Rotowire Releases its Updated Top 400 Dynasty Prospects
If you’re hunting for dynasty prospects this April, New York’s hottest minor league club, “Acuna Moncada,” is owned by Rotowire’s lead prospect writer, James Anderson. Located underneath a prospect-hugging stuffed bear in the depths of the dark web, this club has everything you need: ranks, risers, fallers, shrugging emojis and even “No Whiff Soda Beats,” (that’s when you drink a can of Coke while reading about Luis Urias’ hit tool and lack of speed and you get so conflicted that you start to burp rhythmically).
Now that I’ve gotten my Stefon shenanigans out of my system, check out James’ top 400 update. It’s behind a paywall, but it’s well worth the price of admission and James keeps it fresher than anyone in the business, with multiple edits per week during the season. I work really hard to keep up with the stock market that is prospect value, but James’ work reminds me how many blind spots I have.
Rotowire offers a ten day free trial available or you can get it for free with any number of promotional offers through their partners. While you’re at it, give James a follow (@RealJRAnderson).
At the top of the list, the biggest risers are Jesus Luzardo and Yordan Alvarez. Josh Naylor moved up over 200 spots into the middle of James’ top 100, while power/speed bats Will Benson and Daulton Varsho also cemented themselves as top 100 prospects. You can listen to James discuss them and others on the Rotowire fantasy baseball podcast, which is a great pod to subscribe to.
Among the pitching prospect risers who may not have been on our radars, particularly if your league only rosters 100 or so prospects, are Shane Bieber and Freddy Peralta. There will surely always be a portion of our industry that doesn’t care what either does so long as their fastball velocities remain unimpressive, but both continue to totally dominate minor leaguers. Bieber offers serious WHIP upside thanks to his command and control, while Peralta’s extension helps him rack up strikeouts.
Nick Solak rounds out the top 100 as his proximity, probability and juuuust enough pop n’ wheels makes him an early riser worth monitoring. Peter Alonso’s scorching start at AA, coupled with the Mets’ refusal to give Dom Smith a chance, has seen his stock climb.
James had already planted a flag in Keibert Ruiz as his preferred dynasty catcher over Francisco Mejia, who he phased out of his top 50 in this update.
There’s a few dozen new names on the list, headlined by Cardinals 2016 supplemental 1st round pick, outfielder Dylan Carlson.