The divisional reports are a new series put out by the Pitcher List dynasty team. These reports provide a list of the top ten prospects on each team in the division and highlight notable news, promotions, and performances to keep you up to date. Each division will be updated once per month by our divisional experts. Be sure to head over to the Pitcher List Dynasty page for all things prospects.
The NL East is full of prospects dynasty managers need to keep tabs on. Not only did the month of July have the MLB Draft, but the trade deadline also led to plenty of top prospects switching teams. These changes have drastically altered the top ten prospect lists in the article below. This article details all of the changes dynasty managers need to know. The goal is to help dynasty managers stay up to date on the latest information with in-depth looks at each specific team! Each division will come with a monthly update that readers can look forward to.
NL East
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Performances:
- Aidan Miller has not gotten off to the best start in High-A, but you should still be buying. He is batting under .200 through his first 35 games with just two homers. Digging in deeper, Miller’s profile still looks excellent. His swinging strike rate is under 10%, his walk rate sits over 13%, and he is still posting strong pull rates. The only issues are a depressed HR/FB% and a low BABIP. Both numbers should bounce back and Miller remains one of the game’s top prospects.
- Lachlan Wells is a 27-year-old pitching prospect that most dynasty managers have never heard of. While the likelihood of Wells becoming a true fantasy asset is low, his impressive run of performances is still worth mentioning. After not pitching in professional baseball since 2019, Wells is at Double-A and owns a 3.55 ERA across 16 starts. Since the start of July, Wells is 3-0 in four starts with a 1.44 ERA. He has fired seven scoreless innings twice, including one start where he struck out 11. If you are looking for a feel-good story, keep tabs on Wells.
- Looking for a new pitching prospect to track? Look no further than Eiberson Castellano. Castellano started the season at High-A but was recently promoted to Double-A. In 14 High-A appearances, Castellano struck out 31.6% of batters with a 3.36 FIP. His arsenal features a nasty slider with a fastball sitting in the mid to upper 90s. Castellano debuts at number 10 on this list and could rise quickly if his strong season continues.
Notable Promotions and News:
- Eduardo Tait was promoted from the Complex League to Low-A. Tait has been fantastic for the Phillies in his first season Stateside. In 51 games, Tait slashed .321/.377/.500 at the Complex League and has now been rewarded for his strong performance. Still only 17 years old, Tait has all of the raw tools teams want to see in their catching prospects. The real challenge for him starts now.
- Joining Tait in Low-A is Starlyn Caba. Caba ranks as the third-best prospect in Philly’s farm system and dynasty managers now get Statcast data on him. Caba ranks highly in most major publications thanks to his highly-rated defense. Caba is a slick defender at short, which is a skill that could carry him through the system. For dynasty managers, Caba showed off elite contact skills and speed in Low-A. His swinging strike percentage was just 3.9% and he stole 37 bases in 52 games. Oh, he also walked 22.7% of the time in Low-A. The power still needs time to develop, but Caba is a prospect to keep an eye on.
- Justin Crawford earned a promotion from High-A to Double-A. Despite my continued skepticism over his long-term potential, Crawford continues to hit. He was batting .301 with an already career-high six home runs in High-A prior to his promotion. Speed is undoubtedly Crawford’s calling card, but standing at 6’2″ there is plenty of raw power potential. He will need to lower his ground ball rate if he ever wants to reach his ceiling.
- Trent Farquhar was promoted from Low-A to High-A. Farquhar does not show up on any top prospect lists but was putting together a strong season in Low-A. Through 32 games, he was batting .324 with a 24.3% walk rate. His future ceiling is likely as a utility infielder but it is still a well-deserved promotion for the 23-year-old.
- If you are looking for a toolsy outfielder, write down Leandro Pineda. Pineda has been in the Phillies’ organization since 2019 but has been putting things together lately. Pineda earned a promotion from High-A to Double-A and has already hit two homers since. Standing at 6’3″, Pineda has plenty of raw power and is making more contact than ever before. At 22 years old, the real challenge for him will be in Double-A but he is somebody to monitor.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Performances:
- Nick Morabito has been on fire since the break. Morabito is a 21-year-old outfielder currently playing at High-A. Since the break, Morabito has an average of .350 while adding another eight stolen bases. His season total in stolen bases is up to 46 and is on pace for 69 this season. The lack of power (just three home runs) prevents Morabito from cracking this list, but there is no denying his elite speed.
