Do These Prospects Matter for Fantasy Baseball? Jackson Chourio, Harry Ford, Heston Kjerstad, Kyle Manzardo, Joey Cantillo, more

July 5, 2023

Benjamin looks at top MLB prospects risers for fantasy baseball Week 15 (2023). His minor league hitters and pitchers to know as fantasy and dynasty sleepers.

The 2023 Futures Game rosters have been announced. With a break in the minor league baseball schedule before this event, this seemed like a good time to focus on those players on the Futures Game rosters that have not yet been covered in this space this season.

The next two weeks will feature extended names in order to cover ALL players on Futures Game rosters that have not been covered yet in this space. There are 36 total players, with 23 hitters and 13 pitchers who are on rosters and haven't been mentioned yet. 18 total players will be covered each week for the next two weeks!

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!

Top Hitter Prospects

Statistical highlights:

• wOBA (min. 100 PA): 1. Kelvin Hldalgo .509, 2. Jake Cave .488, 3. Abimelec Ortiz .476, 4. Aaron Palensky .470.
• Plate appearances: 1. Drew Avans 360, 2. Masyn Winn 359, 3. Matthew Batten 355, 4. Parker Meadows 347, 5. Cole Young 345.

Hitter Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack

Ryan Bliss, 2B/SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

Coming out of high school in Georgia, Ryan Bliss was secure in his commitment to Auburn. He fell to the 30th round of the 2018 draft despite talent that would have indicated he'd be a top-10-round selection. He had a power explosion in 2021 with Auburn, and that led to his selection in the second round that summer by Arizona.

Bliss is a small guy, listed at 5'6" and 165 pounds, and those aren't on the small side for either number. He has developed his body to pack significant power into his frame, though he does have a habit of expanding his zone too often.

Defensively, Bliss can handle short, but he's probably a major-league second baseman. He'd be an excellent defender at the position, though. He's posting big numbers in Double-A this year, with a .349/.400/.586 slash line along with 12 home runs and 21 stolen bases.

VERDICT: While the numbers are extremely impressive, keep in mind that Bliss is playing in Amarillo, one of the most hitter-friendly environments in the minor leagues. There's a future as a fringe-average starter at second base or a solid utility infielder, but not a guy that would be a "must-own" in dynasty leagues. He is a tremendous baseball rat type, so it would not be surprising if he continues to outplay his raw tools.

Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

This will be Jackson Chourio's second Futures Game after getting the nod last season during a monster breakout campaign that saw him accelerate through both A-ball levels and to Double-A by the end of the season. He finished the season with a .288/.342/.538 slash line across three levels with 20 home runs and 16 steals, all while being 18 the entire season.

Chourio is an elite raw athlete. He's continued to show that raw athleticism, even though he struggled to open the 2023 season returning as a 19-year-old at Double-A. He's improved his walk and strikeout rate from the first month of the season to June. His raw tools allowed him to swipe 10 bases in June while also hitting three home runs.

It's hard to watch Chourio and keep in mind that he's just 19. He's playing with guys who are, on average, nearly five full years older than him. His talent oozes off the field, a true five-tool gem when he's at his best.

VERDICT: Chourio is in consideration for the top prospect in the entire game. If he somehow isn't owned in every dynasty league and any redraft league with an NA slot, he should be immediately gobbled up.

Justin Crawford, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Justin Crawford was drafted in the first round last season by the Phillies with some significant marks in his favor in his background. First, he was a "legacy" player, as his father is former four-time All-Star Carl Crawford. He also attended Bishop Gorman High School, which has produced former Rookie of the Year Marty Cordova and two-time All-Star Joey Gallo.

The outfielder was considered one of the elite raw athletes in the entire 2022 draft. The Phillies let him get his feet wet in full-season ball at the very end of 2022 for a handful of games. He returned to Clearwater to open the 2023 season.

So far, Crawford has shown off that elite athleticism on the basepaths, stealing 33 bases in 37 attempts. He's also shown a strong eye at the plate, limiting strikeouts while making good contact for a .339/.388/.451 line. The big concern is when he'll tap into over-the-fence power as he's stung the ball well enough to turn in 16 extra-base hits over 49 games.

VERDICT: Crawford's an elite talent, but he's still a ways off. He's likely not a viable threat to the Phils' roster until 2026 at the earliest. He's definitely a guy who should be owned in every deep dynasty league, but rostering him in a shallow dynasty league should weigh his ETA as part of that consideration.

Harry Ford, C, Seattle Mariners

Known for his exceptional athleticism coming out of high school in Georgia, Harry Ford was a big-time riser in the 2021 draft, going to the Mariners with the 12th overall selection. While he's played well in the minors thus far, he got plenty of notice for his play on the WBC stage with the Great Britain team.

After posting a .274/.425/.439 line last season in 104 games, roughly half of which he was behind the plate, many were projecting that Ford would move off of catcher sooner rather than later. Instead, the Mariners have nearly caught Ford as much in the first half as he did all of 2022.

The offensive tools have remained excellent in High-A, with a .394 on-base. All of his underlying numbers are equal to or even better than last season, except for a BABIP that's 70 points lower.

VERDICT: Ford has a rare profile that could allow for steals from the catcher position, but he has plenty of work to do defensively to get there as a catcher. He's a long-term hold that's best suited for deep dynasty leagues over shallow rosters.

Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals

The 2021 draft was known for elite high school shortstops in the class. Nine prep shortstops were selected in the first round, including three in the top 11, with Brady House coming in as the 11th selection to the Nationals. House came out and exploded on the scene in his draft year, slashing .322/.394/.576 with four home runs in complex ball.

Between injuries and struggles, House had a middling season in 2022, hitting .278/.356/.375 in 45 games at Single-A. He returned to Single-A to open the 2023 season and has already been promoted to High-A, combining to hit .312/.375/.532 with nine home runs and seven steals over 48 games.

House has been moved to third base, which was projected from the time he was drafted due to his bulky 6'4" frame. The defensive transition has gone very well, and he could accelerate his timeline with the position change.

VERDICT:  House should get some Double-A time this year, and he really is in an optimal organization to get a chance if he can continue succeeding with the bat. Definitely a deep dynasty league own, and he's beginning to creep into a must-own in shallow dynasty leagues.

Heston Kjerstad, OF, Baltimore Orioles

Many thought the Orioles jumped the gun by selecting Heston Kjerstad second overall in 2020 out of Arkansas, but his power potential was arguably the best of any hitter in the draft. Unfortunately, Kjerstad was diagnosed with myocarditis and missed the entire 2021 season.

Kjerstad missed the start of the 2022 season due to a hamstring injury. Once he got on the field, he produced, hitting .309/.394/.457 in 65 games. He then flashed his power in the Arizona Fall League, posting a .357/.385/.622 line with five homers in 22 games.

This season, Kjerstad has really cleaned up his game. He's been raising his walk rate and lowering his strikeout rate while putting the ball out of the park. Between Double-A and Triple-A this year, he's hit .303/.383/.566 with 15 homers among 36 extra-base hits in 68 games.

VERDICT: Kjerstad has been playing first base along with corner outfield spots to get him prepared for a call at some point this year in Baltimore. His raw power from the left side is big-league caliber. He simply needs the opportunity. He should be rostered at all dynasty levels and would be a smart stash in deep redraft leagues.

Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays

When the Rays selected Kyle Manzardo with their second-round pick in 2021 out of Washington State, his ability to make contact was not in question. But many were not sure if he would have enough power to work as a first baseman.

In his first full season in 2022, Manzardo played 93 games between High-A and Double-A. He absolutely showed the ability to make contact, hitting .327 and getting on base at a .426 clip. What surprised many was that he crushed 22 home runs as part of 49 extra-base hits.

Manzardo showed well in spring training and many started to project that he could end up in the majors quickly if he didn't break camp with the big league club. Instead, he went to Triple-A. He's had some family health stuff that has been a rough distraction all season as he's hit .243/.349/.454 with 11 home runs and 30 extra-base hits over 69 games.

VERDICT: Manzardo's bat is really ready, but it's off-field stuff that has him still in the minors. It is still the Rays, so you don't know how he'll be used once he's up. But Manzardo should be in the majors at some point this year and is a guy that should be rostered.

