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Eric Cross' top 25 first-year player draft (FYPD) fantasy baseball dynasty prospect rankings for 2024. Top MLB prospects to target in offseason dynasty drafts.
Fantasy baseball First-Year Player Drafts are always a high point in any offseason for dynasty leagues. The ability to add new talent into the player pool is always exciting and brings new hope to dynasty teams that might have finished near the bottom of the standings the previous season.
This year's draft class is absolutely loaded, both with top-end talent and overall prospect depth as well. We have a great mix of elite collegiate bats, intriguing high school bats, and even a few pitchers with ace upside. On top of that, we have one of the best players ever to come out of Japan available to be selected in 2024 FYPDs as well.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you're going to want to have as many picks in this draft as possible.
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2024 FYPD Rankings: Top 25 Prospects
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1. Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers
Langford has been an offensive force to be reckoned with over his last two seasons for the Gators, posting back-to-back seasons with a .350+ AVG, .440+ OBP, and .700+ SLG, and that offensive onslaught didn't stop after he was drafted.
Langford is a double-plus power bat, with an above-average to plus hit tool, and above-average speed as well. He's also shown a phenomenal approach at the plate, which led to more walks than strikeouts this season, both in college and the minors.
After starting with Crews as my #1, I quickly switched to Langford and haven't looked back. After the draft, Langford was arguably the best hitter in the entire minor leagues and will likely debut early in the 2024 season with Texas. He's already my #1 overall prospect, not just for FYPDs.
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
There are some that say Yamamoto is the best pitcher to ever come out of Japan, and it's easy to see why when you watch him pitch. Yamamoto possesses an elite three-pitch mix with a four-seam fastball, curveball, and a nasty splitter. Well, the whole arsenal is nasty and that's why he's been dominating Japan for a while and posting a 2.20 ERA or less in each of his last five seasons.
Yamamoto could immediately become a top-20 starting pitcher for fantasy purposes and is an easy top-five selection in any FYPD. Landing in the Dodgers organization (shocker!) is just an added bonus.
3. Dylan Crews, OF, Washington Nationals
While Crews dropped from #1 in my initial FYPD rankings back in the spring of 2023 to #3 now, that has nothing to do with him or his struggles late in the season and everything to do with how studly Langford and Yamamoto are.
Crews was arguably the best hitter in the nation since he stepped on campus and projects as a plus hitter with plus or better power and at least average speed as well. He's already a top-10 overall prospect and the easy #2 selection after Langford unless you're a win-now team desperate for a pitcher.
4. Walker Jenkins, OF, Minnesota Twins
There was some debate between Walker Jenkins and Max Clark after the draft, but Jenkins has separated himself a bit after their professional debuts. Jenkins slashed a stellar .362/.417/.571 in 115 plate appearances with 12 extra-base hits and six steals.
The outfielder from North Carolina is a phenomenal athlete with above-average speed, plus power with projection for more, and an advanced bat for his age in general. Jenkins has the potential to be an across-the-board offensive standout and a potential top-10 overall prospect someday. In fact, he's already inching close to that range already.
5. Matt Shaw, 2B/SS, Chicago Cubs
All Matt Shaw has done for the past three years is hit, hit, and hit some more. He's excelled everywhere he's gone, including in the Perfect Game Collegiate League and last summer on the Cape in addition to his prowess at the University of Maryland. In 164 games on campus, Shaw slashed .322/.415/.627 with 47 doubles, 52 home runs, and 36 steals while also demonstrating a solid approach.
His offensive dominance carried over into the minors as well with Shaw slashing .357/.400/.618 with 21 extra-base hits, eight home runs, and 15 steals in 170 plate appearances. While Shaw doesn't have that one singular tool that will jump out at you, he projects as an above-average to plus prospect across the board offensively, and one that should be one of the first to reach the majors from this draft class.
