June brought another month of significant movement across the prospect landscape, with several young stars elevating their dynasty stock while others endured challenging stretches. This month’s risers have turned strong underlying tools into on-field production, while the fallers remain highly talented prospects who simply have adjustments to make as they continue their development. As always, dynasty managers should focus on the long-term outlook, but these performances provide valuable insight into which prospects are trending in the right direction entering the second half of the season.
Risers:
Joshua Báez, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Joshua Báez earns a spot among this month’s biggest dynasty risers after putting together one of the most impressive power displays in professional baseball during June. On June 16, the Cardinals outfield prospect erupted for four home runs and seven RBIs in a single game, capping off a remarkable month in which he hit .348 with nine home runs. That surge has pushed his season total to 25 long balls, reaffirming the elite raw power that made him a second-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. After spending years developing his offensive approach, Báez is finally beginning to translate those loud tools into consistent production at the Triple-A level.
The underlying metrics further support the breakout. Báez owns a 92.7 MPH average exit velocity and has recorded a max exit velocity of 114.1 MPH this season, showcasing the type of impact contact that few hitters in the minor leagues can match. His combination of plus raw power and gap-to-gap strength gives him legitimate middle-of-the-order upside, and when he squares the baseball up, few prospects can match his ability to do damage. While his 29.9% strikeout rate remains the biggest concern and will need to come down as he continues to develop, dynasty managers can live with the swing-and-miss because of the immense fantasy upside his power provides.
Already ranked among the Top 100 prospects by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, Báez has done nothing but strengthen his prospect stock throughout June. If he continues swinging the bat at this level, expect him to climb even higher on those rankings while putting himself firmly in the conversation for a major league opportunity later this season. His power ceiling gives him the potential to make an immediate impact for the Cardinals whenever that opportunity arrives.
Felnin Celesten, INF, Seattle Mariners
Felnin Celesten continues to cement himself as one of the biggest dynasty risers in the Mariners’ organization after an outstanding month of June. The talented infielder slashed .297/.357/.563 with a .920 OPS during the month while launching five home runs, already surpassing his previous career high in home runs. The added power has been one of the biggest developments in his offensive profile and is an encouraging sign for a player who has long been praised for his athleticism and overall offensive upside.
For the season, Celesten is hitting .313 with an .894 OPS, continuing to show why the Mariners have remained so high on his long-term potential. His mature approach at the plate has been evident with a strong 13.0% walk rate, allowing him to consistently get on base while also tapping into more game power. One area that could still improve is his batted-ball distribution. Celesten has posted a 46.7% pull rate, and making a few adjustments to use the entire field more consistently could unlock even more offensive production as he climbs the minor league ladder.
Although Celesten is already ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, he still feels somewhat overlooked compared to many of the game’s other elite infield prospects. As his power continues to develop alongside his advanced hit tool and plate discipline, his dynasty stock should only continue to rise. If he maintains this trajectory, Celesten has the potential to become the next impact homegrown infielder to emerge from Seattle’s impressive farm system.
Josiah Hartshorn, OF, Chicago Cubs
Josiah Hartshorn has emerged as one of the biggest breakout prospects of the 2026 season and earns a spot among this month’s dynasty risers. The Cubs selected Hartshorn in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft, but the 19-year-old has wasted little time making a name for himself. Already competing at High-A, Hartshorn is slashing .302/.421/.559 with a .980 OPS and 13 home runs, establishing himself as one of the most productive teenage hitters in the minor leagues.
Hartshorn’s underlying metrics are just as impressive as his production. He owns an elite 16.1% walk rate while striking out only 17.5% of the time, showcasing an advanced approach at the plate well beyond his years. His 80.2% contact rate further highlights his ability to consistently put the ball in play while still generating impact power. One area that remains a work in progress is his production against left-handed pitching, as he is hitting just .226 against southpaws this season. If he can make adjustments in those matchups, his offensive profile could take another significant step forward.
