Drafting starting pitchers is more than understanding the players we saw in 2024. With pitching development improving each year, we’re watching young arms make larger impacts each season, forcing fantasy players to become more aware of potential prospects more than ever.
In previous years, I was vocal about how I wouldn’t focus on prospect pitchers until they make it to the major league level and made their debut for multiple reasons. 1) Our minor league data was too shallow, 2) Facing major league hitters exposes weakness and highlights strengths, and 3) I couldn’t get good footage from behind the pitcher to properly scout their abilities prior.
All of that has changed…mostly. #2 still stands as it’s difficult to discern if their past performance will hold against higher quality hitters, though, with Statcast applying to all Triple-A parks in 2023, a better grasp of pitch shape to better quantify four-seamer performance at the MLB level, and far more media present across social media, I elected to spend this off-season focusing on pitching prospects for each organization. Wild, I know.
The 100 names below mostly pertain to a potential 2025 impact (save for a few who are just that good) and are just for redraft fantasy baseball drafts. It’s incredibly difficult to discern the ETA to the majors for pitchers from Double-A and lower, though I’ve taken the liberty to push down many highly touted arms simply because they are highly unlikely to debut in 2025.
What Matters Most For Prospect Pitchers
This is a brief and broad outline of what I look for most out of prospect pitchers for 2025 redraft fantasy baseball leagues and how that has affected my rankings below.
1) Overpowering four-seamer. 1.0+ Height Adjusted VAA, 6.6+ extension, 16+ iVB, 95mph+ velocity.
2) Mechanics that speak to command. Lack of violent motion, consistency inside at-bats to sequence and locate instead of “chucking around the zone and hoping”. The most subjective of the bunch, but poor command prospects will fail. Cough Taj Bradley cough.
3) A legit slider. Not curve or changeup, a slider. It’s the best secondary pitch in baseball and the most consistent for whiffs. A great cutter works too.
4) A #3 pitch he can earn consistent strikes with. A curve, a cutter, a sweeper, whatever. Something that is not his putaway pitch that can ensure the walks aren’t sky-high.
5) Weapons for both LHB and RHB. This usually means a changeup + a slider or curve, though it can be a cutter for off-handed batters instead of a changeup.
If a pitcher doesn’t have 95+ mph heat, they have to either have elite four-seamer pitch shape with a devastating pair of secondaries or the combination of stud sinker command with a legit pitch for off-handed batters and a wipeout breaker.
Don’t fall into the trap of chasing a prospect pitcher in a redraft league if they do not have these qualities – especially if their best pitch is a changeup and they have nothing else.. There will be a ton of hype around callups, that doesn’t mean you have to chase it. I’ve listed 100+ names below – only about 10 prospect SP last year were worthwhile as pickups last year. Keep that in mind.
NOTE: We have a Minor League PLV App exclusive for PL Pro members that allow us to track minor league hitters and pitchers better than ever. Pitch Shape, decision values, PLV marks across the repertoire, everything we have with our MLB tools applied to minor leaguers. Sign up for PL Pro to get access on Day 1.
Tier 1 – Major Focus in April
These are the guys you want to keep an eye on early in the season.
1. Jackson Jobe (DET, RHP)
I don’t care for Jobe. YOU TAKE THAT BACK. Sure, he doesn’t have elite vert. Or extension. And didn’t get all the whiffs in the ultra brief look we got of him. But the dude throws hard, has a massive variety of pitches (he’s up to six now!) and profiles out to be a legit arm with velocity and a kitchen sink of filth.
Jobe hasn’t racked up the strikeouts quite yet, but he’s made the rotation out of camp. I expect some limitations early in the year, but he should be held onto. Expect growth and production.
Quick Take: Jobe didn’t have as ultra dominant of a 2024 as we expected throughout the minors, but you dang well better take the flamethrower on your fantasy teams.
2. Bubba Chandler (PIT, RHP)
There’s a case to be made that Chandler is the #1 SP to target in redraft leagues. The signing of Jack Flaherty added more competition for Jackson Jobe to crack the rotation out of camp, while the Pirates (currently) have Bailey Falter and Johan Oviedo slated as their SP #4 and SP #5. If Chandler appears in camp flexing his mid-to-upper 90s heater with control inside the zone + a dotted slider away to RHB and a lateral changeup away to LHB. This isn’t your WHOA! absurd starter, however Chandler’s command and consistency is refined relative to what we normally see, making me more confident in Chandler to retain 12-teamer value should he get a rotation spot. I see a reliable “Holly” throughout the year when he arrives given his heavy strike rates and above average fastball & slider. The biggest question is his ability to take down LHB with the changeup (and maybe the slider) and I look forward to seeing him figure it out this year.
3. Jack Leiter (TEX, RHP)
I’ll continue to stand here and tell you that Leiter’s four-seamer is stupid awesome and I can’t believe it got hit as hard as it did last year. It has all the metrics you want from velocity to shape and extension, but it had a 54% ICR to RHB and I’m still sad about it. Yes, the slider could have done more and was hung constantly, allowing batters to chase heaters and trust themselves to adapt to sliders, BUT STILL. It does make me think a sinker would help Leiter just to help get guys off the four-seamer a touch more, too. He truly has a gifted heater and I fail to believe there isn’t a tweak made here or there to let it soar.
Maybe I’m too high on the slider and waving off its horrific swing and miss ability a bit too aggressively, which is more of a question about his command moving forward than anything else. Watching Leiter, you can sense his lack of confidence with each pitch, getting glimpses of proper placement only before it slipped shortly after, enveloped by the ringing descension of our collective groans. I want to believe he can get to that point, but it may take another full year to get there and I’m already concerned about my anxiety starting Leiter with any regularity.
A third pitch would help plenty here and fortunately, we’ve seen Leiter this spring embrace the lab, showcasing sinkers and changeups to complement the slider & curves in their sidekick roles. The change has looked promising and likely sticking, while the sinker has been featuring heavily against RHB, but hasn’t consistently gotten inside far enough to jam them. I want to believe the larger mix sets Leiter up for success, though he’s still more hittable than he should be on paper. It has the makings of a HIPSTER, but let’s give it a spin and see how it goes.
Quick Take: Leiter’s four-seamer is among the best and the question is how the secondaries will develop, especially without top-of-the-line command. Expect Leiter to reach those heights in due time instead of out of the gate in April, making him an arm to consider drafting and possibly stash as he figures it out.
4. Quinn Mathews (STL, RHP)
I’ve been pretty down on Mathews this offseason, but I’m starting to understand the hype a little better. Mathews obliterated Double-A in August, including 34 strikeouts across three of four starts before getting promoted to Triple-A where he…fell on his face. His first three games tallied 13 walks before a solid outing on the 19th, but it’s why I’ve been anti-Mathews. The sole data I had (Triple-A) was mostly him at his worst. With a 1.3 “HAVAA” at 94/95 mph, a back-foot slider to RHB and a 60 grade changeup per Eric Longenhagen, I can see it. And I saw it myself in spring training with a well spotted heater, a great breaker, and that changeup looking better than expected. I see Mathews as a quick promotion to the majors as the current #7/8 SP behind Michael McGreevy and possibly Steven Matz returning to the rotation. He should produce right away.
5. Kumar Rocker (TEX, RHP)
I’m conflicted y’all and I hate being conflicted. It usually means I avoid the guy, get FOMO when the season starts, doubt myself and question why I wasn’t more in on the guy, OR I get too aggressive and overvalue them based on their ceiling while they turn into a “HISPTER” before my eyes. Why are you doing this to me, Rocker?!
The discomfort is complicated. His heater sits 96/97 with 7+ feet of extension (dope!) but average “HAVAA” and horrible “iVB” that prevented it from being a whiff machine despite far better command than I expected against RHB. Speaking of which, the sinker was also pristine as it landed nearly 80% of the time inside to RHB. That’s unreal! Incredible! And maybe all a fluke of small sample. It’s very possible Rocker doesn’t have the same feel for heaters start-to-start and that scares me – not to mention his low 12% SwStr rate on his four-seamer that could be wonky or a sign of things to come. I want to say it’ll get whiffs next year, but then again, he located with absurd precision and still returned just a 20% whiff rate (that’s per swing, y’all). Hmmmm.
The other issue comes with his arsenal depth. I love his slider, that’s not the issue. It’s a legit pitch to suffocate RHB and even does what I want against LHB as a proper back-foot pitch that had many batters baited successfully for a near 30% SwStr rate…and 53% strike rate. But, the four-seamer wasn’t nearly as effective, and I’m not sure there’s another offering in the tank to help Rocker take down LHB. He certainly needs a cutter or curve or change or SOMETHING to help or that will add to the volatility.
