There are too many prospects for standard dynasty managers to keep up with. That’s why you read the Pitcher List dynasty content! It helps you know which prospects are still worth rostering and which need to be picked up. This article helps make things simpler. Below are seven prospects who need to be rostered in more dynasty leagues, as well as a few drop options who are rostered in too many.
Using data from the Fantrax support team, we see an estimated 34% of all leagues on Fantrax are dynasty leagues. Another 30% of leagues are considered keeper formats. For this article, it is assumed that prospects are rostered in about 45% of leagues on Fantrax.
Be sure to head out to the Pitcher List Dynasty page for all of the latest news and notes from the team!
Prospects That Need to be Rostered in All Dynasty Leagues
This section is reserved for players more than 20% rostered already, but less than the estimated 45% of leagues that roster prospects
Kaelen Culpepper, SS, MIN
39% Rostered
Yes, Kaelen Culpepper is rostered in most dynasty leagues. However, there is really no reason that he is not rostered in all of them. Culpepper has everything dynasty managers look for. He’s polished, has plenty of upside, and is close to the major leagues. The Twins sent Culpepper to Triple-A to start the season (where he is already off to a blazing start), making it extremely likely that he’ll be the Twins’ starting shortstop before the end of the season.
In terms of dynasty upside, Culpepper has plenty. The ball jumps off his bat. He makes consistent hard contact and gets to his pull side extremely well. He hit 16 homers last season with above-average home-run-to-fly-ball rates at every minor league level. The only issue is a moderately high ground-ball rate, which has capped his home run output up to this point. Culpepper is a plus runner on the bases and has clear 20/20 potential. He has twitchy athleticism without the high risk that some other “twitchy” prospects possess. He should be considered a top dynasty prospect. There’s no reason he is not universally rostered in all such leagues.
Gavin Fien, SS, WSH
29% Rostered
Gavin Fien was the 12th overall pick in the 2025 draft. He was traded from the Rangers to the Nationals after just 10 professional games. The 18-year-old shortstop seems to lack some of the buzz other recent draftees have. Thus, his 29% roster rate. This is shocking once you dig into his toolset. For starters, Fien stands at 6’3″ and has near effortless power. With just a flick of the bat, he can drive the ball out to the gaps. He has plus bat speed and projects to have well-above-average power. He is also a plus runner on the bases and could steal 20+ bags in the future. These raw tools were on full display in the Spring Breakout game as Fien went 3-4 with five RBI. The 2025 draft class is being overlooked by dynasty managers. Do not be surprised if Fien puts together a breakout 2026 season. If he happens to be available in your leagues, he is worth picking up.
Prospects Dynasty Managers Should Add if Available
This section is reserved for prospects that are rostered in many formats but are less than 20% rostered in Fantrax Leagues
LuJames Groover, 3B, ARI
16% Rostered
LuJames Groover will start getting the recognition he deserves someday soon. However, for now, he represents a great add opportunity for dynasty managers. Groover hit .281 in 2024, hit .309 in 2025, and hit .341 in 14 games this spring. All Groover does is hit. He has great pitch recognition, drives balls into the gap, and should be a well-above-average hitter at the major league level. The issue for many dynasty managers is figuring out his long-term fantasy upside. Groover does not have much speed, and the home run output has been modest up to this point. While Groover’s game power is still a work in progress, there is plenty of raw pop in his bat. He consistently posts average exit velocities over 90 mph. The game power is going to come. Groover is a high-floor option with more ceiling than most give him credit for. He should be rostered in more than 16% of leagues.
JD Dix, 2B, ARI
15% Rostered
Both players in this section just happen to be Diamondbacks. When scrolling through ownership rates, both Groover and JD Dix jumped off the screen. Dix has all of the tools necessary to turn into an elite dynasty prospect. In 2025, Dix already showed off his great hit tool and plus speed. Despite being just 20 years old, Dix has a mature and strong understanding of the strike zone. He takes his walks and has no problem driving mistakes into the gaps. Once on base, Dix is a plus runner with 30+ stolen base potential. The only thing missing is game power. Dix needs to get to his pull side more, but he has significant raw pop. Similarly to Groover, the power is going to come. Even if it does not, Dix is an 8-10 homer bat with 30+ steal potential and high on-base potential. He needs to be rostered in more dynasty leagues.
Deep Dynasty Prospects to Add to Rosters and Watchlists
This section is reserved for prospects who are less than 5% rostered in Fantrax Leagues
Marlon Nieves, SP, LAD
1% Rostered
Sometimes, the best dynasty strategy is simply rostering Dodger prospects. Not because they always turn into studs, but it seems their dynasty value always takes off at some point. The buzz has not caught on yet, but Marlon Nieves could be the next Dodgers’ prospect to see his value soar. The 20-year-old righty split time between the Complex League and Low-A last season. In 20 appearances and 16 starts, he struck out 26.9% of batters he faced and finished with a 2.79 ERA. Nieves’ control is spotty, but the stuff is undeniable. His fastball sits in the mid to upper 90s with significant arm-side run. The slider is his money pitch. He generates plenty of whiffs with it, and it projects as a clear plus offering. Nieves is far from a finished product, but with two plus offerings and a developing changeup, dynasty managers would be wise to get in ahead of the curve on him. His roster rate will only increase as the season moves along.
