It has been a while, and hopefully some of you missed me, but I’m back, baby, ready to talk some deep league fantasy prospects. Playing in deep leagues and NL/AL only Dynasty leagues really makes one more in tune for the guys that aren’t appreciated, nor appear on top 100 (or even top 300) lists yet. These guys should be known and rostered, and soon will be (or fade into oblivion…or back to Greensboro). I know I’m not alone in playing in those deep leagues and look for articles and posts that highlight the really lesser known prospects. Some of you may already know these guys, and if you have some more to add, please do so in the comments.

Let’s look at three of my favorites under 10% rostered on Fantrax, and then three under 5%.

Under 10%

Wilberson De Pena, NYY, OF (10% rostered on Fantrax) 

Stolen from the Angels for Oswald Peraza at the 2025 trade deadline, De Pena tore up the Complex league this season to the tune of 16 homers and 23 steals in 56 games, leading a strong Yankees team. As with most young power/speed prospects, contact may be his bugaboo, and he doesn’t walk much (7% at the Complex). Ranking 10th on our Yankees prospect list, de Pena has a ton of potential. He was recently promoted to Single-A Tampa so he’ll get some professional at-bats before the 2026 season ends. If he is even moderately successful there, De Pena will pop up on top-100 prospect lists across the industry. Better to be early than late to the Wilberson party.

Luke Sinnard, ATL, P (6%) 

The 2024 3rd rounder out of football powerhouse Indiana U (allowing players to be paid was going to make some historically bad programs powerhouses, shocking), Sinnard has been the definition of a slow burn, only reaching High-A Rome. Though, to be fair, this is only his second pro season. He suffered an abdominal injury back in June, and has only appeared in nine games this season.

Before the injury he was looking pretty good, and I would write off his stats for the remainder of this season. Part of a good developmental pitching organization, with a career minor league K rate over 10, and a walk rate under 3.5, Sinnard makes for an intriguing prospect. We shall see if Atlanta challenges him and starts him at Double-A Columbus (GA) in 2027.

William Bergolla Jr, White Sox, 2B/SS (6%) 

The son of Willy Bergolla, who Reds fans might remember as he played in 17 games during May and June of the 2005 season (I am not a Reds fan, nor remember his dad. Sorry, Junior). The Junior Bergolla (sounds like an Italian Deli Sandwich) has been aggressively promoted by the White Sox since being acquired from the Phillies, starting the 2026 season at Triple-A Columbus (OH).

A contact driven, left handed hitting, middle infielder with 40 steal speed, has a career minor league K rate under 10%. Sadly, he had a rough 2026 and suffered a fractured fibula to end his season. Bergolla won’t appear on top-100 prospect lists, but if he starts 2027 hot at Triple-A, he may get the chance early on to show off with a high batting average and lots of steals, which plays in deep leagues. Keep an eye on him.

A bonus is Yostin Pena (9%), who Bryan Labude wrote up just the other day (go read it and come on back).

Under 5%

Gage Ziehl, BOS, P (3%)

The 23-year-old right-hander has already been traded twice in his young career, but I’m a true believer (or ziehl-leaver, which will definitely catch on once he makes it to the bigs). I keep going back to the K/9 and BB/9 well, and Ziehl has had a 10.67 K/9 and 2 BB/9 this season for Double-A Portland. Another super control pitcher, Ziehl generates Ks with his slider and cutter, and hopefully Boston’s pitching development can unlock even more from the former Miami Hurricane.

Boston sent out a bunch of pitching prospects at the trade deadline, and Ziehl was promoted to Triple-A Worcester last week. In his first start, he struck out eight while walking none and giving up two hits in 5 ⅔ innings. It is doubtful he comes up this season, but if he finishes strong he should pop on prospect lists in the off-season. Better to grab him now, and see what happens.

Junior Sanchez, ARI, P (5%)

A favorite of our own Ryan Felix Fernandes (if you love baseball, read his Tarik Skubal trade primer from a couple weeks ago, you will laugh out loud), really looked good the first half of the season at High-A Hillsboro, posting a 12 K/9 and 2.18 BB/9 over his first 41.1 innings of 2026, which earned him a promotion to Double-A Amarillo. The twenty-year-old has had a tougher go in the Texas League thus far, with a 8.5 K/9 and 4 BB/9.

Standing 5 ’10”, control is the name of Sanchez’s game. Signed for only $50K in 2023, Sanchez had a similar adjustment period in 2025 when moving to High-A. He may take a couple more seasons, and based on how he ends 2026 will go a long way toward seeing him appear on any top 100 prospect lists, but if he starts 2027 the way he started 2026, watch him vault.

Lonnie White, Jr. PIT, OF (4%)

Another Junior is up next, and this one comes courtesy of former TDG writer Andrew J. White is a post-post hype prospect, finally showing out at the age of 23 at Double-A Altoona. White basically lived in Greensboro, NC (a city I’ve enjoyed visiting) for the last three (?!?) years, until this season. He didn’t move up, because he stunk up the joint. Something changed in 2026, however, and he got his strikeouts under control (21.2%), upped his walk rate (16.3%), white maintaining his solid power/speed combo, and earned himself a ticket out of Greensboro.

At Double-A Altoona, he’s hit for more power (16 homers) while still stealing nine bags in 281 ABs. To douse a little cold water on White, his BABIP of .413 isn’t sustainable, and the K rate of 32% is worrisome and harkens back to his first two seasons in Greensboro. There is obviously a lot of risk here, but there was a reason he was a first rounder back in 2021 (though comp pick 64 overall doesn’t really feel like a first rounder, does it?).

Because I am so generous, here are four other guys to consider at under 5% rostered:

• Miguel Hernandez, STL, SS (3%)
• Axiel Plaz, C, PIT (5%)
• Aaron Walton CLE, OF (5%)
• Joniel Hernandez, SS, SFG (5%)