2025 Prospect List: Top 150 Dynasty Baseball Prospects 1.0

For the first time in 2025, the prospect list has been updated. Prospect rankings are volatile, to say the least. Throughout the season, this list will be updated each month to keep dynasty managers up to date on the latest changes. A few changes to note in this first article. First, this list has moved to only prospects who have yet to debut. Secondly, there are now small writeups on 12 different players. Finally, this list has been expanded from 100 prospects to 150 prospects to give dynasty managers more insight for the 2025 season.

 

Prospect List Rules:

• All prospects listed are yet to debut in the Major Leagues.
• This list is only for prospects in the minor leagues; no major league players are included.
• Maximum of two positions listed per player.
• Primarily weighted for standard 5×5 leagues, but all league types are considered.

 

Prospect List Graduates

 

This section of the prospect list is reserved for players who have recently been promoted to the major leagues. Roki Sasaki was not included in this list as he is guaranteed to start in the Major Leagues and is coming from a professional baseball league already. He would rank first if he were to be included.

 

Prospects Higher than Other Lists

JJ Wetherholt, #4 St. Louis Cardinals

The numbers that JJ Wetherholt put up at West Virginia are ridiculous. As a Sophomore, Wetherholt hit 16 homers with 36 stolen bases and would have put up huge numbers again his Junior year if not for an injury. His collegiate success carried over to the pros as Wetherholt hit .295 with two homers in 29 Low-A games. The knock on Wetherholt seems to be the lack of one elite skill. His power is good but not great. His speed is above-average, but not elite. Wetherholt is going to hit for a high average, but not win a batting title. When you combine all those very good, but not elite skills, you get an elite player. Wetherholt ranked high on this list at the end of last season and an off-season of research and scouting has not changed that. He is a top-tier dynasty prospect and should move quickly through St. Louis’ farm system in 2025.

 

Jackson Ferris, #29 Los Angeles Dodgers

Zyhir Hope is the former Cubs and now Dodgers prospect generating the most noise in dynasty circles. However, Jackson Ferris, the other part of the Michael Busch trade, ranks higher than Hope in this list. The rise of Ferris following his trade to the Dodgers seemed inevitable at the time. A hard-throwing lefty with a wipeout sweeper being married to the Dodgers’ felt too good to be true. The hype slowed down after Ferris owned a 5.91 ERA in his first eight starts. However, Ferris was dominant the rest of the way posting a 2.28 ERA over his final 19 starts. During that time, Ferris struck out 28% of the batters he faced growing more and more comfortable as the season moved along. Ferris already has two plus offerings and gets great extension on his pitches. He will be 21 for the entirety of the 2025 season and deserves to be mentioned amongst the game’s top pitching prospects.

 

Surprise Inclusions

Trey Yesavage, #46 Toronto Blue Jays

Trey Yesavage falling to 20th overall is suppressing his dynasty value. He pitched three seasons at East Carolina University with each season getting better than the one before. He worked exclusively as a starter in his final season, reaching 93 innings and with a 40.4% strikeout rate. Yesavage lacks an elite offering, but profiles to have potentially four plus pitches. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, playing up thanks to his uniquely high release point. His slider, curveball, and splitter all play well off of the pitch. The slider and splitter are Yesavage’s best secondary offerings and provide him with options against both righties and lefties. A starter’s build with a starter’s arsenal is a guy that dynasty managers should be all in on. Coming out of college, he should move quickly through Toronto’s system once he makes his professional debut. Say yes to Yesavage before it is too late.

 

Anderson Brito, #91 Houston Astros

If you are searching for the next Houston Astros‘ International Free Agent pitching gem, look no further than Anderson Brito. Signed out of Venezuela in 2023, Brito was dominant in his first professional season. After dominating the DSL and Complex League, Brito was promoted up to Low-A where he continued his success. On the season, Brito struck out 38.9% of batters he faced finishing with a 1.51 ERA. While in Low-A, he generated a whiff rate of 38% thanks to a strong fastball/slider combination. His fastball is already touching 99 and his changeup could turn into a third plus offering as he develops. There is a lot to like in Brito’s profile and he is still only 20 years old. Brito is flying under the radar in dynasty circles but is deserving of a top-100 spot heading into 2025.

 

Surprisingly Low Rankings

Bryce Eldridge, #60 San Francisco Giants

This is not the first time I have mentioned Bryce Eldridge. Eldridge is a darling of the dynasty community. His 6’7″ size and powerful swing provide moonshot home runs that grasp the attention of viewers. His quick ascent through the Minor Leagues has only added fuel to the fire. There is no denying Eldridge’s power, but the hit tool is a different story. High strikeouts have become a theme in Eldridge’s brief professional career. He struggles to make consistent contact and his numbers dip significantly against left-handed pitching. There is more platoon risk than many care to admit. He is a high upside asset, but 60th overall feels more appropriate for a powerful first baseman with hit tool concerns.

The first base prospect comps article from earlier this off-season shares a bit more detail into why Eldridge ranks a bit lower on my lists than many others which you can check out here.

