Week 2 Fantasy Baseball Hitters Prospect Report: Konnor Griffin Rises Amid Promotion

For the fantasy teams looking to stay ahead of the competition, following the progress of talented players in the minors is a must over the first half of every baseball season. The goal is to fill the backend of your roster with potential batting and pitching upgrades. Here’s a look at some of the early bats I’m tracking and a few names off to a hot start over the first week of minor league baseball:

Catchers

Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Kyle Teel, Chicago White Sox

Teel was a free-faller late in fantasy drafts in March after suffering a hamstring injury in the World Baseball Classic. There hasn’t been an update on his progress over the past 10 days or so, but his last report suggested he was making progress, and he may return closer to the short end of his injury timetable (4-for-6 weeks). I’m hoping for more information about Teel over the next couple of days. For leagues with two starting catchers, I expect him to be an edge at C2.

Jimmy Crooks, St. Louis Cardinals

After falling to make the Cardinals’ opening day roster, Crooks is off to a fast start at AAA (8-for-15 with six runs, three home runs, and six RBIs). Pedro Pages opened his major league season with three hits over 15 at-bats while producing two runs, one home run, and two RBIs. He is the player Crooks must jump to earn playing time with the Cardinals.

First Basemen

Colorado Rockies infielder Charlie Condon during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Charlie Condon, Colorado Rockies

Despite playing well in spring training (.385 over 39 at-bats with six runs, three home runs, and nine RBIs), the Rockies shipped Condon to AAA, where he had no playing time before 2026. Last season, in his first season in the minors after getting drafted third overall in 2024, Condon hit .268 over 59 runs, 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, and two steals. His development was hindered by a broken left wrist during spring training.

Condon opened his AAA campaign with seven hits over 18 at-bats with three runs, two home runs, five RBIs, and one steal while striking out seven times. In his final season at Georgia, he smashed 37 home runs over 231 at-bats (.433 with 57 walks and 41 strikeouts), showcasing his power impact once his bat arrives in the majors.

Deyvison De Los Santos, Miami Marlins

Despite getting only two tease at-bats (a double) with the Miami last weekend, De Los Santos is off to a hot start over two games at AAA (3-for-8 with three runs, two home runs, and five RBIs). His power output was sensational in 2024, between AA and AAA at age 21 (.293 with 89 runs, 40 home runs, and 120 RBIs over 540 at-bats). His bat backed up last season (.240/53/11/52/16 over 396 at-bats) while missing five weeks with a quad injury. The Miami lacks a true starting first baseman, suggesting that De Los Santos will be back in the majors soon. His added speed (16 steals) in 2025 could add sneaky value to his fantasy profile this year.

Second Basemen

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) advances to third during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles

After suffering a broken hamate bone in his right hand in early February, Holliday failed to match the return timetable of Francisco Lindor and Corbin Carroll, who suffered the same injury within a day or two of the Orioles’ star second basemen. Over his first four games at AAA, he went 4-for-13 with a run and one RBI while striking out five times. Baltimore should call him up over the next couple of days, but his bat could trail expectations out of the gate. Holliday should bat leadoff once he hits his stride, and he is a must-roster in all formats.

Hyeseong Kim, Los Angeles Dodgers

With Tommy Edman starting the season on the injured list, I thought Kim was a value speed buy. Unfortunately, the Dodgers shipped him to AAA to open the year, with Alex Freeland earning their starting second base job. Kim played well in spring training (11-for-27 with eight runs, one home run, six RBI, and five steals). He began his AAA season with eight hits over 22 at-bats with nine runs and two RBIs. Surprisingly, Kim has yet to attempt a steal in the minors. His speed offers difference-maker upside, if Kim can earn a full-time job in the majors.

Zack Gelof, Athletics

After fading off fantasy drafters’ cheat sheets in 2026, Gelof is making a case to get recalled by the A’s. His bat and approach look much improved out of the gate at AAA (7-for-18 with seven runs, three home runs, eight RBIs, and two steals). More importantly, Gelof has eight walks with only three strikeouts. He brings a 20/20 profile if his approach remains intact. His ticket to playing would come at second base or third base, which would require him to outplay Max Muncy or push Jeff McNeil to the outfield.

