The division reports debuted last year. The goal of this article series is to provide a quick overview of all dynasty-relevant information from each division. Each team has multiple levels each containing plenty of impactful prospects which can feel impossible to keep up with. This article series, which will be updated once per month, will help dynasty managers stay up to date on performances, injuries, promotions, and more. New this season is the inclusion of tiers in the rankings. Next to their rank, each prospect is assigned a tier. The tier range is 1-5.
- Tier 1: A potential difference-making dynasty prospect. Somebody who would rank in the top-20ish prospects for dynasty baseball
- Tier 2: A still very good dynasty prospect who holds plenty of value. This prospect would typically rank in the 21-75 range
- Tier 3: A mid-tier prospect who could be valuable but has questions and concerns present in his profile ranking in the 76-150 range
- Tier 4: A prospect who is worth knowing, but is reserved for deeper leagues. This prospect would rank 151-250
- Tier 5: The rest of the prospects fall into Tier 5
The Pitcherlist Dynasty Team has worked hard to bring you the latest news from each of the farm systems around baseball. Five of the divisions have already been published. Today, I bring you the sixth and final one. The National League West features one of the best farm systems in all of baseball with the Dodgers. The Rockies are building an intriguing system full of potentially impactful names while the other teams feature players like Bryce Eldridge and Jordan Lawlar. Keep reading for the latest news and notes from all five teams.
NL West
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Assignments:
- Notably, Hyeseong Kim did not make the Major League roster. The Dodgers signed Kim to a $12 million contract out of Korea this past off-season but he did not do enough in Spring Training to earn a Major League roster spot. Kim’s speed makes him intriguing for fantasy managers but there is not a ton of fantasy appeal outside of that. Mixed into a crowded Dodgers’ depth chart, it is challenging to envision Kim becoming a fantasy-relevant asset for 2025.
- The general consensus appears to be that Zyhir Hope and Eduardo Quintero will return to Low-A to start the season. Hope is in the spotlight for dynasty managers, but Quintero has plenty of upside himself. He stole 32 bases in just 83 games while showing off excellent contact skills and elite plate discipline. The hope is that Quintero can get the ball in the air more often to tap into more game power.
Notable Prospect News:
- Nick Frasso pitched in his first professional game since 2023. Frasso has dealt with arm injuries throughout his professional career which have prevented him from reaching his ceiling. Frasso is now healthy again and looking to reclaim his status as a top arm in the Dodgers’ system. He pitched two scoreless innings in his 2025 debut and could make his way to the Major Leagues later this season.
- The Dodgers are trying to figure out where Dalton Rushing best fits defensively. Drafted as a catcher, Rushing spent time in the outfield last season as the team tried to add more versatility to his profile. He has made starts at catcher and first base so far this season. With Freddie Freeman’s injuries becoming more consistent, first base could be the path that gets Rushing to the Major Leagues fastest. He is a tier-two prosepct for dynasty managers and is certainly somebody to consider stashing prior to his debut.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Assignments:
- Tirso Ornelas did not make the Major League roster. The Padres seemed to do everything in their power to make sure that Ornelas was not handed a Major League roster spot. Instead, the team will carry Jason Heyward, Gavin Sheets, and Connor Joe. Ornelas heads to Triple-A but should find himself in the Major Leagues at some point this season.
- Leodalis De Vries is starting the season at High-A. As they were with Ethan Salas, the Padres continue to be aggressive with their top prospects. De Vries put together a strong first season hitting 11 homers with 13 steals in his age-17 season. He will look to build on that in 2025. Dynasty managers should consider De Vries one of the game’s top prospects.
- Ethan Salas is starting the season in Double-A. Salas got a taste of Double-A in 2023 but spent all of last season in High-A. Salas’ stat line suggests he struggled in 2024, but he actually posted a 103 wRC+. Salas is still only 18 years old and remains one of the game’s top dynasty catchers. He should find more success in 2025.
Notable Prospect News:
- The team’s first round pick will start the year in Low-A. Kash Mayfield was taken 25th overall by the Padres in last year’s draft. Padres pitching prospects have a way of working their way up prospect lists rather quickly. He only ranks as a tier-four prospect at this point, but he is somebody worth keeping an eye on.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Assignments:
- Jordan Lawlar is heading back down to Triple-A to start 2025. Lawlar was regarded as one of the game’s top prospects at one point in 2023, but he struggled in his first taste of Major League action and injuries limited him to just 23 Minor League games last season. He played well this spring and should be first in line should a Major League regular go down with an injury.
