2021 Dynasty Hot 100: Your Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide To First-Year Players

By Carlos Collazo Ben Badler Matt Eddy
on March 19, 2021

Even in a typical year, your dynasty league's first-year player draft can be a challenge to navigate, simply because of the high volume of players.

But 2020 was anything but typical. Because of the pandemic, only one 2020 draft pick—White Sox lefthander Garrett Crochet—appeared in an official pro game. Every other player who turned pro in 2020 had his season shortened by the pandemic. High schools and colleges stopped playing in March. International amateurs saw the opening of the signing period pushed from July to January.

Thus dynasty leaguers must contend with less performance data and fewer in-person looks than ever before. That makes scouting information you can trust more important than ever, and that's where Baseball America can help with its second annual Dynasty Hot 100 ranking of first-year players.

Just like last year, draft guru Carlos Collazo and international guru Ben Badler provide BA subscribers with invaluable context and updated information on the top 100 prospects you should be looking at in first-year player drafts.

And since our first installment in early February, we've continued to gather information on first-year prospects. Our March 19th update includes several risers and new additions to the list:

Pedro Pineda, No. 44
Maikol Hernandez, No. 45
Cristian Santana , No. 60
Evan Carter, No. 61
AJ Vukovich, No. 65
Jose Fernandez, No. 89
Ambioris Tavarez, No. 96.

PODCAST: Carlos, Ben and Matt discuss the 2021 Hot 100

Notes
— H stands for batting/pitching hand, where an asterisk (*) denotes lefthanded, blank signifies righthanded and a pound sign (#) means switch-hitter.
— We have omitted signing bonuses for international players until, it most cases, they become official.
— BA Grades appear in the 2021 Prospect Handbook and estimate players' projected major league value on the 20-80 scouting scale. Click through each player to access all scouting reports we have on file for him.

