35Dynasty leagues generally vary by a wide margin with all sorts of rules from first-year player drafts (which we will discuss in next week’s article) to leagues with salary or draft pick values attached to each player and that’s not even considering the differences in scoring from standard roto-leagues to points settings or OBP prominent leagues where things like plate skills and stolen bases can relate to different values or holds leagues where closers lose a significant amount of their value.
For these reasons, the context of your league must be taken into consideration with any rankings or valuation, but the goal of this article will be to provide good ideas or enlighten you about prospects you may not be aware of rather than providing a direct ranking of players to grab in your dynasty leagues. For my direct rankings, please check out my Top-150 Prospects article which also provides little blurbs for each player, fScores for those who will debut in 2024 and player comps.
I’m going to be using other consensus prospect rankings published as a rule of thumb to judge values against and provide a list of 15 prospects for dynasty leagues that I judge to be of considerable value against the field right now and who I recommend to target in drafts or via trade. Each player discussed has certain tools that may fit into one scoring format better than another, so I will do my best to target a group of guys that hit most formats rather than picking high speed guys or high OBP guys that may play up better in some formats than others, I’m shooting for well-rounded value in this article. Lastly, I’m going to shoot for a good position mix here. While there may be a ton more value at one position than others, I don’t want to provide a list heavy on pitchers or heavy on hitters, I’m shooting for an even split, so keep that in mind as well while reading through the fifteen players provided below.
Top 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Acquire
1. Jasson Dominguez (OF – NYY)
Overall dynasty ranking: : 119
2023 AA/AA: .265/.377/.425, 15 HR, 40 SB
2023 MLB: .258/.303/.677, 4 HR, 1 SB
Age: 21
ETA: Debuted 2023, should return after minor league rehab in June or July
fScores: 99 fContact, 103 fDiscipline, 136 fPower, 162 fSpeed, 60 fDurability
Comp: Switch hitting Mookie Betts-light
Prime Skills: Dominguez has top-notch plate skills, while also demonstrating he can be a game changer on the base paths. He smashes pitches high in the zone from both sides of the plate, but needs to work on lifting pitches low in the zone instead of smashing them into the ground. He was doing a good job of this before the injury at the major league level.
Value Proposition: The Martian showed in his small major league sample size the skills are legit and will play up in Yankee Stadium. Debuting as a 20-year-old, the stage in the Big Apple was not too large for him and as soon as he returns mid-season from his TJ surgery, he will be ready to provide immediate return on your investment. Injuries are some of the best buy low opportunities in fantasy baseball and Dominguez is a top 10 prospect (#8 in my rankings), but is ranked in the industry closer to the 10-20 range at this point. In regards to dynasty rankings specifically, many in the industry have him in the 150 range (probably due to the injury), while I have him as a clear top 50 dynasty value, placing him around Evan Carter in long term value. Now is the time to buy, before he’s healthy and proving all the haters wrong.
2. Masyn Winn (SS – STL)
Overall dynasty ranking: 211
2023 AAA: .288/.359/.474, 18 HR, 17 SB
2023 MLB: .172/.230/.238, 2 HR, 2 SB
Age: 22
ETA: Debuted in 2023
fScores: 93 fContact, 100 fDiscipline, 76 fPower, 139 fSpeed, 78 fDurability
Comp: Young Francisco Lindor with less power
Prime Skills: Remember when Lindor came up as a defense-first SS? Winn obviously has a ridiculous arm, but on top of that is thrifty on the base paths with sneak 15-ish homer upside. He could land somewhere between Edman with better plate discipline to Lindor as a potential long-term range of outcomes. The swing decisions are excellent.
Value Proposition: Winn had a rough major league debut and is basically being written off as Brice Turang 2.0 at this point in dynasty leagues getting valued outside of the top 300 and many prospect experts have him outside of the top 50. I have him as a top-20 prospect still and a top-80 dynasty player, because Winn has had a trend of struggling when he enters a new level. He struggled at the beginning of 2023 in AAA, then really caught on to finish the minor league season with a nice line. He has a more powerful swing than he lets on, once he builds consistency and I have a feeling we can see regular 15 homer, 25 steal seasons from Winn with a solid slash line and a potential Lindor Light like career peak. Buy low.
