As has become our year-end tradition, Kyle and I will be grading each other's article recommendations to finish out the year. Because we are going more in-depth than we did last season, we will be doing this across two weeks. This week will focus on players recommended in articles published from April through June, while next week we will complete the review of players recommended in articles from July through September. I did my best to grade harshly but fairly, and I ended up really impressed with the work Kyle had done in the first half. We'll see how he grades me, but I think he did better than I did in the first half, at least. Kyle has also knocked me out of a couple of playoffs this year, but I still have an opportunity to redeem myself as we are going head-to-head for the PLive league championship. It's one of two championships I'm currently in, with four 3rd-place battles going on as well. I have two competitive roto leagues teams left, one where I currently lead and another where I am in 3rd place. Hopefully, I can bring home at least one title this year for the 7th straight season. Good luck to all of you in your championships as well!
Note: all stats current through Tuesday 9/16/25 and all minor league Statcast figures are sourced from TJ Stats.
Taylor Corso
Recommendation Grades
Gavin Sheets - 29/1B,OF/SD/MLB
Date recommended: 4/6/25
League size recommendation: 250+ players rostered
Prospects Live rank: N/A
Fantrax roster rate: 48% -> 58%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 476 PA, .256/.321/.447, 18 HR/0 SB, 19.7% K%/8.0% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Sheets (aka Dairy Bonds) has become a nearly everyday contributor at DH for the Padres. He hits cleanup in their lineup and has supplied a .263 AVG, .327 OBP, along with 19 HR, 52 R, and 66 RBI in 133 games. He's become a perfectly serviceable option in deep leagues. I'm not sure I would consider him a top 250 player, but that's picking nits.
Shane Smith - 25/P/CHW/MLB
Date recommended: 4/6/25
League size recommendation: 350+ players rostered
Prospects Live rank: 476 -> Graduated
Fantrax roster rate: 30% -> 57%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 125.1 IP, 3.81 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 22.5% K%/9.3% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: It has been a bit of an up-and-down season for Smith, but he is ending it on a strong note with a 2.84 ERA since he returned from an ankle injury on August 1st. A 4.57 FIP (4.36 on the year) shows that he's had quite a bit of good fortune. At the very least, Smith has established himself as a useful bench streamer with potential upside for more down the road.
Connor Prielipp - 24/P/MIN/AAA
Date recommended: 4/6/25
League size recommendation: 100+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 249 -> 148
Fantrax roster rate: 14% -> 15%
Stats since writeup (AA/AAA): 76.2 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 27.7% K%/8.6% BB%
Recommendation grade: B-
Justification: It’s been a bit of a mixed bag for Prielipp, but he has made his way to Triple-A and has remained healthy outside of a short IL stint in June. After protecting his innings most of this season, Prielipp threw a career high 5 IP in his most recent start, which hopefully starts a trend that continues with him pitching deeper into games next year.
Blade Tidwell - 24/P/SFG/AAA
Date recommended: 4/6/25
League size recommendation: 150+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 268 -> 206
Fantrax roster rate: 14% -> 17%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 86.2 IP, 3.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 27.7% K%/9.0% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 15 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2.20 WHIP, 12.8% K%/12.8% BB%
Recommendation grade: B-
Justification: Tidwell was moved to the Giants at the deadline, and he performed brilliantly with his new club, posting a 1.69 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, along with a 37.1% strikeout rate and an 8.1% walk rate. Unfortunately, it was just three outings before he went down with a shoulder issue that required an MRI. The latest news is that he is throwing in bullpen sessions and will pitch in a rehab game soon. That clouds his future and lowers his grade, but for now, his overall value remains high since Kyle wrote him up.
Edouard Julien (DROP) - 26/1B,2B/MIN/MLB
Date recommended: 4/6/25
League size recommendation: AVG leagues with fewer than 200 players rostered, OBP leagues with fewer than 300 players rostered
Prospects Live rank: N/A
Fantrax roster rate: 27% -> 18%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 299 PA, .276/.415/.464, 11 HR/5 SB, 27.4% K%/17.7% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 170 PA, .197/.296/.313, 3 HR/0 SB, 30.6% K%/11.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Julien looks like a Quad-A bat at this point and can't even carve out an everyday role on a shallow Twins roster. Great call by Kyle.
Khal Stephen - 22/P/CLE/AAA
Date recommended: 4/13/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 109
Fantrax roster rate: 4% -> 20%
Stats since writeup (A/A+/AA): 92.0 IP, 2.74 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 25.3% K%/4.9% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Kyle had already given himself an A+ at the All-Star break, and Stephen's value only increased with a deadline trade to the Guardians. One brutal start knocks down the Double-A numbers, but he's got a 2.25 ERA over his last two outings. This is one of Kyle's best calls of the year, and I hope you listened to him like I did!
