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Kris Bryant hasn’t hit a home run yet. Just let that sink in for a moment. 14 games into his career and a big goose egg under the home run total. It will come eventually though, and many more will follow.
For now, who is number one in the MLB ready prospect power ranking list this week? It will probably surprise you. Last week it was the Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart who was just a few days ago called up. I’ll give you a hint, it has to do with the recent news that Houston Astros’ shortstop Jed Lowrie is done until the All-Star break with a thumb injury.
Editors Note: Check out all of RotoBaller's MLB prospects analysis here.
Removed from the list
• Michael Lorenzen – called up
• Mike Foltynewicz – called up
• Blake Swihart – called up
• Michael Taylor - called up
Major League Ready Prospect Power Rankings
1. Carlos Correa (SS, HOU, AA) – LW: NR
Stats: 93 PA, .370/.452/.716, 5 HR, 8 SB, 19.4% K rate, 11.8% BB rate
ETA: Mid May
Isn’t it incredible what difference a week can make? Last week, Carlos Correa’s chances of being called up increased dramatically with the aforementioned injury to Lowrie. Correa has torn up Double-A so far. If Correa is called up, he provides elite value from the shortstop position. Why did Correa jump all the way up to the top of the rankings? Ken Rosenthal recently said that Correa is being strongly considered for promostion because of how well he has performed in Double-A.
2. Noah Syndergaard (SP, NYM, AAA) – LW: 2
Stats: 14.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 9.82 K/9, 3.68 BB/9, .61 HR/9, 1.16 WHIP
ETA: Late May
It took a little bit of time, but Noah Syndergaard is looking like the star prospect most expected. With the Mets fully in contention, the rotation will be their main focus and if any starter struggles or happens to be dealt (like Dillon Gee or Jonathan Niese), Syndergaard will be the first to be called up. Once called up, Syndergaard could be one of the best young arms in the bigs and should be owned in all leagues.
3. Francisco Lindor (SS, CLE, AAA) – LW: 3
Stats: 90 PA, .250/.326/.350, 1 HR, 6 SB, 17.8% K rate, 10.0% BB rate
ETA: Mid May
Francisco Lindor started slow, but his bat is starting to come around. While he still hasn’t knocked the cover off of the ball, the shortstop in front of him, Jose Ramirez, is hitting about as poorly as he could with a slash line of .175/.221/.238. Lindor provides plus speed and could provide a decent batting average from the shortstop position.
4. Rusney Castillo (OF, BOS, AAA) – LW: 4
Stats: 21 PA, .250/.286/.300, 0 HR, 1 SB, 9.5% K rate, 4.8% BB rate
ETA: Mid May
Why is Rusney Castillo in the minors? Because the Red Sox outfield has quite good this season even without the tools of Castillo. The best chance that Castillo has to see major playing time is if the injury to Shane Victorino proves to be long-term or if the Sox move Ramirez to a different position due to his lack of defensive ability. Otherwise, Castillo could wait a while.
5. Steve Matz – (SP, NYM, AAA) – LW: 6
Stats: 29.1 IP, 1.84 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 9.51 K/9, 4.30 BB/9, 0 HR, 1.09 WHIP
ETA: Late July
The Mets have played great baseball this season, but the backend of the rotation has not been great. Jon Niese (his ERA looks sharp but that 4.95 FIP says otherwise) and Dillon Gee have struggled a bit to start off the season. As of right now, Syndergaard is more likely to join the rotation, but Steven Matz is not far behind. He has plenty of talent to be a contributor to the Mets and a great fantasy add for a cheap on the waiver wire.
6. Maikel Franco (3B, PHI, AAA) – LW: 7
Stats: 97 PA, .315/.351/.478, 1 HR, 0 SB, 21.6% K rate, 5.2% BB rate
ETA: Mid May
The Phillies insist that Maikel Franco is going to stay in the minors for a while, and that may be the case, but he is making a compelling argument to be called up. If he can just make improvements on his plate discipline, he could see a lot of playing time if either Asche or Howard is traded.
7. Brian Johnson (SP, BOS, AAA) – LW: 9
Stats: 21.0 IP, 0.86 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 10.29 K/9, 3.86 BB/9, 0 HR/9
ETA: Early May
Plain and simple: the Red Sox rotation needs a lot of improvement and Brian Johnson is a great alternative to giving up a lot of prospects for Cole Hamels.
8. Alex Meyer (SP, MIN, AAA) – LW: 5
Stats: 18.2 IP, 6.27 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 10.61 K/9, 6.75 BB/9, 0.48 HR/9, 1.93 WHIP
ETA: Late July
Tommy Milone has really struggled this season and could soon find himself replaced in the rotation by Meyer. Though Meyer hasn’t been great himself at Triple-A, he is considered to be a future top of the rotation starter. He has shown the ability to keep the ball in the park this season while striking out a lot of batters, which certainly is a promising sign. Also, that opposing hitter’s BABIP of .438 is certainly not going to last and it is likely one of the main reasons his ERA is so inflated.
