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Benjamin looks at top MLB prospect risers for fantasy baseball for AFL Week 1. He shares his minor league hitters and pitchers to know as fantasy and dynasty sleepers.
The first week of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) is in the books, and already certain prospects are beginning to show out in their fall assignment. We're going to offer up a six-pack of hitters and a six-pack of pitchers each week during the AFL.
While the AFL is certainly a small sample size, plenty of information can be pulled, and teams rely on this league for future development. More than 60% of all players that play in the AFL play MLB, including nearly half of last year's players already playing in the majors this season.
Look here for insight on potential fantasy baseball dynasty league pickups before they hit and to get to know players as they ascend to the major leagues!
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Top Hitter Prospects
Statistical highlights (through Saturday, October 7):
- Home runs: 1 (tie). TT Bowens, Wes Clarke, Sonny DiChiara, Jakob Marsee, and Graham Pauley 2.
- Stolen bases: 1 (tie). Gavin Cross, Brett Harris, and Jakob Marsee 4; 4 (tie). Benny Montgomery, Shane Sasaki, Victor Scott 3.
Hitter Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack
Sonny DiChiara, 1B, Los Angeles Angels
After 22 home runs in his draft season with Auburn University, DeChiara was a fifth-round pick of the Angels. His rotund shape certainly was a concern that led to his fall down draft boards, as DiChiara is listed at 6'1" and 263 pounds.
DiChiara has struggled to stay healthy, though the Angels did push him straight to Double-A in his draft season. He returned to Rocket City this season, but again missed time, totaling 330 plate appearances on the year, with just eight home runs and striking out at a 34.5% rate.
DiChiara's physicality will mean he's a first base - if he's even on the field defensively. However, with a right/right profile at first base, he'll have to hit for a ton of power AND get on base to be valuable in that role. So far, in the minor leagues, he's not done that.
VERDICT: DiChiara could be a guy to explode in fall ball, and he's already put out a couple of home runs in Arizona. Keep your eye on him, but this is a guy who still needs minor-league seasoning to be a DH-type, not someone you need to hurry to roster in any dynasty format.
Damiano Palmegiani, 1B/3B, Toronto Blue Jays
Born in Venezuela, Palmegiani went to high school in Vauxhall, Alberta, where he was teammates with five guys who would end up playing professionally, though none have reached the majors yet. Palmegiani began his college career with Cal State-Northridge before transferring to Southern Nevada, where the Blue Jays drafted him in the 14th round in 2021.
Last season, in his first full season, Palmegiani was impressive across both A-ball levels, with a .239/.342/.473 line, smacking 25 doubles and 24 home runs. He followed up with a similar season across Double-A and Triple in 2023, with a .255/.365/.478 slash line, crushing 33 doubles and 23 home runs.
Palmegiani did struggle with his defense at third this year, showing plenty of range, but struggling with accuracy in his throws at times. He has played at third in all but one of his games so far in the AFL, which shows an intentional move to get him reps there.
VERDICT: Davis Schneider was a great story this season, and Palmegiani fits a similar profile - an "older" guy who has flown under the radar despite producing in the minors. Matt Chapman is a free agent this winter, so the Jays may use the AFL as a potential audition for Palmegiani. Only a guy to consider in the deepest of dynasty leagues right now, but a big AFL could change that.
Max Muncy, SS, Oakland Athletics
Along with sharing a name with the Dodgers' slugger, Muncy got his start with the same organization when the A's drafted the California prepster with the 25th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Muncy struggled in his pro debut in the Arizona complex, hitting .129/.206/.129 over 11 games.
Muncy's first full season wasn't a whole lot better, though he did work his way up to High-A after starting in Single-A. He flashed power and speed, slashing .229/.336/.422 with 19 home runs and 19 stolen bases, but striking out at a 30.5% rate while walking at a 12.4% rate.
This year, Muncy made it to Double-A, based on notably better slash numbers, with a .275/.353/.411 slash line, 35 doubles, 10 home runs, and 13 stolen bases. He saw his walk and strikeout rates both drop some, walking at a 9.5% rate and striking out at a 26.8% rate.
VERDICT: Muncy is more steady at short than elite, with multiple people comparing his defensive ability to Corey Seager. If he can continue the improvement he's shown in his plate discipline, he could work as a bat-first middle infielder. He is definitely a guy to roster in deep dynasty right now, but not a must-add in smaller leagues yet.
Yeiner Fernandez, C/2B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Fernandez has been on the international baseball radar since starring for the Venezuela Little League team in 2015. He was signed in 2019 by the Dodgers and immediately showed incredible bat-to-ball skills.
