The MLB season is underway, as is now the minor league baseball season. There have already been some sparkling performances in the minors – I’m talking about you, Norfolk Tides – that have started putting MLB prospects on the top of fantasy baseball managers minds. 

With them being front and center, I have done a complete update on my Top 400 MLB Prospect Rankings and broken down some of the notable players here! Not only will I highlight some of the biggest risers in the rankings, but also the ones coming off of breakouts on the field.

One of the top MLB prospects called up on Thursday – Jacob Young by the Washington Nationals – I talked about in last week’s fantasy baseball prospect report about what he brings to D.C.

 

 

 

MLB Prospects 2024: Fantasy Baseball Prospect Risers & Noteworthy Players

Colson Montgomery — SS Chicago White Sox

Montgomery isn’t the biggest riser in the update, though he did move up five spots. He’s here because of his recent spate of games at Triple-A. 

While it might have been lost in the offensive explosion of their opponent, the Norfolk Tides, Montgomery did go 3-6 with a double in the game. The tall, lefty-hitting shortstop is the cream of the crop in the White Sox’ system and he’s been showing that over his 191 MiLB games with a .281/.408/.435 slash line and 19 HR, 39 2B, 129 R, and 93 RBI. 

Despite the height, they’ve made it very clear that Montgomery will get a shot to stick at shortstop as long as possible which helps the fantasy value. If he can’t stick at short, which isn’t a problem yet, he’ll slide over to third base which should up the value.

Samuel Basallo — C/1B Baltimore Orioles

There are a ton of top prospects for the Orioles. That much is clear, however, we shouldn’t be overlooking Basallo. The 19-year-old, yes, another 19-year-old stud, played 114 games over three levels last year at mostly 18 years of age. In those 114 games he hit 20 HR while slashing .313/.402/.551, driving in 86 and scoring 75. 

Splitting time between catcher and first base, the lefty-hitting 6’3” Basallo has a 65-grade hit tool and 60-grade power that should produce a .280-.290 AVG and 30-HR power at the highest level. The only question left for Basallo is where he fits in the lineup going forward given the talent ahead of him at both spots and perhaps he slots into the DH spot on a full-time basis.

Heston Kjerstad — OF Baltimore Orioles

It’s not often we get to talk about a 10-RBI game for a hitter, but that’s what Kjerstad put up on Wednesday night for the Tides. That brings his RBI total in five games this year to a whopping 18 with four homers. 

Last year in 122 games across two levels, Kjerstad hit 21 homers while hitting .303 and a .376 OBP. Power is probably his best trait at above-average in the 20-80 skill while the average isn’t terribly far behind at a 50-grade. 

Kjerstad had a taste of the majors at the end of last year and if he keeps impacting the ball like he has been this year, it won’t be long until he’s sitting in the dugout at Camden Yards. The question is who gets moved out of the lineup for him in the majors, though it’s likely Hays is on the chopping block for at-bats.

 

 

 

Coby Mayo — 3B/1B Baltimore Orioles

Stop if you’ve heard this before but Baltimore has a top prospect who’s crushing the baseball at Triple-A. Yep, Mayo is another huge bat coming for the Orioles. If you thought Kjerstad’s calling card was pop, Mayo’s is even more so. 

It’s burgeoning on double-plus as a trait while the hit tool is a fringe average-grade tool. Overall, that’s a perfectly fine combo for a corner infielder who’s capable of hitting 35 home runs a year while not killing your average for fantasy. Mayo slashed .290/.410/.563 in 140 games combined last year with 29 HR, 99 RBI, 84 R, and five steals. He also added 45 doubles and three triples to that stat line which is another indication of the power. 

If the Orioles do a batch of call-ups and Mayo is included, he likely takes the spot of either Ryan O’Hearn or Ryan Mountcastle in the lineup as they’ll still need room for Jackson Holliday to take over Shortstop with Gunnar Henderson moving to third base.

Kyle Hurt — RHP Los Angeles Dodgers

Changing tact now for a second, Hurt has been up with the Dodgers for the start of the season and has done well over his two appearances so far. The hype around his stuff is real, most scouts suggest that Hurt has the best total package of stuff in the Dodgers’ system right now; I have him third in stuff behind Gavin Stone and Jackson Ferris. 

The issue with Hurt isn’t stuff, it’s where that stuff is going. Walks have been a huge problem for him in not only pro ball but also college ball too in the Pac-12. The four-pitch-mix that is all above-average to plus plays very well in terms of keeping batters on their toes, but the below-average command is keeping Hurt from his ceiling. 

Ultimately, if, and it’s a big if, Hurt can limit the walks more, we’re talking about a guy who could be the next Dylan Cease or Blake Snell. The stuff is that good. If he can’t sort it out, there is a role as a high-leverage reliever waiting for him which caps the fantasy value unless he’s getting saves.

Roman Anthony — OF Boston Red Sox

The teenage outfielder for the Red Sox moved up into the top-20 in this current top-400 update. That’s not a huge move but it solidifies just how good the skillset is for the youngster in Boston. 

He’s going to start the year at Double-A Portland, along with fellow top Red Sox prospects Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, Blaze Jordan, and Wikelman Gonzalez from the pitching side. Anthony is a legitimate five-tool outfield prospect with the ability to hit .275 while going 20-20 near the top of the Boston order when all is said and done. 

If he gets off to a hot start at Double-A, we could see Anthony cracking the outfield at Fenway in the second half of the year to join a rotation of Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Tyler O’Neil.

Chase DeLauter — OF Cleveland Guardians

DeLauter had a huge spring, and quite frankly made a push to make the team out of spring training. Thanks to that huge spring, and a big finish to last year, DeLauter jumped way up in the rankings into the top-20. The lefty-hitting, 22-year-old outfielder is going to start at Double-A Akron but if his bat stays as hot as it was in spring, don’t be surprised when he moves up to Triple-A Columbus and joins Kyle Manzardo in the middle of the Clippers’ lineup. 

There really isn’t anything DeLauter can’t do on a baseball field, and he’s got a real shot at being a 25-25 outfielder with a healthy average as well. If he’s still available in your keeper or dynasty leagues after his spring, grab him now before he keeps it going in Akron.