I’ll be running down everything that caught my eye in the Dynasty Baseball world on most Mondays throughout the season here on the Brick Wall. The rest of the week you can catch my Rundowns on the Patreon. Here is the Monday Morning Dynasty Baseball Rundown (8/4/25):

CLICK HERE TO JOIN MY PATREON FOR TONS OF EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ALL SEASON, INCLUDING:
–MID-SEASON 2025 TOP 437 DYNASTY RANKS (August Update coming next week)
–JULY 2025 TOP 349 PROSPECTS RANKS
-TOP 60 2026 FYPD RANKS w/ Analysis & Prime Projections for every player
-TOP 9 MID-SEASON 2025 DYNASTY BASEBALL TARGETS
-HALP’S DYNASTY BASEBALL PODCAST: TRADE DEADLINE & JULY MAILBAG! (dropped last week)
-TONS OF DYNASTY RUNDOWNS
–SPREADSHEETS

Dylan Beavers – BAL, OF, 23.11, AAA – You know Beavers can just smell that opportunity. Wait, do Beavers have a good sense of smell? Or do they just build dams? I don’t know because I’m not a zoologist, but I am a prospectologist, and I’m observing the behavior of the 6’5” Beaver/Oriole hybrid in the wild. Look at how the majestic creature unfurls his monster frame to strike it’s prey at just the right time. And not just once. He finishes them with a 2nd fatal blow to the jugular. The first homer would have went into whatever body of water that is back there if it didn’t hit the scoreboard, and that didn’t even look like a full swing. That 2nd one he put his back into and crushed even harder into the centerfield batter’s eye at 108.3 MPH. He knows the opportunity is waiting for him now that Laureano and O’Hearn are out the door. It’s just a matter of time, and Beavers has the power, speed, size, athleticism, contact rates, and approach to make a major impact. Just look at the numbers he’s putting up, slashing .307/.421/.520 with 16 homers, 22 steals, and a 17.1/16.3 K%/BB% in 85 games at Triple-A. Utter destruction.

Emil Morales – LAD, SS, 18.9,, A – Oh, here we fucking go. If you want to call blasting 2 homers on Saturday getting comfortable at Single-A, then Morales is making himself right at home. He also went 2 for 5 with a double and a steal on Friday. The dude is a lift and pull machine with double plus power and pretty damn good athleticism. He runs a bit too. Just call him Emil Morentino, because if you missed out on the Florentino hype train, Morales is now right behind him. Here is what I wrote in Morales’s Target blurb this off-season, “Jesus Made this. Jesus Made that. Made, Made, Made. But what if it is Morales who ends up the true star. Made hit 6 homers in 51 DSL games … cute. Morales hit 14 in 46 games. There is nothing cute about that. Morales had a 27.5% GB%. Made’s was 48.6%. Morales is a 6’3” beast. Made ain’t that big. Made has the hit tool edge for sure, but I find trusting DSL contact/hit tool evaluation is the most precarious of any of the DSL stats/skills to predict at higher levels. We know Morales has some hit tool issues, and we know he has monster power upside. Made’s upside depends much more on that hit tool, and you know me, I’m most hesitant to buy into hit tool. Now, I’m being a bit over the top here, because you know I love Made too, and I’m in on Made, ranking him over Morales, and in my Top 40. But the point here is that Morales doesn’t get even a smidge of Made’s hype, so you can get them both. Pay up for Made, and then scoop Morales much later. It’s not an either or scenario.” … Now Made has a .267 BA with a 20.6% K%, 4 homers and a .267/.373/.388 Triple-A in 83 games at Single-A. Are we sure that Made is even that great? 😉 … Morales has a 145 wRC+ in 6 games to Made’s 122 … I just love needling Made, ha, but once again, the point being, don’t be surprised if it’s Morales ends up the true beast. Or I guess Florentino now too. Or Pena. It’s not just Made’s world. And now Emil is coming for his slice of the pie.

Kyle Stowers – MIA, OF, 27.6 – 2 for 4 with a 98.1 MPH chip shot that Stowers didn’t even come close to getting all of. I talked about it on last week’s July Mailbag Podcast (Patreon), but there is no more beating around the bush, Stowers is officially entering potentially Top 50 dynasty asset territory. This looks like a Brent Rooker 2.0 situation, and if you remember, people definitely were slow to really fully buy into Rooker. Stowers was a major target for me a few years ago (before the struggles scared me off), but I absolutely loved his powerful swing, and that was before bat tracking. Now with bat tracking we see it is a truly special swing with a double plus 75.1 MPH speed and a very short 6.8 foot length. That is a dangerous combination, and he’s using that whooping stick to crack 25 homers with a 19.6% Barrel%, .948 OPS and .392 xwOBA in 105 games. Sure the hit tool is still a risk with a 28.3% K% and 33.3% whiff%, so maybe I will be more comfortable putting him in Top 100 range when I update the Dynasty Rankings next week, but by the end of the year, don’t be surprised to see him nipping the Top 50.

Edward Cabrera – MIA, RHP, 27.2 – Speaking of not beating around the bush, I was all over Cabrera’s breakout from the second it first started sprouting back in May, calling him a major target, and he’s just been a straight rocket ship since then, going 6 IP with 2 hits, 1 ER, and a 7/1 K/BB vs. the Yanks yesterday. The curve went 8 for 15 on whiffs, the slider went 4 for 8, and the changeup induced weak contact with a 65 MPH EV. His two 97+ MPH fastballs were his least used pitches. Who is this man? He’s turned into Picasso on the mound. He now has a 3.24 ERA with a 24.8/8.2 K%/BB% in 100 IP. The 28.3% whiff% is in double plus range. He’s now sniffing Top 100 dynasty asset value himself.

Jack Perkins – OAK, RHP, 25.7 – With the closer role and a starting spot opening up in Sacramento post deadline, we didn’t know which way Perkins would go, but he’s in the rotation, and he did not make a statement in his first start, going 3 IP with 5 hits, 4 ER, and a 4/3 K/BB vs. ARI. The good news though is that the whiffs were still there with a 29% whiff%, and he also induced weak contact with a 78.3 MPH EV against. The 95.2 MPH fastball put up a 27% whiff% with an 80.3 MPH EV against. The sweeper notched a 40% whiff% and 73.6 MPH EV against. He mixed in a cutter and changeup too. While not a great outing, it could actually keep the buy window on Perkins open for a bit longer, because I’m liking him a lot right now. He has a 33% whiff% with an 85.6 MPH EV against in 22.2 IP on the season. Missing bats and inducing weak contact is an exciting combo. The control is below average and the ballpark is rough, but I’m buying that stuff/whiff/weak contact trifecta. I’m fully in on Perkins.

Joe Boyle – TBR, RHP, 25.11 – 5 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 2/2 K/BB vs. LAD … now that’s more like it Boyle. He wasn’t putting up big time whiffs with only a 13% whiff%, but he was inducing weak contact with a 87.9 MPH EV against led by the slider (75.9 MPH EV against), and he was getting called strikes with a solid 32% CSW%. It’s honestly encouraging to me that he was able to dominate the Dodgers without even having his best swing and miss stuff. This is the new and improved Boyle. And of course the strikeouts are going to come too. Any buy window that is still open on Boyle I would be all over. The fastball sits upper 90’s, he has two bat missing secondaries in his slider and splitter, and the control is much improved. There is true high end fantasy upside in here even with still below average control.

Colson Montgomery – CHW, SS, 23.5 – In one of the wildest, wackiest seasons I can remember in a while, Colson “The Rollercoaster” Montgomery had another big day on the MLB level, going 2 for 4 with a 100.8 MPH dinger off Jack Kochanowicz. He’s now slashing .256/.304/.547 with 7 homers, 0 steals, and a 26.9/6.5 K%/BB% in 25 games. He has a 14.8% Barrel%, 95 MPH FB/LD EV and a .365 xwOBA. The man had a 78 wRC+ in 60 games in the minors this year. Like I said, wild ride, and I can’t help but think we aren’t off that ride yet. We are just at the top of it. The 33% whiff% and 35.2% Chase% says strap in. Super fun start and Montgomery definitely has real pop, but I can’t be all in quite yet.