 

Josue De Paula, #61 Los Angeles Dodgers

Josue De Paula is a solid dynasty prospect. He has put up strong Minor League numbers with good age-to-level production along the way. Still only 19, there is room for continued growth as he matures into his 6’3″ body. Development and physical maturity work both ways, however. Right now, De Paula’s contact rates and stolen base totals shine. His power lags behind. As De Paula grows into power, his speed is likely to decline, lowering his stolen bases. De Paula is ranked on most lists as a sure-thing prospect before any breakout. His dynasty price is too high for the production he has put on display thus far. His home run per fly ball rate has been disappointing and his batted ball distribution is not ideal. Too many ground balls and power that may never materialize create plenty of risk.

 

Prospect List Top-100

 

Prospects I Really Wanted to Make the Top-100 but Just Missed 

Ryan Waldschmidt, #114 Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks made two picks in the pack of the first round. Slade Caldwell gets most of the buzz, but Ryan Waldschmidt is the pick dynasty managers should be most excited about. Standing at 6’2″, you think about Waldschmidt’s power projection and physicality. The truth is that Waldschmidt’s best attribute is actually his hit tool. Waldschmidt has an excellent eye and managed to keep his strikeout rate below 17% in two seasons at Kentucky. When on base, Waldschmidt has plus speed and projects for 20-25 stolen bases. Also, the game power is coming. Waldschmidt increased his home run totals from five to 14 in his final collegiate season. This is a potential 20-20 player with a strong hit tool and great plate discipline. Sign me up for that.

 

Kyle Karros, #118 Colorado Rockies

Standing at 6’5″, Karros is an intimidating presence in the box. His physicality gives him plenty of power projection although there is more to Karros’ game than just home runs. Karros utilizes a patient approach to drive the ball into the gaps while also managing to post average contact rates. Line drives and using the whole field help Karros to project as a doubles monster. In his first full professional season, Karros hit .311 with 11 steals and 15 home runs. While the stolen bases are likely to decline as he works his way through the Minor Leagues, the home runs will tick up. Karros is just beginning to turn his raw power into game power and should make big strides in this area next season. He also benefits from his future home ballpark projected to be Coors Field. Karros is a name to know heading into 2025.

 

The Next 50

 

Surprise Exclusions

Welbyn Francisca, Cleveland Guardians

Welbyn Francisca has grown in popularity amongst the dynasty community. Signed as an International Free Agent back in 2021, Francisca has put up strong numbers in his first two professional seasons. His carrying tool has been his average as Francisca hit .326 last season between the Complex League and Low-A. Francisca’s contact skills are certainly a plus, but it is fair to question what his true upside is. Francisca is undersized (just 5’8″) and lacks significant power projection. His ceiling is likely 20 home runs with his true outcome probably closer to 15. He is a good runner but far from elite. Even his hit tool has yellow flags. Francisca’s ground ball rate sits around 55% insinuating his well above-average BABIPs are bound to regress. Francisca is a fine dynasty prospect, but likely has more real-life value than fantasy value.

 

Chandler Simpson, Tampa Bay Rays

One of my blind spots tends to be pure-speed players. Chandler Simpson fits that archetype. Simpson just missed cracking the top 150 for a few reasons. First, Simpson has no power. Since being drafted in 2022, Simpson has hit one professional home run. In the new environment where stolen bases are easier to find, the lack of Simpson’s power is a more glaring issue. The second is Simpson’s ground ball rate. High ground ball rates do not tend to impact hitters in the Minor Leagues. However, once they get to the Major Leagues, it becomes a problem. This is what we saw with Victor Scott II last year and Simpson could have a similar fortune. Any hit to his average would have a negative effect on his ability to steal bases and tank his fantasy value. Simpson’s speed is truly game-changing, but the rest of his game carries too much risk for my liking,

 

Deep Prospects to Note

 

Jedixson Paez, Boston Red Sox

If Jedixson Paez can stay healthy, he is guaranteed to become a top-100 prospect by the end of the season. His 3.17 ERA with a 29% strikeout rate and a 3.1% walk rate is being completely overlooked. The 6’1″ right-handed pitcher has worked as both a starter and bulk-reliever since joining the organization in 2021, topping out at 96.2 innings in 2024. From a stuff perspective, Paez offers plenty of intrigue. His fastball gets big arm-side run pairing nicely with a changeup that disappears down and away to lefties. His slider is a definite plus offering with big movement. The icing on the cake is pinpoint control. Paez has never walked more than 5.6% of batters in a professional season. Relief risk is the only thing keeping Paez down on prospect lists. He could be a fast riser in 2025.

 

Damuery Pena, Minnesota Twins

The Twins have a handful of recent International Free Agent signings who are working their way up prospect boards. Another signing is poised to make waves in 2025. Damuery Pena is a 5’10” second baseman who signed with the Twins in January of 2023. Pena transitioned from the DSL to the Complex League last year and continued to show off an elite hit tool. Pena makes contact at a high rate. This led to a strikeout rate of 6.4%. Impressively, Pena’s walk rate was more than double that at 13.6%. The game power has not clicked yet, but he is a fly ball hitter who is already showing a high propensity for pulling the ball. This could help his power play up more than his size suggests. For now, Pena is a watch-list guy entering 2025.