Who’s Hot, Who’s Not: Spring Training Edition

Prospecting in dynasty leagues is a lot like playing the stock market. The key is maximizing your return on investment. Buying low on a prospect before their value goes up is a must to stay ahead of the game. While at the same time, selling a prospect at the opportune time can push a contending owners MLB roster over the top. When it comes to those under performing prospects, Kenny Rogers said it best, “you got to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em”. Dynasty league roster spots are too precious to hold a flailing asset too long.

Our goal at Prospects1500 is to give you the information you need to make more informed decisions when it comes to your dynasty league rosters. Each month of the minor league season I will put out a new article highlighting who performed well and who did not over the previous 30 days. In this edition, I will recap some the Spring Training performances so far that dynasty owners need to be aware of.

Stats current as of 3/19

Hot

Gage Workman, 3B (Cubs Preseason rank #33)
(33 AB, .424/.474/.727/1.201, 14 H, 2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, 7 K, 3 SB)
Workman was a Rule-5 pick for the Cubs this offseason after the Tigers opted not to add him to their 40-man roster. Workman has not previously had an at-bat above the Double-A level where last season he hit 18 homeruns, drove in 89 runs, and stole 30 bases, although it did come with a 27% strikeout rate. Nico Hoerner’s injury has opened the door for him to head to Japan with the Cubs to start the regular season. His early season performance will be worth monitoring since the Cubs will have to send him back to the Tigers if he doesn’t stick on their big league roster all season. Once Hoerner returns the Cubs might have a tough decision to make.
Fantasy Take: Buy if the price is right. He might be a nice minors stash if his at-bats stay below your league’s threshold.

Cam Smith, 3B/OF (Astros #1)
(31 AB, .419/.500/.871/1.371, 13 H, 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 8 K)
The Cubs were aggressive with Smith last season pushing him through three levels ending up in Double-A. I wondered just how aggressive the Astros were going to be with him after acquiring him in the Kyle Tucker deal. He might be answering that question for them. As of this writing, Smith is still in big league camp and is doing all he can to force the Astros hand. With third base tied up, the Astros have had him getting reps in the outfield where the path to at-bats is more clear. Whether he breaks camp with the Astros or heads to Triple-A to start the year remains to be seen. Either way, this kid looks like the real deal.
Fantasy Take: Must own in dynasty. Solid late round selection in redraft.

Cam Smith continues to mash everything in sight during the Grapefruit League 🔥

The @astros‘ No. 1 prospect ups his spring slash line to .419/.500/.871 with his fourth homer of camp: pic.twitter.com/CHscoL0kvF

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 20, 2025

Will Warren, RHP (Yankees #14)
(15.2 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 16 K, 0.77 WHIP)
Warren has shown up this Spring with an improved change-up and it seems to be making all the difference. Striking out greater than one batter per inning while limiting less than a baserunner per inning is a strong recipe for success. If you add to his strong Spring the sudden need for starting pitching at the big-league level, it looks to be setting up nicely for Warren. I wouldn’t expect this level of success to carryover right away. Major league hitters are just too good and they will adjust. The key will be how Warren counters those adjustments.
Fantasy Take: He might cost too much to buy right now. On the other hand, could now be the opportune time to sell?

Emiliano Teodo, RHP (Rangers #4)
(4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K, 2 SV, 0.69 WHIP)
I will start out by saying that this is a very small sample size, but what has me most intrigued is going 2/2 in save opportunities. Up to this point the Rangers have been developing him as a starter, but with no clear closer in Texas, you have to wonder if there has been a shift. He has been sent down to minor league camp so it will be very interesting to see how he is utilized early on. This is the type pitching prospect I like to own. He has mid-rotation upside with backend bullpen fall back.
Fantasy Take: Buy. The potential for cheap saves is hard to come by.

Michael McGreevy, RHP (Cardinals #13)
(11.2 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0.77 WHIP)
McGreevy does not blow hitters away with overpowering stuff. What he does do is pound the strike zone and keep the ball on the ground. He has already shown those traits in the big leagues. In 23 innings last season, he sported a 1.69 ERA, 2% walk rate, and 63% ground ball rate. He was already in a competition for the fifth spot in the rotation and now that the Cardinals are considering starting the year with a six-man rotation, McGreevy would almost assuredly be a lock. He has the makings of a solid innings eating fourth starter with some sneaky upside. Just don’t expect high strikeout numbers.
Fantasy Take: Buy. Just know your parameters.

Other notable hot starts:
Alejandro Osuna, OF (Rangers #20)
(29 AB, .448/.541/.759/1.300, 13 H, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, 6 BB, 6 K, 2 SB)
Robert Hassell, OF (Nationals #8)
(46 AB, .370/.408/.543/.951, 17 H, 5 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB, 8 K, 2 SB)
Jac Caglianone, 1B (Royals #1)
(17 AB, .529/.636/1.235/1.871, 9 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, 3K)

Jac goes 444′ for his third blast of the spring! pic.twitter.com/RBZk1shp79

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 9, 2025

Zebby Matthews, RHP (Twins #4)
(9.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 12 K, 0.54 WHIP)

Not

Kristian Campbell, 2B (Red Sox #2)
(38 AB, .158/.289/.211/.600, 6 H, 2 2B, 6R, 7 BB, 15 K)
Two things I know for sure: Prospect development is rarely linear and Spring Training stats need to be taken in context. Campbell had a breakout 2024 season and looks to be the answer at second base in Boston sooner rather than later. The simple fact that he is still in big league Spring Training working through his “struggles” shows what the organization thinks of him. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him start the year in Triple-A if the Sox think that he needs to iron things out a bit more. I just wouldn’t expect it to be a long stay.
Panic Meter: Non-existent. Campbell is going to be just fine.

Checking in from the Spring Breakout game…
And there goes Kristian Campbell! pic.twitter.com/Bv1f3SFwhD

— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 14, 2025

Coby Mayo, 3B (Orioles #1)
(42 AB, .190/.239/.262/.501, 8 H, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB, 13 K)
Mayo has had a rough Spring and was optioned to minor league camp yesterday all but ending his chance of cracking the opening day roster. Mayo’s Spring numbers have been eerily identical to his major league call-up last year. He continues to strike out at an alarming rate and is making very little hard contact in the process. Throughout the minors he as shown the power to hit 30+ homeruns, but his swing is long and major league pitching is too good at exploiting those holes. Baltimore is built to win now so when Mayo gets his call back to the big leagues, his leash could be short.
Panic Meter Moderate. I wouldn’t blame an owner for flipping Mayo if the value is right.

Kumar Rocker, RHP (Rangers #2)
(4.1 IP, 12 H, 11 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 3.69 WHIP)
Much like the Yankees, the Rangers starting rotation has some holes to fill thanks to Spring injuries. Rocker should be a leading candidate to fill one of those spots right? Maybe, maybe not. Coming of an outstanding 2024 season where he looked dominant at times, he would seem like a near lock. However, this Spring has been brutal. In 4.1 innings he has walked four, hit two batters, and given up twelve hits (two of which have left the yard). He just hasn’t look comfortable on the mound and I have seen reports that he is struggling with some mechanical issues. Time is running short for him to get things right before the season starts but the Rangers really need him to.
Panic Meter: Low, for now.