Top 250 Dynasty Prospects Rankings (Part 1)

February 18, 2021

Marc Hulet's updated top 250 MLB dynasty prospects rankings for 2021 fantasy baseball leagues. Part 1 looks at the MLB prospects and rookies ranked 151-250.

RotoBaller's Top 250 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Prospects list is back and refreshed for the 2021 season. Baseball has undergone a lot of change over the past 12 months due to the pandemic and no area of the game has been more heavily impacted than the minor leagues. Since this time last year, Minor League Baseball has significantly shrunk in size, there have been no competitive games, and most top-rated MLB prospects spent the 2020 regular season stuck in purgatory at their clubs’ alternate training sites.

For MLB prospect watchers like yours truly, the lack of competitive games has made prognosticating more challenging than ever before. Instead of picking and choosing what video to watch — because there is simply too much to keep up with on a part-time basis — it’s been a desperate search to scrape together valuable snippets of video, the parsing of interviews with scouts and player development staff, and the analysis of the small bits of data available. This past year has been the most unique experience I've had in the past 15 years while writing about MLB prospects on the internet — and ranking prospects is never an easy task.

With the list below, you’ll find that I put a lot of emphasis on experience. More than ever, MLB prospects with an ample number of professional games under their belts have significant advantages over the high-ceiling, non-established players. You’ll also find that my prospect rankings are heavily influenced by a player’s makeup — how coachable they are, how open to change they are, etc. I’ve worked in people management in a corporate environment and I can assure you that a person’s makeup goes a long way to helping them achieve great things — and sports is no different. OK, let's get to it.

Updated Dynasty Prospect Rankings: 151-250

My review of the Top 250 Dynasty Prospects for 2021 has been broken into three parts. Today, we begin the review with the prospects ranked 151-250, many of whom are either "sleeper" names to know or aren't as good as you thought they were (but still have a chance to redeem themselves). You can also read part two (prospects 51-150) and part three (the top 50 prospects).

Players with fewer than 130 MLB at-bats and 50 innings pitched were considered eligible for this list. Service time was not taken into consideration. Foreign players with significant professional experience were also not considered.

Prospects 151-175

151. Heston Kjerstad, OF: Selected by the Orioles second overall in the 2020 draft, Kjerstad was a massive over-draft in my opinion. I don't love his approach or mechanics at the plate. He has impressive left-handed power but that's about it.

SLEEPER ALERT: 152. Isaiah Greene, OF: Greene is a player that I absolutely loved from the 2020 draft. It might take a little while for him to get to Cleveland but he should be well worth the wait. It's not quite another Jarred Kelenic situation here but Mets fans might eventually learn to dislike his inclusion in the Francisco Lindor deal.

153. JJ Goss, SP: Selected 36th overall in 2019 out of high school, I had Goss flagged as a late-first-round talent. He was also selected by an organization (Rays) skilled at developing pitchers.

154. Zack Thompson, SP: Thompson's injury history is a little worrisome but if there is one club that knows how to identify (and develop) good college talent, it's the Cardinals. He has mid-rotation talent if he can stay out of the infirmary.

155. Daulton Jefferies, SP: Jefferies is another pitcher with significant injury/durability concerns. He has the talent to be a mid-rotation starter but he's also never pitched more than 79 innings in a season over his five-year pro career.

156. Tyler Soderstrom, C/3B: Soderstrom may not stick at catcher but he has the hitting skills and the power to be intriguing anywhere on the diamond. If he moves to another position, such as the hot corner, then he could quickly shoot through the minors and up through the rankings.

157. Jordyn Adams, OF: Adams is an intriguing athlete but his bat is rawer than other Angels outfield prospects taken out of the high school ranks with high picks (Jo Adell, Brandon Marsh).

158. Erick Pena, OF: Pena is oozing with raw potential but the lost development time in 2020 certainly would not have helped. The reduced number of minor league teams will help ensure that he's facing better talent.

SLEEPER ALERT: 159. Luis Matos, OF: Matos is an intriguing sleeper as the 2021 season prepares to get underway. He had an outstanding pro debut in 2019 but it was also at the Dominican Summer League level. The mix of bat speed and foot speed is nonetheless intriguing.