Rk	H	Player	Pos	Org	Age	Source	T100	BA500	Bonus	Grade	Risk	ETA
1		Spencer Torkelson	1B	DET	21	4YR	5	1	$8,416,300	70	High	2022
High-probability offensive tools with top-of-the-scale power potential; middle-of-the-order masher
2		Austin Martin	SS	TOR	22	4YR	19	2	$7,000,825	65	High	2022
Elite hit tool with proven track record against SEC pitching; athleticism to offer defensive versatility
3		Ha-Seong Kim	2B	SDP	25	IFA	78	—	—	55	High	2021
Kim is your best bet for a position player who will deliver immediate value this year as a well-rounded player who could be an above-average hitter and play multiple positions.
4		Nick Gonzales	2B	PIT	22	4YR	51	5	$5,432,400	55	High	2022
Chance for high-end hit tool at a middle infield spot; questions about power potential & usable speed
5	*	Zac Veen	OF	COL	19	HS	86	7	$5,000,000	60	Extreme	2024
Chance for above-average bat and plus or better power; corner profile with average speed
6		Max Meyer	RHP	MIA	22	4YR	44	10	$6,700,000	60	High	2022
Explosive two-pitch combination with fastball and slider; chance to miss plenty of bats in starting role
7	*	Asa Lacy	LHP	KCR	22	4YR	37	3	$6,670,000	60	High	2022
Loud stuff from the left side, chance for above-average arsenal across the board with solid control
8	*	Robert Hassell	OF	SDP	19	HS	85	16	$4,300,000	60	Extreme	2024
Best pure hitter in 2020 prep class; well-rounded profile with chance for solid power/speed combo
9	*	Heston Kjerstad	OF	BAL	22	4YR	62	13	$5,200,000	60	High	2022
Corner outfield profile with standout power potential; homers in college came with high whiff rate
10	*	Garrett Mitchell	OF	MIL	22	4YR	91	6	$3,242,900	60	Extreme	2023
Outstanding raw toolset; elite runner, center field profile with raw power—medical, hit tool risks
11		Cristian Hernandez	SS	CHC	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Chance to be an impact, middle-of-the-lineup hitter with advanced swing mechanics and power for his age.
12	*	Tyler Soderstrom	C	OAK	19	HS	92	18	$3,300,000	60	Extreme	2024
Advanced prep bat with plus hit & power potential; impressed at A's alternate site; catcher questions
13		Emerson Hancock	RHP	SEA	22	4YR	57	4	$5,700,000	60	High	2022
Well-rounded arsenal with chance for plus command; questions about FB/SL impact, swing & miss rate
14	*	Garrett Crochet	LHP	CWS	22	4YR	74	15	$4,547,500	55	High	2021
High-octane fastball with proven ability to miss bats in the bigs; injury questions and reliever risk
15	*	Carlos Colmenarez	SS	TBR	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Lefthanded-hitting middle infielder with a sweet, easy stroke from the left side, impressive bat speed and power for his size.
16	*	Austin Hendrick	OF	CIN	20	HS	97	9	$4,000,000	60	Extreme	2024
Best raw power in 2020 prep class; Chance for prototypical right field profile but high-risk
17		Aaron Sabato	1B	MIN	22	4YR	—	35	$2,750,000	50	High	2023
Elite raw power, strong track record of production in ACC; 1B only with limited defensive value/speed
18	*	Reid Detmers	LHP	LAA	21	4YR	—	8	$4,670,000	55	High	2022
Polished college lefthander with advanced command, hammer curve; velocity could cap upside
19	*	Pete Crow-Armstrong	OF	NYM	19	HS	—	17	$3,359,000	55	Very High	2024
Safe prep profile with 70-grade run, defense tools in center field; feel for the barrel but impact questions
20		Cade Cavalli	RHP	WAS	22	4YR	—	22	$3,027,000	55	High	2023
Picturesque delivery/frame with better pure stuff than college performance; breakout pro candidate
21		Mick Abel	RHP	PHI	19	HS	99	11	$4,075,000	60	Extreme	2024
Well-rounded with few holes to speak of outside of track record; top-of-the-rotation upside
22		Wilman Diaz	SS	LAD	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Promising mix of tools, athleticism and in-game skills for his age, including a sound swing and power with a chance to stay at shortstop.
23		J.T. Ginn	RHP	NYM	22	4YR	—	23	$2,900,000	55	Extreme	2023
When healthy, showed potential 70s with FB and SL with good command; Tommy John adds risk
24	*	Austin Wells	C	NYY	21	4YR	—	21	$2,500,000	50	High	2023
Offensive-oriented backstop with strong college power production; needs to refine defense to stick
25		Cole Wilcox	RHP	SDP	21	4YR	—	24	$3,300,000	55	Very High	2023
Physical righthander with big fastball; carries reliever risk given spotty command history, secondaries
26		Jared Kelley	RHP	CWS	19	HS	—	12	$3,000,000	55	Extreme	2024
Power armed prep means plenty of risk, but size and and ease of operation could make him an outlier
27		Slade Cecconi	RHP	ARI	22	4YR	—	32	$2,384,900	55	High	2023
Strong combination of size, pure stuff and command; needs to prove health and durability in pro ball
