As the book closes on 2019, many begin to prepare for their dynasty first-year player drafts. These drafts include players out of the 2019 MLB amateur draft and J2 signing from the year 2019 and can be one of the most intriguing aspects of dynasty fantasy baseball, as you are genuinely drafting players based on upside alone. That can be a daunting task if you do not have countless hours to research these new players, which is why DSE is here to help. Over the next four weeks, we will be releasing a top 100 ranking system, specifically for these first-year players. Twenty-five players will be released at a time, starting with 100, and each grouping will include 5-6 bios for players I found particularly interesting and worth bookmarking. This ranking system can also be beneficial for MILB drafts as it will pinpoint some players that might be off the current top prospect lists but are still worth tracking.
Dasan Brown
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 45
Selected with the 88th overall pick in the 2019 draft by Toronto, Brown’s athleticism is otherworldly, sporting a speed grade anywhere between 70 and 80. Also impressive is the projection in the body, standing at 5’11 with room to grow at 18 years old, which points to upside outside of his currently raw plate approach. Prospective dynasty owners of Brown will have to display patience, as his current projections are far off in the future. However, his contact skills are currently average from the right side of the plate, and he should grow into more power as he ages. His top of the board speed, combined with above-average base path skills and athleticism, points to 20+ steal seasons and plus-plus center field defense in the far-off future, which will prove difficult for Toronto to keep off their big-league roster when he’s ready. Small sample size displays a decent amount of swing and miss in his game (27% K%), but If the pop develops at all, the payout could be huge based on his current value.
Seth Gray
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
Selected with the 119th overall pick in the 2019 draft by Minnesota, Seth Gray is a specimen at 3B, standing at 6′ 3″ and 205 pounds. His increase in power during his last year at Wright State points towards a continual increase soon, especially if he can increase his currently average bat speed. The power was on display in rookie ball, as Gray hit 11 home runs in 218 at-bats, and an impressive full year in A ball (or higher) will have him on prospect radars and could lead to quick advancement through the Minnesota org. A left-handed hitter, he’s exhibiting more plate discipline than he has in the past, but he will need to cut down on the k% of 30.4% to keep advancing. His current power plays at 3B, which is where he can stay throughout his career thanks to his above-average defensive instincts and wide range at the position, despite below-average speed and quickness.
Andre Lipcius
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Drafted 83rd overall in the 2019 draft by Detroit, Lipcious lacks a desirable quickness at the hot corner; however, he does have an above-average glove, reaction time, arm and range at 3B, leading to an assumption that he can stick at that position if his bat plays. Sticking at 3B is in the best interest of dynasty investors, as he lacks the size and offensive profile for 1B at the big-league level. He showed above-average power in his final season at Tennessee, leading the team in home runs and RBIs, although that power has not yet translated to professional ball. Lipcius does display a smooth stroke from the right side of the plate and has a projectable frame at 6′ 1″, leading to the mindset that he could hit for more power as he adjusts. He has already displayed great contact and on-base skills, with an above-average eye at the plate, walking nearly as much as he strikes out, but his well below-average speed means his power must develop in big ways. Do that, and he could garner more looks his way in an organization short on top bats.
Adael Amador
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 60
Amador burst onto the international scene at just 15 years old, impressing a high number of scouts out of the Dominican Republic and leading to a contract offer from the Rockies with a $1.5 million bonus. A year later, he continues to impress, displaying an aggressive approach from both sides of the plate. Amador is tall for a 16-year-old at 6’1″, however, Amador will need to add strength to his 160lb frame. Do that, and Amador could become a prospective three tool fantasy player, as he already sports impressive bat speed and rhythm at the plate as well as above-average speed and base path instincts. If all goes according to plan, one could expect 20+ HR, .280+ BA, and 20+ steal seasons, though at only 16 years old, patience would be a virtue.
Matthew Thompson
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
My first pitcher to profile, Thompson, drafted 45th overall by the White Sox, could be much higher on this list if not for a disappointing senior season in high school along with injury concerns. Thompson’s impressive fastball, when healthy, has topped out at 96 mph, and he also sports a two-plane slider and curveball, making for an already impressive arsenal at just 19 years old. At 6-foot-2, 184 pounds, he could put some strength onto his frame without devaluing his delivery, which is athletic and speedy. It’s easy to imagine a mid-90s fastball coupled with a mid-80s slider once this athlete reaches the MLB. Consistency and command of his off-speed pitches will be key, as his curveball flashes plus at times, but also seemingly lose all movement at others. If Thompson can consistently deliver that curve as well as develop a changeup, which is currently in the developmental stages, there’s no reason to think he will not reach his No. 2 – 3 starter potential. With only one inning thrown at Rookie ball for the White Sox, it will be important to watch how he manages a full workload in 2020, as health has always been a concern for Thompson.
Rank | Prospect | Team | Pos | B | T | Age | Level | ETA |
100 | Yordys Valdes | CLE | SS | S | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
99 | Dasan Brown | TOR | OF | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
98 | Jared Triolo | PIT | SS | R | R | 21 | A | 2023 |
97 | Jamari Baylor | PHI | SS | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2024 |
96 | Matt Cronin | WAS | P | L | L | 22 | A | 2022 |
95 | Seth Gray | MIN | 3B | L | R | 21 | A | 2022 |
94 | Spencer Steer | MIN | SS | R | R | 22 | A | 2023 |
93 | Brandon Lewis | LAD | 3B | R | R | 21 | A | 2023 |
92 | Will Holland | MIN | SS | R | R | 21 | Rookie | 2023 |
91 | Matt Gorski | PIT | OF | R | R | 22 | A | 2022 |
90 | Andre Lipcius | DET | 2B | R | R | 21 | A | 2022 |
89 | Kyle Stowers | BAL | OF | L | L | 22 | A | 2022 |
88 | Jiter Heredia | ARI | SS | R | R | 16 | Rookie | 2025 |
87 | Cameron Cannon | BOS | SS | R | R | 22 | A | 2023 |
86 | Grae Kessinger | HOU | SS | R | R | 22 | A | 2022 |
85 | Adael Amador | COL | SS | S | R | 16 | Rookie | 2025 |
84 | Bryant Packard | DET | OF | L | R | 22 | A | 2022 |
83 | JJ Goss | TB | P | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2022 |
82 | Ryan Zeferjahn | BOS | P | R | R | 21 | A | 2022 |
81 | Dominic Fletcher | ARI | OF | L | L | 22 | A | 2022 |
80 | Luis Gutierrez | SD | P | L | L | 16 | N/A | 2025 |
79 | Logan Davidson | OAK | SS | S | R | 22 | Rookie | 2022 |
78 | Marcus Smith | OAK | OF | L | L | 19 | Rookie | 2024 |
77 | Sammy Siani | PIT | OF | L | L | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
76 | Matthew Thompson | CWS | P | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
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