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

Stock Your Dynasty Farm: NL West Prospect Sleepers

fantasy baseball prospects MLB prospects rookies call-ups

Sean Scampton takes a deep dive into the National League West's farm clubs to find prospects to stash for dynasty and redraft fantasy baseball leagues.

As a self-diagnosed prospect nut, I am constantly reading and looking at young players to gain an edge in my various dynasty, Ottoneu, and deep redraft leagues. It would be a shame if all this work only benefited me, so my friends at RotoBaller would like to present to you my favorite under-the-radar players that I’ve already acquired, or am looking to grab in drafts this spring.

You won’t find any top 100 players, or even club-specific top 10s here, so don’t expect to see names like Wander Franco, Jasson Dominguez, or Tarik Skubal. We’re mining the lower levels for value and looking for guys only your scout’s favorite scout knows about. Shallow redraft leagues need not apply here, we’re going hardcore.

Of course, keep in mind that many of these players will be owned for at least a couple of years before you can expect either MLB playing time or the kind of value jump that turns a non-asset into a real trade chip. Remember to follow @Rotoballer and @RotoballerMLB on Twitter for more juicy tips to help you dominate your fantasy league. Good luck and happy hunting!

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

 

NL West Farm Systems

The National League West has been dominated by Los Angeles for the past few seasons, who show no signs of slowing down. And, unfortunately for fans of the West's other noble franchises, my favorite prospect of this bunch is also projected to wear Dodger blue. However, hope abounds, and this might be the division with the best stable of farm teams from top to bottom.

Colorado is probably the shakiest, but some of that hesitation comes from the fact that any starting pitcher they graduate has to throw at Coors, which German Marquez will tell you really, really is not a fun time.

The Padres have incredible depth, making it very easy to find guys that don't get a lot of press.

The Giants' representative, perhaps poetically, will challenge the Dodgers' for best in the division, and I look forward to the next two seasons of them dueling on top prospect lists before they arrive to the bigs.

Finally, the D-backs have accrued a surprising set of talent. Of the five, I was most pleasantly surprised by how efficiently and effectively they've rebuilt their farm club in the last couple of seasons. If you're mining for your own sleepers, keep Arizona in mind.

 

Arizona Diamondbacks - Levi Kelly, SP

I’m a sucker for guys with great work ethic, and that appears to describe Kelly, a 2018 eighth-round pick, perfectly. He fell in the Draft thanks to physique concerns, with what was assumed to be little projection and a stiff, violent delivery, but that all changed when he showed up to Spring Training with a completely rebuilt physique. What’s strange is that he didn’t experience a corresponding velocity bump with his new, svelte look. Either this means that his velocity will remain static, which is fine at 90-96 mph, or he’ll get a later bump with more training time and more rest.

To pair with that low- to mid-90s heater, which grades out as slightly above average, he brings an above-average splitter and, the star of the show, a plus slider. The slider has been described by scouts as a “bastard”, sometimes looking like a curve and sometimes feeling more like a changeup. But when his control is on, the pitch is almost untouchable.

He turns 21 years old in May and I’d guess would start out in Class A Advanced. If he comes out hot and forces the organization to push him to Double-A or even Triple-A, it’s not crazy to think he could be used as a bullpen piece with the D-backs as early as September 2020. Regardless, whereas he was once considered a multi-inning, swingman-type could now top out as a second division No. 2 starter or first division No. 3 or 4.

Honorable Mention: Jeferson Espinal, OF; Conor Grammes, SP

 

Colorado Rockies - Julio Carreras, OF

Carreras is considered to have among the highest upside in the Rockies’ system. He has all of the tools you’d want in a middle-infielder for today’s game; balance in the field and at the plate, dynamite hand-eye coordination and bat control, and the body to grow into above-average power, while maintaining his already plus speed. If this all sounds too good to be true, it’s because for all of Carreras’ considerable tool set, he’s extremely raw as a baseball player.

The biggest problem comes from his swing, which lacks consistency and can devolve into a slap-hit style despite his ability to make strong contact. If this sounds familiar, you might be reminded of Rays’ third baseman Yandy Diaz. Diaz broke out in 2019 when he finally tapped into the obvious pop that was lurking in his body. Watching him hit was like watching a mini-Sammy Sosa try to hit grounders. Once he corrected his bat path, even a little, the power was unlocked. You can’t make a direct comparison between Diaz and Carreras as they are very different players, but they have this issue in common.

Carreras is a dynasty player’s dream: oodles of talent and just as much risk. He’ll be drafted as a lottery ticket, but even a little more production could raise his profile and value. If there’s a guy in this division that I’d put money on being a surprise top 100 inclusion this time next year, it’s Carreras.

Honorable Mention: Helcris Olivarez, SP; Aaron Schunk, 3B

 

Los Angeles Dodgers - Luis Rodriguez, OF

The easy choice in this system is 19-year-old outfielder Andy Pages, who has amassed a sort of cult following among prospect hounds in recent months, but I’ll go off the book a bit. July 2 signings can either get overlooked or overdrafted, but Rodriguez is one of the rare talents that is well prepared for immediate success. Signed for $2.67 million out of Venezuela, the outfielder has consistently performed against older competition and will be tested as one of the few guys who will play all of 2020 as a 17-year-old.

