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The Itch

Author: The Itch

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The Itch

Tampa Bay Rays Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

December 4, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 9 Comments

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1. SS Carson Williams | 21 | AAA | 2025

Featuring double-plus defense and easy power from the right side, Williams should be the everyday six for Tampa sooner than later. He posted nearly identical lines through 115 games each of the last two seasons, slashing .257/.356/.497 in 2023 and .256/.352/.469 in 2024. His 142 wRC+ with 20 home runs and 33 steals in Double-A put him on a path to the majors impeded mostly by the organization’s machinations. Sure, he strikes out a bit much and could benefit from a short stretch in Triple-A to get heated up, but he might be able to change the playbook with a spicy spring. 

Please, blog, may I have some more?
The Itch

New York Yankees Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

December 1, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 2 Comments

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1. OF Jasson Dominguez | 22 | MLB | 2023

The 5’9” 190 lb switch-hitting Martian will be a “big part” of the 2025 team according to manager Aaron Boone. If he’s 190 lbs, I’m Miles Davis. Not that I’m in any kind of shape to be sniping. Time is a mfr. As is snacking. On the other hand, time plus snacking equals The Itch, so here we are and here we go. If I had to bet right now, I suspect the Yankees will wind up without Juan Soto, paving the way for Dominguez to get a full season of big league at bats. He hit just .179 in 18 games last year, but it’s way different to get dropped into a pennant race fighting for playing time than it would be to open the season with a starting gig. Feels kind of foolish to say this given the hype Dominguez brought into his professional career, especially because I’ve never been as high as consensus on him, but I think we underestimate this dude at our peril. 

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The Itch

Boston Red Sox Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

November 27, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 7 Comments

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1. OF Roman Anthony | 20 | AAA | 2025

A left-handed hitter at 6’2” 200 lbs, Anthony slashed .291/.396/.498 with 18 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 119 games across the top two minor league levels in 2024, setting himself up to fight for a spot in spring training. He got just 35 games at Triple-A but slashed .344/.463/.519 there and doesn’t have anything left to prove in the minor leagues. Here’s a bit of what I wrote when I ranked him atop this list last season: 

“I’m just trying to say he’s a player in flux and reminds me a little of Ronald Acuña at this stage in the sense that he’s got more than one path ahead of him as a hitter and could become a total-package type who slashes .300/.400/.500 on the regular.”

So far so good on this one.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
The Itch

Baltimore Orioles Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

November 24, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 9 Comments

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1. C Samuel Basallo | 20 | AAA | 2025 

Basallo has virtually zero chance of unseating Adley Rutschman while Adley is in town, which isn’t the end of the world because he could still sub there while mixing in at first base and DH. Nonetheless, the Inn is pretty crowded in Baltimore, and they love their reclamation projects, so who knows how long Basallo will have to wait for some extended playing time. I’m trying not to let that detract too much from a guy who I think will really hit. He even swiped ten bags last year as a 6’4” 190 lb catcher, an interesting development for an average runner playing against guys who are much older than him. He’s a good throwing catcher, so perhaps he pays a little more attention to who else might be full of openings. 

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The Itch

San Francisco Giants Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

November 20, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 12 Comments

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1. 1B Bryce Eldridge | 20 | AAA | 2026

Here’s what I said on August 28 in Prospect News: Bryce Eldridge Brings The Horror:

“Giants 1B Bryce Eldridge (19, A+) is making a push for consensus Top 25 prospect status heading into the off-season. In 42 High-A games, he’s slashing .307/.421/.503 with seven home runs and three steals. His 16.3 percent walk rate and 24.7 percent strikeout rate are incredibly exciting numbers for a 6’7” high-school draftee with 80-grade power.”

The big lefty then spent September split between Double and Triple-A, spending nine games with Richmond and then the final eight with Sacramento. Tough to say where he’ll open 2025, but he could wind up in the majors by season’s end. 

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The Itch

Prospect News: Arizona Fall League Wrap Up or The Painter Plan

November 17, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 6 Comments

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Tigers C Josue Briceño won the triple crown, a first for the AFL, slashing .433/.509/.867 with ten home runs and 27 RBI in 25 games. He looked good during his 40 games in Low-A this season, posting a .381 on base percentage and 14.8 percent strikeout rate, but he only hit two home runs. If he’d been healthy all season, he would probably open 2025 in Double-A, and I expect this Arizona explosion accelerated his timeline at least a little. He’ll get a look with the big boys in spring training, and if he plays well there, he’ll be on the escalator with his bat racing his behind-the-plate game to the show. He’s a big dude at 6’4” 200 lbs, so he might not be donning the tools of ignorance for much longer.  

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The Itch

San Diego Padres Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

November 13, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 9 Comments

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1. SS Leodalis De Vries | 18 | A | 2027

Considered by some scouts to be the best international amateur prospect in a decade, De Vries is a 6’0” 183 lb switch hitter who is currently standing on business in the Arizona Fall League against much older players. That’s nothing new to De Vries, who slashed .231/.361/.441 with 11 home runs and 13 steals in 75 Low-A games this season despite an ice cold start after skipping several levels. Over his final 36 games, his line was .288/.407/.582 with ten home runs and eight steals, putting him on a trajectory toward the top of your prospect lists.

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The Itch

Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

November 10, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 12 Comments

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1. C OF Dalton Rushing | 24 | AAA | 2025

I started this list thinking it might be impossible for any of these guys to crack baseball’s best lineup this season, but there’s a non-zero chance Rushing winds up an opening day outfielder in Los Angeles. They’ll certainly bring in a veteran or two, but his primary competition today would be Andy Pages and James Outman. A left-handed hitter at 6’1” 220 lbs, Rushing hit 26 home runs in 114 games across Double and Triple-A last season, slashing .271/.385/.512 on the strength of his trademark patience at the plate.

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The Itch

Colorado Rockies Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

November 6, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 13 Comments

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1. 3B Charlie Condon | 21 | A+ | 2026

The 6’6” Condon mashed 37 homers in his junior season while slashing .433.556/.1009 despite SEC pitchers doing their best to work around him. Things didn’t go as well after Colorado selected him third overall in this year’s draft. I was a little shocked to see him slash .180/.248/.270 with 34 strikeouts in 25 High-A games. Might create a bit of a buy-low window in First-Year-Player Drafts this winter. 

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The Itch

Arizona Diamondbacks Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

November 3, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 5 Comments

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1. SS Jordan Lawlar | 21 | MLB | 2023

The sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft, Lawlar was on schedule to take over the shortstop spot at some point in 2024 but lost a huge chunk of the season to a thumb surgery. He played well when he played in the minors, slashing .318/.417/.482 in 23 games, and I think he’ll be a good value for people who buy early in the redraft season. In 2023, he hit 20 home runs and stole 36 bases in 105 games across two levels. 

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The Itch

Prospect News: Top 20 Dynasty Baseball Horrors

October 30, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 24 Comments

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20) Veterans Who Don’t Produce 

I had Justin Verlander in a key spot this year. Held him too long. Impossible to trade him. Finally cut him in part because a commenter helped with a nudge. Verlander’s 2024 is a worst-case scenario, but some variation of it is happening on just about every dynasty team just about every season. 

Please, blog, may I have some more?
The Itch

St. Louis Cardinals Top 10 Prospects For 2025 Fantasy Baseball

October 27, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 2 Comments

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1. SS JJ Wetherholt | 22 | A | 2026

The seventh overall pick out of West Virginia, Wetherholt was in the running to be the number one pick but lost time to a hamstring injury and may have slipped a little due to the relative weakness of the Big 12 Conference. A left-handed hitter at 5’10” 190 lbs, he features double-plus contact skills along with plus power and speed. The Cubs fan in me was disappointed to see Wetherholt land in St. Louis because I think he was a steal at the seven spot. Sure, the conference creates a question or two, but Wetherholt has been good in other settings: Team USA, the Cape Cod League and pro ball now after slashing .295/.405/.400 in 29 Low-A games.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
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