Spring training can mean nothing and spring training can mean everything. In this article, we highlight the top five risers and the top five fallers in fantasy circles over the last week of spring training. Make sure to check out previous spring training risers and fallers for the weeks of March 9 and March 16. We are closing in on the finish line and had some real baseball this week. Even though I get to swarm in the spring training limelight, living in Jupiter, Florida, it’s time to let it go as I hit up my final in-person games this weekend. Let’s get straight into it! 

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MLB Spring Training Risers and Fallers

RISERS

1. Blake Snell (SP – SF)

Blake Snell signed, which was half the battle to stop his sliding average draft position (ADP). The even better news is that he signed with a team known for helping free agent pitchers maximize their stuff on short-term deals (see Carlos Rodon for one example). Not to mention being in a pitcher’s park with what should be a much better defense in 2024 with Matt Chapman at third.

2. Chase DeLauter (OF – CLE) 

Chase DeLauter is hitting .520/.600/1.040 with four homers in only 30 plate appearances this spring. Unlike Kyle Manzardo, he has not been sent down or relegated to the minors at this point. Keep your eyes on the final weekend of spring to see if DeLauter breaks camp with the squad and gets a starting role in their terrible outfield.

3. Dylan Carlson (OF – STL)

This one makes me sad as a big Victor Scott II truther, however, Dylan Carlson has had a killer week in camp with two homers and a .313/.389/.813 slash line, which might block Scott from debuting out of camp (even though it shouldn’t). There’s an off chance Carlson plays in a corner spot, with Scott in CF, moving Jordan Walker to DH. However, I doubt the Cardinals want to corner their 21-year-old future superstar as a DH this early in his career. It would make more sense for Walker to stay in RF and use Alec Burleson as a platoon DH, but Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan will likely be playing most days. Listen to my last podcast with The Welsh to hear my ‘Great Scott Conspiracy’.

4. Jonathan India (2B – CIN) 

Jonathan India has had a strong camp and is playing in multiple positions, including the OF, where Will Benson has struggled and failed to grab hold of the void left by TJ Friedl and Matt McLain. If anyone were to gain from the injuries, it’s Jonathan India, who has a .400/.429/.700 slash with two home runs and a steal this spring.

5. Zach Neto (SS – LAA) 

Zach Neto hit .429/.500/.643 this week with one homer and one steal, bringing his spring total up to .326/.360/.609 with three homers and four steals. Neto has 20/20 upside and should be considered a solid Matt McLain replacement in 12-teamer leagues where you will start the year without McLain.

Honorable Mentions

1. Ceddanne Rafaela (2B, OF – BOS) *Playing second now
2. Wyatt Langford (OF – TEX) 
3. Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT) 
4. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (OF – MIA)
5. Luis Gil (SP – NYY) 
6. Jared Jones (SP – PIT) 
7. Jake Cronenworth (1B – SD) *Hitting third
8. Kyle Stowers (OF – BAL) 
9. Nick Nastrini (SP – CHW) 
10. Luis Gil (SP – NYY) 

FALLERS

1. Eury Perez (SP – MIA) and Matt McLain (2B, SS – CIN)

We have been waiting a week to find out what is wrong with Eury Perez and a couple more days to find out what is wrong with Matt McLain. These unknown injuries are killers when either of them could be season-long injuries if we are looking at Tommy John for Perez or shoulder surgery for McLain.

2. Unsigned Players:

Jordan Montgomery, JD Martinez, Brandon Belt, Mike Clevinger and Tommy Pham highlight a group of impact fantasy players that are still unsigned. They should fall a couple of rounds in any post-Korea draft because we have no idea when or if these guys will even play in 2024.

3. Tim Anderson (SS – MIA)

Tim Anderson isn’t doing anything to prove his 2023 was a fluke, as he’s hitting .194/.194/.323 this spring with 13 strikeouts and zero walks in 31 at-bats. I believe Anderson is toast and never liked him to begin with. I’ve literally never had a Tim Anderson share.

4. Graham Pauley (3B – SD) 

A couple of days ago there was a ton of smoke around Graham Pauley starting at third base until Manny Machado was healthy enough to play there. Pauley could move to a corner OF spot. The Padres, however, have opted to let him ride the bench in the Korea series, starting Tyler Wade instead, even after calling him up onto the roster. I guess Mike Schildt isn’t a fan.

5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP – LAD)

This is a complete overreaction and I’m not necessarily buying it but Yoshinobu Yamamoto had an 8.38 ERA in his small sample size this spring (despite good under-the-hood stuff). He got rocked in his first start in Korea to the tune of five earned runs in only one inning of work. If you’re in a league where Yamamoto falls, I would buy him. Watch to see if drafters this weekend drop Yamamoto’s price to something more reasonable.

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If you enjoyed this article and want more content from me, please follow me on Twitter/X (@fantasyaceball) for all my fantasy baseball content. I also write at Friends With Fantasy Benefits and you can catch my podcast “The Fantasy Aceball Podcast” once or twice per week on any of the podcasting apps.