Kumar looks to be your standard “HIPSTER”. We will see games of 8+ strikeouts that wow us and we’ll also see disastrous outings that pain us and what we’ve seen in spring is poor command to LHB, while featuring curves over sliders. I’m not super enthused, let alone the fragility of his rotation spot with Patrick Corbin entering the rotation on April 11th. I’m worried he won’t find his footing in time to earn his spot over Leiter.
Quick Take: Rocker hurls 97 mph with elite extension mixed with a seemingly well-spotted sinker and legit slider to demolish RHB. However, his heater suffers greatly against LHB where the slider isn’t nearly as effective, granting a clear weakness for a young arm who is sure to have his “Shag Rug” moments. This may be more of a headache than he’s worth, even as a late flier.
6. Noah Cameron (KCR, LHP)
Cameron is my favorite of the Royals prospects and it’s all because of his super-high PLV changeup. The southpaw spots it well and is sure to make RHB uncomfortable in the majors by flexing the pitch, while his big curveball can be used to get called strikes and fall under the zone to both LHB and RHB. The four-seamer doesn’t come with any exciting metrics, but it does spot well above the changeup, amplifying the deception between the two. I do wonder if his cutter can take a step forward to help mitigate damage against RHB and act as a silencer to LHB, but the changeup and curveball command alone makes him someone of note when he gets the shot. Not an auto-add in 12-teamers without a reliable strike pitch to both LHB and RHB (that’s only the questionable four-seamer for now), but a possible 15-teamer play.
Update: Noah’s increased velocity to 94 mph makes me more encouraged than before + he could be in the rotation soon with little SP depth in Kansas City.
6.5. Zebby Matthews (MIN, RHP)
I’m awfully conflicted. When I first saw Zebby and tracked him in the minors, I saw a 95+ heater with good movement with a whiff heavy slider, bridge cutter, curve and change on the fringe, and legit command. What we got after was…different. His heater does have solid two-plane movement, but not so much and was left over the middle of the plate a ton, his slider was tugged way out of the zone to RHB (60% strike rate) and often ignored + was left well in the zone frequently to LHB, and his cutter didn’t get far enough inside to prevent damage.
It mapped out a Toby in progress who could jump into the land of Holly if he’s able to get more consistency on the slider to RHB and possibly figure out the curve or change to LHB (and cutter too, while you’re at it). The Twins may be best throwing him into the fire of the bigs and helping him figure it out as he goes, but my guess is Zebby heads to Triple-A with Paddack and Festa taking the rotation spots. It makes sense given his struggles after his first few starts and I’m looking forward to seeing him again this year. Pay attention in the spring to see if he’s improved any of his arsenal and forcing the Twins to add him to the rotation right away.
Quick Take: Zebby still has a bit of work to do with his approach and nailing down his command. His slider shows promise, while the four-seamer and cutter can work well if he’s able to locate them at will – a skill he has flexed at times. I’m curious, but would rather take other chances to kick off the year.
Update: I accidentally left Matthews off this list as I had considered him as a graduated prospect. He is now slotted behind Cameron and ahead of Festa (who I also meant to add!) as I believe the Twins will have him up early with a bit of skepticism if he can excel when he does.
6.51. David Festa (MIN, RHP)
Festa feels super close to making it all work. He comes with 94/95 mph velocity with seven feet of extension and while his iVB looks great at 17″, it’s actually normal for his arm angle. However, the heater gets exceptional cut action, which he doesn’t take advantage of currently. In 2024, it seemed as though Festa thought “high vert = high location”, but in fact, he should be jamming that thing inside to LHB on the regular. Against RHB, sure, keep that upstairs, just pair it with a sinker inside (seven feet of extension, remember!) and you’ve got yourself a dang good foundation.
The secondaries have small tweaks to make but show promise, too. The changeup obliterated LHB for a 21% SwStr rate and 63% Strike rate at a monster 39% usage, but the slider was unreliable to RHB. We want to see a tight down-and-away epicenter for the pitch and we saw a scattershot of breakers at 86 mph that led to a low 14% SwStr rate and poor 45% ICR. I want to feel better about that slider, but hot dang, that was some poor command.
I look at the options for the Twins and it seems clear that Festa should earn a rotation spot out of the gate and guess what? As the SP #4 or #5, Festa would get the White Sox as his first start of the season. Oh BABY. Festa’s ADP may jump drastically during March if he looks confirmed inside the rotation, though you may be able to sneak him as a pickup after the opening weekend. I’m all for that, and I’m also fine with drafting him with one of my final picks. Let’s see if he’s made any adjustments and can take full advantage of regular starts in the majors.
Quick Take: Festa has a good foundation that he needs to build on. Embracing the four-seamer inside to LHB + adding a sinker to RHB, while wrangling the slider are the key factors I’m looking for that could turn him into a legit SP overnight. If he wins a job in camp, he’ll get the White Sox in a start that may put him on the map.
Update: I accidentally left Festa off this list as I had considered him as a graduated prospect. He is now slotted behind Cameron and Matthews as I believe the Twins will promote Matthews first. He also skill has some command questions to answer as noted above.
7. Chase Petty (CIN, RHP)
I get Aaron Nola vibes watching Petty with a sinker/slider approach that has expanded to be more of a two-plane slider near 85 mph mixed with a harder 90 mph cutter. The sinker finds the zone plenty at 94+ mph, which isn’t the flirtation with 100 mph that he had in high school and could ramp up with more frames. I’m curious if he can pair at least one plus whiff pitch with a spotted sinker, though I’m not sure what the plan against LHB is quite yet. Pay attention, there seems to be a good foundation of command here with some above-average stuff.
8. Shane Smith (CHW, RHP)
He was a Rule 5 draft pick and tossed sixteen starts for the Brewers Double-A team. He’s seized the fifth spot for the White Sox and I’m awfully curious. His 93/94 mph heater has turned in 96 mph and features proper cut action, which is paired with a 90/91 mph cutter, and big, loopy 79/80 mph curveball that has plus potential with elite break. If Shane can locate his fastball and cutter effectively, his 6.8 feet of extension can help mask the pitches well enough to induce a ton of weak contact and provide the outs White Sox management is looking for. Think of this as a potentially worse version of Rasmussen.
9. Brandon Sproat (NYM, RHP)
There’s been a whole lot of talk about Sproat as of late as the #1 Mets prospect and while I wonder if we’ll see him early in the year, I imagine the Mets want to see Sproat dominate at Triple-A before getting clearance. After all, four of his seven starts in Triple-A came with at least 4 ER, with four games of 2 Ks or fewer. It was rough. Sproat’s velocity is still there, flexing a heater sitting 97 mph in a few games, but the vert and extension are low percentile marks. His breakers show promise in a cutter, slider, and curve, and there is a changeup at play, making me curious what we get across a larger sample of not being whatever that was in August and September. Sit back and see how this plays out in April and May.
Tier 2 – Auto-Adds With A Solid Shot of 2025 SP Debut
These prospects have a decent shot of being a part of the rotation before the end of April, if not grabbing a spot out of camp (Kyle Harrison has the job, y’all). It doesn’t mean they are my favorite prospects, but at least they are the guys in your drafts to consider first as spec-adds, who you can drop once they’ve confirmed to be sent to the minors to begin the year.
10. Noah Schultz (CHW, LHP)
If you don’t know Schultz, I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re here if you already knew him, too, I’M JUST HAPPY TO HELP. Schultz has been compared to Randy Johnson as he hurls mid-to-upper 90s heaters from the left side, paired with an elite breaker that looks awfully like a mix of Randy’s and Sale’s signature breakers. There’s a developing sinker and changeup in the mix as well, and Schultz could appear in camp ready to dominate and demand a starting gig. After all, he returned an elite 1.48 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with just 7% walks in 16 Double-A starts while flirting with a 30% strikeout rate (11-12% SwStr rate is a little lower than expected, though that may be due to him working on his arsenal), and he hasn’t hit his potential quite yet. He’s the perfect last pick to wait-and-see if he gets the opportunity from the spring. If not, you can drop and move on before the season even starts.
11. Andrew Painter (PHI, RHP)
Everyone loves Painter. He’s incredible! He’s Verlander! His command is pristine, and he has such a deep arsenal! Well, I haven’t had any data on Painter until the AFL and…I didn’t like it? I talked to James Anderson about this at FPAZ and he gave some great insight, mentioning the belief that Painter has a refined arsenal that will likely take a moment to come back by the time we see him arrive around July for Philadelphia (maybe sooner if their rotation crumbles, they have no depth). So fine, I’ll ignore the terrible 6.1 feet of extension with low iVB and a super steep attack angle on his 96 mph fastball for now. Personally, given how long of a wait this is and with a handful of other starters I like more, I’m personally sitting this one out.
