NL Central Farm Report 5.0

The divisional reports are a new series put out by the PitcherList dynasty team. These reports provide a list of the top ten prospects on each team in the division and highlight two players from each organization. Each division will be updated once per month by our divisional experts. Make sure to head over to the Pitcher List Dynasty page to check out the other divisions already released.

 

NL Central

 

Chicago Cubs

 

 

Prospects I Am Most Excited About:

• Cristian Hernandez: Now this is a name that will stand out to not only Cubs fans but most dynasty managers who follow top international signees each season. Cristian Hernandez has had a slow rise thus far in the Cubs organization but it seems things are starting to click for the 20-year-old shortstop. The Cubs started Hernandez back in Low-A Myrtle Beach where he has played in 94 games while slashing .266/.380/.404 with five home runs, 56 runs scored, 50 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases. Hernandez is appearing to be more comfortable at the plate raising his walk rate to 14.5% while lowering his strikeout rate to 23% across 413 plate appearances. There is still work to be done to live up to one of the top international signees of his class but there is a lot to like here long term.

• Jonathon Long: Drafted in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Long Beach State, Jonathon Long is an under-the-radar prospect who is standing out in the Cubs minor league system. Long is 6′ tall and 210 pounds primarily playing first base as well as third base this season in High-A and Double-A. In 68 games played in High-A Long slashed just .247/.346/.417 with 10 home runs, 44 runs scored, 41 RBIs, and two stolen bases. At the plate, Long showed a disciplined approach walking 11.8% while striking out 23.5% across 289 plate appearances. What you loved to see was Long’s propensity to hit the ball for extra base hits (22 extra-base hits out of 61 total) crushing the ball to all fields. Recently promoted to Double-A Long has continued to hit. In just 19 games played Long is slashing .422/.541/.609 with two home runs, 18 runs scored, and 13 RBIs while walking 20% and striking out just 14.1% across 85 plate appearances thus far. We have seen this profile drive up the stock of prospects like Haydn McGeary and Matt Mervis in recent years so approach this as a speculative add to move.

 

A Few Other Names To Know:

• Angel Cepeda: Make sure to stash Angel Cepeda as his stock could start climbing this off-season. The 18-year-old shortstop has been getting some work in at third base in his first taste of the Complex League this season with excellent results. In 56 games played Cepeda is slashed .298/.383/.428 with three home runs, 40 runs scored, 25 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 27 attempts. When it comes to his approach Cepeda is advanced for his age walking 11.3% while striking out just 24.6% of his 240 plate appearances. This approach tracks with what we saw from Cepeda in his first taste of professional ball in the DSL in 2023 as he walked 15.4% and struck out 23.9% across 117 plate appearances. Standing 6’1″ and only 170 pounds there is still room for muscle on Cepeda’s frame and could get to above-average power as he matures.

• Joan Delgado: Making Waves in Complex League was a 19-year-old Joan Delgado a right-handed outfielder in the Cubs organization that needs to be on your dynasty radars. Standing at 5’11” Delgado was solid across 53 games played slashing .281/.364/.538 with six home runs, 45 runs scored, 29 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. Patience at the plate is encouraging but is borderline passive as he walked 10.2% while striking out 34.8% of his 187 total plate appearances. The build could be that of a 20-20 style outfield prospect in a Cubs system that has done a good job developing talent like this of late.

 

St. Louis Cardinals

 

 

Prospects I Am Excited About:

• JJ Wetherholt: Huge value pick for the Cardinals with their first-round pick this year by selecting JJ Wetherholt out of the University of West Virginia. Going into the season Wetherholt was in the conversation as a pre-season first overall pick but an injury that forced Wetherholt to miss time allowed him to slip to the Cardinals at seven overall. Post-draft Wetherholt is quickly showing the value to the Cardinals as he has debuted in Low-A. In 10 games played, Wetherholt is slashing .267/.452/.433 with one home run, six runs, and RBIs while three of his first 10 hits have gone for extra bases. Known for his advanced approach at the plate the early results are on par with what we saw at West Virginia as he is walking 19% while striking out 7.1% of his 42 plate appearances thus far. With a strong finish to the season, Wetherholt could see his FYPD stock climb to the top two considerations.