Marcelo Mayer, SS, Boston Red Sox

The fourth overall selection in the loaded high school shortstop draft of 2021, Marcelo Mayer fell in the lap of the Red Sox despite many having Mayer ranked as the best player in the draft. He showed his raw talent with a .275/.377/.440 with three home runs and seven stolen bases in 26 games at the complex level.

Mayer impressed while playing across the Red Sox A-ball levels in 2022, posting a .280/.399/.489 line with 45 extra-base hits and 17 steals (without a single caught stealing) over 91 games. He was smooth in the field at shortstop as well, leading to him being ranked as a consensus top-10 prospect coming into the season.

Marcelo opened 2023 in High-A, and he hit well until he was pushed up to Double-A. He's shown power at the level, hitting six home runs in 26 games. An absurdly low .173 BABIP has lowered his batting average, despite all his underlying numbers looking very similar. This indicates that he could see an excellent bounce-back for the rest of the season.

VERDICT: Mayer may not come up this season, but he very well could compete for a starting job with the big league club to open 2024. He should be owned in all dynasty leagues.

BJ Murray Jr., 3B, Chicago Cubs

Originally born in the Bahamas, BJ Murray Jr. graduated from high school in Florida and went to Florida Atlantic. He broke out in 2021 in time to be selected by the Cubs with a 15th-round selection. He hit well in complex league, with a .286/.344/.482 slash line in 16 games.

Murray played across both A-ball levels in 2022, hitting .286/.410/.429 in 95 games with eight home runs. He struggled in seven games in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .211/.250/.368.

Murray has altered his swing this season in search of tapping into his above-average raw power more frequently in-game. He's increased his fly ball rate by 17% and dropped his ground ball rate by the same amount. He's been able to walk at the same rate as he previously showed, but his contact rate has dropped notably.

VERDICT: While he's hitting for more power, it's still fringe-average for a full-time corner guy. However, Murray is also playing around the infield, so he could end up a switch-hitting utility infielder with some pop. It could be similar to Eduardo Escobar before his pop turned into home run production in 2017. Keep Murray on a watch list for now to see if he taps into more power consistently.

Kyren Paris, SS/2B, Los Angeles Angels

One of the most athletic players in the 2019 draft out of high school in California, Kyren Paris was selected by the Angels in the second round. He was projected to need extra development time to turn his raw tools into baseball skills, so losing the 2020 season to the pandemic really hurt.

Paris opened the 2021 season still playing complex ball, but he was able to jump up multiple levels by the end of the season. He was playing across both A-ball levels, hitting .267/.388/.459 combined over 47 games. He followed up by getting to Double-A last season while hitting .241/.363/.417 with 12 home runs and 33 stolen bases.

This season, Paris has tapped into more power with Rocket City, already tying his career high with 12 home runs and stealing 23 bases. Paris is striking out more than 30% of the time, a rate that is much too high for a guy without big power.

VERDICT: Paris has the hands to work at either middle infield position, but a fringe-average arm will likely mean he's a second baseman if he has a big-league run ahead of him. His speed and glovework should carry him to the majors, but the impact he'll have is up for debate. Put him on a watch list for now.

Victor Scott II, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

With many options in the St. Louis Cardinals system, the selection of Victor Scott II to the Futures Game left many asking, "Who?!"

Scott was selected by the Cardinals in the fifth round last year out of West Virginia. He stole 62 bases over 121 games in college. He drew the attention of many teams due to his production in summer wood bat leagues during his college time, where he hit .282/.378/.426 over 93 games across three summer leagues and stole 64 bases while only being caught seven times.

Scott's main calling card is his raw speed. He stole 13 bases in his debut in Single-A post-draft last season in just 31 games. He opened 2023 in High-A Peoria and has recently received a promotion to Double-A on the strength of a .283/.363/.400 line and 52 bases in 59 attempts.

VERDICT: Scott can absolutely fly and he shows fairly strong plate discipline, but the lack of power will limit his fantasy impact. He has offensive similarities to Delino DeShields Sr. That's certainly usable if he can make all his tools work and use his elite center field defense to push his way into a full-time job in a big-league lineup. Keep an eye on him, but no reason to roster yet.