12. Yoniel Curet (TBR, RHP)
With placement on the 40-man roster, it’s possible Curet shoots up the system to make his debut in 2025. Will it be as a starter or a reliever? His mid-to-upper 90s heater propelled a 30%+ strikeout rate and he pairs it with the traditional slider + developing changeup, though the common issue is apparent: Strikes. Curet has yet to display a sub-10% walk rate and his lack of reliable depth may force him to the pen despite starting all 26 games of 2024. Pay attention to his performance this year, as it will dictate his role for 2025 and 2026.
13. Emiliano Teodo (TEX, RHP)
Emiliano hurls upper-90s four-seamers that comfortably hit triple digits, though they don’t come with the whiffs you’d expect, suggesting poor shape or a sinker focus. It puts the focus on his slider and changeup, while hoping he can command the heater well enough for quick outs and turn to the secondaries confidently to find strikeouts. There’s clear potential in such a flamethrower as the slider does a great job cleaning up hitters, and the question remains if he can find the polish to bring his Double-A 12-14% walk rates down to digestible levels. With a possible start to the season in Triple-A, Teodo could be up this year. If he gets a shot, he’s a clear add, though I’d be cautious about the inefficiency he’s displayed thus far. Keep him on your radar throughout the year.
14. Winston Santos (TEX, RHP)
I think I like Santos the most of this crew, though I have to preface that I have limited data and information without Triple-A starts from all these arms. The report is mid-to-upper 90s heaters that miss bats with a tight slider as a true #2 offering and an unrefined changeup that flashes plus. The mechanics look smooth and reinforce the low walk rates across every level, with the heater leading the charge as a strike pitch that misses bats, likely from a great “HAVAA” given his relatively “short” height at an even six feet. With just under 50 frames of Double-A under his belt, he could quickly jump to Triple-A with the majors shortly after by the middle of the season. Don’t forget his name.
15. Moisés Chace (PHI, RHP)
I LOVE Moisés Chace, I just don’t know if we’re going to see him this year. His mechanics are fantastic where he’s centered with proper momentum toward the plate, allowing for far less variance in command than we normally see with young flamethrowers, with a legit four-seamer with ride upstairs and a whiff-heavy slider. I’d be all over Chace in a dynasty league, but for redraft leagues, we may have to wait until 2026. It’s possible we don’t – if Chace gets a long look in the spring + dominates early in April/May, then the Phillies may look at their depth options and say “GET ON UP HERE NOW” and save the team. They really don’t have much else outside of Painter.
16. David Sandlin (BOS, RHP)
Hmmmm. Sandlin looks filthy at times with mid-to-upper 90s heaters and a nasty set of breaking balls merged with a low walk rate. Thing is, he has a massive hit-per-nine that suggest low extension or poor shape that makes his good control questionable – is he locating well inside the zone or are his pitches too hittable despite the velocity? Sandlin also dealt with a forearm strain in early 2024 and was limited by the Red Sox throughout his starts, which also amplifies the high hit rate – those starts when you’re feeling great usually have a larger impact but are cut off, while the poor starts are the same length – so I’m on the fence here. If Sandlin gets the call, I think he’s an auto-add. The Red Sox seemingly have enough depth to get through the season and not risk Sandlin going deep into games a ton, which has me hesitant to rank him highly for 2025. I hope he gets a shot in Triple-A this year where we can get proper data and stir some hype.
Tier 3 – Studs But I Doubt They Get The Call To Start This Year
I absolutely LOVE these pitchers and consider most of them auto-pickups when they get the call. I have concerns that it may take a bit longer to see them hit the majors than those in Tier 2, but consider this tier the ones you should know about across 2025.
17. Chase Burns (CIN, RHP)
Burns was drafted as the #2 overall pick in 2024 after hurling upper 90s and hitting 102 mph with an upper 80s slider and mid-80s curve. With a number of options available for the Reds, I’d be surprised if they let him loose in the majors this season, though if Burns gets the call, you better add him to your squads.
18. Grant Taylor (CHW, RHP)
With just 19 innings of professional ball, there’s no reason to expect Grant to make it to the bigs this year, let alone in 2026. He sits mid 90s with a cutter around 90 mph and pairs it with two breakers on top of a changeup he’s working to refine. It’s a potentially deep arsenal with good-to-great stuff across the board, but we haven’t seen a whole lot of it yet. I’m curious how his 2025 will play out and if his four-seamer is a proper foundation for the rest of his weapons.
19. Hagen Smith (CHW, LHP)
Drafted fifth overall in 2024, it’s highly unlikely we see Smith in 2025. But what if we do…? FINE. His three starts in A+ ball can’t be relied upon, so just watch the linked video of his seventeen strikeouts against Oregon State and you’ll get it. He throws mid-90s and flirts with 100 mph as a southpaw, backing it up with a devastating breaking ball. It’s legit y’all. There’s apparently a low-90s cutter that forms from that breaker at times, too, while he doesn’t haven’t a reliable changeup. He doesn’t. It’s a…splitter. GASP. I wouldn’t be shocked if that turns into a traditional change over time, and if he does, hooo boy do we have a fun one on our hands. Even without it, the two (or three?) pitch mix is stupid good and is sure to be fantasy relevant when he gets the inevitable call. But he had TJS in high school! No one is ever good after the second one. MLB organizations don’t seem to care about that, I get the sense that we shouldn’t, too.
20. Travis Sykora (WSN, RHP)
He’s just 20-years-old after getting drafted out of high school in 2023 and unlikely to be seen in 2025, but hot dang do you need to know about him. The #2 prospect in the Nats system, Sykora sits mid-90s and has flirted with 100 mph in the past. He comes with a slider and splitter as well that helped him cruise to a 40% K rate and 21% SwStr rate with a sub 10% walk rate in his sole Single-A season across 85.0 IP. Be aware of this fella. I’m incredibly anxious to get proper data on his arsenal this year.
21. Izack Tiger (TEX, RHP)
We haven’t seen Tiger above A+ ball yet and there are concerns about his control, though he sports a big 96+ mph heater and a hard 89+ mph slider to match that suggests he can dominate batters, especially if his splitter can churn out a 60% strike rate (after all, it does pair well with his over-the-top delivery). He may jump up the system quickly as he turns just 24-years-old this year, though his lack of time in the minors in concert with the Rangers’ plethora of quality RHP in the system suggest he’s unlikely to appear in the bigs in 2025. There’s a lot of intrigue here, though. He may form into a reliever over time, but the three-pitch mix could be enough to force a rotation spot in the future.
22. Jackson Ferris (LAD, LHP)
He’s a southpaw at 94 mph who struggled once he made it to Double-A, but flexed a pair of double-digit strikeout games in Single-A earlier in 2024. The curve and slider are the big ticket items that could be major weapons, but it’s a wait and see how he develops in Double-A and Triple-A. I doubt we’ll see him this year and I wonder if he’ll bounce back effectively after his rough time post promotion.
23. Jacob Misiorowski (MIL, RHP)
His stuff is absurd. Triple digits with a hard cutter and big curve with the only question being command. That sounds like Joe Boyle. But with an actually absurd fastball. Fair. Misiorowski will appear in camp, and I’m going to hold out hope he can hold a zone rate above 50% with the four-seamer given he’s missing a bit too far glove side and isn’t featuring the typical scattershot of heaters. It’s just a touch of timing work to be done cross-body. Don’t you normally say that’s super inconsistent? Shhhhhh. Misiorowski was also limited to just two innings during his appearances in Triple-A. Two as a starter, then either one or two frames in relief from early August through the end. Blegh. He’s not stretched out and has reliever risk written all over him. BUT THERE’S A CHANCE. He throws 97 mph with 7.4 feet of extension and a 1.7 “HAVAA”. This would arguably be the best four-seamer among all starting pitchers if he could just throw strikes at the top of the zone. Yeah.
24. Nick Frasso (LAD, RHP)
Frasso missed all of 2024 with shoulder and hip surgery and y’all shouldn’t expect him in 2025 with the Dodgers’ cornucopia of arms to make them as healthy as possible for their inevitable playoff run. He had solid extension and a lively 95+ mph heater with a legit changeup and breaker to get out RHB, which makes him an arm to note for 2026 – especially if he looks healthy across his Triple-A season of recovery.
25. Gary Gill Hill (TBR, RHP)
Hill does a great job hurling strikes with a fantastic 6% walk rate in 108.2 innings in Single-A this past year, though the stuff may not bring enough excitement when he arrives at the big league level. He’s currently in the low-to-mid 90s with a quartet of secondaries – a proper slider, curve, solid changeup, and even a cutter – which turned in a 24% strikeout and 12/13% SwStr rate against mediocre competition, which outlines to more of a “Toby” than potential “Cherry Bomb” or more. With a likely advancement to Double-A coming early in 2025, Hill could be the trusted option to pitch competitive innings if the Rays needed help mid-season, and I’m looking forward to getting more data on his arsenal.