Fernandez earned his way to Single-A in his pro debut in 2021, slashing .355/.414/.488 with 12 doubles and three home runs. He returned to Rancho Cucamonga in 2022 and continued to show himself as an elite contact hitter, slashing .292/.383/.430 with 10 home runs, posting a 10.9% walk rate and a 13% strikeout rate.
While Fernandez had a similar year in High-A this season, the 20-year-old is still trying to figure out where he belongs defensively, playing catcher, second, third, and first this year. In the AFL, Fernandez has primarily played second while also playing shortstop.
VERDICT: While Fernandez may not be an elite future fantasy performer in home runs and stolen bases, he could be an elite Batting Average performer with some level of defensive utility, playing middle infield or catcher. No reason to grab him yet in any dynasty league, but keep your eye on him.
Wes Clarke, C/1B, Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Clarke in the 10th round in 2021 out of the University of South Carolina after powering out 23 home runs in his draft season. He made it up to Single-A in his pro debut, slashing .211/.398/.447 with five home runs.
Clarke spent most of 2022 in High-A but earned a late-year promotion to Double-A Biloxi, hitting .229/.356/.419 with 14 home runs. The Brewers sent him back to Biloxi in 2023, and his raw power finally showed up, as he hit 26 home runs and slashed .241/.392/.498 while walking 17.7% and striking out 29.2% of the time.
During college, Clarke split hit time nearly even between catcher and first base. He's been doing the same for Milwaukee as a pro, though he's been at first base or designated hitter each appearance in the AFL this year so far.
VERDICT: Clarke's impressive raw power gives him at least a major-league skill. If he were to be able to pass behind the plate, he'd have a role as a bat-first backup backstop. Right now without a future big-league position, the power alone isn't enough to make Clarke worth owning.
TT Bowens, 1B, Baltimore Orioles
A guy who consistently flew under radars, Bowens went from relatively unknown in high school in Connecticut to Central Connecticut State, where he struggled to stay on the field but flashed power when healthy. He was then signed as an undrafted free agent after the truncated 2020 draft.
In his pro debut in 2021, Bowens played across both A-ball levels, hitting 18 home runs while slashing .244/.321/.460. The power disappeared in 2022, knocking out just seven home runs while slashing .248/.376/.392. Bowens struggled to stay on the field in 2023, slashing .224/.312/.385 over 59 games with eight home runs.
The 6'4", 235-pound right-handed hitter has primarily played first base and designated hitter, which is what he's doing in the AFL. Bowens has immense raw power, but he struggles to show that power in his game at this point.
VERDICT: Few hit more mammoth shots than Bowens, but he needs to consistently show that power in his game before he's someone to really worry about adding to the roster.
Top Pitcher Prospects
Statistical highlights:
- Strikeouts: 1 (tie). Carter Baumler, Juan Mejia, Adam Seminaris, Ricky Tiedemann 7.
- Saves: 1 (tie). Jordi Martinez, Christian Montes De Oca, Edwin Nunez, Emiliano Teodo 1.
Pitcher Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack
Carter Baumler, SP, Baltimore Orioles
With their final pick in the five-round 2020 draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected right-hander Carter Baumler out of high school in Iowa. Baumler ended up with Tommy John surgery before he could make his pro debut in 2021, costing him the entirety of the 2021 season.
Baumler made his debut in Single-A in 2022 but only tossed 11 2/3 innings before he was shut down. He did strike out 20 in those innings, but he also walked seven. This season, Baumler made just seven appearances after offseason shoulder surgery, covering 17 innings, but posting a 21/9 K/BB ratio.
The righty works with a fastball that works into the mid-90s and a pair of disgusting breaking balls and a strong changeup that offers plenty of fade.
VERDICT: Baumler's pitch mix is incredibly impressive, but his arm is severely lacking in work. Watch him closely in the AFL because he could be a guy to move very quickly if he were moved to a bullpen role. For now, no reason to hold him.
Davis Daniel, SP, Los Angeles Angels
Daniel was drafted three times - first by the Cubs out of high school in 2016, then by the Brewers in 2018 before the Angels selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 draft out of Auburn. He made just one appearance in 2019 for Auburn before he was shut down for Tommy John surgery.
Daniel returned to the mound in 2021 after the pandemic year was spent recovering. He tossed 114 2/3 innings with a 3.92 ERA and a 154/34 K/BB as he reached Triple-A. He then spent all of 2022 at Triple-A, posting a 4.49 ERA over 102 1/3 innings with an 83/32 K/BB.