Austin Overn - 22/OF/BAL/AA
Date recommended: 4/13/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 310
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 4%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 450 PA, .247/.352/.389, 11 HR/60 SB, 27.1% K%/12.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: B+
Justification: Kyle was harsh on himself at mid-season and gave his Overn recommendation a D. However, post-break Overn has been a stud, slashing .281/.366/.479 with 9 HR, 32 SB (just 2 CS), a 10.8% walk rate, and a 23.7% strikeout rate. That last figure is particularly encouraging, given a near 30% rate in the first half. Even more impressive is that Overn has performed well since his promotion to Double-A. Overn is trending up and looking more like the player Rhys initially dubbed "the next Kristian Campbell". His rollercoaster season likely led many to drop him after Kyle's initial recommendation, so I can't quite give Kyle an A, but this is pretty darn close.
Ernesto Martinez Jr. - 26/1B/MIL/AAA
Date recommended: 4/13/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 627 -> 394
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 4%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 270 PA, .250/.352/.382, 5 HR/0 SB, 27.8% K%/12.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: D-
Justification: Martinez was mashing the ball early in the season, but hasn't done much since a late April thumb injury. A power-first bat, he hasn't hit an HR since July 8th. While his roster rate and ranking are up, that has more to do with his early-season performance and impressive max exit velocity than anything else.
Manuel Rodriguez - 20/P/MIL/AA
Date recommended: 4/13/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 453
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 3%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 79.2 IP, 3.05 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 23.5% K%/3.9% BB%
Recommendation grade: B-
Justification: Rodriguez has continued to see his roster rate and ranking decline from mid-season, but he has returned from injury and is performing well. Since a return from injury in June, he's posted a 3.48 ERA with just a 3.9% walk rate. He also reached Double-A and had a pretty nice debut there. It's a tough situation to grade, but I think keeping Kyle's B- grade is fair.
Janson Junk - 29/P/MIA/MLB
Date recommended: 4/13/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: N/A
Fantrax roster rate: 1% -> 26%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 35.1 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 19.7% K%/4.2% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 98.1 IP, 4.48 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 16.8% K%/3.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: A-
Justification: Junk has solidified himself as a useful streamer for deep leagues. He's seen his roster rate fall from early season, and there is limited upside here, but it's a really good ROI if you picked him up when he was 1% rostered.
Brandon Clarke - 22/P/BOS/A+
Date recommended: 4/20/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 110
Fantrax roster rate: 6% -> 19%
Stats since writeup (A/A+): 32.1 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 32.5% K%/17.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Clarke skyrocketed up rankings lists after Kyle recommended him, but has slowly seen his stock creep down after an injury and subsequent walk issues (23.7% post-return). There's still a lot of upside here, but a lot of work to do as well. Even still, it's hard to give this anything lower than an A based on the current ROI.
Josh Adamczewski - 20/2B/MIL/A
Date recommended: 4/20/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 665 -> 187
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 8%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A/A+): 249 PA, .313/.407/.457, 3 HR/7 SB, 14.1% K%/15.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: B
Justification: Adamczewski has seen his stock rise and has performed well while on the field. Outside of the ratios, there haven't been many fantasy-friendly skills, but the hope is that there is more power in the tank.
Boston Bateman - 19/P/BAL/A+
Date recommended: 4/20/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 407 -> 488
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 8%
Stats since writeup (A): 78.2 IP, 4.12 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 23.9% K%/9.8% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Bateman was traded at the deadline and has seen his performance take a significant step back with his new organization, with just a 6.7% K-BB rate. His rank is now lower than it was when Kyle recommended him. This one is a rare miss from him.
Alfonsin Rosario - 21/OF/CLE/A+
Date recommended: 4/20/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 463 -> 234
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 6%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 460 PA, .248/.343/.451, 19 HR/12 SB, 28.3% K%/10.4% BB%
Recommendation grade: B+
Justification: Rosario has seen his already questionable contact crater upon a promotion to Double-A with a 61.3% contact rate and 33.1% strikeout rate. He's still 21, and he's hitting for enough power to post a 104 wRC+ at the new level. It's a 33-game sample, so it's enough for me to adjust the grade slightly, but it's still a win overall.
Josh Kross - 22/C,1B/STL/A+
Date recommended: 4/20/25
League size recommendation: Two catcher leagues with 400+ prospects rostered and single catcher leagues with 500+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> Unranked
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 1%
Stats since writeup (A/A+): 382 PA, .210/.285/.379, 12 HR/0 SB, 28.3% K%/7.9% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: When Kyle wrote up Kross mid-season, he stated, "The thing keeping this recommendation from receiving an F is that he still holds an above-average 106 wRC+ in High-A." That wRC+ has now fallen to 88, so the grade falls as well.
Carson DeMartini (DROP) - 22/3B/PHI/AA
Date recommended: 4/20/25
League size recommendation: Fewer than 400 prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 421 -> 413
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 5%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 468 PA, .236/.331/.367, 9 HR/39 SB, 25.5% K%/10.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: B-
Justification: DeMartini ended up having a strong first half with a 132 wRC+ between his recommendation and the All-Star break, but scuffled in the second half with just a 56 wRC+. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster to get there, but when all is said and done, Kyle's drop recommendation was correct.