Despite almost always being one of the youngest guys on the field, Rodriguez looks like a mature hitter at the plate. He is patient, sprays the ball to all fields, and has shown plate discipline far better than his age would suggest. There’s a potential plus hit tool with a natural swing that creates loft, which allows for him to tap into every bit of his raw power, which comfortably projects for average to above-average.

The ingredients for a .280 average with 25 homers and 10+ steals are here, and you don’t even have to squint or fix anything glaring like you’d expect from someone his age. Also, he’s already 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, meaning that a shot at adding plus power to his plus hit tool exists. Again, you have to be really careful with the natural hyperbole that comes from J2 signings, but Rodriguez has something around a five percent chance of becoming an uber-prospect. That’s worth a valuable dynasty league pick.

Honorable Mention: Michael Grove, SP; Ryan Pepiot, SP

 

San Diego Padres - Owen Miller, 2B

Another player that has become a popular hip pick, Miller is a classic underdraft that lacks physical tools but makes up for it with pure baseball savvy. Since being selected by the Padres in the third round of the 2018 Draft, the 23-year-old has done nothing but hit, compiling a robust .307/.367/.441 with 17 homers and nine steals in 805 at-bats across three levels. He brings a minimalistic swing, which encourages a very high rate of contact by keeping the bat in the zone for as long as possible. He’s shown a strong eye at the plate, keeping his K% below 16% at every stop while drawing walks at a reasonable clip.

Today, the biggest issue with his value is, frankly, from a fantasy standpoint, he’s boring; he’s not crazy athletic, doesn’t have a plus tool, isn’t a major defensive presence. He’s just … fine. But fine in dynasty league baseball can become very valuable.

The knock on Miller coming out of Illinois State was power, but he drove 13 homers in 507 at-bats at Double-A last season. As a minor note on my philosophy in dynasty drafting, I elevate guys with above-average and better hit tools when it comes to power expectations. The speculated juiced ball that may have had an impact in MLB’s recent home run revolution has also fueled a rise in the value of prospects once considered to have suboptimal pop.

Guys with less raw power, but better hitting mechanics, are driving the ball with greater force because, simply, they’re making better contact. Think of Luis Arraez of the Twins, who never hit more than three homers at any level of the Minors, and hit just six total from 2014 to '19, suddenly driving out four in just 326 at-bats. That may not sound like a lot, but when your batting line is .334/.399/.439, it’s basically free from a value perspective.

With that context, if the league average-ish power Miller showed from Double-A holds, it’s very possible that we see a slight bump in power at Triple-A and the MLB level. If this all stays true, Miller could end up as the kind of utility bat who may never hold a consistent starting spot with San Diego or anywhere else, but can still contribute, at a minimum, at least a league-average clip. If you’re in a deeper league or you have plenty of bench/Minors spots, Miller can be the kind of high-floor Jon Berti/Jeff McNeil utility bat that is incredibly valuable.

Honorable Mention: Hudson Head, OF; Luis Gutierrez, SP

 

San Francisco Giants -  Luis Matos, OF

I’m cheating a bit here, as you may see Matos listed among the Top 10 in San Francisco in prospect lists as they come out, and you may even see him get some honorable mention love in Top 100s, but he’s young and just obscure enough to make me feel good about sharing what I like about his upside. When it comes to Giants prospects, only Joey Bart and Marco Luciano have the kind of raw tools to compare to the 18-year-old Matos.

Of all the players on this list -- and those for the other divisions -- Matos might be the safest bet to appear on a Top 100 list at some point in the future. Before an in-game collision prematurely ended his 2019 season, Matos was displaying elite bat speed, plus speed, and encouraging growth in plate discipline and pitch selection. Add in his potential for plus-plus power and maturity, and you have the tools necessary for an uber-prospect just below the level of a Top 50 or better prospect.

There are real concerns that keep him from being considered one of the game’s best, including major swing-and-miss issues and a current lack of breaking ball recognition. He needs to work hard to change his approach, but this is partially a bet on the skill of San Francisco’s coaching staff to drag the most out of Matos' tools. Players that will play most of 2020 at the age of 18 usually don’t have plus power and plus speed projections, and that alone makes Matos worth the investment.

Honorable Mention: Tyler Fitzgerald, 2B/SS; Seth Corry, SP

More Dynasty Baseball Strategy




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

Matthew Stafford

Off Injury Report Ahead of Week 1
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Shohei Ohtani

Will Pitch "Sometime This Weekend"
Jackson Chourio

Absent on Wednesday With Hamstring Cramp
Roman Anthony

Officially Goes on Injured List
Jauan Jennings

Limited on Wednesday, Expected to Play in Week 1
Malik Nabers

Not on Initial Injury Report
Roman Anthony

"High Probability" Roman Anthony Lands on Injured List
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Jason Adam

to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Roman Anthony

Will Undergo MRI on Wednesday
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Travis Hunter

Jaguars List Travis Hunter as Starting Wide Receiver, Backup Cornerback
Kyle Tucker

Leaves With Calf Tightness on Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Confident Max Scherzer Will Make Saturday Start Despite Back Tightness
Roman Anthony

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Nick Kurtz

Back in Action on Tuesday
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Nick Lodolo

Scratched With Illness
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Scratched on Monday
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Edward Cabrera

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Sprain
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs, Trent McDuffie Not Expected to Finalize Extension
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Dameon Pierce

Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP