Do These Prospects Matter for Dynasty Baseball (Week 26)? Xavier Isaac, Lazaro Montes, Jose De Paula, Adam Macko, more

September 20, 2023

Benjamin looks at top MLB prospect risers for Fantasy Baseball Week 26 (2023). He shares his minor league hitters and pitchers to know as fantasy and dynasty sleepers.

Minor League Baseball is in full playoff mode. We've discussed more than 300 players in this space throughout the minor league season of all levels.

In this week's edition, we will look at six hitters and six pitchers participating in minor league playoffs currently. The hitters are each from a team that's participating in the Single-A playoffs while the six pitchers are each on a High-A playoff team.

Look here for insight on potential fantasy baseball dynasty league pickups before they hit and to get to know players as they ascend to the major leagues!

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Top Hitter Prospects

Statistical highlights:

• Home runs: 1. Shay Whitcomb 35, 2(tie). Hunter Goodman and Yunior Severino 34, 3. Three with 33.
• Stolen bases: 1. Victor Scott II 95, 2. Chandler Simpson 94, 3. Jonatan Clase 79, 4. Seth Stephenson 70.

Hitter Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack

Troy Schreffler, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies made Schreffler their 15th-round selection last summer out of the University of Maryland. After having raw power but not seeing it show up in games his first two seasons with the Terps, Schreffler had clubbed 34 extra-base hits in 62 games in his draft season. He did struggle a bit in his pro debut at Single-A Clearwater, slashing .207/.311/.315 over 27 games.

Schreffler struggled out of the gate in High-A this season and spent time in extended spring training working on his swing before heading back to Clearwater. He spent time working around injuries, but in mid-July, he took over a full-time role in left field and he's been a strong performer since, slashing .294/.378/.478 with four home runs and eight stolen bases since taking over as a regular.

Schreffler is an above-average athlete who can handle center field but is best suited for left field due to his average arm. He has altered his swing, which led to an interesting rate of doubles versus home runs, as the righty swinger hit six home runs this season and just three doubles.

VERDICT: The raw skills would suggest Schreffler could be a legit prospect, but the struggles at High-A as a college player are worrisome. Hold off on adding him until he can show success in the upper minors.

Xavier Isaac, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays

As Kyle Manzardo was having a monster breakout last season, the Tampa Bay Rays used a first-round selection on a high school first baseman out of North Carolina by the name of Xavier Isaac. Many questioned the logic of the move as the organization already had plenty of excellent first base options, and a high schooler who was already defensively "limited" to first base doesn't have a great draft track record.

Isaac didn't exactly set the world on fire in his brief pro debut, hitting .211/.286/.368 over five games, though he did hit three doubles among his four hits. Observers at Tampa's fall instructs raved about Isaac's feel for hitting but questioned exactly how much power there would be and his athleticism.

Listed at 6'3" and 240 pounds, the height might be a bit shy and the weight notably on the heavy side as the 19-year-old Isaac worked hard over the offseason before his full-season debut this year. He's shown well across both A-ball levels, hitting .285/.395/.521 with 19 home runs and stealing 12 bases, while also controlling the strike zone with a 14.8% walk rate and just a 21.2% strikeout rate.

VERDICT: Isaac's improved conditioning didn't exactly translate to his play at first, as he made 17 errors on the season. The bat, however, has shown to be among the elite in all of the minor leagues, which has Isaac ranked in the top 50 of many prospect lists. If he's still available in your league, grab him.

Torin Montgomery, 1B, Miami Marlins

The Marlins drafted Montgomery in the 35th round coming out of high school, and after a tumultuous collegiate career that saw his first college drop their program and Mongomery struggle to find his power stroke, the Marlins came back to Montgomery in the 2022 draft, nabbing him in the 14th round out of Missouri.

Montgomery's feel for hitting was evident in his pro debut, as he hit .266/.345/.427 with very positive reports from his work in fall instructs. That had many evaluators dreaming of the potential power from the 6'3", 250-pound right-handed hitter. Montgomery even stated in interviews that he was looking to add strength in order to help him have better results at the plate.

This season, Montgomery has played across both A-ball levels for the Marlins, slashing .288/.413/.402 with 20 doubles and four home runs in 385 plate appearances. He's struggled in his time in High-A, however, with a .214/.304/.282 slash line.

VERDICT: Montgomery has an excellent strike zone feel and shows enough raw power to dream of him eventually getting there, but he drives more than 50% of all his hits into the ground, and that will be a major issue he needs to resolve to tap into his potential. Leave him be until the power comes along.

Abimelec Ortiz, 1B, Texas Rangers

With a build that would invoke comparisons to such athletic stalwarts in baseball such as Yermin Mercedes and Willians Astudillo, Ortiz was passed over in the shortened 2020 draft coming out of junior college but chose to sign with the Rangers over seeking out a four-year college.

Disparage his shape all you'd like, but the bat is real. Over 134 games in his first two years, Ortiz flashed impressive raw power (22 home runs) along with patience (12.9% walk rate) and holes in his swing that produced just a .227 average to that point.