Hartshorn elevated his game even further during June, slashing .349/.408/.730 with a 1.138 OPS while launching six home runs. Given his sixth-round draft status, he entered professional baseball with far less fanfare than many of the game’s top prospects, but his performance is becoming impossible to ignore. The statistics speak for themselves, and Hartshorn should continue climbing prospect rankings throughout the second half of the season. If he maintains this pace, a promotion to Double-A before the end of 2026 appears to be well within reach.
Fallers:
Jett Williams, INF, Milwaukee Brewers
Jett Williams lands among this month’s dynasty fallers after an inconsistent first half that has not lived up to the lofty expectations surrounding him. Acquired by the Brewers as one of the centerpiece prospects in the Freddy Peralta trade, the former 14th overall pick entered the season with plenty of excitement. However, Williams is currently slashing .217/.327/.375 with a .702 OPS, and while his nine home runs show there is still some power in the bat, the rest of his offensive profile has taken a step backward.
The biggest issue has been the quality of contact. Williams owns a 33.0% hard-hit rate, the lowest mark of his professional career, which has limited his ability to consistently drive the baseball. Although he launched four home runs during June, the overall production remained disappointing as he slashed just .175/.250/.397 with a .647 OPS. Until he begins making more authoritative contact, it will be difficult for his offensive numbers to rebound to the level many expected.
Despite the disappointing start, dynasty managers should not be overly discouraged. Williams is still just 21 years old and possesses the athleticism and all-around skill set that made him one of the game’s better prospects. However, if he hopes to earn a promotion to Milwaukee later this season or early next year, improving the quality of his contact will be essential. The talent remains, but this is a prospect whose stock has cooled considerably over the past month.
Xavier Neyens, INF, Houston Astros
Xavier Neyens remains one of the most intriguing young prospects in baseball, but after an up-and-down first half, expectations may need to be tempered slightly. The Astros’ first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft still possesses the immense upside that made him one of the premier prep bats in his class, yet the overall production has been inconsistent. Through the season, Neyens is slashing .236/.418/.407 with an .825 OPS. His ability to reach base remains a positive, but there are still areas of his offensive game that need refinement before he is ready for the upper levels of the minor leagues.
The biggest concern has been the amount of swing-and-miss in his profile. Neyens owns a 33.1% strikeout rate while posting just a 70.4% contact rate, both of which will need to improve as he continues his development. He is currently hitting just .196 in June, and making more consistent contact will be the key to unlocking his offensive ceiling. The encouraging news is that the underlying tools remain intact, and there is plenty of time for the young infielder to make the necessary adjustments.
Even with the struggles, Neyens continues to showcase the exciting power-speed combination that made him such a highly regarded prospect. He has already collected nine home runs and 13 stolen bases, providing a glimpse of the five-category fantasy upside he still possesses. Dynasty managers should remain patient, as the long-term talent is very much intact. While his stock takes a slight step back this month, Neyens still has the upside to develop into one of the Astros’ cornerstone prospects if the contact skills continue to improve.
Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Jurrangelo Cijntje lands among this month’s dynasty fallers after an inconsistent first half of the season. The Mariners’ first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft remains one of the most unique prospects in baseball as a switch-pitcher, and the upside is still undeniable. However, the overall results have not matched the talent to this point. Through 13 starts, Cijntje owns a 5.43 ERA across 59.2 innings, allowing 52 hits and 34 walks while striking out an impressive 74 batters.
The swing-and-miss ability has never been the question. Cijntje continues to miss bats at an impressive rate, but his inability to consistently throw strikes and limit hard contact has prevented him from taking the next step. Those issues were especially evident in June, when he posted a 6.23 ERA over 13 innings. Too often, free passes have put runners on base before opponents capitalize with hard contact, leading to elevated run totals despite his strong strikeout numbers.
The encouraging news is that the foundation of a quality starting pitcher is still very much in place. Few prospects possess Cijntje’s raw stuff or ability to generate swings and misses, and his unique skill set continues to make him one of the more intriguing arms in the Mariners’ system. If he can improve his command, reduce the walks, and consistently limit hard contact, he still profiles as a high-upside major league starter. For dynasty managers, patience remains the key, but June was undoubtedly a step backward in his development.
