Been a baseball fan and player my whole life, played dynasty for 10 years. Co-host on the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast since mid-season 2023 and joined Prospects Live at the start of 2024.
Hello and welcome to the Dynasty Baseball Pickups written series! Earlier this week, Taylor mentioned the importance of being willing to churn the bottom of your prospect pool, and with complex leagues starting this weekend, that becomes even more important. We’re about to see even more breakouts, so we’ll have to make even tougher decisions. There are no Complex names yet for this article, but we have a slugging catching showing improved contact, a prep bat from the 2024 class off to a strong start, a couple of arms building off strong 2024 seasons, and a true deep league special. Now, let’s get into this week’s recommendations.
*Note: all stats current through Friday, May 2/25 and all minor league statcast data is sourced from TJ Stats
On the surface, Duno doesn’t look like he’s taken much of a step forward from last year, but some of the adjustments he’s making under the hood give me reason for excitement. He’s making better swing decisions while also making more contact. The contact rates are still below average, and it would be great to see them continue to trend in the right direction. However, it’s a very positive first step. Duno’s power has always been apparent, and this year is no different as he has already posted a max EV of 111.3 mph with a 90th percentile EV of 106.1 and an average of 91.2 mph (all well above average for both his age and the level he is playing at). His hard hit, barrel, and sweet spot rates also all rank in the 64th percentile or better for Single-A.
Final Thoughts
Duno was limited to just 77 total games between his first two years of pro ball due to injuries, but he showed well enough in the DSL in 2023 for the Reds to skip him over the Complex league entirely. It’s also worth noting that he hasn’t played since May 1st, though I haven’t found any information about it. There’s more than enough thump in his bat, so if he can continue showing improved contact and feel for the zone, he should quickly rise the rankings. The other question in the profile is whether or not he can stick behind the plate; he has a strong arm but just hasn’t gotten enough reps to say whether or not he can stick long-term definitively. If there’s one thing to take home about Duno, it’s what Matt Thompson had to say about him in his scouting report for the Reds top 20: “it’s rare to put a 30-homer upside on a catcher due to the physical demands of the position, but Duno can be a similar player to Cal Raleigh if he gets enough reps”. Catching prospects aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially teenage catching prospects, but Duno’s stock is already on the rise, and he’s well worth the add in any league with at least 150+ prospects rostered.
Where to pick up: Leagues with 150+ prospects rostered
Schlitter has been a regular on the Daily Sheet every time he’s taken the mound this year, and in the April 10th edition, Matt Thompson called him the best minor league arm in the Yankees system and a dark horse to finish the year as their top prospect overall. I hope you all read that article and took Matt’s words to heart because if you did, you should have gotten an early jump on an arm on the rise. He reportedly added 16 pounds of muscle in the off-season, and the gained weight and strength are paying dividends as he has reached a new max velocity of nearly 99 mph this season. His fastball was already well thought of, so the added velo should only help. He also throws two distinct breaking balls, a curve, and a slider, both considered average or better pitches, and a changeup that needs work but is also showing signs of being at least an average offering. His command grades as fringey, but he appears to be repeating his mechanics more consistently this year as he has nearly cut his BB% in half from last season, and his strike-throwing has improved as well; now throwing strikes at a 68% clip, up from 64% last year.
Final Thoughts
Schlittler is an imposing presence on the mound, and with a fastball that matches his listed measurables, he could quickly rise to the top of the Yankees prospect list, just as Matt predicted. Along with posting the best K-BB% of his career so far, he’s also getting opponents to hit the ball on the ground about half the time, and all of his peripheral numbers align with the surface stats he’s posting. He’s been climbing the ranks to start the year and should continue to do so in the coming months. He’s currently worth an add in leagues with 250+ prospects rostered, but if your league values pitching very highly (i.e., points leagues), I’d recommend him in even shallower leagues.
Where to pick up: Leagues with 250+ prospects rostered
FAAB bid: Minimal (0-5%)
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Been a baseball fan and player my whole life, played dynasty for 10 years. Co-host on the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast since mid-season 2023 and joined Prospects Live at the start of 2024.
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Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
A Giants fan living in San Diego, been playing fantasy baseball since 2005 and dynasty since 2021. Started the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast in June 2023 and joined Prospects Live in March of 2024.
Been a baseball fan and player my whole life, played dynasty for 10 years. Co-host on the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast since mid-season 2023 and joined Prospects Live at the start of 2024.
