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)
Wyatt Langford (OF – TEX)
2023 College: .373/.498/.784, 21 HR, 9 SB
2023 Rk/A+/AA/AAA: .360/.480/.677, 10 HR, 12 SB
Age: 22
ETA: Opening Day 2024
fScores: 106 fContact, 160 fDiscipline, 126 fPower, 148 fSpeed, 62 fDurability
Comp: Brian Jordan meets Christian Walker
Prime Skills: Langford is known as the best power hitter from this recent draft class. He has 35 homer power in the bat and a very good hit tool to go along with it. He has above average speed that kind of sneaks up on you because of his size and he could put up a 20/20 season from the jump. They look a lot different physically, but statistically his numbers could end up looking like Mookie Betts.
Ranking Explanation: Langford has beasted his way through every level of the minors after a prestigious college career. The fScores are insane and I’m drafting him as a top 25 OF for 2024 with rookie potential to put up a 25/20 season or better in a killer lineup, while the team is almost definitely going to have him on the Opening Day roster considering he almost came up in the World Series last year when Adolis Garcia was hurt.
Matt Shaw (2B/3B – CHI)
2023 College: .341/.445/.697, 24 HR, 18 SB
2023 Rk/A+/AA: .347/.400/.618, 8 HR, 15 SB
Age: 22
ETA: Late 2024
fScores: 101 fContact, 67 fDiscipline, 102 fPower, 170 fSpeed and 19 fDurability
Comp: David Wright meets Jonathan India
Prime Skills: Really great plate approach with above average power and speed. Should be one of the better on-base middle infielders in the majors sooner, rather than later and has the power and speed combo to put up some 20/20 type seasons.
Ranking Explanation: Shaw is going to get run primarily at third base and doesn’t fit the traditional 3B power mold, because he adds some speed into his profile and could be a 25/20 3B in his peak years. He’s closer than Jenkins, but Jenkins has the higher ceiling over the long haul.
Noble Meyer (SP – MIA)
2023 Rk/A: 11 IP, 15 Ks, 7 BBs, 4.09 ERA, 1.63 WHIP
Age: 19
ETA: 2026
fScores: N/A
Comp: Logan Gilbert
Prime Skills: Big fastball can hit 100 MPH as a high schooler. The fastball/-slider combo are his calling card. He’s known for his impeccable command despite his size.
Ranking Explanation: Prep pitchers are always a huge risk, but the fact the Marlins took him who have already developed Eury Perez, this reduces the risk pretty significantly. Meyer won’t move as quick as Eury, because the need in the rotation isn’t there (yet), but it’s not an unreal expectation we see him debut by the end of 2025 considering their track records with pitching prospects.
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