A note about how it works: This is a list for the 2024 season only. This is not a list of the top prospects overall, but rather a list of the players most likely to make a difference in 2024.
Also, this is only a list of prospects who are currently in the minor leagues or have prospect eligibility. Players currently on an MLB roster or who have exhausted their rookie eligibility are not considered eligible.
With those caveats in mind, let’s take a look at the top candidates who have a chance to contribute to fantasy in 2024.
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1. Dylan Crews, outfielder, Washington Nationals
2024 stats: 100 games with Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester, .270/.342/.451 batting average with 13 home runs, 25 stolen bases, 36 walks and 92 strikeouts.
We are already seeing the 2024 MLB No. 1 draft pick in action. To describe Paul Skenes’ accomplishments as “contributing” would be an understatement. Now, his former LSU teammate and No. 2 overall pick will accompany him in the major leagues, albeit with a different team. Crews is expected to get a call on Monday to join the Nationals and is an absolute must-have. He’s a five-tool player who can contribute in every category, and while it’s certainly possible he’ll struggle in his first MLB game, the risk is well worth the reward. Get him. It’s too late to miss this opportunity.
2. Jason Dominguez, outfielder, New York Yankees
2024 stats: 46 games with Low-A Tampa, Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, .313/.372/.492 batting average, 8 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 16 walks and 42 strikeouts; 1 game with New York (AL), .000/.000/.000 batting average, 0 home runs, 0 walks and 3 strikeouts.
There’s no way to prove that Dominguez was especially motivated by his brief stay with the Yankees last Sunday. But it didn’t hurt. The outfielder had four hits in Tuesday’s win over St. Paul, then recorded four more multi-hit games and stole bases in his final four games. Just 10 days after hitting .268/.330/.412, he’s now hitting .305/.360/.453. Simply put, Dominguez is doing well, and the Yankees would be wise to find a way to play him. Fantasy managers would also be wise to add him now if they can.
3. Jacob Wilson, SS, Oakland Athletics
2024 stats: 53 games with short-season ACL, Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas, .433/.473/.668 batting average, 7 home runs, 2 stolen bases, 14 walks and 15 strikeouts. One game with Oakland, .1.000/.1.000 batting average, 0 home runs, 0 stolen bases, 0 walks and 0 strikeouts.
I know the sample size is smaller than others, but these stats make me laugh every time I update them. Wilson is currently working on his rehab after missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury and is almost the same hitter as he was before the injury (side note). The 2023 first-round draft pick is coming off his best performance in his first full season as a pro and is only on this list because he was injured in his MLB debut. There are question marks about his power, but if you need some help at the average level, Wilson is a great addition.
4. Coby Mayo, infielder, Baltimore Orioles
2024 stats: 87 games with Triple-A Norfolk, .300/.375/.582 batting average, 21 home runs, 4 stolen bases, 37 walks, 91 strikeouts; 7 games with Baltimore, .059/.200/.059 batting average, 0 home runs, 0 stolen bases, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts.
It’s a bit disappointing to see Mayo back on this list, but not all that surprising. This isn’t an insult to him, but a compliment to Baltimore’s depth, which, like an overstuffed club sandwich, doesn’t have room for Mayo right now. It’s a shame. Mayo still has the potential to be good offensively, and is worth another look if Baltimore is willing to give him another chance. However, there are no guarantees with anyone other than the players currently at the top of the list.
5. Brooks Lee, infielder, Minnesota Twins
2024 stats: 32 games with short-season FCL, Low-A Fort Myers and Triple-A St. Paul, .359/.417/.618 hit, eight home runs, two stolen bases, 13 walks, 18 strikeouts; 26 games with Minnesota, .253/.309/.333 hit, two home runs, three stolen bases, nine walks, 16 strikeouts.
Like Wilson, Lee is on a rehab assignment, but just started playing Saturday at St. Paul. So far so good, hitting a home run in his first game back and going 3-for-4 with two doubles on Sunday. That should do the trick. Lee hasn’t pitched great, but he’s by no means a slob. I have a lot of faith in his bat, and while I think he’s a better player in the long run than he is right now (I know that’s a harsh thing to say about rookies), there’s little doubt he can contribute. The talent is there to contribute, anyway.
6. Kyle Manzard, first baseman, Cleveland Guardians
2024 stats: 79 games with Triple-A Columbus, .259/.395/.533 batting average, 18 home runs, 0 stolen bases, 45 walks, 59 strikeouts; 30 games with Cleveland, .207/.241/.329 batting average, 0 home runs, 0 stolen bases, 3 walks, 23 strikeouts.
Proximity matters. No, Manzard doesn’t have the same upside as the players listed above. In fact, he’s not even particularly close. The compliments to the hitters listed above are more of a compliment than an insult to him, that’s true. But the fact that he’s so likely to get a call-up after September 1st gives him an edge, as he’s much more likely than the names listed below. That being said, if it was just a matter of whether he’d get called up or not, he wouldn’t be on this list. Manzard has a great approach and power, and showed some flashes during his time with the Guardians before being demoted. He’s a player I’d add when I need help at a corner infield spot to see how things go when that call-up happens.
7. Roman Anthony, outfielder, Boston Red Sox
2024 stats: 96 games with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. .276/.369/.499 batting average with 18 home runs, 16 stolen bases, 53 walks and 104 strikeouts.
Cruz is the only one on this list that I can guarantee will make the big leagues, but I’m pretty confident that all six of the guys above will be in the big leagues by the end of 2024. What about the rest? Not really, but it’s at least a possibility. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be here. Anthony is the most promising of these guys, batting .320/.382/.560 with three homers in 50 at-bats at the Triple-A level after struggling in his first few games in Worcester. The Red Sox need to stay strong to make the postseason, and maybe they’ll look to Anthony to help them do that. He could be this year’s Evan Carter.
8. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
2024 stats: 22 games with Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, 98.1 innings, 3.29 ERA, eight hits, 30 walks and 117 strikeouts.
Chandler was shutout in his first two Triple-A starts, but was decent Thursday against Columbus, giving up three runs in five innings. But there’s plenty more good to come from the 21-year-old pitcher, as he struck out six with just one walk. It’s just as likely, if not more likely, that Chandler’s debut will be in 2025, but he should definitely be in fantasy managers’ considerations if the Pirates decide to use him before the end of September.
9. Moises Ballesteros, catcher, Chicago Cubs
2024 stats: 104 games with Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, .276/.345/.464 batting average with 17 home runs, 1 stolen base, 39 walks and 81 strikeouts.
The vast majority of prospects hit a slump midway through the season, and unfortunately for Ballesteros, that slump is happening right now. He had two hits Thursday against Toledo, but that was a 0-for-17 slump that has seen him slash to .251/.315/.432 in Triple-A. It’s still a very good season for a hitter who’s only 21 years old, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Ballesteros will get promoted. Given his talent and the value of the position if he does get promoted, I still have him on the radar.
10. Christian Moore, infielder, Los Angeles Angels
2024 stats: In 19 games with Low-A Inland Empire and Double-A Rocket City, he batted .354/.398/.622 with six home runs, zero stolen bases, six walks and 25 strikeouts.
Now, listen. Yes, this guy just got drafted this year. Yes, he’s still in Double-A. But the Angels are the most aggressive team in baseball. Unrivaled. They’ve promoted players before, even promoting first-round picks from the previous year. In fact, that was the case with Nolan Chanuel last year. Look at these numbers, coupled with the fact that Moore was the best player on the best team in college baseball this summer. I’m just saying.