The 2024 fantasy baseball season is almost upon us, and with that comes a group of first-year players looking to make waves in the majors.
These prospect rankings are based on fantasy value, not on real-life value. Considering such, hitters generally weigh a bit heavier due to the injury risk and higher volatility of prospect pitchers. Proximity to the majors is also prominent in the equation, though these rankings are taking a longer-term/dynasty look on these guys (think of it more as a five-year plan).
If you are curious about the fScore ratings you can check out my fScore rankings and information on the fScores here.
Here is my overall Top 30 First-Year Player Draft Rankings. Below we dive into a few notable names from those rankings.
NOTE: I have updated some of these rankings post-Top 150 Prospect Rankings (see here) articles posted earlier in the month on FantasyPros, considering international signees and other factors.
First-Year Player Draft Rankings (2024 Fantasy Baseball)
Walker Jenkins (OF – MIN)
2023 Rk/A: .362/.417/.571, 3 HR, 6 SB
Age: 19
ETA: Late 2025
fScores: N/A
Comp: Larry Walker
Prime Skills: Big, strong lefty for his age. The last (but possibly not least) of the top five guys from the 2023 draft class. He has a ton of pull power, but can hit for extra base hits through all fields.
Ranking Explanation: Jenkins is a ways off as a teenager, but so seemingly were Jackson Holliday and Junior Caminero a year ago. The Twins might not promote as aggressively, but Jenkins might not give them a choice and they could use help in the OF. I think he’s a future number one prospect, as soon as next year and could almost be considered a younger Wyatt Langford.
Max Clark (OF – DET)
2023 Rk/A: .224/.383/.377, 2 HR, 5 SB
Age: 19
ETA: Early 2026
fScores: N/A
Comp: Corbin Carroll-lite
Prime Skills: Multi-sport athlete; has a really nice hit tool, a lot of speed and should develop more power as he ages. He’s likely to develop more into a speed first, 15-20 homer type based on the small sample size of what we have seen in the minors and pre-draft.
Ranking Explanation: The dude is a killer athlete and will figure it out, so the small sample size in 2023 is a bit irrelevant and as mentioned above, he has a higher ceiling than Teel, however I don’t think he makes it up as quick as some of the guys above and he will take a little more time baking in the minors before he’s ready to let it rip. His upside is Carroll, but he could also be a Jarred Kelenic.
Brayden Taylor (SS/3B – TB)
2023 College: .308/.430/.631, 23 HR, 14 SB
2023 Rk/A: .242/.361/.517, 5 HR, 11 SB
Age: 22
ETA: Early 2025
fScores: N/A
Comp: Gavin Lux with more speed
Prime Skills: Known for being a high contact hitter with excellent plate skills and a pretty swing, the fantasy impact may not be super high here – but he should be a quick mover until he gets blocked and the power/speed he showed in his small sample size in the minors is impressive.
Ranking Explanation: Taylor has a high floor thanks to his stellar plate skills and will likely be a boon in points leagues (just the type the Rays love). There is definitely some platoon or blocking risk with any Rays prospect, but he should move up levels quick next year for a 2025 debut and the floor / proximity keep him above the guys further down the list.
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