Relief Pitching Prospect Rankings for 2025 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball

While the team-by-team top 30 prospect rankings are behind us, find those here: Team Top 30s, prospect season rages on. Looking at and breaking down prospects by positions is also extremely helpful! So while we transition to the MLB side of things, I also wanted to get out positional prospect rankings.

Today, we look at relievers. Who cares about relief pitching prospects, right? Nope, the deeper the dynasty league, the more relevant relievers are. You can also gain an edge by rostering relievers before they come up and take big roles.

So, who are the top relief pitching prospects in the minor leagues? Let’s discuss.

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2025 Top Relief Pitching Prospects for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball

Shadow RP(These Pitchers Worked in Starter and RP Roles in 2024)

Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, 22, Milwaukee Brewers, 6’7”/200, AAA

The Brewers identified Misiorowski as a high-upside arm out of Crowder College and took him in the second round of the 2022 draft. Some scouts immediately identified him as being one of the biggest steals of the draft. Misiorowski quickly vaulted up prospect rankings and now sits on the cusp of an MLB debut.

Misiorowski pumps a fastball that consistently reaches triple digits but plays up even more due to his release point and extension. The fastball averaged over 98 mph this season with 16 inches of IVB from a 5’4” release height. Given the release point, the fastball characteristics are pretty insane, and Misiorowski gets over ten inches of arm-side movement as well.

Misiorowski's biggest swing-and-miss pitch is a curveball that sits in the mid-80s with negative 11 inches of IVB but consistently gets good sweeping action. The curve gives hitters nightmares when trying to prepare for both the fastball and the curveball, which misses a tremendous amount of bats.

Misiorowski also throws a slider/cutter that sits in the low 90s but gets up to 96 on occasion. The pitch has some carry and an inch or two of horizontal movement. He will flash a changeup on occasion, sitting in the lower 90s, but it is not often used.

What you see is what you get with Misiorowski: a tall, lanky arm with a tough-to-pick-up release point and some of the best stuff in the minors. He struggles to throw consistent strikes, but the move to the bullpen in August did see that mark jump to 62 percent from 58.5 percent as a starter.

Do the Brewers continue to develop Misiorowski in the bullpen? Or will he move back to a starter's role in 2025? Either way, the talent in his arm is immense.

Shane Smith, RHP, 24, Chicago White Sox, 6’4”/235, AAA

Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest who has been highly impressive as a pro pitcher in the Brewers organization. After thriving in a bullpen role in 2023, Smith made 16 starts and pitched in 27 games in 2024, totaling 94.1 innings, where he posted a 3.05 ERA with 113 strikeouts and 29 walks.

Pounding the zone, Smith threw strikes at a rate north of 65 percent this season. He missed bats and rarely allowed hard contact, keeping the ball on the ground at a high clip.

Smith’s fastball sits at around 94 mph but can reach up to 98 mph. The pitch plays up due to nearly seven feet of extension. Smith also throws a cutter in the low-90s which is his second most used pitch. The curveball dials it all the way back to 80 mph, as the pitch has 12 inches of sweeping action with negative 14 inches of IVB.

Whether Smith is a starter or reliever long term is the question. Just six of his 27 appearances in 2024 saw him pitch at least five innings, and only 11 were more than three innings. Regardless, Smith is a talented arm and has proven he can be a big-league arm in some capacity, even if it is in the bullpen.

Jack Perkins, RHP, 25, Athletics, 6’1”/220, AA

Pitching in short-inning roles to begin the year, Perkins slowly built up all season and wound up being a dominant start after the All Star break. A 2022 fifth-round pick, Perkins has struggled with command and walks at times, but his improvements now make it look like he could be a solid starting pitcher.

Perkins is armed with a big fastball that sits 94-96 in relief roles, but has been more 93-95 mph as a starter. It is a high riding pitch from a low release point, missing plenty of bats. It does play up in shorter stints, which could lead to it being a plus pitch.

The slider evolved into a sweeper in 2024, reaching mid-80s with high spin rates. Perkins also mixes in a cutter that sits around 90 mph and a curveball in the mid-80s. The command is highly inconsistent on the secondaries at times, leading to relief questions.

Perkins is a heavy helium prospect right now and for good reason. Over his final seven starts to end the year, Perkins posted a 1.43 ERA with 54 strikeouts to 14 walks over 44 innings.

2025 Top RP Prospects

Edgardo Henriquez, RHP, 22, Los Angeles Dodgers, 6’4”/200, MLB

It is pretty rare I rank pure relievers this high on prospect-only rankings, but it is also rare that we see a young prospect jump from Single-A to the Majors with the kind of performance that Heriquez had.

In 53 minor league innings, Henriquez posted a 2.72 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 29 walks. Although his time in the majors was just three innings, Henriquez punched out five and allowed just one earned run.

Henriquez has an electric fastball that averaged just shy of 100 mph with 16 inches of ride from a 6’2” release height and has five inches of arm-side run. That pitch was used 60 percent of the time in 2024.

The slider sits around 89 mph with around zero inches of IVB and five inches of horizontal. It missed bats at an absurd rate of north of 65 percent. Henriquez also utilized a low-90s cutter that also missed bats.

Henriquez looks like a future closer with elite stuff. He threw strikes at a league-average rate and had an elite 20 percent swinging strike rate. Henriquez might have the best stuff of reliever in the minors in 2024.

Andrew Walters, RHP, 24, Cleveland Guardians, 6’4”/222, MLB

The Guardians drafted Walters, a pure RP prospect, in the second round of the 2023 draft. The pick has already paid dividends as Walters flew through the minors, dominating in his 50 innings. The 2.32 ERA with 79 strikeouts to 25 walks was impressive and earned Walters a promotion to the majors just over a year after being drafted.

Walters relies heavily on his fastball, which is a dominant one. It sits at 96 with a ton of spin, 18 inches of IVB, and short-running action. His slider is a high-spinning pitch that averages six inches of sweeping action. Walters threw a splitter in the minors but did not show it in a small MLB cameo. The pitch produced the highest whiff rate of his pitches in the minors, sitting in the upper 80s with an impressive movement profile.

Walters is one of the few pitching prospects you watch and say, “This looks like a potential closer.” The stuff is elite. Walters throws strikes, and he misses a ton of bats. This is the kind of arm you want pitching at the back of your bullpen.

Craig Yoho, RHP, 25, Milwaukee Brewers, 6’3”/225, AAA

Yoho was drafted in the eighth round of the 2023 draft and began his pro career in High-A this year, but he was so good he jumped to Triple-A by season’s end. Now, he looks like one of the best RP prospects in baseball and is on the cusp of an MLB debut. Between three levels, Yoho pitched 57.2 innings with a 0.94 ERA and 101 strikeouts to 23 walks.

The fastball ranges from 91-95 mph with absurd horizontal movement. We are looking at 20 inches of run consistently. The changeup plays extremely well off it with a similar movement profile, and Yoho sells it well with similar arm speed. The pitch has up to 15 mph of separation from the fastball with very late tumble and fading action. It averages between 18 and 20 inches of horizontal movement and is legitimately one of the best changeups in baseball.

Yoho also mixes a mid-70s curve with… you guessed it: wicked east-to-west movement and nice depth. Averaging north of 20 inches of sweep, it also shows nice depth and misses many bats. The upper-80s cutter is a nice bridge pitch, but the changeup and curve are the elite offerings here.

Yoho pounds the strike zone, misses a ton of bats, and has one of the highest CSW rates in baseball. If you want the next big-time reliever, Yoho is your guy.

Evan Reifert, RHP, 25, Washington Nationals, 6’4”/190, AA

One of the best relievers in the minors, Reifert was selected fifth overall in the 2024 Rule V draft by the Washington Nationals. Coming off a 41-inning season in Double-A with the Rays, Reifert posted a 1.96 ERA with a 40 percent strikeout rate. Injuries have been the story of Reifert’s pro career, but when healthy, there might not be a better reliever in the minors.

The slider is the best pitch in the arsenal for Reifert, sitting 84-85 mph with strong trait. It is a pitch that Reifert leads with and relies heavily on, inducing swing and miss at a high rate.

