3B Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs:
One of the Cubs biggest flaws is production from the hot corner. They have tried different combinations of Christopher Morel, Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom, David Bote, Miles Mastrobuoni, and Michael Busch. Morel, the current placeholder, has fared best, but his defense is questionable, and he is better suited as a corner outfielder. The front office has shown no signs of wanting to acquire a veteran, and this leads many to believe they are wading the storm while holding onto prized prospects. 2023 13th overall pick Matt Shaw is the in-house solution developing in the minors. After a 38-game minor league stint slashing .357/.400/.618 with eight home runs and 28 RBI, Shaw has done well with AA Tennessee with an OBP of .358 to go along with 10 home runs and 33 RBI. He has kept his strikeout rate at a respectable 24%, but he will need to cut down on swing and misses as he moves up to AAA. Above average speed, Shaw has 17 stolen bases in 65 games. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Shaw, as his combination of power/speed will make him valuable as early as next season.
C/OF Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers:
Dingler is a month away from making his Tigers debut. Through four minor league seasons, Dingler has accumulated 52 home runs, 197 RBI, and an OPS just short of .800. He has spent most of his career behind the plate but has seen a handful of games in the outfield. 2023 was his best statistical season in which he slashed .256/.361/.478 with 16 home runs and 58 RBI. On track to set new career-best numbers at AAA Toledo, Dingler is slashing .287/.350/.508 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI, and five stolen bases. He has above-average speed for a catcher and could give Detroit a one-two combo behind the plate with Jake Rogers. An under-the-radar catching prospect that could help many fantasy owners struggling to find production at the catcher position, Dillon Dingler is a player who will be readily available as soon as he is called up within the upcoming weeks.
LHP Kohl Drake, Texas Rangers:
The left-handed pitcher has yet to crack the Rangers Top-30 prospect list, but that should change following the 2024 season. The 2022 11th-round pick owned Carolina League hitters through 10 starts, posting a 1.67 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts in 43 innings. He has since received his call to AA Frisco and had mixed results in his first start. The 6’5”, 220lb lefty throws a modest mid-90s fastball and sits around 93 MPH consistently. His sharp curve and plus changeup have been his calling card early into his minor league career. Drake is a season or two away from getting his call to Texas, but dynasty league players should monitor his progress as he faces hitters closer to their Major League promotion. It would not hurt for Drake to add a few ticks of velo to his fastball, as this would see him jump into a high-end #2 prospect.
LHP Joey Cantillo, Cleveland Guardians:
Cleveland’s organization is up there with Tampa Bay’s in terms of drafting, or signing, and developing pitching. Fantasy baseball managers should always make note of any pitching prospects they come across that play for either organization. Originally signed by San Diego, Cantillo was part of the return in the 2020 Mike Clevinger deal. All signs point to Cantillo making his Cleveland debut in 2024. He finished last season between AA and AAA, accumulating 146 strikeouts in 119 innings. His 2024 season started late, and he dealt with a hamstring strain late in March, but he is fully healthy. Missing a full Spring Training, Cantillo is being eased into game action as he has made five starts, racking up 18 strikeouts in 13 innings. His 12 walks are tough to stomach, but this can be attributed to missing his Spring Training pitching program and being on the shelf, not throwing, for nearly two months. The southpaw is a player to monitor as his fastball sits in the mid-90s while reaching 98MPH. His changeup is a plus pitch and has given opposing hitters trouble. His developing slider is turning into a third go-to pitch. Cleveland currently leads the AL Central by 7.5 games and Cantillo can be a post All-Star call up to be a strong bullpen arm or swing starter. For fantasy rosters, he would carry more value as a starting pitcher, but high-leverage relief situations can be justified for standard leagues.