This season, Daniel fought injury, making just seven appearances in the minors, striking out 42 over 29 1/3 innings. He was then promoted to the majors, where he posted a 2.19 ERA over 12 1/3 innings. Daniel's fastball works in the low 90s, but it comes with impressive ride. His two breaking pitches are both average to above average.
VERDICT: Daniel looked excellent in his first start of the AFL, with both breaking balls snapping well. This is not the majors, though, and Daniel's role is most likely going to be a long man with the Angels, limiting his fantasy value.
Juan Mejia, RP, Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies signed Mejia out of the Dominican Republic in May of 2017. He made his pro debut that summer at age 16 in the Dominican Summer League, pitching 31 2/3 innings. He returned to the DSL the following summer and tossed 58 innings, striking out more hitters but finding his stuff rather hittable, leading to a 5.43 ERA.
Mejia converted to the bullpen in 2019 and was quite impressive in the Pioneer League, with a 2.83 ERA over 28 2/3 innings. After the pandemic year, he made his full-season debut in Single-A in 2021, striking out 66 over 46 2/3 innings, but posting a 4.82 ERA.
Mejia has had similar results the last two seasons as he's climbed up to Double-A in the Rockies system. His slider is one of the best in all of the minors, but he can lose the feel for his fastball, which isn't a triple-digit blazer.
VERDICT: Mejia's slider is a legit major league bullpen weapon, but without an elite fastball or another elite pitch, his best role will be as a 6th inning guy. Let him be.
Ike Buxton, SP, Miami Marlins
The Marlins drafted Buxton from Lipscomb University in the 15th round of last summer's draft. He struggled with his control in a 4 2/3 inning debut, walking eight and finishing with a 9.64 ERA.
Buxton jumped across three levels this season, climbing up both A-ball levels and reaching Double-A. He primarily pitched in the rotation, though the Marlins were careful not to overload his arm, as Buxton only exceeded 50 innings during college in his draft season. Overall this season, he tossed 77 innings, with a 2.45 ERA and a 73/43 K/BB ratio.
After converting from catcher in college, Buxton has relied primarily on his sinker/slider combination, using a heavy sinker that reaches the upper 90s. His slider has strong downward action as well, but he doesn't have a strong third pitch to round out his arsenal.
VERDICT: Buxton has the raw stuff to be a strong backend or even mid-rotation starter or to work well in the late innings out of a bullpen. In the Marlins system, he's got a chance to develop those raw tools into a stronger pitch mix. Hold off for now, but keep an eye on him.
Logan Workman, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
The 6'4" Workman was drafted by the Rays in the seventh round of the 2021 draft out of Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. where he spent four years, totaling a 2.13 ERA over 198 1/3 college innings, racking up 243 strikeouts. The Rays sent him to complex ball in his draft year, and he posted a 0.87 ERA over 10 1/3 innings, striking out 14.
In 2022, Workman worked across both A-ball levels, tossing 113 2/3 innings, with a 2.93 ERA and a 115/29 K/BB. He followed that up with a 3.73 ERA in Double-A this year over 70 innings with a 78/20 K/BB.
Workman throws his fastball in the upper 90s with a strong set of secondary pitches. He's really made strides in his command as he's moved up the chain as well, though a lack of a second "elite" pitch could be an issue for a future in the rotation.
VERDICT: The Rays develop pitchers well, and Workman could certainly fit into their future plans well with his raw stuff, but he's also a guy who could work very well pitching multiple innings a time or two per week. There's simply not a ton of value in that for dynasty.
Ryan Webb, SP, Cleveland Guardians
When Webb was coming out of Georgia in 2021, he simply made too much sense as a future member of the Cleveland development system. The 6'1" lefty rarely touched more than 92 MPH with his fastball, but he generated impressive strikeout numbers (82 in 59 2/3 innings) due to a fastball with excellent traits and a strong feel for a repertoire of pitchers. The Guardians selected him in the fourth round of the draft.
Webb worked around injury in 2022, tossing 50 2/3 innings up to Single-A ball with a 3.91 ERA and 68 strikeouts. He put up notably better numbers in 2023, pitching up to High-A with a 3.22 ERA over 86 2/3 innings, posting an 87/37 K/BB ratio.
Webb works in the low-90s with his fastball, touching 95-96 but with the ability to shape the heater. He also utilizes a curve, slider, and change in his repertoire from the left side, a very good backend mix typically, though Webb is still getting his feel for his pitches as a pro.
VERDICT: This is a perfect organization/player fit to maximize a player's value, though Webb's value maximized may still be a mid-rotation starter. Pick him up accordingly, likely only rostering him in deep dynasties.
Check back again next week for more evaluations and look behind the numbers!
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