Dynasty
Nastiest GIFs
The List
Dynasty
Nastiest GIFs
The List
+

Top 20: FYPD Rankings for Rebuilders

With FYPD season heating up, here are some ideas for rebuilders

Jacob Milham
Dynasty 11/29/2025

Sometimes, there is no worse hole to be in for a dynasty manager than the rebuilding hole. The constant ebb of waiting for high-upside prospects to turn into stars or fizzle out, and the flow that sometimes leads to those hits being traded to make up for the misses, can feel endless. It is a frustrating spot to be in, one that I have found myself in before and one that fans everywhere have seen their own real-life teams suffer through. I am a lifelong Kansas City Royals fan, so this vicious rebuilding cycle is the one I have largely followed for my sports fandom’s life.

The 2026 dynasty season is finding a new gear while the hot stove dominates real-world baseball and helps inform what first-year player drafts look like around the dynasty sphere. This year’s FYPD player pool seems to lack that perceived surefire star, the one to save any squad picking 1.1. But what that presents is a tougher choice, one where managers can go a hundred different ways and, as long as they have a reason why, it will be hard to discount them. My familiarity with the rebuild makes me an unfortunate expert on what direction I believe rebuilders should take this draft.

With a mix of pending and posted international free agents and 2025 MLB draftees, this year’s FYPD could pull your squad even further down or drag you back into the league’s relevancy. If you are a rebuilder, no matter how deep you are in it, here are the top 20 options for you in this upcoming FYPD.

  1. INF Munetaka Murakami
  2. SS Eli Willits
  3. RHP Tatsuya Imai
  4. 3B Ethan Holliday
  5. LHP Kade Anderson
  6. RHP Seth Hernandez
  7. SS JoJo Parker
  8. 3B Xavier Neyens
  9. SS Steele Hall
  10. OF Ethan Conrad
  11. LHP Kruz Schoolcraft
  12. LHP Liam Doyle
  13. INF Aiva Arquette
  14. 2B Kayson Cunningham
  15. SS Dax Kilby
  16. LHP Jamie Arnold
  17. INF Gavin Fien
  18. OF Jace LaViolette
  19. RHP Kyson Witherspoon
  20. OF Devin Taylor

INF Munetaka Murakami

The 25-year-old Murakami is a two-time MVP in Japan and set a record with 56 homers in 2022. Now officially posted for MLB teams, he brings legit power that scouts believe will translate stateside. He’s a 6’2” slugger who has mostly played third base (though some see him fitting at first base in MLB) and owns 246 career NPB homers by age 25.

Rebuilders will love the immediate impact potential, considering Murakami could be in an MLB lineup on Opening Day 2026 but that his best production is likely to come years down the line. The ceiling is extremely high with his power, but the volatility may make some managers wary of drafting Murakami high. Even with those whiffs, his combination of youth and proven elite power makes him a worthy 1.1 consideration for a team in need of a franchise bat.

SS Eli Willits

Willits was the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 as a 17-year-old shortstop, and he’s already drawing lofty praise. The switch-hitter boasts elite bat-to-ball skills from both sides and plus speed on the basepaths. At 6’1” and still filling out, he’s more hit-over-power right now. Think high average, stolen bases, and strong defense up the middle rather than home run totals.

Scouts rave about his maturity and “wise beyond his years” makeup, and he led his high school to multiple state titles. He’ll take years to develop (he’ll be only 18 on Opening Day), but for a rebuilder with a long timeline, Willits offers the chance to build around a future top-of-the-order catalyst and cornerstone shortstop.

RHP Tatsuya Imai

The top right-handed arm coming out of Japan, Imai was posted after a spectacular 2025 season (1.92 ERA, 178 K, only 6 HR allowed in 163.2 IP). He’s 27, so a bit older than other names here, but he’s very polished, and over the last three years in NPB, his ERA is a minuscule 2.18 across 470 innings. Imai attacks with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball (touching 99) and a deep arsenal that includes a slider, changeup, splitter, and sinker.

Evaluators compare his profile to Kodai Senga’s, only with even better numbers heading into MLB. For a rebuilder, Imai could be a fast contributor or valuable trade asset. He projects as a solid mid-rotation starter with the upside for more if his swing-and-miss stuff carries over (he struck out over a batter per inning in NPB).

