The first two months of the season has come to a close. In this article we will take a look at some of the risers and fallers in the dynasty ranks. These are players that dynasty managers should keep an eye out for as head further and further into the 2026 season.
Lets take a look at some of the riser in May
Risers:
Ethan Salas San Diego Padres Catcher:
A premier international signing in 2023, Ethan Salas was once considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. After reaching Double-A as a 17-year-old, it’s easy to forget that Salas is still just 19 years old during the 2026 season.
Long regarded as an elite defensive catcher, the offensive breakout dynasty managers had been waiting for is finally beginning to materialize. Salas is currently hitting .315 on the season and continued his surge with an outstanding May, slashing .321 with four home runs while posting a 138 wRC+, the highest mark of his professional career.
The switch-hitting backstop has battled injuries over the past few seasons, but his approach at the plate looks significantly more refined. His contact rate has improved by nearly four percentage points from last year, climbing to 86.2%, while his underlying batted-ball profile suggests the power gains are legitimate. Salas owns a 41% pull rate and a 37.7% opposite-field rate, demonstrating an ability to drive the ball with authority to all fields.
What makes this breakout especially exciting for dynasty managers is that the offensive growth is coming from a player who already possesses a major league-caliber defensive foundation. Salas has long been praised for his receiving, game-calling, and ability to manage a pitching staff. If the offensive production continues, a promotion to San Diego sometime this season is firmly within reach.
For dynasty managers, this is the type of profile that can rise quickly in prospect rankings. The age, defensive certainty, improving contact skills, and emerging power are all reasons to believe Salas is once again trending toward the elite tier of dynasty prospects.
Wei- In Lin Starting Pitcher Athletics SP:
Signed internationally in 2024, Lin has wasted little time establishing himself as one of the more intriguing young arms in the minor leagues. Across his first two professional seasons, the 20-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.15 ERA over more than 113 innings, showcasing both durability and advanced pitch ability for his age.
This season, Lin has taken another step forward. Through 44 innings, he owns a 2.03 ERA with 51 strikeouts, continuing to miss bats while limiting damage. His performance in May was even more impressive, as he lowered his ERA to 1.93 for the month while issuing just four walks across 23 innings. The combination of strike-throwing ability and run prevention has been a major reason for his rapid ascent up prospect rankings.
Currently ranked as the No. 93 prospect on MLB.com’s Top 100 list, Lin is beginning to show why evaluators are so high on his long-term outlook. He features a four-pitch mix with average-to-above-average grades across the board, highlighted by his ability to consistently attack the strike zone. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, while both his curveball and offspeed offerings feature enough movement and deception to keep hitters off balance.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Lin’s development is his command. He has posted just a 7.5% walk rate this season, demonstrating an advanced feel for pitching that is rarely seen from a 20-year-old starter.
For dynasty managers, Lin is quickly becoming one of the more appealing pitching prospects to target. With age on his side, a deep arsenal, and strong command metrics, his stock continues to trend upward. He won’t turn 21 until next season, and if he maintains his current pace, a promotion to Triple-A should be well within reach later this summer.
Edwin Arroyo Cincinnati Reds SS:
Earlier this week, I highlighted Edwin Arroyo as a prospect dynasty managers should be paying close attention to, and his performance throughout May only reinforces that sentiment. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop continues to climb prospect rankings and is quickly re-establishing himself as one of the premier middle infield prospects in baseball.
A fixture on Top 100 prospect lists for several years, Arroyo was acquired by Cincinnati from the Seattle Mariners in the Luis Castillo trade and is now showing the offensive upside that dynasty managers have long hoped to see. Currently ranked No. 99 on MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects list, Arroyo has been one of the biggest breakout performers at the Triple-A level this season.
Through 46 games, the switch-hitting shortstop is slashing .348/.408/.604 with a 1.012 OPS while already launching 10 home runs. His offensive growth has been especially encouraging given that defense has always been considered his calling card. Arroyo is producing a career-best quality of contact, posting a 90.3 MPH average exit velocity while increasing his line-drive rate from 25.0% last season to 31.2% in 2026. Although his 44.1% pull rate can occasionally leave him vulnerable, it has also helped unlock more power production, resulting in 23 extra-base hits this season.
