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.
Brayan Medina
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50
Here is a guy that I will be hoping to grab in each of my dynasty leagues as early as next season (if not the end of this one), based primarily on his upside and organization. Brayan Medina was signed by the Padres at 16 years old as a J2 prospect out of Venezuela and was considered the best Venezuelan pitcher as well as one of the highest ceiling prospects in the class. The Padres wasted no time in signing the young pitcher, noting that his most significant characteristic was his project-able build, standing at 6′ 2″ 180lbs with a tall, lean look and the potential to add more bulk and strength with age. Now, 17 years old, Medina is already proving his worth with a fastball that flashes plus and the potential for plus-plus grades as he develops. The pitch reportedly touches 97 mph and consistently sits at 93-94 with sink and nasty, deceptive movement. Reports state that Medina shows solid pitching fundamentals, including decent mechanics and control, meaning he should have no issues throwing strikes and recording K’s at every level. His delivery is aggressive and deliberate, and he already shows a solid understanding of the strike zone and how to work the count throughout an at-bat. Medina is working on his changeup and slider, which both need significant development if the Padres see Medina as a starter long-term. Medinas’ current fastball grade means he could see aggressive movement through the Padres system as a high leverage bullpen arm. With the ability of the Padres organization to develop young pitchers, the worst thing that could happen to Medina might be a trade out of that org, always a possibility for a young pitcher belonging to a club looking to compete in the next couple of seasons.
Trejyn Fletcher
Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
Drafted 58th overall by the Cardinals, Fletcher flew a little under the radar before the 2019 draft primarily because he was from Maine and secondly because he was already committed to Vanderbilt. The Cardinals, as they were able to find a second-round steal in Fletcher’s unpolished abilities. Speaking of those unpolished abilities, Fletcher currently offers a combination of plus raw power and speed, which means big-time upside for dynasty ownership and the hopeful promise of potential 20-20 seasons in the future, pending patience. One word comes to mind with Fletcher – raw. Many things will need to develop throughout his career to tap into his potential. For example, Fletchers’ average hitting ability, average reads, and jumps on the base paths and clunky approach. Fletcher has seen a short stint in pro ball; however, he’s shown the ability to hit the ball to all fields along with an impressive BABIP of .406 but has also displayed an alarming k% of 44.4%. At just 18, those hoping for Fletcher to reach his future upside will have to track him closely to see if he can make the necessary adjustments to improve his hit-tool, which combined excellently with his above-average speed.
Tyler Callihan
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50
With the 85th overall pick in the 2019 draft, the Cincinnati Reds selected Tyler Callihan. The only reason for Callihan slipping this far in the draft was the question of where he would end up playing in the field; he is not speedy enough for the OF and does not have enough range for the infield. Cardinals management has been said even to discuss the possibility of catcher for the young prospect. Although that question mark is concerning from a baseball perspective, potential fantasy investors can overlook this concern because Callihan’s bat will profile anywhere he ends up. His hit-tool is raw but shows the potential to be plus, along with plus raw power that should be translatable to game-time. He knows how to barrel up the ball from the left side of the plate.
I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops in his first full season of professional ball, as his rookie year left things to be desired, sporting an average .315 wOBA, 26 wRC, and .422 slugging percentage in 217 plate appearances in 2019. However, a K % of 19% is phenomenal for a slugger, and one can only hope that remains a trend moving forward. If his defensive profile can develop to at least a fringe level at 3B, this guy can be a standout prospect at the position in just a couple of years.
Brennan Malone
Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Drafted 33rd overall by the Diamondbacks, Malone was one of the more exciting names in the draft because of an evident athleticism and flashes of a plus, complete arsenal. One could argue that Malone is a perfect specimen with extreme projectability, standing at 6’4″ and 200lbs at just 19 years old. Malone touches 96 with a fastball consistently throughout a start, combined with a plus slider that will likely develop as his go-to “out” pitch. Malone also a curve and changeup in his arsenal but will need to make adjusts to correct a hitch in his delivery. With the introduction of professional instruction, Malone can develop a full, top of the rotation type arsenal in a few years. Everything about Malone speaks to the tremendous upside and high K potential as a high-end to the mid-rotation starter but be weary of injury concerns from any young right-hander who can touch 99mph. With just eight innings pitched in a pro ball this past season, it will be exciting to see how Malone handles a full season work-load; however, I project a clear and quick run to the majors as a starter if he remains healthy. The Diamondbacks seem to share the sentiment, having promoted the prep-ball draftee to A ball before the end of the 2019 season.
Brandon Williamson
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50
Drafted 59th overall by the Mariners, I am higher on Williamson then most because I believe he has already reached his potential as a professional pitcher, and love what I see. That, and the fact that he is a massive lefty at 6’6″ / 210lbs, lead me to believe that he will be a successful major league pitcher by the end of 2021. Although the Mariner’s track record for development in the past has not been excellent (minus the exception of The King), some organizational changes have much thought that the M’s will have a run of great, home-grown arms in the next 2-4 years. Williamson should fit right into that group. Consistency will be crucial with Williamson, as, throughout his amateur career, his stuff was anywhere from plus to below average from start to start. However, he has shown the ability to throw his fastball between 92-94 throughout a start, touching 96 on occasion. Combined with three secondary offerings, including a mid-80s slider, there is certainly room for optimism. He is off to an excellent professional start in A ball, sporting an impressive 14.67 k/9, coupled with a 0.91 whip in his 15 innings pitched in 2019, albeit a small sample size. The sky is the limit in my honest opinion, and I see this young pitcher competing with Gilbert, Kirby, and Sheffield for the top spot in a solid rotation in a short time.
Rank | Prospect | Team | Pos | B | T | Age | Level | ETA |
75 | Brayan Medina | SD | P | R | R | 17 | N/A | 2024 |
74 | Joshua Mears | SD | OF | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
73 | Davis Wendzel | TEX | 3B | R | R | 22 | Rookie | 2022 |
72 | Emmanuel Rodriguez | MIN | OF | L | L | 16 | N/A | 2025 |
71 | Anthony Volpe | NYY | SS | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2023 |
70 | Drew Mendoza | WAS | 3B | L | R | 22 | A | 2022 |
69 | Trejyn Fletcher | STL | OF | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
68 | Matthew Lugo | BOS | SS | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
67 | Chase Strumpf | CHC | 2B | R | R | 21 | Rookie | 2021 |
66 | Seth Johnson | TB | P | R | R | 20 | Rookie | 2023 |
65 | Logan Wyatt | SF | 1B | L | R | 22 | Rookie | 2023 |
64 | Gunnar Henderson | BAL | SS | L | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
63 | Rece Hinds | CIN | 3B | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
62 | Tyler Callihan | CIN | 2B | L | R | 19 | Rookie | 2022 |
61 | Reginald Preciado | SD | SS | S | R | 16 | N/A | 2024 |
60 | Brennan Malone | ARI | P | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2024 |
59 | Kyren Paris | ANA | SS | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
58 | Josh Wolf | NYM | P | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
57 | Vaughn Grissom | ATL | SS | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
56 | Robert Dominguez | NYM | P | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
55 | Zack Thompson | STL | P | L | L | 22 | A+ | 2021 |
54 | Kendall Williams | TOR | P | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
53 | Brenton Doyle | COL | OF | R | R | 21 | Rookie | 2023 |
52 | Josh Smith | NYY | 2B | L | R | 22 | Rookie | 2022 |
51 | Brandon Williamson | SEA | P | L | L | 21 | Rookie | 2022 |
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