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Jarod's dynasty fantasy baseball prospect sleepers, risers, and stashes currently in Double-A. His prospects to target in dynasty leagues include Kaelen Culpepper, Leonardo Bernal, more.
Fantasy baseball seasons can be a grind, always dealing with injuries and prolonged slumps, combing the waiver wire for players to plug holes in your lineup for that season. Dynasty leagues, however, add another layer of complexity (and fun!) to it, where prospects who finally crack the majors can be those hole-pluggers.
Many times, we have a good idea who the good, projectable prospects are, but other managers do, too. So, how do you get an edge? Well, as you do when drafting in season-long leagues, you're always looking for that "sleeper" who costs nothing and/or comes from obscurity to help you win your league.
There are so many prospects that it's hard to keep track of them all and how they are performing, but they can be the "sleepers" of dynasty leagues if you can scoop them up before other managers get wise. So, below I will outline five prospects who are just inside the top 100 or not ranked at all yet who could eventually become contributors in the majors for your dynasty teams. Let's dig up some gems!
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Kaelen Culpepper, 2B, Minnesota Twins
Kaelen Culpepper was a 2024 first-round draft pick, but at 21st overall and without much success in 2024 after he was promoted to High-A (.210/.310/.306 in 17 games), he may have flown under some dynasty managers' radar.
Then, with other 2024 first-rounders Cam Smith, Jac Caglianone, and Nick Kurtz earning early call-ups while Culpepper remained at High-A, the K-State product may have continued to fly under the radar.
All the while, he was churning out a .293/.385/.479 slash line with nine home runs and 15 steals in 54 games before earning a promotion to Double-A.
Of course, the reason he is in this article is that not only did he not struggle in his first taste of Double-A pitching, the Twins' fifth-ranked prospect has excelled, slashing .352/.421/.544 with six home runs and six steals in 30 games for the Wind Surge.
We Think Someone Loves Hitting in Kansas!
Kaelen Culpepper homers for the second time in as many games played in the Sunflower State this season.
T7
SPR 1, WCH 8 pic.twitter.com/b6Fybg7ZPH— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) June 26, 2025
His walk rate remained steady after his promotion, standing at 10.0 percent, but he's even improved his strikeout rate by 1.2 percent, down to 15.0 percent.
And he only seems to be getting more comfortable at the plate, going 10-for-23 (.435) over his last five Double-A games, including a double, a triple, and a home run.
Mix in the fact that he's made starts at third base and second base in addition to his ability to play short, and there are multiple paths for him to get to the big leagues.
Culpepper was not a top 100 prospect to begin the year, but cracked MLB.com's top 100 when it refreshed the list in July, coming in at No. 96 then and currently sitting at No. 84. He could rise further when the list is refreshed again, and has the tools to be a multi-category producer.
Leonardo Bernal, C, St. Louis Cardinals
Leonardo Bernal finished out his 2024 season with 14 uninspiring games at Double-A, slashing .204/.291/.286 with one double and one home run in his limited sample.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Panamanian backstop has spent the entirety of the campaign at Double-A, slashing .271/.351/.450 with 14 doubles and 12 home runs. His 53 RBI are top five in the Texas League, while his 10 stolen bases are an appealing potential fantasy attribute for a catcher.
Bernal finished 2024 as the Cardinals' eighth-ranked prospect, but his 2025 momentum has moved him up to No. 3 as of early August, and the young backstop was a big riser on MLB.com's July refresh of their Top 100 Prospects list, moving up 10 spots from 99th to 89th overall.
The #STLCards' Leonardo Bernal joins the Top 100 Prospects list upon Cade Horton's graduation.
Scouting grades and more on the switch-hitting backstop with an .895 OPS and 11 homers at Double-A this season: https://t.co/sPMLKSDPV1 pic.twitter.com/8lCYA1FQri
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 25, 2025
The switch-hitter boasts a low 15.0 percent strikeout rate this season despite coming into the year with a 19.0 percent K%, and he draws walks at a better-than-average 10.3 percent rate, which is in line with career numbers.
St. Louis seems to have an abundance of catching talent, but look for Bernal to force his way to the majors at some point in 2026, and players who can hit at a premium position like catcher should be on everyone's radar.
Max Anderson, 2B, Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers took Max Clark in the first round of the 2023 draft, but they decided one Max wasn't enough, and selected Max Anderson in the second round.
He hit .289 in 32 games in 2023, then traded some batting average for power in 2024, hitting .270 with 11 home runs in 121 games. It appears he's put it all together in his third season, hitting .309 with an .868 OPS and 13 home runs in 2025.
The .309 batting average is currently second-best (Phillip Glasser, .310) out of all Double-A hitters who have spent the entirety of 2025 at that level, and he's been able to accomplish that thanks to a low 14.1 percent strikeout rate.