28		Bobby Miller	RHP	LAD	22	4YR	—	28	$2,197,500	55	High	2023
Power arm with electric fastball/slider combination; needs to refine command/sequencing to start
29		Justin Foscue	2B	TEX	22	4YR	—	36	$3,250,000	50	High	2023
College performer with above-average hit/power potential; defensive limitations and mild toolset
30		Nick Loftin	SS	KCR	22	4YR	—	29	$3,000,000	50	High	2023
Solid-average all-around toolset, more than sum-of-his-parts type; should stick in middle infield
31		Jordan Westburg	SS	BAL	22	4YR	—	33	$2,365,500	50	High	2023
Plus runner with plus raw power; should stick on the left side of the infield; needs to cut down whiffs
32		Ed Howard	SS	CHC	19	HS	—	20	$3,745,500	55	Extreme	2024
Instinctual and nuanced defensive shortstop; overall upside reliant on all-around offensive growth
33		Jordan Walker	3B	STL	19	HS	—	34	$2,900,000	55	Extreme	2024
Long limbed corner infield with plus power potential; moves well but still could move to 1B long-term
34		Tanner Burns	RHP	CLE	22	4YR	—	26	$1,600,000	50	High	2022
Plus fastball but solid SEC starting track record due to advanced command than overwhelming stuff
35		Chris McMahon	RHP	COL	22	4YR	—	30	$1,637,400	50	High	2023
Three above-average pitches with solid control; mid-rotation upside but some injury history adds risk
36	#	Gage Workman	3B	DET	21	4YR	—	51	$1,000,000	50	High	2023
Athletic third baseman with above-average power potential and above-average speed; strikeout questions
37		Bryce Jarvis	RHP	ARI	23	4YR	—	37	$2,650,000	55	High	2023
Big strides with stuff, command in draft season; pro bloodlines but struggled at D-Backs alternate site
38	*	Daniel Cabrera	OF	DET	22	4YR	—	42	$1,210,000	50	High	2023
Professional hitter with simple swing; corner profile and limited supplemental tools puts pressure on power development
39	*	Kyle Harrison	LHP	SFG	19	HS	—	71	$2,497,500	55	Extreme	2025
Advanced prep southpaw with depthy breaking ball, starter traits; big velocity gains in instructs
40	*	Jared Shuster	LHP	ATL	22	4YR	—	43	$2,197,500	50	High	2023
Pitchability lefty with plus changeup, average FB/SL; upside depends on velo, breaking ball improvement
41		Carson Tucker	SS	CLE	19	HS	—	61	$2,000,000	50	High	2025
Draft riser after physical growth, increased speed; pro bloodlines, all-around toolset, feel for the barrel
42		Cole Henry	RHP	WAS	21	4YR	—	44	$2,000,000	50	High	2023
Physical righthander with plus fastball, downer curve; needs to improve consistency, command
43		Nick Bitsko	RHP	TBR	19	HS	—	19	$3,000,000	55	Extreme	2025
Upside northeast arm with plus FB/CB combination; extreme risk given track record, labrum surgery
44		Pedro Pineda	OF	OAK	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
One of the top power/speed threats in the international class, some length to his stroke but plenty of bat speed and athleticism at a premium position.
45		Maikol Hernandez	SS	BAL	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
You can shoot for upside with Hernandez, who has grown taller (6-foot-4) and leaner, with promising athleticism, power and speed if everything clicks.
46	*	Isaiah Greene	OF	NYM	19	HS	—	49	$850,000	50	Extreme	2024
Advanced feel for the barrel, unfazed by velocity and high-end stuff; tweener outfield profile
47		C.J. Van Eyk	RHP	TOR	22	4YR	—	46	$1,797,500	50	High	2023
High-floor type with average-ish tools across the board, repeatable delivery and starter track record
48	*	Zach DeLoach	OF	SEA	22	4YR	—	87	$1,729,800	50	High	2023
Bat, offensive approach is the calling card; on-base skills, controls the zone but limited power & speed
49		Masyn Winn	SS/RHP	STL	19	HS	—	47	$2,100,000	55	Extreme	2025
Explosive athlete with real two-way ability; speed and power as a hitter, FB up to 98 on the mound
50	*	Dax Fulton	LHP	MIA	19	HS	—	52	$2,400,000	50	Extreme	2025
High-upside lefty with projectable frame and current hammer curve; recovering from TJ, needs innings
51		Jared Jones	RHP	PIT	19	HS	—	41	$2,200,000	55	Extreme	2025
Uber-athletic prep two-way player with premium stuff on the mound; high risk given effort, physicality
52		Carmen Mlodzinski	RHP	PIT	22	4YR	—	25	$2,050,000	50	High	2023
Safe college starter profile; good command but sinker FB, inconsistent secondaries could limit upside
53		Alex Santos	RHP	HOU	19	HS	—	45	$1,250,000	55	Extreme	2025
Starter traits with high-spin fastball, feel for spinning breaking balls, but a high-risk demographic
54		Freddy Zamora	SS	MIL	22	4YR	—	73	$1,150,000	55	Extreme	2024
Plus defender with 55-grade speed when healthy, average bat; torn ACL prevented draft season
55		Justin Lange	RHP	SDP	19	HS	—	50	$2,000,000	50	Extreme	2025