He leaned hard into what he does well this season, attacking the ball earlier in counts, but also still drawing 10.8% walks. The result has been impressive, with a .294/.71/.619 slash line across both A-ball levels along with 33 home runs, which put him in the top-5 across all minor leagues this year.

VERDICT: Ortiz is a significantly below-average athlete, so his big league future may only be as a DH, but he has explosive power off the bat that should allow for him to be at least a power platoon bat from the left side. Deep dynasty league players should have Ortiz rostered, but it would be understandable to wait on how he responds in Double-A in 2024 before jumping on board in shallower leagues.

Lazaro Montes, OF, Seattle Mariners

Montes was another "hefty" boy upon signing out of Cuba in 2022, weighing in at 240 pounds on his 6'3" frame. He looked a bit on the lost side in the outfield in his debut in the Dominican Summer League, though his arm allowed him to nail four assists in just 41 outfield games.

He did excellent work on his physicality in the offseason to trim his overall frame, though he also added muscle, so it wouldn't surprise if he still sits around 225-230, but it looks much better. Of course, if he can hit, no one would really care...and he can hit!

Montes quickly earned his way out of complex ball this summer, finishing with Modesto, Seattle's Single-A club. In all, he's posted a .303/.440/.560 line with 13 home runs and 34 total extra bases in 70 games, with an impressive 17.9% walk rate.

VERDICT: The raw tools have Montes as one of the most intriguing power prospects in the game. He's likely owned in most deep and mid-sized leagues. I believe in the bat enough to recommend him to shallow dynasty owners as well.

Josue De Paula, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Born in Brooklyn, but with Dominican roots, De Paula was signed as part of the Dodgers' 2022 international class. He quickly made an impression in his first spring training, with plenty throwing out ridiculous comparisons, including Hall of Fame players.

The 6'3" lefty-swinging outfielder then posted an incredible stat line in the Dominican Summer League last summer, slashing .350/.448/.522 with a 32/31 BB/K rate over 223 plate appearances. The Dodgers jumped him all the way to Single-A ball on his stateside debut, and he's shown well overall, with a .284/.396/.372 slash line with 14 steals and 19 extra-base hits over 74 games.

De Paula may be physically advanced, with plenty of muscle on his frame, but he still has a graceful swing that can produce loud results. It hasn't resulted in a ton of home runs yet, but when he uncorks on one, it explodes off of the bat.

VERDICT: While the raw talent is absolutely ridiculous, some are selling De Paula a bit too rich in "real life" baseball as his defensive shortcomings will push him to either left field or DH. He's still an elite prospect that should be owned in all deep and mid-sized leagues, even with some distance to go before the majors.

Top Pitcher Prospects

Statistical highlights:

• Strikeouts: 1. Drew Thorpe 182, 2 (tie). Joe Boyle, Wikelman Gonzalez, and Tobias Myers 168.
• Saves: 1. Zach Agnos 27, 2. Evan Taylor 20, 3. Luis Guerrero 18, 4 (tie). Miguel Rodriguez and Angel Chivilli 17

Pitcher Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack

Reid VanScoter, SP, Seattle Mariners

VanScoter used the 2020 transfer portal to find his way to Coastal Carolina where he had mixed results as a reliever in 2021 before breaking out in 2022 as a starter, posting a 3.65 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 88 2/3 innings with an 85/24 K/BB ratio. That caught the Mariners' attention, and Seattle made him their fifth-round pick last season.

VanScoter is listed at 6' and 190 pounds, and both could be generous, as he epitomizes the profile of a smaller-sized, control-based lefty that succeeds in college. That profile has a typically negative value as a pro unless the pitcher can add velocity or a dynamic breaking pitch to his repertoire.

The M's pushed VanScoter to High-A to make his pro debut this season, and though he's had success this season, he's remained at the level all year. Over the year, he's posted a 3.27 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, with a 157/35 K/BB ratio over 143 1/3 innings. He's not seen a major shift in his raw stuff, but he has also varied his pitches such that no pitch is really dominant and hitters cannot sit on anything.

VERDICT: While the success this year is encouraging, VanScoten is 24 and hasn't seen upper minors yet with a fastball that sits in the upper 80s. Watch how he handles Double-A next year before taking a chance on him.

Adam Macko, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

The Mariners drafted Canadian prep lefty Macko in the seventh round of the 2019 draft. He has the unique background of being born in Slovakia and living in Ireland as well in his youth. Macko struggled with his location in 2021 coming off the pandemic season, posting a 4.59 ERA over 33 1/3 innings, but also posting a 59/21 K/BB ratio.

Macko battled knee and elbow injuries in 2022, limiting him to just 38 1/3 innings in High-A, where he posted a 60/20 K/BB with a 3.99 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. He struggled with his location at the Arizona Fall League, walking 13 and striking out 14 in 13 1/3 innings.

The Blue Jays acquired Macko as part of the Teoscar Hernandez deal last offseason, and he's been able to remain healthy for a full season with Toronto's High-A team in Vancouver. He posted a 4.81 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, striking out 106 over 86 innings.

