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Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 15 of the fantasy baseball season. While there has already been plenty of action in the majors, we can't ignore some of the top prospect performances that took place in the minor leagues last week.
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 adds in no time.
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Ryan Ritter - SS, Colorado Rockies
Level: High-A
2023 stats: 66 G, .303/.401/.602, 18 HR, 58 RBI, 54 R, 6 SB, 12.3 BB%, 24.3 K%, .354 BABIP
Ritter found his way to the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. The Kentucky product showed some impressive pop in college and the Cape Cod League, but the best part of his game is his defense. He has true Gold Glove potential and should have no trouble sticking at shortstop long-term.
On the offensive side, Ritter has continued to flash power, though his strikeout rate is higher than ideal. He'll need to cut down on strikeouts if he has any chance of being an everyday starter at the big-league level.
This past week, Ritter went 12-for-20 with four homers, seven RBI, five walks, and five strikeouts. He also stole two bases. The 22-year-old did a little bit of everything, demonstrating his power and hit tools while also finding some speed on the basepaths and posting a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 1.0.
Mason Black - SP, San Francisco Giants
Level: Double-A
2023 stats: 15 G, 15 GS, 1-4, 59.0 IP, 3.66 ERA, 3.14 xFIP, .263 BABIP, 11.29 K/9, 3.05 BB/9, 40.9 GB%
Black joined the Giants as a third-round pick in 2021, and he wasted no time impressing the organization. After just eight outings at the Single-A level, Black owned a 1.57 ERA and 11.6 K/9, earning him a quick promotion to High-A. He continued to post strong results and opened 2023 at the Double-A level, just 24 games into his pro career.
Black's impressive three-pitch mix is headlined by a mid-90s fastball that misses bats and has touched the upper-90s several times. He also throws a mid-80s slider that has developed into a great secondary offering with its ability to sweep horizontally and keep opponents off guard. He rounds out his repertoire with a changeup that is nothing special but does offer an important change of pace.
During his start on July 1, Black was dominant, tossing five perfect innings. Of the 15 batters he faced, all 15 were retired, including eight via the punchout. As the midway point of the 2023 campaign approaches, we could see Black earn another quick promotion, this time to Triple-A.
Abimelec Ortiz - 1B, Texas Rangers
Level: High-A
2023 stats: 58 G, .325/.403/.665, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 42 R, 12.4 BB%, 26.1 K%, .376 BABIP
Ortiz signed with the Rangers after he didn't hear his name called in the 2021 draft. A native of Puerto Rico, Ortiz reached the pros by way of Florida Southwestern State College. He posted uninspiring results through his first two seasons in the organization but has shown massive strides in 2023.
The left-handed slugger has great bat speed and strength, attacking the ball and hitting to all parts of the field while demonstrating fantastic power. Furthermore, while he still strikes out at a relatively high clip, he has shown an increased tendency to work counts and draw more walks this season. Defensively, Ortiz's big frame and bat-first approach have mainly limited him to first base with the Rangers, though an occasional appearance in the corner outfield is not uncommon.
Ortiz has now strung together two big weeks, earning himself back-to-back appearances in this article. From June 27 to July 1, he went 7-for-16 (.438) with three homers, seven RBI, four walks, and five strikeouts. He is certainly due for a promotion to Double-A in the coming weeks.
Josh Stephan - SP, Texas Rangers
Level: High-A
2023 stats: 13 G, 12 GS, 6-3, 66.2 IP, 2.17 ERA, 3.25 xFIP, 10.54 K/9, 1.73 BB/9, .221 BABIP, 48.6 GB%
Stephan didn't hear his name called during the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft, but he was offered a contract by the Rangers and chose to go pro rather than honor his commitment to Stephen F. Austin. The right-hander reached High-A after 28 pro outings and has quickly made his presence felt within the organization.
Stephan delivers a fastball in the low-to-mid-90s, and he pairs it nicely with a slider that has nasty bite. His changeup also gets good fade, complementing his heater very well. The Texas native's three-pitch mix is developed and effective enough that he should have no trouble operating as a starter long-term, especially as he continues to demonstrate decent command.
On June 28, Stephan put on a show, tossing five perfect innings and striking out 10 batters. The dominant outing earned him a promotion to Double-A Frisco, where he made his debut on July 4. Before long, he could be a back-end rotation piece for the big-league squad.
Alberto Rodriguez - OF, Seattle Mariners
Level: High-A
2023 stats: 68 G, .306/.390/.586, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 59 R, 3 SB, 9.5 BB%, 21.6 K%, 154 wRC+, .428 wOBA, .372 BABIP
The Blue Jays signed Rodriguez out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 before flipping him to Seattle as part of the trade package centered around veteran hurler James Paxton. Rodriguez has now spent parts of three seasons at the High-A level and is having his best year to date.
The 22-year-old is capable of hitting to all parts of the field. He has also shown good power, breaking his personal record for single-season home runs and we aren't even at the All-Star Break yet. The left-hander has always played the outfield, but with subpar speed and arm strength, his future defensive contributions might be limited to left field. Therefore, it's all the more reason that his bat must continue to play.
Offensive production certainly wasn't a problem for Rodriguez this past week. The 22-year-old put on a show, going 10-for-20 (.500) with one homer, six RBI, and just two strikeouts. Along the way, he uncorked four doubles and two triples. Although he went the whole week without drawing a walk, it was impressive to see him put the ball in play with ease, all while keeping strikeouts to a minimum.
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