6. Paul Skenes, P, Pittsburgh Pirates
The 2023 LSU Tigers squad was absolutely loaded and you can see that with two LSU products in the top-five here. Skenes established himself as the unquestioned top pitcher in this draft class with a dominant showing this spring and an electric three-pitch mix led by a double-plus fastball/slider combination.
His changeup could be above-average as well and Skenes has also shown good command and control. If you know me, you know that I don't throw around the term "ace upside" often, but it certainly fits here with Skenes. He's already put himself in the discussion for the top overall pitching prospect in the minors and could debut at some point during the 2024 season.
7. Max Clark, OF, Detroit Tigers
As mentioned above, Jenkins separated himself from Clark a bit after the draft, but Clark is still easily a top-10 FYPD selection this year with enormous offensive potential. Clark is very advanced for his age at the plate and shows an advanced feel for barreling pitches up and using the entire field.
Clark could develop into an above-average or better hitter with plus or better speed and there's plenty of projection on his frame to add more bulk and power. If everything clicks, we could be looking at plus tools across the board offensively (if he adds bulk and power) and an impact fantasy outfielder. Don't let his slump near the end of the season deter you in the slightest if you have an FYPD pick outside of the top five picks.
8. Brock WIlken, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers
Many FYPD rankings have Brock Wilken outside the top 10 overall and in the teens, but not me. This is a no-doubt top-10 FYPD selection in my eyes and a future impact power bat.
You could make a strong case for Wilken being one of the top 2-3 power bats in the entire 2023 draft class. The 6-foot-4 third baseman cranked 31 home runs in 66 games this spring while showing improved contact skills and a much better approach. Wilken nearly doubled his walk rate and trimmed his strikeout rate a bit as well.
It was encouraging to see those approach improvements stick after the draft as Wilken recorded a 16.3% walk rate and 23.2% strikeout rate in 203 plate appearances. Assuming these approach improvements stick in 2024 and beyond, Wilken has Austin Riley level upside.
9. Hurston Waldrep, P, Atlanta Braves
On stuff alone, Waldrep might just have the highest upside of any pitcher in the 2023 draft class. Waldrep has a dynamic 4-pitch arsenal with three potential plus or better offerings, highlighted by a nasty split-chance that might just be the best secondary offering in the entire class. However, command and control have been an issue for Waldrep, who had a 12.9% walk rate last year that caused him to slide to Atlanta at pick 24.
This is a great landing spot for him though as Atlanta has a great track record with getting the most out of their pitching prospects. Even if Waldrep can just be fringe-average in the command and control departments, he could wind up as a Freddy Peralta type of arm or even a bit better.
10. Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners
Without question, the prospect that has improved his stock the most since the draft is Seattle shortstop Colt Emerson. In 114 plate appearances between the Complex Level and Lo-A, Emerson slashed a stellar .374/.496/.550 with 12 extra-base hits, eight steals, and nearly as many walks (17) as strikeouts (20).
Emerson was considered one of the best prep hitters in the 2023 class and he quickly showed why after the draft. This is a potential plus hitter long-term with above-average or better power depending if he adds bulk to his frame, and he's at least an average runner as well.
11. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
Arjun Nimmala was one of the youngest in the class, but the upside is exciting with plus raw power leading the way offensively, solid speed/athleticism, and the ability to stick at shortstop long-term.
Scouts have been very impressed by Nimmala all-around and there's still projection left on his frame to add more bulk and power. His professional debut didn't necessarily wow anyone, but he did get on base in half of his 40 plate appearances. The perceived stock and value appear to have fallen a bit since the draft, but it shouldn't have.
12. Noble Meyer, P, Miami Marlins
After Paul Skenes, you could go a few different ways for the #2 pitcher in the class with Noble Meyer being firmly in that conversation. At 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Meyer resembles former Jesuit arm Mick Abel a bit and hopefully, we can see Meyer add a bit of bulk to his lanky frame and add even more velocity.
