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2020/2021 Top-100 FYPD & J2 Fantasy Rankings

By Eric Cross
FYPD Top-100

The year 2020 has been the most chaotic and ridiculous year in my three decades on this planet. While there are plenty of real-world issues that are pressing, we here in the baseball and fantasy baseball world have felt the effects as well, especially with the 2020 MLB draft. What used to be a 40-round marathon was transformed into a five-round sprint with only 160 total picks. On top of that, the J2 (stands for July 2nd) international signing period has been pushed back to January of 2021. All these changes have influenced dynasty leagues greatly when it comes to FYPD.

However, with that said, the delay and extra time at home that most of us have been experiencing have given me and others more opportunity to dig even deeper into this year’s FYPD and J2 crops. With extra time to watch video and tinker with my analysis on these players, this Top-100 FYPD rankings piece is my biggest written article to date for FantraxHQ. This has been an article more than three months in the making. My heart and soul went into this article to try and provide the best top-100 ranking piece that I can put out.

As for this 2020 draft class, the name of the game was pitching. If you include the trio of two-way players in my top-100, right around 1/3 of the list toe the rubber. That’s pretty high for a top-100 FYPD ranking. But even with all those talented arms, you’ll still notice the usual offensive-heavy list of names at the top of the rankings with intriguing upside plays throughout.

The glory of this pitching depth is that it allows you to wait a while and still come out with a couple of talented pitching prospects for your dynasty team. As I mentioned below, if you miss out on one of the elite guys, there’s honestly not a big gap from the pitchers ranked 30-50 and the ones ranked 60-80. So if you want to wait for a few more rounds to grab a pitcher, this is the draft to do so.

Go grab some popcorn and your favorite beverage because this is going to be a journey. Hopefully, these rankings and analysis can lend a helping hand in your FYPD dynasty prep so you can crush your league-mates. If you have any additional questions about the prospects below or others not included, you know where to find me!

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2020 Fantasy Baseball FYPD Rankings, Version 2

*This will be updated and expanded throughout the year. Last Update: 10/16/2020

1. Spencer Torkelson, 1B/3B, Arizona State

Drafted: #1 Overall – Detroit Tigers

With all due respect to the next few names on this list, Spencer Torkelson is the no-doubt, locked-in choice for #1 2020 FYPD prospect in my mind. The 6’2 first baseman has been one of the most, if not the most feared slugger in the NCAA ranks for the last few seasons, especially this season when absolutely nobody wanted to pitch to him. In just 17 games, Torkelson walked 31 times, including plenty of the intentional variety.

With an above-average hit tool, sound plate approach, and mammoth raw power to all fields, Torkelson is a middle of the order force in the making with the ability to hit .280-plus with 35-plus homers annually. Once drafted, he’s going to rank well inside my top-25 overall prospects and likely not far outside my top-10. Want even more excitement?  Torkelson comps favorably to Pete Alonso. Yeah, the rookie that just led the Major Leagues with 52 home runs last season.

During the MLB draft, Torkelson was announced as a third baseman which is interesting. He’s played at the hot corner in the past and has enough athleticism to be okay there, but I’m expecting him to slot at first base longterm.

2. Zac Veen, OF, Spruce Creek HS (FL)

Drafted: #9 Overall – Colorado

The name Zac Veen really shot up draft boards over the last few months and solidified himself as the top prep bat available in this draft class. Veen is a 6’4 lefty-swinging outfielder with plus raw power and some physical projection left on his frame. He’s able to create plenty of torque thanks to a strong lower half and Veen’s quick left-handed swing produces plenty of bat speed and natural loft. In addition to the enticing power potential, Veen has displayed plus contact skills, a good feel for barrel/strike zone, and has at least average speed at present. At peak, Veen could be a 60-hit, 60/65-power, 50-speed outfielder. The upside to hit for a high average and plenty of power while adding double-digit steals makes Veen one of the most intriguing bats in this class with one of the highest upsides.

As I mentioned on draft night, Veen’s skillset in Coors Field is sexy. Yes, Colorado doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to player development lately and has blocked several top prospects recently. However, everything I’ve heard about Veen is that his baseball IQ and work ethic are top-notch. There’s fantasy stud upside here.

3. Austin Martin, 3B/SS, Vanderbilt

Drafted: #5 Overall – Toronto Blue Jays

The best pure hitter in the 2020 MLB draft, Austin Martin has had quite the collegiate career at Vanderbilt. In 140 games over his three (really 2 1/4) seasons, Martin slashed .368/.474/.532 with 39 doubles, 14 home runs, and 43 steals in 57 attempts. While he stole a ton of bases in college, Martin doesn’t have that type of speed to steal a ton of bases annually moving forward. But what he does have, is a borderline 70-grade hit tool that should allow him to hit over .300 regularly with exceptional strike zone awareness and enough power and speed to put up some 20/20 seasons. His combination of ceiling and floor should make him a highly-desirable dynasty target. Think of a better version of Nick Senzel.

4. Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA

Drafted: #20 Overall – Milwaukee Brewers

If you love the toolsy hitters with immense upside, you’re going to love Garrett Mitchell. The UCLA outfielder might just have the best all-around offensive skill-set in the entire draft class. First and foremost, Mitchell is a highly-athletic outfielder with blazing speed on the bases and in the field. While his double-plus speed is his most noteworthy tool, Mitchell has also shown a good feel for hitting with above-average contact skills and plus raw power but has yet to tap into that power consistently in games. One reason for that is the kink in his swing. Mitchell’s hands and hips/lower half are not in sync and you’ll notice his hips fly out at times.

If he continues to improve as a hitter, cleans up his swing mechanics some, and taps into his raw power more, the upside for Mitchell is off the charts. It wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if Mitchell ended up as the top fantasy option from this draft class down the road.

5. Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State

Drafted: #7 Overall – Pittsburgh Pirates

After being rumored to go as high as #2 to Baltimore, I’m sure Pittsburgh was ecstatic to see Nick Gonzales still on the board when they went on the clock at pick seven. Gonzales is a plus hitter with a quick and clean stroke from the right side, using a moderate leg kick to time pitches. The barrel control and strike zone awareness is exceptional as well, giving Gonzales a strong chance to hit for a high average moving forward. As for his power and speed, there’s enough pop to get to 20 homers annually, but I’m not sure how much speed we’re going to see. Gonzales is an average to an above-average runner, but didn’t run much at New Mexico State. Still, this is a potential .300/20/10 bat with a fairly high floor to pair with it. Not too bad for a former collegiate walk-on, huh?

6. Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia

Drafted: #6 Overall – Seattle Mariners

If you combined the 2018, 2019, and 2020 MLB draft classes into one giant ranking, Hancock would be my #2 pitcher, just behind Casey Mize. And honestly, the Georgia ace has a more diverse arsenal that Mize does, featuring four pitches that all project to be above-average or better Major League offerings. Three of those, his upper-90’s heater, sharp slider, and fading changeup are plus pitches with the curveball projecting as at least average and flashing above-average as well. That changeup might even be borderline double-plus and one of the best from the 2020 MLB Draft. Add in solid command and around plus control and we have a blossoming ace on our hands.

Hancock draft stock was hurt a bit by the shortened 2020 season where he experienced some command issues with the heater which caused him to get hit a bit harder than he had in previous seasons. Don’t let that scare you off though. Hancock has arguably the highest upside of any arm in this class.

7. Ha-Seong Kim, SS, Korea

It’s always nice when you can add a new name to the top-10. After the news broke last week that standout KBO shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim, was going to be posted, he immediately becomes an intriguing pick near the top of FYPD drafts, especially for win-now teams as Kim is an MLB-ready shortstop. From what I’ve seen and read, Kim doesn’t have any standout tools, but is above-average across the board, especially with his contact skills and approach. He’s also flashed solid power and speed that could have him flirt with some 20/20 seasons in the Majors. As I’m typing this, Kim is sporting a .310/.402/.530 slash line with 28 home runs, 21 steals, and more walks than strikeouts in 128 KBO games this season. If you want a more immediate impact, Kim should be a target of yours in your FYPD draft this offseason.

8. Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M

Drafted: #4 Overall – Kansas City Royals

If anyone can challenge Hancock for the top pitcher in this draft class, Asa Lacy is that arm. The big 6’4 southpaw finished a highly-productive three-year career at Texas A&M with four dominant starts this spring before the rest of the NCAA season was cancelled. In those four starts, Lacy allowed just two earned runs, nine hits, and eight walks while striking out a whopping 46 in 24.0 innings. Lacy features two no-doubt plus pitches in his mid-90’s fastball and wipeout slider and will mix in a curveball and changeup that both project as above-average with the changeup maybe finishing as plus. He’s been more command over control so far, but both have shown improvement. Continued improvement in those departments should land Lacy atop a Major League rotation down the road.

9. Austin Hendrick, OF, West Allegheny HS (PA)

Drafted: #12 Overall – Cincinnati Reds

A cold-weather prep outfielder, Hendrick’s elite raw power is in the top tier for this draft class. His size doesn’t stand out at 6’/195, but what does is his raw power, bat speed, and loft he gets in his left-handed swing. This is a hitter built for 30-plus homers annually and has shown improvements as an overall hitter as well. How much average he hits for and how much speed he brings to the table will truly determine just how robust of a fantasy asset Hendrick can be down the road. But as you can probably see from this ranking, I’m banking on the improvements with the hit tool to continue.