3B Ethan Holliday

Holliday has the bloodlines (Matt Holliday’s son, Jackson Holliday’s brother) and the massive left-handed power to be the middle-of-the-order star this class lacks. Drafted fourth overall by Colorado, he was touted as having the “most usable left-handed power” of anyone in 2025’s draft. At 6’4” and still just 18, he’s already built to mash, as he hit .617 with 16 homers in 32 high school games as a senior.

The Rockies have hinted he may outgrow shortstop for third base long-term, but that’s fine given his size and arm. There will be the usual development time and some swing-and-miss to iron out, but Holliday’s “raw power is stupid,” as one scouting director put it. In Coors Field someday, that could mean a fantasy windfall for patient rebuilders willing to dream on a future 35+ homer bat.

LHP Kade Anderson

Seattle grabbing Anderson at No. 3 overall felt like a steal when Anderson was a strong pick to go first overall. Fresh off leading LSU to a national title (he threw a 1-0 shutout in the College World Series finals), Anderson looks like a fast-tracker with ace potential.

The 21-year-old lefty led Division I with 180 strikeouts in 119 innings this year, pairing a mid-90s fastball with excellent breaking stuff and mound poise beyond his years. He finished 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA, dominating on college’s biggest stage. The Mariners see him as a front-of-rotation anchor in the near future. For a dynasty rebuild, Anderson offers a blend of reasonably quick ETA (late 2026 or 2027 looks attainable) and high long-term upside as a potential strikeout-heavy No. 1 starter to build your future staff around.

RHP Seth Hernandez

Hernandez was the top prep pitcher in the 2025 class, armed with a dizzying arsenal for a 19-year-old. MLB Pipeline gave him three plus pitches (a high-90s fastball, a diving changeup, and a 12–6 curve) plus a solid slider. That’s why the Pirates took him 6th overall. In his senior spring, the California righty struck out 105 in 53⅓ innings with just seven walks (!) and a 0.39 ERA, earning Gatorade National Player of the Year honors.

He draws physical comps to a young Josh Beckett: a projectable 6’4” frame, power stuff, and surprisingly advanced control for his age (he’s only been pitching in high school for two years). Any high school arm is inherently risky, but Hernandez’s combination of elite stuff and command gives him as high a ceiling as any pitcher on this list. Rebuilders can afford to be patient as he navigates the minors; the payoff could be a top-of-the-rotation workhorse in 4-5 years.

SS JoJo Parker

Parker, drafted eighth by Toronto, is a lefty-hitting shortstop out of Mississippi with a well-rounded game and an advanced bat for a prep player. At 6’2” he’s athletic and projectable, showing a strong gap-to-gap approach and smooth actions at shortstop. In fact, he and his twin brother were a well-known duo, but JoJo stood out enough to be a top-10 pick.

He has excellent bat speed and makes a lot of contact, and he’s not just a slap hitter; there’s leverage in his swing for more power as he matures. Parker was seen as one of the most polished high school bats in the class (MLB Pipeline had him top 10 overall pre-draft) and profiles as a plus hitter with maybe 15-20 home run pop down the road. He’s also a good runner and instinctive defender. For rebuilders, Parker offers a nice balance of ceiling and floor: a potential everyday shortstop who could fill up all categories modestly, even if he doesn’t have one carrying elite tool.

3B Xavier Neyens

Neyens might have gone 21st in the MLB draft, but fantasy rebuilders shouldn’t sleep on his upside. This 6’4” high school slugger from Washington brings big left-handed power, arguably some of the best raw power of any prep hitter in 2025. Houston took him hoping to mold that power into the next middle-of-the-order bat. Neyens has an “outstanding approach” for a young slugger, showing patience and an ability to use all fields in high school.

Of course, with his size and power, there are some swing-and-miss concerns (like many power-hitting teens, elite velocity and breaking balls will test him). But he’s also a confident, hard-nosed player, and in his words, “a dirtbag” who will do whatever it takes to win. He was a shortstop in prep, but projects as a third baseman with a strong arm.

