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The minor league baseball season is underway, and many well-known prospects are already making their case for an MLB debut later this summer.
However, the question is, do these performances truly matter for this season? How easy will it be for this prospect to reach the big leagues, and are they worth stashing on your re-draft roster today?
Knowing which prospects to watch can put you ahead of your league mates and put you in the driver’s seat during the second half of the season. Adding the right prospect can fill the missing piece on your roster and power you to a fantasy championship. This fantasy baseball prospects series will examine a few key players in the minor leagues and assess whether they have a path to fantasy stardom in 2024.
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Jackson Holliday, 2B/SS, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore #1 , Overall #1
The top overall prospect was a favorite to crack the Opening Day Roster but was unfortunately sent to Triple-A to do some final fine-tuning. The 20-year-old has already made headlines and is making a case for an early call-up. The infielder has hit two long balls in just four games, matching his total from 18 games in Triple-A last season. Holliday's overall stat line is .316/.333/.737, showcasing his elite bat-to-ball skills and potentially untapped power.
JACKSON HOLLIDAY HOMERS IN HIS 1ST AT-BAT OF THE YEAR!@Orioles | @OsPlayerDev pic.twitter.com/iCFE37qo6r
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 29, 2024
When he is eventually given the call, Holliday has a great opportunity to play second base through most of the summer. Currently, second base is manned by Jordan Westburg, who I project would shift over to the hot corner, opening second base up for Holliday. As a result, Ramon Urias would be forced to split playing time with Westburg at third base.
Holliday’s hot start matters primarily because the Orioles are competing this season. They will have to play their ace card sooner rather than later to give themselves the best opportunity to repeat as American League East Champions. I would expect him to join the major league roster before the All-Star Break or even earlier if a Baltimore infielder were to be injured. Holliday is a must-stash in all formats. Once he debuts, he could easily finish as a top-10 second base and shortstop option the rest of the season.
Verdict: Early season call-up is in play
Owen Caissie, OF, Chicago Cubs
Chicago #3, Overall #45
The Chicago Cubs outfielder had a solid season at Double-A, which allowed him to begin 2024 with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. The left-handed bat posted a .500/.556/.625 through the first four games of the season in Iowa. It is important to see that the 21-year-old has not shown any sign of decline or struggle yet in the early part of the season at Triple-A.
Owen Caissie continues to deliver💪 pic.twitter.com/3oKhjXosPm
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 3, 2024
One aspect of his game to monitor is his power output. The outfielder launched 22 long balls last season. If he can come close to that total in Triple-A, his major league debut may not be too far away. While Caissie remains a top prospect in the Chicago Cubs system and is seen as a major contributor in the future, his path to fantasy stardom this season is quite difficult.
The Cubs’ current outfield has three everyday starters in Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, and Seiya Suzuki. The designated hitter spot is currently a rotating door, and there are already other outfield options on the team, such as Mike Tauchman and current third baseman Christopher Morel.
Caissie is an intriguing option in dynasty formats but is not worth the roster spot in lighter keeper leagues and re-draft formats today. While this is a small sample size for a hitter, this is a promising start for someone who could make a late-season push to the major leagues.
Verdict: Mid to late season call-up is possible
Connor Phillips, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati #4, Overall #67
Rounding out this list is Connor Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds, who had a small taste of the majors last season. The 22-year-old struggled with a 6.97 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in five starts. He did, however, average over a strikeout per inning with 26 across 20 ⅔ innings.
While his debut was not pleasant, he did maintain excellent velocity on his fastball, with an average of 96.4 mph, which places him in the top among qualified starting pitchers. His high velocity should help generate high swing-and-miss rates and should work well with his sweeper, which tallied a 48.9% whiff rate in the majors last season.
Phillips dazzled in his first start in Triple-A with six innings of one-run ball. He tallied three punchouts and surrendered four hits and three walks. This start is a big step in the right direction for him, as he struggled in Triple-A last season and pitched to a 4.69 ERA across 40 innings.
Connor Phillips spins 6 frames of one-run ball in his 2024 debut for the @LouisvilleBats.
MLB's No. 67 prospect (@Reds No. 4) touched 98 mph en route to the win: pic.twitter.com/zxEkODFVyq
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 3, 2024
From a fantasy perspective, the Reds have some question marks at the back end of their rotation, which could open the door for Phillips as the summer progresses. Phillips has a good chance to make several starts in the big leagues, making him an intriguing stash, especially if injuries pile up in Cincinnati.
Phillips is in a wait-and-see situation right now. If the right-handed pitcher can string together a few solid starts consecutively in Triple-A, he will become a must-watch player.
Verdict: Mid-season call-up is quite possible and even sooner
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