CJ Kayfus – CLE, 1B, 23.7 – Kayfus made his MLB debut, and that beaut of a lefty swing immediately made an impact with a 108.4 MPH double off the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Michael Tonkin). I can’t get that lefty swing out of my mind, and it’s what made me name him one of my Top 9 Mid-Season Dynasty Baseball Targets (Patreon), writing, “The last time I just couldn’t get a guy’s swing out of my mind was Wilyer Abreu. I think I named Abreu a major target right right around this time 2 years ago, and then he got the call in August and just went gangbusters with a .939 OPS to close out 2023. Just watch Kayfus crush his 12 homer in 57 games at Triple-A last night. Tell me that isn’t a swing you just want to bet on. And he doesn’t have split issues. He crushes lefties just as hard as righties. There is some hit tool risk, there is some defense risk, and it’s not like his price is going to be super low, but I still think we are all underrating him. I don’t think you are going to have to give up an arm and a leg to get him. Nobody on Cleveland is locking in that long term 1B/DH. It’s going to be Kayfus’ job, and he’s going to deliver.” … and now he’s up, and now he’s starting to deliver. I’m still all in on Kayfus. I’m just betting on that swing. Simple as that.

Alex Freeland – LAD, SS, 23.10 – Alex Freeland MLB debut check in … 0 for 4 with 2 K yesterday and now has a 93.7 MPH EV with a 45.8% whiff% in 15 PA. Yup, that is about exactly right for his first taste. Hits it hard with legit hit tool concerns. Obviously insanely small sample, but it reinforces the profile. I like him. Top 75 prospect for me, but there is definitely risk.

Hector Rodriguez – CIN, OF, 21.4, AAA – Okay, it’s now quite clear that I’ve been underrating Hector Rodriguez. We’ve all been underrating this man, and the reason is obvious. The little man discount strikes again as the 5’10” Rodriguez just never got the full respect he deserved throughout his excellent minor league career. But I can’t overlook him any longer (well, I can, because I got an inch and a half on him at 5’11” and a half … 6’0” if you want to round up! ;), because he’s been making a statement since getting the call to Triple-A. He cracked his 2nd homer in 13 games at the level on Saturday, and as you can see, he might be 5’10”, but he’s a powerful 5’10”. Dude can hit the ball hard with a 53.5% Hard Hit% at at the level. The contact rates have been standout throughout his career (14% K% in 95 total games this year), and he’ll run a bit too with 10 steals. The reason why I’ve been hesitant to go all is because he’s a corner outfielder who doesn’t walk a lot, the launch isn’t conducive to big homer totals (8 degrees) and he’s not a good base stealer. It doesn’t seem like that high upside of a profile, but Cincinnati will help everything play up, and I just can’t deny the dominance. I’ve been slow to buy in, but he’s winning me over.

Carson Benge – NYM, OF, 22.5, AA – The man doesn’t stop. I gushed over Benge’s swing in last Monday’s Rundown, and I mean, just watch him vaporize his 8th homer in 26 games since getting called up to Double-A. He’s 19 for 22 on the bases on the season and the plate skills are plus. He does it all, and he certainly passes the eye test with athleticism, size and explosion. I don’t think saying he’s a Top 25 prospect is crazy at all. That is how I would value him.

