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Benjamin looks at top MLB prospect risers for fantasy baseball playing winter league ball in the final installment of the series for the year. He shares his minor league hitters and pitchers to know as fantasy and dynasty sleepers.
Multiple moves have already kicked off the offseason transaction move season at the major league level, with many minor league free agents signing as well. There is still active baseball, though, with winter league baseball being played in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Australia right now.
This will be the final post of this series for the 2023 season. Over the posts since April, more than 425 players have been featured in this column over the year, allowing you to get more in-depth on a whole host of players, from complex ball all the way to major leaguers. In fact, of the players profiled, 60 played in the major leagues this season, so this is a good spot to get to know players that very well could impact your future rosters!
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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Hitter Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack
Thayron Liranzo, C/1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
As if the Dodgers didn't already have enough home run signees in their system, Liranzo was signed by the team in January 2021 out of the Dominican Republic. He began his pro career in the Dominican Summer League (DSL), posting a .250/.393/.353 line, with five extra-base hits and a 14/20 BB/K ratio over 84 plate appearances.
Liranzo leaned into his power in the Arizona complex league in 2022, hitting 20 extra-base hits in 171 plate appearances, but that came with a .237/.339/.487 slash line. He moved up to Single-A as a 19-year-old this season and had a tremendous year, posting a .273/.400/.562 line with 24 home runs over 418 plate appearances.
He's only had one plate appearance thus far in the Dominican Winter League, and he's walked. Liranzo has an impressive bat with a very skilled eye at the plate and his 6'3", 200+ pound switch-hitting frame, but was simply not a great fit behind the plate. He's taking reps at first base in the winter.
VERDICT: Liranzo's bat has the potential to be special. He would be a deep dynasty add right now, but if he comes out strong this coming season, grab him quickly.
Kendall Simmons, 2B/3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Simmons was an exceptional raw athlete from Macon, Georgia that the Phillies snagged in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. He had a strong showing in complex ball in 2018, hitting .232/.345/.400 in 32 games. He followed that up with a .234/.333/.521 line in the New York-Penn League in its final season, knocking out 12 home runs among his 22 extra-base hits over 51 games. He played his first season in Australia in the winter of 2020-2021, struggling with controlling the strike zone and ending up with a .172/.221/.219 line.
After the pandemic year off, Simmons struggled through a year of injuries in Single-A, slashing .225/.329/.449. He followed up with a strong year playing across both A-ball levels in 2022, hitting .219/.303/.380 with 12 home runs. This season, he again struggled with injury, but his bat took a big step forward as he slashed .271/.373/.500 with nine home runs among his 26 extra-base hits in 59 games.
Simmons was a raw shortstop upon drafting, but he's spent most of his time at second and third since. He has the arm to handle third, but his reflexes aren't quite strong enough to profile there. When healthy, the bat shows impressive whip to generate power, but he's also able to control the strike zone. He returned to Australia this year and has only played four games but already has three extra-base hits.
VERDICT: Simmons may not be a guy who puts up a sexy fantasy line, but he has the raw power to offer 25 home runs at second base, which is quite valuable. He still has to show that in the upper minors, which he hasn't done yet, so be patient with him and hold out for now.
Christopher Familia, OF, New York Yankees
The Yankees signed Familia out of the Dominican Republic in July 2018. He had a strong pro debut the following summer in the DSL, slashing .275/.367/500 with six extra-base hits in 49 plate appearances. After the pandemic, the Yankees sent him back to the DSL in 2021, where he actually struggled in comparison with a .266/.370/.393 slash, tallying 18 extra-base hits and nine steals in 48 games.
He came stateside in 2022 and between complex ball and Single-A, he hit .242/.364/.458 with 11 home runs over 57 total games. He followed that up by playing across both A-ball levels this season, hitting .307/.378/.617 with 22 home runs in just 68 games due to injury.
The left-handed power stroke is real with Familia, and it's perfectly suited for Yankee Stadium, with strong pull-side power. He has played around the outfield in his career, but his best fit is in left field as his arm doesn't quite play up to right. He's played only left field in the Dominican Winter League thus far in 11 games.
VERDICT: Familia's power is fun, but he's also never swung a bat in the upper minors and he's going to turn 24 during the 2024 season. You can hold on adding him, but he's definitely someone to put on your watch list.
Hector Rodriguez, OF, Cincinnati Reds
The Mets signed Hector Rodriguez in January 2021 out of the Dominican Republic. He spent most of his time in 2021 in the infield, between second and third base in the DSL. He hit .301/.376/.472 with three home runs and six steals in 42 games.
He came stateside in 2022 and had a strong year, though his season was interrupted as he part of the return the Mets sent back to Cincinnati for Tyler Naquin. Already making the transition to the outfield, Rodriguez didn't again play in the dirt once the Reds had him in Single-A. Combined, he hit .333/.372/.536 with 23 extra-base hits and 16 steals in 49 games, showing very impressive control of the strike zone.
