Let’s continue ranking the best 400 starting Pitchers to draft in fantasy baseball for 2025.
Remember, these ranks are based on a 12-teamer, 5×5 roto format. Adjust accordingly to your situation. I’ve also added the Top 100 SP table at the bottom of this article.
For a table of the entire 400 SP (really 450!) and to read this article Ad-Free (or to simply support me for putting all of this together!), make sure to subscribe to PL+ or PL Pro where I have these rankings inside a massive Google Sheet. You can access the sheet inside our subscriber Discord.
To get the full context of these rankings, read my Rankings outline at the start of the 1-20 rankings and as always…
Read The Notes
Tier 24 – The Prospect Stashes For 2026 (Probably) – Cont’d
These prospects are excellent and deserve your attention…which will be in 2026 in all likelihood (and possibly later)
251. 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.
252. 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.
253. Rickey Tiedemann (TOR, LHP)
We all want this to work out, but it won’t this year. Ricky underwent TJS in late July and we should have zero expectations for Tiedemann to appear in the majors this season. I’ve been a bit hesitant to lean into his skillset of 94/95 mph heaters without great shape (though it can touch 99!) and a sweeper to take down LHB but is susceptible to RHB, and a changeup that needed a bit more polish before I trusted it as a reliable nullifer to RHB. Here’s to a healthy 2026 and all the hype.
254. 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.
255. 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.
256. 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.
257. 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.
258. 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.
259. 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.
260. 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.
Tier 25 – When You Start, We Should Kinda Care
We’ll see them get starts and become strreaming options in 12-teamers, or could even put on a decent stretch for a time.
261. Marcus Stroman (NYY, RHP)
I have to hand it to Eno Sarris for this one. While I have zero interest in Stroman in a 12-teamer (he’s a Toby at best), Eno noted that it’s highly likely for the Yankees to deal Stroman to a team desperate to fill innings in 2025. It makes Stroman as a potential sleeper for deeper leagues where a 4.00 ERA and 1.20ish WHIP is held onto. For all y’all in shallower leagues or trying to find something more? You can step aside. It’s a sinker that simply isn’t as effective as it used to be, paired with curveballs for RHB and cutters/sliders for LHB…and none of them consistent start-to-start.
Once Stroman finds a home in a rotation (likely not in New York), you can consider him as a streaming option when his turn comes around in Quality Start leagues. Win leagues? The Yankees are likely to pull him somewhat quickly if he sticks around, while I expect whatever team that would deal for Stroman isn’t supported by a strong offense. This ain’t it y’all.
Quick Take: Stroman’s signature sinker isn’t as effective as it used to be, while the secondaries lack the consistency and punch they need to give you the confidence of production whenever he starts…whenever that is.
262. Kenta Maeda (DET, RHP)
There used to be something here, but Maeda is now reserved for long relief and without the same slider and splitter of old with a declining fastball velocity. There have been reports of throwing 91-92 in the spring as he fights for a rotation spot this spring, though I’d be incredibly shocked if he beat out the plethora of options.
263. Michael Soroka (WSN, RHP)
This is not the career we anticipated for Soroka after a promising glimpse in 2018 and a glistening rookie campaign as a true future workhorse across 175 IP and a 2.68 ERA at just 22-years-old. After injuries galore and a move to Chicago, Soroka failed to take full advantage of a tumultuous rotation and found himself in the pen (and doing his best to avoid yet another injury). Expect the Nationals to let Soroka fly as much as possible in 2025 and I’d be surprised if Soroka didn’t lean into more approach changes in the season ahead – after all, he was touted as a “veteran” arm at such a young age for his pitchability. Soroka is a tinkerer who could find his command of old.
The slider was a major step forward last year with legit depth that hints at more of a curve than hard gyro, though he struggled to earn the strikes he wanted from the pitch to devastate RHB. In addition, his lack of inside sinkers nor display of his classic command made him far more hittable than ideal.
His lack of consistent changeup made it tough against LHB, as well. The slowball’s elite horizontal break brings potential for the future, though it can be difficult to wield a pitch with such extreme movement. That said, given regular starts for the first time in six years, Soroka has the chance to find his old groove and provide sneaky value in 15-teamers for volume alone at decent-enough ratios. You may even find yourself streaming him in 12-teamers on a desperate Sunday given his expected 90+ pitch leash.
Quick Take: Soroka hasn’t had a chance to blossom since his 2019 season and could have his former command to become a Toby during the year. Look for his slider and changeup strike rates to improve, while the sinker needs to jam RHB more often than its sub 40% inside location in 2024.
