5 Prospects Who Will Make a Fantasy Impact in 2022

 5 Prospects Who Will Make a Fantasy Impact in 2022

Drew Epstein

4/2/22

Bobby Witt Jr.- Royals SS/3B

The #1 overall prospect according to MLB.com. Witt is a shortstop but looks likely to begin his career at third base for the Royals on opening day. He has been having a great spring with a .458 batting average, 2 home runs, and 7 RBIs. Spring training usually doesn't mean much but in the case of a top prospect cementing his place on a team, this is worth following. Witt is a player who could be a superstar and that could happen as soon as this year. Definitely worth a late round draft pick in fantasy drafts and hope he can show off a bit of his superstar potential right off the bat. 

Joe Ryan- Twins SP

Joe Ryan was named the Twins opening day starter this year which is a bit of a surprise. He had 4 starts last season and posted a 4.05 ERA with a rock-solid 0.79 WHIP over about 26 innings. The fact that he's trusted by the Twins over an established veteran in Sonny Gray suggests they see something they like about Ryan and expect a solid season out of him. He could be a value play this season for some pitching depth on fantasy teams. It remains to be seen what kind of numbers Ryan can put up over the course of a full season but investing in him shouldn’t be too risky as he's not yet a popular name who you'd have to pay a steep price for. Low risk- high reward. 

Julio Rodriguez- Mariners OF

I wasn't expecting Rodriguez to make the opening day roster but he’s forced his way into that possibility. Rodriguez, the 3rd ranked prospect, is another guy who could very well become a superstar and it could be soon. Mariners manager Scott Servais recently said he “couldn't be happier with how he's played out” when discussing the possibility of an opening day roster spot for the 21-year-old top prospect. If he does indeed make the team, he's a 5 tool player who could be one of the best value players in fantasy baseball this season. He has done nothing but rake in the minors and has good speed as well to provide value with his base-stealing ability. Scouts love this guy and I’m excited to see what he can bring to the table when he gets his chance. 

Hunter Greene- Reds SP

Greene is the most intriguing pitching prospect for me this season. The 2018 2nd overall draft selection brings some of the most electric stuff of any big league pitcher before he even makes his debut. Greene has a fastball that sits 100 MPH. The Reds have just announced that he will be in the starting rotation to begin the year and he will be a must-watch when he's on the mound. If he can continue improving on his location along with developing secondary pitches, Greene can be a star someday. Similar to Ryan, I view him as another low-risk depth piece but his ceiling is higher than Ryan’s for 2022 and beyond. 

Oneil Cruz- Pirates SS

The Pirates just recently sent Cruz back down to AAA in a controversial move, leading to the frustration of many fans. We all want to see the power and flashiness of the 26th overall prospect according to Mlb.com. Cruz did get a taste of big league action in 2021 and held his own during a tiny sample size of .333/1 HR/ 3 RBIs. Cruz showed off his power with a couple of home runs in spring training in which he displayed an ability to go down and crush a low pitch as few others have. It remains to be seen how long the Pirates will keep one of their best prospects down in the minors, especially while likely giving their fans so little else to cheer for this year. When he does get the call, the 6’7 shortstop will be fun to watch and someone to keep an eye on.