This season, Rodriguez continued to hit across both A-ball levels in the Reds' system, slashing .293/.343/.495 with 16 home runs among 51 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases. He was not as patient at the plate, but he still did not have a high strikeout rate. He went to the Dominican this winter and he's still hitting, with a .317/.333/.456 line in 22 games.
VERDICT: Rodriguez profiles as an old-school #2 hitter, with excellent bat-to-ball skills, a low strikeout rate, and impressive gap power. His base-stealing needs refinement and his jumps in the outfield, while notably better this season, still need some work. He's far enough off that you could wait to add him, but he's very intriguing for sure.
Juan Brito, 2B/SS, Cleveland Guardians
Originally signed by the Colorado Rockies in July of 2018, Brito was one of the best hitters in the DSL in 2019, with a .328/.403/.491 slash line, walking more than he struck out, and offering both power and speed. After the pandemic, the Rockies brought him stateside to the complex, and he hit well there as well, with a .296/.406/.432 slash.
In 2022, Brito spent the entire season in Single-A, slashing .286/.407/.470 with a 78/71 BB/K rate along with 11 home runs and 17 steals in 107 games. In the offseason, the Rockies shipped Brito to Cleveland as the return for Nolan Jones. That led to an explosion this year for the young switch-hitter.
Brito opened the 2023 season in High-A, but he would finish the year with a week in Triple-A by the time all was done. He had the stats to back it up, with a .271/.377/.434 slash with 14 home runs and seven steals over 127 games with a 78/88 BB/K rate. He spent most of the season at second base, though he did play more shortstop after rarely playing the position in the previous two years.
VERDICT: Brito's struggled out of the gate in the Dominican this winter, but even then, he's still shown excellent plate discipline, and he's playing primarily shortstop. Brito's not going to be a fantasy superstar, but he's got the sort of profile that contributes in every category while not hurting you at all either. He should spend most of this season between Double-A and Triple-A but could end up seeing time if injuries or performance warrant. Stash him now in deep and mid-sized dynasty leagues.
Carlos Rodriguez, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
A seven-figure signee out of Venezuela in 2017, Rodriguez signed for $1.355 million with the Brewers. He had an impressive debut with the club, earning his way stateside with a strong performance at the DSL, combining to hit .325/.363/.414 in 61 total games with a pair of home runs and 14 steals. He split 2019 between the Pioneer League and complex, playing in 43 games with a .330/.346/.416 line.
Rodriguez then spent the next two seasons at Wisconsin, though injuries kept him to 136 combined games, where he slashed .267/.342/.368 with 25 steals but just 36 extra-base hits. This season, he bumped up to Double-A Biloxi, and the tacked ball messed with him. But he finished strong, posting a combined .324/.378/.427 in August and September to finish with a .291/.459/.367 line.
Rodriguez has a tiny frame, as the lefty swinger stands just 5'8" and is listed at 185 pounds. He's been on teams with excellent center fielders, so he's not had a chance to really show his ability out there. But he does have an excellent arm that would work in right field as well. He's played only center field in the Venezuelan Winter League so far, and he's continued to put excellent bat to the ball, with a .314/.431/.402 line over 26 games.
VERDICT: Rodriguez has elite contact skills, but he does not offer much power at the plate and he's not an elite base-stealing threat, so his true value to fantasy is yet to be seen. The other issue for Rodriguez is coming up in a Milwaukee system that is stacked with excellent outfielders, potentially meaning that his best chance at a major league role is as a backup or through trade. Let him be for now.
Pitcher Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack
Cam Wynne, RP, Philadelphia Phillies
Big righty Cam Wynne (6'6", 225-ish pounds) was selected by the Phillies in the 2021 draft in the 20th round out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after transferring to the Cornhuskers and pitching well in the Nebraska bullpen. He immediately was assigned to Single-A, but he struggled in that first pro look, pitching 9 1/3 innings and allowing 15 runs, seven of them earned, posting a 10/9 K/BB ratio.
He returned to Clearwater when healthy in 2022 with much better results. He spent a pair of appearances in Florida complex ball as he was returning from injury, and his combined line was 23 2/3 innings with a 2.28 ERA and a 26/10 K/BB rate. He did very well in High-A in 2023 with a 2.55 ERA and a 39/14 K/BB rate over 42 1/3 innings of relief.
He works with a mid-90s fastball and a slider that can flash plus quality but is extremely inconsistent. So far in the Australian Baseball League over the winter, he's tossed a pair of innings and allowed one run.
VERDICT: Wynne is athletic and has a sinker/slider combination that could play well in middle relief, but he needs to improve his command before that's going to be something that can be relied upon. No reason to add him right now.
Benony Robles, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers signed the lanky, 6'4" left-handed Robles in July 2017 out of the Dominican Republic. He made his debut in 2018, pitching across both DSL teams that the Dodgers have, posting a 33/29 K/BB over 37 1/3 innings with a 5.30 ERA. He returned to the DSL in 2019, tossing 53 2/3 innings with a 4.19 ERA and a 51/27 K/BB.
After the pandemic, Robles returned with his long frame filled out more, spending most of the 2021 season in the Arizona complex, tossing 48 2/3 innings with a 3.33 ERA and an impressive 61/17 K/BB ratio. He struggled in his first full-season assignment in 2022, posting a 5.86 ERA over 78 1/3 innings, eventually moving to the bullpen.
Robles moved to the bullpen this season and was impressive, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 53/19 K/BB ratio over 32 2/3 innings while also notching 12 saves. In the Dominican Winter League this year, Robles has thrown 10 2/3 innings with a 1.69 ERA.
VERDICT: Moving to the bullpen allows Robles' fastball to bump to a mid-90s offering and for his average secondaries to play up. He will head to Double-A in 2024 and could move quickly with his stuff from the left side as long as he can control it. Wait to add him until he shows it in the upper minors.
Victor Santos, SP, Boston Red Sox
The Phillies originally signed the 6'1" Santos out of the Dominican Republic before the 2017 season. He spent his first two years in the DSL and Florida complex leagues, posting an incredible 103/9 K/BB ratio over 108 1/3 innings, leading many to begin considering Santos among the Phillies' underrated pitching prospects.
He showed his excellent control again in 2019 in his first full-season exposure at Single-A Lakewood, pitching to a 4.02 ERA over 105 1/3 innings with an 89/18 K/BB ratio. After the pandemic, Santos was traded to the Red Sox for C.J. Chatham during the 2021 season, posting a 2.40 ERA over 86 1/3 innings with an 85/15 K/BB, making it up to Double-A.
After working up to Triple-A in 2022 and showing stable high-command stuff that could potentially work in the back of the rotation or as a swingman, he missed all of 2023 due to injury before the Red Sox signed him as a minor league free agent. He has been excellent in the Dominican Winter League this year, posting a 0.66 ERA over 13 2/3 innings with a 9/2 K/BB.
VERDICT: Santos has shown to be healthy in winter league ball, and while he's not a sexy profile, he's a guy who likely won't hurt WHIP with extra base runners if given the chance. No reason to add him, but keep an eye out if he potentially earns his way as a fill-in starter in Boston.
Jose Davila, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals signed Davila out of Venezuela in 2019, but due to the pandemic, he did not end up making his pro debut until 2021, working up to Single-A and posting a 4.86 ERA over 53 2/3 innings with a 54/34 K/BB ratio. The 19-year-old in 2022 spent most of his time with Single-A, struggling through injury, posting a 3.22 ERA over 64 1/3 innings with a 54/28 K/BB.
Davila worked out of the bullpen exclusively in winter ball in 2022-2023, leading to him taking more of a swingman role in 2023 back in Single-A, with a 71/31 K/BB ratio over 74 1/3 innings but allowing a 5.69 ERA.
The 6'3" righty has a lean frame but could still add some good weight, working with a low-90s fastball with excellent sinking action and a downer curve. He's shown well in winter ball in the swingman role, not generating a ton of swing and miss but generating plenty of groundball contact.
VERDICT: Davila has the chance to work into a swingman role, but he's yet to pitch outside of Single-A. Leave him be.
Carlos Pena, SP, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers signed Pena out of the Dominican Republic in March 2019. He made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League that summer, posting a 2.74 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 71/17 K/BB over 49 1/3 innings. The 5'11" lefty immediately received notice for his impressive strikeout rate, but like all others in the game, missed the 2020 season due to the pandemic.
Pena had an impressive showing in Florida complex and Single-A in 2021, combining for a 3.34 ERA over 59 1/3 innings with a 59/13 K/BB. He spent most of 2022 in Single-A but did get time at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, tossing 98 innings and combining for a 4.22 ERA and a 120/43 K/BB ratio.
After five innings in winter ball in 2022-2023, he spent all season with West Michigan this past year, throwing 110 innings of 3.11 ERA ball with a 107/38 K/BB rate. He works with a mid-90s fastball and an above-average 12/6 curveball that draws swing and miss in the rotation but could do even better if put into the bullpen.
VERDICT: Pena has worked out of the bullpen for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League, which could indicate the Tigers plan to move the 25-year-old to the 'pen in 2024. For now, leave him be as he's not yet had the chance to show his stuff in the upper minors.
Jesus Mendez, RP, Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox signed Mendez on June 1, 2022, out of Venezuela. The 5'11" righty tossed nine innings in the DSL in 2022, posting a 9/4 K/BB. He spent his time in the Arizona complex this season, moving to the bullpen. He made 16 appearances, throwing 15 1/3 innings, with a 17/12 K/BB.
Mendez offers a four-pitch mix, led by a fastball that touches the mid-90s. He flashes stuff that could work as a mid-rotation starter if he were able to consistently command it, but he struggles with that at this point.
He's pitched well in Venezuela, flashing another tick in his raw stuff, with no runs allowed over 3 2/3 innings.
VERDICT: Mendez is just 18, so there's certainly physical growth still to come. He could move quickly as a reliever if he can consistently command.
Check back again next week for more evaluations and look behind the numbers!
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