Who doesn’t love Spring Training? For fans, coaches, and executives alike, it is the first chance to watch your players perform every season. Just days into Spring Training 2024 we have already seen some interesting storylines emerge. Will AJ Puk be a starter next season for the Marlins? Is Casey Mize’s ~2 mph jump on every one of his pitches sustainable? Will Alek Manoah return to his old form? These are just some questions that have dominated baseball media over the past week.
Spring Training is equally important to fantasy baseball players. In deeper leagues, players drafted in later rounds that break out can be league-winners. Below are five players who, with a strong spring, could have a chance to drastically increase their dynasty value.
Be sure to head over to the Pitcher List dynasty page to check out more dynasty content from the team.
Chayce McDermott – SP, Baltimore Orioles
Before Spring Training started, I would have told you to target McDermott. Now I am virtually screaming at you to go and get him. Injuries to both Kyle Bradish and John Means have left question marks at the bottom of the O’s rotation. Tyler Wells was solid last year, but is he a long-term solution? Cole Irvin would be a serviceable SP5 for some teams, but for a contender? There’s always the possibility they could still add an arm before Opening Day, but why not look in-house?
Chayce McDermott had the best 2023 of all of the O’s top pitching prospects. In 10 appearances (8 starts) at AAA, McDermott struck out more than 11 batters per nine innings and had a respectable 3.47 FIP. He’s put himself firmly in the conversation to be called up in 2024, and injuries could accelerate that timeline. In his first appearance this spring, he struck out two in 1.2 IP. Depending on how the rest of this spring goes, he may force his way into the Opening Day rotation.
Nick Nastrini – SP, Chicago White Sox
To put it very bluntly, the White Sox will be pretty bad in 2024. The SouthSiders’ starting rotation as things stand includes two guys with 6+ ERA’s in 2023, and Erick Fedde, who despite a successful KBO stint still carries some question marks. There are pieces that could pan out (Jake Eder, Jared Shuster) but the Sox are lacking in high-ceiling pitching.
Enter Nick Nastrini. The 24-year-old right-hander spent 2.5 seasons in the Dodgers minor league system before getting shipped to Chicago in return for Lance Lynn. He’s already started one game in Spring Training so far for the White Sox (2 IP, 1 R, 2 K’s), flashing his four-pitch arsenal that has put up solid strikeout rates at every level. It’s unlikely that he will start the year with the big league club. However, due to the question marks on the staff, Nastrini could get a chance early in 2024.
Austin Wells – C, New York Yankees
Wells’ dynasty value is already pretty high. The 25-year-old catcher will likely make the Opening Day roster, splitting time behind the plate with veteran Jose Trevino. So why would I include him on this list? Simple. With a strong Spring Training performance, I could see Wells locking up the Yankees everyday catching job. Currently, Wells will likely lose a significant amount of time to Trevino. Trevino is a solid veteran backup, but Wells provides so much more offensive potential. The Yankees haven’t had an everyday power threat behind the plate since Gary Sanchez. Wells could put himself into position to be the next one.
Posting random Yankees highlights until Opening Day – Day 54:
Austin Wells crushes a home run into the bleachers (9/25/23)
ok get soto now pic.twitter.com/nIUVo1ylxp
— YankeesMuse (@YankeesMuse) December 6, 2023
Wells hit 17 home runs in 2023. Yankees catchers had 16 long balls combined in the same time period (excluding Wells’ 4 MLB homers). Wells would be a clear offensive improvement at a position that the Yankees would love to bring some stability to. The one knock on Wells’ game that prevents him from already locking down the spot is his arm. In 82 games last season, Wells allowed 109 steals. Trevino provides a defense against speed that Wells simply hasn’t been able to. Wells provides the offensive upside, and if he shows improvement behind the plate, he should be behind the plate in pinstripes most days
Matt Mervis – 1B, Chicago Cubs
After 36 minor league home runs in 2022, Mervis was one of the most hyped Cubs prospects entering last season. However, 2023 did not go as planned, as he limped to a .167/.242/.289 slash in 27 games in Major League Baseball, hitting just three home runs. As a result, Mervis was sent back to AAA and was able to turn his season around. In 100 games in Iowa, Mervis hit 22 home runs with a 15.7% walk rate and a respectable 22% strikeout rate. He enters the Cubs camp in 2024 vying to put himself back into a position to be on the big league roster.
Given the Cubs’ current roster situation, he may have that chance. The lone additions the Cubs have made at the corner infield spots so far are Michael Busch and Garrett Cooper (Cody Bellinger may end up here too if Pete Crow-Armstrong breaks camp with the Cubs). Patrick Wisdom will return to Wrigley next season, but his low batting averages and high strikeout rates leave much to be desired. A strong spring showing by Mervis may force Jed Hoyer to give him another run at the Major Leagues to start 2024.
Justyn Henry-Malloy – 3B/OF, Detroit Tigers
Why the Tigers didn’t give Malloy a big league audition in 2023 is a mystery to me. The 24-year-old put together an incredible campaign in AAA last season. Malloy slugged 23 homers, scored 89 runs, and walked 18% of the time. His 130 wRC+ was in the top 15 of all qualified hitters in AAA, ahead of top prospects Masyn Winn and Connor Norby. In eight at bats so far this spring, Malloy has already hit his first home run and has an OPS of .958.
The Tigers options at third base to start 2024 aren’t inspiring. Gio Urshela is currently slated to hold down the hot corner, with Matt Vierling and Zach McKinstry backing him up. For a young Tigers team looking to break out this year, these guys should be viewed as placeholders, not the future. Malloy has done all he can to prove that he’s ready for the Major Leagues. A strong spring could force the Tigers brass to think about giving him a shot on Opening Day.