After writing a few of these articles, it is nice to see that some of the players mentioned have been called up to the big leagues. Henry Bolte of the Athletics and Pedro Ramirez, both mentioned in the last iteration of the article, are both in the big leagues contributing. Let’s take a glance at some other notable hitting performances over the last few weeks.
Joshua Baez – St Louis Cardinals:
Joshua Baez, a second-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, is in his debut season at the Triple-A level and has started to flash the loud raw power that has long intrigued dynasty fantasy managers. Over his last four games, the 22-year-old outfielder has launched four home runs, bringing his season total to 11.
Baez consistently grades out as an above-average power hitter, and the underlying metrics support the breakout. He owns a 90.4 MPH average exit velocity along with a 50% hard-hit rate, showing his ability to consistently drive the baseball when he makes contact. His offensive profile is extremely pull-heavy, with a 51.5% pull rate, allowing him to maximize his power output.
The biggest concern remains the swing-and-miss in his game. Baez currently carries a 34.1% strikeout rate and is hitting just .236 on the season, so improving his contact skills will be critical if he wants to develop into an everyday major league bat. Still, the combination of plus raw power and impact batted-ball data gives him intriguing upside in dynasty formats.
While there is clear volatility in the profile, Baez’s .491 slugging percentage highlights how dangerous his bat can be. If he continues producing at this pace and trims the strikeouts even marginally, he should put himself in a position to earn an opportunity with the St. Louis Cardinals at some point this summer.
Edwin Arroyo – Cincinnati Reds:
Edwin Arroyo, a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization, has been a consistent presence on top-100 prospect lists for several years. Currently ranked No. 99 on MLB.com’s Top-100 Prospects list, Arroyo was originally acquired by Cincinnati from the Seattle Mariners in the Luis Castillo trade.
Arroyo is off to a phenomenal start in his first taste of Triple-A competition, slashing .348/.408/.604 with a 1.012 OPS through 46 games. He has already launched 10 home runs this season while continuing to show the well-rounded offensive profile that has made him one of the more intriguing middle infield prospects in dynasty fantasy baseball.
Known primarily for his defensive ability, Arroyo is also a switch-hitter who has made significant strides offensively. He is producing a strong 90.3 MPH average exit velocity while increasing his line-drive rate from 25.0% last season to 31.2% this year. Although he can be somewhat pull-heavy with a 44.1% pull rate, that approach has allowed him to consistently drive the baseball into the gaps, as evidenced by his 23 extra-base hits this season.
Durability has been the biggest hurdle in Arroyo’s development, as injuries have slowed him at times throughout his minor league career. However, if he continues to stay healthy and maintain this level of offensive production, dynasty fantasy managers should be extremely encouraged by the upside. With his defensive versatility, switch-hitting profile, and improved power production, Arroyo looks like a strong candidate to earn a major league call-up at some point this summer.
Kaelen Culpepper – Minnesota Twins:
Kaelen Culpepper has been one of the more impressive breakout bats at the Triple-A level this season and currently ranks among the league leaders in home runs with 10. The 2024 first-round pick and consensus top-100 prospect has put together an especially strong month of May, hitting .268 with a .549 slugging percentage and an impressive .947 OPS.
One of the most encouraging developments in Culpepper’s profile has been his plate discipline. In May, he owns an even 13:13 walk-to-strikeout ratio, showcasing a polished offensive approach that is uncommon for a player this early in his professional career. Combined with his underlying power metrics, there is plenty for dynasty fantasy managers to be excited about.
Culpepper has consistently hit the ball hard this season, producing a 91.4 MPH average exit velocity along with a 48.9% hard-hit rate. The power has translated in games, but he also adds another dimension offensively with his speed, already swiping 10 bases on the year. While shortstop is an incredibly deep position in fantasy baseball, Culpepper’s blend of approach, power, and athleticism gives him legitimate long-term dynasty appeal.
There are still areas for refinement. He has struggled at times against left-handed pitching, hitting just .207 against southpaws this season. However, the fact that five of his home runs have come against lefties suggests the raw power still plays in those matchups even when the overall consistency is lacking.
If Culpepper continues producing at this level, he should position himself for a major league opportunity with the Minnesota Twins in the near future. Dynasty fantasy managers should already have him firmly on their radar as one of the more intriguing middle infield prospects rising through the minors.
Josue De Paula – Los Angeles Dodgers:
While these articles have typically focused on Triple-A hitting performances, I wanted to highlight a player who has been on fire all season at the Double-A level: Josue De Paula.
De Paula, an international signing by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, has rapidly climbed the ranks of one of baseball’s deepest farm systems despite being just 21 years old. A consensus top-100 prospect and ranked by some outlets as the Dodgers’ No. 1 overall prospect, De Paula has continued to impress with his advanced offensive approach and mature plate discipline.
Through this season, De Paula is slashing .297/.409/.479 with an .888 OPS while showing a remarkably polished approach for his age. Perhaps most impressive is his plate discipline, as he owns a 15.7% walk rate compared to a 14.6% strikeout rate. Those are elite indicators for a young hitter facing upper-level pitching and further reinforce the belief that he can develop into an above-average major league hitter.
From a scouting perspective, De Paula projects as both a strong pure hitter and an impact power bat capable of producing 25–30 home runs annually at the major league level. His combination of bat speed, strike-zone awareness, and developing power gives him substantial dynasty fantasy upside long term.
Dynasty managers should remain patient, however, as the Dodgers possess significant outfield depth at the major league level. Even so, De Paula absolutely needs to be on the radar in all dynasty formats. Based on the way he is handling Double-A pitching, the level no longer appears to be much of a challenge for him, and he could realistically push for a major league roster spot sometime during the 2027 season.
Overall, this recent stretch of performances across the minor leagues has showcased just how much high-end offensive talent is developing in baseball right now. Players like Joshua Baez, Edwin Arroyo, Kaelen Culpepper, and Josue De Paula are all trending upward for different reasons, whether it be elite power production, improved plate discipline, quality of contact, or overall offensive polish. While each prospect still has areas of development remaining, the underlying metrics and on-field production point toward future fantasy relevance. Dynasty managers who stay aggressive in monitoring upper-level minor league breakouts now could end up gaining valuable long-term assets before the rest of the fantasy community fully catches on.