10. Max Meyer, RHP, Minnesota

Drafted: #3 Overall – Miami

The first pitcher taken in the 2020 MLB draft, Max Meyer is one of the few first-round pitchers that doesn’t toe the rubber at 6’3 or above. Some consider that a deterrent, but not this guy. Even at 6′, Meyer’s lively arm speed allows him to routinely pepper fastballs in the mid to upper 90’s towards hitters along with an absolutely filthy slider. Those two pitches are his bread and butter, but Meyer has also shown a good feel for an average to above-average changeup as well and has no command or control issues. With his ability to limit the free passes and miss bats at a lofty clip, Meyer brings plenty of intrigue for fantasy purposes and should be one of the first pitchers taken in dynasty FYPDs.

11. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)

Drafted: #19 Overall – New York Mets

While this selection won’t entirely ease the sting or erase the memories of what could’ve been with Jarred Kelenic, Mets fans should definitely get excited about Pete Crow-Armstrong. The California prep centerfielder might not be on the same sky-high level of Kelenic, but there are some similarities. Both are left-handed hitting outfielders with plus speed and a great feel for hitting. Like Kelenic, PCA should hit for a high average with similar speed potential, but the power is where he falls off. My boy JK is in the 55/60-grade power range while PCA is more around 45/50. Still, PCA has a clean left-handed swing with plenty of bat speed. If he can add a bit of bulk to his frame and loft to his swing, he could push 20-homers at peak as well. Get excited Mets fans, just not Kelenic excited.

12. Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR)

Drafted: #15 Overall – Philadelphia Phillies

It’s not possible for me to profess my love for Mick Abel’s upside in one or two short paragraphs, but I’ll do my best. While Abel isn’t quite as advanced as the three collegiate arms we’ve already discussed, the upside here is off the damn charts. First, Abel is a 6’5 prep arm with a ton of physical projection left. His fastball already is considered plus in the 93-95mph range with life and will likely add a few ticks of velocity as he matures and adds bulk, pushing the heater to 70-grade territory.

The secondary offerings are nearly as impressive with Abel’s slider and changeup both flashing plus already and a newly added curveball improving towards being a serviceable 4th offering. That’s the tasty ice cream sundae that is Abel’s arsenal and the cherry on top is the command and control he’s shown which is advanced for a prep arm. As I said below, Abel has the chance to wind up as the best arm from this draft class. Draft him with confidence in FYPDs.

 

13. Robert Hassell, OF, Independence HS (TN)

Drafted: #8 Overall – San Diego Padres

Without question, Robert Hassell is one of the best prep bats in this entire draft class. The 6’2 Tennessee native possesses a plus hit tool with plenty of bat speed from the left side. He’s shown the ability to generate hard contact to all fields and has a better approach than most his age. While the hit tool is most certainly capable of being plus longterm, the power and speed profile is what is in question. You’ll find a wide array of opinions on both, but I’m in the mindset that Hassell will wind up as a 55-power, 50-speed type longterm. As Chris Welsh mentioned when I joined him on ProspectOne, Hassell will likely come with the “Padres tax” but this is a well-rounded offensive talent capable of .290+/25/15 seasons down the road.

14. Austin Wells, C/1B/OF, Arizona

Drafted: #28 Overall – New York Yankees

This is a pick that I hated for real-life baseball purposes as a Red Sox fan, but the fantasy fanatic in me is downright giddy. Giddy I say! Any time a hitter with an above-average hit tool and plus raw power from the left side has the chance to put those tools on display and clobber baseballs out to the short porch in Yankee Stadium, you have to be excited. There’s no doubting the offensive upside, but Wells doesn’t have a locked-in defensive home and doesn’t provide much in the way of speed. But regardless of where he ends up in the field, Wells bat will certainly play and get a nice boost from Yankee Stadium.

15. Wilman Diaz, SS, Venezuela

Unlike in 2019 when we had Jasson Dominguez head and shoulders above the rest of the J2 crop, there’s no clear-cut top choice in this international market. There’s a rough top tier, but none of these bats stands out. It’s all personal preference, and for me, that means Wilman Diaz. At 6’2/170, the Venezuelan right-handed hitting shortstop brings a tantalizing hit/power blend to the table with both potentially grading as plus down the road. There’s plenty of projection on this frame too so I wouldn’t be surprised if the power got higher than plus too. Currently an average to an above-average runner, Diaz would likely lose a step with the added bulk, but there should still be enough speed and athleticism to add in close to double-digit steals annually to the hit/power combination.

16. Christian Hernandez, SS, Dominican Republic

Already listed at 6’2/175 at age 16, Christian Hernandez has the kind of projectable frame that you can dream on. The Dominican shortstop has already flashed above-average to plus raw power and that’s only going to grow as he matures physically. That power is his calling card, but Hernandez has also shown a good feel for hitting with exceptional bat speed and barrel control from the right side. There should be a solid batting average to go with all that power and at least average speed as well. This is a potential fantasy star in the making.

17. Heston Kjerstad, OF, Arkansas

Drafted: #2 Overall – Baltimore

It’s not often you see the #2 overall pick in the draft sitting in the mid-teens of FYPD rankings, but that’s what we get when Baltimore decides they want to go under slot with their selection. But let me add that this is not a knock on Heston Kjerstad in the slightest. The former Arkansas outfielder is one of the biggest power bats in the class with raw power pushing double-plus territory. Outside of that power, the rest of his profile isn’t as advanced, but the hit tool should be around average, giving Kjerstad the upside to hit around .270 with 30-plus homers annually. This your prototypical strong-armed, power-hitting corner outfielder that should form a formidable duo with Adley Rutschman in the Baltimore lineup in a few years.

18. Carlos Colmenarez, SS, Venezuela

He might not be as big and strong as Diaz or Hernandez, but you got to love the all-around potential Carlos Colmenarez brings to the table on both sides of the ball. While there’s not one stand out tool here, Comenarez possesses a hit/power combination that both project as above-average with the power potentially even pushing into plus or better territory down the road. Comenarez is also a plus athlete with above-average speed and the defensive skills to stick at shortstop longterm. Some scouts have even thrown around some A-Rod comps when discussing Colmenarez. Exciting, isn’t it? That’s quite the lofty comp, but there’s no denying the offensive upside here is very high, especially in the hit and power departments.

19. Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS (IL)

Drafted: #16 Overall – Chicago Cubs

Fast-forward five years (that’d be great right about now huh?) and I’ll bet that Ed Howard is a fan-favorite at Wrigley Field. On top of being a hometown talent from Mount Carmel HS (same HS as Alek Thomas), Howard has the skillset to develop into an above-average shortstop on both sides of the ball. From the right side, Howard has a quick and compact swing that sprays line drives all over the field. Currently around average in the power department, I believe there’s more power to be unlocked with some slight adjustments. Howard is a plus athlete as well with average to above-average speed on the bases and the range and arm to stick at short. He’s not going to wow in any one area, but the across the board upside here warrants an early FYPD selection.

20. Isaiah Greene, OF, Corona HS (CA)

Drafted: #69 Overall – New York Mets

Surprised to see Isaiah Greene in the top-20? Well, you shouldn’t be. I’ve gone on record already comping him to a slightly-less toolsy CJ Abrams. Both possess blazing speed with above-average or better contact skills and below-average power. I’m not sure how much additional power Greene develops, but there’s some physical projection here and he’d really benefit from adjusting his swing path slightly to drive the ball more in the air. Not too much though as Greene will always be a hit/speed prospect and create most of his fantasy value that way. You’d love to see a bit more power, but not at the expense of hit contact skills. Still, if he can add that power, there’s .280/10+/30+ upside here. This is a name that could skyrocket up prospect lists if he hits the ground running in rookie ball next year like Abrams did in 2019.

21. Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee

Drafted: #11 Overall – Chicago White Sox

A tall, lanky southpaw that throws hard with a lethal slider being drafted by the White Sox. Does that remind you of anyone? Let me start by saying that I’m not comping Garrett Crochet to Red Sox ace Chris Sale, but the similarities I just mentioned cannot be ignored. In addition, Crochet has improved his upper-80’s changeup which flashes above-average at times and is a nice compliment to his fastball and slider. The one knock on Crochet right now is that he doesn’t have a ton of experience as a starter, having made only 13 starts in his 36 appearances at Tennessee. This year was supposed to be his coming-out party in the rotation but Crochet was delayed due to shoulder soreness and only made one three-inning start before the rest of the season was shut down.

Crochet wound up making his MLB debut out of the White Sox pen this season but was shut down with a flexor strain in his throwing arm.

22. Nick Bitsko, RHP, Central Bucks East HS (PA)

Drafted: #24 Overall – Tampa Bay Rays

A high-upside but raw high school arm landing in arguably the best system for developing pitching talent? Yes please! Love the upside, love the landing spot even more. Nick Bitsko is about as raw as they come for high school arms but he’s already shown that he has the stuff to pitch near the top of a rotation someday. If there was no pandemic cancelling spring seasons, Bitsko might even be higher on this list too after reclassifying from the 2021 draft. The 6’4 right-hander flashes two plus or better pitches in his mid-90’s fastball and hammer curve while also mixing in an improving changeup that has above-average potential. If you want to grab a pitcher that could really shoot up rankings over the next two years, go get yourself some Bitsko shares. This type of talent in Tampa’s system is exciting as bleep.