Cooper Flemming, SS/3B, TBR
3% Rostered
An underrated player from the 2025 draft, Cooper Flemming has all of the tools to be a star. He was drafted 53rd overall by the Rays. A bit older for a prep bat (already 19 years old), this should not scare dynasty managers away from investing. Flemming has a pretty left-handed swing. He has a simple approach with good feel for getting to his pull side. After the draft, there was obvious room for him to grow into his 6’3″ frame, and he reportedly already put on 25 pounds. He should still maintain at least average speed with 15-20 stolen base potential. The increased size adds to his already enticing power projection. This is a prospect worth getting in on early. He needs to be rostered in more than 3% of dynasty leagues.
Liomar Martinez, SP, MIA
2% Rostered
This is now the third article of mine this year in which Liomar Martinez was featured. The Marlins’ top dynasty prospects article was one, obviously, but Martinez also made it into the deep league section of the breakout article I put together. The thought in adding him to your dynasty roster is that his potential is higher than the other arms on the back-end of your roster. Martinez is 20 years old with a mid-90s fastball and one of, if not the, best curveballs in all of the minors. His deep arsenal and strikeout appeal give him more potential than other prospects being rostered over him. Is Martinez a guarantee to work out? Absolutely not, but how many prospects are? The biggest thing to watch for early this season is Martinez’s walk rate. If this stays in line with his final six starts of 2026, his prospect stock will soar. Dynasty managers would be wise to get in now before it is too late.
Prospect Drop Options for Dynasty Managers
Shallow League Options
Prospects Rostered in More than 20% of Fantrax Leagues
Blaze Jordan, 1B/3B, STL
23% Rostered
Blaze Jordan was not added to the 40-man roster this offseason and was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft. He then went out and had an abysmal spring training and was sent back to Triple-A. He has some prospect pedigree and is close to the majors, but there is no reason he should be rostered in 23% of leagues. Jordan put up strong numbers in Triple-A last season, but his professional career has been filled with inconsistency. There is not much to get excited about from a dynasty perspective. His contact skills are strong, but his aggressive approach leads to plenty of weak contact. He struggles to get the ball in the air and lacks any speed on the bases. He profiles as a Quad-A player at best and is an easy drop option for any of the prospects listed above.
Ricky Tiedemann, SP, TOR
37% Rostered
Ricky Tiedemann’s name must still hold a lot of value. The other possible explanation is that there are a lot of inactive dynasty teams out there. At this point, there is no reason Tiedemann should still be 37% rostered. Yes, he has significant potential. However, he has not pitched professionally since 2024. He was dealing with more elbow soreness this spring, and it is difficult to envision him ever being durable enough to stick as a starting pitcher. Although he is still just 23 years old, the most likely outcome is that Tiedemann winds up in a bullpen role. He could develop fantasy value, but not enough to warrant a 37% ownership. Dynasty managers need to move on to better options available.
Tink Hence, SP, STL
33% Rostered
There is still plenty of reason to roster Tink Hence in shallow formats. However, he is no longer one of the game’s top pitching prospects. Durability issues and inconsistency have sent Hence’s dynasty value plummeting. These concerns remain prevalent entering 2026. There have been times when his stuff looks unhittable. Then, there are times when he looks like a back-end starter at best. In 21.1 innings last year, Hence walked 15.1% of the batters he faced. Healthy right now, Hence just needs to make it through the 2026 season healthy and build up innings. He is a fine prospect, but is also somebody who is a fine drop in shallow dynasty leagues. There are simply better options out there.
Deep League Options
Prospects rostered in less than 20% of Fantrax Leagues but more than 10%
Chase Hampton, SP, NYY
16% Rostered
Rostering prospects in dynasty is all about maximizing value. Yes, managers should be striving to build the best and deepest farm system. However, rosters are only so big. Managers need to prioritize prospects who hold value in dynasty leagues. That is no longer Chase Hampton. Once considered a top pitching prospect, Hampton has not thrown off a professional mound since 2024. By the time he returns later in 2026, it will have been three seasons since he’s pitched 100+ innings. Hampton is a prospect who can be kept on watch lists, but should not be rostered over those listed above. Each of them has a chance to see their dynasty value rise significantly before he’s even back from his injury. 16% is too many rosters for Hampton to be on.
Brayden Taylor, 2B/SS/3B, TBR
19% Rostered
Sometimes it’s difficult to move off a prospect who had such high expectations just a few seasons ago. The Rays’ first-round pick from 2023 was excellent in his first professional season back in 2024. Brayden Taylor’s production declined and ultimately fell off a cliff once he reached Double-A. The holes in his swing were exposed, his struggles against lefties amplified, and the results were a .173 average. He saw the majority of his playing time at third base, which will put more pressure on his bat to play up. This spring training, Taylor struck out over 40% of the time in a limited sample size. At this point, there are just better options out there on the waiver wire. Despite the draft pedigree, dynasty managers should move on from Taylor.
