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Wow. What a week for prospects. To start things off, Carlos Correa got called up and performed well in his first start ever against Chris Sale. Then it was announced that Byron Buxton, surprisingly, would be called up. Then it was Francisco Lindor getting called up, just a few hours after the Buxton announcement.
If you have been following my rankings list, you would know that I am not at all surprised by the promotions for Lindor and Correa. However, seeing as how Buxton spent no time in Triple-A, I was quite surprised that he was called up so soon. I had really expected him to be a September call-up at best. Buxton struggled in the early goings of 2015, but has played very well as of late and has been considered by many to be the top prospect in baseball over the likes of Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa.
Editor’s Note: given the recent MLB Draft, we have a special treat for you this week - be sure to also check out our piece on fantasy impact prospects from the 2015 MLB draft to stash in dynasty/keeper leagues. 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.
Removed from the list
• Carlos Correa – called up
• Francisco Lindor – called up
• Byron Buxton – called up
• Jon Moscot – called up
• Kyle Kubitza – called up
All stats current as of Sunday, June 14th.
Major League Prospects - Fantasy Power Rankings
To be clear, this list is not the top 30 prospects in baseball. This is a list of the top 30 prospects who are likely going to rise to the major leagues and provide fantasy baseball value this season. The qualifications are simple: a player must not be on an active roster, they must have a clear path to the majors, and while they may have played in seasons prior to 2015, they must still have rookie eligibility. If a player is moved to the active roster of their team, they will be removed from this power rankings list and replaced.
1. Steve Matz (SP, NYM, AAA) – LW: 2
Stats: 78.1 IP, 2.30 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 9.31 K/9, 3.45 BB/9, 0.57 HR/9, 1.15 WHIP
ETA: Mid June
It sounds like the reason that Steven Matz has not been called up yet is to keep him from being Super Two eligible. According to ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin, Steven Matz will be up before month’s end. The Mets may just be trying to trade Dillon Gee (now in the bullpen) and Jon Niese (the starter preventing Matz from entering the rotation). There is also talk of moving Noah Syndergaard to the bullpen. However, that will be a shocking decision after his strong start against the Blue Jays, ending their 11-game win streak.
2. Corey Seager (SS, LAD, AAA) – LW: 11
Stats: 249 PA, .325/.373/.535, 9 HR, 1 SB, 13.3% K rate, 7.2% BB rate
ETA: Early July
Jimmy Rollins will need to play out of his mind in June to convince the Dodgers that now isn’t the time for Corey Seager. Seager, much like Carlos Correa, has torn it up at both Double-A and Triple-A. For a shortstop, Seager does not have a lot of speed, but his power and contact abilities more than make up for that fact. He is an elite fantasy prospect and fantasy owners need to make sure that they are ready to add him soon.
3. Stephen Piscotty (1B/OF, STL, AAA) – LW: 10
Stats: 253 PA, .261/.356/.450, 7 HR, 3 SB, 15.8% K rate, 11.9% BB rate
ETA: Mid June
First Adam Wainwright. Then Matt Adams. Then Matt Holliday. The Cardinals continue to be bit hard by the injury bug, but they always have the depth to fix their injury woes and Stephen Piscotty is the clear answer here. Piscotty can play either first base or the outfield and seems to be in line for a call up with Matt Holliday now sidelined for at least a couple of weeks. He has great power potential and could hit for a great average, leaving him as a strong fantasy prospect to be picked up in most leagues.
4. Adam Duvall (1B/3B, SFG, AAA) – LW: 3
Stats: 251 PA, .278/.319/.521, 13 HR, 2 SB, 21.1% K rate, 5.6% BB rate
ETA: Late June
Matt Duffy is playing well since replacing Casey McGehee and that is seriously harming the fantasy value of Adam Duvall. If Duffy continues to play this well, it could spell trouble for the call up of Duvall. I still see it as likely that the Giants prospect will be called up sooner rather than later as he has flashed outstanding power potential at Triple-A, which Matt Duffy does not quite possess.
5. Andrew Heaney (SP, LAA, AAA) – LW: 5
Stats: 67.2 IP, 4.39 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 8.91 K/9, 2.79 BB/9, 0.27 HR/9, 1.42 WHIP
ETA: Late June
Andrew Heaney’s last time out showed continued struggle that will have to stop if he wants to be called up. He has been able to strike out a lot of batters and limit the walks, but his continuance to give up a lot of hits can’t entirely be regarded as bad defense. Heaney will have to wait in the Minors until he can string together a couple of starts without giving up too many hits.