23. Aaron Sabato, 1B, North Carolina

Drafted: #27 Overall – Minnesota Twins

We transition from a speedy prep outfielder to a hulking first baseman with elite raw power. The 6’2 Aaron Sabato crushed 25 homers in his 82 career games at the University of North Carolina while adding in 31 doubles and a 16.6% walk rate. You’re drafting Sabato for his immense power, but this is far from an all or nothing hitter. The contact skills are around average and the approach is pretty advanced as well, especially for a slugger of Sabato’s magnitude. The pick might’ve been a headscratcher as the Twins have several of these types already, but Sabato is a no-brainer in the first couple of rounds in your fantasy FYPDs.

24. Jared Kelly, RHP, Refugio HS (TX)

Drafted: #47 Overall – Chicago White Sox

Although Jared Kelly fell into the 2nd round of the MLB draft, there’s no denying he’s a first-round talent and nearly on the same level as Abel and Bitsko in my book. Kelly has an advanced feel for pitching for a prep arm and with three dynamic pitches that all project as at least above-average. There are some concerns about the effectiveness of his slider though. Kelley has #2 starter upside and could wind up as an annual face on the strikeout leaderboards with his electric stuff. It’s going to be fun watching him develop and advance through the White Sox system along with Garret Crochet. The White Sox might’ve just found two frontline pitchers in the same draft.

25. Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville

Drafted: #10 Overall – Los Angeles Angels

I’ve seen Reid Detmers well inside the top-20 of lists, but I’m not quite as high on him for fantasy purposes. Detmers is one of those arms I believe will be good for a long time, but never really ascend to the elite ranks of starting pitchers. You’ve probably heard comps to his former Louisville teammate, Brendan McKay, and I don’t think those are farfetched. Detmers profiles as an SP2/3 for me thanks to three 55 to 60-grade offerings in his fastball, slider, and changeup, along with solid command and control as well. He’s a safe arm to target after the first couple of rounds in FYPDs.

26. Pedro Pineda, OF, Dominican Republic

A rare non-shortstop J2 prospect on this list, Pedro Pineda has one of the highest power/speed combinations in this draft class. Pineda has a strong and athletic frame with plenty of physical projection left. Plus raw power has already been put on display and it wouldn’t shock me if he grew into 70-grade raw power down the road. Even with added bulk, Pineda’s athleticism and speed shouldn’t suffer too much, leaving him as at least an average runner. If the contact skills and approach can take steps forward, Pineda could develop into a fantasy star.

27. Danny Cabrera, OF, LSU

Drafted: #62 Overall – Detroit Tigers

At just 6’1/195, Cabrera doesn’t look the part of a masher at the dish, but the former LSU outfielder sure can rake. This isn’t a .300+ or 30+ homer profile by any means, but both the hit tool and power grade as above average so some .280/20-25 HR seasons should definitely be within reach. Cabrera’s bat speed and natural loft in his swing are very apparent and give me confidence he can reach that level of power. As for his speed, he’s around an average runner, but really became more aggressive on the bases during the Cape Cod League in 2019, and that continued in this shortened 2020 collegiate season. Don’t be surprised if he adds double-digit steals to the hit/power profile.

28. Jordan Walker, 3B, Decatur HS (GA)

Drafted: #21 Overall – St. Louis Cardinals

With Jordan Walker, it’s all about the colossal raw power. That raw power grades as double-plus and Walker is able to get to that power consistently thanks to his strong 6’5 frame and leveraged swing. But the downfall here is that Walker’s hit tool is a bit of a concern, as is his approach. Walker’s bigger frame and longer levers lead to a longer swing and he’s consistently chased pitches outside the strike zone. There’s a lot of work to be done here to improve the contact skills and approach. No doubt about it. But if those improvements can be made, Walker is a major power threat in the making with enough speed and athleticism to add in a handful of steals annually as well.

29. Zach DeLoach, OF, Texas A&M

Drafted: #43 Overall – Seattle Mariners

After a lackluster first two seasons at College Station, Zach DeLoach excelled on the Cape in 2019, showing much more power than he ever had before. That power remained in his final season at Texas A&M as well, hitting six homers in 18 games before the shutdown. With how little we’ve seen of DeLoach after his “breakout”, the real question is how much of it is for real. If this ranking is any indication, I’m a believer in the breakout. DeLoach doesn’t stand out in any one area, but has a chance to be above-average across the board offensively, especially in the hit and power departments. He’s also shown an advance plate approach throughout his collegiate career as well. If you’re a believer in the breakout like I am, you should feel confident drafting him within the first 40 picks of FYPDs.

30. Cade Cavalli, RHP, Oklahoma

Drafted: #22 Overall – Washington Nationals

Although he’s dealt with some injuries and control/command issues at Oklahoma, Cade Cavalli is one of my favorite pitching targets after the elite names are off the board. At 6’4/224, Cavalli has a frame built to throw a ton of innings and there are no glaring mechanical issues here either, pitching out of a 3/4 arm slot with fairly smooth and repeatable mechanics. As for the arsenal, Cavalli will sit mid-90’s with his fastball, touching the upper-90’s at times, and pairs that with a sharp plus slider as his best secondary and main out pitch. He’ll also mix in a serviceable changeup and curveball as well with the changeup flashing 55 at times, although, quite inconsistently.

31. Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia

Drafted: #80 Overall – San Diego Padres

As long as he signs as has been reported, the Padres getting Cole Wilcox at pick #80 is the steal of the 2020 MLB draft. Signability concerns were the only reason why this first-round talent slid to San Diego in the 3rd round. At the University of Georgia, we saw Wilcox transition from an electric reliever to a potential frontline starter in just two short seasons. Wilcox pitched mostly out of the pen in 2019 and dominated in his four starts this spring before the season ended prematurely. At 6’5/230, Wilcox can bring the heat with his mid to upper-90’s running fastball, offsetting that with a mid-80’s slider and changeup, both of which flash above-average to plus. The upside here is considerable, but his lack of track record and spotty command and control also makes him a bit risky.

32. Jordan Westburg, SS, Mississippi State

Drafted: #30 Overall – Baltimore Orioles

While Baltimore fans might’ve been a tad disappointed with this pick after going under slot at #2, Jordan Westburg is a prospect with plenty of intrigue for fantasy leagues. There are some questions surrounding his contact skills and swing and miss tendencies, but Westburg brings a sound power/speed profile to the table that could see him push 20/20 in time. Even if the batting average winds up in the .250-.260 range, the power/speed profile will certianly play for fantasy and Westburg has shown he’s able to work a walk consistently so the OBP shouldn’t be too bad.

33. Bryce Jarvis, RHP, Duke

Drafted: #18 Overall – Arizona Diamondbacks

A 37th round selection by the Yankees last year, Bryce Jarvis chose not to sign with the Evil Empire and return for one more season at Duke. Yeah, you can say that move paid off as he vaulted way up to the 18th overall selection in the 2020 MLB Draft. Not bad for a year’s time. Jarvis improved many facets of his game over the last year, adding bulk/velo, improving his secondary offerings, and seeing his command and control take a step forward as well. The current product is a high-end #3 starter profile with four pitches that project as Major League average to plus with his mid-90’s fastball and fading changeup leading the way. Both breaking pitches flash above-average or better as well. If he can continue improving in the Arizona system, there might be an SP2 ceiling here.

34. Dillon Dingler, C, Ohio State

Drafted: #38 Overall – Detroit Tigers

On draft night, I mentioned that I thought Dillon Dingler might wind up as the best catcher from this draft. That was both for real life and fantasy. Dingler didn’t necessarily dominate at Ohio State but steadily improved in his last season and a half there and flashes sound all-around offensive tools, including speed and athleticsm as a former center fielder. Offensively, his above-average contact skills stand out and the power stroke has been trending up as well. There’s a good chance Dingler hits for both average and power down the road while adding in a handful of steals as well. Don’t worry about him having to move out from behind the plate either as Dingler has proven more than capable of handling the spot longterm with a strong throwing arm as well.

35. Pedro Leon, OF, Cuba

Part of analyzing prospects is admitting when you’re wrong. I jumped the gun on Pedro Leon. Don’t get me wrong, the tools here are still very enticing, but there’s a high amount of risk in this profile as well. Leon has displayed plus raw power and above-average speed, but doesn’t have really any projection left as he’s already 22, so his 5’10/180 frame might be what you see moving forward. If he can make consistent contact and at least show an average hit tool, this is going to be a solid fantasy asset.

36. Justin Foscue, 2B, Mississippi State

Drafted: #14 Overall – Texas Rangers

The draft slot might’ve initially seemed a tad high, but that’s not a knock on Foscue at all. This isn’t a player that is going to wow you in any one area, but Foscue has the tools to develop into a solid second baseman longterm. Unlike many at this position though, Foscue doesn’t bring much speed to the table. You could say he’s around an average runner, but he didn’t run much at all during his time at Mississippi State, racking up only a trio of steals in 141 games. If he decides to run a bit, there could be 5-10 steals annually added to his .275/20 offensive profile. But ultimately, this is more of a safer floor prospect than one with a high fantasy ceiling.