160. Ryan Jeffers, C: I highlighted Jeffers as a sleeper two or three different times back in 2019 after he caught my attention and he really took off in 2020. If he can reign in the swing-and-miss tendencies that he showed at the MLB level last year then he could be a solid offensive catcher for quite a while.

161. Alexander Canario, OF: Raw and toolsy, Canario's need to polish his pitch recognition and lessen his swing-and-miss tendencies were not helped by the lost development time in 2020.

162. Gabriel Moreno, C: Inevitably when doing rankings, there are always some players that end up lower than you think they should be. This athletic catcher could force his way up the rankings within the year despite playing in a system (Blue Jays) with significant depth at the catching position.

163. Aaron Sabato, 1B: A surprise late-first-round selection in 2020, Sabato produces a lot of power and was selected by an organization (Twins) that's skilled at identifying under-the-radar talent.

164. Hans Crouse, SP: There is some reliever risk with Crouse but he has the raw stuff to be an impact arm in either pitching role.

165. Alexander Vizcaino, SP: The Yankees system is known for its power arms, and Vizcaino is another pitcher that can hit the upper 90s with his heater. The significant ground-ball rates add to the intrigue.

166. Bobby Dalbec, 3B/1B: I noted in a 2019 report that Dalbec plays a surprisingly good third base but he's blocked there in Boston. Not as good defensively at first base, he has the power to be an impact bat at that position nonetheless -- if he can make enough contact to relevant.

167. Pedro Leon, OF: The Astros struck gold with Yordan Alvarez who, like Leon, was a Cuban player that not a lot of scouts had seen before his contract was signed. Leon is more athletic than Alvarez but the power tool is reportedly not as potent.

168. D'Shawn Knowles, OF: Knowles' offensive development stalled a bit last year so he needs a big comeback in 2021 to remain relevant. The Angels system is also not one of the top organizations known for churning out quality players.

169. Cristian Hernandez, SS: The Cubs organization is skilled at identifying impact talent on the international market and Hernandez is considered one of the best from the 2020 class -- but he's also a long-term investment.

SLEEPER ALERT: 170. Kyle Harrison, SP: Harrison was a prep pitcher that caught my eye before the 2020 draft but he's even more intriguing now that he's reportedly added significant velocity to his fastball since turning pro.

SLEEPER ALERT: 171. Hedbert Perez, OF: Perez is a five-tool player with strong makeup and pedigree (His father was a big-leaguer). He could absolutely fly up this list once he gets into game action in 2021.

172. Carlos Colmenarez, SS: Like Cristian Hernandez above, Colmenarez is one of the top bats from the international class of 2020 and he landed in a strong farm system (Rays).

173. Carmen Mlodzinski, SP: Mlodzinski has some reliever risk but with some consistent development time he has the raw ingredients to be a solid No. 3/4 starter for the Pirates.

SLEEPER ALERT: 174. Bobby Miller, SP: Although not a consensus top pitcher entering the 2020 draft, I saw Miller as a first-round talent and the Dodgers agreed with me. He already looks like a steal as the 29th overall pick and could really take off in 2021.

175. Travis Swaggerty, OF: Swaggerty has struggled to turn his raw athletic ability into usable (impact) skills in pro ball. He needs a strong 2021 to avoid being labeled as a future fourth outfielder.

Prospects 176-200

176. Lane Thomas, OF: I've been a fan of Thomas' power/speed potential since his A-ball days in the Blue Jays system. He hasn't made as many strides with the contact issues as I had hoped.

177. Adrian Morejon, SP/RP: Morejon has the potential to be an impact arm but he comes with significant reliever risk and with durability concerns.

178. Slade Cecconi, SP: Cecconi has the makings of an innings-eating, mid-rotation starter if he can find a reliable third offering to round out his repertoire.

179. Braden Shewmake, SS: Shewmake has a chance to be a solid-but-unspectacular everyday player or a very good utility player that plays four or five times a week.

180. Tyler Freeman, SS: Freeman has a promising hit tool but he needs to get stronger to be a true impact bat for the Indians -- and for fantasy baseball.

181. Jarren Duran, OF: There are some people who really love Duran as a prospect but I see him as a future fourth outfielder or fringe-everyday player. Speedy players with low on-base numbers don't tend to have significant careers unless they also hit for a lot of power.