Meyer already has a plus fastball in the mid-90s along with a devastating slider and the feel for a decent changeup with some refinement. All the makings of a future frontline arm are here with Meyer and he lands in a great spot with Miami.
13. Tommy Troy, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
The last of the players in this tier for me is Tommy Troy from Stanford. Troy improved every year at Stanford, finishing with a .394/.478/.699 slash line this spring along with 17 home runs and 17 steals in 58 games with nearly as many walks as strikeouts.
While there isn't a standout tool in Troy's profile, he has one of the highest floors in this class and could be above-average across the board offensively with the upside to flirt with 20/20 annually.
14. Aidan Miller, SS/3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Aidan Miller is in the discussion for third-best high school bat in the entire class along with Emerson and Nimmala. There's a potential above-average or better hit tool here with plus power, and Miller is pretty athletic with around average speed as well.
This is a solid landing spot for him with the Phillies as well, and the draft slot might cause him to fall a few spots lower than he should in FYPDs. Don't you be one of the people that will let him slide.
15. Mac Horvath, 2B/3B, Baltimore Orioles
I'm going to be leaving my FYPDs with as many shares of Mac Horvath as I can. And honestly, I wanted to rank him even higher than this. Horvath possesses a tantalizing plus power/speed blend and has put that on full display over the last two years at North Carolina along with a solid showing on the Cape Cod League in 2022.
If you combined the Cape with his 2022 and 2023 collegiate seasons, Horvath racked up 48 home runs and 52 steals in 141 games. Scouts are concerned with the contact skills, but even a fringe-average hit tool here would allow Horvath to develop into a solid fantasy player. And if he can get to a 50-grade hit tool or higher, watch out.
Landing in Baltimore is a match made in heaven. Horvath excelled in the minors after the draft as well, slashing .321/.455/.603 in 99 plate appearances with 12 extra-base hits, five home runs, and 14 steals.
16. Leo De Vries, SS, San Diego Padres
The top international free agent to sign this January is Dominican shortstop Leo De Vries, who is reportedly going to sign with the San Diego Padres on January 15. De Vries possesses a tantalizing all-around offensive skill set with plus raw power already and plenty of athleticism.
He also has plenty of projection left on his 6-foot-2 frame and likely will add even more bulk and power. Some question whether he'll outgrow shortstop and have to move over to the hot corner, but the bat would play well there as well.
17. Enrique Bradfield, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Before the draft, Bradfield was sliding down my FYPD rankings a bit as there are questions about how much power he can ultimately get to. But his landing in Baltimore pushed him back up a few spots for me.
Bradfield is a high-floor player given his 80-grade speed and defense, and should be adequate at the plate as well with at least a 50-grade hit tool and sound approach. But again, he's not much of a power hitter and 12-15 home runs is probably the absolute best-case scenario here at peak.
However, if he can just flirt with double-digits annually, that would still help him become an impactful fantasy player given his elite speed. Think of a more toolsy Esteury Ruiz.
18. Chase Davis, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Davis was one of the best hitters in the nation this spring, slashing .369/.496/.757 with 16 doubles, 21 home runs, and more walks than strikeouts. While he doesn't run much, Davis' bat is lethal from the left side with good contact skills and approach, plus to double-plus raw power, and a swing that generates plenty of natural loft.
Unfortunately, Davis' stock has tumbled a bit since the draft, but that opens up a nice buying opportunity in FYPDs if you have a selection after the top 15 picks. I'm still fairly high on him long-term.
19. Brayden Taylor, SS/3B, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays add another talented infielder to their system with Brayden Taylor. In a class loaded with collegiate bats, Taylor is one of the best pure hitters of them all, showcasing an above-average or better hit tool, exceptional approach, and a sneaky power/speed blend as well that resulted in 23 HR and 14 SB this spring.
He's not flashy and won't be a stud in any one area, but Taylor is a well-rounded offensive talent who can make an impact across the board.