Perhaps the most encouraging development for dynasty managers is that Arroyo is finally putting together a healthy and productive season. Injuries have interrupted portions of his development path, but when healthy, the talent has never been in question. At just 22 years old, he is proving that there may be more offensive upside in the profile than previously projected.
With his switch-hitting ability, defensive versatility, improving power output, and success against Triple-A pitching, Arroyo has become one of the fastest-rising middle infield prospects in dynasty formats. If he continues producing at this level, a major league debut later this summer appears increasingly likely. Dynasty managers looking for a prospect whose value is trending sharply upward should have Arroyo firmly on their radar.
Karson Milbrandt Miami Marlins SP:
A third round selection by the Miami Marlins in the 2022 MLB Draft, Karson Milbrandt is quickly emerging as one of the fastest rising pitching prospects in dynasty baseball. While he entered the season ranked as Miami’s No. 9 prospect on MLB.com, his performance throughout 2026 has begun to attract significantly more attention from prospect evaluators and dynasty managers alike.
Milbrandt possesses an intriguing four pitch arsenal headlined by a fastball that can reach the upper 90s. His best secondary offering is a sweeper that generates plenty of swing and miss, while both his cutter and curveball give him additional weapons to attack hitters in different counts. The combination of stuff and improving command has allowed him to dominate Double A competition this season.
His May performance was particularly eye opening. Across 24 innings, Milbrandt posted a microscopic 0.38 ERA while striking out 40 batters. The strikeout production alone would be impressive, but what makes his breakout even more encouraging is the progress he has made with his command. Long viewed as the biggest obstacle standing between him and a major league role, Milbrandt has reduced his walk rate to 8.7% this season after posting double digit walk rates throughout much of his professional career.
For dynasty managers, the improved control is the key development to monitor. The raw stuff has always been present, but the ability to consistently throw quality strikes is what separates high upside arms from legitimate starting pitching prospects. At just 22 years old, Milbrandt is beginning to show that he can harness his arsenal while maintaining the swing and miss ability that made him an intriguing developmental arm from the start.
Given his age, strikeout upside, and recent command gains, Milbrandt is rapidly climbing dynasty prospect rankings and should be firmly on the radar in all formats. If he continues to perform at this level throughout the summer, Miami could reward him with a promotion to Triple A and potentially put himself in the conversation for a major league debut before the end of the season.
Fallers:
Brody Hopkins Tampa Bay Rays SP:
Brody Hopkins lands on the fallers list this month, but dynasty managers should be careful not to overreact given the kind of raw stuff still present in his profile. Even with recent command struggles, the underlying arsenal continues to point to the upside of a potential impact major league starter if things click.
Hopkins features a true four pitch mix with at least plus potential across the board. His fastball is the headliner, regularly sitting in the upper 90s and capable of touching triple digits, giving him a power foundation few minor league starters can match. He pairs it with a hard breaking ball, a sharp slider, and a developing changeup, all of which flash swing and miss qualities when he is around the zone. The raw ingredients are clearly those of a frontline arm.
The issue, however, has been consistency within that delivery. Despite posting a 2.35 ERA in May, Hopkins continued to struggle with control, issuing too many free passes to sustain long term success. Across 15 innings, he walked 17 batters while recording 16 strikeouts, a reflection of outings where he can lose the strike zone even while generating elite velocity and movement. That imbalance has contributed to a 3.98 ERA on the season and has prevented his strikeout totals from fully spiking despite the quality of his arsenal.
For dynasty managers, the concern is not the ceiling but the volatility in getting there. Pitchers with four plus pitches and a fastball that can reach triple digits are rare, and Hopkins still possesses the type of repertoire that could eventually profile as a top of the rotation starter if the command comes along. Right now, though, the lack of consistent strikes is suppressing both his results and his strikeout upside.
That is why he finds himself on the fallers list this month. The foundation is still elite, but until he can consistently harness his stuff, the production will likely remain uneven. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor closely, as any meaningful step forward in control could quickly flip him back into breakout territory.
Bryce Rainer Detroit Tigers SS:
At the start of the season, Bryce Rainer carried significant hype into 2026, fueled by impressive exit velocities and the potential for an elite power and hit combination that he had already flashed in a shortened 2025 campaign. As an 11th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, expectations were high that he would continue his upward trajectory and solidify himself as one of the more advanced prep bats in the system.