37. Tyler Soderstrom, C, Turlock HS (CA)

Drafted: #26 Overall – Oakland Athletics

The second catcher selected in the first round behind Patrick Bailey, Tyler Soderstrom offers intriguing offensive upside, but also carries the “prep catcher” tag that causes most to look elsewhere in FYPDs. He’s far from the defensive catcher that Sean Murphy is (although, there’s a strong arm here), but Soderstrom possesses a higher offensive ceiling with a borderline plus hit tool and raw power that flashes 55-grade with the chance for more down the road. If you’re not scared off by the fact that he’s an 18-year-old prep catcher, Soderstrom is a great pick in rounds 3-4 of FYPDs due to his offensive profile.

38. Jared Jones, RHP, La Mirada HS (CA)

Drafted: #44 Overall – Pittsburgh Pirates

This pick kind of bucked the trend of Pittsburgh’s boring and safe MO, but I loved it from both a real-life and fantasy perspective. Jared Jones is a high-upside right-hander from the California prep ranks with SP 2/3 upside. He’s flashed two plus pitches in his low to mid-90’s fastball and sharp slider and has shown some feel for a changeup that could wind up as 50 or 55-grade with further development and more usage once he gets into Pittsburgh’s system. As you can expect as a high school arm, Jones’ command and control need some refinement, but with improvement there and with his changeup, Jones has a chance to fly up prospect rankings over the next couple of years.

39. Jake Vogel, OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA)

Drafted: #100 Overall – Los Angeles Dodgers

This is a prospect to target heavily in the middle rounds of your fantasy FYPD this year. At 5’11/165, Jake Vogel doesn’t scare anyone when he steps into the batter’s box, but he sure does once he gets on base. This is easily a 70-grade runner and arguably the fastest player selected in the 2020 MLB draft.  He’s far from just a speedster too. Vogel’s hit tool projects as at least average and maybe above-average, and he has a touch of power projection as well. Even if he’s only in the 5-10 homer range longterm, his ability to hit for a good average and run wild on the bases makes Vogel a highly-desirable target for fantasy purposes.

40. Petey Halpin, OF, Mira Costa HS (CA)

Drafted: #95 Overall – Cleveland Indians

You don’t see his name mentioned early in any FYPD ranking or discussion, but Petey Halpin is easily one of my favorite prospects after the first two rounds from this draft. A California high school outfielder, Halpin combines an above-average hit tool with plus speed and solid outfield defense. With continued development in a great Indians system, I could see .280/25+ SB down the road. The power is another story, however. Halpin has a smaller frame and more of a line-drive oriented swing designed for gap shots. At peak, I could see around 15-homers, but he’ll need to add loft in order to get there. Still, this is a talented prep prospect in a great situation to develop and thrive.

41. J.T. Ginn, RHP, Mississippi State

Drafted: #52 Overall – New York Mets

A former first-round pick by the Dodgers in 2018 out of high school, J.T. Ginn chose the collegiate route and attended Mississippi State instead. Was it a good decision? Well, his draft slot is half a round later now due to Tommy John surgery so we’ll put that as a TBD. As a pitching prospect, Ginn is exciting. The 6’2 right-hander displayed three 55-grade or better pitches at Mississippi State with the ability to miss bats with all three offerings. Ginn’s fastball/slider combination is his bread and butter with the changeup flashing above-average as well. Before he underwent surgery, Ginn was more control than command, so it will be interesting to see how that control looks post-surgery. If the command and control are alright, Ginn has the upside to develop into a high-end #3 starter with plenty of strikeout upside.

42. Daxton Fulton, LHP, Mustang HS (OK)

Drafted: #40 Overall – Miami Marlins

On talent alone, Fulton was going to be a first-round selection on draft day. However, Tommy John surgery kept the 6’5 southpaw off the mound this spring and caused him to slide a bit in the draft. TJS aside, you have to love the profile here. Fulton was already sitting in the low-90’s and has plenty of projection left on his frame. It’s always interesting to see where a pitcher’s velocity is post-TJS, but there’s the potential for an easy plus heater here with some added bulk and velocity down the road.

Even better than his fastball is Fulton’s big hammer curveball which already projects as plus. There’s also a changeup in Fulton’s repertoire which flashes average but it’s not a pitch he’s thrown a ton to date. Obviously, there’s some risk in this profile, but the upside is a high-K #2 starter if everything clicks once he gets back on the mound.

43. Jordan Nwogu, OF, Michigan

Drafted: #88 Overall – Chicago Cubs

This is likely the highest you’ll see Jordan Nwogu on any FYPD list. The Cubs 3rd round pick doesn’t possess the most mechanically-sound swing you’ll ever see, but the power/speed profile here is ridiculous. This is a guy that had the chance to play college football at a defensive end due to his strength, speed, and athleticism. From the right-side, Nwogu absolutely mashes with plus or better raw power and his speed and athleticism should allow him to push 20 steals annually as well. Don’t expect a lofty batting average, but as long as he can make consistent enough contact and hit .250-plus, Nwogu should be able to tap into that power and develop into fantasy asset down the road.

44. Gage Workman, 3B, Arizona State

Drafted: #102 Overall – Detroit Tigers

If you’re looking for upside after the first 30-40 picks of your FYPD, Gage Workman is a great place to start your search. The Arizona State third baseman offers an intriguing blend of power and athleticism that could’ve allowed him to play shortstop in college if Alika Williams wasn’t around. That raw power is his calling card, grading as at least plus with a swing geared for driving the ball in the air. The contact skills and approach need to improve if Workman wants to reach his ceiling, but if he can make those improvements, his 25+ homer, 10-steal upside would make him a nice dynasty prospect to roster moving forward.

45. Owen Caissie, OF, Notre Dame Catholic SS (ON)

Drafted: #45 Overall – San Diego Padres

After taking two high school prospects at #8 (Robert Hassell III) and #34 (Justin Lange), the Padres kept to their MO and dipped back into the prep ranks in the 2nd round, this time heading north of the border to select Owen Caissie out of Ontario. Although he was one of the youngest players in the 2020 MLB draft, Caissie’s upside makes him quite intriguing.

The main reason to target him is for his plus raw power and projectable frame at 6’4/190. If/when he adds bulk to his frame, that raw power should only increase. And although he’s very much power over hit at the moment, Caissie has shown flashes of a future average hit tool and at least average speed on the bases too. This is definitely a prospect to target in your fantasy FYPDs after the first couple of rounds and one that could jump up rankings in the next year or two.

46. Hudson Haskin, OF, Tulane

Drafted: #39 Overall – Baltimore Orioles

This is an interesting player for FYPDs this year. While Haskins had a highly-productive collegiate career at Tulane, it wasn’t against top-level competition for the most part and his swing is violent, to say the least. Still, there’s a chance Haskin develops into a 55-grade contributor across the board offensively and pushes 20/20 down the road with a solid batting average and OBP thanks to his advanced plate approach and strike zone awareness.

47. Freddy Zamora, SS, Miami

Drafted: #53 Overall – Milwaukee Brewers

The “Zucchini” as Ralph Lifshitz of Prospects Live dubbed him on our FYPD mock on the Five-Tool Podcast last week, Freddy Zamora brings an intriguing skillset for fantasy purposes and a very reasonable price tag to boot. The reason for that is Zamora’s time at Miami recently was interrupted by a team suspension and also a knee injury. While initial thoughts surrounding Zamora go to his defense at short, Zamora has shown at least average contact skills with an advanced plate approach that led to more walks than strikeouts at Miami. Presently, Zamora is contact over power, but there’s enough pop in his bat to approach 10-12 homers annually while his above-average speed should lead to 20-plus steals as well.

48. Casey Martin, SS, Arkansas

Drafted: #87 Overall – Philadelphia Phillies

Casey Martin is a tough player to gauge value. If you look at his collegiate stats and nothing else, you’d probably think I’ve lost my mind ranking him this low. In 148 games, Martin slugged 30 homers and swiped 24 bags while only getting caught three times. That’s just the outline of this fantasy picture, however. Yes, Martin is an above-average runner capable of stealing 25-plus bases annually. Yes, he’s shown solid game power thanks to a swing that generates plenty of loft. But how much of that power is sustainable longterm? I’m not certain this is a 30-homer bat in the making as his swing trajectory and approach will likely be exposed by more advanced competition.

Still, there’s 20/25 upside here with Martin, but his below-average hit tool and strikeout woes limit the overall upside and make him pretty risky. Do you feel lucky? If that answer is yes and you want to gamble on the tools and upside, go ahead and draft Martin in the middle rounds of your FYPD.

49. Masyn Winn, SS/RHP, Kingwood HS (TX)

Drafted: #54 Overall – St. Louis Cardinals

Two-way players are both appealing and a pain in the butt to rank. There are two reasons for that statement. First off, we don’t know how the Cardinals or any team that drafts these guys are going to develop them and if they’ll end up as a hitter, pitcher, or remain at both. On top of that, focusing on two positions instead of solely honing your skills at one can limit a player’s upside at each. Not everyone can be Shohei Ohtani. He’s fantasy baseball’s unicorn and the best-case scenario that is going to be incredibly tough for any two-way player to reach.