6. Jose Peraza (2B, ATL, AAA) – LW: 7
Stats: 233 PA, .284/.324/.355, 2 HR, 17 SB, 8.6% K rate, 5.2% BB rate
ETA: Early July
Jace Peterson and Andrelton Simmons have forced the Atlanta Braves to change the position of Jose Peraza to centerfield. Peraza likely won’t be coming in through centerfield though with the strong play of Cameron Maybin, but he could come in through either leftfield or rightfield. His speed would really be very helpful to any fantasy team and he should be added in all leagues once he is called up.
7. Aaron Nola (SP, PHI, AA) – LW: 8
Stats: 71.2 IP, 1.76 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 6.78 K/9, 1.00 BB/9, 0.38 HR/9, 0.87 WHIP
ETA: Late July/Early August
The other Aaron (as opposed to Aaron Harang) has seen some of his trade value decrease over the last couple starts in which he has gotten rattled up a bit, but he is still viewed as a solid arm for a contending team to want to buy. Certainly the trade value for Cole Hamels has not decreased and he is still viewed as one of the more likely players to be dealt this deadline. The timeline for Aaron Nola is based primarily on those arms being dealt. Expect him up following trades of Cole Hamels and Aaron Harang.
8. Daniel Norris (SP, TOR, AAA) – LW: 6
Stats: 40.1 IP, 3.35 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 8.48 K/9, 4.69 BB/9, 0.45 HR/9, 1.49 WHIP
ETA: Mid July
Daniel Norris has started to look really sharp over his last couple of outings at Triple-A and could potentially be called up very soon. The Jays are in a very similar spot as the Orioles where they are close to a playoff spot, but desperately lack the starting pitching required to make that push. At this point, Norris could be an arm ready to come up and help the team. His name has also been tossed around as possibly being involved in a deal for an ace-type pitcher like Johnny Cueto or Cole Hamels and he would likely be immediately planted in either the Reds or Phillies rotation.
9. Matt Wisler (SP, ATL, AAA) – LW: 13
Stats: 65.0 IP, 4.29 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 6.78 K/9, 1.80 BB/9, 0.69 HR/9, 1.25 WHIP
ETA: Mid June
Williams Perez has filled in nicely for the Atlanta Braves in the rotation, but that still doesn’t solve the issue of what to do with Julio Teheran. Neither Alex Wood, Shelby Miller, nor Mike Foltynewicz are going to lose their spot in the rotation anytime soon or find themselves traded unless a team offers incredible value as all of them are young and under contract for several years. But Teheran could potentially lose his spot if he doesn’t right his ship sometime soon and it would more than likely be Matt Wisler who takes his place.
10. Zach Lee (SP, LAD, AAA) – LW: 15
Stats: 56.2 IP, 2.38 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 6.99 K/9, 1.91 BB/9, 0.64 HR/9, 1.09 WHIP
ETA: Late June
The Dodgers need starting pitching as their starters behind Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke are just not getting the job done. They also insist that neither Corey Seager nor Julio Urias are for sale and that could kill their chances of acquiring an ace type pitcher. It does seem very likely that Zach Lee will be called up and tested in the rotation before the Dodgers pull the trigger on any big name trades.
11. Brian Johnson (SP, BOS, AAA) – LW: 9
Stats: 61.0 IP, 2.66 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 8.85 K/9, 2.66 BB/9, 0.74 HR/9, 1.03 WHIP
ETA: Mid July
Brian Johnson is still the most likely of any Red Sox prospect to get called up to start at the moment, but their rotation is starting to look quite solid and they are one of the most likely candidates to acquire Cole Hamels. An acquisition like Hamels would all but eliminate a call up for Brian Johnson before September unless Brian Johnson is dealt for Hamels, in which case he would likely become an immediate starter in an ailing club.
12. Jon Gray (SP, COL, AAA) – LW: 14
Stats: 68.0 IP, 4.76 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 5.96 K/9, 2.78 BB/9, 0.93 HR/9, 1.47 WHIP
ETA: Late June
So Chad Bettis has been good. That’s nice. But everyone else has been absolutely terrible. Jon Gray hasn’t exactly been tearing it up at the Triple-A level, but at this point the Rockies may find that they may as well continue his development with a Major League pitching coach as opposed to a Minor League pitching coach. He has shown great command in the minors and has the stuff to strikeout more batters which indicates that he would benefit more from working out his issues at the MLB level.
