The Dynasty Digest: 4/14

Chris Clegg details all of Thursday's action from both the Majors and Minors for dynasty leagues.

Another successful day of MILB. Despite a down slate of MLB games, we got a ton of awesome action on the MILB side. Today feels like a great day to highlight some under the radar Minor League players who had strong performances on Thursday that should be added in dynasty leagues.

Tanner Bibee, RHP, CLE

Tanner Bibee pitched like an ace on Thursday. That is a dangerous tag to throw around, but Bibee is good and I am not sure people realize just how good he is. Many thought he was just a command specialist, but not only does he have great command but Bibee really does have high-end stuff.

Bibee fired six scoreless innings on Thursday with eight strikeouts. He had a 33 percent whiff rate and a 38 percent CSW.

Bibee’s arsenal looked really good and his four-seam fastball led the way with a 53 percent usage. It averaged 95.8 mph, but touched 99.4 mph with elite induced vertical break. Bibee located it at the top of the zone well with excellent ride all night.

His secondaries looked good all night as well. His changeup generated a 47 percent CSW and had nice velocity separation from his fastball. Bibee’s slider and curve both got a ton of called strikes and whiffs.

I’ll just say it. I think Tanner Bibee is the best pitching prospect in Cleveland, ahead of Gavin Williams and could be the second best arm in their Guardians rotation right now behind Shane Bieber.

Rafael Sanchez, RHP, TOR

Rafael Sanchez is so low-key he wasn’t even in the Fantrax player pool and that is saying something considering they have my 2-year old son on there. That is a joke, but Fantrax has a deep palyer pool.

Despite being older for the level at 23 years old, Sanchez has been dominant. Sanchez signed last season and spent time in the DSL, FCL and in Low-A. Sanchez is returning to Low-A to start 2023 where he has a 2.45 ERA and 15 strikeouts through 11 innings.

Sanchez led all Low-A pitchers with 19 whiffs on Thursday, finishing six innings. He struck out nine batters while walking one and allowing one earned run. Sanchez slider led the way and he generated 13 whiffs on 23 swings with that pitch. Overall, Sanchez had a 45 percent whiff rate and a 40 percent CSW. His fastball averaged 93 mph.

I requested Sanchez be added to the Fantrax player pool. so if you are in a deeper league scoop him up.

Lyon Richardson, RHP, CIN

Prior to his rehab starts in Low-A this year, Lyon Richardson had not pitched since 2021 when he has Tommy John surgery. He is a bit older now at 23, and some may discount what he is doing because he is pitching in Low-A, but Richardson is dominating. The Reds thought so highly of the former 3rd round pick that they added him to the 40-man roster this offseason.

Richardson completed three innings on Thursday, walking one and striking out six. He allowed just one earned run and hit a piece. It took him just 49 pitches and he landed 34 of them for strikes. Remember, he is on a rehab stint. 17 of those pitches were whiffs and he ended the day with a 45 percent CSW.

Richardson has now pitched six scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts this year. HIs fastball sits in the upper 90s and averages near 98. His changeup and curve both look like strong secondaries as well. I would be taking a shot on Richardson in most dynasty leagues where at least 250 prospects are rostered because he looks legit right now.

Andrew Abbott, LHP, CIN

I am not sure what Andrew Abbott was doing this offseason, but whatever it was worked. Abbott fired six scoreless innings, striking out 14 batters and a whopping 25 whiffs! He finished the day with a 69.5 percent strike rate and a 48.7 percent CSW.

Abbott is now up to 25 strikeouts in 10.2 innings this season, and has a 0.00 ERA and a 0.28 WHIP. What he is doing is unsustainable, but it has been fun to watch.

The success has largely come from an uptick in velocity this season. Abbott has sat consistently around 94 mph with his fastball. His slider has been sitting 83 mph. The stuff looks highly improved this year and while he is a crazy helium prospect right now, I am buying.

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