Getting in on the ground floor on some of these prospects is key in deep dynasty formats, as getting a prospect like Jonah Tong or Matt Wilkinson is. This helps build trade capital when the trade deadline comes around and could net you that piece that puts your team over the top, or you hold on for the next rising star. In this article, we will break down some of the low-A pitching standouts that could be excellent additions to your dynasty team. Let’s dive in.
Low-A Pitching Prospect Standouts
California League
Sean Linan, RHP LAD
(6 GP, 5 GS, 29.2 IP, 50 K, 1.21 ERA, 15.17 K/9)
Early season standout is far and away Sean Linan, who has dominated the Low-A California League so far this season. Standing 6’0” and 185 pounds, Linan throws from the right-hand side and was signed out of Colombia in the 2022 International class. There is a three-pitch mix here in a fastball, change-up, and slider-cutter combo. The fastball comes in at 92 mph and is an average offering, but the change-up is the difference maker here as it comes in at 83 mph with high spin rates and horizontal movement. Finally, the slider sits at 86 mph, which Lian can shorten up when throwing to left-handers.
The change-up has been so crucial to Linan’s success this season, as he has seen 60% chase rates on it thus far. The 20-year-old is repeating Low-A and has appeared in six games, starting five, while striking out 50 batters over 29.2 innings pitched, that is good for a 15.17 K/9 while sporting a solid 1.21 ERA. The walks have not been much of an issue as Linan has a 3.03 BB/9 and has dominated batters, keeping them to a .146 AVG. This should be a prospect the Dodgers rush as I would expect them to promote Linan to High-A and see what he does there all season. Currently, Sean Linan is rostered in 14% of Fantrax dynasty leagues.
Tzu-Chen Sha, RHP OAK
(6 GP, 3 GS, 25 IP, 35 K, 2.16 ERA, 1 SV, 12.60 K/9)
The Athletics have made major strides in their scouting and player development as of late, and Tzu-Chen Sha has stood out early on. Standing 6’2” and 165 pounds, throwing from the right-hand side of the mound, Sha features a three-pitch mix. The change-up comes in at 86.4 mph with solid fade and tumble, whereas the four-seam fastball peaked at 94.9 but sits between 92 and 93 mph on average. Sha’s slider is coming in at 82 mph with a solid break.
This will be the second stint in Low-A for the 21-year-old Sha, who has made six appearances, with three of them being starts. Across 25 innings pitched, Sha has 35 strikeouts, good for a 12.60 K/9 while walking just 1.08 batters per nine, and currently has a 2.16 ERA. Thus far, Sha has kept batters to a .217 batting average against and has logged a save early on, coming out of the bullpen. It’s not a sure thing that Sha will remain a starter long term, The Athletics actually started Sha in 12 of his 24 total appearances in Low-A in 2024. Right now, Sha is owned in 1% of Fantrax dynasty leagues, making him an easy stash in deeper dynasty leagues.
Carolina League
Mason Miller, LHP KCR
(7 GP, 1 GS, 21.2 IP, 28 K, 1.25 ERA)
Let’s talk about Mason Miller, no, not the flame thrower for the Athletics, the 23-year-old Mason Miller of the Kansas City Royals. Standing 6’3” and 205 pounds, Miller is a southpaw with a 92 mph fastball that has solid carry up in the zone. Drafted in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Florida Gulf Coast University, Miller did not have the best collegiate numbers, leading to him sliding in the draft, but the three-quarter arm slot helps his fastball and change-up succeed despite lower velocity. In 2024, the Royals had Miller pitch at the Complex Level as well as Low-A to finish out the season, where he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen. In 14 appearances, he struck out 29 batters over 29 innings pitched, good for a 9 K/9, and finished with a 7.76 ERA.
This season, the Royals are mixing him with starting and going in with long relief. Across seven appearances, Miller has started in just one but has struck out 28 batters over 21.2 innings pitched, good for an 11.63 K/9 while lowering his walks from last season to 2.91 BB/9 while sporting a solid 1.25 ERA. Batters are hitting just .198 against Miller, who could be pushing for a promotion to High-A in short order. Mason Miller is rostered in 1% of Fantrax dynasty leagues.
Jogly Garcia, RHP CLE
(6 GP, 4 GS, 19.2 IP, 39 K, 2.75 ERA 17.85 K/9)
Cleveland’s pitching development has been one of the best in the Minor Leagues for years, and Jogly Garcia is standing out in Low-A early on. Standing 6’1” and 170 pounds, Garcia throws from the right side of the rubber. Garcia features a fastball, change-up, and curveball that have racked up some strikeouts this season. In 2024, Garcia spent time in the Complex League and finished the season in Low-A Lynchburg, where he appeared in 19 games and started 14. Across 73.1 innings pitched, Garcia struck out 90 batters, good for an 11.05 K/9 while finishing the season with a 5.52 ERA.
This season, Garcia has made six appearances thus far for the Hillcats, starting in four games. Across 19.2 innings pitched, he has struck out 39 batters, which is good for a 17.85 K/9 while holding a 2.75 ERA. The walks have ticked back up to a bloated 6.41 BB/9, which is up from the 3.07 BB/9 Garcia had across the 2024 season. Despite the high walk rates, Garcia has done a great job keeping batters off base as he currently has a .167 batting average against. Right now, Jogly Garcia is rostered in less than 1% of Fantrax dynasty leagues.
Florida State League
Griffin Herring, LHP NYY
(5 GS, 30 IP, 39 K, 0.60 ERA, 11.70 K/9)
An early standout in the Yankees’ pitching development has to be Griffin Herring, who has dominated the Florida State League early on. Standing 6’2” and 196 pounds, throwing from the left side of the mound, Herring was drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of LSU. The fastball sits at 92 mph and tops out at 94 mph, while the slider is the king for Herring, coming in at 86 mph with excellent movement horizontally. The change-up comes in at 85 mph and hasn’t been an offering he threw much while at LSU.
This season, we have seen Herring carve up the FSL as he has started in five games while striking out 39 batters across 30 innings pitched, that’s good for an 11.70 K/9 while walking just 3 batters per nine innings, and has a 0.60 ERA. Currently, Herring is keeping opposing batters to just a .157 batting average against. Herring worked primarily as a reliever while at LSU, so this season will be his first crack at starting full time, and so far the results are encouraging. Right now, Herring is rostered in just 2% of Fantrax dynasty leagues, making this a solid stash early on.
Khal Stephen, RHP TOR
(6 GS, 29 IP, 36 K, 1.82 ERA, 10.92 K/9)
Toronto has to be happy with the early success of their first-round draft pick, Trey Yeasavage, and second-round pick, Khal Stephen, who has been carving up the Florida State League. Standing 6’4” and 215 pounds, Stephen has a starter’s build through-and-through and throws the ball from the right side of the mound. Stephen features a four-pitch mix of a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. In his time at Mississippi State, Stephen was deployed as a starter, making 16 starts, while striking out 107 batters over 96 innings pitched. This was good for a 10.03 K/9 while walking just 1.97 batters per nine, and he finished the season with a 3.28 ERA.
This season, the Blue Jays sent Stephen to his first assignment in professional ball at Low-A Dunedin. Across six starts, Sephen has 36 strikeouts over 29.2 innings pitched, which is good for a 10.92 K/9 while walking 1.82 batters per nine, and currently has a solid 1.82 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .200 off Stephen. The command and control have been impressive early on and has been a continuation of what we saw from him at Mississippi State. Khal Stephen is currently rostered in 7% of Fantrax dynasty leagues.
