RADIO
This past week saw several top prospects get the call up to the Majors. Carlos Rodon, the number one prospect in the Chicago White Sox system, and Kris Bryant, the number one prospect in the Chicago Cubs system (and by many the number one prospect in baseball) each were called up to their respective big league rosters.
Many of these players, though they may start off the season in the minor leagues, can have a major impact on a fantasy owner’s team.
Here are some of the top minor league performers from weeks one and two that you should keep in mind for fantasy baseball purposes.
Maikel Franco (3B, PHI, Triple-A)
Stats: .385/.442/.667, 1 HR, 0 SB, 9.3% BB rate, 16.3% K rate
The Philadelphia Phillies don’t have the depth in their Minors that they once did, but there are still a few impact bats in the system like JP Crawford and Maikel Franco. At the moment, Crawford appears to have a brighter future in the Majors and could be their starting shortstop in 2016 since the Phillies dealt Jimmy Rollins. But, Franco is still more likely to see time in the Majors this season. While Cody Asche has started off the season quite well, Ryan Howard is a guy who has been the subject of many trade rumors and he has struggled to start off the season. Franco has great power and the ability to hit for a decent average and will be the first to be called to take the spot of Howard in the event of a trade or continued struggles at the plate.
Orlando Arcia (2B, MIL, Double-A)
Stats: .364/.481/.545, 0 HR, 1 SB, 17.9% BB rate, 7.1% K rate
The younger brother of Twins outfielder, Oswaldo Arcia, Orlando has the potential to be the future starting second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers. Arcia is a very sharp defender and has decent speed that should be able to get him at least 20 stolen bases and probably more. He will likely spend a lot of this season in Double-A, though he could potentially get the call up to the Majors and see time platooning with the left handed hitting Scooter Gennett. Gennett struggles against left handed pitching and Arcia could offer someone to platoon with him. Arcia could be a great fantasy option for owners in need of stolen bases and a second base option.
Blake Swihart (C, BOS, Triple-A)
Stats:.406/.406/.500, 0 HR, 0 SB, 0% BB rate, 15.6% K rate
Currently the starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox is Ryan Hanigan. Hanigan is known for his defensive prowess and his leadership behind the dish, but he does not provide much in the way of offensive abilities. Blake Swihart, on the other hand, is known mainly for his offensive ability but does also have a decent throwing arm. The catching position for the Red Sox has been the only real lack of offensive firepower this season and it is possible that he will be called up earlier this season to help add to that lineup. They will especially need the extra offense if they hope to compete for a playoff spot. If called up, Swihart will provide fantasy owners with a great deal of offensive production in the form of some power that can generate double digit home run totals, a .300 batting average, and possibly even a couple of stolen bases. This would be a boost to any fantasy team as the catching position is rather limited on offensive contributors.
Buck Farmer (SP, DET, Triple-A)
Stats: 10.0 IP, 0.90 ERA, 0.88 FIP, 12.6 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, 0 HR
The Tigers have kicked off this year playing some outstanding baseball with the best record in baseball, a very good rotation so far, and an offense that is clicking on all cylinders. So why would someone like Buck Farmer have any potential fantasy value? If I had one word to characterize the Tigers’ rotation success to this point, it would be luck. Shane Greene and David Price are likely to continue their success, but all the other starters have either a history of bad health or poor results. Meanwhile, the Tigers will be in contention so they will have a short leash on all of these pitchers and Buck Farmer is likely going to be the first guy to get the call up to the rotation if there are any struggled. Farmer has been very good for the Tigers Triple-A this season and might very possibly see time in the rotation if a guy like Kyle Lobstein struggles. Farmer has a decent fastball in the mid 90s and a very good slider to go along with it and has a changeup that last season he used about a quarter of the time. He could provide some quality innings for a cheap pickup on the waiver wire if he gets called up this season (which I suspect will happen sooner rather than later).
Cam Bedrosian (RP, LAA, Triple-A)
Stats: 8.0 IP, 0 ERA, 1.19 FIP, 14.63 K/9, 0 BB, 0 HR
Currently the sixth top prospect for the Los Angeles Angels according to MLB.com, Cam Bedrosian has quietly put together a very good case to make the Angels bullpen in the near future. The son of former Cy Young winning pitcher Steve Bedrosian, Cam this season has pitched in four games for the Angels Triple-A with eight innings, 13 strikeouts, no walks, only six hits, and no runs given up of any kind. So far this season, the bullpen for the Angels has been very good for them so far this season, but Bedrosian has a wicked repertoire of a fastball that can touch 98 mph, a good slider as his secondary pitch that is about 10 mph slower on average, and a changeup that is improving that could help make him even more lethal. While relief pitchers typically do not hold much fantasy value, Bedrosian could have similar value to what Dellin Betances had last year with the New York Yankees.
Brian Johnson (SP, BOS, Triple-A)
Stats: 9.0 IP, 1.00 ERA, 1.20 FIP, 13.0 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 0 HR
When discussing left-handed pitching prospects for the Red Sox, the immediate thought goes to Henry Owens. And while Owens has the potential to be a frontline starter for the Red Sox, he could see some competition on his quick rise to the Majors from the other lefty in the Sox system, Brian Johnson. Last season for the Red Sox Double-A affiliate, Johnson threw 118 innings in 20 starts with a 1.75 ERA, 7.55 K/9, 2.44 BB/9, and a mere .46 HR/9. This season, he has started in Triple-A and has done much of the same with nine innings in two starts, an ERA of 1.00, a K/9 of 13.00, BB/9 of 3.00, and no home runs allowed. While many scouts believe that he does not quite have the same electric repertoire that Owens possesses, Johnson could be a great fantasy pickup if called up because of his tendency to avoid beating himself up as he limits walks and home runs and has shown at every level that he knows how to get outs.
