I’ll be running down everything that caught my eye in the Dynasty Baseball world on most Mondays throughout the season. Here is the Monday Morning Dynasty Baseball Rundown (6/28/21):

Click here to join my Patreon for the Top 300 June 2021 Dynasty Baseball Prospects Rankings (2021/22 FYPD guys included) that dropped last week. Updated OBP/OPS/PTS “Universal” Dynasty Rankings are coming mid July. Join up for those rankings and much more, including Dynasty Rundowns, Strategy Articles, and Top 50 FYPD Rankings! Thank you!

Wander Franco TB, SS, 20.4 – This hitting Major League pitching thing turns out to be pretty hard even in the post Spider Tack era, as Wander recorded his first hit since kicking the door down in his first game. The .614 OPS isn’t great, but the underlying numbers are a bit better with an above average .327 xwOBA. 16.2 degree launch is great to see, his plate approach numbers are excellent with a 5/5 K/BB in 6 games, and a 28.2 ft/sec sprint speed is nothing to sneeze at. I don’t think Wander is going to go the way of Kelenic and will get it going before it gets much worse.

Jarred Kelenic SEA, OF, 21.11 – Speaking of Kelenic, he had himself a great week at Triple-A with a 2 homer game on Thursday and then followed that up with a 4 hit game on Friday. He has a .911 OPS in 16 games since being sent down, and I’m betting on him doing much better his 2nd time around in the majors.

Gerrit Cole NYY, RHP, 30.10 – Speaking of Spider Tack, Cole got shelled by Boston, giving up 5 earned with 3 homers in 5 IP. Panic selling makes no sense, but it’s hard deny that Cole might have trouble being super elite without that sticky icky.

Shane Baz TB, RHP, 22.0 – Baz is showing why I ranked him as my 2nd overall pitching prospect and #17 overall on the Top 300 Dynasty Prospects Rankings I dropped last week on my Patreon, going 5 IP with 2 hits, 0 earned, and a 10/0 K/BB at Triple-A. The stuff is nasty and his improved control is remarkable with a 69/5 K/BB in 46.2 IP.

Kyle Muller ATL, LHP, 23.9 – Dominated in his 2nd MLB start vs Cincy, going 5 IP with 1 hit, 0 earned and a 9/2 K/BB. His fastball averaged 94.1 MPH and his secondaries were missing bats with a 50% whiff% on his slider and 56% whiff% on his curve. I’m still worried his below average control will rear it’s ugly head (19 BB in 31.1 IP at Triple-A), but he’s proving his stuff is easily MLB quality.

Jose Miranda MIN, 3B/2B, 23.0 – One of the top hitting prospect breakouts in 2021, Miranda went 2 for 4 with his 13th homer in 47 games in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. His power is breaking out while maintaining an elite 11.5% K%.

Angel Martinez CLE, SS, 19.5 – Martinez was knocking on the door of my Top 100 and he showed why yesterday, going 4 for 5 with a double, homer and steal. He’s been doing a little bit of everything at Single-A all year with a 145 wRC+ in 37 games.

Alexander Ramirez NYM, OF, 18.6 – Ramirez was one of my favorite international prospects to target in his FYPD class and he has been holding his own in full season ball as an 18 year old with a 105 wRC+. He cranked a 103 MPH bomb for his 2nd of the year in 20 games to go along with 8 stolen bases. 33% K% is high, but relative to Puason’s 45.5% K% he might as well be Nick Madrigal.

Jordan Walker STL, 3B, 19.1 – 3 for 4 with a 0/1 K/BB. Walker now owns a ridiculously good for his age 17.2%/14.8% K%/BB% and 202 wRC+ in full season ball as a barely 19 year old. Walker is showing Puason and Ramirez how it’s really done.

Tarik Skubal DET, LHP, 24.7 – Impressed against one of the best lineups in baseball, going 7 IP with 1 hit, 1 earned and a 9/3 K/BB vs Houston. The most notable thing was how much he leaned on pitches other than his 4-seamer which he threw only 35% of the time (48.2% on the season). It led to a 48% whiff% on the day. I don’t think he’s ascended to ace status or anything, but it’s been fun watching his development this season. He’s establishing himself as a high K, high WHIP mid-rotation guy with upside still left in the tank.

Marco Luciano SF, SS, 19.10 – Completely smoked a pull side homer for his 10th in 44 games at Single-A. His slow start is a distant memory.

Nick Gonzales PIT, 2B/SS, 22.0 – Gonzales homered in his 2nd straight game since returning from a broken pinky that kept him out for over a month. Hand injuries can sometimes sap power, but if you had to pick one finger to break, I guess it would be the pinky. Gonzales has lit up High-A pitching with a 165 wRC+, but a 28.4% K% is a bit high for a college bat whose hit tool was supposed to be his carrying tool. Maybe he will be more of a low average, high power guy than we expected.

Keibert Ruiz LAD, C, 22.11 – The power breakout continues as Ruiz smashed his 9th homer in 30 games at Triple-A. He completely flipped his hitting profile with a 53.3% FB%, up from 35.1% in 2019 and his K% remains elite at 12.1%.

Mark Vientos NYM, 3B, 21.7 – Vientos always had huge raw power and it is now transferring into game power in a big way. He crushed his 12th homer in 37 games at Double-A. Over his last 12 games he is slashing .347/.429/.939 with 9 homers and a 14/5 K/BB. 30.2% K% will have to improve to take the next step.

Andy Pages LAD, OF, 20.7 – Pages skills are most certainly translating to full season ball as he launched one to Mars yesterday for his 15th homer in 48 games at High-A. 57.4% FB% might actually be a little too extreme, but he’s firmly within my Top 100 prospects.

Asa Lacy KC, LHP, 22.1 – Lacy had one of his best starts as a pro, going 4 IP with 1 hit, 1 earned, and a 9/3 K/BB. He continues to be a walk-fest with a 17.7% BB%, but at least the strikeouts are there too with a 36.7% K%.

Jared Jones PIT, RHP, 19.11 – Jones had his best outing as a pro by far, going 4 IP with 2 hits, 0 earned and a 11/1 K/BB. His fastball sits in the mid 90’s and he throws a 4 pitch mix. If he can show improved control over an extended period of time his stock will soar.

Nolan Jones CLE, 3B, 23.1 – Jones lifted off for just his 4th homer in 46 games at Triple-A, but he’s been much better of late, slashing .300/.425/.617 with 3 homers, 3 steals and a 15/10 K/BB in his last 18 games. He is much more appealing for me in an OBP league as he continues to walk at an elite rate with a 14.5% BB%.

Zac Veen COL, OF, 19.6 – 3 for 4 with a double and 2 more stolen bases. It would be nice to see more homerun power as he has only 1 homer in 44 games, but he’s getting on base with a 15.3% BB% and is running like wild with 24 stolen bases in 31 attempts.

Luisangel Acuna TEX, SS, 19.4 – 3 for 4 with a double, stolen base, and 0 K’s. He’ll never be his brother but he’s been strong in his full season debut with a 115 wRC+ and showing all around production. I also wouldn’t rule out a power breakout in his mid 20’s, which could take him to the next level.

Click here to join my Patreon for the Top 300 June 2021 Dynasty Baseball Prospects Rankings (2021/22 FYPD guys included) that dropped last week. Updated OBP/OPS/PTS “Universal” Dynasty Rankings are coming mid July. Join up for those rankings and much more, including Dynasty Rundowns, Strategy Articles, and Top 50 FYPD Rankings! Thank you!