- Mike Vasil has been performing better as of late. Vasil generated some hype throughout the dynasty community last season but has struggled this year in Triple-A. Vasil owns a 5.42 season-long ERA, but that number has been improving. Over his last four appearances, Vasil’s ERA sits at 2.70. He is coming off his best start of the season where he fired seven innings of one-run ball against Cleveland’s affiliate. His below-average strikeout rate suggests a lack of fantasy upside which keeps him from cracking the Mets’ top ten prospects.
- Jose Guevara has been the early standout from the Mets’ DSL team. Guevara is a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher out of Venezuela. Through his first eight career starts, Guevara owns a 1.45 ERA. His strikeout rate sits at an impressive 31%. Guevara is not just another high-octane wild pitcher though as his walk rate sits below seven percent. There is still plenty of unknown in his profile, but this is a name to watch.
Notable Promotions and News:
- Drew Gilbert has rejoined the Triple-A roster. Gilbert missed over three months of the season with a hamstring strain but is officially back in the Syracuse lineup. Highly regarded entering the season, Gilbert has struggled early on but his sample size is extremely small. He is a fringe top-100 prospect in my rankings and should grow more comfortable as he gets more at-bats under his belt this season. He notably has not hit a home run since Opening Day on March 29.
- Christian Scott is dealing with a UCL injury. Rumors surfaced a few weeks ago that Scott had apparently narrowly dodged surgery prior to 2024 and now is dealing with an elbow injury again. While he is hoping to avoid surgery again, the situation is obviously worrisome for dynasty managers. He remains on the Major League IL without a timetable to return.
- Nolan McLean has not generated a plate appearance since June 20. We are now over a month since McLean has been used as a hitter further signaling the Mets’ intention to transition him to a full-time starter. McLean always seemed too advanced of a pitcher to keep up with his bat and this seems to be the Mets’ belief as well. He still lands at 10th overall on this list but he lacks some of the same intrigue he had earlier this season
- Marco Vargas is injured again. Acquired from the Marlins last season, Vargas has been one of the bigger disappointments in the Mets’ system this year. With a lackluster start followed by injury, Vargas has fallen off the Mets’ top ten list. He returned to Low-A on June 30 and appeared in four games before landing on the IL for a third time this season. At 19, there is still plenty of time for development, but durability is becoming a bigger concern.
- Brandon Sproat was promoted to Triple-A. Sproat’s fantastic debut season has continued and he is now one step closer to the Major Leagues. In his last start, Sproat struck out 13 batters in just five innings of work. His strikeout rate has been great all season, but his command has improved throughout the season. After walking 14.9% of batters through his first six starts, Sproat has walked just 8.1% across his last 10. He continues to ascend dynasty rankings.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Performances:
- JR Ritchie has looked solid through his first three appearances in Low-A. Ritchie was a breakout candidate earlier last season before undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Returning to pitching, Ritchie owns a 3.00 ERA through 12 innings in Low-A. While there is no doubt that Ritchie has some rust to shake off, his health is the most important thing. The introduction of Cam Caminiti to the system pushes Ritchie down a slot to fourth on this list.
- Drue Hackenberg’s strikeout rate has taken off since being promoted to Double-A. He started his Double-A career by striking out eight and then a couple of starts later struck out 16 batters. Hackenberg’s money pitch is the slider which dives down and away from right-handed batters. His fastball plays well considering the average velocity. In five Double-A starts, Hackenberg has been dominant in three but allowed seven earned runs across his other two starts. He has potential but lacks consistency at this point, which is why he remains at 10th overall.
- Didier Fuentes has continued to post eye-popping strikeout numbers in Low-A. Fuentes just turned 19 years old in June and is turning into an intriguing pitching prospect for Atlanta. Fuentes has a plus fastball and slider combination that is having tons of success in Low-A. His strikeout rate since the start of July sits over 34% while his walk rate is a miniscule 3.4%. There is still a lot of development needed here, but add Fuentes to your list of prospects to keep an eye on. He lands eighth overall in his debut on this list
Notable Promotions and News:
- Nacho Alvarez Jr. was promoted to the Major Leagues but has since returned to Triple-A. Alvarez appeared in eight games for the Braves but collected just one hit in 32 plate appearances. Considering Alvarez had just 28 games of Triple-A experience under his belt, the promotion to the majors was likely a bit premature. He now ranks as the top prospect in Atlanta’s system and should continue developing down in Triple-A. A bonus for his future fantasy value was his ability to prove capable of handling second base for the first time in his professional career.