Connelly Early - 23/P/BOS/MLB
Date recommended: 4/27/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 171
Fantrax roster rate: 6% -> 47%
Stats since writeup (AA/AAA): 89.2 IP, 2.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 29.5% K%/9.8% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 52.4% K%/4.8% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Early has only gotten better in the second half. He performed well with a promotion to Triple-A and had a phenomenal debut in the majors. I don't think he's quite as good as he showed in that outing, but he's still looking like a very good young starter and a huge win for anyone who listened to Kyle.
Chris Suero - 21/C/NYM/AA
Date recommended: 4/27/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 322
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 3%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 412 PA, .230/.379/.368, 11 HR/30 SB, 28.6% K%/15.3% BB%
Recommendation grade: C+
Justification: It's been more of the same since midseason when Kyle called Suero a "marginal success". The power fell off at Double-A, and the strikeout rate is up over 30% there, but Suero has still posted a 118 wRC+ while stealing tons of bases. It's a flawed profile, but an interesting one for deeper leagues and a solid recommendation from Kyle.
Asbel Gonzalez - 19/OF/KC/A
Date recommended: 4/27/25
League size recommendation: 450+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 395
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 5%
Stats since writeup (A): 505 PA, .239/.365/.289, 1HR/78 SB, 17.0% K%/10.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: C+
Justification: Kyle gave Gonzalez an A at the deadline, but I'm going to be significantly lower on him. This is a one-trick pony for me and, despite his 78 steals, not a profile I have any interest in. There's no power here; he's a below-league-average hitter, and the contact isn't exceptional enough to make up for it. Our rankers have soured on him as well, dropping him nearly outside the top 400 in the latest update.
Sean Paul Liñan - 20/P/WSH/A+
Date recommended: 4/27/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 295
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 12%
Stats since writeup (A/A+/AAA): 56.2 IP, 3.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 26.7% K%/11.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: B-
Justification: Since Kyle wrote him up mid-season, Liñan was traded to the Nationals and made just one appearance before landing on the IL. He is scheduled to play in this year's AFL, so that does provide some hope that the injury isn't too serious. Personally, I feel he's been overhyped all season and is not a player I'm particularly interested in, especially factoring in the injury and downgrade in the development organization.
Tyson Hardin - 23/P/MIL/AA
Date recommended: 4/27/25
League size recommendation: 450+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 192
Fantrax roster rate: 1% -> 7%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 81.1 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 23.7% K%/4.4% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Hardin has continued to pitch well at Double-A to close out the year, despite a pretty steep reduction in strikeout rate. He still looks like a solid pitcher, though, and is ranked within the top 200 in our latest rankings. Fantastic call by Kyle, who recommended him when he was at 1% rostered.
Alfredo Duno - 19/C/CIN/A
Date recommended: 5/4/25
League size recommendation: 150+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 212 -> 79
Fantrax roster rate: 15% -> 22%
Stats since writeup (A): 399 PA, .299/.449/.534, 15 HR/2 SB, 18.8% K%/21.1% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Duno has now firmly established himself as one of the top catching prospects in the game, posting a 164 WRC+ at Single-A with tons of power and more walks than strikeouts. The only knock I have is that he was repeating the level after performing solidly there in an injury-shortened 2024. Either way, this is still an A+ recommendation.
Cam Schlittler - 24/P/NYY/MLB
Date recommended: 5/4/25
League size recommendation: 250+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 629 -> Graduated
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 70%
Stats since writeup (AA/AAA): 49.2 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 34% K%/9.7% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 56.0 IP, 3.05 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 26.7% K%/10.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Often, I wish I had been more aggressive on a player Kyle recommends. Schlittler is a prime example of one of those players. I ended up with no shares, and right now that looks like a huge oversight. The WHIP is higher than you want, but he looks like a solid pitcher for years to come on a team that should allow him to rack up wins. Yet another massive call by Kyle.
Caleb Bonemer - 19/3B,SS/CHW/A+
Date recommended: 5/4/25
League size recommendation: 250+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 436 -> 49
Fantrax roster rate: 9% -> 20%
Stats since writeup (A): 376 PA, .281/.399/.477, 11 HR/21 SB, 21.8% K%/16.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Bonemer has had an absolutely monstrous 2nd half, slashing .333/.449/.600 since the All-Star break with 5 HR and 8 SB in 34 games to go with a 16.3% walk rate and an 18.4% strikeout rate. He didn't slow down when he got promoted to High-A either. He's one of my favorite prospects right now and one of my favorite calls by Kyle this season.
David Davalillo - 22/P/TEX/AA
Date recommended: 5/4/25
League size recommendation: 300+
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 119
Fantrax roster rate: 4% -> 10%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 86.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 27.2% K%/6.6% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Davalillo continued to excel after the All-Star break with a 2.95 ERA and 1.08 WHIP at Double-A. He still feels underrated despite his high rostership and ranking, as no one ever seems to talk about him. Another fantastic recommendation.