Nick Yorke, 2B, Boston Red Sox

Many were shocked when the Red Sox took Nick Yorke out of high school in California with the 17th overall selection of the 2020 draft. With no minor league season that year due to the pandemic, Yorke got his first taste of minor league ball in 2021 and made the Red Sox look smart, hitting .325/.412/.516 across both A-ball levels.

However, Yorke took a step back last season when he repeated High-A Greenville, slashing .232/.303/.365 with a notably higher strikeout rate and lower walk rate than he had posted the previous season. Yorke was sent to the Arizona Fall League last year. He showed out, posting a .342/.424/.526 slash line along with notably better walk and strikeout rates.

He's continued the success this year at Double-A Portland, slashing .277/.365/.462. The raw power has always been a hair above average, but he's now finally putting it into play in-game more consistently. He's a passable defender at second base, but he won't likely win any Gold Gloves for his fielding.

VERDICT: Yorke is definitely a deep dynasty add, but there might not be enough juice there offensively to make him a shallow dynasty hold beyond a high-floor option at second base for the future.

Top Pitcher Prospects

Statistical highlights:

• Total batters faced: 1. Mitch Spence 369, 2. Shaddon Peavyhouse 366, 3. Michael McGreevy 362, 4. Jay Groome 360.
• Swinging Strike rate (min. 30 IP): 1. John McMillon 24.7%, 2. Wilkelma Castillo 24.4%, 3. Anthony Maldonado 23.1%.

Pitcher Prospect Outlooks: Fantasy Six-Pack

David Festa, SP, Minnesota Twins

The Twins drafted the long, lanky David Festa in the 13th round of the 2021 draft out of Seton Hall. Festa is listed at 6'6" and 185 pounds, and the weight may even be adding a few pounds!

Festa impressed across both A-ball levels in 2022, posting a 2.43 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 103 2/3 innings with a 108/34 K/BB. This season, he's given up more hits and seen his ERA balloon to 5.24 and his WHIP jump to 1.42 at Double-A. He's maintained a strong strikeout rate, with 68 whiffs over 55 innings.

Festa was an upper-80s pitcher in college but has worked to add velocity that now sits mid-90s, touching 99 with incredible life coming from his unorthodox delivery that seems to incorporate every inch of his long arms and legs to confuse hitters. He works with an above-average slider and change. With his delivery funks, he can struggle at times to maintain a strong location.

VERDICT: Festa has a similar profile, though three inches less in height than current Twins starter Bailey Ober. Like Ober, he's a backend rotation profile that will require a strong command to succeed. Certainly, he should be considered in deep dynasty leagues, but success in the upper minors may be a good thing to look for before jumping on ownership.

Joey Cantillo, SP, Cleveland Guardians

Joey Cantillo was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 16th round in 2017 out of high school in Hawaii. In his first full season, he made a big impression, striking out 63 over 49 innings. He followed that up with an impressive season across both A-ball levels in 2019, posting a 2.26 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 111 2/3 innings with 144 strikeouts.

While he didn't pitch in the minors during the pandemic year, he was part of a big trade in 2020, as the Padres shipped Cantillo as part of a nine-player trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego. The lefty struggled with injuries in 2021, accumulating just 73 2/3 innings, but posted an impressive 2.08 ERA and 1.18 WHIP primarily in Double-A with 106 strikeouts.

Cantillo has split the 2023 season between Double-A and Triple-A, with a 3.41 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and an 81/39 BB/K over 63 1/3 innings. He's added velocity to his sturdy 6'4" frame, now sitting 91-93 mph with his fastball. He's touching mid-90s with a tough arm angle from the left side and a grouping of average-to-plus secondary pitches.

VERDICT: Cantillo projects as a backend starter, though his pitch mix from the left side can certainly play up. With Cleveland's history of pitching development, he's very intriguing. But keep in mind that the Guardians have seen four rookies make starts this year and have an abundance of pitching. He may be a watch-and-see in shallow leagues because of limited opportunity.

Will Klein, RP, Kansas City Royals

The Royals grabbed Will Klein with their final selection in the five-round 2020 draft, using the savings on that pick to spread around multiple undrafted free agents that year. They widely received top marks for their undrafted class that season.

