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Eric gives his top fantasy baseball prospect for every NL team that hasn't debuted yet. These are his #1 prospects and call-ups for each MLB team in the NL.
After discussing each organization's top prospect yet to debut in the American League, we'll be heading over to the National League to do the same exercise today.
Due to all the promotions that have happened already this season, along with prospects breaking out or struggling, we've already seen plenty of movement in prospect rankings.
For the sake of this article (and the AL edition), I will be excluding all of the prospects that have already made their Major League debuts. So that means no Jordan Lawlar, Hurston Waldrep, Noelvi Marte, Adael Amador, Tyler Black, Christian Scott, Paul Skenes, or Graham Pauley below.
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Each National League Team's #1 Prospect
Arizona Diamondbacks: Deyvison De Los Santos (CI)
Since Jordan Lawlar already debuted late last season, we have to drop down to the back end of my Top 100 overall and go with Deyvison De Los Santos. The power has always been on full display with De Los Santos, and I've seen his raw power first-hand. However, there were many questions about what he would provide outside of the power department and if he would be able to hit enough to become a Major League regular.
Deyvison De Los Santos finished a home run short of a cycle yesterday, continuing his dominant 2024 season.
183 PA, .365/.421/.677, 14 HR, 21.9% K
He's in my Top 100 now.#DBackspic.twitter.com/X9G1EWKB2y
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) May 26, 2024
De Los Santos has taken a massive step forward this season as a pure hitter and is currently slashing .357/.406/.657 with 17 home runs and a 21.4% strikeout rate across 234 plate appearances. The long-term upside is someone in the vicinity of Rhys Hoskins levels of production.
Atlanta Braves: Owen Murphy (SP)
Well, since Hurston Waldrep just debuted, we're back to Owen Murphy for Atlanta's top prospect yet to debut. Murphy was trending up in a major way this season but will now be out until at least mid-2025 due to Tommy John surgery. In seven starts before landing on the IL, Murphy had a stellar 1.54 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, a 7.7% walk rate, and a 38.7% strikeout rate. With good command and control of three above-average to plus pitches, the long-term upside for Murphy is still considerable, and if you can buy low in Dynasty right now, I'd highly recommend doing so.
Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw (3B/2B)
Both Matt Shaw and Cade Horton are very close in my rankings, but the slight edge goes to Shaw, who has been heating up of late. Over his last 13 games, Shaw has three doubles, three home runs, and five steals with a .289/.383/.519 slash line. Not one single tool stands out in Shaw's profile, but he could wind up as above-average across the board offensively with the upside to post some 20/20 seasons. Given the overall lackluster slash line so far this season, Shaw is a great buy-low target in dynasty leagues.
Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder (SP)
While his overall line this season doesn't stand out, especially in Double-A, Rhett Lowder has pitched much better than that line would indicate, and he was really skewed by his first three games in Double-A when he allowed 15 earned runs in 11.1 innings. Since then, Lowder has allowed just four earned runs in 15 innings with two walks and 19 strikeouts. The upside isn't ace level, but Lowder could settle in as a strong #3 starter behind Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo thanks to plus command of three above-average offerings.
Rhett Lowder was absolutely DEALING last night 🔥
Watch the #Reds #1 Prospect (MLB No. 24) strikeout 7 batters in just 4 innings 👀 pic.twitter.com/xJhGyl15Ya
— Chattanooga Lookouts (@ChattLookouts) May 30, 2024
Colorado Rockies: Sterlin Thompson (2B/3B)
With Amador up, this becomes a tossup between Sterlin Thompson and Yanquiel Fernandez, but Thompson is the much safer prospect due to the hit tool advantage. He doesn't have nearly the same level of power as Fernandez does, but Thompson could be a 15-18 homer bat in Coors with similar SB potential. However, if he continues slashing in the vicinity of .244/.308/.351 all season, someone like Robert Calaz will pass both him and Fernandez sooner rather than later.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Joendry Vargas (SS)
The Dodgers have several rising young prospects right now, but Joendry Vargas is the one fantasy managers should be the most excited about. Vargas possesses that tantalizing blend of current power, future power projection, and solid athleticism that prospect evaluators such as myself dream about. After a strong showing in the DSL in 2023, Vargas is off to a hot start at the Complex Level this season, slashing .344/.434/.516 with six extra-base hits and four steals in 16 games. Vargas could be a top-10 fantasy prospect sooner rather than later.
Miami Marlins: Noble Meyer (SP)
There's a short list for potential #1 pitching prospects entering the 2025 season, and Noble Meyer is on it. The 6'5 right-hander has dominated of late, posting a 1.31 ERA over his last seven starts, including three starts with at least eight strikeouts. Continued refinement of his command and strike-throwing is going to be crucial for Meyer as he already possesses two plus or better offerings in his 4-seamer and slider and has the makings of a solid changeup as well. He's one of the few prospects in the minors with true ace upside.