Reifert’s fastball sits around 95 mph and while having heavy arm-side run. He throws from a tough slot for hitters to pick up, especially on his slider. Even with just his fastball and slider, Reifert could be a solid reliever for a long time.

Chris Cortez, RHP, 22, Los Angeles Angels, 6’1”/205, NCAA

A dominant reliever at Texas A&M, Cortez made a massive leap in 2024 with stuff, and posted a 2.78 ERA across 64.2 innings with 102 strikeouts. This feels like a profile that the Angels will push fast and have in their bullpen as soon as 2025.

Cortez saw his fastball tick up one mph to an average of 98 in 2024, and he touched 101 mph. Throwing from a 5’9” release height, Cortez works it down and lets it run. He is not a high-riding type but averages 17 inches of arm-side run.

While it is just a two-pitch mix, Cortez throws a sweeping slider that sits in the upper 80s. Given the 11 inches of horizontal movement, the fact Cortez can run it up to 92 mph is insane. The pitch generates a 58 percent whiff rate against college bats in 2024.

Cortez has the stuff to be a future closer. I would not be shocked if we see him pitching out of the Angels bullpen in 2025.

Tyson Neighbors, RHP, 22, San Diego Padres, 6’2”/220, A

Looking for the next electric relief pitcher to move through the minors quickly? He might just be your neighbor. Tyson Neighbors enjoyed a successful career at Kansas State, and while the ERA sat at 3.96 this year, his FIP was a much lower 2.91. Neighbors struck out 61 batters, suitable for a 36.5 percent mark, while walking just north of 11 percent batters faced.

The fastball is electric, sitting at 95 mph, but touching 99 while averaging north of 21 inches of IVB from a 6’2” release height with a -5 VAA. It posted an impressive whiff rate against college bats last year.

From a secondary standpoint, Neighbors throws a curveball with excellent depth and a near 12-6 shape around 83 mph. The slider sits around 87 mph with a gyro shape. He has registered some pitches as cutters, sitting near 90 mph, which could be a harder variation of the slider, but it does have more carry to it.

Between the fastball, slider, and curve, you arguably have three plus offerings. Out of the bullpen, the stuff plays. Neighbors has a chance to be an electric reliever for a long time.

Marc Church, RHP, 23, Texas Rangers, 6’3”/190, MLB

Church made his debut with the Ranger in 2024, but it was just one inning of work. He missed extended time this year and pitched just 22.1 innings in Triple-A, where he posted a 3.22 ERA. Seeing Church pitch in the AFL, he looked like a future backend reliever for the Rangers.

The fastball sits 96-97 mph with over 17 inches of IVB from a higher 6’4” release height. The fastball has been up to 99 mph, and the 6’8” extension allows the pitch to play up further.

Church throws a more traditional-shaped slider that sits in the upper 80s and generates a ton of whiffs. He will mix a 93 mph changeups as well on occasion, but does not utilize the pitch often. The arsenal is electric to watch in person.

Having the arsenal of a high-leverage reliever, Church’s experience should allow him to start 2025 in the Rangers bullpen.

Luis Guerrero, RHP, 24, Boston Red Sox, 6’0”/215, MLB

After being selected in the 17th round of the 2021 draft out of Chipola JC, Guerrero exploded on the scene quickly and reached the Majors in 2024, where he showed an impressive arsenal. In 54 Triple-A innings, Guerrero posted a 3.31 ERA with 79 strikeouts, and upon his MLB debut, he tossed 10 innings without allowing an earned run.

Guerrero's explosive 97-mph fastball reaches 100 mph with above-average IVB and ten inches of horizontal movement. He generates impressive whiff rates on the pitch, sitting north of 35 percent between Triple-A and the Majors.

In 2024, Guerrero began to throw a more traditional changeup to pair with his splitter, giving hitters tough looks. The changeup worked 87-89 mph with heavy arm-side fade, averaging over 16 inches, while having late tumbling action. The splitter sits around 84 mph and has an impressive movement profile. He used the splitter less and less as the 2024 season went on in favor of the changeup.

Guerrero rounds out his arsenal with a mid-80s slider with two-plane break. It averaged over 11 inches of sweep with good depth, leading to a whiff rate north of 42 percent in Triple-A.