Big-time risk/reward type with massive arm talent, FB up to 98; rudimentary skills across the board
56		Jeff Criswell	RHP	OAK	22	4YR	—	53	$1,000,000	45	High	2024
Arm strength righty up to 98 with potential plus breakers; effort and control questions add reliever risk
57		Nick Garcia	RHP	PIT	22	4YR	—	56	$1,200,000	50	Very High	2024
Conversion arm with surprisingly advanced starter traits, deep pitch mix; short track record on the mound
58		Casey Schmitt	3B	SFG	22	4YR	—	76	$1,147,500	50	High	2023
Plus defensive potential at 3B with big arm; pure hitter in college but questions about in-game power
59		Nick Yorke	2B	BOS	19	HS	—	96	$2,700,000	50	Extreme	2024
Risky prep 2B profile but chance for plus hit tool with impressive bat speed, approach; limited toolset
60		Cristian Santana	SS	DET	17	IFA						2026
Santana was one of the better hitters in games in the Dominican Republic, with a short, compact stroke and potential 15-plus home run power.
61	*	Evan Carter	OF	TEX	18	HS	—	—	$1,250,000	50	Extreme	2025
Under-the-radar draftee who Texas paid handsomely; Five-tool potential with power/speed combo; strong instructs performance
62		Danny De Andrade	SS	MIN	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
One of the top international prospects, De Andrade should stick somewhere in the dirt, with a chance to hit and hit for power.
63		Manuel Beltre	SS	TOR	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Other international prospects have bigger raw tools, but Beltre has a compact swing and is one of the best pure hitters in the class.
64		Jackson Bryan Chourio	SS	MIL	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Chourio projects to play somewhere in the middle of the diamond, with an exciting package of power and speed.
65		AJ Vukovich	3B	ARI	19				$1,250,000	50	Extreme	2024
Vukovich could end up at 1B, but even so, he has a promising combination of patience and outstanding raw power.
66		Denzer Guzman	SS	LAA	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
A likely third baseman, Guzman has a sound swing with good bat speed and power potential, one of the most advanced offensive players in the international class.
67	*	Manuel Pena	SS	ARI	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
A probably 3B/2B, Pena is one of the top offensive threats from the Dominican Republic, with an advanced lefty swing and projectable power.
68	*	Starlin Aguilar	3B	SEA	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Aguilar is one of the most advanced pure hitters in the class with a sweet lefty swing, good bat speed and power, though he will probably start at third base and has some first-base risk.
69		Clayton Beeter	RHP	LAD	22	4YR	—	58	$1,196,500	50	High	2023
Loud two-pitch combo with high-spin heater, downer CB; lack of third pitch & control lead to reliever risk
70	*	David Calabrese	OF	LAA	18	HS	—	67	$744,200	45	Extreme	2025
70-grade runner should stick in center field; bat-to-ball skills but lacks power with small frame
71		Hudson Haskin	OF	BAL	22	4YR	—	211	$1,906,800	45	High	2024
Well-rounded toolset with chance for solid power/speed combo; swing has a lot of moving parts
72		Pedro Leon	OF	HOU	23	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2024
Leon got the biggest bonus in the international class ($4 million), but a lot of teams didn't see much of him; he has big power, but we need to see him tested against better pitching.
73	*	Yeison Morrobel	OF	TEX	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Morrobel is a lean, athletic outfielder with a fast, high-contact bat and lots of strength projection to hit for power, though as he fills out he could end up in a corner.
74		Daniel Vazquez	SS	KCR	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Vazquez projects as an athletic shortstop with ample strength projection remaining his frame, giving him a chance to drive the ball with impact as he fills out.
75		Yhoswar Garcia	OF	PHI	19	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2025
Garcia signed last year in March, so he might still be eligible in your league; he's an outstanding athlete with well above-average speed, though uncertainty comes with his hitting given the limitations from the pandemic.
76	#	Patrick Bailey	C	SFG	22	4YR	—	14	$3,797,500	50	High	2023
Advanced, polished defensive catcher with above-average raw power; fringy hit tool from both sides
77	*	Samuel Zavala	OF	SDP	16	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Zavala has a lot of hitterish tendencies, with a knack for barreling balls from the left side, an all-fields approach and emerging power as he's getting stronger.
