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It's that time of year when teams think about testing their prospects in the majors. Part of this comes with the trade deadline. The other component is bolstering a playoff push, or simply making the game a little more interesting for fans of lousy teams. This is a game changing time in the season for fantasy baseball managers as well, as many of these prospects have the potential to give rosters a much needed boost in offensive production.
Today, three recently called up prospects, and their windows of opportunity for production, will be discussed. It will then be up to fantasy baseball managers to decide whether the young guns are worth the roster spot, and should be added off the waiver wire.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more MLB prospects, rookies and potential call-ups, be sure to check out our MLB prospects for fantasy baseball homepage which has lots of great weekly analysis.
MLB Prospects & Recent Call-Ups - Week 16
Michael Conforto (OF, NYM)
Owned in 2% of Fleaflicker leagues
As of now Conforto can be added in almost all leagues, but that won't last long. He was called up today after Michael Cuddyer was finally put on the 15 day DL for a knee injury that had him sidelined for most of the the last two weeks. He had a hot bat this season in the minors, hitting 24 doubles, 12 HR, a .297 BA, and a .854 OPS in 357 AB.
Conforto will very likely get a lot of time at the major league level this season, possibly playing for the rest of the year. The Mets currently sit at 49-47, three games back from the Cubs in the Wild Card race. This is almost entirely due to the Mets' spectacular rotation. The club has struggled mightily offensely, ranking the second worst in the league in both runs (329) and OBP (.298). They're worst in OPS (.654).
Even when Cuddyer comes back from his injury, it would be hard to imagine him replacing Conforto, assuming Conforto performs. Cuddyer has just a .683 OPS on the year. Fantasy baseball managers should take advantage of Conforto immediately upon his call-up, given his widespread availability. If the Mets believe they can earn a wildcard spot, Conforto is the answer over Cuddyer in the outfield. Conforto should get plenty of chances this season to produce.
Aaron Nola (SP, PHI)
Owned in 10% of Fleaflicker leagues
The Phillies have the second worst team ERA in MLB at 4.71, and with Cole Hamels possibly gone at the trade deadline, that rotation could get even weaker. That is why Aaron Nola is almost certain to be with the Phillies for the rest of the season. Nola was drafted in the 2014 MLB draft out of LSU. In the minors, Nola has a 2.57 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and only allowed 1.5 BB/9 in 164.2 IP.
It was Nola's control that made him a valuable draft pick. Nola was called up to make his first start this week, and he didn't disappoint the much weary Philadelphia fans. Nola pitched six innings, allowed one ER, five hits, one walk, and got six strikeouts. Given that the Phillies are highly unlikely to push Nola to the side for Jerome Williams or Sean O'Sullivan, Nola should get the opportunity for the rest of the season.
Kyle Schwarber (C / OF, CHC)
Owned in 19% of Fleaflicker leagues
Unless you live under a rock, on a remote glacier, on the former planet Pluto; you have probably heard about Kyle Schwarber. Since making a surprise pick of Schwarber at number four overall in the 2014 draft out of the University of Indiana, Schwarber has absolutely destroyed all opposition at all levels. In 519 career minor league AB, Schwarber has 34 HR, six SB, a .333 BA, and a 1.042 OPS.
In his 44 AB since he was called up to MLB, Schwarber has three HR, one SB, a .409 BA, and a 1.151 OPS. With Miguel Montero currently on the DL for two weeks until a re-evaluation on his thumb injury, and David Ross currently producing a .564 OPS on the season, Schwarber has an open lane in the short term to continue tearing it up for the Cubs. There have been questions about whether Schwarber will remain with the team after Montero returns because of the work he needs as a defensive catcher, but that is a little hard to buy.
The Cubs haven't won a World Series since the Ottoman Empire was in power. They currently sit at 24th in the league in runs scored, and they hold the second wild card spot with at 51-43 with a 0.5 game lead over San Francisco. If Schwarber continues to hit so much better than the Cubs' other options when they are actively shopping for a bat to lock up a playoff spot, fantasy baseball managers can take a gamble that they can hold onto Schwarber with the expectation of offensive production until October.
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