This is a companion piece to our 2025 Dynasty League Rankings. The opinions below are my own and do not reflect the TDG consensus.

JESUS MADE, MILWAUKEE BREWERS (AGE: 18, RANK: 28)

Made is getting a ton of helium after slashing .331/.458/.554 with an 18.1% BB-rate and 13% K-rate as a 17-year-old in the DSL. Silly good numbers for sure, but DSL stats generally don’t mean much. It’s a league full of teenagers who are six promotions away from MLB, and the list of great DSL seasons is not full of recognizable names.

What makes Made more intriguing is that a lot of his hype is coming from sources that would usually be more cautious. Baseball America said “This might seem like hyperbole, but Jesus Made has the makings of a future No. 1 overall prospect, and the data and scout feedback support this statement.” Baseball Prospectus already ranks him as the top prospect in a very strong Brewers system. His batted ball data, particularly his 90^th-percentile exit velocity of 103.9 MPH, has been described as “unprecedented” and “ridiculous”.

And the best part is that he’s likely still unrostered in some dynasty leagues. The hype train started with his summer success, but didn’t really pick up steam until the offseason. If your league’s transactions locked with Made still available, it’s worth figuring out how to get him on your roster. If he can be picked in the first-year player draft, there’s an argument for taking him ahead of any of the recent draftees, although I’d still go with Roki Sasaki first.

BO BICHETTE, TORONTO BLUE JAYS (AGE: 27, RANK: 17)

Bichette can’t really be as bad as he was last year. He was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball with a wRC+ of at least 120 in each of his first five seasons, but that number slumped to 71 during a disastrous 2024.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact problem looking deep into the numbers. Some of it looks like bad luck. His walk and strikeout rates were in line with career norms, and his .303 xwOBA was much better than his actual .264 wOBA. Granted, .303 still isn’t good, but injuries may have taken a toll as he missed time with neck spasms and right calf issues. Given how good he was before last season, I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Bichette is entering his age-27 season, and it’s also a contract year so he has a lot of motivation to bounce back. Dynasty managers are usually hesitant to part with star-caliber players entering their prime, but Bichette’s down year could create a rare opportunity to get one without having to wipe out your farm system.

OTHERS OF NOTE

Shortstop is exceedingly deep in dynasty leagues, in large part because so many of the best athletes in the minors start there even if they end up at different position. There’s no shortage of players to target, so here’s a few more to consider:

• Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals: Winn said he is hoping to steal 30-40 bases this season. Many players throw out silly offseason base-stealing goals, but that one seems attainable for a player with Winn’s 87^th percentile sprint speed. He set a nice floor as a 22-year-old rookie last year and has potential to take a big step forward this season.
• Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs: Swanson had just a .632 OPS during an injury-plagued first half of last season, but bounced back with a .795 mark in the second half. He also was a perfect 14-for-14 on stolen base attempts to produce a career-high total of 19 steals. He’ll be 31 on Opening Day, but I’m not convinced he’s in decline just yet. He would make a nice middle infield target for a win-now dynasty team.
• Welbyn Francisca, Cleveland Guardians: Francisca reached Low-A as an 18-year-old last season and has posted an OBP above .400 at all his minor league stops. He’s a deeper league play right now but has the potential to break through and become and become a top prospect if he keeps hitting.

(Ben Sanders)