In his pro debut in 2021, Klein threw 70 1/3 innings over 36 appearances, striking out 121 batters. However, he took a step back at Double-A in 2022 as the Royals worked him into more of a traditional relief role. He threw 43 2/3 innings over 30 appearances but with an absurd 10.51 ERA and 2.43 WHIP. He was primarily seeing struggles in his walk rate, issuing free passes at a 10.5 BB/9 rate.

Klein is using a fastball that can touch triple digits and a hard curve that sits in the low-80s. He also uses a cutter/slider hybrid that sits in the high-80s. He's had a much better location of his fastball this year. The results have followed, with a 3.13 ERA over 37 1/3 innings, striking out 59.

VERDICT: Klein's fastball has characteristics that could allow him to be a strong reliever, even at the back of a bullpen. He tinkers with his secondary options, however, and that leads to struggles locating his secondaries. For now, there's no reason to roster him, but keep an eye on Baseball Savant to how his secondary pitches are playing if he is called up.

Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

Jacob "Lanky" Misiorowski (6'7", 190 pounds) struggled with injuries at the end of his college career and during his JuCo career with Crowder Junior College. Considered the best JuCo player in the 2022 draft based on what he showed when he was on the mound, the Brewers snapped up Misiorowski in the second round of last summer's draft.

Misiorowski fires his fastball in the mid-90s, touching 100+, and he has an elite slider and curve to pair with the heater. His change is a work in progress, as was his control coming into the season. But he has made significant strides in command and control this season.

More than anything, Misiorowski may offer some of the most dominant raw stuff in the minor leagues. The Brewers are easing the workload on his arm, which is why he's tossed just 46 1/3 innings this year. But the numbers in that time are incredible, with a 2.53 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts.

VERDICT: 

Misiorowski is among the top pitching prospects in the game at this point. He should absolutely be owned in all deep dynasty leagues, and it'd be a very shallow league where he wouldn't be a must-own.

Spencer Schwellenbach, SP, Atlanta Braves

After two years at Nebraska primarily playing shortstop, Spencer Schwellenbach made the move to the mound as well as handling short in his draft season of 2021. That led to multiple teams not sure where he would fit best as a pro, as he had draft-worthy skills either way. A diagnosis of Tommy John surgery scared away many teams, but the Braves picked him in the second round of the 2021 draft.

Schwellenbach missed the entire 2022 season recovering from surgery, and he made his pro debut this season. At Single-A, he's posted impressive numbers, with a 2.63 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 51 1/3 innings. He's not posting a big strikeout rate, but he's inducing 51% groundballs so far this year.

Spencer sits mid-90s with a heavy fastball that can touch triple digits. His slider has impressive action low in the zone, and his change pairs very well with his fastball, offering a lot of sink. The big concern right now is simply a lack of innings for Schwellenbach and how long he'll take to "get there."

VERDICT: The righty is easing innings on his arm while in Single-A. He's far enough off to hold off, even in deep dynasty leagues right now. He does have the raw stuff that he could move very quickly through the Braves system once he does begin ascending, however.

Carson Whisenhunt, SP, San Francisco Giants

One of the best college arms in the entire 2022 draft, Carson Whisenhunt fell to the second round after not pitching the entire season due to a positive drug test. Many teams reportedly removed Whisenhunt completely from their draft boards, but the Giants were very pleased to pick up the East Carolina lefty.

At his best, Whisenhunt works in the 93-95 mph range with his fastball, offsetting that with one of the best changeups in the game from the left side and a bender curve that registers in the upper-70s. He's improving seemingly every time out at repeating his delivery to really polish up command on those pitches.

After a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League last year, Whisenhunt has jumped up three levels already, opening the season in Single-A and now pitching for Double-A Richmond. He has totaled a 2.79 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 51 2/3 innings with 75 strikeouts.

VERDICT: Whisenhunt's raw stuff from the left side gives him the ability to work as at least a mid-rotation arm with upside. As a guy who has touched the upper-90s in bursts in the past, he could have even more upside. He is a definite own in deep dynasty leagues and many shallower leagues.

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

More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies