The Dynasty Digest: June 18, 2024
Chris breaks down all the notable action from the complex and DSL on Monday
Notable Transactions
Ben Rice, C/1B, NYY: Called-Up to MLB
Brice Matthews, SS/3B, HOU: Promoted to Double-A
Zach Dezenzo, 3B, HOU: Activated from rehab to Double-A
Dylan Crews, OF, WSH: Promoted to Triple-A
Daylen Lile, OF, WSH: Promoted to Double-A
Spencer Giesting, LHP, ARI: Promoted to Double-A
It was a typical Monday, meaning just DSL and Complex action, but that certainly beats a Monday with no MLB action. Let’s discuss!
MiLB Hitters
Simon Juan, OF, NYM, 18, FCL
The Mets complex league team is quite loaded with talent. Even though Juan gets overshadowed sometimes, that does not mean he is not as talented as several of the other hitters. It is his second year on the complex team, but he is still just 18 years old, which is acceptable.
He homered twice on Monday to push his total to six in 27 games in the year and give his 12 extra-base hits. The current slash line of .284/.348/.529 is a massive improvement on the .220/.293/.303 that he posted in 2023 but it does leave questions on if what Juan is doing is sustainable.
The ground ball rate is a touch high at 53.5 percent, but Juan is lifting enough to get to home runs, it is just a lack of line drives. The strikeout rate is still higher than you would like to see, so it is something to watch.
Felnin Celesten, SS, SEA, 18, ACL
Celesten is doing exactly what we thought he would do upon his arrival to professional games. Blasting a home run while having four hits is a rather impressive showing for a Monday. Celesten pushed his slash line up to .328/.410/.526 with three home runs, three triples, and eight doubles in 29 games. He is quite advanced for the complex level and might make Single-A Modesto a legit all-star team soon because I don’t think we will see him at the complex much longer.
Celeten was my projected 14th best prospect entering the 2025 season in which I wrote:
The prized possession of the Mariners 2023 international signing class, Celesten, unfortunately, did not see any game action on the field due to a hamstring strain. The switch hitter might have more upside than anyone in the system, if all pans out for him.
Already having grown from his listed 6’1” height, Celesten has a ton of projection in his frame but already flashes big power with high exit velocities. The power looks currently better from the right side of the plate, but Celesten has shown the ability to get to it from the left side as well. The contact skills are better from the right, leaving it easier for him to get into game power there.
Celesten has an aggressive swing and approach, sometimes taking big hacks, leaving questions about how the approach will fare against more advanced pitching. If the hit tool and contact numbers can sit around league average, it will allow the rest of the skillset to flourish.
Having potential plus power with plus run times, there is a lot of dream on with Celesten from a fantasy standpoint. If he does fill out, the run times could tick down, but Celesten is likely to be a threat on the base paths for the early part of his career. A strong performance in 2024 will see his stock soar, so invest in Celesten now before its too late.
There is a fatal flaw in Celesten’s game and it is his ground ball rate. With a 65 percent ground ball rate, I have serious fears about his ability to get to the kind of power he is capable of. Can he make the tweaks in his swing that he needs? Maybe. Being so young, I don’t won’t to worry too much about the ground ball issue, but it is prevalent.
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