26. Jarlin Susana (WSN, RHP)
The dude throws super hard at triple-digits, but it doesn’t come with a good attack angle or movement but it’s 100+ mph. He’s also just 20 years of age and only pitched in A/A+ ball thus far, making him feel at least a season away as he refines his arsenal and approach against higher caliber hitters in Double-A and above (slider can be filthy in upper-80s as well). However, if the Nationals elect to give Susana a chance this season for whatever reason, just go for it. We see this kind of velocity from a starter once or twice a year and equipped with a whiffable slider is all you really need to go 25%+ strikeouts as a starter.
Tier 4 – Pay Attention If They Get The Call
27. Miguel Ullola (HOU, RHP)
The Astros may seem like they have a lot of depth (just look at the guys on their IL!) but their #5 is Hayden Wesneski and their #6 is…Shawn Dubin? Forrest Whittley after oh-so-long? Ullola is the one I’m focusing on the most this spring with the Astros with a heater that should get you excited even at 93/94 mph. The sole start he had in Triple-A showcased the pitch with 19-20 inches of vert, a 1.4 “HAVAA” and supreme intent to land the pitch upstairs. And slightly above-average extension, too! The cutter was a bridge pitch for strikes, curveballs underneath (not as consistent) and I’m sitting here getting amped to watch him in the spring. He could be the next big Houston surprise…or fizzle out if he can’t find enough strikes or find a reliable secondary. Know the name, Ullola, U-L-L-Oooooola.
28. Tink Hence (STL, RHP)
Yooooo, Hence is pretty dang fun. He throws mid-to-upper 90s with a filthy changeup (most of the time) + a developing breaker that I hope turns into upper 80s instead of low-to-mid 80s. I care a lot more about Hence than Quinn Mathews and the moment he gets the call, you should give him a spec add after boasting a 16% SwStr rate in twenty Double-A starts last year with just an 8% walk rate. That’s class.
29. George Klassen (LAA, RHP)
He throws mid-to-upper 90s with a cross-body delivery and legit potential if he can throw enough strikes. That’s Klass. If he got the call today, I’d consider him the most exciting Angels arm, though Soriano would be the safer play for the year. He hasn’t had much time in Double-A thus far with just seven starts to his name, though the Angels may give him a shot early given their lack of depth. I expect Klassen to appear in Triple-A soon and pay attention to our weekly SPs to Stash and my morning streams as we get his data to determine if he’s worth the pickup when he gets his chance (or you can use our incredible PL Pro App that grades all Minor League SPs pitches from Triple-A starts. We’re talking “iVB”, velocity, PLV stuff, extension, “HAVAA”, ALL OF IT).
30. Brandyn Garcia (SEA, LHP)
He’s a low arm-slot, slingin’ lefty not unlike Nick Lodolo and friends, making him the most interesting arm of the lot. The strikeout potential is highest with a fastball sitting mid-90s and pushing as high as 97 mph, while the breaker destroys RHB at their backfoot. Control has been the concern (no shock there), but if Brandyn is resisting the walks early, he could get the call. This is your standard “Wait, he had seven strikeouts?!” kind of arm who then returns 6 ER in 1.2 IP with four walks in his next game.
31. Noble Meyer (MIA, RHP)
Like Max, this Meyer has a fantasy slider and…nothing else. The sinker comes in at 95 mph and doesn’t do enough to impress, while the rest of the arsenal is just hanging around for the free coffee. What about the changeup?! Okay fair, there is some promise there, though my understanding is that it isn’t a 25%+ usage offering to mask his mediocre fastball. The slider will turn heads for sure when he arrives (Pitched in A/A+ last year), but I’m not that interested given his middling heater and elevated walk rate (not a shock when it’s a slider focus).
32. Cade Cavalli (WSN, RHP)
Cade has endured injury after injury – TJS in 2022, then “dead arm” after just three rehab starts in 2024. The hope is for him to have a strong off-season, establish himself in the minors in the first half and make a play for a call up by the end of the year, though it’s awfully unclear what version of Cavalli we’ll see. He wasn’t the most impressive pre-TJS and it seems the reports of his curve and overall prospect pedigree provided helium more than true results. Keep an eye in the spring and our MiLB PLV apps in-season once he hits Triple-A.
33. Luis Morales (ATH, RHP)
He’ll be just 22 years old for most of the 2025 season and just made 22 starts in A+ ball, creating an outside chance he’ll get the jump to the majors after time in Double-A in the year ahead. He throws hard in the mid-to-upper 90s with a curveball and a noticeable lack of polish on his ability to orchestrate an at-bat. I’d be highly skeptical of Morales getting the call and consistently producing, with the “Shag Rug” very much showcasing itself often. The limited reports and data illuminate a young arm desperately needing refinement.
34. Jack Perkins (ATH, RHP)
He throws mid-90s with his secondaries taking more of a backseat to the four-seamer. Control is a major concern given 11%+ walk rates in both 2023 and 2024 across Single-A and Double-A and sadly, I don’t have proper data to tell you how great his four-seamer or breakers truly are. Pay attention to the walk rates and metrics via the PL Pro Live Data app when he hits Triple-A this year and you may score a legit sleeper when he gets the call. If the control isn’t there, though, you’re best avoiding him completely.
35. Joe Rock (TBR, LHP)
Joe is a slinging southpaw without the extension you’re looking for (closer to six feet than seven) and low 90s velocity. The sinker gets exceptional horizontal movement from the attack angle, though, and it finds the zone incessantly. I worry that there isn’t enough in the sinker/slider combo to dominate, though I may be underrating the changeup + a four-seamer that confounds when mixed with the sinker. The good news? He throws strikes. If his whiffability can stick in the majors (13-15% SwStr in the minors last year), there is hope for fantasy relevance. I’m a little cautious at the moment.
36. Gunnar Hogland (ATH, RHP)
A former first round pick by the Jays in 2021, Hoglund hasn’t added velocity in three years, though his seven feet of extension allows for success at 92 mph if he has the secondaries to support it. The curve is Da Belle of Da Ball with a 5.14 PLV in Triple-A this year and it seems as if he commands the pitch well with a four-seamer high and slider (really a cutter) over the plate for strikes (let’s ignore the blegh changeup to LHB). I don’t think it’s quite enough for the right-hander to become relevant quickly, but there is room for Hoglund’s command to become a streamer here and there if he gets regular starts.
37. Wikelman Gonzalez (CHW, RHP)
Gonzalez has good velocity on his heater that appears to come with a flat angle and solid extension, though his command of it is the biggest question. The White Sox could throw him into the fire in 2025 and hope the command comes along that allows him to work in a big curve and mid-80s slider, though it may be in a relief role after recording a near 13% walk rate in 83.2 Double-A innings last year. If the control is there, he could make for a fun pick-up, though it’s tough to believe he’ll eradicate his “PEAS” label quickly.
38. Brandon Young (BAL, RHP)
He tossed nearly 90 frames in Triple-A last season at a 3.44 ERA, which may be enough for the Orioles to give him a chance at some point this year. Nothing sticks out as a major plus offering to make you interested in fantasy, sadly, but he does feature his 17″ “iVB” four-seamer upstairs frequently at 92/93 mph and finds the zone often with his changeup and cutter underneath. There’s also a slider and curve in the mix making him a kitchen-sink arm with possible whiff potential in the high heater and changeup down. Not quite enough for my taste, but I’ll scrutinize him more when he gets a shot.
39. Jonah Tong (NYM, RHP)
Uhhh, Tong is pretty cool. He’s low-to-mid 90s with absurd over-the-top verticality that he gets over 20″ of iVB and pairs it with a low-to-mid 80s curveball from the slot. He just got promoted to Double-A at the end of last year and will likely continue to push his way into Triple-A before getting the call, but I can see something legit here with a high heater + big hook + a cutter or changeup (I’m hoping for the latter) to get through lineups. The greatest benefit of the vertical approach is control as it is far easier to stay in the zone north-south vs. east-west, which makes me believe his 10% walk rates will come down over time. There’s something here.
40. Cade Horton (CHC, RHP)
Horton did not look good early in 2024 and was eventually shut down with a shoulder injury, a setback he’s still recovering from with no clear timetable for the year ahead. I have low expectations for Horton with poor extension and a cut-fastball as his primary driver, especially without a filthy slider (think Bradish), even if he does have great feel for it. The pedigree is grand and you shouldn’t ignore him for the future (Taillon incessantly praised Horton’s work ethic and mental framework when I spoke to him last May), but it’s unlikely 2025 is the year we see Cade return fantasy value.