Milwaukee Brewers: Brock WIlken (3B)
Everyone who follows my work should know by now that I'm a massive Brock Wilken believer. His 2024 season has been tumultuous with an IL stint due to broken facial bones, and he's been struggling a bit since returning. But all this has done has created an ideal buy-low window in dynasty leagues. Wilken possesses massive raw power and improved his contact, walk, and strikeout rates in 2023, both in college and the minors after the draft. If everything clicks, we could be looking at a top-tier fantasy third-baseman.
Yeah, @B_Wilkes25 is going to do a LOT of damage one day pic.twitter.com/brUrKpPC29
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) March 22, 2024
New York Mets: Jett Williams (SS)
Jett Williams hasn't played since mid-April and won't be back until at least August after undergoing wrist surgery on June 7th. It was an uneventful 11 games for Williams this season, but he's coming off a 2023 season where he racked up 43 extra-base hits, 13 home runs, 45 steals, 104 walks, and a .263/.425/.451 slash line in 534 plate appearances. With plus speed and an elite approach already, Williams has a higher floor than most of his age, but how impactful he is with the bat is still a question. Is he a .250/10 type or a .270/15 type?
Philadelphia Phillies: Aidan Miller (SS)
Without question, one of the biggest prospect risers in my rankings this season has been Aidan Miller of the Phillies. In 182 plate appearances for Low-A Clearwater, Miller has 16 doubles, five home runs, 10 steals, and a .275/.401/.483 slash line. Miller's bat got rave reviews during the 2023 draft period, and he's showing why this season. Long-term, he could wind up as an above-average hitter with the upside for 25-30 home runs and 10-15 steals annually while hitting in a great park and lineup.
Baseball America has ranked Aidan Miller as their #21 prospect in all of baseball in their updated rankings published today.
Miller is hitting .296/.427/.515 in 35 G at Clearwater (A)
— The Good Phight (@TheGoodPhight) June 5, 2024
Pittsburgh Pirates: Termarr Johnson (2B)
Without Paul Skenes leading the way, this Pittsburgh Pirates farm system lacks a true standout prospect. In fact, Termarr Johnson doesn't even rank in my top 100 overall anymore. Oftentimes, prospects aren't able to find that ideal blend of contact and power, and that's exactly the case with Johnson. He's always walked at an elite clip, but Johnson has yet to prove he's able to hit for both contact and power at the same time or even provide a ton of power in general. He's more of a sell in dynasty leagues for me and has been consistently dropping down my rankings.
San Diego Padres: Robby Snelling (SP)
It's been a tough 2024 for Robby Snelling, who currently has a 5.06 ERA and 1.54 WHIP through 10 starts, but I'm still a believer. We're talking about a pitcher that climbed three levels last season as a 19-year-old, making it up to Double-A and finishing with a 1.82 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 20.2% K-BB rate. That wasn't a fluke. While Snelling doesn't project as a frontline arm, he could wind up as a strong SP2 with a higher floor as well, given his above-average command over a three-pitch arsenal with two potential above-average to plus offerings.
San Francisco Giants: Bryce Eldridge (1B)
This San Francisco Giants farm system is currently missing an elite prospect, but one that could ascend to elite status for fantasy purposes is first baseman Bryce Eldridge. The 6'7 Eldridge possesses immense raw power from the left side but has seen his walk and strikeout rates trend the wrong way this season. The strikeout rate isn't too alarming or concerning levels by any means (26.4%), but Eldridge is going to need to provide a decent AVG/OBP if he going to develop into an impactful fantasy first baseman.
In 39 games this season, Eldridge is slashing .268/.322/.459 with nine doubles and seven home runs.
St. Louis Cardinals: Tink Hence (SP)
Tink Hence has become a difficult pitching prospect for me to rank. When I move him down my rankings, he pitches well. When I move him up, he pitches poorly. But overall, Hence has put together a nice 2024 season so far with a 3.19 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7.3% walk rate, and a 32.4% strikeout rate. Hence, he has a solid four-pitch arsenal with an above-average fastball and changeup, along with a curveball that I liked when I saw him live last fall. He's more of a high-end SP3/back-end SP2 projection, but Hence is firmly in the top 10 pitching prospect discussion right now.
Tink Hence was dominant last night and has pitched very well to open the 2024 season.
Yesterday: 7 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 10 K
Season: 25.2 IP, 2.10 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 6.3% BB, 32.6% K#STLCards pic.twitter.com/VamGJHckQr— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) May 1, 2024
Washington Nationals: James Wood (OF)
Let's wrap this article up with my new #1 overall fantasy prospect, James Wood. In 45 games before landing on the IL, Wood racked up 13 doubles, nine home runs, and 10 steals with a .355/.465/.596 slash line and nearly as many walks (35) as strikeouts (37). Wood has double-plus raw power, above-average speed, and athleticism and has done a phenomenal job cleaning up his approach and increasing his contact rate by over 10%. There's no prospect currently in the minors with as much offensive upside as Wood.
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