Keeping up with prospects is a never-ending grind. For dynasty managers, it can take the entire season to get up to speed on which prospects are improving or losing their value. Then, in the middle of the season, Major League Baseball holds its draft, which adds a whole new set of prospects into the mix. Then, in January, teams sign international free agents, adding even more prospect options. Keeping up with all of the new prospects can be overwhelming. Well, this new article aims to help. This article series follows prospects in their first season of professional baseball. Who is overperforming expectations? Who is struggling and seeing their value drop? Keep reading for the first edition of the First Year Prospect Run Down.
Following First Year Prospects for Dynasty
Interesting Complex League Names to Know
Jose Feliz – SP, Washington Nationals
Getting data on Complex League pitchers sometimes feels impossible. However, sometimes, the results simply speak for themselves. After dominating the DSL last year, Jose Feliz is off to a fast start in the Complex League in 2025. Feliz has made four starts so far and has struck out 22 batters in just 17.2 innings. Impressive strikeout rates have carried over from last year, and his control has seemed to get even better.
The benefit of Feliz moving up to the Complex League is more film. The right-handed pitcher has a fluid and easy-to-repeat delivery that bodes well for his future development. His best pitch, on film, is his slider, which dives down and away to righties. One report sites his fastball as being underwhelming, but he gets good arm-side run on the pitch and commands it well. In 58.2 professional innings, Feliz owns a 2.04 ERA, 33.8% strikeout rate, and a 1.5% walk rate. These results are simply impossible to ignore. He is a player for dynasty managers to keep an eye on as the season moves along
José Anderson – OF, Milwaukee Brewers
You know about Jesus Made (more on him later), and you know about Luis Pena. Well, there may be a third Brewers prospect on his way. José Anderson signed with the Brewers for $60,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January of 2024. With the hype Made generated, nobody paid much attention to Anderson, who hit .283 with eight homers and 15 steals in 46 games in the DSL. Early on in 2025, Anderson is proving that his 2024 success was no fluke. In just 12 games, Anderson is already up to three home runs and three stolen bases while batting .295. What stands out is the improvements Anderson has already made to his hit tool. After running sub-60% contact rates last season, Anderson is making contact over 70% of the time early on in 2025. He is also walking over 17% of the time.
Although he is playing center field at the Complex level, Anderson profiles to be a corner outfielder long term. Only 18, Anderson lacks much physical projection as his 6’0″ frame is already fairly filled out. Even without additional physical projection, Anderson still profiles to have plus power in the future. His quick hands pair nicely with a leg kick that helps him drive the ball out to his pull side. He is already posting impressive exit velocities at the Complex League while driving the ball to all fields. Anderson could turn into the next must-add Brewers prospect in dynasty leagues. Managers may be wise to beat the rush and grab him now before it is too late.
Rainel Rodriguez – C, St. Louis Cardinals
There is no prospect off to a hotter start at the Complex League than Rainel Rodriguez. Rodriguez did not sign with the Cardinals until April of last season, but wasted no time making a name for himself. He hit 10 home runs with a .345 average and more walks than strikeouts in his professional debut. He is somehow playing even better early on in 2025. Rodriguez has already crushed six home runs in just 13 games this season. Despite not having the most physical frame, Rodriguez has great barrel control and a natural feel for getting to his pull side. There is significant power upside in his profile.
Catching prospects are always difficult for dynasty. Managers need to know their leagues. In shallow leagues with one catcher, rostering Rodriguez is not super important at this point. However, in deep leagues with two catchers, now is the time for dynasty managers to act. Rodriguez has 25+ home run power and is a safe bet to move to full-season ball at some point this season.
How are these 2024 DSL/CPX Standouts Performing
Jesus Made – SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Considering he had only 51 professional games under his belt, the expectations for Jesus Made entering 2025 were astronomical. Made played well in the DSL last year, slashing .331/.458/.554 with six homers and 28 stolen bases. His strong performance, athleticism, and physical projection vaulted him up into the top half of many top prospect lists. There was no prospect that dynasty managers were more excited to see entering 2025 than Made. The Brewers aggressively sent him to Low-A despite being only 17 to start the year, and he has had no trouble adjusting. Early on, Made is batting .297 with three home runs and 15 stolen bases. There is a strong chance that Made ranks as the top prospect in baseball by the end of the season.