41. Chase Dollander (COL, RHP)
He profiles out to be the best pitcher in Colorado the moment he starts for the major league squad with a mid-to-upper 90s four-seamer, high-80s slider, and changeup + curve to match. After moving to Double-A in his first professional season, Dollander could touch the majors later this year, hoping to retain his 30% strikeout marks with a sub 10% walk rate along the way. That said, it’s Coors. Dollander’s decline in the second half of last year toward decent-but-not-elite mixed with the Shag Rug and Coors outlines a big name I’ll likely pass on when dipping his foot into the major leagues for the first time. He’s not Skenes.
42. Logan Henderson (MIL, RHP)
Henderson is kinda cool. He earned 17″ of vert with a great attack angle and solid command, allowing him to throw a ton of strikes and generally stay upstairs effectively despite terrible extension (six feet on the dot, blegh) and just 92/93 mph velocity. He doesn’t have a good feel for spin with his sole breaker coming from an 87 mph cutter that flutters to the plate, but his changeup feel is solid with 19″ of horizontal break. I worry the pitch’s locations are a little too high at the moment for not just a #2 pitch but the only secondary that matters. Henderson may have trouble against RHB without a better cutter or slider, though I can see him carving up LHB with the four-seamer and changeup regularly. I dig it, we just need to see one more offering for RHB.
43. Logan Evans (SEA, RHP)
He was able to be an innings-eater with a breaker for LHB and a cutter against RHB, while the fastball doesn’t impress mightily. I can see Evans as a potential fill-in for the Mariners if they need help after pitching 100+ frames in Double-A last year, though it seems like a Toby at best for Evans, not an overwhelming arm you’ll be sad to miss.
44. Thomas Harrington (PIT, RHP)
When Harrington arrives, he’ll have a chance every night to give you production, but be careful. He’s a strike thrower with 92/93 mph as his foundation, hoping to surprise with its horizontal movement to set up a legit changeup that dives straight down at a 10 mph discount. There’s a gloveside cutter and more gloveside sweeper to grab strikes and hopefully some whiffs, while the big over-the-top curve is sparingly used as a mix-up pitch. If a velocity bump comes his way, I’d be more intrigued – that cutter at 89/90 instead of 87 mph could be a phenomenal pitch, while the four-seamer needs a little more juice to get him out of Koufax territory. His efficiency makes him more streamable than other young arms when he gets his shot, but don’t expect the world.
45. Doug Nikhazy (CLE, LHP)
What. He throws 91 mph from the left side, but 17″ of vert at seven of extension and a somewhat flat attack angle. The slider went 6/15 whiffs at 85/86, the changeup was okay at 83 mph, and he flipped some curves for strikes. Huh. Maybe there’s something to this if the changeup can get consistently down to RHB – that’s a legit extension and velocity drop that batters would bend the knee down-and-away often – and it’s clear he had good slider feel. Huh. Cantillo looks delayed, McKenzie is weird, Velasquez ain’t it, and the Guardians don’t have much SP depth. HUH. He could be a bullpen piece early, but three frames and Triple-A starts seem like he will be an SP depth piece this year, even if he hovered an 11% walk rate last year. Okay, I’m aware of you now, Mr. “When Pollack doesn’t know what to do”. What are you talking about. You know, Nik Hazy. OH COME ON.
46. Caleb Kilian (CHC, RHP)
I fell for Kilian in spring of 2024…until he hurt his shoulder and missed a ton of time. Suddenly, I awoke in late September to discover Kilian returned to the majors and flirted with the same skills that made us hyped six months prior. Kilian’s heaters range from low-to-upper 90s (yes, it’s weird. He’ll throw 91 mph then 97 mph and apparently it’s the same pitch…?) with above-average extension, with sinkers sitting armside against RHB, and his four-seamer filling up the rest of the plate. The cutter is the star of the show, though, with aggressive break at 86 mph (maybe it’s just a cutter?), plus a sweeper, curve, and even a rare changeup. He’s still in development, though, and I’m awfully curious to watch him in March. I imagine Kilian as the first prospect to get the shot if he’s ready to go, but if I had to guess, he’s 7th or 8th on the list behind Wicks at the very least. Pay attention to Kilian.
47. Hunter Barco (PIT, LHP)
He’s a crafty southpaw with the two secondaries you want to see: a legit slider to take down LHB and a proper changeup for RHB. Unfortunately, the heater is at a middling 92/93 mph, though there are signs of solid command that came through in 83 strikeouts and 22 walks across 66 IP of A+ and AA in 2024. Another season of a leap forward may have Barco getting some time this year and I’ll be paying attention when he does. A legit slider and change from the left side with a heater above 92 mph can work in the bigs, and that’s assuming he doesn’t show gains this season.
48. Blade Tidwell (NYM, RHP)
2024 did not serve Tidwell…well. Life was sparkling after dominating Double-A, but disaster fell across 85 frames of Triple-A with a 5.93 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 20% strikeout rate, and 14% walk rate. You can ignore Tidwell based on those marks alone for an early impact this year, though you should be aware of what he does in case it returns in April or May, prompting a possible rotation spot by the summer. The hope is for Tidwell to return to form with a 95-97 mph four-seamer and an array of breakers to get him to the finish line. We did see a great final outing of the season with 10 K/0 BB across six frames that included a 17″ iVB four-seamer at 95 mph with a well spotted slider and sweeper, hinting at what could be early this year. Let’s hope we get it.
49. Parker Messick (CLE, LHP)
Messick is the one Guardians prospect pitcher I can see making any sort of impact this year after returning a 32% strikeout rate with an 8% walk rate in Double-A last season. Sadly, I don’t have updated reports on what he’s doing to earn those marks, but once he makes it to Triple-A, I’ll have a much better sense outside of last January’s reports of a stellar changeup and low 90s fastball without great breakers. If the Guardians are running low on depth, take a look at Messick’s Triple-A marks inside our PL Pro Apps and hope the intrigue is there.
50. Cristian Mena (ARI, RHP)
We saw Mena for one game of three innings last year, and it gave us a taste of what he can do – 100th percentile velocity CURVEBALL at 87/88 (84/85 across the minors) which is all kinds of dope and reminds me a touch of Glasnow. He also had nearly seven feet of extension (Glasnow-lite?) at 95 mph…but 93 mph in the minors. Huh. I’m curious to get more data from Mena, hoping he can wrangle the four-seamer to get the zone more often and stick at 95+ while leaning into that hard curve and a legit sweeper saved for RHB. There’s also a sinker he tries to go inside to RHB with (great if he can keep the high extension and 95 mph) and a changeup he needs to polish as he currently gets too much on the side of the ball. He’s an interesting one to keep an eye on this year.
51. Marco Raya (MIN, RHP)
He’s a kitchen sink guy with an 89 mph cutter, a big curve in the mid 80s, a putaway slider at 85 mph with legit movement (and solid command?) and a 94/95 mph four-seamer without the qualities we look for. He’s interesting with a power curve and reliable cutter while not being fastball-first (third most thrown pitch in his Triple-A start!) and I’d give him a look when he gets the call. This may be a solid Holly type eventually if he continues to polish the command and all around arsenal. The only worry is the cutter + four-seamer effectiveness.
52. C.J. Culpepper (MIN, RHP)
Culpepper endured a forearm injury that removed him for two months last year, leading to just six starts in Double-A. He does well with a legit cutter to RHB and sits near mid-90s, though there is a touch more refinement left on the slider’s consistency to project him as a reliable starter this year, especially after his struggles when returning from injury and limitations to roughly 2-3 frames per game. Let’s wait to see him in Triple-A before getting hyped, but if he gets a shot this year he’ll be worth at least your attention. I don’t anticipate a stud, but there may be a worthwhile 12-teamer Toby here.
53. Justin Wrobleski (LAD, LHP)
We saw Wrobleski and his 5.3 feet extension (two feet less than the elites ummmmmmmm) surprise with his four-seamer, holding both LHB and RHB to a stunning sub 30% ICR, though the rest of his arsenal was lacking. He did showcase a solid cutter 10% of the time to RHB, but this was mostly the low extension four-seamer game with somewhat deadzone movement and…I find that really hard to bank on. Is it because it was relatively flat and at 95 mph? But he had sub 50% hiLoc%…I don’t quite get it. Maybe we didn’t see his best slider with its two-plane movement and there’s more to unlock across additional opportunities in the future, but I’m not all too excited about it for now.
54. Ben Casparius (LAD, RHP)
Prince Casparius displayed a 95 mph fastball with cut-action that stuck to the top of the zone consistently against RHB and LHB alike and a solid slider underneath. I wonder if that fastball can live up there effectively with a poor attack angle and mediocre vert (and sub six feet extension, blegh), but its cut action does make me intrigued to stunt LHB. Maybe there’s a sinker to help against RHB in the future (or maybe the four-seamer is good enough with that velo?)