264. Cody Poteet (CHC, RHP)
You may remember Poteet with the Yankees last year for a handful of games when they were dealing with the injury bug. Poteet is a Toby at best, reliant on his command of sinkers, four-seamers, changeups, and sweepers around the edges of the plate. There isn’t a major whiff pitch in the lot, sadly, though his ability to maneuver around the edges mixed with a good defense behind him can squeeze the most out of his stuff to go five productive frames for the Cubs. Not the worst 15-team streamer when that time arrives, but not enough of an impact in shallower formats.
265. Tristan Beck (SFG, RHP)
He missed most of last season with a blood clot in his pitching arm and we’re all glad to see Beck back on the mound and fighting for a rotation spot. I’d be surprised to see him get it, though. Beck’s arsenal doesn’t make him a loser, but it’s not where it’s at, either. His above-average extension tries to mask the 93 mph heater at 15-16 iVB and somewhat steep attack angle, but it’s not quite enough, nor does it pair with a pristine approach upstairs. It puts the focus on his sweeper/slider combo against RHB, with the former being effective in the past, and would have to do the heavy lifting in the year ahead. The slider is more of a cutter in approach as a strike pitch, not an aggressive whiff pitch off the heater.
Beck’s curveball is a major focus against LHB, and there isn’t a whole lot to write home about. Without a serviceable changeup, Beck is a bit stranded against LHB, and I’d need to see to another plan of attack early in the year to be confident in Beck as a starter.
It’s not a package that speaks to wild success. Against a RHB lineup, the sweeper could find its groove and collect a fair number of whiffs and punchouts, but I don’t see anything more than a streaming option.
Quick Take: The sweeper has shown promise in the past and could earn whiffs against RHB, but Beck’s middle-of-the-road four-seamer and mediocre slider & curve give him little room for growth. Consider him as a 15-team Toby if given a chance in-season and a rare streamer for shallower formats.
266. Jhony Brito (SDP, RHP)
Brito’s changeup is legit. The problem? He has nothing else. He does the right thing with his sinker to lean heavily inside to RHB and induce as many outs as possible, but the four-seamer is rough and he hasn’t flexed a strong breaker. The Padres sent him to the minors last year to stretch out as a starter again and figure out what else he can whip together and there is acutally something here in an 87/88 mph slider that returned a 5.36 PLV during those starts. I wonder if the Padres will give him a shot in camp to prove the pitch is real and good enough to work against both LHB and RHB, but I’m not holding my breath.
267. Daniel Lynch IV (KCR, LHP)
If you squint, you can see how this could work for Lynch as a starter. He did succeed in the small 43.1 IP sample last year with a 3.32 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, after all. He does so with a slider that is commanded well, but its lack of movement prevents a higher O-Swing from turning it into a 60%+ strike pitch or preventing demolition when floated over the plate accidentally. The changeup is arguably his best offering as a RHB silencer, which still has refinement left with its execution.
The sinker is saved for generally jamming LHB and the four-seamer is…bad. I don’t see Lynch, The Starter surviving with that four-seamer utilized over 30% of the time (let alone the 37% last season) unless his slider and changeup take even more steps forward this year. I don’t buy this turning out well save for a possible hot stretch at one point of the year and even then, I’d be hesitant to dip my feet into the clear water, expecting a fish to appear out of nowhere. But it has no teeth! YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!
Quick Take: Lynch is doing his best to put together a proper LHP arsenal, but his poor four-seamer and lack of true filth are holding him back. I’m skeptical he can turn into a fantasy-relevant arm in 12-teamers, let alone 15-teamers.
268. Cooper Criswell (BOS, RHP)
He’s a kitchen sink fella who doesn’t go more than five innings often when he gets the chance. I love his ability to go Neckbeard at times, but you really shouldn’t expect major volume this year from Criswell. The Sawx have plenty other options and Cooper is more of a backup long relief option they push when needed.
Quick Take: Criswell is the ultra backup option for the Red Sox, even though he’s better than other super backups for other teams. He won’t be seen much, though, and you’re better off chasing others instead.
269. Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN, RHP)
SWR added velocity to his four-seamer and it helped him earn a 14% SwStr rate to RHB with plenty of hard contact while the slider stepped in to go Dancing With The Disco to save him in multiple starts last season. The four-seamer’s ICR was excellent against LHB, likely due to the changeup’s introduction, though the slowball did not fare well in the slightest. I don’t believe in that heater’s success against LHB and I wouldn’t be surprised if it earned fewer whiffs to RHB next year. Not great, Bob.