3. Samuel Basallo (C – BAL)
Overall dynasty ranking: 262
2023 A/A+/AA Stats: .313/.402/.551, 20 HR, 12 SB
Age: 19
ETA: Early 2025
fScores: N/A
Comp: Kyle Schwarber with a better hit tool
Prime Skills: Good plate discipline, great power and young for his level, Bassallo is looking like Salas minor coming up in the next few years. The dude is built for his age with fast hands, but a tight / weird batting stance. He will likely move off the position because of Adley Rutschman. The dude can straight up hit and if he maintains the speed has the skill to be a 30/15 1B or LF in the future from the left side.
Value Proposition: He’s young, which means there is more volatility, but if he continues on his current track, he’s a top-10 prospect. Basallo has one of the best all-around offensive profiles in the minors from a position that generally doesn’t produce much offensive impact. He has an extremely high floor and I have him ranked as a top-20 prospect and top-250 dynasty player, while most currently have him outside of the top 300 dynasty players and the average expert ranking on Fantasy Pros has him ranked as the 48th overall prospect.
4. Harry Ford (C/OF – SEA)
Overall dynasty ranking: 393
2023 A+: .257/.410/.430, 15 HR, 24 SB
Age: 21
ETA: Early 2025
fScores: N/A
Comp: J.T. Realmuto light (less power, better discipline)
Prime Skills: Ford has power, speed, plate discipline and great contact skills – he’s the real deal. I think he’s a better version of Bo Naylor, but a couple years behind in development. He will also likely move off the position a la MJ Melendez and be an OF and backup catcher, because Big Bopper and now Mitch Garver will be blocking him at the position (at least for one year).
Value Proposition: Ford has been getting dropped in a lot of expert prospect rankings this offseason and I believe it’s because he spent the year at high A and did not get promoted to AA after being a star during the World Baseball Classic. Ford might move off catcher, just because the Mariners are likely to have Raleigh there for quite a while, but in the worst case he’s Daulton Varsho with a better eye and I still have him ranked as a top 25 prospect against where some have him outside of the top 50.
5. Cade Horton (SP – CHI)
Overall dynasty ranking: 183
2023 A/A+/AA: 88 1/3 IP, 117 Ks, 27 BBs, 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Age: 22
ETA: Mid 2024
fScores: 43 fPDurability, 120 fStuff, 106 fControl, 113 fERA
Comp: Hunter Brown
Prime Skills: Dude looks like a righty Jon Lester throwing 98 MPH darts and has a nasty curve. He has shown insane command with three plus pitches between the fastball, slider and curve and should be moving pretty quickly next season due to his well above average command.
Value Proposition: Horton is known by a ton of experts, but there are many who still don’t really know him and this is a good chance to go for him in home leagues. I have Horton ranked 23rd in my prospect rankings against an average in the 30s. This is likely the last opportunity to get him in dynasty leagues for any value, pending an injury.
6. Tyler Black (1B/2B/3B – MIL)
Overall dynasty ranking: 263
2023 AA/AAA: .284/.417/.513, 18 HR, 55 SB
Age: 23
ETA: Early 2024
fScores: 90 fContact, 132 fDiscipline, 73 fPower, 143 fSpeed, 69 fDurability
Comp: Faster Ben Zobrist
Prime Skills: He has ridiculously good plate skills to go along with high end speed, a solid hit tool and above-average power. Under the radar guy who will kill it at 2B as soon as next season. Black has had a killer year, vaulting himself way up the rankings by showing he has more speed than originally thought. He’s looking like a Tommy Edman/Ben Zobrist-type with a solid OBP and 30-40 steal speed to go along with 10-15 homer power and the ability to play multiple positions, which is very useful for fantasy baseball.
Value Proposition: Black is pretty divisive in the prospect community and I’m one of the higher guys on him. Speed only translates to the majors when the player can get on base and when Black can get on base, he has elite plate skills. While he doesn’t have a defensive home, it may actually benefit fantasy players as long as he gets regular PT, because he should get some multi-position eligibility. I have Black sitting in my top 25 prospects, while others have him outside of the top 75.
7. Drew Thorpe (SP – MIL)
Overall dynasty ranking: 345
2023 A+/AA: 139 1/3 IP, 182 Ks, 38 BBs, 2.52 ERA, 0.98 WHIP
Age: 23
ETA: Mid 2024
fScores: fPDurability 61, 128 fStuff, 114 fControl, 134 fERA
Comp: George Kirby-light to Chris Paddack-ish
Prime Skills: Primarily a fastball changeup guy (though the best attribute of the fastball is where he places it), Thorpe might remind Padres fans of former top Padres prospect Chris Paddack. He has a nice slider he mixes in between the two and has dominated the minors to date, like Paddack.