55. Brandon Birdsell (CHC, RHP)
Birdsell’s Triple-A numbers have made many excited, but inspecting his pitches with our PL Pro MiLB PLV cards, I don’t see anything special that translates to the majors. Even giving him the benefit of analyzing just the ten strikeout game shown above, Birdsell’s four-seamer sat 95 mph with terrible 5.8 feet of extension, mid 15″ iVB, and an incredibly steep attack angle that makes me surprised he earned as many strikeouts on the pitch as he did. Its cut action may be helping a touch or maybe his ~90 mph slider (that’s really a cutter) is confusing batters with the heater, but the stuff doesn’t align with the results. What about command? The slider was nestled in the zone without much precision, while the four-seamer sat in the zone and didn’t hug edges. The curve drops plenty and can be a surprise pitch, but it was mostly two-pitch without an elite pitch. That doesn’t sit right with me. I’m curious if Tyler Zombro can work with Birdsell to find another offering or another gear in his arsenal to help Birdsell find success against major league talent.
56. Robby Snelling (MIA, LHP)
Snelling is the one you’ve likely heard about (with Noble) and I’m…not that impressed? His fastball comes in at 92/93 with poor extension and 16-17″ of iVB (solid!) with 1.2 HAVAA that is a little above average. Is that enough for me to buy into him? Not really? The slider is a slow breaker that doesn’t wow me, either, and there needs to be something more from Snelling to get me excited for the upcoming year. Maybe his velocity will return to 94/95 as in previous years and I’m glad he’ll start the year in Triple-A, allowing us to easily monitor his progress.
Tier 5 – Big Names With Very Low Chance of 2025 IP
57. Alex Clemmey (WSN, LHP)
It’s hard not to like the mid-90s velocity with a proper pair of breakers, though his control is a major issue at the moment. After pitching in just Single-A in 2024, expect Clemmey to spend all of 2025 in the minors refining his ability to earn strikes. However, the ceiling is here for a legit LHP if he ever reigns them in – the stuff speaks to a starter we hold in 12-teamers…if he’s not a stereotypical left-handed “HIPSTER”, of course.
58. Jake Bennett (WSN, LHP)
He’s been touted as a high Nationals prospect, but he underwent TJS last season and with so many options, the Nationals have no need to push him for 2025. The ideal here is for Bennett to return with the feel of his change and slider intact and a fastball he can spot effectively to RHB to allow his change to thrive. The very quick look I had gave a sense of a solid southpaw with reliable feel for command and flashes of filth – a sturdy lefty who could be a regular starter. We’ll see what we get when he returns.
59. Brody Brecht (COL, RHP)
Brecht was drafted in 2024 and should not be expected to appear in 2025. He throws hard (up to triple digits!) but his fastball command will be the focus on his tenure in the minors. The slider is a legit weapon, though, and he could go the Skenes route with a splitter/splinker in the mix as well. He’s one to know and could break the trend of SP failure in Colorado in due time.
60. Santiago Suarez (TBR, RHP)
Suarez fails to walk batters (sub 5% across 170+ innings in two seasons) while packing a low-to-mid-90s four-seamer and curve combo (with some changeups) that racked up 26% strikeouts and a 15% SwStr rate in 23 starts at Single-A in 2024. That’s a fun combo, though most prospects who make quick impacts push a bit higher in the strikeout department against Single-A batters. I’m less confident in Suarez’s pitch-mix than Hill’s given the rarity of a 93 mph fastball + high-70s curve becoming a foundation of a trusted starter in the bigs, though Suarez just turned 20-years-old in January and has plenty of time for further growth. Don’t expect him in the majors in 2025 – The Rays have all the reason to focus on Suarez’s development at his young age and many alternative prospects who can fill in when needed.
61. Jaxon Wiggins (CHC, RHP)
Drafted in 2023 and only ~60 IP in A/A+ ball last year when returning from TJS, Jaxon is highly unlikely to appear in 2025. He throws mid-to-upper 90s with a two-plane slider, propelling his near 30% strikeout rate in 2024 that could continue once in the majors. However, his command is spotty and is working on a third offering to find the zone more frequently (changeup had its moments!) and smooth out the arsenal. He’s a raw arm who could take strides in Double-A when he gets promoted and we can return to Jaxon next winter to discuss his development.
62. Henry Lalane (NYY, LHP)
He’s turning 21-years-old in 2025 and endured injuries that limited him to just six games in 2024, reaching Single-A for a few starts in August, though he appeared in the Spring Breakout series last March and had a few moments with his changeup and breaker. He’s a big southpaw without electricity, but it’s possible the velocity grows as he has a good foundation for feel and command at a young age. Sadly, he’s far away from the bigs and shouldn’t be expected to appear until 2026 at the earliest.
63. Christian Scott (NYM, RHP)
Scott underwent TJS and the internal brace procedure last summer, which could mean he returns this season, though I’d expect him to sit in the minors and let him find his confidence again before pushing him back into the spotlight. It was a fun time last year when he got his call, showcasing a 94+ mph four-seamer with seven feet of extension and a flat approach angle of 1.4 HAVAA, which paired well with his sweeper to RHB, but the 87 mph slider was lackluster and his solution for LHB was… a splitter. So yeah, LHB crushed him. When Scott returns, I hope we’ll see a sinker inside to RHB to take advantage of his extension, while tightening the slider to be more of 89 mph cutter to hopefully silence LHB.
64. Nolan McLean (NYM, RHP)
He’s a raw pitching prospect after initially being drafted as a two-way player in 2023 and it may take a full year of development to iron out his entire approach for the bigs. He boasts mid-90s velocity and could form a collection of secondaries, including a fantastic sweeper to take out RHB and a tight high 80s cutter to help earn strikes. Pay attention to McLean – if he gets promoted to Triple-A and wipes out batters, he could shoot up prospect rankings this year and make a statement before the end of the year. In the meantime, I’m going to twiddle my thumbs until I get Triple-A data.
65. Jonathan Santucci (NYM, LHP)
Drafted in the second round of 2024, he’s a southpaw in the mid-90s with a two-plane breaker and a developing changeup. That’s fun and even though he’s 22-years-old after becoming the ace of Duke, we shouldn’t expect him to flirt with the bigs until 2026 at the earliest.
66. Alejandro Rosario (TEX, RHP)
He throws mid-to-upper 90s with a legit splitter and slider combo that carved up A/A+ ball with a ridiculous 129/13 K per BB in 88.1 frames. Yes, that’s bonkers, yes he should be an auto-add when he gets the call. The question is when as he’s expected to start the season in Double-A for his 23-year-old season. With his recent arm-angle change that has him more over the top, he could be missing more bats upstairs and keep his walk rate consistently low through the ranks. I don’t expect the Rangers to be aggressive early, but once Rocker and Leiter have had their chances, Rosario should be circled to get a proper look – as long as his early season performance matches his 2024 campaign.
Update: Rosario is getting TJS and is not in consideration for 2025 fantasy production.
67. Luis Perales (BOS, RHP)
He only had two starts in Double-A before undergoing Internal Brace surgery and you shouldn’t expect him up this year but hopefully will get time in the minors at the end of the year. But hey, he throws hard with a legit slider/cutter. It may be a reliever profile when all is said and done, but I’m excited to see what he does in 2026.
68. Chayce McDermott (BAL, RHP)
Chayce is already delayed by a lat/teres injury that will push him back from pitching at least two weeks, and I doubt we’ll see Chayce any time before May (at the earliest). That said, I love his seven feet of extension merged with plus iVB and flat HAVAA that outlines a four-seamer that could explode at the top of the zone. I dug the shape of his slider as well during his sole game in Miami last year, though I wonder if he’s equipped with a sturdy #3 pitch – the changeup in the debut was flying way arm-side, although that may have been a product of debut-nerves, or it simply may not be a consistent offering. Monitor him aplenty with the Orioles desperately needing depth in their rotation and I like his ceiling much more than Povich’s with his stellar heater shape, even at 94 mph.
Tier 6 – He’s Fine, There May Be More
You may see them appear in 2024, but does it matter? It’s a true “wait-and-see” for these, especially for those who have so many others ahead of them who will get fed first, though I’ll obviously be scouring through their Statcast pages (and our new Minor League PLV APP!) to see if they have made any substantial changes to suggest they will make a proper impact.
