3B/OF Cam Smith, Chicago Cubs
Collegiate players are quickly moving through the minors and making their Major League debuts faster than years before, and Cubs 2024 1st-round (14th overall) pick Cam Smith seems to be heading on the path. Smith finished his last season at Florida State, slashing .387/.488/.654 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI. His offensive production intrigued the Cubs front office, leading to them using their first-round pick on the Florida State Seminole. Since joining A Myrtle Beach, Smith has not skipped a beat slashing .311/.392/.733. Smith’s home run Sunday gives him six on the season and six straight games going yard. Chicago’s minor league system has a handful of players looking to fill a void at third, and Smith’s name could be penciled in at the hot corner within the upcoming seasons. His combination of contact and power makes him a name dynasty players should start monitoring immediately.
1B/3B Ivan Melendez, Arizona Diamondbacks
Two seasons removed from Melendez’s monster final season at the University of Texas, where the righty finished with 32 home runs and 94 RBI, the Arizona prospect has put together a solid 2024 campaign, currently sitting on 20 home runs and 44 RBI for AA Amarillo. With other high-caliber prospects getting their call to the Majors, many fantasy baseball players may have seen Melendez fall down their shortlist or completely forgotten about Melendez. However, it was not long ago that Paul Goldschmidt was a Diamondbacks prospect who took the league by storm. While Melendez may not produce a similar batting average as Goldschmidt did early into his career, he could immediately post power numbers reminiscent of Goldy’s first few seasons in Arizona. Melendez is on pace for a second straight season with 30 home runs, and the first base prospect should get his call before the 2025 All-Star break.
RHP Lucas Braun, Atlanta Braves
It’s become repetitious, but any top-tier pitching prospect in Cleveland’s, Tampa Bay’s, or Atlanta’s farm systems are names fantasy baseball managers should always monitor. Atlanta right-handed pitcher Lucas Braun is quickly moving up Atlanta’s prospect rankings and should receive his call in the upcoming seasons. Through A & AA, Braun has posted strong numbers with a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts in 118.1 innings. Braun’s repertoire features a low-to-mid 90s fastball, slider/curve mix, and above-average changeup. His four-pitch arsenal can be used at any given count, and he sets himself apart from his minor league peers with the mastery of four pitches early into his minor league career. Like former Major League pitchers Jake Peavy and Roy Oswalt, Braun should be seen as a middle to back-end start with tremendous upside.
LHP Doug Nikhazy, Cleveland Guardians
Joining a list of Guardians pitching prospects, left-handed pitcher Doug Nikhazy is a season away from his call to Cleveland. A low-to-mid 90s fastball paired with a devastating slider/cutter combination, Nikhazy has posted respectable numbers between AA & AAA with a combined 3.45 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 100 strikeouts in 94 innings. The only knock on Nikhazy is his 45 free passes surrendered. This area of improvement will see the young lefty become more efficient at setting up hitters, especially when they are ahead in counts. A back-end starter, Doug Nikhazy is a name to watch during the 2025 season. He does not carry the power arm tag, but he has shown the ability to get hitters out at a high rate.
