Dylan Lesko

21-Year-Old PitcherP
Tampa Bay Rays A+
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Lesko, who underwent Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school and was still selected by San Diego with the No. 15 overall pick in 2022, made his pro debut last summer and climbed from rookie ball to High-A. He totaled 33 innings and didn't throw more than three innings until his eighth start of the year. From there, he pitched between three and five innings in his final five starts, striking out 32 and walking 15 in 20 innings over that stretch. A six-walk outing in his final start at High-A came on the heels of a nine-strikeout start where he spun five one-hit scoreless frames. Lesko's four-seamer and changeup are each 70-grade pitches and his high-spin curveball is an above-average third pitch. If he can just stay healthy and throw enough strikes, Lesko could eventually be a frontline big-league starter. The 2024 season will be about building up his workload ahead of a potential 2025 MLB debut. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a $3.9 million contract with the Padres in August of 2022. Traded to the Rays in July of 2024.
Sent to Tampa Bay
PTampa Bay Rays  A+
July 28, 2024
The Rays acquired Lesko, outfielder Homer Bush and catcher J.D. Gonzalez from the Padres on Sunday in exchange for reliever Jason Adam, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
ANALYSIS
Lesko was one of San Diego's top prospects, though he's struggled at the High-A level this season with a 6.82 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 73:49 K:BB across 64.2 innings. He's also plunked 11 batters and thrown seven wild pitches, as his control has been erratic in his second year back from Tommy John surgery.
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2023 Fantasy Outlook
Lesko could have been the first pitcher off the board in 2022 had he not needed Tommy John surgery in the spring. When healthy, the 6-foot-3 righty has a mid-90s fastball that explodes on hitters, a changeup that projects as a double-plus offering, and a high-spin curveball that needs some refinement. The prep righty from Georgia has a picturesque delivery, leading evaluators to project plus command/control down the road. The Padres rolled the dice on Lesko's talent winning out, selecting him with the 15th overall pick and making him the first high school arm off the board. While there is not a 100 percent success rate with Tommy John surgery, many teenage pitchers who throw that hard end up getting the surgery at some point early in their careers, so the fact he has already had the procedure doesn't make him significantly more risky than his classmates who throw hard and were healthy on draft day. He should return to game action in the second half of the 2023 season.
More Fantasy News
No control at High-A
PSan Diego Padres  A+
May 15, 2024
Lesko has walked more batters (23) than he has struck out (22) through 19 innings (six starts) for High-A Fort Wayne.
ANALYSIS
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Heading to High-A
PSan Diego Padres  A+
August 20, 2023
Lesko was promoted from Single-A Lake Elsinore to High-A Fort Wayne on Sunday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
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Debuting in complex league
PSan Diego Padres  A+
June 20, 2023
Lesko (elbow) will make his pro debut Tuesday in the Arizona Complex League, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Popped by Padres with 15th pick
PSan Diego Padres  A+
July 17, 2022
The Padres have selected Lesko (elbow) with the 15th overall pick in the 2022 first-year player draft.
ANALYSIS
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