69. Thomas White (MIA, LHP)
White’s 2024 came with 96 frames with 120 strikeouts in A/A+ ball, featuring a mid-90s heater from the left side with roughly average shape and extension. His command squeezed more out of the pitch, though it’s rarely an overpowering offering. The breaker and changeup are the ones to watch, with the latter taking time to come together. As he moves into Double-A, I’m curious if the strikeouts can stick around as the fastball will have more difficulty overwhelming hitters. The Marlins could move quickly here given White’s overall pitchability and few options, and I’d be patient. He needs to find a little more firepower before legit relevancy.
70. Michael Morales (SEA, RHP)
From what I’ve seen, he features a good slider and a control-focused heater, without the velocity or shape to demand your attention. He’s he tossed over 60 frames of decent ball in Double-A last year and may be forced into the rotation earlier than expected if injuries strike in the North-West. It’s a clear wait-and-see without Statcast data to help and a lack of numbers jumping off the page.
71. Carson Whisenhunt (SFG, LHP)
He has an 80-grade changeup from the left-side with a 93 mph sinker and a highly suspect cutter and slider around the low 80s. I love an elite changeup from a southpaw, but the sinker command is poor and LHB don’t have a major breaker to fear. I’m conflicted and want to rank Whisenhunt high, though I worry he’ll get banged up without a better supporting cast and poor control.
72. Cole Henry (WSN, RHP)
We’ve barely seen Henry in the minors after a plethora of injuries (including Thoracic Outlet Surgery. Yikes), but he’s on the 40-man roster, suggesting he could get a faster chance than others when the Nationals need help this season. It’s hard to determine what we’ll get from Henry after showing 95 mph with a lovely curve in the spring last year and I heavily suggest taking a gander once the season starts with our MiLB PLV apps as I wouldn’t be shocked if he takes the leap to Triple-A out of camp. Don’t trust pitchers with two first names, Nick. Yes, I know, great point.
73. Tyler Stuart (WSN, RHP)
He’s a whopping 6’9″ and features a low 80s two-plane breaker that leads to plenty of whiffs, while his heater sits in the low-90s and finds the zone plenty. The question remains if he can develop the change into a legit weapon against LHB, while the fastball needs to be of the Bailey Ober variety at the top of the zone, assuming Stuart has the elite extension his frame suggests. His control makes him a candidate for innings as a starter, though he could transition into a reliever without further growth in his slowball.
74. Andry Lara (WSN, RHP)
As a member of the 40-man with 92.1 frames of Double-A under his belt, Lara is a clear candidate to get a shot this year for the Nationals. Does that mean you should care? Not really. He may be a Toby at the end of the day, though he didn’t dominate Double-A ball with a low 23% strikeout rate and lack of overwhelming stuff. He has a reliable slider and average fastball and if there’s a third option he can dominate LHB with, you may see some surprise outings across the year.
75. Mason Barnett (ATH, RHP)
He’s near 94 mph with his heater with a big hook and a more middling slider and I’m curious how much extension and vert he gets with the heater. He has better control than Perkins and is seemingly more polished around the arsenal, though he lacks Perkins’ explosive velocity at 97+. I’m excited to see more data from him when he arrives in Triple-A, as he already looks ready to perform better than a few other options for the Athletics heading into the year with high strikeout rates hovering 30% through the minors while keeping the walk rate below 10% in Double-A.
76. Ian Seymour (TBR, LHP)
I don’t have the highest hopes for Seymour but I can see him turning into a workhorse lefty if needed. He’s a southpaw who returned from TJS to pitch mostly in Triple-A last year, flexing a four-seamer at 90/91 mph that relies on a strong changeup to subdue RHB, while his cutter needs plenty of refinement if he’s to avoid damage against LHB. He doesn’t have enough electricity, nor top-of-the-line command to suggest running to the wire when he gets a shot, but I can see figuring out his rarely featured slider over time to be a deep-league “Toby”. Unfortunately, the low extension prevents more than that with his velocity.
77. Ky Bush (CHW, LHP)
I can see a starter for the Pirates here. Why not the White Sox? I see that, too, but it’s such a chaotic mess here that I needed a different frame of reference. Bush’s four-seamer is the biggest weakness at 91/92 mph without enough extension nor precision to be “good enough”, though there is a developing changeup and a strong propensity to land back-foot sliders against RHB. It can be enough when he has proper feel of his arsenal, but even then it’s a lot of reliance on “Koufax” and not a regular fantasy option. We need clearer dominance to be trusted in fantasy leagues.
Update: Ky Bush is undergoing Tommy John Surgery.
78. Jairo Iriarte (CHW, RHP)
He pitched in relief for a handful of games last year and I was vastly disappointed. Instead of mid-to-upper 90s, we got 94 mph. Yes, solid extension and “HAVAA”, but not enough to get me amped for a four-seamer that specializes in horizontal movement over vertical from the right side. That ignores his ghastly command across the board, including a slider and slowball, which happens often for the first few games of an MLB career, but this was bad. I can understand Iriarte as a legit option if he can get the velocity back and pair it with a precise arsenal, but he has too many steps to take before getting there.
79. Cooper Hjerpe (STL, LHP)
Oh boy we have a true southpaw side-armer over here. He was able to go two straight outings without allowing a hit but has control problems and has already had a pair of injuries since getting drafted in 2022 with just four starts under his belt in Double-A, making me highly suspicious he’ll make an appearance this season. He’s apparently around 90 mph with a sweeper from the left side and it could very well work, but the control problems merged with the cross-body mechanics have volatility written all over it. Y’all know I dislike cross-body left-handers based on their lack of reliability. I’ll be excited when he debuts and I hope he’ll have it figured out by then.
80. Braxton Ashcraft (PIT, RHP)
Looking at the data of Ashcraft’s five Triple-A games, I’m not impressed enough to circle Ashcraft for the year ahead. His four-seamer is below-average and will be the source of pain in the majors, with his stellar slider as the savior of his arsenal. He’s a strike thrower as well, which may mean Ashcraft may have to turn to the slider more than usual once in the bigs, possibly utilizing his low 80s curveball frequently. I like the two breakers, I just wish the 95 mph four-seamer didn’t have 6.3 extension (blegh), 15″ inches of “iVB” (blegh), and a steep 0.6 “HAVAA” that sets it up for demolition. I should note, there is a changeup in the mix as well, though it’s easily the fourth pitch and will likely be reserved for 10-15% usage against LHB with limited success.
81. Mike Burrows (PIT, RHP)
He had a cup of coffee in 2024 and it could spell some time in 2025 when the Pirates need an arm for a spot start or longer. I’m not in love with what Burrows brings to the table, sadly. The slider seems to be the star of the show, with a four-seamer that has surprising horizontal break, but lacks vert, impressive velocity, or extension. The changeup can be a pretty offering as well and there is a curveball loosely in the mix as well, making this a package that doesn’t quite excite. Don’t expect whiffs with the heater (hopefully ground outs if he can jam it inside to RHB…good luck with LHB!) and hope the slider + changeup can do the rest.
82. Jean Cabrera (PHI, RHP)
He’s an interesting arm. He’s mid-90s on the heater with a legit changeup and decent slider who, according to MLB.com’s report, is built to throw harder with more development. I doubt we’ll see him this year, but he already has some time in Double-A and if he’s showcasing a step forward, we may see the Phillies get aggressive with their lack of quality depth.
83. Sem Robberse (STL, RHP)
He exists and may be called upon at some point to make a start or two, but he isn’t anything that I’d chase in 12-teamers once he gets the shot. There just isn’t anything all that special…? The four-seamer is just 91 mph and doesn’t wow, and maybe the cutter and slider can hold the fort, but why risk it? You can do far better.
84. Hurston Waldrep (ATL, RHP)
I simply believe Waldrep is a reliever, not a starter. His heater is not impressive on its own and his #2 pitch is a splitter. There is a slider in the mix that is decent but not the pitch he needs and I’m giving the shrug emoji over here. If the heater were a truly dominant pitch, I’d be interested, but when it’s just a splitter, y’all know I can’t get on board.
85. Lucas Braun (ATL, RHP)
He’s a cross-body mechanics right-hander who has better feel than most to feature strikes with the difficult mechanics. He kept up impressive K/BB% numbers when jumping to Double-A in 2024, though I question if his heater is good enough to make a significant impact in the majors. It is a pretty breaker from that arm slot, though.
86. Jhancarlos Lara (ATL, RHP)
He sat mid-to-upper 90s with a high 80s slider. It’s hard not to like that, though I wonder what he can add as a proper third offering and if he can control those two pitches well enough to ascend into Triple-A quickly after five games in Double-A last season. Monitor him and don’t get your hopes up for a 2025 impact.
87. AJ Blubaugh (HOU, RHP)
During his time in Triple-A, there didn’t seem to be a whole lot to latch onto from Blubaugh. The heater is 92/93 mph with a sweeper, bridge cutter, decent change and curve. Without major SwStr potential (12% in Triple-A) nor a legit heater, I’m passing unless Blubaugh finds another gear this season.