Alright, let’s actually talk about Masyn Winn. The two-way prep star thrived both on the mound and in the field at Kingwood HS in Texas showing off his lively arm wherever he was on the field. As a pitcher, Winn potentially could have two 55 or 60 grade offerings in his fastball and curveball while showing the makings of a future average or above-average changeup. His arm and athleticism are very apparent at shortstop as well, a position he should be able to remain at into the future.

If anything lags behind for Winn, it’s his bat. And even there he’s shown the ability for 50-hit, 50-power down the road. This is a highly intriguing prospect that can provide fantasy value in a number of ways. It sounds like he’ll be developed as a starter when it comes to the pitching side, but there’s a chance he winds up in the bullpen.

50. Yoelqui Cespedes, OF, Cuba

In general, Yoelqui Cespedes isn’t terribly far off from Pedro Leon. Both are the elder statesmen of this year’s J2 crop at 22-years old and should be up in the Majors within the next few years. That’s great if you don’t want to wait on all the 16 or 17-year-olds but that also means Cespedes will likely debut at age 25 or so, which is on the older side. Age aside, Cespedes’ all-around profile is to target in the middle rounds of your FYPD. He’s a tad undersized at 5’9 but has a strong and athletic frame with above-average to plus raw power and speed. As with Leon, the hit tool lags behind a bit, but with improvements there, Cespedes has a good chance to make an impact in our fantasy world down the road.

51. Slade Cecconi, RHP, Miami

Drafted: #33 Overall – Arizona Diamondbacks

This ranking could very well prove to be too low for Slade Cecconi, but I have some questions about his long-term role. On stuff alone, Cecconi is intriguing. He’ll sit in the mid-90’s with his heater, touching the upper-90’s at times and pairs that with a sharp upper-80’s slider that projects around plus. His changeup will flash above-average to plus as well, but consistency has limited the effectiveness of that offering. Cecconi also hasn’t been able to command his arsenal with regularity and tends to lose a tick or two on his fastball as the game wears on. I’m not saying the bullpen is definitely in his future, but that option has to be in the back of anyone’s mind that drafts Cecconi this year.

52. CJ Van Eyk, RHP, Florida State

Drafted: #42 Overall – Toronto Blue Jays

One of the more difficult pitchers for me to rank in this top-100 is CJ Van Eyk. The 6’1 right-hander finished a productive three-year collegiate career at Florida State with a sub-2 ERA in four 2020 starts, but I’m not 100% sure this is a starter longterm. And if he is, the upside is probably more in the SP3/4 range than one of a future #2 starter. Both of Van Eyk’s secondary offerings flash above-average to plus, especially his slider, but the low-90’s fastball is merely average, both in terms of velocity, life, and command. In general, Van Eyk is below average in the command and control departments, and his inability to pound the strike zone led to higher walk rates at Florida State and got him into trouble often.

53. Bobby Miller, RHP, Louisville

Drafted: #29 – Los Angeles Dodgers

Big bad Bobby Miller is an interesting arm to target in your FYPD. He spent his first two seasons at Louisville split between the rotation and bullpen before transitioning to the rotation full-time in 2020. Well, for four starts anyway. At 6’5, Miller hits the mid to upper 90’s with his two-seam fastball which features heavy bore and sink making it a nightmare for right-handed batters. He’ll offset that with a hard slider around 88-90 and a split-change in the mid-80’s, both of which flash above-average. Even with the big arsenal, Miller didn’t miss a ton of bats at Louisville outside of his final four starts and his high-effort delivery and inconsistent command and control might make the bullpen his longterm home.

54. David Calabrese, OF, St. Elizabeth HS (ON)

Drafted: #82 Overall – Los Angeles Angels

The Angels continued their trend lately of drafting prep bats early, plucking David Calabrese out of Canada after taking a collegiate arm in Reid Detmers in the first round. Calabrese does one thing incredibly well and that’s run wild. This is easily a 70-grade runner with some 80-grades thrown on his speed as well. If given full-time at-bats down the road, this could be a 40-steal threat annually or at least close to it. How much the bat develops, though, will determine if he’s just a Jarrod Dyson type or something more than that. Personally, I think the upside is higher than that a Calabrese has flashed an above-average hit tool and at least some pop. Speed plays in fantasy and there’s no doubting that Calabrese can be a difference-maker there.

55. Clayton Beeter, RHP, Texas Tech

Drafted: #66 Overall – Los Angeles Dodgers

This is about as high of a risk-reward pick as you can find in 2020 FYPD. A 6’2 righty out of Texas Tech, Clayton Beeter’s stuff alone would’ve put him on the cusp of being a first-round selection but two elbow surgeries and a microscopic track record pushed him to the Dodgers at the end of the second round. Beeter’s arsenal features four 50-grade or better pitches with three potentially grading as 55 or better, so you have to love the raw upside in this arm, but there’s just too much risk involved to draft him too highly. If you feel comfortable with your first few selections and want to shoot for the moon in the 4th or 5th round, Beeter is a great choice.

56. Cristian Santana, SS, Dominican Republic

While he’s not considered one of the upper-echelon international prospects this year, the offensive upside Christian Santana brings to the table warrants a spot in these rankings without question. The 6’/165 Dominican shortstop has a chance to truly develop into a standout offensive contributor at the position. Santana’s bat speed from the right side is very apparent and he’s more advanced in the batter’s box than most his age. He’s currently hit over power, but there have been flashes of raw power, that paired with plenty of available physical projection, could lead to plus power down the road. As for speed, Santana is a slightly above-average runner at present, but projects more as a 50/45 runner in the future, assuming he adds bulk to his frame. That might quantify a move over to the hot corner, but the bat has a chance to stand out anywhere.

57. Tyler Keenan, 3B, Ole Miss

Drafted: #107 Overall – Seattle Mariners

With Tyler Keenan, immense power stands out immediately. The 6’4/240 pound third baseman absolutely annihilates baseballs and has some of the best raw power in the entire 2020 draft class. That power was put on full display during his time at Mississippi, blasting 31 homers in 139 games, including seven in 17 games this spring. Due to his longer levers, Keenan’s swing can get a tad lengthy at times, but he makes up for that with above-average bat speed and a good feel for the barrel and strike zone. Keenan didn’t strike out as much as you’d think a 6’4 masher would and even posted a walk rate well above 10% in college. This is a bat to be excited about and keep an eye on moving forward, even if he’s forced over to first base down the road.

58. Alerick Soularie, OF, Tennessee

Drafted: #59 Overall – Minnesota Twins

This ranking could prove to be too low in a year or two. In his time at the University of Tennessee, Alerick Soularie showcased a potential 55-hit, 55-power profile with an advanced plate approach as well that led to more walks (49) than strikeouts (47) in his 76 games. He might not have the look of a power hitter, but with his quick hands, bat speed, and natural loft, Soularie could annually approach or exceed 20 homers to go along with a solid AVG/OBP and 5-10 steals as well.

59. Blaze Jordan, 1B/3B, De Soto Central HS (MS)

Drafted: #89 Overall – Boston Red Sox

If we were ranking solely on power potential, Blaze Jordan would be a no-doubt top-10 FYPD pick. But unless you play in a HR-only fantasy league (which you could do on Fantrax), we need to look at the whole picture and value all of Jordan’s tools, not just his power. And unfortunately, the rest of the tools are lightyears behind his prestigious power that we saw him show off back when he was just 15 years old. Outside of power, Jordan is a major work in progress.

The contact skills are below average, his approach is sub-par at best, and he’s likely going to be limited to a first base or DH longterm. He’s going to have to hit a ton to make an impact and I have my questions he makes enough contact to fully tap into his sexy power. He’s still young with a long road of development ahead, so if you feel good about the hit tool coming around, give him a look in your FYPD. Just don’t feel too disappointed if he’s stuck in Single-A hitting .210 three years from now.

60. Coby Mayo, 3B, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)

Drafted: #103 overall – Baltimore Orioles

This is a prospect that I’m pulling for. If you look one inch above, you’ll see the school and remember the tragedy that happened there. Coby Mayo was in school that day and discussed those tragic events with Jessica Mendoza in an interview prior to the draft. It was just a quick interview, but this seems like a kid that has a good head on his shoulders and one that can thrive under pressure. As for his baseball skills, Mayo’s calling card is his easy plus raw power and his 6’5 frame and swing are geared for hitting dingers. His swing can get a big long at times as expected with his frame, but it’s not a glaring concern moving forward. If Mayo can refine his approach in the minors and sniff an average hit tool, watch out.

61. Shalin Polanco, OF, Dominican Republic

Unlike most other international prospects on this list, Shalin Polanco’s standout tool is not his power. Sure, his power does project to be at least average and potentially above-average in time, but Polanco’s best tool presently is his plus speed with contact skills that aren’t too far behind that. Obviously, there’s a long road ahead of him, but Polanco has the upside to develop into a standout offensive outfielder with 55 or 60-grade tools offensively if the power develops.