 

• Rainiel Rodriguez: Projecting prospects in the Dominican Summer League can be tricky business but it’s hard to ignore the production of Rainiel Rodriguez in his first taste of professional game action. The 17-year-old catcher stands at 5’10” with still more projection on the body to improve upon the early power gains. In 37 games played Rodriguez slashed .344/.458/.703 with 10 home runs, 34 runs scored, 36 RBIs, and one stolen base. When it comes to his approach at the plate Rodriguez had a disciplined approach not appearing to be overmatched at any time. Across 166 plate appearances, Rodriguez was walking 15.7% while striking out just 12% of the time. Right off the bat the 10 home runs in 37 games played is fantastic but it’s the 23 total extra-base hits out of his 44 total that tell of his potential plus power potential. This is a prospect to target over the off-season as the profiles are easily comparable or better than what we saw from Samuel Basallo at the same age in the DSL and Complex League.

 

A Few Other Names To Know:

• Jimmy Crooks III: In deeper dynasty formats Jimmy Crooks III is a name you want to keep your eye on. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Oklahoma Crooks has quietly ascended the Cardinals farm system and is making a strong case to finish the season in Triple-A Memphis. The 23-year-old Crooks played his entire season to this point in Double-A Springfield where he is slashing .309/.403/.487 with nine home runs, 34 runs scored, 48 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 77 games played. True to his profile since being drafted Crooks has not been fooled at the plate as he has drawn walks 11.4% of the time and has only struck out 20.5% across 308 plate appearances this season. Now this isn’t a league-winning pick-up but there is some solid upside here going into the 2025 season as a plug-and-play second catcher to stash.

• Keiverson Ramirez: The pitching development of the Cardinals has improved in recent seasons and coming out of his second stint in the Dominican Summer League Keiverson Ramirez could be primed to rise up rankings heading into 2025. The 18-year-old right-hander stands 6’1″ and 170 pounds with room to fill out as he moves up the system. Ramirez features a four-seam fastball, slider, and change-up that he locates with pinpoint command and control. Across 10 starts in the DSL, Ramirez struck out 44 batters over 47 innings pitched, good for an 8.43 K/9 while keeping opposing batters to a .183 average, and finished with a 1.34 ERA. Limiting the walks was something Ramirez excelled in finishing the season with 1.91 walks per nine and did not allow a single home run. All signs point to Ramirez getting bumped to Complex Ball or even Low-A to start the 2025 season and he will likely start getting some attention as we dive deeper into the off-season rankings.

 

Cincinnati Reds

 

 

Prospects I Am Excited About:

• Chase Burns: Arguably one of the best arms in the 2024 draft class Chase Burns put on a display in his lone season at Wake Forest. It was this performance that helped Burns go second overall to the Reds. Standing 6’3″ and throwing from the right side Burns wows fans with triple-digit fastballs and breaking pitches that have plus movement racking up the strikeouts. Across 13 starts with the Deacons Burns struck out 162 batters over 82.2 innings pitched, keeping opposing batters to a .169 average against, and finished the season with a 2.72 ERA. The Reds have not sent Burns out yet to start his pro career and they might do the same that they did with fellow Deacon and first-round pick Rhett Lowder and start Burns out in Low-A in 2025. Regardless of when he starts his career, there is a front-line starter upside here that can not be ignored.

• Ricardo Cabrera: One of my favorite prospects to watch in the Reds system (besides Sal Stewart) has got to be Ricardo Cabrera. The 19-year-old shortstop has been getting some games at third base in Low-A this season with solid results. Standing at 6’0″ and 200 pounds Cabrera has been showing more pull-side power this season as the power numbers have been up across the board. in 87 games played at Low-A Cabrera is slashing .260/.332/.413 with 10 home runs, 46 runs scored, 45 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 22 attempts. We have seen Cabrera more than double his extra base hits over last season as of this article 30 of his 88 total hits have been for extra bases. Another bright spot is that he’s not selling out for power in regards to his approach at the plate Cabrera continues to walk 7.1% while striking out just 21.6% across 380 plate appearances on par with his career averages. This has a lot of Eugenio Suárez feels to me in Cabrera’s profile as he could get to 25 to 28 home run pop and double-digit stolen bases early on in his career coming from the hot corner.