Tommy Hopfe - 22/OF/COL/A
Date recommended: 5/4/25
League size recommendation: 600+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 745
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 0%
Stats since writeup (A/A+): 191 PA, .251/.341/.351, 4 HR/11 SB, 15.0% K%/8.4% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Finally, I get to give Kyle something other than an "A+"! Sorry, Kyle, but Hopfe has been a below-average hitter (91 wRC+) since you wrote him up, with minimal power (.100 ISO) and poor baserunning (11 SB, 6 CS), all while being mostly old for his level. It was just a 0% dart throw, but this one ultimately missed the target.
Vaughn Grissom - 21/2B/BOS/AAA
Date recommended: 5/8/25
League size recommendation: 150+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: N/A
Fantrax roster rate: 21% -> 18%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 278 PA, .275/.342/.462, 10 HR/8 SB, 16.2% K%/9% BB%
Recommendation grade: C-
Justification: Grissom has surprisingly spent his entire season at Triple-A this year, at least until plantar fasciitis landed him on the 60-day IL. He performed solidly while healthy at Triple-A, but it's hard to see him as anything other than a bench bat at this point in his career. That's assuming that he's not just Quad-A. His young age (24) means that there's still some hope for the future, but it's running pretty thin.
Payton Tolle - 22/P/BOS/AA
Date recommended: 5/8/25
League size recommendation: 250+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 21
Fantrax roster rate: 12% -> 48%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA/AAA): 77.0 IP, 2.81 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 34.6% K%/6.0% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 10.1 IP, 7.84 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 25.5% K%/12.8% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Tolle rocketed up rankings and climbed the ladder from High-A all the way to the majors in his first professional season. After a stellar debut, he's had a couple of duds and looks to be headed for a bulk relief role to close out the season. Fatigue may be a factor, and even with those recent hiccups, this one is another huge win for Kyle.
Jacob Reimer - 21/3B/NYM/AA
Date recommended: 5/8/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 573 -> 77
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 15%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 406 PA, .265/.374/.448, 12 HR/13 SB, 21.9% K%/11.6% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Since Kyle wrote him up mid-season, Reimer has adjusted to Double-A, posting a .288/.387/.487 slash line with a strikeout rate under 20%. He's a top 100 prospect now and an easy A+ grade.
Bishop Letson - 20/P/MIL/AA
Date recommended: 5/8/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 453 -> 227
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 9%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 20.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 28.4% K%/9.9% BB%
Recommendation grade: B
Justification: Letson missed three months with a shoulder injury and has posted a 4.40 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP. A 3.56 FIP and 23.7% K-BB paint a rosier picture, though. Letson recently debuted at Double-A, and while it wasn't the best start, it shows the Brewers want to continue giving him reps this season.
Justin Gonzales - 18/1B,OF/BOS/A
Date recommended: 5/8/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 695 -> 427
Fantrax roster rate: 6% -> 9%
Stats since writeup (A/A+): 402 PA, .285/.368/.396, 4 HR/12 SB, 15.7% K%/9.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: C
Justification: Gonzales makes for a tough grade. On the surface, there isn't much to get excited about here with a lack of power (.109 ISO) and speed (12 SB/10 CS). The context is that he was an 18-year-old who skipped and was pushed all the way up to High-A. Gonzales was quite good at Single-A with a 131 wRC+, but he fell apart after his promotion. There is more power in the tank here at 6'4", but a 57.4% ground ball rate on the year is preventing him from getting to it.
Owen Carey - 18/OF/ATL/A
Date recommended: 5/18/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 407 -> 333
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 3%
Stats since writeup (A): 379 PA, .246/.314/.323, 2 HR/9 SB, 16.1% K%/6.9% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Carey’s been a below-average hitter since Kyle wrote him up with no power (.076 ISO) and poor baserunning (9 SB/6 CS). He finishes the season as a league-average hitter at Single-A as an 18-year-old, but it's not enough to salvage this recommendation.
Eddie Rynders - 19/3B/PIT/CPX
Date recommended: 5/18/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 483 -> Unranked
Fantrax roster rate: 4% -> 3%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A): 182 PA, .206/.324/.265, 1 HR/6 SB, 26.4% K%/13.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Rynders landed on the IL in late July and returned for a three-game sample to close out the Single-A season. Kyle already gave him an F at the deadline, and that hasn't changed in his 11 games since.
Drew Beam - 22/P/KC/A+
Date recommended: 5/18/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 406 -> 415
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 4%
Stats since writeup (A+): 96.1 IP, 4.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 19% K%/5.6% BB%
Recommendation grade: D-
Justification: Beam hasn't done much since Kyle made the recommendation. The control and ground ball rate are good, and a 3.74 FIP is better than his ERA, but he's too hittable and doesn't strike anyone out. It's hard to get too excited about this profile.
Mitch Bratt - 22/P/ARI/AA
Date recommended: 5/18/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 451 -> 193
Fantrax roster rate: 4% -> 10%
Stats since writeup (AA): 90.2 IP, 3.87 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 28.8% K%/4.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Bratt was traded at the deadline to the Diamondbacks and has arguably been even better with his new club. Since the trade, he's posted a better FIP, K%, BB%, and GB% than he did with the Rangers.
Juaron Watts-Brown - 23/P/BAL/AA
Date recommended: 5/18/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 430 -> 285
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 5%
Stats since writeup (AA): 92.0 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 27.5% K%/10.6% BB%
Recommendation grade: B+
Justification: At the deadline, Kyle said, "I could copy and paste a lot of what I just said about Bratt here for Watts-Brown". Well, that's true for me as well. Watts-Brown was also shipped off at the deadline and has also shown improvement in K%, BB%, and GB% post-trade. A 5.55 FIP caused by a large increase in home runs allowed post-trade is cause for concern, but a 2.96 xFIP and 30.3% HR/FB rate provide some hope its just small sample noise.
Marco Dinges - 21/C/MIL/A+
Date recommended: 5/25/25
League size recommendation: Two catcher leagues with 250+ prospects rostered, or single catcher leagues with 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 164
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 6%
Stats since writeup (A+): 190 PA, .264/.368/.472, 9 HR/1 SB, 24.7% K%/14.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Dinges missed the month of July due to injury. Since returning on August 9th, he's posted a 136 wRC+ in 19 games. It's accompanied by a lower batting average and a higher strikeout rate, but it's still reassuring to see.
T.J. Nichols - 23/P/TB/AA
Date recommended: 5/25/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 236
Fantrax roster rate: 6% -> 10%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 97.1 IP, 2.87 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 27.7% K%/6.1% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Kyle gave himself a C- at the All-Star break as Nichols was struggling with home runs, leading to a bloated ERA. Since then, He's figured out the issue and has a 1.50 ERA and 0.67 HR/9 since Kyle gave his grade. He's also been promoted to Double-A, where he has a 0.97 ERA and 0.84 WHIP through six starts. What appeared to be a slight miss at the break is now looking like a really good pick.
Hayden Alvarez - 18/OF/LAA/A
Date recommended: 5/25/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 169
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 5%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A): 145 PA, .348/.436/.426, 1 HR/17 SB, 16.7% K%/12.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: A-
Justification: Alvarez continues to be a PLive favorite, drawing praise from Rhys, Alex, and others. He was promoted to Single-A in August and has performed even better since with a 156 wRC+ and a miniscule 10.5% strikeout rate. The only thing holding down his grade is the lack of power with just a .090 ISO on the year. At 6'3", the hope is that power is coming, but there are enough other tools here to hold my intrigue until it does.
Ethan Dorchies - 18/P/MIL/A
Date recommended: 5/25/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 237
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 6%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A): 70.0 IP, 3.09 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 24.0% K%/11.0% BB%
Recommendation grade: A-
Justification: Dorchies hasn't pitched quite as well since a promotion to Single-A. While his 3.27 ERA looks pretty good, his 4.08 FIP hints at some luck. The strikeouts and walks have also both moved in the wrong direction. His K-BB% was nearly cut in half from 22.9% to 13.2%. A 4.99 ERA and 22.7% strikeout rate since August 1st hints that it could just be fatigue. Either way, this is a good pick by Kyle.
Dauri Fernandez - 18/INF/CLE/A
Date recommended: 5/25/25
League size recommendation: 450+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 185
Fantrax roster rate: 1% -> 6%
Stats since writeup (CPX): 143 PA, .280/.308/.462, 6 HR/14 SB, 14.7% K%/4.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: B+
Justification: Fernandez missed over a month with an injury and was promoted to Single-A upon his return. He struggled at the new level in a small sample, but his stock has continued to rise nonetheless as people continue to hype him. I'm not one of those people, but I do understand the general appeal.
Blaze Jordan - 22/1B,3B/STL/AAA
Date recommended: 6/1/25
League size recommendation: 200+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 452 -> 146
Fantrax roster rate: 17% -> 26%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 325 PA, .249/.292/.418, 4 HR/0 SB, 10.9% K%/5.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: C+
Justification: Jordan has a sub-.300 OBP and an 83 wRC+ since Kyle wrote him up. He was traded to the Cardinals at the deadline and has amassed a putrid 37 wRC+ post-trade. As a RHH corner prospect, he'll need to be able to mash, and he hasn't done that since the beginning of the season. It's a hyper-aggressive approach with few walks and lots of chase, and he doesn't hit the ball at ideal angles. On the other hand, he's had fairly even splits this season, shown good contact, and has seen his stock rise this year. The grade reflects both the good and the bad.
Joshua Baez - 22/OF/STL/AA
Date recommended: 6/1/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 45
Fantrax roster rate: 4% -> 22%
Stats since writeup (AA): 321 PA, .266/.373/.510, 16 HR/32 SB, 19.9% K%/12.8% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Baez has been one of the top risers this season, and Kyle recommended him before his stock took off. Thanks to that, I was able to get a few shares before the hype went crazy, and am now enjoying the ride. What a ride it's been, with Baez hitting 20 HR and stealing 54 bases on the season to go along with good contact and ratios.
Luke Sinnard - 22/P/ATL/A+
Date recommended: 6/1/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 638 -> 387
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 4%
Stats since writeup (A+): 37.1 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 25.8% K%/9.0% BB%
Recommendation grade: B
Justification: Sinnard missed most of June and July with an injury but has pitched well since his return. His last three starts have been particularly dominant, with a 2.25 ERA, a 33.8% strikeout rate, and a 9.2% walk rate. The late-season surge hasn't significantly increased his value, but it could provide a solid foundation for more attention next year.
Ryan Ritter - 24/SS/COL/MLB
Date recommended: 6/1/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 458 -> Graduated
Fantrax roster rate: 8% -> 9%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 28 PA, .346/.357/.500, 1 HR/0 SB, 21.4% K%/3.6% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 179 PA, .241/.291/.346, 1 HR/2 SB, 30.7% K%/4.5% BB%
Recommendation grade: D
Justification: Ritter has gotten a fair amount of reps in the majors this season, but hasn't done anything with them. His Statcast is blue all the way down, with Ritter ranking close to the bottom of the league in every offensive metric. Despite his terrible performance, he has actually exceeded his expected statistics by a considerable amount. On the plus side, he's been an above-average defender with elite sprint speed. Even so, this appears to be a bench bat moving forward, and maybe not even a particularly good one.
Eddy Felix - 21/P/DET/CPX
Date recommended: 600+ prospects rostered
League size recommendation: 600+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 636
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 0%
Stats since writeup (CPX): 15.2 IP, 3.45 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 30.9% K%/7.4% BB%
Recommendation grade: D
Justification: Felix hasn’t pitched since June 23rd and was placed on the 60-day IL in July. He has now fallen off everyone's rankings, but mine, which is more an oversight on my part than an endorsement of Felix. Kyle's super deep recommendation and solid pre-injury performance are the only thing that saves this from being an F.
Johnny King - 18/P/TOR/A
Date recommended: 6/8/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 662 -> 142
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 16%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A): 50.5 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 39.3% K%/15.5% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: King continues to struggle with control, which is why I remain the lowest-ranked player on him in our rankings. He has a 7.45 ERA (6.55 FIP) and 8.3% K-BB over his last three starts and a 5.16 FIP since August 1st. And yet, he's continued to rise in both rankings and roster rate. Perhaps fatigue is at play here, and perhaps I'm overreacting to just one facet of his game, but I still have concerns about King. Even so, still an excellent call by Kyle.
Isaiah Drake - 20/OF/ATL/A+
Date recommended: 6/8/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 722 -> Unranked
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 2%
Stats since writeup (A): 289 PA, .272/.332/.326, 3 HR/27 SB, 19.7% K%/8.7% BB%
Recommendation grade: D
Justification: Drake got the bump to High-A in August and has actually performed slightly better there. The contact is way up (81.9% overall), but it has come at the expense of his already-lacking power (.033 ISO). He has stolen 46 bases, but he's unranked on our latest rankings, and his roster rate hasn't budged.
Alirio Ferrebus - 20/C/PHI/A
Date recommended: 6/8/25
League size recommendation: Two catcher leagues with 400+ prospects rostered and one catcher leagues with 500+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> Unranked
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 1%
Stats since writeup (A): 178 PA, .220/.271/.274, 1 HR/2 SB, 15.7% K%/3.4% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Ferrebus was another one of Kyle's deeper dart throws that just didn't pan out. He performed well as an older bat at complex but has really struggled with both his approach and impact in Single-A, where he spent most of the season.
Cole Peschl - 22/P/MIN/A+
Date recommended: 6/8/25
League size recommendation: 500+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 496
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 0%
Stats since writeup (A+): 27.1 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 11.3% K%/7.3% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Peschl put up just a 4% K-BB over 6 starts after Kyle wrote him up. He then landed on the 60-day IL after being injured in August. He doesn't need to be rostered anywhere at this point.
Elorky Rodriguez - 17/2B,OF/TEX/DSL
Date recommended: 6/8/25
League size recommendation: 500+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 318
Fantrax roster rate: 1% -> 4%
Stats since writeup (DSL): 210 PA, .327/.467/.467, 4 HR/8 SB, 17.1% K%/17.1% BB%
Recommendation grade: B+
Justification: I'm not sure what to make of Rodriguez. He posted a 154 wRC+ after the recommendation and demonstrated a solid approach, with as many walks as strikeouts. However, it also came with a pretty mediocre ISO (.139) and as many CS as SB (8). Rodriguez is one I'm interested in holding for now, where I picked him up, and there is no doubt his value has increased since Kyle called him out.
Wyatt Sanford - 19/SS/PIT/A
Date recommended: 6/15/25
League size recommendation: 250+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 378 -> 296
Fantrax roster rate: 8% -> 8%
Stats since writeup (A): 152 PA, .242/.345/.352, 1 HR/16 SB, 20.4% K%/10.5% BB%
Recommendation grade: D
Justification: Sanford showed some promise early in the year, but it has since disappeared. He's been around a league-average hitter since getting to Single-A and a slightly below-average hitter since Kyle wrote him up. The contact and approach have been okay, and he's stolen 34 bases, so it's not like there is nothing to like here, but there's not much to be excited about either, which explains his stagnant roster rate. He's also been on the IL since early August.
Max Anderson - 23/2B/DET/AAA
Date recommended: 6/15/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 532 -> 225
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 9%
Stats since writeup (AA/AAA): 302 PA, .266/.331/.411, 8 HR/2 SB, 15.9% K%/7.6% BB%
Recommendation grade: B+
Justification: At the break, Kyle predicted Anderson would get the call to Triple-A at some point this season, and he has. In 27 games there, he's put up a 113 wRC+ with five home runs. The power is good to see, as it had largely declined after a strong start. He barrels the ball with regularity and hits it consistently, but the aggressive approach is worrisome, given his high chase and low walk and zone contact rates. He doesn't lift and pull the ball much, and a 107.2 Max EV points to a pretty limited power ceiling. It's a player that I'm not particularly excited about, but one that has certainly gained a lot of value since Kyle wrote him up.
Argenis Cayama - 18/P/SF/A
Date recommended: 6/15/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 389
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 3%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A): 34 IP, 5.56 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 13.5% K%/11.5% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Oof. As a Giants fan, it pains me to see that things have not gone well for Cayama since Kyle wrote him up. It's just a 1.9% K-BB since then and brutal ratios. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but the August promotion to Single-A did nothing to resolve the issues. In six outings there, he put up an 8.16 ERA with more walks than strikeouts.
Teilon Serrano - 17/OF/MIN/DSL
Date recommended: 6/15/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 385
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 4%
Stats since writeup (DSL): 160 PA, .238/.375/.369, 3 HR/19 SB, 27.5% K%/15.0% BB%
Recommendation grade: D
Justification: The power returned for Serrano to close out the season, with a .204 ISO and three home runs over his last 12 games. However, it was just barely enough to get him to a league-average performance since Kyle made the recommendation. It's not quite an F, but it's not great either.
Jose Urbina - 19/P/TB/A+
Date recommended: 6/15/25
League size recommendation: 450+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 287
Fantrax roster rate: 2% -> 4%
Stats since writeup (A): 53.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 25.6% K%/7.1% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Urbina was a fantastic pick by Kyle and has simply been lights out since Kyle wrote him up. He made his High-A debut earlier this month as well. He hasn't quite taken off yet, and you would like to see more strikeouts, so this isn't quite an A+ grade, but it's pretty darn close.
Didier Fuentes - 20/P/ATL/AAA
Date recommended: 6/22/25
League size recommendation: 100+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 235 -> 159
Fantrax roster rate: 26% -> 19%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 17.2 IP, 4.08 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 31.9% K%/5.6% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 8 IP, 18 ERA, 2.75 WHIP, 19.1% K%/10.6% BB%
Recommendation grade: C
Justification: Baseball is hard. Fuentes was reminded of that when he struggled during his first taste of the big leagues after receiving an aggressive promotion to the level at just 20 years old. He was far better after returning to Triple-A, despite some bad luck (3.05 FIP). However, he's been on the IL since early August with an undisclosed injury. It's a true mixed bag here with Fuentes, and therefore averages out to a C grade.
RJ Schreck - 25/OF/TOR/AAA
Date recommended: 6/22/25
League size recommendation: 200+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 298 -> 380
Fantrax roster rate: 5% -> 5%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A/AAA): 209 PA, .247/.396/.428, 7 HR/4 SB, 21.1% K%/17.2% BB%
Recommendation grade: C
Justification: Schreck has been pretty solid since Kyle wrote him up, despite missing some time due to injury. His roster rate has remained stagnant, and his ranking has actually fallen since then, however. It's another mixed bag situation and another C grade.
Juneiker Caceres - 18/OF/CLE/A
Date recommended: 6/22/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 508 -> 184
Fantrax roster rate: 4% -> 11%
Stats since writeup (CPX/A): 290 PA, .270/.379/.410, 4 HR/7 SB, 12.1% K%/12.4% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: I'll be honest, I am a known Caceres hater. I understand that he's demonstrated fantastic contact and approach, considering his young age for the level, but what else is there? There's not much power or speed, and he doesn't have a super projectable frame or great defense either. However, I'll try to be objective in my grading. Based on industry opinion, he's an "A," but my own evaluation is far lower.
Daviel Hurtado - 20/P/NYM/A
Date recommended: 6/22/25
League size recommendation: 450+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 663
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 0%
Stats since writeup (A): 43.2 IP, 2.89 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 23.8% K%/9.8% BB%
Recommendation grade: C-
Justification: Hurtado posted a shiny ERA since the recommendation, but some luck was involved with a 3.71 FIP. The WHIP exploded, and the strikeouts went down quite a bit. He hasn't gained much traction in roster rate or rankings (he barely snuck inside my latest top 450), but he's still had a very good performance on the year between complex and Single-A.