62. Jared Shuster, LHP, Wake Forest

Drafted: #25 Overall – Atlanta Braves

This was a tough ranking for me. On stuff alone, Jared Shuster should be around 20 spots higher on this list. The 6’3 southpaw has increased his velocity over the last year or so, now sitting around 93-96, and has a plus changeup, but there are come command and control issues here along with an inconsistent slider. When Shuster is on, he’ll attack hitters with three above-average pitches, but the slider and fastball haven’t been the most consistent offerings around and the fastball tends to get hit harder than one would like when he’s not commanding it. In his four 2020 starts, Shuster cut his walk rate considerably, but I’d like to see a larger sample size of that before bumping him too high up my rankings. Still, there’s mid-rotation upside here with the Wake Forest left-hander who has shown the ability to consistently miss bats.

63. Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State

Drafted: #13 Overall – San Francisco Giants

Ranking a player this low that was drafted 13th overall might seem bonkers, but it’s really not. For dynasty leagues, I’ve never valued catching prospects highly outside of the ones that project to be elite at the position. Patrick Bailey screams solid to me, not elite. As a switch-hitter, Bailey has shown a good feel for hitting from both sides with the left side being his stronger side. The contact skills are around average and the power might peak at that level, but ultimately, I think we’re looking at a 50-hit, 45-power catcher that will play half his games in a pitcher-friendly venue in San Francisco. I’m not that interested. With all that said, Bailey does have a solid floor to build off of making him a fairly safe FYPD selection, even if the upside isn’t exciting.

64. Tanner Burns, RHP, Auburn

Drafted: #36 Overall – Cleveland Indians

Tanner Burns is a perfect example of the talent and depth available to you in your fantasy FYPD this year. If you don’t grab one of the big-name arms early, there’s not a massive drop off from guys like Bryce Jarvis and Cole Wilcox to Tanner Burns and Carmen Mlodzinski. There’s a gap in talent and upside, but when you compare the price tags, I’d almost rather just wait a couple of rounds. When it comes to Burns, the 6′ right-hander seemed to improve every year at Auburn and was cruising in his four starts this spring. Burns combines a low to mid-90’s fastball with a pair of secondaries that flash above-average, albeit, inconsistently. If Burns can develop more consistency with his slider and changeup, there’s mid-rotation upside here.

65. Jhonny Piron, OF, Dominican Republic

Hey look, an international prospect that doesn’t play shortstop! All kidding aside, Jhonny Piron is one of the top international prospects available this year when looking at pure upside. At 6’1/165 currently, Piron has a strong and athletic frame with a notable power/speed profile. He’s also shown a good feel for hitting with exceptional bat speed from the right side of the plate. With added bulk and loft in his swing, Piron could grow into plus or better power while remaining at least average as a runner on the bases.

66. Tyler Gentry, OF, Alabama

Drafted: #76 Overall – Kansas City Royals

In his two seasons at the University of Alabama, the 6’2 Tyler Gentry combined to slash .335/.420/.594 with 17 homers and nine steals in 73 games including a .429 average in 17 games this spring which really gave his draft stock a nice last-minute boost. While Gentry isn’t a prospect with a ton of projection left or massive upside with any one tool, he’s proven to be solid across the board with the chance to grade at 50 or 55 for his hit tool, game power, and speed with his raw power grading as plus. Although, his speed is something I question as he didn’t run a ton at Alabama and was caught in seven of his 16 attempts.

Another concern is his lackluster showing with wood bats on the Cape in 2019 and his approach issues that could limit the hit tool to a max of 50-grade. Still, Gentry is a nice middle-round pick in FYPDs.

67. Anthony Servideo, SS, Ole Miss

Drafted: #74 Overall – Baltimore Orioles

With the raw tools in Anthony Servideo’s toolshed, we could easily see him shoot up prospect rankings over the next year or two. He’s proven to be an above-average defensive shortstop with plus or better speed and solid range. That speed is his most notable tool for fantasy purposes, but there’s some upside in his bat as well. Servideo is hit over power at the moment, but that was trending up this spring in his 17 games. With continued improvements at the plate, we could wind up with a 50-hit, 45-power, 60-speed shortstop that can also post a good OBP thanks to his sound plate approach. This is a great name to target in the back-end of your FYPD.

68. Miguel Bleis, OF, Dominican Republic

Checking in at an impressive 6’3/170 already, you can just feel the power potential oozing out of Miguel Bleis’ pores. The Dominican outfielder is incredibly strong and athletic for his age with above-average raw power already, exceptional bat speed, and plenty of physical projection left on his frame. There’s some above-average foot speed at present to go with that power but as Bleis matures, it’s easy to see him losing a step. Still, Bleis is a potential 60+-power, 50-speed outfielder in the making that can develop into a highly-coveted outfield prospect if his contact skills and plate approach remain solid. They are now, but he’ll need to keep his mechanics in check as his frame continues to grow.

69. Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP, South Carolina

Drafted: #31 Overall – Pittsburgh Pirates

While I can’t say I’m confident in pronouncing his last name, I’m pretty confident in throwing a mid-rotation starter tag on Mr. Carmen Mlodzinsnki. The sturdy right-hander out of South Carolina has mid-rotation arm written all over him thanks to three average to plus offerings, solid command and control, and that strong frame I already mentioned. Like most in this Pittsburgh system, the wow factor is absent here, but if you’re looking for a safer pitcher that can eat innings and provide solid rations, Mlodzinski is your guy.

70. Nick Yorke, 2B, Archbishop Mitty HS (CA)

Drafted: #17 Overall – Boston Red Sox

With a system that desperately needed another impact player, especially on the mound or in the outfield, Boston decided to pass on Garrett Mitchell, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and all the talented arms remaining on the board to make probably the biggest surprise pick of the first round this year. That’s no slight to Nick Yorke though, who some scouts said had one of the best prep hit tools on the west coast. Outside of the hit tool, there’s some modest power and speed here, but more in the 10-15 range for both than someone that will push 20/20.

71. Carson Tucker, SS, Mountain Pointe HS (AZ)

Drafted: #23 Overall – Cleveland Indians

Honestly, I didn’t really get this pick. Cleveland already has approximately six thousand young middle infielders in their system, some of which are of the high-upside variety, so selecting Carson Tucker here was a head-scratcher for me. And spoiler alert, Tucker is a better real-life prospect than fantasy asset. One thing you can’t deny about Tucker’s offensive game is the hit tool. He makes consistent contact with a quick and compact swing, but there’s not a ton of power here and he’s maybe a hair above average on the bases. The feel for hitting and defensive skills at short give Tucker a good chance to climb the ladder towards Cleveland, but I don’t foresee a big fantasy impact here. Maybe we see another Kevin Newman type, but that’s about it.

72. Alex Santos II, RHP, Mount Saint Michael Academy (NY)

Drafted: #72 Overall – Houston Astros

Even without a pick in the first two rounds, the Astros were still able to land a high-upside prep righty at 72 overall with Alex Santos II. The 6’3 righty already flashes two plus pitches in his fastball and slider and has shown feel for a solid changeup as well. His frame has plenty of physical projection left also so it’s safe to expect some added velocity as he moves through the Houston system. The building blocks are here for a mid-rotation arm with the ceiling of a #2 down the road.

73. A.J. Vukovich, 3B, East Troy HS (WI)

Drafted: #119 Overall – Arizona Diamondbacks

After grabbing some safer collegiate arms early, they went with an upside bat in the 4th round with A.J. Vukovic. At 6’5, Vukovich brings a tantalizing blend of raw power and physical projection. His swing, while long, produces plenty of natural loft as well. While there are not many concerns around his power potential, there are with Vukovich’s hit tool. With his long levers and length swing, he’s likely going to have some swing and miss concerns to deal with as the contact skills aren’t good enough to offset that. If the hit tool improves enough for Vukovich to fully tap into that mammoth power, this is going to be an exciting bat to own moving forward, even if his size and below-average range force him across the diamond to first base.

74. Hayden Cantrelle, SS, Louisianna-Lafayette

Drafted: #151 Overall – Milwaukee Brewers

Just ignore Hayden Cantrelle’s disastrous shortened 2020 campaign where he slashed .136/.320/.237 in 17 games and focus on the tools. As a switch-hitter, Cantrelle has shown aptitude from both sides, especially the left, and could wind up as a 50-hit, 40-power middle infielder down the road. A .270/10-15 HR profile doesn’t give anyone the tingles but when you add in plus speed, it creates a profile that could sneak into fantasy relevance.

75. Danny De Andrade, SS Venezuela

It feels like 90+% of top international prospects are listed as shortstops of outfielders. Sure, they might play shortstop now when they’re 16/17, but most of these guys are likely going to outgrow the position before they reach the Majors. That’s exactly the case with Danny De Andrade, a 6’/160 shortstop out of Venezuela. De Andrade profiles similarly to Christian Santana offensively with the chance to develop into 55/60-grades on both his hit tool and power. Currently, around an average runner with similar range at short, there’s a good chance De Andrade will move over to the hot corner eventually but his ability to hit for both average and power makes him an enticing upside play later on in your FYPD.