Instead, Rainer has struggled to find consistency across two levels this season. He is currently hitting .226 with just three home runs and a .688 OPS, numbers that reflect ongoing timing and contact issues rather than a lack of raw talent. Through 39 games, he has also accumulated 67 strikeouts, highlighting the difficulty he has had with pitch recognition and quality of at bats at his current assignment.
One of the more concerning underlying indicators has been his batted ball quality. Rainer is posting a 19.7 percent line drive rate, which is the lowest mark of his professional career, suggesting he is not consistently squaring up pitches the way he did during his breakout flashes in 2025. While the raw tools remain evident, the quality of contact has taken a step back, leading to more empty at bats than dynasty managers expected coming into the year.
There has been a slight uptick in May, where he has hit .250, but the overall profile still reflects a hitter searching for rhythm and adjustments rather than one fully settled into pro pitching.
For dynasty managers, this is not a situation to panic over given the pedigree and draft capital. Rainer still possesses the type of raw power and offensive ceiling that made him a top 11 selection, and players with his tools often require extended development time to fully translate their hit tool at the professional level. However, the next few months will be important. To reestablish momentum heading into 2026, he will need to show meaningful improvement in both contact quality and strikeout rates, along with a push toward a Double A promotion.
The talent is still very much intact, but for now Rainer finds himself in a developmental reset phase rather than a breakout one. Dynasty managers should remain patient, while monitoring closely for signs that the underlying hit tool is starting to trend back toward its 2025 form.
Jaxon Wiggins Chicago Cubs SP:
Jaxon Wiggins entered the 2026 season with momentum and prospect helium after a strong developmental climb through the Cubs system, but his stock has cooled slightly in dynasty circles due to inconsistency in command and uneven production relative to expectations.
The right-hander continues to show the type of raw arsenal that keeps evaluators intrigued. Wiggins works with a fastball that sits in the upper 90s and can reach triple digits, giving him a true power foundation from the right side. He complements it with a breaking ball and secondary offerings that flash plus, giving him multiple weapons capable of missing bats when he is in rhythm. The raw stuff remains among the better collections in the upper minors.
However, the results in 2026 have been more volatile. Through his minor league action this season, Wiggins owns a 5.63 ERA over 8 innings in limited sample at Triple A Iowa, with 10 strikeouts but also continued inefficiency in the zone. While the strikeout ability is still present, his command has wavered, leading to deeper counts and more hittable situations when he falls behind hitters.
Earlier in his development, Wiggins showed better strikeout-to-walk balance across High A and Double A, where he was able to leverage his stuff more effectively. That version of him generated optimism that he could move quickly through the system as a future mid-rotation or better arm. This season, though, the inconsistency has led to a reassessment in dynasty rankings, with his stock trending down compared to other emerging arms who are throwing more strikes.
Even with the struggles, the ceiling remains intact. Pitchers with triple digit velocity and multiple plus secondary pitches are rare, and Wiggins still fits the mold of a potential impact starter if the command improves. The difference between a high leverage reliever and a top of the rotation arm will ultimately come down to strike throwing and efficiency.
For dynasty managers, this is a classic tools versus results profile. The stuff keeps him relevant, but the current command profile is what is driving his fall in rankings. If he can regain consistency in the zone, Wiggins still has the upside to rebound quickly in dynasty value, but for now he belongs in the fallers category as he works through growing pains at the upper levels.
Looking ahead to next month, this group of risers and fallers feels like it could shift quickly based on a few key adjustments and small sample swings. The risers all share one common thread: improved strike quality and more consistent production against advanced pitching, which suggests their breakout performances are becoming more sustainable rather than noise. If they continue to build on these gains, we could see multiple names push firmly into Top 100 prospect territory or force aggressive promotion discussions.
On the flip side, the fallers are still defined more by volatility than true talent erosion. In most cases, the raw tools remain intact, but command lapses, inconsistent contact quality, or uneven strikeout production have slowed momentum. The encouraging part is that none of these profiles feel broken, just in need of refinement and adjustment at their current levels.
As we move into the next month, the key question for both groups is whether recent trends stabilize. If the risers keep producing and the fallers tighten up their execution, we could see several quick reversals in value.
