Welcome to this week’s Big Movers in the weekly update of the RotoProspects Top 500.
The No. 1 riser is Marco Vargas, a 18-year-old Florida Complex League shortstop of the Marlins who came to Miami with another prospect for closer David Robertson to the Mets. The 6-foot, 170-pounder was demonstrating premium plate discipline in the Miami system with a 23.5% walk rate and a 13.6% strikeout rate. He was batting .283 with a .457 OBP to go with 2 homers and 8 steals. Vargas signed for $17,500 out of Mexico the day before he turned 17 in May 2022. In his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League last summer, Vargas put up a triple-slash of .319/.421/.456 with 2 homers and 14 steals with more walks (35) than strikeouts (32). We added him in a 30-team dynasty league with 75 farm spots and moved him into the Top 500 in June when he started mashing in the FCL. His advanced hit tool is his best trait and there’s solid speed, but the power lags behind and doesn’t project to get to plus. If Vargas can get to more power, he could develop into a starting infielder in the majors. With the trade shining a light on the young infielder, his value is on the rise and he catapulted 188 spots to No. 279.
Next up is Zach Dezenzo, a 23-year-old Double-A outfielder of the Astros who has started August on fire by going 4-for-12 with 3 homers, 8 RBIs, 2 walks and 2 steals in 3 games. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was just a 12th-rounder out of Ohio State last year, but has broken out this season. Dezenzo put up a 1.102 OPS with 4 homers and 6 steals in 31 games in High-A to earn a promotion to Corpus Christi, where this recent binge has him up to a .833 OPS with 6 homers and 11 steals in 33 games. Dezenzo has plus power and surprising speed for such a big guy with a hit tool that is showing promise. Dezenzo skyrocketed up 100 spots to No. 398.
Echedry Vargas, an 18-year-old Arizona Complex League infielder of the Rangers who has a .903 OPS with 7 homers and 14 steals in 41 games, leading to a 86-spot jump to No. No. 395.
Blake Dunn, a 23-year-old Double-A outfielder of the Reds who has a .988 OPS with 6 homers and 23 steals in 44 games for Chattanooga after posting a .871 OPS with 8 HR and 19 SB in High-A, so he jumps up 83 spots to No. 158.
Dominic Canzone, a 25-year-old Mariners outfielder who came over from the D’backs in the Paul Sewald deal at the trade deadline and had a 1.065 OPS with 16 homers in Triple-A, and he jumps up 82 spots to No. 242.
Christian Scott, a 24-year-old Double-A right-handed pitcher of the Mets who has a 2.72 ERA with 53-7 K-BB in 46.1 IP for Binghamton after posting a 2.28 ERA with 27-4 K-BB in 23.2 IP in High-A, leading to a 100-spot rise to No. 370.
Luke Adams, a 19-year-old Low-A third baseman of the Brewers who put up a 1.000 OPS in July to raise his season totals to a .433 OBP with 9 homers and 27 steals, so he shoots up at least 68 spots back into the Top 500 at No. 433.
Owen Caissie, a 21-year-old Double-A outfielder of the Cubs who has 4 homers in his last 6 games to get to 20 dingers with a .947 OPS for Tennessee, so he vaults up 59 spots to No. 135.
Dylan Beavers, a 21-year-old Double-A outfielder of the Orioles who is 5-for-9 in his first 2 games for Bowie after putting up a 832 OPS with 9 homers and 22 steals in High-A, leading to a 53-spot jump to No. 159.
Yonathan Perlaza, a 24-year-old Triple-A outfielder of the Cubs who had 7 homers in July to get to a .934 OPS with 15 dingers and 10 steals for Iowa, leading to a 49-spot jump to No. 394.
The biggest faller of the week is Jared Shuster, a 25-year-old Triple-A left-handed pitcher of the Braves who has a 6.27 ERA and 1.82 WHIP for Gwinnett after posting a 5.00 ERA for Atlanta, and he plummets 86 spots to No. 350.
The biggest riser inside the Top 100 is Jackson Chourio, a 19-year-old Double-A outfielder of the Brewers who is 35-for-79 with 5 homers and 8 steals in 18 games since the All-Star Break – he shoots up 5 spots to No. 2.
The biggest faller of the week inside the Top 100 is Austin Wells, a 24-year-old Triple-A catcher of the Yankees who has a .692 OPS with no homers in his first 11 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after posting a .770 OPS in Double-A – he dropped 11 spots to No. 100.
Check back next week to see who the biggest movers are when our next update for the Top 500 Prospects comes out.