 

A Few Other Names To Know:

• Yerlin Confidan: Getting in on the ground floor of a power-hitting prospect is key in deeper dynasty leagues as the cost can sometimes get out of hand. Yerlin Confidan is a prospect to watch in Low-A right now who has shown flashes of true plus power early on in his Minor League career. Standing at 6’4″ and 170 pounds the 21-year-old Confidan has room to still add muscle to his frame and profiles best as a right fielder long term. The question will continue to be, will he get to at least an average hit tool to stick? Now in his third stint at Low-A Confidan has played 71 games and is currently slashing .243/.341/.429 with eight home runs, 39 runs scored, 32 RBIs, and nine stolen bases in 15 attempts. Throughout each one of his stops, Confidan has shown solid walk numbers as he currently has a 12.5% walk rate this season while lowering his strikeout rate to 25.1% across 311 plate appearances. When it comes to future power we could be looking at a 25-30 home runs bat if he makes enough contact, currently Confidan is third in the Reds organization in doubles with 22 on the season and of his 65 total hits 32 of them have been for extra bases.

 

• Yeycol Soriano: Looking for some upside speed prospects? check out what Yeycol Soriano was able to do in his second stint in the DSL this season. The 18-year-old Soriano stands 6′ and is listed at 150 pounds playing primarily center field and batting from the left side. In 45 games played Soriano slashed .282/.388/.385 with one home run, 26 runs scored, 20 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts. Power isn’t a big part of Soriano’s game though he does a great job hitting the ball to the gaps and allowing his speed to play up. Of his 44 total hits, Soriano had 12 extra-base hits. This is a profile of a true leadoff hitter for the Reds long term as Soriano works the counts and rarely gets fooled over the last two seasons in the DSL. This season he is walking 13.3% while striking out just 18.6% across 188 plate appearances. We should be seeing Soriano come stateside in 2025 so stashing him in a minor league spot in deeper dynasty formats is not a bad call.

 

Milwaukee Brewers

 

 

Prospects I Am Excited About:

• Blake Burke: Drafted in the compensation round of the 2024 MLB draft out to Tennessee Blake Burke has the potential to be a stud at first base for the Brewers long term. Standing 6’3″ and 236 pounds Burke has the power hitters build right out of the gates and mashing from the left side is only a plus. In 72 games with the Vols in 2024 he slashed .379/.449/.702 with 20 home runs, 74 runs scored, 61 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. The Brewers have assigned Burke to High-A where he has only played in three games so far but the results have been solid. In 12 plate appearances, Burke is slashing .300/.417/.300 with a 16.7% strikeout and walk percentage thus far. There is a potential 25-30 home run pop here with a solid understanding of the strike zone that could help him rise quickly through Milwaukee’s farm system.

 

• Luke Adams: Continuing to impress this season has been Luke Adams who has almost matched his 2023 performance to the exact numbers. The 20-year-old power speed threat has been getting reps at first base as well as third base this season. Standing at 6’4″ and 210 pounds Adams was drafted out of high school in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB draft and could be criminally underrated across the industry as a whole. In 95 games played Adams is slashing .233/.449/.415 with 11 home runs, 54 runs scored, 55 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases in 38 attempts. When it comes to his approach Adams has increased his walk rate over last season to 19.1% while cutting the strikeouts down to 20.7% across 392 plate appearances. Don’t let the low batting average deter you from getting some shares of Adams as he should start the 2025 season in Double-A Biloxi.

 

A Few Other Names To Know:

• Bryce Meccage: The Brewer’s second-round pick in this year’s MLB draft was a 6’4″ high school right-hander by the name of Bryce Meccage. Featuring two plus offerings in the fastball which sits in the mid-90s with an excellent ride up in the zone and a sweeping slider coming in at 86 mph that plays up thanks to the high spin rates Meccage generates. Across seven starts this season Meccage struck out 47 batters over 22 innings pitched walking nine and finishing with a 0.64 ERA. The Brewers have been known for their success developing pitchers and Meccage has the size to be a dominant starter with some help. We might not see him pitch in the minor leagues this season but make sure to have him on your radar going into the 2025 Minor League season.