By Michael Halpern (@MichaelCHalpern)
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@DynastyHalp)

I’ll be running down everything that caught my eye in the Dynasty Baseball world on most Mondays throughout the season. Here is the Monday Morning Dynasty Baseball Rundown (6/7/21):

UPDATED DYNASTY BASEBALL RANKINGS ARE UP ON MY PATREON. UPDATED AND EXPANDED FYPD RANKINGS AND A DEEP PROSPECTS ONLY RANKING ARE COMING LATER THIS MONTH. JOIN UP FOR THOSE RANKINGS AND A TON OF OTHER ALMOST DAILY CONTENT!

Diego Cartaya LAD, C, 19.9 – Cartaya has been a man on fire in his full season debut, crushing two more bombs yesterday to give him 5 homers in 8 games. Francisco Alvarez all of a sudden has some competition for the most hyped teenage catcher prospect in the lower minors.

Francisco Alvarez NYM, C, 19.6 – Not to be outdone, Alvarez had himself a day as well, going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and a walk at High-A. He hasn’t been able to dominate this level as much as he did Single-A, but a 133 wRC+ ain’t too bad.

Adley Rutschman BAL, C, 23.4 – The elder statesman of the top catcher prospects group told those damn teens to get off his lawn, going 2 for 3 with his 8th homer and 5th double of the year at Double-A. He now has more walks than strikeouts with an 18.6%/20.2% K%/BB% in 28 games.

Luis Severino NYY, RHP, 27.3 – Severino was one of my favorite targets in dynasty leagues this off-season, and he took another huge step in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, going 2.2 IP with 2 hits, 1 ER, and a 3/1 K/BB at Single-A. His fastball was back into the upper 90’s. It might be too late to buy at a reduced price, but if you followed my rankings, you already own him.

Logan Gilbert SEA, RHP, 24.1 – Gilbert had his most impressive start in the majors, going 5 IP with 2 hits, 1 earned, and a 7/4 K/BB. His fastball sat 95.2 MPH and his slider put up a 45% whiff%. He had a 36% whiff% overall which is great to see as his season total sits at a slightly below average 23.9%.

Luis Garcia HOU, RHP, 24.6 – Garcia shot up to #206 overall on my latest Updated Dynasty Baseball Rankings over on my Patreon, and it might not have been high enough as he has kept on dominating. He went 6 IP with 3 hits, 1 earned and a 8/2 K/BB against the feared Toronto lineup. He put up a 41% whiff% on the day and his secondaries continue to befuddle hitters with utterly dominant xwOBA’s on all four of them.

Bobby Bradley CLE, 1B, 25.0 – Called up the majors and dominated in his first start, going 3 for 4 with a 103 MPH homer and a 114.2 MPH double. He hit only .196 with a 32.1%/6.4% K%/BB% at Triple-A, so I would keep your expectations in check, but he also hit 9 homers, so there is certainly thunder in his bat.

Brett Baty NYM, 3B, 21.7 – Baty is quickly becoming one of my favorite prospects with his advanced beyond his years plate approach, and when I ranked him 91st overall in my Patreon Mid May Top 100 Prospect Update, I knew the homer power would come. And boy has it come with him scorching his 4th homer in his last 6 games to go along with a 22.3%/16.5% K%/BB% in 24 games at High-A.

 Austin Martin TOR, OF, 22.2 – Speaking of power coming around, Martin drilled an opposite field shot for his 2nd homer in 4 games. He’s handled the aggressive assignment to Double-A well with a .396 OBP and 131 wRC+.

Cade Cavalli WASH, RHP, 22.9 – One of the fastest rising pitching prospects in the minors was at it again, going 6 IP with 5 hits, 3 earned, and a 11/2 K/BB at High-A. He’s now rocking an elite 41.8%/7.5% K%/BB% with the premium stuff to back it up. He’s in the conversation for the top pitching prospect in the game.

Edward Cabrera MIA, RHP, 23.2 – Cabrera made his season debut after being sidelined by a right biceps injury, and it didn’t take long to re-establish himself as a beast, going 3 IP with 2 hits, 0 ER and a 3/0 K/BB at Single-A with the fastball reaching 97 MPH. Any buy low window has been slammed shut and it might not be all that long before he is called up to the majors.

Jake Eder MIA, LHP, 22.8 – Possibly the top pop up pitching prospect of 2021 continued to rise to the occasion, pitching a new age perfect game, going 5 IP with 0 hits, 0 earned and an 8/0 K/BB at Double-A. The days of letting pitchers go until their arms fall off during no hitters/perfect games are over, and rightfully so. He now has a silly pitching line of 0.61/0.81/50/12 in 29.2 IP

Brayan Bello BOS, RHP, 22.1 – Bello resents me giving Eder the top pop up pitching prospect crown, as he dominated yesterday as well, going 5.1 IP with 4 hits, 1 ER, and a 9/0 K/BB at High-A. His fastball can reach the upper 90’s and he can control it too with a 5.7% BB%.

Kyle Bradish BAL, RHP, 24.9 – Bradish would like to have a word with me as well, as his spectacular season continued, going 5 IP with 4 hits, 0 earned and a 8/4 K/BB at Triple-A. He throws a legitimate 4 pitch mix and has a sparkling 1.00 ERA in 27 IP, but his 13.6% BB% is a bit on the high side.

Evan Carter TEX, OF, 18.9 – Smoked his 2nd homer of the year at Single-A, and while his .213/.403/.360 triple-slash isn’t super impressive, he’s 18 years old in full season ball with a 21.8%/.21.8% K%/BB% and a 126 wRC+. He’s only going to grow into more power at 6’4”, 190 pounds and he has 12 steals on the year. Carter has a chance to be an absolute monster.

Miguel Vargas LAD, 3B, 21.7 – Vargas was one single away from the cycle yesterday as he went 3 for 5 with his 11th double, 1st triple, and 5th homer in 30 games at High-A. His 18.8% K% with a 27.8% GB% is a recipe for success. I liked him coming into the year and his stock keeps rising. Now is the time to make a move on him if he is still available in your league.

Gavin Sheets CHW, 1B, 25.1 – After a brief call up to the majors that resulted in 0 at-bats, Sheets got right back to raking at Triple-A with him launching his 5th homer in 25 games yesterday. He’s had strong contact numbers his entire career going back to college (18.9% K% in 2021), and his game power is now breaking out as he had hit only 26 homers in 301 minor league games prior to this season.

Ethan Small MIL, LHP, 24.4 – Small has yet to strikeout less than 6 batters in any of his 6 starts this season, and yesterday was no exception with him going 5.2 IP with 2 hits, 0 ER and a 8/2 K/BB at Double-A. He doesn’t have huge stuff and his 16.5% BB% is a little concerning, but the man knows how to miss bats.

Carmen Mlodzinski PIT, RHP, 22.3 – Mlodzinski’s pro debut is going swimmingly as he’s been lights out in all 4 of his outings. He went 5 IP with 4 hits, 0 ER, and a 7/1 K/BB at High-A yesterday. The 39.7% K% is great to see after he put up a 7.8 K/9 in 25.1 IP in the SEC during the shortened 2020 season.

Taylor Walls TB, SS, 24.11 – Walls smacked 2 doubles en route to a 3 for 5 day with 0 K’s. His underlying numbers have been very strong in the early going with a 90.9 MPH exit velocity, 17.3 degree launch angle, 18.8% whiff%, 16% BB%, 28.5 ft/sec sprint speed and a .371 xwOBA. He’s never going to put up huge power/speed numbers, but he looks like a legit top of the order hitter and there definitely might be some more juice in his bat as he enters his mid 20’s.

UPDATED DYNASTY BASEBALL RANKINGS ARE UP ON MY PATREON. UPDATED AND EXPANDED FYPD RANKINGS AND A DEEP PROSPECTS ONLY RANKING ARE COMING LATER THIS MONTH. JOIN UP FOR THOSE RANKINGS AND A TON OF OTHER ALMOST DAILY CONTENT!

By Michael Halpern (@MichaelCHalpern)
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@DynastyHalp)