Complex Level and Dominican Summer League Players to Know for Dynasty

Chris Clegg provides 20 names to know in dynasty leagues heading into rookie ball.

We are officially less than a week away from more Minor League Baseball action. On Monday, June 5, Rookie ball kicks off. That means we will have Dominican Summer League, plus the Florida & Arizona Complex League. That means more prospects! What could be better?

Dynasty Strategy with Complex and DSL Players

With the start of new leagues, there will be plenty of hype around names that start their seasons hot. If it is a pop-up name, it will be exciting and worth picking up that player, depending on how deep of a league it is. But, if someone who performed well at the DSL last summer is playing well at the complex, their stock will soar. I suggest having several prospect spots on your dynasty roster to feel comfortable churning.

If you have those spots, use them graciously. Don’t be afraid to pick someone up because of the what-ifs? If you don’t pick up hot players over the first couple of weeks you will miss out on the Emmanuel Rodriguez and Junior Caminero types.

If the roster spot is a churning spot anyways, if the young prospects don’t work out just drop them for a new hot name. That is how you should be treating your prospect spots anyways in dynasty. Churn and burn and know when to hold.

Players to Know for Dynasty

The first couple of names I will mention are likely already rostered, but if not they should be before even games start. I would even suggest trading for and “buying high” on several of them if you can.

Josue De Paula, OF, LAD, 18

This feels like low-hanging fruit to include 2022 DSL legend, Josue De Paula. But, if he is somehow not rostered in your dynasty league, go change that. Or better yet, go trade for him before the game starts.

De Paula just turned 18 years old on May 24, but his 2022 DSL performance plus impressive data caused him to ascend prospect rankings rapidly. De Paula blasted five home runs, stole 16 bases, and slashed .349/.448/.522 last season in 223 plate appearances. He walked more than he struck out, and every data point backed this performance.

MLB league average zone-contact rate is around 85 percent. For Minor Leaguers, that number is closer to 82 percent. De Paula posted an impressive 91 percent zone-contact rate last year as a 17-year-old.

The power metrics weren’t great, but we are talking about a 17-year-old. Very few DSL players put up monstrous exit velocities. Watch this video from Fangraphs of some up-close shots of De Paula. He has an athletic frame, listed at 6’3/185. He might get even bigger. He has quick hands and excellent bat speed.

With the hype already surrounding De Paula, if he just puts up decent numbers in the Arizona Complex League, he is going to immediately be a top-25 prospect. The time to invest is now before it is too late.

Ethan Salas, C, SD, 17

Ethan Salas is already a legend and has been deemed a potential hall-of-fame catcher at just 16. Salas turns 17 on June 1, so he will be a young 17 as complex ball begins. He is exceptionally polished behind the plate for his age and caught in a Spring Training game as a 16-year-old this year. This was not no-name pitchers either. Salas caught MLB arms.

You can argue that he is also one of the better hitters in the international class. He is already poised in the box and controls the zone well. He does not exhibit substantial raw power yet, but Salas is growing and adding strength. He is currently listed a 6’2/180. Salas does project for average to above-average game power, meaning 20 home runs is in the realm of possibility.

Salas is a catcher through and through, and considering how polished he is back there, he feels like a lock to stick there. Catchers with potent bats provide fantasy value. Salas will likely fly up prospect rankings with a decent performance at the complex level.

Sebastian Walcott, SS, TEX, 17

Sebastian Walcott is already beloved in a pretty strong Texas organization. He is a physical specimen who is listed at 6’4/190 with big tools. There could be ample power in his profile as he continues to develop. Walcott already has excellent bat speed.

Despite being pretty big and having long levers, Walcott has not exhibited much swing and miss. Scouts speak highly of his contact skills for his age. Walcott could be one of the best fantasy assets to come out of this year's international class.

The tools could allow him to develop into a potential fantasy monster, and you want this guy on your dynasty teams now before his stock potentially soars. Check out this video of this sweet swing.

https://twitter.com/TEXPlayerDev/status/1661468100074807296?s=20

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