9. Jose Peraza (2B, ATL, AAA) – LW: 8
Stats: .271/.315/.306, 0 HR, 5 SB, 10.2% K rate, 6.1% BB rate
ETA: Mid June
The Braves are another team like the Mets that have started off the season surprisingly well. Unlike the Mets, however, they don’t really have the supporting cast that is ready to compete for the long haul. One prospect in the Minors who could have a major impact if called up is 21-year-old Jose Peraza. Peraza has elite speed and will likely be a mainstay for the Atlanta Braves for years to come and could contribute greatly to a fantasy team if he is called up this year.
10. Marco Gonzales (SP, STL, AAA) – LW: 12
Stats: 16 IP, 4.50 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 7.31 K/9, 1.69 BB/9, .56 HR/9, 1.44 WHIP
ETA: Late May
There is one reason why Marco Gonzales isn’t up yet: he is on the DL. Once off, he is the most likely person to start with Wainwright done for the season and he has the potential to be something special. Fantasy owners would be wise to listen to news on when Gonzales is likely to come off the DL so they can add him to get a starter who will provide some high quality innings.
11. Andrew Heaney (SP, LAA, AAA) – LW: 10
Stats: 25.1 IP, 4.62 ERA, 3.06 FIP, 8.88 K/9, 2.13 BB/9, 0.36 HR/9, 1.38 WHIP
ETA: Mid May
Andrew Heaney’s ERA looks bad. 4.62 is nothing to be proud of. But all of his other numbers look exceptionally well as he has demonstrated improved control and strikeout ability. Heaney has an opposing hitter BABIP of .354 which is the main cause of the ERA, as is evidenced by the fact that he still has a great FIP of 3.06. He could be a great pickup for fantasy owners when he gets the call.
12. Domingo Santana (OF, HOU, AAA) – LW: 13
Stats: 73 PA, .266/.356/.594, 5 HR, 1 SB, 39.7% K rate, 12.3% BB rate
ETA: Early May
Why Domingo Santana could get the call up: that incredible amount of power and the struggles of the Houston Astros outfield. Why Santana might stay down a bit longer: 39.7% of the time is too often to be striking out especially when the Astros have a lineup full of hitters who strike out too frequently. If your league doesn’t count strikeouts, Santana provides tremendous value as a plus power guy with a decent average.
13. Aaron Nola (SP, PHI, AA) – LW: 15
Stats: 24.2 IP, 2.55 ERA, 3.09 FIP, 6.57 K/9, 0.73 BB/9, 0.36 HR/9, 0.89 WHIP
ETA: Late July
Aaron Nola has the least professional experience of any other pitcher on this list, but he has arguably the best control of any pitcher on this list and possibly in all of the Minor Leagues. He may not be an elite strikeout pitcher, but he will not beat himself and he has the kind of stuff that could make him an elite pitcher one day. If the Phillies wait to deal Cole Hamels until the trade deadline, they may call up Nola to replace him in the rotation. Nola just needs a little bit more tuning up before being Major League ready.
14. Mark Appel (SP, HOU, AA) – LW: 14
Stats: 18.0 IP, 4.00 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 5.50 K/9, 2.00 BB/9, 1.00 HR/9, 1.17 WHIP
ETA: Late May
Mark Appel’s best chance at making it into the rotation this season is by replacing either Roberto Hernandez or Asher Wojciechowski if they continues to struggle or if Scott Feldman is traded. One of those above scenarios is bound to happen at some point this season or Appel may just force the Astros management to make a decision to put him in the rotation. Appel has three great pitches that he can throw for strikes. He will be a great starter to add on the waiver wire when he is called up.
15. Jon Gray (SP, COL, AAA) – LW: 16
Stats: 17.2 IP, 10.70 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 8.66 K/9, 4.08 BB/9, 1.02 HR/9, 2.26 WHIP
ETA: Late July
The Rockies rotation continues to prove that it needs help desperately. Jon Gray has the stuff to be that help that the Rockies need, but is currently being held back because of the results. He dominated Double-A last season, but has hit a bit of a roadblock in Triple-A. The main reason for the struggles: a .484 opposing BABIP and a couple of issues with control so far. These struggles should not be much of a concern (yet) as he only walked 2.97 batters per nine in 124.1 innings last season and only had a .285 opposing BABIP. The numbers should start to get better soon.