76. Yiddi Cappe, SS, Cuba

A 6’3 shortstop that defected from Cuba in 2018, Cappe brings a tantalizing blend of offensive skills to the table. He’s displayed above-average contact skills from the right side with a quick and compact swing. While his raw power is already above -average in general, Cappe’s swing is currently geared more for line drives into the gap than over-the-fence shots. If that launch angle begins trending up once he gets into the minors net year, Cappe’s prospect stock should really begin to soar.

77. Chris McMahon, RHP, Miami

Drafted: #46 Overall – Colorado Rockies

On stuff and potential alone, Chris McMahon would be at least 20 to 30 spots higher, if not more. But just as a future home park can boost a player’s value as it does with Austin Wells, it can serve as a detriment to one’s value. That’s exactly what’s happening here with Chris McMahon and literally every single pitcher that puts on a Colorado Rockies uniform. Team and park aside, McMahon projects as a mid-rotation arm with three Major League average to plus offerings, headlined by a mid-90’s fastball and borderline plus changeup. If you want to shoot for the moon late in your FYPD and take McMahon when everyone else has been scared off due to him being a Rockie, I wouldn’t scoff at it. Just don’t be disappointed down the road when Coors Field is being a you know what to him.

78. Werner Blakely, SS, Detroit Edison HS (MI)

Drafted: #111 Overall – Los Angeles Angels

If you’re looking for a prospect late that could break out in a major way moving forward, look no further than Werner Blakely. The Auburn commit was a bit of a surprise selection in the 4th round due to his strong commitment, but the Angels have already signed him and might have gotten a steal with Blakely. He’s very raw overall, but the 6’3 shortstop has a strong and athletic frame with the potential for above-average to plus power and above-average speed as well. As the frame fills out, a move to the hot corner might be in store, but the upside Blakely possesses makes him quite intriguing for fantasy purposes. It’s all going to be about the hit tool, as it is with many prep bats, but Blakely has already shown improvement there and projects at around a 50-hit right now. Very raw overall, but incredibly talented.

79. Mac Wainwright, OF, St. Edwards HS (OH)

Drafted: #112 Overall – Cincinnati Reds

This is purely an upside play for late in your FYPD. An Ohio State commit, Mac Wainwright is about as raw a prospect as you’ll find in this draft class, but there are some enticing tools here. Wainwright fits a corner outfield mold almost perfectly with plus raw power and a strong throwing arm. Depending on where you look, his speed grades range from average to slightly below average, but I believe there’s enough speed and athleticism here to approach double-digit steals annually. If the bat develops, Wainwright could develop into a solid offensive contributor.

80. Jesse Franklin, OF, Michigan

Drafted: #97 Overall – Atlanta Braves

This isn’t one of the sexier picks you’ll make this year, but Jesse Franklin’s all-around skill set warrants consideration in dynasty leagues. The 6’1 Michigan outfielder missed the 2020 season due to a broken collar bone, but put together two solid seasons as a Wolverine, slashing .287/.385/.520 with 26 doubles, 23 homers, and eight steals in 115 games. On top of that, Franklin displayed a quality plate approach with exceptional strike zone awareness that led to a 12.7% walk rate and a 17.2% strikeout rate. While he didn’t run a ton, Franklin is around average on the bases to pair with above-average raw power and average contact skills. Again, nothing buzzy here, just a good all-around hitter that could surprise people.

81. Alika Williams, SS, Arizona State

Drafted: #37 Overall – Tampa Bay Rays

I’m sorry, I know you all hate the “defense-first” tag on any player, but that’s the case here with Arizona State shortstop, Alika Williams. With plus range and a strong arm, Williams has what it takes to stick at shortstop longterm and maybe even sneak in a gold glove award or two. However, his offensive skills are less desirable for fantasy purposes. Williams possesses very little power potential as his swing doesn’t generate much loft and his raw power is below-average at best. On the positive side though, there’s an advanced plate approach (more walks than strikeouts in college), average contact skills, and a tick above-average speed on the bases. I could see him turning into an Andrelton Simmons-lite type of shortstop, but not one that stands out in fantasy.

82. Cole Henry, RHP, LSU

Drafted: #55 Overall – Washington Nationals

We’re getting into the section of the rankings where the words “safe” and “floor” come into play quite a bit. When you watch Cole Henry pitch, he doesn’t knock your socks off by any stretch of the imagination. But what he does bring to the table is a strong three-pitch mix of Major League average to plus pitches and enough command and control to stick as a starter longterm. Ultimately, Henry looks like a innings-eating #4 starter.

83. Nick Loftin, SS, Baylor

Drafted: #32 Overall – Kansas City Royals

A lot of what I mentioned about Alika Williams above can be applied to Nick Loftin here. Loftin has a touch more power and a bit less speed (40/45-power and 50-speed), but the contact skills are similar and Loftin’s skills at shortstop should allow him to remain there longterm. For fantasy, Loftin could develop into a .270/15/15 type at peak, but I’m not sure there’s upside for much more than that. While the floor here is nice, the ceiling is lower than most on this list. Watch your head.

84. Alec Burleson, 1B, East Carolina

Drafted: #70 Overall – St. Louis Cardinals

When you think of first basemen, power is the first tool that pops in most people’s heads. Well, that’s not exactly the case with Alec Burleson. The former East Carolina product is a hit over power first baseman with an above-average hit tool and below-average game power at present. There’s a touch more raw power to be had here, but I’m not sure we’ll ever see more than 20 homers out of him. The best-case scenario might be an Eric Hosmer type of contribution from the first base position.

85. Milan Tolentino, SS, Santa Margarita Catholic HS (CA)

Drafted: #124 Overall – Cleveland Indians

I’m starting to sense a trend here. After discussing Alika Williams and Nick Loftin not too long ago, we now have a third defenseive-minded shortstop with minimal power. The upside with Tolentino might actually be a bit higher than the aforementioned duo, but as a prep shortstop, Tolentino has a much longer development ahead of him. The Indians have a good track record developing these raw middle infielders, which you have to love, so Tolentino might be one to gamble on in deeper dynasty leagues. The finished product could be in the vicinity of a 50/55-hit, 55-speed shortstop that can stick at the six longterm.

86. Colt Keith, 3B/RHP, Biloxi HS (MS)

Drafted: #132 Overall – Detroit Tigers

As a two-way prep star with legitimate aspirations at both positions, Colt Keith immediately becomes a player of note for fantasy FYPD. The overall upside isn’t quite on the level of Masyn Winn, but Keith projects to be a 50/55-hit, 50/55-power hitter at peak that could also pitch out of the bullpen for the Tigers. Still only 18, it will be interesting to see how Detroit develops Keith over the next few seasons.

87. Justin Lange, RHP, Llano HS (TX)

Drafted: #34 Overall – San Diego Padres

What? The 34th overall pick by the beloved Padres is ranked in the 80s? It’s actually very simple reasoning. Lange, a 6’4 prep right-hander out of the state of Texas had one of the best fastballs in the entire draft class and an above-average to plus slider as well. However, Lange’s high-effort delivery needs refinement and I’m not sure his changeup, command, or control will be good enough to slot him into the rotation longterm. With that said, his fastball/slider combination would be lethal coming out of the pen. It wouldn’t shock me to see him alongside Michel Baez and Andres Munoz in the back-end of San Diego’s bullpen down the road.

88. Ben Hernandez, RHP, De La Salle Institute (IL)

Drafted: #41 Overall – Kansas City Royals

While I only have Ben Hernandez ranked in the 80s right now, the potential to move way up the rankings makes him a great upside play late in FYPDs. The Illinois prep right-hander features an above-average to plus fastball in the low to mid-90’s with life and arguably the best changeup in the entire draft class. The pitch features a ton of velocity separation from his fastball with plenty of fade and depth as well. Outside of those two pitches though, Hernandez has yet to find consistency with any breaking ball. He’ll mix in a slider, but a fringe one at best. With an improved breaker, Hernandez has breakout potential over the next few seasons.

89. Jackson Chourio, SS/OF, Venezuela

Already at 6’3/165 at age 17, Jackson Chourio has the tools and frame that you can dream on. Not one specific tool stands out presently, but Chourio has flashed plus raw power already and has plenty of physical projection left on this frame. That will likely cause him to drop to around average on the bases, but his athleticism should allow him to bring some value on the bases. It will be interesting to see if Chourio can maintain his mechanics as he bulks up. Hopefully, he can as the contact skills are above-average presently with plenty of bat speed from the right side. Longterm, Chourio has the raw tools to develop into a 55-hit, 60-power, 50-speed hitter that plays either shortstop or a corner outfield spot.

90. Trei Cruz, SS, Rice

Drafted: #73 Overall – Detroit Tigers

Another collegiate bat drafted by the Tigers, Trei Cruz’s upside isn’t overly exciting, but he brings a little bit of everything to the table that can lead to some sneaky fantasy value down the road. Cruz combines an average hit tool with enough power and speed to approach some 15/15 seasons. Whether he remains at shortstop or shifts over to the keystone is another story though. Throwing 50-grades on both his defense and arm represent the high end of the spectrum, so 2nd base is probably a better fit longterm.