Value Proposition: The trade from the crowded Yankees system to the barren Padres system only helps him and he’s only an injury away from a rotation spot entering 2024, despite having no experience at AAA and only limited experience at AA. My fScores love Thorpe which helped me push him inside the top 30, whereas others have him outside of the top 75 overall. Stuff and Control are the biggest tellers of future success for prospects with control being the real stabilizer for being good out of the gate once he gets the call.
8. Tommy Troy (2B/SS – ARI)
Overall dynasty ranking: 297
2023 College: .394/.478/.699, 17 HR, 17 SB
2023 Rk/A: .371/.374/.469, 4 HR, 9 SB
Age: 22
ETA: Early 2025
fScores: N/A
Comp: Ozzie Albies
Prime Skills: Big time speed and great hit tool paired with above average all fields power could make for a big time fantasy contributor sooner, rather than later. I think we are looking at a guy who should hit .270-.280 with 20 homers and 30+ steals.
Ranking Explanation: Troy jumped out as a standout post draft in the fast lane to a quick promotion. He killed it in his debut and should move quick through the organization. D-backs fans should be excited to have a crazy productive middle infield of Lawlar and Troy for years to come. He should move up the levels fast this year and I wouldn’t be surprised with a AA debut. Welsh and I both have him ranked in the top 40, while others barely have him in the top 100. Troy could be a top-10 guy by the end of the season.
9. Cole Young (SS – SEA)
Overall dynasty ranking: 321
2023 A/A+: .277/.399/.449, 11 HR, 22 SB
Age: 20
ETA: Late 2025
fScores: N/A
Comp: Lefty Zach Neto
Prime Skills: Young has a top-of-the-line hit tool to go along with great plate skills, especially for a player his age and as a 19-year-old is showing increased power at A+. The speed is good, but not great. He has quick hands and is starting to hit the ball in the air more as he moves up each level. He’s a fast riser, especially for his age and as long as the hit tool and the plate skills stay ahead of the level, he will keep moving up to play at levels above his age. He will need to develop more power as he ages and be more consistent on the basepaths in order to maximize his fantasy value.
Value Proposition: The lack of overwhelming power will play him down as a “top prospect,” but the combo of plate skills, hit tool and ability to swipe bags could place him as a Xander Boegaerts type in his peak with more speed. I have Young as a top-40 prospect, while others barely have him as a top 100 guy.
10. Jakob Marsee (OF – SD)
Overall dynasty ranking: Unranked
2023 A+/AA: .274/.413/.428, 16 HR, 46 SB
Age: 23
ETA: Early – Mid 2024
fScores: 95 fContact, 140 fDiscipline, 80 fPower, 197 fSpeed, 54 fDurability
Comp: Ripped Christian Yelich with more air on the ball
Prime Skills: Nice compact lefty swing with some reach, the dude has all fields power and hits around the yard, which will allow him to beat the shift. The speed is legit and he could reach for a number of 15-30 seasons in his prime with stellar plate skills.
Value Proposition: Marsee gained his fame during the Arizona Fall League, but he put up a killer season before his time there. The profile to me almost screams “OF Tyler Black,” however he has better wheels and as an OF on a team without much depth that promotes guys pretty quickly, Marsee has a good chance for a solid role in 2024. There’s a decent amount of hype on him right now, but my fScores pushed him up above where the other industry experts are ranking him at this point.
11. Chase Petty (SP – CIN)
Overall dynasty ranking: Unranked
2023 A+/AA: 68 IP, 66 Ks, 15 BBs, 1.72 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
Age: 21
ETA: Late 2024
fScores: 38 fPDurability, 100 fStuff, 109 fControl, 123 fERA
Comp: Dylan Cease and Spencer Strider mash is the ceiling
Prime Skills: Rising fastball with ridiculous velocity that can reach over 100 MPH. The Reds seem to be putting Petty through the Tink Hence developmental track as he’s barely increasing workload as he goes up the minors. The Twins messed up A-Aron, now the Reds just need to build him up in 2024 for a 2025 all out Petty. Petty has a killer fastball, slider combo and great control which puts him on the road to being a high end starter. He is going to pitch in Cincy, which scares me, but besides that and a lack of high K potential right now.
