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This is the special trade deadline edition of a newly formatted Minor League Spotlight. In this new version of the articles, I will give three prospect profiles and where their potential fantasy value is for fantasy owners. I am also going to divide up the articles by pitchers and hitters so I can go more in depth with each prospect.
Since the trade deadline has just recently passed, I thought that it would be best to cover some of the hitting prospects dealt. The only qualifications for a prospect to be on either this pitchers-only list or the hitters-only list is that they had to have been dealt at the trade deadline.
Editor's Note: For more fantasy prospects coverage, check out RotoBaller's weekly top 30 prospect rankings.
Nick Williams (OF, PHI, Double-A)
Stats: 415 PA, .299/.357/.479, 13 HR, 10 SB, 7.7% BB rate, 18.6% K rate
Everyone knew that the package the Phillies would obtain in return for Cole Hamels would be tremendous, but I’m not sure people expected the deal would be this nice. The Phillies received three top 100 prospects from the Texas Rangers: RHP Jake Thompson, OF Nick Williams, and C Jorge Alfaro among others. Williams is currently listed as the no. 64 overall prospect and the fourth overall in the Phillies organization.
Arguably his best season to date, 2015 has seen Williams boost his value by increasing his plate discipline. Prior to this year, Williams’ previous lowest strikeout rate was 22.3% and had typically struck out at least 27% of the time. This season, Williams has increased his discipline and has now only struck out 18.6% of the time while reaching a career high walk rate at 7.7%. The 21-year-old outfielder has a reasonable amount of power and should be able to reach 20 home runs each season. His speed is decent which should get him low double-digit stolen base totals.
As soon as next season, Williams could be a major contributor to the Phillies and to fantasy owners willing to take a risk on him. Fantasy owners would be wise to take a risk on him, but hold off on inserting him into a starting lineup on a regular basis until they may be assured that he will not revert to his old ways of chasing too many pitches.
Brett Phillips (OF, MIL, Double-A)
Stats: 467 PA, .320/.377/.548, 16 HR, 15 SB, 6.4% BB rate, 19.3% K rate
Brett Phillips was one of the top outfield prospects in the Houston Astros system, but he was considered expendable in a deal that could garner a player like Carlos Gomez. Phillips is rated as the 39th overall prospect by MLB.com and is the second overall prospect in the Brewers’ system.
Phillips was not considered to be a prospect capable of much power earlier in his career, but after tweaking his swing he has been able to produce some above-average power. He does have a potent enough bat to be able to hit for a decent average and has a good eye at the plate that will keep him from striking out a lot. Phillips also possesses above average speed that could make him a potential five category contributor depending on where he is placed in the lineup.
Jose Peraza (SS, LAD, Triple-A)
Stats: 427 PA, .294/.318/.379, 3 HR, 26 SB, 3.5% BB rate, 8.2% K rate
One prospect dealt at the deadline that came to a surprise of many was Braves utility prospect, Jose Peraza. He currently qualifies as a shortstop prospect and would have a lot of fantasy value if he qualifies at that position next season. However, he will not be playing that position in the future. Peraza had taken reps at second base, shortstop, and centerfield with the Braves before being dealt to the Dodgers.
Offensively, Peraza is one of the fastest players in the minor leagues. He has reached 60 stolen bases in back to back seasons despite playing in fewer than 120 games each of those two seasons. Peraza profiles as a Dee Gordon type player if he reaches his full potential: he steals plenty of bases, he doesn’t walk frequently. He also doesn’t strike out a lot, and he can hit for a high enough average to allow his speed to work. His defense is solid enough that he can play at almost any position, but he wouldn’t be a gold glover at any of them.
With the Atlanta Braves, Peraza would only have been down in the minor leagues for a few more weeks (maybe even days). With the Los Angeles Dodgers, Peraza will likely not be up until September and will not have a full time role with the team until 2016.
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