Joey Cantillo – CLE, LHP, 25.7 – 5.2 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER, 9/2 K/BB vs. MIN. Not the greatest start, and this has kinda been a microcosm of his season, but damn is that 44% whiff% eye popping. The changeup put up a 79% whiff% on 11 of 14 whiffs!!! The curve notched a 50% whiff%, the slider a 33% whiff% and the 91.5 MPH fastball a 20% whiff%. Cantillo is a whiff machine with a 31.9% whiff% in 55.2 IP on the season. He had a 31.1% whiff% in 2024 as well. Sure the stuff isn’t that huge and it’s hittable. Sure the control is below average, but if you love K chasing like I do, Cantillo is surely mighty interesting. He has a 3.68 xERA (4.37 ERA) with a 29.5/12.3 K%/BB% on the season. Like I said, there are deficiencies, but he’s an excellent low cost/free pick up option right now.

Luis Gil – NYY, RHP, 27.0 – Gil made his season debut from a lat strain, and his performance showed why I’ve been hesitant to really go after him, going 3.1 IP with 5 hits, 5 ER, and a 3/4 K/BB vs. Miami. I just don’t trust the control. He wasn’t missing bats in this one either with a 16% whiff%. The stuff is still big with a bat missing 96.4 MPH fastball, but even last year, his highest whiff pitch was the 31.4% whiff% slider. His secondaries really aren’t all that great. I just don’t love him, but it’s only his first start, and of course the upside is obvious.

Julio Rodriguez – SEA, OF, 24.7 – 2 for 4 with a 112.4 MPH single, a 103.6 MPH homer, and a stolen base to notch the 4th straight 20/20 season of his career. He had a .687 OPS in his first 92 games and now that inevitable 2nd half heater is here with a 1.000 OPS in his last 20 games. So stupid. It’s like clockwork. Is he ever going to get that figured out? Are we ever going to see a full season of dominance?

Marek Houston – MIN, SS, 21.3 – One of my favorite times of the year is watching all of the new draftees make their pro debuts. The pro debut isn’t the end all be all, but I do think it says a lot about the player and gives a real indication of how they are going to transition to pro ball. Not many have debuted yet, but Houston has, and well, I’m not loving it. He already made a gold glove play in the field, which is really what Minnesota drafted him 16th overall for, but we know he doesn’t have big power, so the hit tool needs to bulletproof, and so far, it’s not. He has a 35.7/7.1 K%/BB% in 14 PA at Single-A. Stupid small sample of course. Just something to watch and keep our eye one. But if his strikeout rates are like mid 20’s in this debut, I’m going to like him less than I already do. Keep an eye.

Esteban Mejia – BAL, RHP, 18.4, A – 4 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 2/2 K/BB in his Single-A debut. I don’t know, Kendry Chourio was lights out in his Single-A debut last week. Mejia definitely has a level of nastiness that Chourio doesn’t really have, but Chourio is plenty nasty himself with pristine control. Do we have the wrong guy? Is it Chourio? Is it both of them? Is it neither of them because 17/18 year old rookie ball pitchers are a minefield to own?

Coby Mayo – BAL, 3B, 23.6 – Mayo is finally unleashed with the trades! We did it! … 0 for 4 with a K yesterday and is now 0 for his last 18 with a 38.9% K% … hah … I mean, I laugh so I don’t cry … Mayo is taking the hard route. We already know that. It’s never easy with him. But just use Stowers as your North Star. He will get there. Hopefully before he’s 27 years old and on the Marlins …

CLICK HERE TO JOIN MY PATREON FOR TONS OF EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ALL SEASON, INCLUDING:
–MID-SEASON 2025 TOP 437 DYNASTY RANKS (August Update coming next week)
–JULY 2025 TOP 349 PROSPECTS RANKS
-TOP 60 2026 FYPD RANKS w/ Analysis & Prime Projections for every player
-TOP 9 MID-SEASON 2025 DYNASTY BASEBALL TARGETS
-HALP’S DYNASTY BASEBALL PODCAST: TRADE DEADLINE & JULY MAILBAG! (dropped last week)
-TONS OF DYNASTY RUNDOWNS
–SPREADSHEETS

By Michael Halpern (@MichaelCHalpern)
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@DynastyHalp)
Blue Sky: Dynasty Halp (@ImaginaryBrickWall)