First Year Player Drafts are an important part of building a strong foundation for your dynasty team, as it’s a great opportunity to build the foundation of your minor league system. Hitting in the FYPD could be the difference between having a guy like Julio Rodriguez or a guy who you’re just going to be dropping halfway through the season. The top of FYPDs are usually fairly straightforward, with a group of guys that’s pretty set in place, but as you get into later rounds, there’s plenty of opportunity to find hidden gems that can help skyrocket your team’s value. In order to help you get ahead of your fellow league members, I’m going to give you a few guys you should be targeting in later picks of your FYPDs.
Jack Kochanowicz, SP, LAA
I mentioned in my past articles that I’m not a fan of pitching prospects in dynasty, and High School pitchers are even bigger risks, but I’m such a fan of Kochanowicz that I highly recommend him to anyone. Kochanowicz is a 6’6” RHP out of Pennsylvania who was drafted in the 3rd round by the Angels. He was one of my favorite pitchers pre-draft, and that certainly hasn’t changed since then. Kochanowicz posts elite spinrates on both his fastball and his curveball, and both have the potential to be plus pitches. His fastball currently sits low 90s, but he has plenty of room to add velocity as he adds muscle. His changeup is a bit behind his other two pitches, but it also shows potential, and when you combine a solid 3 pitch mix with decent command, he has all the makings of a major league starter. After Espino, I think any high school pitcher is fair game, so I would take Kochanowicz before most, if not all of the other prep pitchers.
Hedbert Perez, OF, MIL
Hedbert Perez is a name that’s flown way under the radar, but has the potential to be one of the best players from this year’s J2 class. Part of the reason Perez has been underrated this offseason is because his $700k signing bonus wasn’t anything special, but he’s made drastic improvements since signing. Perez has true five tool potential, and could end up contributing in all aspects of fantasy. Despite not being the tallest, coming in at only 5’11”, Perez generates great raw power with solid bat speed and a swing geared for loft. He’s also gotten significantly faster recently, and now grades as a plus runner. Perez’s quick wrists and barrel control allow him to drive the ball to all fields, and his advanced approach could allow him to move quickly through the Brewers system. Especially in Miller Park, Perez has a chance to be an elite power/speed option, while also posting a solid AVG/OBP. Hedbert Perez should be one of the top J2 names off the board, yet I have a feeling he’ll go undrafted in plenty of FYPDs. Don’t let your FYPD be one of them.
Reggie Preciado, SS, SDP
Unlike Hedbert Perez, Reggie Preciado is a name that you will see on most lists, but he’s still massively underrated. Like Perez, Preciado didn’t get the biggest signing bonus, so he seems to be undervalued in FYPDs so far. Preciado is listed at 6’4” 180, but there’s no way he weighs that much because Preciado is extremely skinny. The Panamanian switch-hitting SS shows advanced feel for hitting from both sides of the plate, and constantly makes hard contact. Preciado’s hit tool is one of the best in the entire J2 class, and as he fills out his slender frame he’ll likely add a lot more power. Preciado’s hit tool itself makes him one of the safer J2 guys, but his insane raw tools and room for physical projection also give him one of the highest ceilings too. He should be off the board very early in the draft.