20. Kyle Teel, C, Boston Red Sox
From a real-life baseball perspective as a Red Sox fan, I absolutely loved the Kyle Teel selection. Boston needed that catcher of the future in their system and found it with the former Virginia backstop.
After a standout offensive season last spring where he slashed .407/.475/.655 with 13 homers in 65 games, Teel then slashed .363/.483/.4795 in 26 games in Boston's system after the draft, reaching Double-A to end the season. While he might wind up as a better real-life catcher than fantasy, Teel should be able to make a solid fantasy impact as well with .260+/20 upside.
21. Rhett Lowder, P, Cincinnati Reds
If you're a contending team, Rhett Lowder is an attractive target for you. Landing in Cincinnati was an ideal spot for Lowder, who should move quickly and possibly even debut at some point next summer.
Thanks to plus command and control over a three-pitch arsenal of above-average or better pitches, Lowder has one of the highest floors in the draft class and the upside of a back-end SP2 or high-end SP3.
22. Dillon Head, OF, San Diego Padres
Dillon Head to the Padres made a lot of sense during the draft, and sure enough, that's exactly what happened. Right off the bat, Head's double-plus speed brings plenty of intrigue and his solid defensive skills should help him climb the ladder as well. Well, as long as the bat develops as expected.
While Head is known most for his elite speed, he's shown a good feel for using the entire field, but too much of that is on the ground. If Head adds some bulk over the next year or two, I could see him settling in around 15 homers to pair with a decent AVG/OBP and plenty of steals. That potential power growth is going to be the X factor here.
23. Brice Matthews, 2B/3B, Houston Astros
Matthews is an analytical darling and a perfect fit in Houston. With a quick right-handed swing and above-average to plus power and speed, Matthews should be able to flourish in Minute Maid Park as long as the hit tool is there.
That's the one area where scouts have some concerns, but Matthews showed a solid approach this spring at Nebraska and could really develop into an impact fantasy infielder with even a 50-grade hit tool.
24. Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B, Cleveland Guardians
For 2023 FYPDs, Velazquez was one of the harder ones for me to rank. Given his below average speed and defensive issues behind the plate, he's probably more of a 1B/DH moving forward, which limits his value a bit.
However, there's no denying that this is a potent bat that could wind up as an above-average hitter with plus or better power potential. Cleveland also has Kyle Manzardo at first base and Bo Naylor behind the plate, so Velazquez's future role is a bit cloudy at the moment.
25. Walker Martin, SS, San Francisco Giants
In a year or two, this ranking for Walker Martin could look really low, but in a loaded class offensively, this felt like an appropriate spot.... for now. Martin has a projectable 6-foot-2 frame and quick left-handed swing that is already showing solid power projection and a great feel for using the entire field.
Martin could easily wind up as a 55-hit, 60-power shortstop that can contribute double-digit steals annually as well.
26. Bryce Eldridge, 1B/P, San Francisco Giants
The Giants took Eldridge 16th overall this past summer, making him the second-straight two-way player they selected in the first round following Reggie Crawford in 2022. Eldridge is a potential two-way player and I'm incredibly intrigued by the raw power he shows at the plate. Eldridge is a 6-foot-7 left-handed hitter with double-plus raw power and he flashed that power at the Complex Level after the draft with a .353 ISO, .647, SLG, and five homers in 16 games.
There have been some questions surrounding how much AVG he'll hit for and you always have to worry about higher strikeout rates from these bigger prospects, but Eldridge has shown solid patience at the plate and could wind up as a nice asset in OBP leagues as well.
On the mound, Eldridge will generally sit in the low to mid-90s with a nice downhill plane on his fastball and mix in a slider, curveball, and changeup with the slider being the best secondary offering. Even if San Francisco has him focus solely on hitting down the road, Eldridge profiles as a slugger and potential 30-homer bat annually.
If you enjoyed these rankings and want to see the full top-100 along with additional rankings, analysis, and more, check out Eric's Toolshed Fantasy Patreon.
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