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Top Performing High-A Pitching Prospects To Stash Now

By Richard Haake
Pitching Prospects in Low-A

We have seen some of the best High-A pitching prospects get the bump up to Double-A over the past week. This opens up the question of who to watch now in High-A? In this article, we will break down some of the pitching prospects to not only watch but look to stash in your dynasty leagues. With prospects being this far away from the major leagues this will apply more to deep league dynasty managers or for shallow leagues with large minor league spots available. Let’s dive into High-A pitching prospects to watch right now.

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High-A Pitching Prospects To Watch

Owen Murphy, RHP ATL

(7 GS, 41 IP, 60 K, 13.17 K/9, 1.54 ERA)

One of the Braves’ top pitching prospects and selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft, Owen Murphy has gotten off to a strong start in his second stint at High-A Rome. The 20-year-old Murphy stands 6’1” and finds success working off a four-pitch mix in a 91 mph four-seam fastball, an 85 mph cut/slider, and a 74 mph curveball that comes in with above-average to plus spin rates. The change-up, however, is a work in progress but has a solid fade. In seven starts with the Emperors Murphy has struck out 60 batters over 41 innings pitched, good for a 13.17 K/9 with a .127 average against while sporting a solid 1.54 ERA.

Murphy has done a nice job limiting the walks to a 2.63 BB/9 as well as keeping the ball in the ballpark. This season Murphy has found success as a flyball pitcher as he has a 62.3% fly-ball rate and a low 29.9% ground-ball rate. Overall Murphy is a fun pitcher to watch and should get the bump to Double-A in short order. When it comes to Murphy long-term he feels more like a back of the rotation arm for the Braves and for dynasty managers.

Spencer Giesting, LHP ARI

(7 GS, 41 IP, 46 K, 10.10 K/9, 0.66 ERA)

This is a pitcher we highlighted over the off-season as one to watch going into the 2024 season and so far he has been fantastic in High-A Hillsboro. Spencer Giesting was drafted in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of the University Of North Carolina Charlotte. Although the 6’4” lefty doesn’t have the most electric fastball, he does have a true plus pitch in his gyro slider. In seven starts with the Hops, Giesting has struck out 46 batters over 41 innings pitched, good for a 10.10 K/9 with a .141 average against, and currently has a 0.66 ERA.

Spencer Giesting has made some mechanical changes that have improved his walks per nine from 5.46 in 2023 at High-A down to a 2.20 BB/9 this season. Giesting just broke the Hillsboro Hops franchise record for strikeouts with 13 in his most recent outing against Vancouver. This is a solid prospect to stash as he has seemed to figure out High-A and could be making the final push to Double-A in short order. Currently, Spencer Giesting is rostered in less than 1% of Fantrax leagues.

Peter Heubeck, RHP LAD

(8 GS, 31 IP, 45 K, 13.06 K/9, 3.19 ERA)

An interesting Dodgers pitching prospect to watch right now has been Peter Heubeck who is currently in High-A Great Lakes. Selected in the third round of the 2021 MLB draft out of high school, Heubeck has developed a four-pitch mix. The fastball comes in at 94 mph and tops out at 97 mph while the curveball is one of his best offerings breaking in sharply at 78 mph. Adding the slider and change up both sitting in the mid-80s has pushed Heubeck to new heights in 2024. In eight starts with the Loons Heubeck has 45 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched, good for a 13.06 K/9 with a .191 average against and a solid 3.19 ERA.

The walks have been the only blemish on Heubeck’s game so far this season as he currently has a 6.39 BB/9. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as he lives on getting swing and miss outside the zone, when batters lay off walks will ensue. Overall an interesting profile with an organization that thrives on getting the most out of their pitchers so Heubeck will be a player to watch going forward. Peter Heubeck is rostered in 1% of Fantrax leagues.

Tyler Schweitzer, LHP CHW

(7 GS, 40K, 35.2 IP, 10.09 K/9, 3.53 ERA)

Performing well in High-A Winston Salem has been left-hander Tyler Schweitzer. Selected in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Ball State Schwitzer has been solid at each stop in the Minor Leagues. Schweitzer features a four-pitch mix helped by high spin rates and pin-point control. The fastball sits 92-93 mph with it topping out at 95 mph early in starts but is effective up in the zone. When it comes to the curveball and slider both sit in the upper 70s but have solid two-plane movement and are helped by the high spin rates Schweitzer generates. Rounding out the arsenal Schweitzer throws a 82 mph change-up that has a solid fade down in the zone to batters.

In seven starts this season Schweitzer has 40 strikeouts over 35.2 innings pitched, good for a 10.09 K/9 with a .233 average against, and has a 3.53 ERA. Schweitzer has cut down on the walks from the 5.45 BB/9 in High-A in 2023 down to 2.78 BB/9 this season. I’ve seen Schweitzer pitch multiple times now and he is so much fun to watch. Although it is not overpowering stuff he is effective with how he sequences and locates his pitches which has kept Winston Salem in ball games. Long term best case would be a back-end rotation arm with his most effective likely coming out of the bullpen in a long reliever role. Tyler Schweitzer is rostered in less than 1% of Fantrax dynasty leagues.

Winston Santos, RHP TEX

(7 GS, 37 IP, 54 K, 13.14 K/9, 1.70 ERA)

Currently second in strikeouts behind Owen Murphy of Rome has been Winston Santos. The 22-year-old Santos has been on fire this season and shouldn’t be in High-A much longer. A 95 mph fastball that tops out at 98, paired with an 85 mph sweeping slider, and an 87 mph change-up with hard fading action have helped Santos improve in his second stint in High-A Hickory. In seven starts Santos has 54 strikeouts over 37 innings pitched, good for a 13.14 K/9 with a .185 average against and a solid 1.70 ERA. For Santos the major gains in strikeouts this season has come from the jump in his velocity and movement of his slider.

The walks are a slight concern for Santos early on but are not egregious at 3.16 BB/9. Santos has had help from his defense behind him as the 85.6% left on base and 2.51 FIP would indicate but overall he has done a solid job not giving up hard contact. For dynasty managers, all eyes are on the Texas Rangers organization as a whole so its not surprising to see Winston Santos rostered in 7% of Fantrax leagues.

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