88. Troy Melton (DET, RHP)
Melton dealt with a shoulder strain in August last year and I’m curious to see him get his feet wet in Triple-A. His fastball zips to the glove with a big breaker underneath and it could be a super hittable offering or one with a little extra giddy-up on it that would explain the 28% Strikeout rate and low 7% walk rate. I believe in that control and wonder if he can maintain mid-90s instead of touching it. I don’t have the highest hopes, but he could be better than someone like Montero if the Tigers need an arm this year.
89. Travis Adams (MIN, RHP)
He throws 93 mph with a cutter he trusts in the zone at 87+ mph, with a slider and changeup he spots effectively on opposite corners. Maybe that secondary command dictates legitimacy in the majors, though the fastball and cutter aren’t wowing me enough to endorse excitement. He was protected on the 40-man roster by the Twins, suggesting he could get the call earlier than others and we should wait-and-see what we get should the time come.
90. Andrew Morris (MIN, RHP)
He sits 94 mph and loves to go upstairs with the four-seamer in two-strike counts despite a steep attack angle and mid vert and extension, though he throws lots of strikes. The slider is split into a tighter cutter shape and a slider with more drop, both of which find the zone plenty, the changeup lands down-and-glove side consistently, and the curve can be in the zone or under it, but the stuff? It’s not stellar. He’ll probably produce a sub 8% walk rate with more time in Triple-A and would he get the call, we need to hope he can get the heater closer to 96 mph to make up for the lack of whiffability in the arsenal. With his kind of control and command, he has my attention as a potential innings eater in the majors (it is 93/94 mph, after all), but I’m hesitant to chase for a rookie callup.
91. Cory Lewis (MIN, RHP)
Lewis has a knuckle ball in the low-80s that he whips out every so often. I question if that will actually carry over into the majors when he gets a shot, but hey, it’s a thing. His time in Triple-A saw a decline in four-seamer velocity to 89 mph, but from a super steep attack angle that granted 18+ inches of “iVB”, while he pairs it with a gyro slider and curve from the high arm angle. It doesn’t seem too promising from here, though if the velocity returns to 92/93 mph and the breakers are reliable whiff pitches, he could turn into something.
Tier 7 – Ehhhhhh
These are certainly pitchers on baseball teams.
92. Connor Phillips (CIN, RHP)
Phillips’ four-seamer at 96/97 mph is paired with terrible extension and poor iVB and HAVAA marks with what it needs to be as a true whiff pitch. The sweeper and curve show potential, but his command is awfully inconsistent, and I’m not interested in Phillips, even when he makes his return to the majors. Unless our PLV app displays legit changes in Triple-A before the call, I’m carrying awfully low expectations for this season.
93. Trevor McDonald (SFG, RHP)
He’s a groundball-focused arm who relies on his 92/93 mph sinker to find the zone and pairs it with a solid slider and developing changeup. I kinda like him as a decent option for the Giants when they need a start here and there, possibly more than Black if McDonald can nail down the changeup and locate the slider well to become a strong putaway offering. Sadly, he’s not a guy to grab when he gets his shot in all likehood, save for deep 15-teamers.
94. Carson Seymour (SFG, RHP)
Another sinker/slider guy, Seymour’s breaker is a phenomenal offering and could become more of a focus over time as he lacks strong weapons in his grounder-seeking sinker and mediocre changeup. If he’s able to turn his sinker into a called strike machine, he could turn into a Brady Singer type. Not the greatest mountain to climb, but there could be value to be had as a rare streamer.
95. Chase Hampton (NYY, RHP)
Injuries have derailed his growth and it’s unlikely we see him in 2025 after just 18.2 IP in 2024 up to Double-A. If his velocity can sit above 94 mph with a slew of options once again, he could force the Yankees into giving him a taste while he’s in a rhythm, but for now, let’s wait to see how he settles in after missing so much time.
96. Cam Schlittler (NYY, RHP)
He throws low-to-mid 90s sinkers with some depth pieces that lack electricity. He was able to collect strikeouts nearly 30% of the time in Double-A, using his hard slider as his favorite breaker, but it’s not a skill set that speaks toward replication in the majors.
97. Brock Selvidge (NYY, LHP)
A lefty with a good slider and developing changeup paired with a low-90s heater. If he finds the control and feel for the fastball and changeup, Brock could squeeze his way into a spot start after 16 games in Double-A last year, though it’s more likely than not he’ll have to wait until 2025. Without the velocity, Selvidge needs that command to flirt with relevancy.
98. Anthony Solometo (PIT, LHP)
He’s an odd one. Solometo sits 90/91 with a funky Bumgarner-esque delivery and it’s unclear if it can continue to be deceptive to RHB as he scales the ranks. There is a changeup, cutter, and slider in there as well, and I’m cautiously optimistic he can perform in Triple-A if he’s able to add a touch more velocity to his heaters. The odd release may work in his favor from the left side, allowing his arsenal to perform better than expected, especially breakers at the back foot of right-handers. It’s a bit of a gamble on development here and I’m curious what data we get when he hopefully moves up the ranks this year.
99. Patrick Reilly (BAL, RHP)
His focus is a four-seamer upstairs around the mid-90s with plenty of vert, though his over-the-top arm angle may nullify some of it. He’s tossed only a few games in Double-A and likely doesn’t make an appearance in 2025, though I’m curious what data we’ll get when he gets the call to Triple-A. I’m not expecting much but there may be a streaming play here.
100. Michael Kennedy (CLE, LHP)
Acquired in the same trade as Ortiz, Kennedy is a southpaw with low 90s velocity and a great slider as he’s working to improve his changeup across his second full season in professional ball. It’s possible he jumps to Double-A and gets a moment in the bigs this year, though it’s a clear “wait and see.”
101. Drue Hackenberg (ATL, RHP)
He fanned sixteen batters in a game and failed to hit double-digit strikeouts otherwise. The four-seamer sits at 93 mph without exceptional shape and I’m not falling in love with the cutter or curve he displayed in his brief Triple-A stint. He may get a chance this year given time already spent in Triple-A, but I’m not all that interested until I see something with a WOW factor.
102. Ryan Gusto (HOU, RHP)
Gusto was properly ignored by the industry before 2024 with an atrocious 2023 season only to collect himself for a solid season in Triple-A last year and position himself as a possible #5 option for the Astros if he dominates camp. He’s a kitchen sink arm who can touch 96 mph, but typically sits 93/94 mph and lacks that absurd pitch. There’s a sweeper for RHB, a cutter for strikes, a decent changeup and whatnot, but I’m missing that reason for us to chase it in fantasy. After all, he boasted just an 11% SwStr rate in Triple-A last year.
103. Colton Gordon (HOU, LHP)
He’s a soft tossing southpaw with nearly seven feet of extension without an elite changeup. Naaaaah. That may work in Triple-A, but I don’t see this panning out super well in the majors unless that slider is far better than what the Triple-A marks have shown.
104. Austin Krob (SDP, LHP)
From the left side, Krob features a strong breaker that catalyzed a trio of double-digit strikeout games in Double-A last year, but he lacks a supporting cast to turn him into a legit arm to target for fantasy. He needs to add velocity and a changeup to get us interested and let’s monitor his development in 2025 when he makes the jump to Triple-A.
105. Omar Cruz (SDP, LHP)
He’s a southpaw with a great changeup and a not a whole lot else. If he can figure out the rest of the arsenal to support it, the Padres could give him a shot this year when in need of starts. Sadly, that’s not a great endorsement and he’ll be a major “wait and see” for most leagues.
106. Lael Lockhart (DET, LHP)
I’m not too impressed with the southpaw with his high 80s heater, but the kicker here is his age – at 27 years old and experience in the minors, I’m expecting Lockhart to get a look in the majors this year when the Tigers need innings. There’s a splitter from the left side with a decent slider, and while he may be able to sneak in some strikeouts, this isn’t the play you want it to be.
107. Chandler Champlain (KCR, RHP)
He’s 93/94 mph with a fastball that doesn’t come with elite precision or shape, though he has a solid slider that he’s able to spot gloveside frequently. The changeup and curve have moments but leave a bit to be desired and it leaves a pitcher without enough going for him to lead me toward an endorsement for your fantasy leagues in 2025.
108. Ben Kudrna (KCR, RHP)
He looks like a fastball, slider, and splitter arm at low-to-mid 90s velo and he struggled plenty after making the jump to Double-A, but finished the year strong with a great 0 ER, 9 K performance. There is some excitement in there, but I think we’re a little ways away until we fully know what we’re getting. I need some Triple-A data first.
Yep, you got EIGHT extra prospects in the end. Congrats, you deserve it for reading this far.
No Caden Dana?
No Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson?