The Dynasty Digest: March 7, 2024

Grab a cup of coffee and read Chris Clegg runs down everything you need to know for dynasty leagues from the previous days action.

Cover photo with image by Gary Streiffer/Lynchburg Hillcats)

Welcome to the Dynasty Digest! Baseball is back, and so are we, with our daily reports of everything you need to know from the previous days’ action for you to win your dynasty leagues.

Spring Training is always an interesting time, as box score stats don’t necessarily matter, but I am looking for other things of note. Has a pitcher seen an increase in velo or do they have a new pitch that compliments the arsenal well? Has a hitter simplified their approach, or did they post a new max exit velocity? The little things are much more important than box score stats for Spring Training, and we are going to talk about them. Let’s break down Monday’s action.

Spring Training Standouts From March 6

Dylan Crews, OF, WSH

Crews is setting out to prove that he still belongs in the elite tier of prospects after many questioned his performance in his pro debut. Yes, Langford flat out outplayed him, but that didn’t mean Crews was not good.

On Wednesday, Crews mashed a home run, doubled, and reached a third time on error. His home run and double had exit velocities of 105.8 and 102.4 mph. Crews has been red hot this spring.

Some may be concerned with Crews’ struggles in Double-A in 2023, 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.

Joe Ryan, RHP, MIN

Ryan had a so-so outing on Wednesday, tossing three innings of one-run ball with one strikeout and zero walks. The lone damage was a home run that he gave up to Wilyer Abreu on a splitter that was located well down in the zone.

Why am I writing about Ryan, then? Well, for several reasons, but to start, his splitter velocity was up five mph today, and I even went back to make sure Hawkeye classified those pitches correctly. The pitch has less vertical break but averaged over four inches more of horizontal movement while sitting 89 mph. Ryan also debuted a new sinker that sat below his four-seam velocity but with more depth and horizontal movement.

Ryan spent a lot of time hurt last season and even pitched through injury. Pre-Groin Injury Ryan had tossed 93.2 innings with a 2.98 ERA, a 2.77 FIP, 100 strikeouts, and just 15 walks. After the injury Ryan pitched 68 IP with a 6.62 ERA with 97 strikeouts, 19 walks, and 24 home runs allowed. His fastball location worsened, the velo dipped, the release point changed, and IVB dropped an inch. A healthy Ryan is a great buy in 2024.

Amed Rosario, MI, TB

Rosario hit just six home runs all last year, but after homering on Monday off Paul Skenes, he added another on Wednesday that left the bat at 102 mph off Luis Gil. He added a single and a double, with the double leaving the bat at 103.2 mph. Considering the Rays paid him just $1.5 million, Rosario is looking mighty good this spring after spending the offseason at Driveline.

When the Rays signed Rosario, it seemed like he may take José Caballero’s spot at shortstop, but it looks like both could fit into the equation here as Rosario has played some time in outfield and infield.

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