182. Jonathan India, 3B/2B: India no longer has the same shine that he once did as the fifth overall draft pick in 2018. He's played some second base recently, which might be a better fit for his offensive abilities. Hopefully, it will also jumpstart his bat.

183. Miguel Vargas, 3B: Vargas has quietly turned himself into a nice prospect. He has a promising hit tool but isn't overly athletic and might need to move to first base where he'd need to display more power to be an everyday player.

184. Ed Howard, SS: In the real world of baseball, Howard is a better prospect because he's a very strong defender. His hit tool remains a question mark, which hurts his fantasy value.

185. Oswald Peraza, SS: There are some people that view Peraza as a top prospect but I've seen him play a few times and have come away underwhelmed each time. There are ingredients present for him to be successful but he's a risky investment at this point.

186. Adam Kloffenstein, SP: Kloffenstein doesn't get as much attention as he should -- likely because he has yet to reach full-season ball thanks to the pandemic. He has excellent size, velocity, and a deep repertoire. If he can consistently throw strikes, he could be a mid-rotation starter in time.

187. Kyle Muller, SP: Muller has good size and a fastball that can hit the upper 90s. If he can find consistency with his control and his secondary offerings then he has mid-rotation potential... but his long-term role is likely as a reliever.

188. Aaron Schunk, 3B/2B: Schunk may not have the power to be an impact bat at the hot corner but he's reportedly been working out at second base, which is a better fit for his profile.

189. Justin Foscue, 2B: Foscue is an offensive-minded second baseman who could eventually hit 15-20 home runs in the Majors.

SLEEPER ALERT: 190. Miguel Hiraldo, SS/3B: Hiraldo was a top international signee back in 2017 but the Jays have been cautious with his development and the pandemic shutdown didn't help. He makes easy contact and has plus raw power but an aggressive nature works against him at times.

191. Otto Lopez. IF/OF: Lopez has the potential to be a plus hitter but he lacks strength and he's not overly skilled at any one position.

192. Brayan Rocchio, SS/3B: Rocchio is another player that was hurt by the lost development time in 2020. He shows natural talent with the bat but he needs to get stronger to show more power potential.

SLEEPER ALERT: 193. Jared Jones, SP: I was a big fan of Jones entering the 2020 draft because of the athleticism he showed on the mound and he may end up as a second-round steal. He was a two-way player in high school with a power arm on the mound. He could really take off now that he's focused solely on pitching.

194. Sam Huff, C: Huff is basically a one-tool player with plus-plus power and massive swing-and-miss issues.

195. Bryce Jarvis, SP: Jarvis looks like a potential innings-eating No. 4/5 starter unless he can find a more reliable breaking ball.

196. Austin Wells, C/OF: If he proves he can catch, Wells will significantly move up this list because he has a chance to be a strong hitter with good power.

197. Patrick Bailey, C: Bailey is another player that has more real-life value than fantasy value because of his plus defensive abilities and modest offense.

SLEEPER ALERT: 198. Luis Medina, SP/RP: Medina was a revelation in winter ball when he suddenly showed the ability to throw strikes (He walked 67 batters with 26 wild pitches in 93 innings in 2019 at low-A ball). If the new-found control is for real then Medina and his 102-mph fastball could be a massive riser in 2021.

199. Lewin Diaz, 1B: Diaz has some feel for hitting but he has never been able to unlock his raw power potential in game situations. If he can find a way to do that, the Marlins have an intriguing player here.

200. Jeremy Pena, SS: Pena doesn't do any one thing that really stands out as "plus" but he does a lot of little things well which could help him develop into a solid-but-unspectacular everyday player in the middle of the diamond.

Prospects 201-225

201. Luisangel Acuna, SS: Like brother Ronald Acuna Jr., this middle infielder is an advanced hitter for his age. Unlike his brother, he doesn't project to hit for as much power. He's still about three to four years away from the Majors.

SLEEPER ALERT: 202. Gunnar Henderson, SS: Henderson is a raw but promising middle infield prospect that really impressed during the non-conventional development time in 2020. He could move swiftly up the rankings if he builds off that momentum from last year.

203. Masyn Winn, RHP/SS: Winn is very intriguing and I was a huge fan of his coming into the 2020 amateur draft where he was taken in the second round. He's going to get a shot to pitch and play shortstop as a pro due to his ultra-athletic abilities. I'm honestly not sure which position I prefer him at. There are some maturity concerns with Winn from his amateur days to be conscious of moving forward.

204. Cole Winn, SP: Winn has the makings of a mid-rotation starter but he still needs work on polishing his command.

205. Dean Kremer, SP: I've always been a big fan of Kremer -- going back to his days in the Dodgers system (an organization that really knows how to develop prospects). I see No. 4 starter potential.

206. Logan Davidson, SS: I've never been a huge fan of Davidson but he has the potential to have value in on-base leagues if he hits .240-.250 with a whack of walks and double-digit homers.

207. Danny de Andrade, SS: de Andrade is a projectable but raw infielder who looks like he should hit for both average and power. He lands in a strong development system (Twins) to help him realize his full potential.

208. Jose Devers, IF: Devers may not end up as an everyday guy but he could play four to five days a week at multiple positions.

209. Ji-Hwan Bae, 2B/SS: Bae projects as a top-of-the-order hitter who can provide a strong average with the speed to steal 20-30 bases. There are significant makeup concerns with this infielder.

210. Gabriel Arias, SS: Traded from the Padres to the Indians in the Mike Clevinger deal, Arias is an athletic but very raw hitter who projects to hit 20 home runs -- if he can make enough contact at higher levels to remain relevant.

211. Thomas Hatch, P: Hatch's long-term role is in question. He's made huge strides as a pitcher over the past year and performed very well as a reliever at the MLB level last year. In the starting rotation, he has the ceiling of a No. 3/4 starter.

212. Monte Harrison, OF: Harrison is loaded with power but contact issues continue to plague him and limit his overall ceiling.

213. Daniel Cabrera, OF: Cabrera is a talented hitter but there are some questions over how much pop he'll produce as a corner outfielder.

214. Reginald Preciado, SS: Standing 6-5 and rail-thin, Preciado may take some time to physically mature and get his long limbs under control. If he can add significant weight/muscle, though, he could be well worth the wait.

215. Peyton Burdick, OF: A 2019 third-round pick, Burdick had a huge breakout debut but the pandemic ruined his shot at following it up and proving it wasn't a small-sample-size fluke.

216. Zach DeLoach, OF: DeLoach is a pure hitter who should hit for a high average but he lacks power or stolen-base acumen. As a result, he needs to stick in center field to have full value but he's likely a long-term corner outfielder.

217. Yoelqui Cespedes, OF: There is a fair bit of hype around Cespedes because he's the half-brother of Yoenis Cespedes but he remains a pretty big wildcard until he enters pro ball and shows what kind of approach he has at the plate.

218. Anthony Kay, P: The Blue Jays organization has a lot of upper-level-pitching depth but Kay's overall ceiling remains in question. He performed well as a reliever at the MLB level in 2020 but he may have No. 4 starter upside.

219. Adbert Alzolay, SP: Alzolay made some adjustments to his repertoire in 2020 so he may exceed the ranking here in 2021 if he can show better command of his offerings and hold his mid-90s velocity more consistently.

220. Jesus Sanchez, OF: Sanchez looked like something special a few years ago but he's plateaued in recent years and looks more like a fringe everyday player who can't unlock his raw power potential.

221. Kevin Alcantara, OF: Alcantara has the makings of a power-hitting corner outfielder but he's still very raw and will likely need another three to four years to develop.

222. Tahnaj Thomas, SP: Thomas' development was slow even before the pandemic hit but 2021 could be the year that he jumps on the fast track as he moves up to full-season ball. He has mid-rotation potential -- especially if he keeps producing above-average ground-ball rates.

SLEEPER ALERT: 223. Chris McMahon, SP: It's hard to get too excited about any Rockies pitcher but McMahon was a strong college hurler whose repertoire should work well at Coors Field.

224. Anderson Tejeda, SS: Tejeda has a strong glove and intriguing power but contact issues could keep him from realizing his full potential. I think he'll end up as a part-time role player.

Prospects 225-250

225. Yhoswar Garcia, OF: Garcia is a raw, athletic player who looks like he could hit for a high average while providing plus speed.

226. Seth Beer, 1B/DH: Beer is a slow, hulking first base prospect who will provide power and decent on-base numbers but likely won't hit for a high average.

227. Anthony Volpe, SS: I'm a big fan of Volpe and believe he should hit for a strong average (with modest power) while playing shortstop or second base.

228. Leonardo Jimenez, SS: Jimenez is a gifted hitter who lacks the power or speed to be a true high-impact player. Still, he could be a solid everyday player hitting in the bottom third of the order.

229. Ryan Rolison, SP: Rolison has the makings of a No. 4/5 innings-eater unless he can show more velocity or enhance his repertoire.

230. Bayron Lora, OF: Lora is loaded with raw power but he will need to watch his conditioning as he's already a below-average runner at the age of 18.

231. Casey Schmitt, 3B: A favorite of mine from the 2020 draft, Schmitt is currently underrated but I think he has a chance to be a solid hitter with the ability to whack 15-20 home runs at the hot corner.

232. Gage Workman, 2B: Like Schmitt above, Workman was another player I liked more than the consensus during last year's draft. He's quite athletic but has contact issues and will likely need more development time than most top college bats. If the light bulb turns on, he has a high ceiling.

233. Colton Welker, 1B/3B: Welker's development has stalled and he's likely permanently moving to first base, which hurts his value. Still, he has raw power and Coors Field could help unlock that attribute.

234. Ryan Weathers, SP: Weathers has some potential but he has conditioning issues and durability concerns. He has the makings of a No. 4 starter unless he continues to maintain the improved velocity that he flashed in 2020.

235. Cal Raleigh, C: Raleigh has massive power and is skilled enough defensively to stick behind the plate. Unfortunately, he may only hit .220.

236. Ryan Vilade, OF/IF: Vilade is another prospect in the Rockies system that has seen his development stall and he was recently moved to the outfield. He could end up as a multi-position player capable of playing almost every day.

237. Gilberto Jimenez, OF: Jimenez is a speedy outfielder who could hit for a high average but it remains to be seen how much power he'll produce.

238. Shea Langeliers, C: In real life baseball, Langeliers is a better prospect because much of his value is derived from his defensive skills. Still, he has enough power to remain intriguing.

239. Ronaldo Hernandez, C: An aggressive hitter whose ability to hit for average is in question, Hernandez nonetheless possesses 20-homer pop if he plays every day.

240. Khalil Lee, OF: Traded from the Royals to the Mets during the offseason, Lee is a plus athlete who recently stole more than 50 bases. However, he also has some massive holes in his swing.

241. Daz Cameron, OF: A strong defensive outfielder with power, the swing-and-miss tendencies limit his overall potential.

242. Jay Groome, SP: Injury and makeup concerns take a chunk out Groome's intrigue. Still, if he can harness everything, he has impact stuff.

243. Sherten Apostel: This toolsy infielder has intriguing power but he was rushed to the Majors in 2020 and still has significant growth to achieve as a hitter.

244. Ivan Herrera, C: Herrera could move up this list quickly in 2021 if he continues to hit well as he jumps up to Double-A.

SLEEPER ALERT: 245. Dax Fulton, SP: I really liked Fulton as a prep hurler but his development will be slower due to Tommy John surgery which took a chunk out of his development time as a senior. Taller pitchers also tend to need longer to harness their long limbs.

246. Tanner Burns, SP: A strong college performer, Burns has the makings of a No. 4 starter and the Cleveland organization has had some success developing college arms.

247. Davis Wendzel, 3B/2B: A strong athlete who should hit for average, Wendzel lacks the prototypical power that teams like to see from the hot corner. Still, he's athletic enough to perform well at multiple positions including second base.

248. Nick Yorke, 2B: Yorke was a surprise first-round selection in 2020 who looks like an offensive-minded second baseman.

249. Carson Tucker, SS: The brother of Pirates' infielder Cole Tucker, this young middle infielder doesn't have quite as much raw power but he should be a better hitter.

250. Pavin Smith, 1B/OF: A bit of a stretch as an outfielder, Smith also has never found a way to unlock his raw power. He has some value in on-base leagues because of his solid walk totals and he should also hit for a solid average.

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