Dynasty fantasy baseball is already in full swing and most of you have those prospect drafts coming up any week now. With most of the top prospects already taken, I wanted to offer you all a look at the players I expect to jump up lists this coming year that way you can have those top prospects this time next year when everyone is scrambling to find the next big thing. In fact, last year this article nailed Marco Luciano, Luis Patino, Kristian Robinson and Edward Cabrera among others as big risers.
The players who make an appearance in this breakout piece today are already higher on my personal top 500 list than the general consensus. What I am predicting here are how high they will leap according to the general consensus in 2019. Let’s jump into it starting at the top.
Check out our early consensus rankings for 2020 fantasy baseball drafts 
Players who could be top 10 prospects by this time next year
Marco Luciano (SS – SF)
I’ll go as far as saying that beyond Wander Franco, Luis Robert and Jo Adell, no one in the minor leagues has as much upside as Luciano, and he may even pass some or all of those names on the list once we see more. There is still some risk, of course, as is the case with any 18-year-old but he is already showcasing the top max exit-velos in the minors. The power is clearly plus plus but Luciano is also athletic, offers excellent intangibles and doesn’t have the same hit-tool problems that many elite power prospects have. In fact, it would surprise no one if he morphed into a .300 hitter while also winning multiple HR-crowns. Think J.D. Martinez but at shortstop, or more likely third base.
Dynasty fantasy baseball is already in full swing and most of you have those prospect drafts coming up any week now. With most of the top prospects already taken, I wanted to offer you all a look at the players I expect to jump up lists this coming year that way you can have those top prospects this time next year when everyone is scrambling to find the next big thing. In fact, last year this article nailed Marco Luciano, Luis Patino, Kristian Robinson and Edward Cabrera among others as big risers.
The players who make an appearance in this breakout piece today are already higher on my personal top 500 list than the general consensus. What I am predicting here are how high they will leap according to the general consensus in 2019. Let’s jump into it starting at the top.
Check out our early consensus rankings for 2020 fantasy baseball drafts
Players who could be top 10 prospects by this time next year
Marco Luciano (SS – SF)
I’ll go as far as saying that beyond Wander Franco, Luis Robert and Jo Adell, no one in the minor leagues has as much upside as Luciano, and he may even pass some or all of those names on the list once we see more. There is still some risk, of course, as is the case with any 18-year-old but he is already showcasing the top max exit-velos in the minors. The power is clearly plus plus but Luciano is also athletic, offers excellent intangibles and doesn’t have the same hit-tool problems that many elite power prospects have. In fact, it would surprise no one if he morphed into a .300 hitter while also winning multiple HR-crowns. Think J.D. Martinez but at shortstop, or more likely third base.
Other Breakout Prospects in this Tier
- Oscar Colas (OF – FA)
- Kristian Robinson (OF – ARI)
- Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT)
Players who could be top 25 prospects by this time next year
Matthew Allan (RHP – NYM)
Say hello to the Mets’ next ace. Now, he is still three years away but this big-bodied durable workhorse in the making has true front of the rotation stuff. Had he had not had signability issues, Allan would have been the consensus top high school pitcher in last year’s draft class. It seemed unlikely anyone would be able to pry him away from his commitment to Florida, but the Mets took a gamble and landed the stud. Allen works in the upper 90s with his fastball and has command of two potentially useful off-speed pitches. Should he stay healthy for the full year, I find it likely that he’ll soar up everyone’s prospect lists.
Other Breakout Prospects in this Tier
Players who could be top 50 prospects by this time next year
Franklin Perez (RHP – DET)
Some of the names on this list are bounceback prospects. Perez fits the definition as well as anyone else, as prior to the 2018 season, Baseball America had him ranked the 35th prospect in all of baseball. Yes, he missed nearly two full years but the former prize of the Justin Verlander trade is oozing with potential. He has not been shut down for surgery, but rather just dealing with shoulder tendinitis and Detroit has been very careful with his golden arm. When he is right, we are talking about a high-velocity arm with command of four pitches and athleticism. Perez is extremely risky and may end up in the pen but if he is finally healthy, jumping back up to #35 this year is entirely possible.
Other Breakout Prospects in this Tier
Players who could be top 75 prospects by this time next year
Noah Song (RHP – BOS)
If not for President Trump passing a law to allow a waiver for professional athletes coming out of the military academies, Song would have to serve two years of active duty with the Navy before pitching in the minors. Even despite the expectation of waiting two years, Boston pulled the trigger in the fourth-round and seem to have landed a first-round talent with the investment. Song can pump the fastball up to 98 but it’s his slider that is the best pitch in his four-pitch arsenal. Now that Song can focus exclusively on baseball, it would be no surprise for his stuff to be recognized as that of a future ace.
Other Breakout Prospects in this Tier
Players who could be top 100 prospects by this time next year
Jeremy De La Rosa (OF – WSH)
There is no MLB organization better at scouting and developing 15-year-old Latin Americans than the Washington Nationals. This now 18-year-old should prove as further evidence for that fact. Although he has a smaller body, De La Rosa has an extraordinarily impressive hit tool and could grow into league-average power as his body fills out. Although the production hasn’t been there stateside yet, this is the very type to break out in his first full season against minor league pitching.
Other Breakout Prospects in this Tier
Players who could be surprise impact players at the MLB level this year
Adonis Medina (SP – PHI)
Much like Franklin Perez above, Medina is a former top-50 prospect who just so happened to struggle in Double-A this year. It most certainly wasn’t for lack of stuff, though, as this righty has legitimate Cy Young potential if he can ever put it all together. While he doesn’t throw 100 like a Nate Pearson or Michael Kopech, Medina has two potential plus off-speed offerings and has been downright unhittable at times. Much like Jose Berrios, it may be a bumpy road to get there, but you just can’t teach stuff like Medina has.
Other Breakout Prospects in this Tier
Special breakout cases outside of the minors
Tetsuto Yamada (2B – Japan)
Yamada has grown to become a frustrating case because while he wants to come stateside, the MLB rules have disincentivized his team, the Yakult Swallows, from posting him. They would be capped at receiving a $20 million posting fee which makes little sense for a team possessing one of the best players in the world. I didn’t stutter and I’m not exaggerating; that is exactly the quality of player we are talking about here. Yamada is commonly called the “Trout of Japan” but his stature and game have many comparing him to Jose Altuve. That’s not quite what I see. Although he has hit .320 several times in Japan, he should be more of a .280ish hitter in the bigs but with 35/30 power/speed. More likely by the time he arrives, we are talking about the speed dipping a little so think Trevor Story or Francisco Lindor but at second base.
Mick Abel (RHP – Oregon HS) – Could fly up MLB draft boards this spring
Thanks for reading and good luck this season!
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