Fantasy Baseball FYPD Rankings: 2023/2024 Top 200

Fantasy Baseball FYPD rankings from Chris Clegg for the 2023 MLB Draft Class

FYPD rankings are some of my favorite things to do. Most rankings you will find seem pretty chalky with how the MLB draft goes or what others think and say. I try to avoid that consensus and identify players that will reap you rewards in dynasty.

I never like to toot my own horn, but last year, I had Spencer Jones top ten, Roman Anthony, Tyler Locklear, and Jacob Misiorowski top-25. I also was fairly high on Jackson Ferris(33), Welbyn Francisca(41), Ryan Clifford(49), Sebastian Walcott(50), and Austin Charles(74). Were there misses? Absolutely. But hopefully, you also avoided the Jacob Berry landmine, as I ranked him 28 when many had him top-ten.

If you want to look back, you can here:

Enough with last year, let’s get into the rankings for this season!

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1. Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers (Florida)

As good as Crews was, Langford went toe-to-toe with him statistically. Over his 610 plate appearance career at Florida, Langford mashed 47 home runs and slashed .363/.471/.746 while striking out just 14.6 percent of the time and walking 15 percent.

Langford is similar to Crews in that he does not chase often and has a strong feel for contact in the zone. Langford’s average exit velocity trails Crews by a decent margin, but a number sitting near 91 mph is still very impressive, considering his higher-end exit velocities were stellar(110 mph 90th percentile).

His debut performance could not have been better and has caused some to push him to the top overall prospect and rightfully so. Between four levels and 200 plate appearances, Langford slashed .360/.480/.677 with ten home runs and 29 extra-base hits. His contact rates were insanely high and he did not chase at all while posting a 90th percentile exit velocity north of 107 mph. While I was team Crews for a while, if you have the number one pick this year, take Wyatt Langford.

2. Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals (LSU)

Crews put together an illustrious career at LSU, slashing .380/.498/.689 with 58 home runs across 983 plate appearances. He struck out just 15.5 percent of the time while walking 16.2 percent.

Crews has massive power and as good of a plate approach as you will find. He chased less than 15 percent of the time and posted an average exit velocity north of 95 mph. Pair those with an 85 percent zone contact rate and a near 110 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, and you have an elite hitter.

With the Nationals, we can now dream on a future outfield that includes Crews, James Wood, and maybe Elijah Green if he can figure out his swing-and-miss issues. Crews will be pushed quickly and I won’t be surprised if we see him in Washington by late 2024.

Some may be concerned with Crews’ struggles in Double-A, but some bad BABIP luck in the worst hitters park in the minors can do that. Still Crews’ debut line was .292/.377/.467 with five home runs. Crews is an incredible player who got passed by Langford, not by taking a tumble.

3. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins (South Brunswick HS NC)

Jenkins is a slugger and the ideal mold for a dynasty stud that we rarely see in prep bats. Jenkins has the ideal frame, standing at 6’3”/215 pounds, and has one of the best swings you will see from the left side. Jenkins is an incredible athlete and has a ton of physicality. It is easy to see 30 home run potential in Jenkins’ bat.

Pair the power with strong bat-to-ball skills that suggest Jenkins is a plus hitter, and even his speed has ticked up. You can envision a .280/30 HR/10 SB type bat which is huge for fantasy purposes.

On top of baseball skills, scouts rave about Jenkins as a human being. You would be hard-pressed to find a better all-around person on top of his baseball talent. The Twins got a good one.

Jenkins debut confirmed what we thought pre-draft, a potential plus hit/power/speed, slashing .362/.417/.571 with three home runs, four triples, and five doubles while stealing six bases in 26 games.

4. Matt Shaw, SS, Cubs (Maryland)

While Shaw may not have a standout tool, he does everything well and you could argue his hit, power, and run tools are all above average. He is smaller at 5’11” but Shaw does not let that keep him from making a big impact on the ball. He mashed 24 home runs this year after posting a 22-homer season in 2022. His power is backed by a 90th percentile exit velocity north of 106 mph. He is an efficient base stealer as well. Researching and writing up Shaw caused me to move him up several spots, I am in.

The Cubs got a great one here and he fits nicely for the foreseeable future with Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson. Some have questioned how it will work, I am certain they can find spots for all three and likely as soon as next year.

Shaw made it to Double-A this year in which he posted a .357/.400/.618 slash with eight home runs and 21 extra-base hits.

5. Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates (LSU)

Skenes is the most impressive college pitcher we have ever seen, probably dating back to Stephen Strasburg. What Skenes did this year was unprecedented as he struck out 209 batters in 122.2 innings pitched, which is a 45 percent rate.

The fastball touches triple digits regularly, and you have likely seen him still throwing 100+ after he is 100 pitches deep into a game. It has an incredible flat approach angle with elite carry, making it hard for hitters to catch up.

Skenes also boasts a slider that sits in the low 90s and gets a ton of whiffs. He did not need to throw his changeup often, but scouts rave about it. I only saw him throw it once in his rain-shortened start at South Carolina. In a points league, push Skenes up toward the top spot.

His performance may be the reason you think he has moved down a couple of spots, but its more the risk you run with drafting pitching prospects high. Im more comfortable banking on the bats ahead of him.

6. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, NPB

Yamamoto was the best pitcher in the NPB in 2022 and has continued his dominance this season. In 171 innings this year, Yamamoto posted a 1.16 ERA with 176 strikeouts and just 28 walks. That follows up a 193-inning season in 2022 in which he posted a 1.68 ERA and struck out 205 batters.

Yamamoto features a fastball between 93 and 96 mph and has topped at 99. He has stellar command and is an excellent athlete on the mound, which we love to see with pitchers. He mixes in a beautiful curve, a cutter, and a powerful splitter. The splitter is his most used pitch.

There was significant hype on Kodai Senga last year, and there’s no reason to believe Yamamoto won’t be better. He is 24 years old and will help your fantasy teams immediately.

7. Max Clark, OF, Tigers (Franklin Community HS IN)

I had the privilege to interview Max Clark when he was a 16-year-old, and I kid you not; he was already one of the sharpest baseball minds I have talked to. Clark plays at a high level and intensity in the field with a very high baseball IQ.

When you talk about a five-tool player, Clark comes to mind, playing strong centerfield, possessing a solid arm, making contact at a high rate, being a 70-runner, and flashing good power. At the moment, Clark’s worst grade is his power which is still average to above average. That speaks to the kind of player he can be. There is some projection in his 6’1”/190-pound frame, and I would not be surprised to see Clark tap into more power. If he does, this ranking will look foolish.

Clark was a surprise pick at three overall but is a great fit in Detroit. He is several years away, but a well-rounded player who will be roaming Detroit’s outfield for a long time.

8. Kyle Teel, C, Red Sox (Virginia)

Teel brings strong bat-to-ball skills and a great eye at the plate, creating high OBPs. For his career at Virginia, Teel posted a .433 OBP, but during his senior year he posted an impressive .407/.475/.655 slash line. He has some sneaky power thanks to a quick bat and hands, and could hit 20 home runs per season. Teel has quick pop times and catches a high amount of runners attempting to steal which helps his chances of sticking behind the plate.

He has been highly impressive since getting the call-up to High-A and to me looks like someone who will be putting on Red Sox uniform sooner than later. Boston gets their catcher of the future in Teel, and it should be a fun spot for his left-handed bat.

9. Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Braves (Florida)

Waldrep has some of the best stuff in the class. His fastball sits in the upper 90s with excellent ride. His split-change is one of the best individual pitches in the class as it has immense separation from his fastball and falls off the table as it approaches the plate. His curve and slider could also be plus giving him a chance at four-plus or better offerings. Waldrep has fast arm speed, but a viscous delivery which does come with concerns. The command comes and goes, but for pure stuffist, he is one of the best in the draft.

Atlanta shot for the moon here with Waldrep, who has some of the best stuff in the class. If the command comes along, this pick will look like a steal. Waldrep made it all the way to Triple-A, posting a 1.53 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.

10. Tommy Troy, 2B, Dbacks (Stanford)

Troy has a smaller frame but packs a punch and has hit everywhere he has been. This year he slashed .394/.478/.699 with a 14 percent strikeout rate. After just seven home runs in 2022, Troy hit 17 this season. He mashes fastballs, and despite some swing and miss against breakers, he still posted a contact rate north of 70 percent against them while posting a 92 percent contact rate against fastballs.

Troy runs well and makes strong contact, and even if his power lands around average, the bat is going to play very nicely at 2B, which seems like where Troy will end up long-term as a professional.

A dominant Cape Cod League in 2022 with wood bats gave scouts confidence that the power can translate as a professional. Troy is a very solid, high-floor bat for dynasty leagues.

Troy is a great fit in Arizona with their timeline of other top prospects. He moved down a couple of spots only because of strong performances from others, as Troy had a solid season as well slashing .271/.374/.469 with four home runs and nine stolen bases.

11. Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners (Glenn HS)

Emerson has grown a bit in the last year and was only 17 years old on draft day which gives some hope he could add power to his 6’1”/200 lb frame. He shows a strong feel to hit and his data was incredible as he chased at just a 15 percent rate on the showcase circuit and has an 84 percent contact rate. Emerson has actually seen his run times tick up so he could end up being a plus hitter with above-average power and run.

Few hitters increased their stock as much as Emerson did this year. He hit the ball hard to all fields and made a ton of contact. In 114 plate appearances, Emerson slashed .374/.496/.550 with two home runs and ten doubles.

12. Brock Wilken, 3B, Brewers (Wake Forest)

Wilken has massive power, as evident by the 31 home runs he mashed this season at Wake Forest and the 71 career home runs he hit in 821 career plate appearances. He hit .345/.506/.807 this year and quieted some of the concerns scouts had about his hit tool. He can get passive at times and it causes him to strike out more than his actual swing and miss, but the .506 OBP speaks volumes.

The exit velocities are off the charts for Wilken which puts his power comfortably in the 70 range. If he can get to be an average hitter, watch out. But for OBP leagues, move Wilken up a few spots. Landing in Milwaukee is a solid fit for his value.

13. Noble Meyer, RHP, Marlins (Jesuit HS OR)

This pitching tier can firmly be bumped up if you play in a points league or your league just highly values pitching. Meyer honestly reminds me a bit of Mick Abel with better command coming out of high school. Interestingly enough, they went to the same high school.

Meyer is 6’5” with a fastball that has gotten up to 98 mph with ride and run. His slider is his best pitch, sitting in the mid-80s with a ton of horizontal sweep and high spin. Meyer mixes a changeup, but his fastball/slider combo is legit.

Landing in Miami is an incredible fit for Meyer, as the org is known for developing changeups. If Meyer can turn that change into a plus pitch, there is endless upside here.

14. Bryce Eldridge, 1B/OF/RHP, Giants (James Madison HS VA)

Eldridge is a two-way player who is a lefty on the mound with a big power bat at first base. The 6’7” prep player has a chance to develop as a two-way guy and I firmly believe he could do both. He has a fastball up to 96 mph with a solid slider and curve, while posting high exit velocities with wood bats at the plate. The Giants grabbed a good one.

At the plate this year, Eldridge slashed .294/.400/.505 with six home runs in 31 games posting some very high exit velocities. His bat could have a lot of staying power and makes him a player I want to invest in for fantasy.

15. Aidan Miller, 3B, Phillies (JW Mitchell HS FL)

Miller is one of the more decorated hitters in the 2023 draft class with a highly athletic, powerful frame. He possesses significant power, a fast bat, and solid contact skills. He has a strong arm and can stick at the hot corner for the long run, but his bat will play great there for fantasy purposes.

Miller has easy plus or better power, and the contact/plate discipline skills are above-average. You likely aren’t getting much speed or stolen bases in this profile, but there’s enough power and contact to carry in fantasy. The profile reminds me of Brady House, with a better feel to hit.

The Phillies were gifted a great bat at 27 overall yesterday, and I think he fits in the system nicely as one of their best hitting prospects.

16. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Blue Jays (Strawberry Crest HS FL)

Nimmala is relatively young for the class and will still be 17 until December 2023. He has filled out and added to his 6’1” frame, and the tools made significant strides this season. Some years, Nimmala might go top-five, but with how stacked the top of the class is, he could be a steal for you in an FYPD. There is big power thanks to a very quick bat, but there have been some questions regarding Nimmala expanding the zone. Regardless, Nimmala has the chance to have some of the better tools in the class.

Nimmala took a tumble to 20 overall where Toronto scooped him up. It is a great fit where you can see Bo Bichette, Vlad Guerrero Jr., and Nimmala all line up for the long run.

17. Walker Martin, SS, Giants (Eaton HS CO)

Walker Martin is the definition of an athlete and is one of the best in this year’s draft. He is a bit older than most of the prep players in this year’s class, which is one reason why he is likely not to go in the first half of the first round. But the talent level is that of a top-ten player in this class.

Martin starred as his high-school starting QB, but not any ordinary QB. He helped lead his team to three straight state championships and accounted for 41 touchdowns his senior season. He also led his high school basketball team in scoring and rebounding his junior season.

Now to the baseball side of things. Martin mashed 20 home runs this season and posted a .636 batting average, a .722 OBP, and a 1.632 slugging percentage. He shows a solid feel to hit and has excellent bat speed through the zone. There is certainly potential for Martin to be a plus hitter with plus power and speed. Don’t let his draft spot fool you; this is a top-ten player for dynasty FYPDs.

Martin fell to pick 52 where the Giants scooped him up and I am very pleased with his landing spot. I am all in on him for FYPDs.