This is a classic high-risk/high-reward pick: Neyens could take four or five years to marinate in the minors, and the hit tool will determine if he’s Joey Gallo or something more. But if you’re deep in a rebuild, betting on a potential 65-grade power bat who idolizes Bryce Harper isn’t a bad strategy.

SS Steele Hall

The Reds shocked some by taking Hall ninth overall, but they zeroed in on his ultra-athletic profile and youth. Hall is only 17 (he reclassified to enter the draft a year early, like Willits did), making him one of the youngest draftees. He’s a right-handed hitting shortstop with plus-plus speed and a lightning-quick first step on defense. In fact, some scouts in Cincinnati comped him to Trea Turner, an “ultra-athletic” leadoff type who can impact the game with speed, defense, and hitting ability. That’s a dream ceiling, but it speaks to Hall’s talent.

He still needs to grow into his frame and will likely add some strength (don’t expect big power numbers early, though some project he could develop moderate pop). What he offers now is game-changing speed, a contact-oriented swing, and the tools to stick at shortstop long-term. This is a long play for fantasy, and Hall could easily be five years away, but if all goes well, you’re looking at a table-setter who might hit .280 with 40+ steals in his prime. Those don’t grow on trees, and that’s why rebuilders should have him on their FYPD radar.

OF Ethan Conrad

Conrad was a first-round talent who fell to the Cubs at 17th overall due to a shoulder injury in college, but he’s already turning heads as a potential steal. A left-handed outfielder, Conrad was raking at Wake Forest (.372/.495/.744 with more walks than strikeouts) before a diving catch dislocated his shoulder and ended his season early.

When healthy, he’s a dynamic, well-rounded player: above-average contact skills, a patient approach, burgeoning power, and plus speed. Cubs scouting noted that he can turn a double into a triple with his speed and puts pressure on defenses in multiple ways. In a full 2024 at Marist College, he actually led D-I with 13 triples and swiped 17 bags, showing that athleticism.

Importantly, his contact rates are excellent (he ran ~90% in-zone contact in college), suggesting he could be an above-average hitter for average. The power is coming along, as he was still filling out his frame and had seven home runs in 21 games pre-injury, and his exit velos indicate more pop is on tap.

For a rebuilding manager, Conrad offers a bit of everything and could advance faster than the high schoolers on this list. He might not have one single elite trait, but a guy who could hit .300 with 20 HR and 20 SB in a few years is extremely valuable in any format.

LHP Kruz Schoolcraft

Few players in this draft are as boom-or-bust as Schoolcraft, a 6’8” high school lefty from Oregon with jaw-dropping talent. He reclassified to join the 2025 class early (like Hall did) and San Diego grabbed him at 25th overall. Schoolcraft already sits in the mid-to-upper 90s with his fastball from the left side, an incredible weapon for an 18-year-old of his size. He also spins a vicious slider (his best pitch, with great spin and late bite) and has shown a feel for a changeup that’s rare in someone so tall and young.

The word “polarizing” fits here: some see an eventual ace, others worry how his unorthodox, towering frame will hold up. Notably, he was a two-way standout in high school (also hit .482 with 10 homers, underscoring his athleticism). The Padres will likely focus on his pitching, where his upside is sky-high. He absolutely dominated Oregon prep hitters (96 K in 54 IP, 0.50 ERA) while barely breaking a sweat.

For fantasy, Schoolcraft is a long-term project, and control and command will need refinement, and big lefties often take time to develop. But his massive frame and electric arm give him a chance to be a strikeout machine if it all clicks. Rebuilders who don’t mind volatility can bet on this lottery ticket, but just know it might be a while before you see returns, and there could be bumps along the way.

LHP Liam Doyle

Doyle was the first college pitcher drafted (5th overall by St. Louis), and he offers something rare in FYPDs: a potential quick-to-the-majors arm with frontline stuff. A 22-year-old lefty from Tennessee, Doyle’s calling card is a high-90s fastball with elite ride, and Baseball America said it “easily” grades 70, one of the best heaters in the class. He can run it up to 100 mph with a flat approach angle that makes it dominate hitters up in the zone. In college he leaned on that fastball heavily (and why not, with an 18.6% swinging-strike rate on it), but he also has solid secondaries.

The Cardinals believe he could help their big-league club as soon as 2026, perhaps even in a rotation role. For a rebuilding fantasy team, Doyle represents a chance to get value sooner, think of how Garrett Crochet or Tanner Bibee moved quickly while also offering a pitcher with ace upside. He struck out well over a batter per inning in the SEC and has shown he can handle high-pressure spots.

There’s always risk with pitchers, but Doyle’s combination of experience, stuff, and proximity is hard to find. If you’re tired of waiting five years on arms, Doyle is a pick that could pay off by the time your window of contention opens.

INF Aiva Arquette

Arquette was Miami’s pick at No. 7 and was considered by many the best college bat in the draft. A 21-year-old shortstop (who might slide over to third or second eventually), Arquette is 6’5” with a unique blend of physicality and athleticism. In 2025 at Oregon State, he slashed .354/.461/.654 with 19 homers and was a Golden Spikes semifinalist. He’s that big shortstop who “makes it work,” drawing comparisons to the likes of Corey Seager or Gunnar Henderson in terms of size and skillset.

For fantasy, none of Arquette’s tools jump off the page as elite, but all five are above-average (scouts put 50s or better on each). The result is a player whose whole is greater than the sum of the parts. He could hit 20+ home runs with a solid average, chip in a handful of steals, and stick near the top or middle of a lineup. Because he’s so well-rounded and polished, Arquette also carries a high floor, and he’s widely seen as one of the safest bets to reach the majors and become a contributor.

Rebuilders should value that safety; he might not be a fantasy superstar, but it’s easy to envision Arquette as a future everyday infielder who helps across the board, and he may only need a couple of minor league seasons before he knocks on the MLB door.

2B Kayson Cunningham

Cunningham might be the smallest player in this top 20 (around 5’9”-5’10”), but the lefty-hitting Texan can flat-out rake. The D-backs grabbed him 18th overall, likely enamored by his reputation as perhaps the best pure hitter in the high school class. He barely strikes out, showing exceptional zone coverage and contact rates over 90% in showcase play. Kayson’s swing is smooth and direct, spraying line drives all over, mostly for gap power at present.

He’s also a plus runner, which aids him both on the bases and in the field. Defensively, he played shortstop in high school and has the hands and instincts for it, but his arm and range might fit better at second base long term. Either way, his bat will be what carries him.

A popular comp has been a left-handed Jett Williams (Mets prospect), undersized but with advanced hit tool and speed. For a rebuilding fantasy team, Cunningham is the type of prospect who could shoot through the minors if he keeps hitting .300 at every level. The ceiling might look like a 10-15 home run, 20+ stolen base middle infielder with a high OBP/AVG, which is extremely valuable if it comes to fruition. He won’t be a big source of power, so adjust expectations in homer-centric formats, but in all other aspects he could eventually be a stat-sheet stuffer.

SS Dax Kilby

Kilby was a somewhat under-the-radar prep shortstop (went 39th overall to the Yankees), but he’s quickly making a name for himself with his well-rounded offensive profile. At 6’2” and 18 years old, Kilby has a quick left-handed swing and a mature approach, rarely chasing out of the zone. In a brief Low-A debut after signing, he hit .348 with more walks than strikeouts over his first 50+ plate appearances.

That’s obviously a tiny sample, but it backs up what scouts saw: a hitter who makes consistent contact and uses the whole field. He hasn’t homered yet as a pro, but don’t let that fool you, as Kilby’s batted-ball data is exciting. His average exit velocity (93+ mph) and 90th-percentile EV (~105-106 mph) are elite for an 18-year-old, ranking in the top few percent among Low-A hitters. In fact, those numbers put him in the company of MLB sluggers (for context, a 93.1 mph avg EV is around what guys like Tatis Jr. and Pete Alonso post).

This suggests that as he adds loft and strength, the power will come. Kilby’s profile (high contact, growing power, solid athlete) suddenly looks like a potential steal. He may stick at shortstop, but even if he slides to second or third, his bat projects to carry him. Dynasty managers in rebuilds should take note: Kilby could be one of those “pop-up” prospects who shoots up rankings in a year’s time, offering an enticing mix of floor (hit tool) and upside (power as he matures).

