers
Kyle Anderson

Lands in Utah
Kevin Love

Traded to Jazz in 3-Team Swap
Norman Powell

Traded to Miami
John Collins

Dealt to Clippers
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied For 14 at Travelers Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 61 at Travelers Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Tied For 17 at Travelers Championship
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 11 at John Deere Classic
Viktor Hovland

Withdraws From Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For Second at Travelers Championship
Brian Campbell

Wins John Deere Classic
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
Golden State Warriors

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
Ryan Rollins

Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF