Dynasty Prospects To Add Now (If You Can)

June 21, 2024 Scott Greene FantasyBaseball, General, MiLB 2

Zebby Matthews, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, May 21, 2023. Photo credit Tom Hagerty/MiLB.
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Who doesn’t love finding those diamonds in the rough before a large part of the prospecting industry is writing about them? These are players you should have little trouble adding in your deep dynasty leagues if you’re able to make in-season claims or pick ups. I’m not saying that these players are anything close to locks to making the big leagues and contributing to your dynasty/fantasy rosters in the future, but based on their recent performances, each is worthy of consideration. Most of these players should be available in leagues with 500 or fewer prospects rostered. I’ve chosen three hitters and three pitchers to spotlight in this column.


Brad Lord, RHP, Nationals (not ranked in preseason Top 50)
The 24-year-old righty, rostered in only 4% of Fantrax leagues, just earned a well deserved promotion to Triple-A. If you haven’t heard of Lord, or his sneaky, almost sidearm release, take my word for it. He’s been stellar at Double-A Harrisburg over the first half of the season, and as of this writing, has thrown nine consecutive Quality Starts! Over his last 11 starts, just a 1.55 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 68:20 K:BB ratio in 63.2 IP. It’s certainly not out of the question to think Lord could find himself in the majors before the 2024 campaign closes.

Luis Pena, SS, Brewers (NR)
Pena is one of the breakout stars of the young Dominican Summer League season. Playing for the Brewers 1 in the DSL, the 17-year-old has dazzled at the plate and on the basepaths. Sure it’s only an 11-game sample, but the slashline is video game-like. .512/.575/.683/1.257, with 21 hits in 47 plate appearances, including 20 stolen bases (without being caught) and 16 runs scored. The Brewers have him playing all over the infield, as he’s manned 2B, SS, and 3B already. Don’t expect to see Pena stateside this summer, but with continued success in the Dominican, look for Pena to be in Arizona at the Complex rookie league in 2025. Fantrax rostered: 2%

Alex Freeland, SS, Dodgers (NR)
Freeland barely missed making our preseason Dodgers Top 50 rankings, and wasn’t on other sites’ Dodgers lists either, but he’s making a strong case to be Top 20-25 in their system’s midseason updates with his eye popping first half. He might be a tougher add than others since he is rostered in about 12% of Fantrax leagues. The 22-year-old started the season at High-A Great Lakes, the same level he finished at last year, but after 23 games was promoted to Double-A Tulsa. In 40 games there so far, playing exclusively at SS, he’s getting on base at a .415 clip, and boasts a .905 OPS. Freeland is currently the third highest batter ranked on @TheRealNaClown‘s Production Score metric for 2024.

Trenton Denholm, RHP, Guardians (NR)
Many people won’t remember this. The Boston Red Sox drafted Denholm in the late rounds of the 2017 MLB Draft. He did not sign, went on to a 4-year career at UC-Irvine in the Big West Conference, and was then selected by Cleveland in the 2021 Draft (14th round). Some prospectors will shy away from Denholm because of his less-than-dazzling 8.0 K/9 mark this year (down a bit from his career 8.7 number), but one needs to look at more than just strikeouts and whiffs. He has five Quality Starts so far this year at High-A Lake County, and in three of those starts he’s gone very deep into the games (7, 8 and 8.1 innings respectively). Opponents are putting up only a .212 batting average against mark on Denholm, and as he spent a good portion of 2023 in High-A, look for a bump up to Double-A Akron at some point post All-Star break. Fantrax rostered: 0%

Zebby Matthews, RHP, Twins (Preseason #21)
I picked up Matthews in one of my Diamond Duos leagues last year, and I can’t quit on him. What he’s been doing in 2024 isn’t giving me any reason to do so. The 24-year-old, only Zebby in professional baseball, currently sports a 1.70 ERA in 10 starts across High-A and Double-A. He does not walk anyone! His 35.00 K/BB ratio is because with 70 strikeouts (in 58.1 IP), he’s given up only two walks. I would like to see Matthews featured as one of Minnesota’s representatives in next month’s Futures Game in Arlington, although they do tend to favor pitchers younger than 24. Don’t be surprised to see him getting some Triple-A innings later this season, and possibly being considered as a postseason arm for the MLB club. Fantrax rostered: 20%

Charles McAdoo, 3B/OF, Pirates (Preseason #43)
McAdoo, now playing in his first full season as a pro, was featured in Adam Greene’s Five Emerging Pirates Prospects to Watch in 2024 column back in the offseason. Pittsburgh’s 13th round selection last year, out of San Jose State University, is impressing at High-A Greensboro, where he started this season following a 28-game pro debut in the Florida State League last summer. McAdoo is playing primarily 3B, but is also seeing some time in the outfield and at 1B/2B. Nobody can argue with the 22-year-old’s numbers so far, and as I’m writing this, he’s being promoted to Double-A Altoona. How about .336 with 15 doubles, 4 triples and 9 homers in 60 games? That’s 125 total bases in less than half of a season. McAdoo is 17th in Production Score ranks, only .01 behind Boston’s Chase Meidroth (Triple-A Worcester). Fantrax rostered: 6%

Is there another prospect who you think everybody is sleeping on? Who are some other names that could be deep dynasty nuggets nobody knows about yet? Drop some comments below, and/or hit me up on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.

President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing by day. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.

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2 Comments

    • Great name. Didn’t make this article since we believe Keaschall should already be rostered in many deep dynasty leagues. As of July 2, he’s rostered in 18% of Fantrax leagues.

      Reply

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