91. Kala’i Rosario, OF, Waiakea HS (HI)

Drafted: #158 Overall – Minnesota Twins

In literally every other MLB draft in history, you wouldn’t find the player selected third to last listed in a top-100 FYPD ranking article. But since this year was only five measly rounds, it’s much more plausible. At 6’1/205, Rosario is mostly maxed out physically, but the Hawaii prep outfielder already has displayed 70-grade raw power, although, that’s mostly to his pull side. There are also some contact and approach concerns that will need to be refined in the minors if he fully wants to capitalize on that power potential. Speedwise, Rosario is far from a burner, but is close to average on the bases and could add at least a handful of steals annually. If the bat and approach develop, Rosario could provide great value in deeper dynasty leagues.

92. Drew Romo, C, The Woodlands HS (TX)

Drafted: #35 Overall – Colorado Rockies

In general for fantasy, Drew Romo doesn’t wow me. However, when a prospect has a chance to potentially reach 50-hit and 50-power as a catcher with Coors Field as his future home ballpark, you at least have to keep him on your radar. If your league has a deeper FYPD, Romo makes for a solid late-round flier as an adequate catcher that has the defensive skills to remain behind the plate longterm.

93. Landon Knack, RHP, East Tennessee State

Drafted: #60 Overall – Los Angeles Dodgers

While the 2nd round might’ve been a bit high, I love Landon Knack landing with the Dodgers. This has been a great organization for developing pitchers lately and Knack has the abilities to be the next Dodger success story. A 5th-year senior, Knack’s stuff has steadily improved during his collegiate career to the point where he now has four pitches that project as Major League average or better, headlined by a mid-90’s fastball and slider that can flash plus at times. The arsenal overall is given a nice boost by Knack’s above-average to plus command and ability to pound the strike zone. While the ceiling might only be in the SP3/4 range, Knack has a higher floor than most and I like his chances of reaching the Majors as a starter within the next few seasons.

94. Casey Schmitt, 3B/RHP, San Diego State

Drafted: #49 Overall – San Francisco Giants

While the San Francisco Giants draft class, in general, was underwhelming from a fantasy standpoint, their second round picks is definitely one to keep an eye on. At the plate, Casey Schmitt possesses plus raw power and has been able to tap into that fairly consistently in games, including last year in the Cape Cod League. The hit tool is a tad below-average, but I can see that getting to around average with some development in the minors. Offensively is where most of Schmitt’s value will come from. He was serviceable as the San Diego State closer, but his fastball/splitter combination isn’t dynamic enough in my eyes to thrive as a late-inning bullpen option at the Major League level.

95. Trevor Hauver, OF/2B, Arizona State

Drafted: #99 Overall – New York Yankees

With a more neutral potential future home ballpark, Trevor Hauver might not have made this list. In general, Hauver projects as a 50-hit, 50-power hitter with a solid plate approach and no definitive defensive home. However, as a lefty, that 50-power would play up at Yankee Stadium and give Hauver’s value a nice little boost. You got to love lefties with some power at Yankee Stadium, even if the player profiles as a super-utility type.

96. Armando Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic

Unlike most of the international shortstops on this list, Armando Cruz doesn’t impress with his raw power. But what he lacks there, he makes up for basically everywhere else. Cruz is a plus defender at shortstop and has displayed a good feel for hitting from the right side and borderline plus speed as well. It’d be great if the power ticks up with physical maturation, but even if it doesn’t, Cruz could develop into a 55-hit, 40-power, 55-speed shortstop in time.

97. Baron Radcliff, OF, Georgia Tech

Drafted: #146 Philadelphia Phillies

You likely won’t see the name Baron Radcliff on many FYPD rankings, but since I’m going 100 deep, I’ll sneak this prolific power bat in. The rest of Radcliff’s game, especially the hit tool is a work in progress, but if he can make more consistent contact and clean up his approach, Radcliff should be able to get to enough of his mammoth raw power to make an impact. This is only a deep FYPD flier though.

98. Logan Allen, LHP, Florida International

Drafted: #56 Overall – Cleveland Indians

Let me just say that I’m so ecstatic that there are now two Logan Allens in the same system that are both left-handed starting pitchers. Hopefully, you could sense my sarcasm there. Literally nothing about Logan Allen stands out. Nothing. However, the floor here is higher than most. Allen sits in the low-90′ with his fastball and mixes in a plus changeup and above-average slider with solid command of his entire arsenal. The fastball plays up due to the command and run on the pitch and Allen is able to mix his pitches very well to keep hitters off-balance. While the upside is around a #4 starter, this is the type of arm you feel confident in reaching that level.

99. Norge Vera, RHP, Cuba

It’s incredibly rare for me to put an international pitcher on here, but Norge Vera’s upside makes his inclusion here make sense. Currently 20, Vera is more advanced than most J2 arms when signing and he’s already flashed an enticing four-pitch mix with a plus mid-90’s fastball leading the way and three average or above-average secondaries offsetting it. Vera also has solid command and control, which is something you usually don’t see with these J2 arms. If you want to shoot for an upside arm late in your FYPD, Vera is a great choice.

100. Burl Carraway, LHP, Dallas Baptist

Drafted: #51 Overall – Chicago Cubs

At first, I didn’t think a reliever was going to make this list, but Burl Carraway has the stuff to pitch in a high-leverage role at the Major League level. That shouldn’t be too far down the road either. Although he’s a bit undersized at 6’/175, Carraway attacks hitters with a mid-90’s fastball from the left side with a filthy curveball, both of which grade as plus or better. Those two pitches allowed him to miss bats at an exponential rate in college, finishing with a 15.6 K/9 in 51.1 innings. But at the same time, there are some control issues here as well. As long as those don’t get worse, Carraway has a chance to provide some fantasy value as a reliever in the not so distant future, maybe even as a closer.

101. Nick Swiney, LHP, North Carolina State

Drafted: #67 Overall – San Francisco Giants

With a limited track record as a starter, I almost didn’t include Nick Swiney. The 6’3 southpaw only made eight starts in his 50 total appearances at NC State with half of those coming this spring. Swiney doesn’t impress with the heater, sitting in the low-90’s, but has good feel and command of the pitch with a pair of impressive secondaries to mix in. It’s hard to get a good feel on a future value for Swiney due to his inexperience as a starter, but the building blocks are here to develop into a good mid-rotation starter down the road.

Honorable Mention

Pitchers

Kyle Harrison, LHP, De La Salle HS (#85 – San Francisco Giants)

Jake Eder, LHP, Vanderbilt (#104 – Miami Marlins)

Ian Seymour, LHP, Virginia Tech (#57 – Tampa Bay Rays)

Tekoah Roby, RHP, Pine Forest HS (#86 – Texas Rangers)

Beck Way, RHP, Northwest Florida State JC (#129 – New York Yankees)

Hitters

Zach Daniels, OF, Tennessee (#131 – Houston Astros)

Daniel Vasquez, SS, Dominican Republic

Dyan Jorge, SS, Cuba

Jackson Miller, C, Mitchell HS (#65 – Cincinnati Reds)

Jimmy Glowenke, SS, Dallas Baptist (#68 – San Francisco Giants)

Media Credit: Kyler Peterson, Baseball America, MLB, Vinnie Cervino, Rob Friedman (Pitching Ninja), Minnesota Baseball, Carolina Baseball, Brian Sakowski.

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12 Comments
  1. tdanser says

    I am wondering why you are wearing a mask in your avatar. It is not to keep yourself or anyone else safe so why are you wearing it alone?

    Reply
    1. tdanser says

      Whoopsie that was some tweet that you cited. You won’t have that answer.

      Reply
    2. Eric Cross says

      Just to show off my hometown team.

      Reply
  2. Erik Skutnick says

    Is there a way to download these rankings?

    Reply
    1. Eric Cross says

      Not at the moment, but working on a way to do so. If you email me at [email protected], I’ll be more than happy to email you the spreadsheet.

      Reply
  3. Bill says

    Thank you Eric. I appreciate all of the prospect work you do for us.

    Reply
    1. Eric Cross says

      Thank you Bill! Appreciate the support.

      Reply
  4. Nick says

    Are there any big tiers in this draft? Where would you suggest teams trade up and down to in a FYPD?

    Reply
    1. Eric Cross says

      No big tiers this year due to all the talent and depth. I actually might trade down if you have a pick in the late teens if you can acquire multiple picks in the 30-50 range as the dropoff isn’t large at all.

      Reply
  5. grando says

    Who are those blocked COL prospects? Its more like there is unsubstantiated hype which always surrounds COL hitting prospects. If they went on to something, then I think you might have a valid claim but I see guys that get plenty of chances and simply are not quality MLB players. The guy that hits in front of Story and Arenado will succeed and it doesn’t even matter what his name is – I wouldn’t mistake Tapia’s 2020 as any validation of blocked prospects – they simply have to pitch to him. All the rest of them have taken care of themselves. I would say that the Cubs are actually the org that blocks the most specs – they tried to quit on Baez and Happ.

    Reply
  6. Justin says

    Lots of hard work put into this and came out as another fun article to read from you. Really like Wiman Diaz being ranked so high and Emerson Hancock being your first SP listed. Keep it up!

    Reply
    1. Eric Cross says

      Thank you Justin!

      Reply
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