A pure reliever, Guerrero has the stuff to pitch as a high-leverage arm. The stuff is better than any relief pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, and Guerrero should begin the 2025 season with the Red Sox.

Skylar Hales, RHP, 23, Texas Rangers, 6’4”/220, AA

After being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, Hales has dominated on the mound for the Rangers. His 4.39 ERA in High-A this year is underwhelming, but it came with a 1.94 FIP. Upon the bump to Double-A, Hales posted a 2.10 ERA across 30 innings in the hitter-friendly Texas League. For the year, Hales posted a 29 percent strikeout rate with a seven percent walk rate in 56.2 innings.

Hales is armed with an upper-90s fastball with good ride. He throws from a low 5’6” release point and creates good horizontal movement. His mid-80s slider creates good horizontal separation from the fastball and has a good movement pattern that leads to plenty of whiffs.

Given his age and experience, it would not be surprising to see Hales pitching in Texas in 2025.

Troy Taylor, RHP, 23, Seattle Mariners, 6’0”/205, MLB

Taylor flew through the Mariners system after being selected in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Starting the 2024 season in High-A, Taylor jumped to the Majors. In his 19-game MLB sample, Taylor struck out 30 percent of batters while having a 3.72 ERA. In 42.2 minor league innings, he posted an impressive 1.27 ERA.

With an explosive fastball that averages 97 mph, he creates good horizontal movement, averaging 17 inches of arm-side run. It is not a huge bat missing pitch, but he keeps the ball on the ground at high rates.

Taylor’s sweeper sits in the mid-80s with high spin and 15 inches of glove-side movement. It generated a whiff rate near 50 percent against major league bats. While Taylor is primarily a two-pitch arm, he will throw an upper-80s changeup that plays well off his fastball.

Throwing strikes at high rates and locating his pitches well, Taylor has the potential to be a strong presence out of the bullpen. He already showed he could handle MLB hitting and likely starts with Seattle in 2025.

Hunter Cranton, RHP, 24, Seattle Mariners, 6’3”/215, A

A 2024 third-round draftee out of Kansas, Cranton throws gas. After spending his first collegiate season at San Diego State, Cranton transferred to Kansas, where he became a full-time reliever in 2024 and dominated. Posting a 2.16 ERA across 25 innings, Cranton struck out 38 batters while walking nine.

Averaging 97 mph on his fastball, Cranton tops out at 100 mph with an insanely flat -3.9 VAA. He lacks extension, but it does not matter as he creates an above-average ride from a 5’7” release height.

Cranton’s second offering is a more traditional slider that sits 87-89 mph. It has around five inches of horizontal movement and good depth. Despite being a two-pitch arm, Cranton is highly enticing and one that could pitch in the backend of Seattle’s bullpen soon.

Zach Maxwell, RHP, 24, Cincinnati Reds, 6’6”/275, AAA

Maxwell is electric out of the bullpen and could be in the back of the Reds bullpen as early as Opening Day 2025. Spending the majority of the year in Triple-A, Maxwell posted a 3.17 ERA with a 2.76 FIP across 54 innings with a 36 percent strikeout rate. Sure, the walk rate is entirely too high at 16 percent, but the stuff is off the charts here.

The fastball averaged 99 mph this year with 18 inches of ride from a 6’6” release height. The pitch gets some armside movement but creates some deception from his release point. It is a high-spinning offering that missed bats at a near 30 percent clip this year.

The slider sits in the upper 80s with a nice gyro shape. The offering had a 50 percent whiff rate on it this year. Despite the walks and strike rates, Maxwell will be an explosive bullpen option.

Luis Mey, RHP, 23, Cincinnati Reds, 6’5”/235, AA

The Reds love this type of reliever if you read the report on Zach Maxwell. Mey is a big build with a huge fastball. His 55 innings this year, he posted a 3.44 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 43 walks.

Mey averages 99-100 regularly and has touched 102 mph. The pitch has good horizontal movement, having 15 inches of horizontal movement. Mey also mixes an 88 mph cutter in with similar IVB to his sinker, but shorter horizontal movement. Command will be a big thing to watch as Mey threw strikes at just a 59 percent clip in 2024, but the stuff is electric enough that he can get away with sub-par control.