• Travis Smith: This is a prospect to watch going into 2025 as Travis Smith could have been a steal of a selection by the Brewers in the 15th round of this year’s MLB draft. Originally a starter for Kentucky in 2023 Smith missed some time to start the season and ended up in the bullpen for the Wildcats. The 6’4″ and 220-pound right-hander has what it takes to remain a starter long-term as the fastball sits at 95 mph and has touched 98 in a short outing this season. The slider has the potential to be a plus pitch as it comes in with some velocity at 89 mph with sweeping and dropping motion. Smith can also alter his slider at times to be a hard-biting cutter coming in at 89 to 90 mph. This season with the Wildcats Smith had 13 appearances (six starts) with 33 strikeouts over 37.2 innings pitched, and a 6.21 ERA. In deep league formats, this is a solid arm to grab at the back end of your FYPDs.

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

 

 

Prospects I Am Excited About:

• Konnor Griffin: The Pirates might have struck gold with their first pick in the 2024 MLB draft selecting high school prospect Konnor Griffin ninth overall. Griffin is 18 years old and already is 6’4″ and 215 pounds projecting as a true five-tool talent. In 43 games played this season Griffin hit .559/.690/.966 with nine home runs, 76 runs scored, 39 RBIs, and stole 85 bases in his senior season alone. There is potential for 30 home runs and stolen bases long term from Griffin who should move to the outfield long term. No word as of yet if Griffin will make his debut in Low-A this year or not, most likely he will get the start in Bradenton to start the 2025 season.

• Zander Mueth: Selected 67th overall in the 2023 MLB draft out of high school Zander Mueth has put together a solid season in rookie ball before earning the promotion to Low-A. The 19-year-old right-hander stands 6’6″ and 205 pounds with two potential above-average offerings in a 94 mph four-seam fastball that touches 97 while the 82 mph slider has excellent sweeping movement to it and has been a solid out pitch thus far. Mueth’s third offering is an 84 mph change-up that is a work in progress but has made strides in throwing it this season. Across 13 appearances (12 starts) Mueth had 56 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched with a .206 average against and finished with a 1.58 ERA in Rookie ball. Once promoted to Low-A Bradenton the results have been alright as he has made three starts with seven strikeouts over 7.2 innings pitched, all this while keeping batters to a .185 average against and currently has a 4.70 ERA. There is some deep league upside here as an arm who could be a back-of-the-rotation option if the change-up makes some strides.

 

Notable Performances:

• Michael Kennedy: Pittsburgh continues to draft and develop solid pitching prospects with Michael Kennedy impressing in Low-A Bradenton this season. Kennedy was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Pirates out of high school and features a low 90’s four seam and two seam fastball, the 82 mph slider has proven to be his out pitch and has been effective this season while the change-up players well off the four-seam fastball though the high 80’s velocity tends to be to close to the fastball options. Across 14 starts Kennedy has 74 strikeouts over 66.2 innings pitched, good for a 9.99 K/9 with a solid 1.76 BB/9, and is currently sporting a 4.05 ERA and 3.75 FIP. Control and command of his pitches is the name of the game for Kennedy and he’s done a fantastic job so far so make sure to get some shares in deep dynasty formats.

 

• Nick Cimillo: One of the Pirate’s best power bats in the Minor Leagues has been Nick Cimillo who has played in High-A Greensboro and is now in Double-A Altoona. The power-hitting first baseman stands 6’3″ and 215 pounds and bats from the right side. In 52 games played in High-A Greensboro Cimillo slashed .293/.419/.619 with 17 home runs, 46 runs scored, 48 RBIs, and two stolen bases. At the plate, Cimillo showed excellent plate discipline as he walked 17% while striking out just 25.6% across 223 plate appearances. After these strong results, Cimillo was promoted to Double-A Altoona where he has continued to hit. In 20 games played, he is slashing .250/.349/.375 with two home runs, six runs scored, 10 RBIs, and one stolen base with a 13.3% walk percentage and a 21.7% strikeout rate across 83 plate appearances. Currently, 24-year-old Cimillo should continue to get fast-tracked up the Pirates system so watch the waiver wire before the season is through as he could be an early candidate for first base going into spring training.