VERDICT: Macko has a mid-90s fastball from a low arm slot along with an elite curve, an average slider, and a fringe-average change. The stuff would say starter, but he's struggling to control pitches at the A-ball level, so stay away until he can handle the upper minors.

Dalton Rogers, SP, Boston Red Sox

Without a lot of pro interest coming out of high school in Mississippi, Rogers headed to Southeast Louisiana. He then transferred after the COVID season to a junior college before heading to Southern Miss. The Red Sox drafted him in the third round last summer after he posted a 1.95 ERA out of the bullpen for the Golden Eagles.

Rogers is generously listed at 5'11" and 175 pounds, but both numbers are certainly generous. He's used his diminutive size as a way to hide the ball in his delivery, working primarily with a fastball around 93-95 along with his change and slider. The Red Sox believed that a three-pitch mix would allow Rogers to work as a starter.

Due to that, Rogers has pitched across both A-ball levels this season, building up innings, with a 4.84 ERA over 96 2/3 innings, posting a 140/61 K/BB ratio. He's limited home runs, but he's also struggled with his control, totaling 16 wild pitches on top of the 14.5% walk rate he's had on the year.

VERDICT: Rogers has shown the ability to handle a starter's workload, but he's also struggled to manage the movement on his pitches to show enough control and command to work as a starter. No reason to add him at any level until he can show more in Double-A in 2024.

Cory Lewis, SP, Minnesota Twins

After watching divisional foe Cleveland tap into the UC Santa Barbara pitching staff for future stars in recent years, the Twins took that path with their ninth-round selection in 2022, picking the 6'5" righty Lewis. After tossing 88 1/3 innings for the Gauchos, Lewis did not pitch until fall instructs with the Twins last summer.

This year, Lewis has taken his five-pitch mix across both A-ball levels, making 22 appearances, tossing 101 2/3 innings with a 2.49 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, and posting a 118/33 K/BB. He's been able to limit hard contact, with an incredible 31% infield fly ball rate and a 44% ground ball rate.

Lewis keys his pitch mix with a low-90s fastball with excellent ride and a pair of "normal" breaking pitches with a sweeping slider and a 12/6 curve, both of which come in upper-70s to lower-80s. He also utilizes a strong change. What makes Lewis unique is his use of a knuckleball, and not just a typical knuckler, but a mid-80s knuckleball that has left players completely dumbfounded.

VERDICT: The knuckleball will have Lewis as an intriguing add, but it's his overall pitch mix that should allow him to succeed as a mid-rotation starter. He needs to show things will work in Double-A in 2024 before being a guy to suggest in all dynasty leagues, but keep a close eye on him!

Ronan Kopp, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

As is common with taller prep pitchers, Kopp struggled with consistency in velocity and control in his final year of high school, dropping him to the point where he went to junior college in Arizona. The 6'7" lefty was the Dodgers' 12th-round pick in 2021 and made three appearances for the Dodgers' complex league.

Kopp spent the majority of 2022 in Single-A, finishing with a three-game audition in High-A. He turned 20 in July of 2022, posting a 2.74 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 62 1/3 innings, with a 108/43 K/BB ratio. This year, he's continued that strikeout success with Great Lakes, posting a 2.99 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 72 1/3 innings, with a 107/50 K/BB.

His velocity is sitting 95-98 this season with a mid-80s slider that has wicked movement and a below-average change. It's the lack of a third pitch along with his struggles repeating his delivery that has many projecting a bullpen future for Kopp. In shorter stints, he's seen his velocity top triple digits.

VERDICT: I struggle to see a future starter in Kopp, but the stuff is absolutely incredible. Watch where the Dodgers pitch him in 2024, both in level and in role as he should be in the bullpen sooner rather than later and could have success in the upper minors sooner rather than later.

Jack Neely, RP, New York Yankees

Ginormous (6'8" and 245 pounds) Neely went undrafted out of high school after focusing on baseball for only one season after spending much of his prep time focused on basketball. He was still able to end up at the University of Texas before transferring to Ohio State in 2021. He struggled that season as a starter for the Buckeyes, but the Yankees saw something in him and picked him in the 11th round.

Neely ended up working across both A-ball levels in 2022, striking out 87 over 50 1/3 innings in 38 appearances. He did have some walk issues, but he was able to dominate. He's replicated that dominance this season and even stepped it up, whiffing 100 over 66 1/3 innings with notably better control and command.

Though this is a bit of cheating as Neely was promoted from the High-A Hudson Valley roster to Double-A, multiple members of the Yankees' farm system have tagged Neely with a "future closer" projection. Neely works with an upper-90s fastball and has adjusted his slider for better movement and control, with excellent results.

VERDICT: A relief prospect is not someone typically to jump on, but after success in Double-A this year, Neely should be on the fast track to impact the 2024 Yankees bullpen. He's only an add in the deepest of leagues, but he definitely needs to be tracked closely!

Check back again next week for more evaluations and look behind the numbers!

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