- Demetrio Crisantes will start the season in High-A. After a breakout 2024 season, Crisantes has flown up prospect boards. He has an exceptional hit tool and plus speed. The development of his power will be key to reaching his dynasty ceiling.
- First pick Slade Caldwell will start in Low-A while Ryan Waldschmidt is going to start 2025 in High-A. Caldwell’s ranking on the list above is a bit lower than standard lists. This is an important reminder that this is a fantasy/dynasty-specific list. Caldwell’s lack of physicality and power projection limits his ceiling. Waldschmidt however combines power and speed and could quickly jump from tier three to tier two this season.
Notable Prospect News:
- LuJames Groover is generating more buzz in dynasty circles. Groover has been a favorite of mine since watching film of him last season. Smooth hands and effortless power make his ceiling incredibly high. After finishing the 2024 season in Double-A, do not be surprised if he winds up back there to start 2025.
- Druw Jones has been making some adjustments to his mechanics and approach. Jones has been a disappointment for dynasty managers up to this point in his career but he will be 21 for the entire 2025 season and posted a 125 wRC+ last year. There is buy-low appeal to Jones’ profile. He is likely to start the 205 season at High-A.
- After getting a late start in Spring Training, Yu-Min Lin is going to start the season in Double-A. Lin finished 2024 in Triple-A, but will start the 2025 season with Amarillo. Lacking significant fastball velocity, Lin’s strikeout rate has dipped since moving up to higher levels of the Minor Leagues. He posted a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts last season and is hoping for more success in 2025. Lacking much upside in the strikeout department, Lin fails to crack this top ten list.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Assignments:
- Both Aeverson Arteaga and Diego Velasquez are starting the season in Double-A. Both have been favorites of mine in previous years with neither seeming to reach their potential. Arteaga has battled injuries and played just 24 games last season. He is looking to bounce back after a rough season. Velasquez seems like a high-floor, low-ceiling option until he shows an ability to get the ball in the air with more consistency.
- Sabin Ceballos is also starting the season in Double-A. Ceballos was featured in my breakout prospect article from this past off-season. A swing change with San Francisco helped unlock more game power, which should continue in 2025. Now might be the best chance to get in on Ceballos before his stock rises in dynasty circles.
Notable Prospect News:
- Bryce Eldridge has begun appearing in games again. Eldridge suffered a wrist injury in Spring Training, but has started ramping back up at the team’s Spring Training facility. Eldridge is one of the game’s top first base prospects and should make his Major League debut at some point this season.
- Carson Whisenhunt struck out eight in his first start of 2025. Whisenhunt has fallen down prospect lists after an up-and-down 2024 season but seems primed to bounce back. Whisenhunt still has excellent stuff. Can anybody be at fault for struggling in the Pacific Coast League? Whisenhunt is a great buy-low candidate in dynasty.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Prospect Assignments:
- Chase Dollander did not make the Major League team. Dollander entered Spring Training with a strong chance to make the starting rotation but posted a 7.13 ERA. He will head to Triple-A where he will work to refine his command prior to joining the Rockies. Dollander is a tier-two prospect although pitching in Coors creates some cause for concern.
- Zac Veen did everything in his power to earn a Major League roster spot. Veen hit two homers with nine steals in Spring Training showing off his elite fantasy upside. Dynasty managers are buying back in and with the trade of Nolan Jones, should expect to see Veen in Colorado early on this season. The biggest key for Veen will be staying healthy as he starts the season in Triple-A.
- Adael Amador is getting his first taste of Triple-A action. Amador was a top prospect on many lists entering last season, but the Rockies seemed to have messed with his development. He skipped Triple-A entirely, played in 10 Major League games, and then went back to Double-A. Amador is a sneaky buy-low option for dynasty managers. Hopefully, some time in Triple-A will get him back on track.
- The Rockies announced where two of their other top picks from the 2024 draft will start. Jared Thomas will be going to High-A and Brody Brecht will be starting in Low-A. Brecht has started to gain some attention in the dynasty community thanks to impressive stuff. The issue, as always, is how will Brecht fair in Coors Field. Thomas meanwhile is underrated in most dynasty circles with a solid combination of power and speed.
Notable Prospect News:
- Charlie Condon suffered a broken wrist in Spring Training. The negative vibes around Condon peaked this spring when the team announced he suffered a fracture in his wrist. Condon has struggled in his small sample of Major League plate appearances, but it is important to remember that he was the third overall pick last season. There is still a lot of upside and now might be a nice time to buy low. He remains a tier-three prospect.
Photo by Dan Meyers/Unsplash | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@djfreddie10.bsky.social on Blue Sky and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)