LHP Jamie Arnold

Arnold was the A’s first-round pick at 11th overall, a testament to how coveted his arm is. A 21-year-old lefty from Florida State, he brings a funky, cross-body delivery and a nasty repertoire that misses bats. His low three-quarters arm slot gives batters fits, as he creates a flat approach angle on his 92-96 mph fastball that makes it almost appear to rise as it reaches the plate.

He pairs that with a plus sweeping slider that he isn’t shy about throwing in any count (it’s arguably his best pitch). In his last two college seasons, Arnold dominated ACC lineups to the tune of a 2.98 ERA and around a 34-35% strikeout rate, showing he could be an ace of a collegiate staff. The key for him will be refining his fastball command, as his unique mechanics can lead to some wildness or misses up and arm-side.

But even his misses are hard to hit; college hitters only really got to him when he left pitches middle. The Athletics will likely let Arnold develop as a starter, and he projects as a high-strikeout, mid-rotation starter if it all comes together (with an outside shot to be more). For fantasy rebuilders, Arnold offers a blend of strong strikeout upside and enough polish that he shouldn’t be too far away, with an ETA around 2027. He might not have the same hype as some higher picks, but don’t be surprised if a few years from now he’s the latest A’s southpaw piling up Ks in the bigs.

INF Gavin Fien 

From a fantasy perspective, there is little not to like about infielder Gavin Fien. The California native forwent a Texas commitment when the Texas Rangers drafted him 12th overall this year, capping off a meteoric rise over the previous calendar year. Fien’s final fielding position is unknown, but that doesn’t matter too much at the plate.

Fien has a strong combination of hit and power tools, with batted-ball profiles that take advantage of the next small margins teams are chasing. Many evaluators point out some irregularities in his setup and swing, but the results are legit and the in-game power is above average. He will take some time to reach The Show, but he has enough in the tool kit to make the investment worth it.

OF Jace LaViolette

Boom-or-bust famously applies to prep players, but for a collegiate first-round position player, the same label fits outfielder Jace LaViolette. Baseball America famously pointed out that his .258 batting average from his 2025 season was one of the extremely rare times a first-rounder has a sub-.300 batting average in their draft year. But his double-plus power shows up in games and leads to some extreme exit velocities.

There is a reason players want to hit the ball hard: good things usually happen. LaViolette is in a Guardians system that has some mixed results on getting the most out of their hitters, but the Texas A&M product gives them an elite tool to work with. His swing-and-miss issues are known, giving him one of the greatest gaps between floor and ceiling for this group of 20.

RHP Kyson Witherspoon

The Oklahoma product may reach the majors before your position-player core is ready, but I like the situation pitcher Kyson Witherspoon could find himself in. The Boston Red Sox had a surge of pitching talent reach the majors this year and have plenty more in the pipeline waiting for their turn in the rotation. Witherspoon was this past draft’s top right-handed collegiate pitcher and will make his professional debut in 2026.

I like how the Red Sox organization could elevate Witherspoon’s present stuff, and how he slots in as a middle-rotation guy for a winning ball club. At worst, he is a firm starter prospect who could take three to four years to reach his peak. The athleticism and control lead me to believe that many contending dynasty managers will bet on his floor, while there is unrealized ceiling for rebuilders to dream on.

OF Devin Taylor

I went back and forth on this final spot, but outfielder Devin Taylor feels like the right call here. The Athletics drafted the Indiana alum 48th overall and promptly sent him to Low-A Stockton for the remaining season. The left-handed hitter went on to slash .264/.388/.481 in 28 games, with six home runs and 37 strikeouts to 21 walks. The fielding issues were ever so apparent for Taylor in his professional debut, a flaw that could hold him back a full season. The game power is among the best for the 2025 draft class, and while his age doesn’t bode well for a rebuilder, he seems like a slow riser and one whose primary value will come with his bat when the time is right.

Subscribe to the Pitcher List Newsletter

Your daily update on everything Pitcher List

Account / Login