16. Henry Owens (SP, BOS, AAA) – LW: 17
Stats: 21.0 IP, 4.29 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 8.14 K/9, 7.29 BB/9, 0.86 HR/9, 1.43 WHIP
ETA: Mid July
Remember how Brian Johnson has a good chance of making the Red Sox rotation because it is bad? Well the same goes for Henry Owens. Owens has always been a great strikeout pitcher and limits the home runs, but has had his issues with walks in the past. Now in Triple-A, all he needs to do is lower the walks a bit and he will be all set to make the jump to the Majors.
17. Raisel Iglesias (SP/RP, CIN, AAA) – LW: 28
Stats: 9.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 5.90 FIP, 3.86 K/9, 1.93 BB/9, 1.93 HR/9, 1.39 WHIP
ETA: Mid May
Raisel Iglesias has likely lost his spot as the sixth man for the rotation with Michael Lorenzen taking the leap up. But there are two things to keep in mind: Jason Marquis currently occupies one of the Reds rotation spots and the Reds bullpen has been one of the worst in baseball. Iglesias has great stuff and has great command and would be an improvement over any other right handed pitcher in the Reds ‘pen.
18. Austin Hedges (C, SDP, AAA) – LW: 19
Stats: 75 PA, .343/.413/.552, 2 HR, 1 SB, 10.7% K rate, 10.7% BB rate
ETA: Mid May
Considered to be a defense-first catcher, Austin Hedges has been surprisingly outstanding to start off his Triple-A career. He will make it to the Majors because he is a major defensive improvement over Derek Norris. He will stay in the Majors if he continues to prove scouts wrong that he can in fact hit. Because catchers who can hit are few and far between, Hedges could provide great fantasy value to people willing to pick him up.
19. Steven Moya (OF, DET, AAA) – LW: 24
Stats: 72 PA, .235/.264/.412, 3 HR, 0 SB, 33.3% K rate, 4.2% BB rate
ETA: Late June
The Tigers outfield has been really great to start off the season which could hurt Moya’s chance of being called up. Centerfield won’t be taken over by him because Anthony Gose and Rajai Davis make up a decent platoon and no one is taking Yoenis Cespedes out of the lineup. That leaves a major regression by JD Martinez as the best chance of Moya breaking in with the Tigers. But the Tigers need pitching and Moya certainly would be an attractive piece in a deal having hit a combined 40 home runs between Double-A and Rookie league in 2014. He has elite power and only needs to work on the plate discipline in order to get a full time gig in the Majors.
20. Matt Wisler (SP, ATL, AAA) – LW: 23
Stats: 20.0 IP, 6.75 ERA, 4.18 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 2.25 BB/9, 1.35 HR/9, 1.70 WHIP
ETA: Early June
With Mike Foltynewicz already called up, that leaves many to speculate that it is only a matter of time until Matt Wisler gets called up. Wisler has thrown over 100 innings every season of his professional career. Wisler has great command and two elite pitches with two other fast-improving pitches. If Mike Minor’s health doesn’t improve soon and Eric Stults continues to struggle, expect Wisler to get the call to the bigs.
21. Kyle Crick (SP, SFG, AA) – LW: 22
Stats: 18.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 13.50 K/9, 5.00 BB/9, 0.50 HR/9, 1.28 WHIP
ETA: Late June
22. Jameson Taillon (SP, PIT, - ) – LW: 25
Stats: NA
ETA: Mid August
23. Miguel Sano (3B, MIN, AA) – LW: 20
Stats: 80 PA, .152/.300/.364, 4 HR, 2 SB, 28.8% K rate, 16.3% BB rate
ETA: Mid August
24. Christian Walker (1B, BAL, AAA) – LW: 18
Stats: 91 PA, .229/.297/.325, 1 HR, 0 SB, 23.1% K rate, 8.8% BB rate
ETA: Early August
25. Dylan Bundy (SP, BAL, AA) – LW: 26
Stats: 9 IP, 4.00 ERA, 2.11 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 2.00 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 1.11 WHIP
ETA: Late June
26. Buck Farmer (SP/RP, DET, AAA) – LW: 27
Stats: 12 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.58 FIP, 10.50 FIP, 1.50 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 0.83 WHIP
ETA: Mid June
27. Byron Buxton (OF, MIN, AA) – LW: 29
Stats: 87 PA, .263/.345/.421, 2 HR, 7 SB, 18.4% K rate, 11.5% BB rate
ETA: Mid August
28. Corey Seager (SS, LAD, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 91 PA, .376/.407/.659, 5 HR, 1 SB, 14.3% K rate, 5.5% BB rate
ETA: Early September
29. Braden Shipley (SP, ARI, AA) – LW: NR
Stats: 18.2 IP, 0.96 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 7.71 K/9, 4.34 BB/9, 0.48 HR/9, 1.18 WHIP
ETA: Late August
30. Cam Bedrosian (RP, LAA, AAA) - LW: NR
Stats: 9.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.02 FIP, 15.00 K/9, 1.00 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 0.78 WHIP
ETA: Mid May
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