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4 Dynasty Baseball Hitting Prospects To Watch In Low-A

By Richard Haake
Creed Willems Low-A Hitting Prospects

The Major League season keeps moving along now past the quarter mark of the season. Movement within the minor leagues, as well as call-ups to the majors, is creating opportunities for prospects at the lower levels. As a dynasty manager, our work is never done. We focus so heavily on the majors because that’s what wins us leagues but the savvy manager is looking towards the future and how to get top-tier prospects without paying top-tier prices. It all starts here in Low-A for prospects and dynasty managers alike. Let’s take a look into some of the hitting prospects to watch right now in Low-A.

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Low-A Hitting Prospects to Monitor

California League

Chris Newell, OF LAD

The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Chris Newell in the 13th round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Virginia. At Virginia Newell showed some pop with the bat, crushing 12 home runs his junior year and adding 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts. What the Dodgers have stressed the most as an organization was to get on base; this is something Newell did well at UVA.

So far in 2023,  at low-A Rancho Cucamonga Newell is slashing .274/.400/.558 with eight home runs, 26 runs scored, 24 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 31 games. Newell continues to show the plate discipline the Dodgers preach, walking 17.9% while only striking out 25% of the time. The strikeout rate will need some work as Newell continues to move through the Dodgers system but the early season results are encouraging for the 22-year-old outfielder.

Carolina League

Creed Willems, C BAL

The 19-year-old Creed Willems just keeps getting it done in low-A Delmarva. The Shorebirds catcher is currently slashing .313/.444/.638 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and two stolen bases in 25 games played. It seems he has mastered low-A as he is currently walking 16.2% and striking out 21.2% of the time. Between the two catchers (Willems and Samuel Basallo) currently on the Shorebirds roster, Willems has looked to be the most well-rounded with the bat and defensively, yet he is still under the radar in my opinion.

Right now Willems is second in the Carolina League in home runs while also ranking in the top 10 in OBP. There is still time for you to grab Creed Willems in 15-team leagues and up. I would act now because it won’t be long before he gets his shot to join Jackson Holliday in A+ Aberdeen.

Abimelec Ortiz, 1B/OF TEX

One of the many intriguing young bats for the Texas Rangers this season has been left-handed slugger Abimelec Ortiz. If you are asking yourself who Abimelec Ortiz is? Don’t worry, I was too. Ortiz attended Florida Southwestern State junior college and in 52 games he hit .349 with nine home runs, 47 RBIs, and five stolen bases. The Rangers signed Ortiz and sent him to the DSL where in 40 games played as a 19-year-old he slashed .233/.419/.581 with 11 home runs, 33 RBIs, and five stolen bases.

Fast forward to 2023. Texas keeps Ortiz in low-A Down East where he is currently slashing .292/.377/.584 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs in 25 games. Oritz has raised his walk rate to 13.1% this season whereas the strikeout rate is still a major work in progress resting at 30.8%. At only 21 years old, Ortiz has already put together impressive minor league stats with 28 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in only 158 games. To me, this is a solid speculative add in deep dynasty leagues 20 teams and up as someone who could hit 20+ home runs as a 21-year-old and is 0% rostered in Fantrax dynasty leagues.

Florida State League

Jared Serna, 2B NYY

There is a prospect tearing the cover off the ball for the Tarpons in low-A Tampa in Jared Serna. In his second stint with the Tarpons Serna is slashing .336/.409/.540 with five home runs, 19 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 29 games played. With a walk rate of 10.2% and a strikeout rate of 11.8% Serna looks locked in at the plate. Prior to this season, Jared Serna showed promise in the DSL back in 2021 when he slashed .238/.404/.384 with 3 home runs, 34 runs scored and 24 stolen bases in 50 games played.

With the exception of his short 12-game stint in low-A, Serna has shown excellent walk and strikeout rates in his time in the Yankees organization. Currently, Serna is on a 20-HR and 28-SB pace if he keeps this up at Tampa. I would project him to finish with 18-20 home runs and 23-27 stolen bases which would easily shoot him up the rankings. This is a guy to stash in 20-team leagues and up, or shallower leagues with deep minor league spots.

Check out more of the top fantasy baseball prospects for your dynasty leagues.

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