A note on how this works: This is a list for the 2024 season only. This is not a comprehensive list of prospects, but rather a list of players most likely to make a difference in 2024.
Also, this is just a list of prospects who are currently in the minors/are prospect eligible. Players currently on MLB rosters or who have exhausted their rookie status will not be considered eligible.
With those caveats aside, let’s take a look at the top prospects who have a chance to contribute to fantasy in 2024.
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1. James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals
2024 stats: 35G, .346/.444/.581, 7HR, 9SB, 25BB, 32SO at Triple-A Rochester.
It was a truly productive week for Woods, as he hit five home runs and increased his slugging percentage by 106 points since the last update. The 6-foot-7 slugger hit two home runs in two games and had multiple hits on four of six opportunities. Wood deserves this top spot for now, and it’s reasonable to think he’ll move up to the Nationals and showcase his talent in a relatively short period of time. That’s how he should be, anyway.
2. Junior Caminero, INF, Tampa Bay Rays
2024 stats: 23G, .304/.379/.554, 6HR, 1SB, 11BB, 21SO at Triple-A Durham.
Other than three hits against Durham on Saturday, Caminero didn’t have many hits last week. What I was happy to see was how he showed patience at the plate despite recording five walks in a week, including two free passes, in Sunday’s game against the Bulls. Caminero is ready. All that remains is for the Rays to find him a place to play on a regular basis. He’s worth signing up now, but fantasy managers will have to be patient.
3. Jackson Holiday, INF, Baltimore Orioles
2024 stats: 24G, .295/.456/.484, 3HR, 3SB, 28BB, 21SO at Triple-A Norfolk. 10G, .059/.111/.059, 0HR, 0SB, 2BB, 18SO in Baltimore.
Holiday also had a solid week, and while he remains one of the best prospects in all of baseball, it seems like both of those players are a little more likely to be promoted at this point. Admittedly, that has more to do with Baltimore’s deep roster than Holiday’s 10-game struggles. If Baltimore finds a way to get Holiday back on the roster, I’d definitely bet on his performance. There are too many positives to completely give up on him in 2024.
4. Tyler Black, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
2024 stats: 28G, .312/.398/.523, 5HR, 4SB, 14BB, 18SO at Triple-A Nashville. 7G, .227/.261/.318, 0HR, 2SB, 1BB, 8SO in Milwaukee.
Black was given an option to Triple-A after Christian Yelich was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, and while the numbers weren’t impressive, there were some good moments for the Brew Crew infielder. He had multiple hits in two of the first three games after his return and also added a stolen base Sunday against Durham. Black may not be back with the Brewers for a while, but his average batting average, base-stealing ability, and potential to provide some power are enough to make him worth roster consideration each time a game is played. It is in.
5. Colson Montgomery, SS, Chicago White Sox
2024 stats: .34 G, 225/.351/.426, 6 HR, 3 SB, 22 BB, 46 SO at Triple-A Charlotte.
The big jump for Montgomery this week is the graduation of two players who were on last week’s list, for the record, Paul Skeens and Kyle Manzard, and Montgomery looking increasingly ready to play. It is partly based on that. His strikeouts are still an issue, but he’s starting to show his power, with walks and a .618 slugging percentage over the past 10 games. There’s a lot of risk for Montgomery in 2024, but there’s no denying the potential for even greater reward.
6. Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs
2024 performance: 6G, 23.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 3 HR, 10 BB, 29 SO at Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.
Horton made his second start at the Triple-A level on Friday, but it didn’t go well. It may be an understatement to say that he did not succeed. He allowed six runs, four walks, and two home runs in just three innings against Columbus. It’s disappointing, but he did have five strikeouts, and it’s hard to worry too much about two bad starts in Triple-A. Horton now has the ingredients and command to be successful and is a roster essential whenever the Cubs call on him.
7. Coby Mayo, INF, Baltimore Orioles
2024 performance: 39G, .293/.361/.616, 13HR, 3SB, 16BB, 50SO at Triple-A Norfolk.
It’s been a rough week for Mayo, with the slugger hitting just .182 with 13 strikeouts in 44 at-bats over the past 10 games. The weekend was much kinder to him, however, as he had three hits, including a home run, on Friday, and a shutout double against Memphis on Sunday. If Mayo had played for another organization, he would have been much higher on this list or would have been so high that he would have been ineligible. Even in Baltimore, there are still plenty of dream-like possibilities in 2024.
8. Olelvis Martinez, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
2024 stats: 35G, .277/.362/.569, 10HR, 0SB, 14BB, 31SO with Triple-A Buffalo.
Martinez was worried about an injury after being hit by a pitch in his right knee, but he returned to action on Sunday and hit a home run. The third baseman has unsurprisingly seen his batting average drop over the past few weeks, but he’s not a . As a result, that number may become less important. The Blue Jays would probably like to see more consistency, but everything points to him playing in Toronto at some point this summer.
9. Jace Jung, 3B/2B, Detroit Tigers
2024 performance: 35G, .282/.400/.524, 6HR, 1SB, 26BB, 42SO at Triple-A Toledo.
Welcome to the list, Jace. we have been waiting for you. Chung has an on-base percentage of .522 and a slugging percentage of .727 in the last 10 games, and has completely defeated Triple-A pitchers recently. He has two concerns here. One, he strikes out a lot, and two, he doesn’t contribute much in the stolen base category. Even if he does have a punch out, he is a rare hitter who has a chance to hit average, similar to his older brother Josh, and has much more power than average for a right-handed hitter. With several of Detroit’s infielders struggling, Jung could be called up in the coming weeks and will have a chance to contribute in several categories should a promotion occur.
10. Jacob Wilson, Oakland Athletics
2024 stats: 26G, .439/.460/.664, 3HR, 2SB, 3BB, 11SO with Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas.
These numbers are not typos. Trust me, I checked. Wilson batted .455 (!) with a 1.178 OPS in Double-A, and last year’s No. 6 draft pick went 3-for-5 on Friday and Sunday in his first weekend in the Pacific Coast League. . There are some question marks about Wilson’s power, but this is one of the best pure hitters in the minors, and he now has a chance, if not guaranteed, to play for the Athletics/help fantasy manager in 2024. Seems plausible. crazy.
Also under consideration: Victor Scott II, OF, St. Louis Cardinals. Marco Luciano, SS, San Francisco Giants. Jefferson Kelo, C, Milwaukee Brewers.Jasson Dominguez, OF, New York Yankees