18. Brayden Taylor, 3B, Rays (TCU)

Taylor has been a bit younger for most of his collegiate carer as he just turned 21 years old. Last summer, as a 20-year-old, Taylor showed strong skills in the Cape Cod League. He has a quick upper half that helps generate strong power to all fields and he hit 23 home runs this season at TCU. Taylor’s best asset is his discipline and contact skills. He is also a sneaky and efficient base stealer. Taylor is an underrated buy in FYPDs.

After seeing him live I was impressed with his strike zone awareness, feel for contact, and ability to hit the ball hard. Plus there is projection left on the frame.

19. Chase Davis, OF, Cardinals (Arizona)

You won’t find Davis this high on any public draft board, but he deserves to be this high. He has always possessed considerable power, but his hit tool made significant strides.

Davis cut his chase rate significantly and made contact on pitches in the zone nearly 88 percent of the time. His average exit velocity was better than Langford and Davis’ 90th percentile exit velocity was very similar to Langford and Crews. The improvements were evident as Davis posted a .362/.489/.742 slash line with just 40 strikeouts in 278 plate appearances this season. That 14.3 percent strikeout rate was lower than Crews and Langford, while he walked 15.5 percent of the time. My friend Geoff Pontes pointed out that Chase Davis has been one of three college hitters since 2018 with a 90th percentile exit velocity north of 108 mph and a strikeout-to-walk rate below one.

https://twitter.com/GeoffPontesBA/status/1675535952515563521?s=20

Davis will not be a threat on the base paths, but his power will undoubtedly play with the increased contact skills. Just go watch some film, you will come away very impressed.

Davis going to the Cardinals is a great fit as they have done a good job developing bats in the system.

20. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds (Wake Forest)

Lowder fits the mold of the machine that is Wake Forest pitching. He has an extremely high floor and despite not being as flashy as some of the other arms in the class he is an excellent arm.

His fastball sits around 93-94 mph with armside run and he locates it well in the zone. Not only does Lowder command his fastball well, but he also gets a ton of strikes with his slider and changeup. Like many Wake Forest arms, Lowder’s changeup is his best pitch as it tunnels well with his fastball and dives off the map.

Lowder is a pitchability arm with excellent command. If you want a safer arm in dynasty, Lowder is a solid choice, especially landing in Cincinnati, where you can expect him to be pushed quickly.

21. Thomas White, LHP, Marlins (Phillips Academy HS)

White is one of, if not the best left-handed pitchers in the draft class with a starters frame at 6’5”/220 lb. His fastball sits in the 93-95 mph range but reaches 97 with nice arm-side run. It is an easy plus pitch and you dream on more velocity.

From a secondary standpoint, White already has a plus changeup and is stepping in an organization that is elite at developing that pitch. His curve sits in the low-80s and sometimes blends into a slider. If he develops command, he has frontline stuff.

22. Colin Houck, SS, Mets (Parkview HS GA)

If you are looking for a great athlete, Houck is who you are looking for. He was a solid HS quarterback with 12 offers and many of them being power-five. On the diamond, he shows above average tools across the board. His power has largely been gap-to-gap, but he has a frame that could easily add strength and turn the doubles into home runs. Upon being drafted and focusing on baseball only, Houck could tap into another level we have not seen.

Houck fell further than expected, but the Mets made an awesome pick.

23. Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers(Magnolia Heights HS)

Pratt has a big, athletic frame at 6’4”/195 lb with a powerful swing. He is a good athlete and moves well for size, posting solid run times, while also showing a good feel for contact. Power will be the carrying tool for Pratt though as he has shown a good feel for the barrel and big-time exit velocities.

Since debuting at the Complex level, Pratt has impressed with his bat. The sixth-rounder signed for over four times his pick's slow value, showing how much the Brewers like the upside here.

24. Dillon Head, OF, Padres (Homewood-Flossmoor HS)

Head is a gifted athlete with 70-grade run times, and a solid feel to hit. He hits the ball to all fields well and has nice gap power, but there is some home run power to the pull side. If the power does not full come I still think you are looking at a ten home run bat who can steal 30 plus bases with ease.

25. Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Orioles (Vanderbilt)

Bradfield is a pretty polarizing player and there are a pretty wide range of outcomes here. He may also be one of the only players in the class with two 80-grade tools, hit speed, and glove. Bradfield shows a strong feel to hit and a great eye at the plate, walking more than he strikes out. His average exit velocity sat near 87 mph which is respectable, but some wonder where that could fall with a wood bat. There is some projection left in his frame so even if he can become a 15 home run bat, Bradfield could be an elite fantasy asset.

The Orioles got their guy, who will man centerfield for them during their long contention window they are entering. For fantasy, the power will be the question mark.

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