Meant to post this the other day, but a quick look at Erie's Max Anderson from last week in Somerset.
One of the best prospects nobody seems to be talking about. .976 OPS in the Eastern League, hitting .348 with 11 homers and 51 RBI.
45th overall pick in 2023 by Detroit. pic.twitter.com/nzROYn3Qla
— Mike Ashmore (@mashmore98) July 3, 2025
The University of Nebraska product finished 2024 as the Tigers' 18th-ranked prospect, but has vaulted into the top 10 as of the latest rankings, all the way to No. 9.
He played exclusively at second base before 2025, but the 23-year-old has made nine starts at the hot corner this year, which could give him another path to the majors as he progresses to Triple-A, which should happen late this year or at the start of next season.
Gabriel Gonzalez, OF, Minnesota Twins
Another representative from the Twins organization, Gabriel Gonzalez was once a top prospect for Minnesota, ranking as high as fourth on the team's top prospects list, so dynasty managers may already recognize the name.
However, after an underwhelming 2024 season that saw him drop to No. 17 in Minnesota's rankings, managers may have forgotten his name. Well, he's back, so time to refamiliarize yourself.
Despite the 2024 statistical results, the Venezuelan continued to maintain a low strikeout rate of 15.6 percent at High-A, which may have been the harbinger of things to come.
The right-handed hitter began 2025 at High-A, slashing .319/.378/.529 in 34 games, earning himself a promotion to Double-A, where he slashed .344/.429/.509, registering nearly as many walks (26) as strikeouts (30) over 55 games.
Gabriel Gonzalez's comeback is one I'm watching closely:
34 games at A+:
.319/.378/.529 w/5 HR's, 1 SB, 14.1% K% and 146 wrc+.45 games at AA:
.369/.454/.528 w/18 doubles, 2 HR's, 10.2% K% and 174 wrc+.Little more below 👇#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/TJ50OLNko2
— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) July 19, 2025
The 21-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A, so he's technically not a Double-A player any longer, and he's already 4-for-12 (.333) at that level. All told, he's recorded 121 hits this season, the second most of any minor leaguer (Ryan Ward, 124).
At this pace, he could earn a late-season cameo with the big league club, a far cry from High-A, where he began the year, to say the least.
Whether that happens or not, fantasy managers should be prepared for him to break into the majors by next season, and he could be a contributor from the start with his ability to put the bat on the ball.
Payton Tolle, SP, Boston Red Sox
Like Gonzalez, Payton Tolle was recently promoted to Triple-A. Hence, he, too, is no longer a Double-A player, but he's yet to make a start at that level, so let's keep him under consideration for this article.
Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the 2024 draft class is cruising its way to the majors, and Tolle is another from that class who is about to bust down the door.
The second-rounder did not pitch in affiliate ball after being drafted and began 2025 at High-A. Although the 3.62 ERA did not jump off the page, 79 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings pitched will make you take notice.
Payton Tolle ended up pitching in only 6 games at AA. 26 total innings. He had a 1.67 ERA/2.35 FIP with a 12.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.
Didn’t seem to be phased one bit after being promoted from High-A.
Workload has been lessened as the year went along.
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) August 4, 2025
The 6-foot-6 lefty had a 2.79 FIP, suggesting he pitched better than the ERA indicated. In addition to his 38.3 percent strikeout rate, the southpaw only walked batters at a 6.8 percent rate.
The performance ticketed him to Double-A, where instead of facing adversity against tougher hitters, he posted a 1.67 ERA (2.35 FIP), a 0.74 WHIP, a .143 batting average against, and 37 strikeouts in 27 IP (30.3 percent K-BB%).
The arrow is pointing up for Tolle, and even if he doesn't get the call this season, he has the makings of a future frontline starter, so dynasty managers need to take notice.
Other Prospect Risers in Double-A
- Kemp Alderman, OF, Miami Marlins: 3x Southern League Player of the Week, stealing bases now
- Phillip Glasser, 2B/OF, Washington Nationals: current Double-A batting average leader, 22 steals
- Pedro Ramirez, 2B/3B, Chicago Cubs: second-most hits at Double-A, 24 steals
- Gino Groover, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks: .296 AVG, .811 OPS, All-Star Futures Game selection
- Hendry Mendez, OF, Minnesota Twins: .290 AVG, 40:44 BB:K
- Tommy Troy, 2B/SS, Arizona Diamondbacks: .286 AVG, 12 HRs, 12.3 percent BB%, 21 steals
- Mitch Bratt, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks: 3.18 ERA, 106 K in 90 2/3 IP, 4.3 percent BB%
More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies
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