Francisco Espinoza - 18/C/LAD/CPX
Date recommended: 6/22/25
League size recommendation: 500+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> Unranked
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 1%
Stats since writeup (CPX): 57 PA, .184/.298/.184, 0 HR/0 SB, 12.3% K%/14% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: I don't have much to say here about Espinoza as its a pretty easy F grade. Moving on...
Carter Jensen - 22/C/KS/AAA
Date recommended: 6/29/25
League size recommendation: 100+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 190 -> 75
Fantrax roster rate: 13% -> 24%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 169 PA, .312/.435/688, 5 HR/1 SB, 27.2% K%/17.8% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 25 PA, .286/.400/667, 2 HR/0 SB, 20% K%/16% BB%
Recommendation grade: A+
Justification: Jensen was another huge callout by Kyle. Not only did he tear through Triple-A, but he also debuted and has continued to rake in a small sample despite sporadic playing time. The production has mostly come in one monster game, but there haven't been that many opportunities. Hopefully, he can close out the season well and be an everyday option heading into 2026.
Sam Antonacci - 22/2B,3B/CHW/AA
Date recommended: 6/29/25
League size recommendation: 250+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 236 -> 189
Fantrax roster rate: 2% ->4%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 63 PA, .276/.415/.348, 1 HR/27 SB, 12.9% K%/12.1% BB%
Recommendation grade: B+
Justification: Antonacci kept up the performance in Double-A. He maintained great contact (84.3%) and speed (21 SB) throughout the process, but showed virtually no power (.089 ISO). The lack of power and only moderate increase in rankings and roster rate keep this from being an A, but it is still a very good pick by Kyle.
Nathan Church - 25/OF/STL/MLB
Date recommended: 6/29/25
League size recommendation: 300+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: Unranked -> 303
Fantrax roster rate: 1% -> 6%
Stats since writeup (AAA): 159 PA, .317/.376/.493, 5 HR/5 SB, 10.7% K%/8.8% BB%
Stats since writeup (MLB): 61 PA, .173/.254/.250, 0 HR/1 SB, 26.2% K%/4.9% BB%
Recommendation grade: B
Justification: Church got the call to the big leagues and got some limited run but failed to do anything with it. The offensive statcast wasn't good, but he did show great defense and sprint speed. I still think he's probably just a fourth outfielder, but the Triple-A performance shows the upside here.
Gage Stanifer - 21/P/TOR/AA
Date recommended: 6/29/25
League size recommendation: 350+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 487 -> 195
Fantrax roster rate: 3% -> 9%
Stats since writeup (A+/AA): 58.1 IP, 3.39 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 30.7% K%/12.9% BB%
Recommendation grade: A
Justification: Stanifer has been a late-season riser, particularly after a dominant stretch in late July and August, during which he posted a 1.46 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, along with a 34.7% strikeout rate and an 8.3% walk rate. That run earned him a promotion to Double-A, where he has struggled out of the gate with a 6.75 ERA and 22.9% walk rate through two starts.
Chia-Shi Shen - 21/P/SEA/A
Date recommended: 6/29/25
League size recommendation: 400+ prospects rostered
Prospects Live rank: 653 -> 624
Fantrax roster rate: 0% -> 1%
Stats since writeup (level): 41.1 IP, 6.53 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 18.1% K%/5.3% BB%
Recommendation grade: F
Justification: Shen has had a 5.40 ERA or higher in six of his 9 starts after being recommended. The silver lining is that his last start of the season was five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Still not enough to keep this from being an F grade.
Final Grade
Kyle compiled his player grades at the break and here is what he came up with:
I re-ran the numbers after my own end of season grades and the results were very interesting:
While the number of Bs and Ds remained the same, the number of Cs was vastly reduced with a larger sample, with many players ending up either as As or Fs. It makes sense, as there was more data to make concrete decisions on players. How did this affect the overall metrics? Well, Kyle went from 56% of his players being As or Bs to 62% indicating a higher number of players who increased their value after he recommended them. Notably, 38% of his recommendations received an A grade (compared to 32% at mid-season), indicating a significant return on investment and exceeding expectations. On the flip side, the number of picks that Kyle made that were complete misses (Ds and Fs) increased from 15% to 26% from mid-season to now. Ultimately, the goal is to find impact talent here, so I'm not sure about Kyle, but I think it's a fair trade to have 7 additional misses in order to have 4 additional massive hits. I'd be willing to have 1/4 of my picks be misses; I can churn for something else if that means over 1/3 of them skyrocket in value.
Speaking of skyrocketing in value, of the 25 players to whom I gave an A or higher, 60% (15) were pitchers. I've always known Kyle to be a really good evaluator of pitcher talent, and this just reinforces that. For the first half, I give Kyle an overall grade of an A. He had so many impact hits, and most of the misses were more of the deep league dart throws. I'll be back with one last article covering the 2nd half grades next week. See you then!
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