Dodgers SS Austin Gauthier (25, AAA) is off to a hot start at a new level, slashing .360/.467/.600 with one homer and a steal alongside five walks and five strikeouts in seven games. A four-year starter at Hofstra, Gauthier (pronounced Goth-e-er as in vampires are gothier than puppies) has never been a named guy but has found little resistance among minor league pitchers, posting big on base percentages and solid plate skills every step of the way. In the box, he features a high leg kick a La Justin Turner and delivers functional all-fields power. He’s probably available in all your leagues as an unheralded dude from nowhere, but I watch him and feel like it’s going to work against major league arms.
An eighth round pick out of Western Carolina in 2022, Twins RHP Zebby Matthews (AA) has shown incredible command and control as he’s climbed the system. At 6’5”225 lbs, he has a classic innings-eater build as well as a multi-plate, buffet-eater’s build. The major league team has enough rotation depth that it probably won’t need Matthews this year, but he currently has 37 strikeouts against zero walks and just threw 6.2 shutout innings in his Double-A debut. Decent chance he could help the Twinkies down the stretch.
Reds OF Jay Allen II (21, A+) is becoming more selective and getting to his athleticism in the batter’s box. He drew eight walks and batted .154 in 25 High-A games last year. In 22 High-A games this year, Allen has 13 walks and a slash line of .329/.448/.608 with six home runs and seven stolen bases. The 30th overall pick in 2021, Allen didn’t come into the pros with as much baseball experience as some of his contemporaries and has lost time to injuries. He played just 31 total games last year and 91 the year before that. His career total is 163 games across three levels. He has stolen 80 bases. If the 2024 version of Allen is what we get going forward, he’ll be a Top 25 prospect heading into next season.
Mets SS Jesus Baez (19, A) is on a 14-game hitting streak during which he’s slashing .362/.393/.586 with three home runs and a 9.8 percent strikeout rate, which happens to be the same as his season-long strikeout rate across 32 games. Baez hasn’t dominated in the DSL or on the complex, but he’s always shown a discerning eye and good contact skills. He seems to have amped up the aggression this year, using the plate skills more for making an impact than drawing a walk. He might not be in Low-A much longer and would be among the youngest guys in High-A.
Complex league play began last week, bringing stat lines to a wave of players who could be scooped up in dynasty leagues.
It doesn’t take great eyesight to read the room and see Rays OF Brailer Guerrero (17, CPX) could be special. At 6’1” 215 lbs from the left side, he’s a dynamic athlete with speed, power and a signing bonus of $3.7 million. He’s showing out in his first week with a homer, three steals and a slash line of .368/.484/.680. Get him where you can fit him.
Mets SS Jeremy Rodriguez (17, CPX) came over from Arizona in the Tommy Pham trade last year and caught fire over his two weeks with the DSL Mets, posting a .536 OBP with almost three times as many walks as strikeouts. The plate skills haven’t been quite as extreme in Low-A, but he’s got four steals and the OBP is pretty close through six games at .464.
Phillies SS Starlyn Caba (18, CPX) is a no-doubt shortstop on defense with excellent plate skills on offense. He’s got just one strikeout against seven walks through seven games to go along with a .517 OBP, one home run and two stolen bases. He and Rodriguez both feel like relative locks for the real-baseball Top 100 lists over the next several seasons.
Mariners SS Felnin Celesten (18, CPX) has missed a lot of time with injury, but you wouldn’t know that from his early outcomes. Through eight games, he’s slashing .452/.541/.806 with six walks, five strikeouts, two home runs and a stolen base. He’s probably rostered in most dynasty leagues, but you never know. Can’t hurt to check.
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