Value Proposition: Many are down on Petty because the velocity is down on the fastball. One could argue he’s not pitching full throttle, because he’s saving it for the big leagues. Pessimists will say something is wrong with him or he’s hurt. Petty has elite control and has an awesome pitch mix that reminds me of Bryce Miller when the velo is there on the fastball. I have Petty as a top-50 prospect, where his average ranking is closer to the back end of the top 100. This is the type of guy the Reds need to keep the ball inside GASP.
12. Tekoah Roby (SP – STL)
Overall dynasty ranking: Unranked
2023 AA: 58 1/3 IP, 69 Ks, 15 BBs, 4.63 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Age: 22
ETA: Late 2024
fScores: 47 fPDurability, 119 fStuff, 107 fControl, 118 fERA
Comp: Jose Berrios
Prime Skills: Four plus pitches with above average command. He knows how to mix his pitches in and likes to play his 95 mph heater up in the zone then goes low with the curve, his best pitch. The ratios play up for Roby and as long as he can build up the durability, he can be a front line starter.
Value Proposition: Shoulder injuries have weighed down his potential and likely allowed him to get traded at the deadline, but he’s back and healthy now. I had him slotted to be in the 70s or 80s in my prospect rankings prior to running his fScores. The stuff is even better than I had thought, which propels him into the top 50 for me as a prospect against an average in the 90s. If he shows he’s healthy and builds up his durability, watch out! Buy him early, as word around the Cardinals org is he could be a big player for them in the second half.
13. Chase Hampton (SP – NYY)
Overall dynasty ranking: 352
2023 A+/AA: 106 2/3 IP, 145 Ks, 37 BBs, 3.63 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
Age: 21
ETA: Mid-Late 2024
fScores: 65 fPDurability, 103 fStuff, 98 fControl, 107 fERA
Comp: Kyle Bradish
Prime Skills: Hampton has really good mechanics and all his pitches tunnel together very well, the curve is great and plays off his well located fastball nicely. He has a pitch labeled as a cutter, but it almost looks more like a hammer 12/6 slider than a cutter.
Value Proposition: Hampton didn’t have prospect pedigree and didn’t have the Drew Thorpe season, so he’s kind of hidden as a fantasy asset. I have Hampton as my 51st overall player against an average in the 90s of prospect experts. Even after the Yankees signed Marcus Stroman, they moved a ton of pitching depth in the Juan Soto trade and will need guys like Beeter, Warren and Hampton in 2024 when injuries inevitably strike.
14. Tyler Locklear (1B – SEA)
Overall dynasty ranking: 404
2023 A+/AA: .288/.405/.502, 13 HR, 12 SB
Age: 22
ETA: Early 2025
fScores: N/A
Comp: Mitch Haniger-ish with a righty Beltran stance
Prime Skills: Hit tool, check. Power tool, check. Slight speed with improving plate skills, I’m in! Locklear is coming off an injury-shortened season so don’t take those counting stats for granted, I think he paces out for a 25 homer 15 steal guy in the future.
Value Proposition: Locklear is a 1B and I’m just not someone who will generally be high on 1B prospects, because it’s easy for them to get blocked. One good thing is I doubt Luke Raley and Ty France are blocking anyone longterm in Seattle. I love buying prospects off injuries (a la Jasson Dominguez), because they are not in front of us anyway as prospects and when they get hurt, they tend to get buried behind the “hot new thing.” Locklear is this guy and has shown an elite slash with power and speed. The upside is a Paul Goldschmidt type first baseman who does it all and that’s worth investing in when the average prospect ranking is in the 90s when the guy should be closer to the top 50 (I have him currently at 63).
15. Zach Dezenzo (3B/OF – HOU)
Overall dynasty ranking: 411
2023 A+/AA Stats: .305/.383/.531, 18 HR, 22 SB
Age: 24
ETA: Mid 2024
fScores: 95 fContact, 83 fDiscipline, 101 fPower, 145 fSpeed, 54 fDurability
Comp: A bigger, more athletic Chas McCormick – ceiling would be Adolis-light type stats.
Prime Skills: Power/speed guy who has to work on his hit tool, but can take a walk and will excel against fastballs. Needs to work on reducing the K rate, which he had done at high A. The big question is if Dezenzo can play CF.
Value Proposition: The Astros haven’t signed Alex Bregman yet and Jake Meyers is starting in CF. The hit tool is a little rough as Dezenzo will likely be a high K guy, but the power/speed combo is for real and in fantasy leagues, if he starts, that plays. He should get some good run with the Astros this year, when injury strikes or when Meyer works his way out of the lineup with his weak bat, so there is some immediate, shorter term value here.
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