Dynasty Baseball Prospect Update: Final Edition | How are Top-100 Prospects Performing in Triple-A?
Providing updates on top-100 MLB prospects playing in Triple-A.
I’ve been working on a series on how top-100 MLB prospects are performing in Triple-A and am going to wrap that series up today.
We covered top-10 prospects in the first story. The second article focused on prospects ranked 11-30 before the third article was on prospects ranked 31-55.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) there’s a new top 100 list. So, I will write about any top-100 prospects playing in Triple-A that I haven’t covered yet.
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Top-100 Prospects
Milwaukee Brewers’ Tyler Black, San Francisco Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt, Chicago Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros, Miami Marlins’ Max Meyer, New York Mets’ Luisangel Acuna and Philadelphia Phillies’ Mick Abel are top-100 prospects we haven’t covered yet.
Black has spent some time in the MLB this season, but is now back in AAA.
In 12 MLB games and 34 plate appearances, Black has a .235 average and .316 OBP. He had two doubles among his eight total hits, along with one RBI, two runs scored, four walks, 12 strikeouts and three stolen bases.
Black is a career .279 hitter in the minor leagues, and is hitting .281 in AAA this season. He’s proved all he needs to, and simply needs a break to get into the MLB lineup consistently.
It’s possible Black could be a trade deadline target if the Brewers try to acquire some more MLB talent, but I think it’s more likely Black sticks in Milwaukee. He’ll likely need an injury or two to get called back up and into the MLB lineup consistently, but he’s still a name to keep an eye on. He should be a September call up at the very least, with a better chance at holding an everyday starting role beginning in the 2025 season.
Whisenhunt is a 23-year-old left-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
In three minor league seasons, Whisenhunt has a 4.05 earned run average across 133 1/3 innings. He’s struck out 185 batters, showing he could be a decent fantasy asset, even if he’s allowing some runs.
In 67 AAA innings this season, Whisenhunt has allowed 76 hits and 38 walks, while striking out 88. His 1.70 WHIP figure is far too high, and if he can lower that, he should be able to find his way onto the MLB team at some point this season.
He could be called up if the Giants decide to sell at the deadline, but Whisenhunt looks more like a September call up to me. Injuries could always change things, so Whisenhunt is a player worth flagging and keeping track of.
Ballesteros is a 20-year-old catcher and first baseman who was signed by the Cubs in 2021. His ETA is 2026 on MLB.com, but seeing as he’s already in Triple-A, I don’t think it’s crazy to expect him in the MLB at some point this season.
Ballesteros had a .299 average and .372 OBP across 56 Double-A games this season. He had nine doubles and home runs among his 58 total hits, while walking 22 times and striking out on 33 occasions.
In 11 Triple-A games, Ballesteros has a .378 average and .417 OBP. He’s got five doubles and a homer among his 17 total hits, with three walks and nine strikeouts.
A potential call up this season depends on what the Cubs do at the trade deadline. Chicago has a roster set to compete now, but could end up selling if they continue to struggle over the next few weeks. Either way, I could see Ballesteros making the MLB.
If the Cubs sell, Chicago might be inclined to call up Ballesteros to keep fans interested during the latter part of the regular season. If Chicago is a buyer, Ballesteros could be traded to a rebuilding team who might give the youngster his first taste of MLB action.
I’d definitely keep a close eye on Ballesteros, especially around the trade deadline and the few days after it. If he continues to excel in Triple-A, I think there’s a pretty good chance he’s playing in an MLB game by the end of the season.
Meyer is another prospect who already has some MLB seasoning.
Meyer pitched in two MLB games and six innings in 2023 and then made three starts and covered 17 innings earlier this season. Meyer had a 2-0 record and 2.12 ERA in his MLB starts this season, but was sent down in an effort to limit his innings.
In 11 starts in Triple-A this season, Meyer has an 0-3 record and 6.00 ERA, but he’s also pitched just 39 innings. He’s already shown what he can do at the MLB level, and just needs another shot at things.
That should could come later in the regular season, at which point Meyer should be added in a bunch of fantasy leagues again. He’s at least a good streaming option, and he posted good enough numbers to roster for as long as he’s starting in the big leagues, in my opinion.
Meyer has a better long-term fantasy outlook, but he should be a decent fantasy option if he gets another crack at things this season. Keep a close eye on Meyer, because an injury could have him called up at any point.
Acuna is a 22-year-old middle infielder and outfielder who was signed back in 2018. He’s the brother of Ronald Acuna Jr.
Acuna has played in AAA this season and has a .267 average and .321 OBP. He’s got 12 doubles, four triples and five home runs among his 86 total hits, along with 31 RBIs, 60 runs scored, 26 stolen bases, 24 walks and 57 strikeouts.
Because he can play several positions, that gives Acuna a good shot of making the MLB this season, regardless if the Mets are sellers or buyers at the trade deadline. The fact that Acuna can impact the game in several areas is another plus for him as a fantasy player.
He’s on the Mets’ 40-man roster, and I think it’s only a matter of time before he gets called up. Acuna could be traded again, but that might actually help him get on the field this season. Keep a close eye on him as the season progresses.
Abel is a 22-year-old pitcher who was drafted 15th overall back in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Abel appeared to be on the brink of getting called up after spending some time in Triple-A last season and then beginning this season there, but he’s struggled mightily, so some more seasoning is still needed.
In 59 2/3 innings this season, Abel is 2-7 with an ugly 6.79 ERA. He’s struck out 54 batters, while walking 43. Opponents are hitting .284 against him, and his 1.83 WHIP number is definitely not good.
Philadelphia has a stacked rotation, and as long as those guys stay healthy, it will be hard for Abel to crack it this season. He could be a multi-inning guy out of the bullpen later in the season, but seeing his current AAA numbers, I’m not sure a playoff-bound team is going to trust him.
Abel seems like a good trade candidate at the deadline. Maybe a change of scenery is what Abel needs to get back on track, and it could also open up a chance for him to make a starting rotation by the end of the season.