The Dynasty Digest: August 9, 2024

Chris breaks down all the action from the DSL to the Majors.

Happy Friday everyone! It is almost the weekend and that is something to celebrate. On tap for me tonight is a game between Bowling Green and Asheville and a fun pitching matchup in Jackson Nezuh and Brody Hopkins. I can’t wait!

But for now, let’s take a look at Thursday’s standouts from the DSL to the Majors.

MLB Standouts

Jackson Chourio, OF, MIL

Chourio did not turn 20 until midway through Spring Training but made his MLB debut with the Brewers right out of camp after signing an 8-year, $82 million extension. Even after a slow start to the season, Chourio still has a 2.5 WAR and a 112 wRC+ but has really picked things up as of late.

After a three-hit, two-home run performance on Thursday, Chourio is now up to 14 home runs with 15 stolen bases, and the batting average is all the way up to .277.

Chourio has five straight multi-hit games and since July 1, his slash line sits at an impressive .348/.392/.545 with five home runs and seven stolen bases and doubles a piece.

*Image courtesy of Fangraphs

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, TOR

Guerrero ended Thursday just a single away from the cycle, usually the easiest type of hit to get, but still an impressive performance none-the-less. The performance extended Guerrero’s hit streak to 20 games, dating back before the All Star break.

Over that span, Guerrero is slashing .507/.575/1.096 with ten home runs. Honestly, I was ready to write him off early in the year as just being a good but not standout player, and boy, has Guerrero proved me wrong. Since the start of May, Guerrero is slashing .355/.420/.626 with 20 home runs.

Guerrero’s ability to lift the ball has steadily improved and the ground ball rate has trended to the lowest point of his career.

*Image courtesy of Fangraphs

Pete Alonso, 1B, NYM

Alonso is having a down year in terms of power output, and even after a two home run performance on Thursday, Alonso has just 25 on the year. Between 2021 and 2023, Alonso averaged 41 home runs per season. This year, he is still on pace to hit 33, but it would not shock me to see him go on a heater over the next month and finish north of 35. Still, even in a down year, Alonso has been good.

Over his last 96 plate appearances, Alonso has a .268/.375/.585 slash with seven home runs.

Nolan Schanuel, 1B, LAA

I was far off Nolan Schanuel before the season and thought the Angels did him a disservice by promoting him to the Majors after just 97 career Minor League plate appearances. Sure, the contact skills were there, but there were serious issues regarding his bat speed and power.

Schanuel blasted his 12th home run of the season on Thursday and collected three hits. Eight of his home runs have come since June 1. The exit velocities have improved throughout the season, which is encouraging, but the overall mark still sits 15th percentile among MLB hitters.

What Schanuel does best is get on base, and since July 1, that mark has sat at .429. Sure, I still have questions about this profile from a fantasy perspective, but it is worth noting that Schanuel has made improvements.

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