Woods Richardson’s fastball, slider, and changeup approach doesn’t quite gel as you want it to and the Twins seemed to notice, electing to pull him before the third time through the lineup, limiting him to fewer than five innings often. He’s a Toby in a 15-teamer at best and it seems as though the Twins have better options for their #4 and #5 spot than Woods Richardson. Maybe he looks new in camp and forces a spot on the roster, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Quick Take: There may be moments this year when SWR gets regular starts and survives 5+ frames with his slider dancing over the plate and fastballs narrowly missing the barrel against LHB, and I’m personally avoiding it even if he’s on a hot streak. There are better options out there.
270. Alec Marsh (KCR, RHP)
Marsh is entering camp with shoulder tightness, which isn’t abnormal for the spring as pitchers warm up the ole soup bone, but it does put Bubic on the fast track for the SP #5 spot. Marsh has moments when his slider is cooking and can surprise batters with his four-seamer for punchouts at a much higher rate than you’d expect (28% putaway rate?!), but sadly, that’s the end of his praise. I’d be irate to say the least if the Royals elected to toss Marsh into the rotation over Bubic given Marsh’s lack of explosiveness or ceiling and if Marsh finds a way, I’d refrain from getting him close to my fantasy teams. Don’t get suckered in by a game where he demolishes RHB with the slider and heater. It isn’t meant to last.
Quick Take: Marsh has a solid slider that works as it should against RHB and a strangely effective four-seamer against RHB for punchouts, but a poor approach to LHB, leading to wildly inconsistent performances, especially when he isn’t at his best against RHB. Even if he finds regular starts, I’d be ultra cautious.
271. Keider Montero (DET, RHP)
Montero was called upon to cover a far more starts than the Tigers ever expected and did his best to survive with a slider that performed well against RHB and…that’s it. Truly, the four-seamer was demolished and the slider performed far worse against LHB. Okay fine, the curve was okay against LHB, happy?!
I doubt the Tigers would lean on Montero out of the gate unless they had no confidence in Jobe and Manning, and even then there are a few more options in Montero’s way. You may see Montero snag some starts across the year and he’ll make for a desperate stream. That’s about it, sadly.
272. Emerson Hancock (SEA, RHP)
After the top five, it gets awfully rough for the Mariners. Hancock is the clear #6 and would get stable innings should there be an opening (as of now), but that doesn’t mean you should roster him. Hancock’s best asset is a sinker-change combo, though he features four-seamers more often than you’d expect and he really shouldn’t. The slider leaves a lot to be desired as well, which makes Hancock an arm who needs to showcase something new for us to consider him when the inevitable opportunity appears, though the deepest of leagues may consider him as a potential six-inning arm (sinker/change types can find quick outs). Look for fewer four-seamers and hopefully a third pitch to help against LHB (and can you please raise your changeup’s strike rate? It’s too good to be sub 60% against LHB!).
Tier 26 – You Have A Rotation Spot. I Guess.
If you need volume, it’ll be here. But it’s concert volume where you’ll feel the effects days later.
273. Kyle Hendricks (LAA, RHP)
Hendricks to the Angels? Sure, I guess. The Angels don’t have the exciting crew of players to firmly place inside their rotation and Hendricks will eat innings for them across the year. Are they beneficial innings? Likely not most of the time. The curve isn’t a reliable #3 pitch, and the sinker hasn’t had a Mistake Rate under a 13% clip in ages (You never want above 10%). Yes, the changeup is still filth to LHB and I imagine we’ll see the pitch climb over 50% usage to both LHB and RHB in the year ahead, but that filth returned a 15% SwStr rate, not the 20%+ that would suggest any sort of strikeouts along the way.
A pick used on Hendricks is a desperate pick for a Quality Start or Win. On the Angels. Please trust in the Roundup and Daily Streamers instead of drafting Hendricks. But he was better when he returned from the IL in June! You mean the 4.73 ERA and 1.32 WHIP? …yeah? Uh huh. OKAY FINE.
274. Bailey Falter (PIT, LHP)
Why isn’t Falter on the Rays yet? He has elite four-seamer extension from the left side at 91 mph and is missing one piece against RHB and one piece against LHB. That easy, eh? Kinda? Falter has struggled to find a changeup grip that works for him, but hot dang does he need to do everything in his power to find one. He is primed for a legit changeup with his arm action and extension, which would instantly take down RHB with his affinity for high heaters (36% ICR against RHB!), plus a decent curve and slider to get over the plate.
For LHB, it’s mostly the sinker jamming more inside as the four-seamer gets tatted, though the slider needs to land down-and-away a bit more frequently. Currently, Falter struggles to attack with the breaker to LHB (58% strikes) and it’s signifcant problem. Why? That seems okay? Because there’s nothing else. The fastballs have to do all the work with the curve reserved for called strikes early in the count, and you know those heaters are a pair of $5 single AAA battery powered fellas you got from AliExpress. They aren’t gonna get the job done.
Falter will have those starts where the fastball and slider are spotted well enough to get the job done, but he’s a rare streamer in all formats and not to be trusted until a slowball appears…or he’s traded to a new team that will force it upon him. Come on Tampa, we know it should be you.
Quick Take: Falter has elite extension without the pieces to get the most out of it. His four-seamer lives upstairs at 91 mph and is effective for what it is, but he needs more from his slider, sinker, and a potential changeup to turn him into anything more than a desperate streaming option.
275. Cal Quantrill (MIA, RHP)
Look who it is, the UnQuantrillfiable himself, hanging out in Miami. This signing makes all the sense for a cheap innings eater without much fun in the arsenal. There was a lovely eight-start run last year where Quantrill had an absurd feel for his splitter (49 whiffs in eight games!) that led to a 2.40 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 48.2 IP, but then the variability of splitters reappeared as Coors boomed across the land I AM UNDEFEATED. Expect Quantrill to start for the club at the end of their rotation for as long as his body lets him, marking a rare streaming option on a desperate Sunday, hoping for that splitter to be on point as he hurls 94 mph sinkers without good locations over the plate and hopes Koufax is there to help.
Quick Take: This take is already too long. Quantrill will accrue volume, runs, walks, hits, and few strikeouts. He sounds great! If he were a hitter. Oh. Reserve Quantrill for a rare stream after showcasing a good feel for his splitter previously.
276. Miles Mikolas (STL, RHP)
Mikolas hasn’t had a 17%+ strikeout rate since 2022. But he gets innings! Why oh why would you want these innings? Because it’s volume! This is concert volume – 120 decibels of Mikolas deals you long term damage. He throws strikes aplenty with sub 10 % SwStr rates on every pitch and batters him them aplenty. And yet, the Cardinals have no interest in replacing him, nor a clear replacement to speak of, so yay. Have fun ignoring Mikolas in your drafts once again.
Quick Take: Don’t.
277. Steven Matz (STL, LHP)
Here’s a stat: Across all ten seasons in the majors, Matz has never held a WHIP of 1.20 or lower. Sure, it’s possible this is the season it all comes together, and if that’s the hill you want to die on, knock yourself out. Matz has been trying to force his sinker dominance for ages and while it somehow had an 18% ICR to LHB last year (small sample, y’all), he did so by landing backdoor called strikes, not by jamming them inside. It’s not sustainable.
That sinker fails often against RHB, too, though his changeup shows promise as my favorite offering in his tool chest. Maybe he can lean more into it and turn the corner? Naaaaah, let’s leave the Matz outside the house for others to see.
Quick Take: Why am I still writing these quick takes this far down the rankings?! Matz’ sinker is overused and needs more help than his changeup provides. This ain’t it y’all.
Tier 27 – Living At The Lowest Peaks
COL Story, Bro. Coors is undefeated.
278. Germán Márquez (COL, RHP)
When we last saw Germán for more than a handful of games, it was 2022 and times were dire. After his 2024 came to a screeching halt due to a stress fracture in his elbow after just one four-inning game, we still have very little idea of what we’ll get from Germán in 2025. The problem here lies in what we can expect. The last proper season we saw came with a touch of hope in his breakers against RHB and a sinker that managed to induce a sub 30% ICR, but his four-seamer is far from effective and LHB had a field day. For Márquez to be worth your attention, he needs to return and be better than his last full season, and arguably better than his 2021 campaign as well. Here’s to hoping the slider and curve can return 20% SwStr rates once again to at least give him a chance.
279. Kyle Freeland (COL, LHP)
Freeland’s curveball is the only reason for his massive strikeout boost to…17%+ last season – a pitch that was saved for two-strike counts half the time and was a clear outlier of efficiency with a 32% putaway rate against LHB. Freeland’s slider declined massively against RHB, though the sinker/slider combo was still effective at reducing hard contact. But in his home park, with few whiffs, Freeland is a spin of the wheel for a QS…or a massive dud. I’d really hate to be in a spot where I have to rely on Freeland to come through, even on the road.
280. Bradley Blalock (COL, RHP)
Blalock arrived at the deadline and gave us a standard Rockies RP for a handful of starts – A poor fastball with a slider that can be decent at times and not much else. He featured a splitter as his premier weapon against LHB, often for just 50% strikes and that can’t happen when utilized in all counts (sub 20% two-strike usage!). Maybe the splitter feel arrives, the slider gets used more than the four-seamer, and the curveball can be trusted against LHB. That’s a whole lot of maybe for a possible deep-league streaming option.
281. Ryan Feltner (COL, RHP)
Feltner’s best offering is the changeup he features to LHB and I wish I had more accolades for the rare fantasy relevant arm. The sinker has induced weak contact to RHB, though I question its ability to replicate for another full year, while the four-seamer and breakers bring little excitement to the table. No thanks.
282. Antonio Senzatela (COL, RHP)
Senz-A. Oh buddy. It took a long time to find routine starts after 2022’s TJS, even if it was a trio of sadness at the end of September last year. His approach is the same: Mediocre 94/95 mph four-seamers and “a slider” with a poor SwStr rate both located down-and-away to RHB, while staying away from LHB with the same pair and mixing in a few changeups and “show me” curves. It’s not good. At all. It also finds a decent amount of strikes and can return outs on a given night for six frames of survival. Please avoid this. Please.
283. Austin Gomber (COL, LHP)
I’ve seen days where Gomber has his changeup cooking against RHB while his curve and slider stifle LHB with effective sprinkles against RHB, allowing batters to get frustrated in the box after being promised 40% meatball four-seamers. Those days are few and far between, sadly, and the value of chasing a Colorado Rockies SP is simply not there. Don’t get Gomber’d, y’all.
Tier 28 – Free Agents Coming To A Team Near You
I apologize if these guys have found a team by the time you’re reading this and I haven’t updated them yet. I imagine a team will grab them at some point to grant some of that loud, abrasive volume.
284. José Quintana (FA, LHP)
There are moments Quintana can find a groove when he’s locating all of his pitchers properly, executing a stellar Neckbeard approach, and I have to wager a team is willing to give him some innings this season. He may not have a regular rotation spot, though, making it even harder to expect that groove to appear. He’s a desperate streamer if he’s given the chance.
285. Andrew Heaney (PIT, LHP)
Heaney signed with the Pirates right after publication.
It’s strange how Heaney’s slider performs better against RHB than LHB, and to be honest, everything has been strange about Heaney across his career. A team is sure to lose a starter during the spring and become desperate enough to give Heaney a contract to cover them for a month or two, though I’d generally avoid it, save for leagues where I’m desperate for strikeouts. He’s simply too volatile, especially without a proper offseason at play.
286. Spencer Turnbull (FA, RHP)
I still feel for Turnbull. He finally found himself with a rotation spot and pitching at his peak across the month of April, but was displaced by Taijuan Walker and never got it back. In fact, the first start he had back in the rotation resulted in shoulder soreness and it ended his season. Starting and stopping isn’t as easy as you’d think, sadly. I imagine a team would take a chance on Turnbull in hopes he could rekindle that April magic when they needed a starter, though he’s a 15-teamer waiver-wire play at best.
287. Kyle Gibson (FA, RHP)
Guys like Gibson find a way to be on a team somewhere and you go “oh, he’s there? Okay.” and that’s all you need to do. Sure, it could be a rare Quality Start or Win as whatever team would let him go six frames, so I guess don’t forget on a desperate Sunday?
288. Patrick Corbin (FA, LHP)
It feels weird to consider Corbin pitching anywhere outside of Washington and likely for the 29 other teams, too. If he finds a squad to pitch, you know the drill.
289. Lance Lynn (FA, RHP)
Apparently Lynn is open to being a closer…? I guess that makes sense. Hopefully max effort can bring value somewhere, but it’s unlikely to be as a starter for your fantasy teams.
Tier 29 – Prospects Who Likely Aren’t A Spec Add
It’s absolutely possilbe I’m overlooking these prospects and we should pay attention when they get their chance to start. Keep in mind, these arms are not ranked inside the tier – it’s so late in the rankings y’all. I just grouped them all together.
290. 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.
291. 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.
292. 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.
293. 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.
294. 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.
295. 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.
296. Gunnar Hoglund (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.
297. 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.
298. 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.
299. 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.
300. Shane Smith (CHW, LHP)
He was a Rule 5 draft pick and may be slotted for the pen after five appearances in Triple-A all in relief, though he tossed sixteen starts for the Brewers Double-A team and may be considered in the rotation for the White Sox. His 93/94 mph heater 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.
Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)