78		Christian Roa	RHP	CIN	22	4YR	—	64	$1,543,600	50	Very High	2023
Solid-average four-pitch mix with solid control provide high floor; back-of-the-rotation starter type
79		Blaze Jordan	3B	BOS	18	HS	—	90	$1,750,000	50	Extreme	2025
Famous prep power bat; massive raw power is the calling card, risk to move from 3B to 1B
80	*	Danyer Cueva	SS	TEX	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
The Rangers scored Maximo Acosta and Luisangel Acuña out of Venezuela; they have another talented Venezuelan infielder this year in Cueva, a high-contact hitter with a smooth stroke.
81		Alerick Soularie	OF	MIN	21	4YR	—	175	$900,000	50	High	2024
Old-school hitter with crouched, handsy swing; lacks power to profile in corner outfield, chance for 2B
82		Yoelqui Cespedes	OF	CWS	23	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2024
Cespedes has good bat speed and power for his size, but teams have minimal scouting looks at him recently in part due to the pandemic, so we need to see how he fares against better arms.
83	*	Ariel Almonte	OF	CIN	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Almonte is a physical 6-foot-4 outfielder with a relatively compact swing for someone his size, with a sound grasp of the strike zone for his age and a chance to hit for plus power.
84		Coby Mayo	3B	BAL	19	HS	—	79	$1,750,000	45	Extreme	2025
Plus-plus raw power out of a large, physical frame with plenty of arm for the hot corner; bat needs time
85		Dillon Dingler	C	DET	22	4YR	—	27	$1,952,300	50	High	2024
Athletic backstop with strong defensive skills; shortened 2020 season prevented potential offensive breakout
86	#	Zavier Warren	C	MIL	22	4YR	—	122	$575,000	50	Very High	2024
Solid on-base skills, baseball IQ & average toolset; value reliant on ability to stick behind the plate
87	*	Nick Swiney	LHP	SFG	22	4YR	—	85	$1,197,500	50	High	2024
Reliever-turned-starter showed improved control in small sample; funky lefty with FB into mid-90s
88		Casey Martin	SS	PHI	22	4YR	—	38	$1,300,000	50	Extreme	2024
First-round caliber toolset with plus power, speed, defense; approach, consistency are huge questions
89		Jose Fernandez	SS	ARI	17	4YR						2026
One of the best sleepers in the international class, Fernandez has huge physical upside with a chance to be an impact hitter who could stay at shortstop.
90		Miguel Bleis	OF	BOS	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Bleis sticks out for his lean, athletic frame and physical upside in center field as the top signing in Boston's international class.
91	#	Victor Acosta	SS	SDP	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Acosta's value stems from his true shortstop skills, with a slashing offensive approach from both sides and more impact from the left side.
92		Alika Williams	SS	TBR	22	4YR		31	$1,850,000	50	High	2024
Top defensive SS in 2020 class, fluid and smooth defender; contact skills but little power limits offense
93		Kyle Nicolas	RHP	MIA	22	4YR	—	68	$1,129,700	45	High	2024
Power arm with FB up to 100, firm slider up to 90; needs third pitch to start, heavy reliever risk
94	#	Abel Bastidas	SS	DET	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Long, lanky switch-hitter with a knack for finding the barrel and the physical projection to grow into more power and a chance to stick at shortstop, though he might outgrow the position.
95		Hans Montero	SS	NYY	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Montero is steady across the board, a middle infielder with a compact swing, good bat speed and a line-drive approach.
96		Ambioris Tavarez	SS	ATL	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Likely ticketed for third base or a corner outfield spot, Tavarez has big bat speed and power potential.
97		Ian Seymour	LHP	TBR	22	4YR		93	$1,243,600	45	High	2024
Deceptive southpaw with average FB, above-average CH; ultra competitive and could wind up in pen
98		Gabriel Gonzalez	OF	SEA	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
A strong, stocky outfielder, Gonzalez could end up in a corner, but he has hit well in games with power, albeit with an aggressive approach he may have to reign in.
99		Armando Cruz	SS	WAS	17	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
Cruz is a defensive wizard, which won't help much other than in his ability to stick at shortstop, with a split camp on his bat but solid contact skills and a high baseball IQ in all facets of the game.
100	*	Samuel Basallo	C	BAL	16	IFA	—	—	—	—	—	2026
If you're comfortable with 16-year-old catchers, Basallo is worth a roster spot; he's huge for a catcher, but he has a compact swing and huge power for his age.