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Welcome back RotoBallers, the All-Star break is upon us. We're heading into Week 16 of the fantasy baseball season, and the minor league season rages on. It would be foolish to proceed without highlighting the top performances from Week 15.
It's imperative to monitor the top fantasy baseball prospects who have turned heads thus far. The players listed here are not only coming off dominant weeks but have also impressed over the entire season. Don't be surprised when these exact names are painting corners, mashing homers, and swiping bags at the big-league level soon.
Fantasy managers should certainly keep an eye on these players over the long haul as they may prove to be excellent waiver wire adds in no time.
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Justin Yurchak - 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level: Double-A
2022 stats: 65 G, .263/.363/.357, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 27 R, .296 BABIP, .339 wOBA, 12.0 BB%, 12.4 K%
Yurchak is a former 12th-round pick who currently ranks 30th among Dodgers prospects. The first baseman had a strong second half in 2021 and looks solid in 2022. Although the 25-year-old isn't a power hitter, he makes up for it with his incredible discipline and presence at the plate. He posts a high walk rate and low strikeout rate, all while putting the ball in play at a solid clip. Unfortunately, Yurchak also lacks speed, athleticism, and defensive value, meaning his future will be spent at first base or third base.
After a relatively mediocre first half of the season, Yurchak posted higher-than-usual numbers this past week. In all, he went 12-for-19 (.632) with seven RBI, seven walks, and just one strikeout. His ability to get on base and avoid striking out should help him progress toward the majors, especially since his bat doesn't carry a whole lot of pop.
DL Hall - SP, Baltimore Orioles
Level: Triple-A
2022 stats: 12 G, 8 GS, 53.0 IP, 4-2, 1.87 ERA, .264 BABIP, 12.40 K/9, 4.58 BB/9
Hall, a southpaw, is the Orioles' No. 4 prospect. The 2017 first-round pick has spent almost all of 2022 in Triple-A and could be closing in on a call to the majors soon. After missing a good chunk of 2021 due to injury, Hall has bounced back this season, continuing to max out his fastball at 101 mph while trusting his impressive blend of complementary pitches. His next-best offering is a changeup, though his slider and curveball can also set the tone in counts with their decent breaking action. Additionally, he induces a whole lot of swing-and-miss stuff, though his walk rate is much higher than the Orioles would like.
Hall had a great week in Triple-A, tossing a total of 10.2 innings over two starts with Norfolk. Although he got unlucky, going 0-1, the 24-year-old allowed just one run, four hits, and five walks. He struck out a whopping 18 batters in the process, putting him at an average of 15.9 K/9 during the aforementioned two-game span. Hall has looked spectacular in the month of July and continues to make his case for a promotion to the bigs.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand - 3B, Minnesota Twins
Level: Double-A
2022 stats: 78 G, .302/.375/.630, 23 HR, 77 RBI, 57 R, 7 SB, .353 BABIP, 11.5 BB%, 9.2 K%
Encarnacion-Strand finds himself back on this list for the second time in 2022 after another strong week of hitting. Selected in the fourth round of last year's draft, the infielder has hit just as well in the minors as he did in college ball (if not better). He owns a good approach at the plate with an impressive knack for spraying the ball to all parts of the field. His power numbers are solid, and he has also improved his discipline drastically in 2022. Defensively, the 22-year-old and former first baseman has seen more reps at third base this season and should stick there as long as he continues to display a solid glove and smart, quick instincts.
Encarnacion-Strand looked great this past week, going 12-for-26 with five homers, 15 RBI, three walks, and five strikeouts. He opened the week at High-A and finished at Double-A, setting some history in the process. Indeed, Encarnacion-Strand hit for the cycle on Sunday, making him the first Wind Surge player to ever accomplish said feat. He has quickly shown that his bat can prevail regardless of the level of competition that he's facing.
Ben Brown - SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Level: High-A
2022 stats: 15 G, 14 GS, 3-5, 69 IP, 3.26 ERA, 3.25 xFIP, 43.5 GB%, .302 BABIP, 13.17 K/9, 3.00 BB/9
Brown is a right-hander who was selected by Philadelphia in the 33rd round of the 2017 draft. Although his path to High-A has taken a while, he still has plenty of value in store. Not only has Brown defied the odds of a 33rd-rounder and posted great numbers in the minors, but he's also just 22 years old and still has plenty of impressive baseball ahead of him. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound hurler has a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and two very effective breaking balls. He projects as a starter but could certainly shift to a multi-inning relief role if his production indicates a change of scenery is necessary.
Brown had another great game this past week, tossing a seven-inning shutout. He allowed just two hits and zero walks while striking out a whopping 13 batters. The right-hander has steadily improved his control and is garnering plenty of attention in the minors. As of now, he has the makings of a key impact player in Philadelphia's system.
Yoelqui Cespedes - OF, Chicago White Sox
Level: Double-A
2022 stats: 71 G, .266/.335/.457, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 42 R, 16 SB, .348 BABIP, .352 wOBA, 108 wRC+, 6.1 BB%, 28.4 K%
Cespedes signed with Chicago in 2021 and has strung together a couple of solid seasons. He has great bat speed and an ability to put the ball in play, though there's also hope that his power will improve over the next few years. With that said, Cespedes' walk and strikeout rates make it clear that he does have some discipline problems that could get progressively worse at higher levels of pro baseball. Defensively, he has a strong arm and enough speed to play center field. Said speed also makes him a masterful base-stealer.
Cespedes is coming off a strong week at Double-A in which he went 7-for-17 with three doubles, two homers, five RBI, five walks, five strikeouts, and four stolen bases. He did a little bit of everything for the club, which is what the White Sox hope they can get out of him in the majors someday. He doesn't need to slug 40 homers, hit .350, or steal 40 bases. Instead, he can provide the well-roundedness needed to achieve on both offense and defense.
Anthony Solometo - SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Level: Rookie
2022 stats: 6 G, 4 GS, 1-0, 19.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 2.20 FIP, 43.8 GB%, .300 BABIP, 10.71 K/9, 2.33 BB/9
The Pirates drafted Solometo in the second round last year, signing him to an overslot $2.8 million deal that lured him away from his commitment to North Carolina. The southpaw has a mid-90s fastball that is known for its impressive command. Solometo can locate it anywhere he desires, and he is never hesitant to throw it. He also has a great slider with nasty horizontal break that complements his heater nicely. The offerings form a valuable one-two punch that should bode well for his progression through the ranks of affiliated ball. Solometo is also working on a changeup, though it's merely a mediocre tertiary offering at this point.
Solometo was drafted and projects as a starting pitcher, and two-thirds of his usage at Bradenton has come in the rotation this season. However, the Marauders used him out of the bullpen on Friday, sending him to the mound for four innings of relief work. The 19-year-old certainly impressed; he struck out six batters and didn't allow an opposing batter to reach base.
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