One Notable Dynasty Baseball Player from Every NL Team: James Wood, Jackson Chourio, Matt Shaw, Paul Skenes, Bryce Eldridge and More

It’s time to wrap up a quick, two-part fantasy baseball series. I’m highlighting my favorite dynasty player from each team. That doesn’t mean the top dynasty player from each team, but simply who intrigues me the most.

I covered the American League teams on Thursday and now will discuss the National League teams. Let’s get right to it!

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Andrew Painter, Phillies

We’ll begin with the Phillies and Painter, one of the top pitching prospects in the game. He’s just 21 years old and expected to make his MLB debut at some point in 2025.

Painter has been a quick riser in the minor leagues after being drafted in the first round of the 2021 draft. He got up to Double-A before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2023-24 seasons.

If he can get back in a groove early this season, he could definitely debut with the Phillies, or another team after a trade, by the end of this coming season. He’s got good grades for his pitching tools and is a physical force at 6-foot-7, which is what appeals to me.

Spencer Schwellenbach, Braves

Schwellenbach really hit a groove late in his rookie season, and I think that’s just the start of what will be a long and prosperous career in the big leagues.

He made 21 starts in 2024, going 8-7 with a 3.35 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 123 2/3 innings. Schwellenbach is a young pitcher to build a dynasty team around, and I honestly think he’s quite underrated right now.

He might cost a lot still, but I think he’s going to be one of the top pitchers in the game in the years to come, so he’d be well worth the high asking price in the long run.

Luisangel Acuna, Mets

Acuna looked fantastic in his 14 games played in 2024, hitting .308 and hitting three home runs. He’s not a super highly-regarded dynasty player, but at just 22 years old and already in the big leagues, he’s more appealing to me over some higher-ranked prospects.

He doesn’t look to have a starting spot locked in going into 2025, but he can play all over the field. If Acuna can keep hitting, he’ll work his way into the lineup at some point.

Acuna is definitely a player to take a flier on, as at some point, he’ll get his break and hopefully never look back.

James Wood, Nationals

Wood looked pretty good in his 79 MLB games in 2024. He hit .264, got on base at a .354 clip, hit nine homers and stole 14 bases.

There’s likely to be some bumps along the road, but the 22-year-old has an extremely bright future. He’s already expected to hit in the heart of the lineup, which means he’ll be a big fantasy asset to any leagues, not just dynasties.

He was a top prospect coming up through the minors, and the early indication after his first taste of MLB action is that Wood is destined to be one of the top MLB players in the coming years.

Eury Perez, Marlins

Perez’s promising career hit a road bump in 2024 after he underwent Tommy John surgery. 

He had a 3.14 ERA across 91 1/3 innings in his first taste of MLB action in 2023 and was a trendy sleeper pick in 2024 as a result. Perez isn’t expected back until the middle of this season, but he’s still just 21 years old and has an extremely bright future ahead of him.

His dynasty value is a little down after missing all of 2024 and coming off the injury, so his trade value and draft stock are lower than they should be. Take advantage of things and land yourself one of the brightest young pitchers in the MLB.

Jackson Chourio, Brewers

Chourio is the best dynasty player in Milwaukee right now, and he’s destined for big fantasy seasons, not just in the future, but immediately in 2025.

He came on strong in the second half of his rookie season, and now has extremely high hopes for 2025. Chourio should hit atop the Milwaukee lineup and be one of the better fantasy hitters in the game.

Chourio should be very close to untouchable if already rostered in dynasty leagues, and if you are drafting, he’ll probably be a top-10, or so, pick.

J.J. Wetherholt, Cardinals

Wetherholt is the top St. Louis prospect after being the No. 7 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He hit .295 across his first 29 games in A-ball last summer.

His ETA is 2026 for a lot of sites, but if he continues to hit well, he could be a quick riser and potential late-season call up. Wetherholt looks to be the shortstop of the future in St. Louis.

If he is a quick riser, he or Masyn Winn might make the move to second base in order to get both young players on the field.

Matt Shaw, Cubs

Shaw has not made his MLB debut yet, but could open the season as the team’s starting third baseman.

He’s a highly-regarded prospect and is a career .303 hitter across two minor league seasons. Shaw has pop and speed at his disposal, and could quickly turn into a good fantasy asset in all league types.

If he doesn’t break spring training with the team, I’d guess that Shaw gets a call up before June.

Matt McLain, Reds

I just wrote about McLain in my top-10 second basemen story, but think he deserves another mention here. He’s just 25 years old and looked great in his rookie season in 2023 before missing all of 2024 with injuries. 

He had a .290 average and .357 OBP across 89 games, with 16 home runs and 14 stolen bases as well. That’s really well-rounded fantasy production, and he’s being overlooked after missing all of last season.

There’s some risk involved for sure, but I’m more than willing to take a gamble on him in case he gets right back to his 2023 form.

Paul Skenes, Pirates

There’s apparently a bunch of really good, young MLB players in the NL who have already made their debuts. Skenes might have the highest ceiling of them all.

After being drafted first in the 2023 draft, Skenes made 23 starts for Pittsburgh in 2024. He was 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts over 133 innings.

Skenes is a stud, and there’s absolutely room for growth in the 22-year-old. He’s already a special talent, and the sky's the limit - he’s my top fantasy pitcher to build around in dynasty leagues.

Josue De Paula, Dodgers

The Dodgers are stacked at the major league level, but they also have some great prospects, and I like De Paula the most.

He’s a career .291 hitter across three minor league seasons. De Paula has some pop and plenty of speed and is just 19 years old.

He’s expected to debut in 2026, but could maybe have an outside chance of debuting late in 2025 if he’s traded to a rebuilding franchise.

Jackson Merrill, Padres

Merrill was another rookie who looked great in his rookie season. He’s already one of the top fantasy hitters in the game, and I think he could really announce his presence in 2025.

Merrill should hit in the heart of the Padres’ lineup and is still only 21 years old. It’s maybe a bit of a bold prediction, but I think Merrill could contend for NL MVP this season.

His long-term outlook is fantastic, and he’s definitely a player to build a dynasty team around.

Jordan Lawlar, Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll is the best dynasty piece in Arizona, but I want to discuss Lawler, who is just 22 years old and is a highly-regarded prospect.

Injuries slowed his path to the big leagues, but he’s got a chance to either make the team out of spring training, or soon after the season begins.

It might take an injury to get Lawler in the lineup permanently, but his chance will come eventually.

Bryce Eldridge, Giants 

Eldridge is the top San Francisco prospect, and for good reason. The first baseman has a .292 average across two minor league seasons, with plenty of pop to his game.

He’s just 20 years old and not expected to debut until 2026, but I think a 2025 call up is definitely possible.

Get Eldridge on your team before his dynasty value really explodes.

Yanquiel Fernandez, Rockies

This might be the first time you’ve heard of Fernandez, but I’ve been a fan for a couple years now. The 22-year-old is close to making his MLB debut, and of course, is hitting in Colorado, so that’s a big plus for his fantasy outlook.

He’s a career .278 hitter across parts of four minor league seasons. Fernandez has some pop, but not a ton of speed. He profiles as a middle-of-the-order hitter.

Fernandez is a dynasty player I am super high on, and someone who isn’t going to cost a lot in a trade or go super early in a startup draft.