Third Basemen

Chicago White Sox third baseman Oliver Dunn against the Milwaukee Brewers during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Oliver Dunn, Chicago White Sox

In 2023, Dunn played well over 417 at-bats at AA (.269/65/21/78/16) while grading well in his walk rate (16.2%). His bat was overmatched over the past two seasons in the majors for the Brewers (.206/15/1/13/4 over 131 at-bats) due to striking out 51 times. He played well over his first 21 at-bats in the White Sox system this year (.333 with four runs, one home run, seven RBIs, and two steals). Dunn has experience at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield in the minors.

Ryan Fitzgerald, Los Angeles Dodgers

Over his first five games at AAA, Fitzgerald went 12-for-24 with four runs, one home run, and 12 RBIs while striking out three times. His swing was also intact in spring training (.333 over 30 at-bats with eight runs and seven RBIs). At age 32, he is well past his prospect prime while only having 46 career at-bats in the majors (.196 with 10 runs, four home runs, nine RBIs, and one steal) in 2025.

Shortstops

Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Colt Emerson, Seattle Mariners

This week, the Mariners locked up Emerson for eight seasons for $95 million, while also having ninth year option. He played well at age 19 between High A, AA, and AAA in 2025 (.283/81/16/77/14 over 508 at-bats) while showcasing a favorable approach. Over 18 spring training games, Emerson hit .268 across 41 at-bats with nine runs, two home runs, eight RBIs, and one steal. He opened his AAA season in 2026 with five hits over 18 at-bats with three runs, one home run, two RBIs, and six strikeouts. His new paycheck suggests the Mariners will call him up soon.

Konnor Griffin, Pittsburgh Pirates

Fantasy prayers have been answered after the Pirates announced that Griffin would be recalled from AAA on Friday. He had been a hot ticket in fantasy drafts in 2026, as many drafters didn’t want to miss out on the next big bat. His success last year (.333/117/21/94/65 over 417 at-bats) over three levels of minor league baseball screamed put me in coach at the major league level.

On the downside, Griffin had a quiet spring training in batting average (.171 over 41 at-bats), but he put four balls in the seats with nine RBIs and one steal. At AAA this year, Griffin had seven hits over his first 16 at-bats with four runs, one RBI, and three steals while taking five walks and striking out four times. Pittsburgh may have finalized a new contract for him, but it has yet to be announced.

Outfielders

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder James Tibbs III against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

James Tibbs, Los Angeles Dodgers

In his first full season in the Dodgers’ system, Tibbs turned in a competitive four-category season (.243/82/20/71/10 over 457 at-bats). He took plenty of walks (90), with a reasonable strikeout rate (21.4%). Tibbs is off to a fast start at AAA (12-for-22 with 10 runs, three home runs, and nine RBIs) over his first five games.

The Giants drafted him 13th overall in the 2024 MLB June Amateur Draft after a productive final season at Florida State (.363 with 75 runs, 28 home runs, 95 RBIs, and eight steals over 251 at-bats). San Francisco shipped Tibbs to the Red Sox in the Rafael Devers deal last June, and then traded him to the Dodgers for Dustin May. Other than strikeouts (21), he also played well in spring training (.313 over 48 at-bats with eight runs, four home runs, and 11 RBIs).

Dylan Crews, Washington Nationals

After a cold spring training (3-for-29 with four runs, two RBIs, one steal, and 11 strikeouts), the Nationals surprisingly shipped Crews back to AAA. His demotion led to him free-falling in the high-stakes drafts in late March. At some point, his ceiling was too high to pass up, and Washington doesn’t have talent blocking him from a quick return to the majors.

Crews still hasn’t found his rhythm at the plate at AAA (2-for-13 with two runs, two RBIs, and two steals), but he has cleaned up his whiffs (four strikeouts over 18 plate appearances). I view him as must follow this spring, as his skill set should be attractive to all fantasy teams if Crews hits his expected stride in 2026.

Nolan Jones, Cleveland Guardians

Jones has been a forgotten man in the fantasy market over the past two seasons after teasing in 2023 (.297/60/20/62/20 over 367 at-bats). He opened his AAA season with seven hits over 20 at-bats with five runs, two home runs, and eight RBIs, but he still whiffed eight times. Jones looked lost for the Guardians in spring training over his 33 at-bats (.152 with three runs, one home run, six RBIs, and one steal) due to striking out 14 times.