The Dynasty Digest: August 8, 2024

Chris breaks down all the action from Wednesdays games.

Happy Thursday! We had a ton of strong performers from both the minors and majors yesterday, and I am here to break them all down. Everything you need to know from the DSL to the Majors, I have you covered.

Be sure to check out our new top 500 dynasty rankings and top 600 prospect rankings as well.

MLB Standouts

Kyle Schwarber, OF, PHI

Schwarber single-handedly beat the Dodgers on Wednesday, mashing three home runs and adding a double. The exit velocities were off the charts, with the three home runs leaving the bat at 109.7, 107.6, and 102.8 mph and the double checking in at 107.2 mph.

He is now up to 27 home runs on the year with a .261/.390/.504 slash. In OBP formats, Schwarber ranks 11th on the Razzball Player Rater, and even in average leagues, he still ranks as the 27th-best player. Schwarber has performed impressively all year.

Bobby Witt Jr., SS, KC

Witt continues to look like the best hitter in baseball, and Wednesday was no different. Collecting three hits including two home runs, Witt now has 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases on the year with a .349/.394/.606 slash line.

To watch Witt improve his contact skills every year and turn into one of the best hitters in the game has been very impressive. In every year since he debuted, Witt has seen his zone-contact rate increase. The overall contact rate has also improved by four percentage points since 2022.

The exit velocities have consistently improved, and Witt now ranks 90th percentile or better in nearly every statcast metric.

Jackson Merrill, OF, SD

If it were not for some phenom named Paul Skenes, Merrill might be the front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year. Instead, Merrill likely finishes second but still is having quite a strong season.

On Wednesday, Merrill collected four hits, including two home runs. The exit velocities were strong, with the home runs registering 106.2 and 107.3 mph, and Merrill added a 107.6 mph single.

Merrill now has 15 home runs and 11 stolen bases on the year with a .288/.318/.467 slash line and is doing this in his first year playing outfield. The exit velocities do not standout by any means, but Merrill hits the ball at ideal angles often and makes a ton of contact.

Zach Neto, SS, LAA

Neto is having a highly underrated season for the Angels and continues to march toward a 20/20 year. In a doubleheader with the Yankees, Neto collected three hits, including a home run, and drove in six runs. He now has 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases on the year with a .261/.324/.457 slash line.

The contact has steadily improved with Neto seeing his in-zone contact jumping four percentage points this year and the overall number jumping 2.5 percent. Since July 1, Neto is slashing .293/.386/.515 with five home runs, 11 extra base hits, and nine stolen bases.

Want the full breakdown of MiLB players? Subscribe below and gain access to our newly released dynasty and prospect rankings.