Made’s 2025 success is even more impressive once dynasty managers factor in his age-to-level production. Made is nearly three years younger than the average competition in Low-A. Even still, he is showing significant improvements to his hit tool this season. Made has improved his contact rate from 71.7% up to 75.3%, and his swinging strike rate has lowered from 14.1% down to 9.6%. Made’s power and speed projection are the upside that landed him in top-prospect conversation. The improvements to his hit tool add a level of safety to his profile that few other prospects possess. Made is showing dynasty managers everything that they want to see early on in 2025. He could move quickly through Milwaukee’s system despite his young age.
Andres Valor – OF, Miami Marlins
Andres Valor was more of a peripheral prospect than a true headliner following his Complex League performance in 2024. The right-handed hitting outfielder hit .289 last season with just two home runs. The part that got some dynasty managers excited (as I led the hype train) was the 35 stolen bases that Valor had. However, he was more than just a speedy outfielder. Standing at 6’3″, Valor’s profile has significant power projection. He also showed significant improvements in the strikeout department as the year progressed. A 2025 breakout seemed imminent.
Unfortunately, Valor has struggled in his first taste of full-season ball. Valor is batting under .200 on the season and has just one home run. Strikeouts continue to be an issue, although he has improved his contact rate from 65.8% to 70.2%. The most disappointing part has been the underwhelming batted ball data coming out of Valor’s profile. Unlike most young hitters, Valor gets the ball in the air plenty, and he has a natural feel for getting to his pull side. Both are positive signs for his power projection. However, Valor’s average exit velocity sits at just 81.5 mph. Weak contact has Valor’s dynasty profile trending in the wrong direction. The season is still young, but outside of 12 stolen bases, Valor’s 2025 season has been disappointing for dynasty managers.
2024 Draftees Exceeding Expectations
Caleb Bonemer – 3B, Chicago White Sox
Non-first-round prep bats never generate much attention the following year. There are simply too many unknowns. Despite not generating much attention during FYPDs, Caleb Bonemer is making waves with his strong start to 2025. The White Sox took Bonemer 43rd overall last year. The early results have been promising. He is batting .277 with three home runs and 13 stolen bases. Bonemer’s advanced approach at the dish has been impressive. His contact rate sits at over 75%, and he is walking 18.1% of the time. Bonemer will be 19 years old for the entirety of 2025 and already has a solid base to build off.
So far, he has split time between shortstop and third base, although his future home is likely at third. This will put more pressure on his bat to play up from a fantasy perspective. How Bonemer’s power develops is going to be key to his profile. Bonemer is already hitting a lot of fly balls, and he is getting to his pull side well. That bodes well for his power projection. The issue is that Bonemer does not always use his lower half and seems to be prioritizing contact over driving the ball. Home runs are important for a third baseman’s fantasy value and will be essential for Bonemer. For now, dynasty managers should be encouraged by the start to his professional career. He is certainly a prospect worth keeping tabs on as 2025 moves along.
Payton Tolle – SP, Boston Red Sox
After transferring from Wichita State to TCU, Payton Tolle began focusing solely on pitching. The Red Sox saw enough potential in his arm to take him in the second round of last year’s draft. Starting the season in High-A, Tolle has looked strong early on in his professional career. Following a rough first start, Tolle has been near lights out. In his last five starts, Tolle owns a 2.45 ERA and is striking out 42% of the batters he faces. The strikeout rate is what has his dynasty stock quickly rising in the fantasy community.
The tall lefty is on the bigger side, standing at 6’6″ and weighing in at 250 pounds. There is not much physical projection left, but Tolle is already firing his fastball in the mid-90s. Adding more consistent velocity will be key as his fastball currently ranges from 93-97. 97 from his lower arm angle makes it a plus offering; 93, not so much. He also has a plus slider that is filthy against left-handed batters. He is comfortable throwing it against righties as well. Tolle mixes in a changup that sits in the upper-80s, but this is a distant third offering to his slider/fastball. His early-season performance has far exceeded the expectations many dynasty managers had for him entering 2025.
*Andrew Salas – SS/OF, Miami Marlins
This one does not technically count as Andrew Salas was not taken in the 2024 draft. However, where else does Salas fit? The Marlins aggressively sent Salas straight to full-season ball despite just signing with the team this past winter. The younger brother of Ethan and Jose Salas, Andrew, is finding similar hype in the dynasty community to that which his brothers received. Salas’ aggressive assignment to Low-A has not seemed to be too much for the team’s prized signing. Sals is more than holding his own batting .278 with a 129 wRC+. The part of Salas’ profile that has really stood out has been his maturity at the plate. Through his first 30 games, Salas is walking more than he is striking out. His patient approach, paired with excellent contact skills, gives Salas a solid floor to build on. Rarely do 17-year-old prospects post contact rates above 75% in Low-A. That is exactly what Salas is doing.
Salas’ profile is not all about his hit tool, though. He is also a plus runner and has already stolen 14 bases this season. Even if his speed slows down a bit as he matures physically, he still profiles to be a 25+ steal player. The only real question in Salas’ profile is how his power will develop. Salas is tall and slender, with the chance that he continues growing. He stands at 6’2″ and there is plenty of room to add muscle and power. Right now, Salas owns an average exit velocity of just 80.3 mph. He has yet to hit a professional home run. The hope is that as he continues to grow and get more comfortable, the power will come. Even still, Salas’ production this early into his professional career is something for dynasty managers to take note of.
2024 Draftees Struggling Early
Charlie Condon – 3B/OF, Colorado Rockies
Charlie Condon’s dynasty stock has been trending down ever since being drafted third overall in last year’s draft. First, it was the struggles in his professional debut. Condon hit just .180 through his first 25 professional games at High-A. Then, it was health issues. Condon suffered a fractured wrist in spring training and was forced to miss the first several weeks of the season. Now, it is back to struggles, except this time, it is at the Complex League. Condon has looked lost through the first couple of weeks of Complex League action. Despite lower levels of competition than he faced in college, Condon is still striking out over 30% of the time. He is also walking less than six percent of the time and is yet to hit a home run.
For dynasty managers, the power is going to come back. Condon hit 37 home runs in his final collegiate season. This upside alone gives him significant dynasty upside. However, he should no longer be viewed as a blue-chip prospect. Instead, Condon is a power prospect with significant hit tool risk. Like many other Rockies prospects in recent years, it is possible Condon never hits enough to cement himself as a major league regular. Although Condon is working his way back from a major injury, this slow start at the Complex League is adding more concerns to an already troubling profile.
Vance Honeycutt – OF, Baltimore Orioles
There is no denying Vance Honeycutt’s raw tools. Standing at 6’3″, Honeycutt blends power and speed to form an intriguing and enticing dynasty profile. His athleticism and tools are what led Baltimore to select Honeycutt 22nd overall in last year’s draft despite a 27.5% strikeout rate in his final season at UNC. Unfortunately for Honeycutt and the Orioles, this strikeout issue has rolled over into his professional career. After striking out 42.9% of the time in his professional debut last year, Honeycutt is striking out 35.2% of the time this season. Through 33 games, Honeycutt is batting just .212. While his hit tool remains a concern, there are some positive takeaways despite the disappointing stat line. Honeycutt has improved his contact rate to 69.2% this season. He is also showing off patience at the plate, walking over 14% of the time. These positives mean nothing if Honeycutt cannot get his strikeout rate down, but they are positive nonetheless.
The other issue with Honeycutt has been the lack of true game power. Honeycutt’s speed has been on full display. He has already stolen 15 bases this season and has 40+ steal potential. However, part of what made Honeycutt so attractive to dynasty managers post-draft was his power/speed combination. So far, Honeycutt has just two homers through his first 200 professional plate appearances. His home-run-per-fly-ball rate data is underwhelming, and his swing does not seem to be designed to really drive the ball out of the park. Hopefully, the Orioles can work to unlock some of the raw potential stored up in Honeycutt’s profile.