- Jose Perdomo made his professional debut on July 16. After inking a contract for $5 million, Perdomo was originally assigned to start his season at the Complex Level despite being just 17 years old. A hamstring injury delayed the start to his 2024 season, but he is finally back on the diamond. He made his debut in the DSL where fantasy managers should pay close attention to his production. A quick promotion to the Complex League remains possible if Perdomo shakes off any rust from the hamstring injury.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Performances:
- Thomas White has continued to pitch well in the month of July. White has made three starts in the month allowing just one earned run in each start. He has lowered his ERA down to 2.92 on the season and has kept his walk rate at a respectable level since his early season struggles.
- A popular breakout pick this season for the Marlins’ system was John Cruz. Cruz put up strong numbers at the DSL and CPX level in the Yankees’ system before joining the Marlins this off-season. Playing in full-season ball for the first time, things have not gone his way. Through 81 games, Cruz has just one home run and is batting .168. Standing at 6’2″, the raw athletic ability is still clear but a lot needs to change for him to become a prospect relevant in dynasty circles. Cruz is a fine player to move on from if you rostered him prior to the season.
Notable Promotions and News:
- The Marlins farm system looks completely different this month. Four of the top ten listed above were acquired via a trade and two others were picked up in the draft. Norby is the most talented offensive player acquired and should be up in Miami soon. In terms of upside, Deyvison De Los Santos has 40+ homer potential but his hit tool is a major question. He should also be up in Miami in the coming weeks. Both Norby and Agustín Ramírez landed inside of my top 100 prospects for fantasy baseball.
- Max Meyer was promoted back to the Major Leagues. The Marlins were trying to limit Meyer’s innings, which is why he found himself back on this top prospect list. He was promoted on the 27th and gave up four runs in his first start back. Meyer should expend his prospect eligibility this stint and should continue getting more comfortable at the Major League level.
- The Marlins assigned PJ Morlando to Low-A. The team’s first-round draft pick from this past season will begin his professional career in Jupiter but is already injured. After starting in game one of a doubleheader on August 3, Morlando was removed from the game and has been absent from the lineup since. Fellow recent draftee Gage Miller was also assigned to Low-A Jupiter for his professional debut.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Performances:
- I think it is safe to say that Travis Sykora is ready for High-A. Sykora has been fantastic for Washington this season and is starting to look like one of the steals of the 2023 draft. Through 14 starts in Low-A, Sykora owns a 2.67 ERA. He has been especially dominant of late with a 1.70 ERA in his last eight starts. In strikeout rate since June 13 sits above 40% with an impressive 8.9% walk rate. He is up to the third spot in Washington’s system and has a strong chance to enter the top 100 prospect list by the end of the month.
- Following right behind Sykora is Jarlin Susana who vaults up to fourth in this month’s update. The month of July was big for Susana not just on the mound, but in terms of his dynasty value. Forgotten about for much of the past year, Susana has been thrust back into the spotlight and is seeing his dynasty value take off. He has been fantastic since his promotion to High-A and seems to have solved the control issues that plagued him early on in his career. Susana has thrown back-to-back starts without allowing a free pass and has lowered his season-long ERA to 4.13. While that number is not sparkling, his ERA since May 31 is just 1.62.
Notable Promotions and News:
- Brady House slides up to second on this list and up to Triple-A. The promotion of James Wood to the Major League level pushes House up and he could be next in line for a Major League promotion. House has hit two home runs in his first two weeks although there are some underlying concerns. House whiffs plenty and struggles to consistently elevate the ball. His power is legit, but an aggressive approach could get him in trouble against tougher competition.
- Jarlin Susana was promoted to High-A. Susana is rising quickly through Washington’s system and could become one of the game’s top pitching prospects. Across his last six starts, Susana owns a 1.80 ERA with 42 strikeouts. More importantly, his walk rate sits under seven percent during that period. The stuff is ace material, and his new control could help him reach his ceiling.
- Sellers at the deadline, the Nationals added a few notable prospects. Alex Clemmey is the only one who finds himself inside of the top ten making his NL East Farm System report debut at 8th overall. The team also added third baseman Cayden Wallace and starting pitcher Tyler Stuart from the Mets. Stuart just missed cracking this list and was off to a strong start in the Mets’ system.
- Yohandy Morales has begun playing in rehab games. Morales has been on the IL since May 18 with a thumb injury but returned to game action on July 30. He is rehabbing in Low-A right now but is expected to rejoin Double-A Harrisburg soon. The 2024 season has been disappointing for Morales who was viewed as one of the better pure power hitters in the 2023 draft class. Hopefully, he can refind his swing after this extended absence. He slides down to sixth in terms of the Nationals’ top prospects.
Feature Image Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)