13. Dylan Bundy (SP, BAL, AA) – LW: 16
Stats: 22.0 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.85 FIP, 10.23 K/9, 2.05 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 1.18 WHIP
ETA: Late July/Early August
Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright, and Wei-Yin Chen have been solid this season, but the rest of the rotation has had its struggles. Bud Norris (when healthy) has been awful as has Chris Tillman. With the Orioles being within striking distance of a playoff spot, they may turn to the rehabbing Dylan Bundy sooner than August and they could potentially give him a call up as soon as July. The right shoulder being examined, however, could be a major concern moving forward.
14. Alex Meyer (SP, MIN, AAA) – LW: 17
Stats: 50.0 IP, 5.76 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 10.08 K/9, 5.40 BB/9, 0.36 HR/9, 1.76 WHIP
ETA: Late July
Alex Meyer finally gave up a run since joining the bullpen and has given up only seven hits in his 10.2 IP. He has also walked only six batters while striking out 15. Meyer has made tremendous progress since being moved to the bullpen and he may only be there a little bit longer before rejoining the rotation. How well he performs when rejoining the rotation will be the real test of his MLB readiness.
15. Domingo Santana (OF, HOU, AAA) – LW: 12
Stats: 230 PA, .310/.439/.583, 11 HR, 1 SB, 29.1% K rate, 18.3% BB rate
ETA: Early August
The Astros outfield strikes out a lot. Preston Tucker is the only one of their regulars who strikes out at less than 26.0% of the time. George Springer is a work in progress, but Colby Rasmus has not been nearly good enough for a team that is competing. Jake Marisnick and Robbie Grossman are probably not going to get a starting role anytime soon. Santana has continued to reduce the strikeouts and it looks like he could be a big boost into the lineup sometime down the line.
16. Peter O’Brien (C, ARI, AAA) – LW: 20
Stats: 241 PA, .318/.361/.582, 12 HR, 1 SB, 21.6% K rate, 5.0% BB rate
ETA: Late July
Wellington Castillo and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have replaced Jordan Pacheco and Tuffy Gosewich as the two catchers for Arizona and they are not exactly known as being great catchers. The Dbacks are not in a position to compete so there is no rush to get Peter O’Brien to the Majors, but he doesn’t have anything left to prove at Triple-A. O’Brien has a lot of pop and would have an immediate fantasy impact if given the call to the Majors.
17. Kyle Schwarber (C, CHC, AA) – LW: NR
Stats: 233 PA, .321/.435, .584, 13 HR, 0 SB, 20.2% K rate, 16.7% BB rate
ETA: Late July
A new entry on this list, Kyle Schwarber has torn up Double-A pitching this season and there has been speculation that he could be called up to the Majors straight from Double-A. Miguel Montero has been alright, but David Ross has only hurt the Cubs offensively. The Cubs will allow the battery of Jon Lester and David Ross to last for a little bit longer, but as a competing team they need the best product on the field every day and they simply don’t have it with Ross behind the dish even semi-regularly. If called up, Schwarber would be easily one of the top ten best offensive catchers in the Majors.
18. Hector Olivera (3B, LAD, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 25 PA, .318/.400/.455, 1 HR, 0 SB, 20.0% K rate, 12.0% BB rate*
ETA: Late July
Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero have been outstanding playing third base this year, but it may not be long before Hector Olivera is called up and plugged in as the full-time guy there. He is already 30-years-old and he is playing on a six year, $62.5 million deal. That is quite old and quite a lot of money to keep down in the Minors. Look for him to be up in the Majors before August and have major fantasy value with his impact bat.
*Stats are from his time in Double-A as he has not made Triple-A debut as of 6/13/2015
19. Marco Gonzales (SP, STL, AAA) – LW: 18
Stats: 28.1 IP, 6.35 ERA, 5.74 FIP, 6.99 K/9, 2.54 BB/9, 1.91 HR/9, 1.59 WHIP
ETA: Early August
Marco Gonzales’ 2015 fantasy impact is quickly going down the drain the longer he stays on the DL. Plus, the Cardinals rotation is looking fine without him. The Cardinals currently have the best team ERA in the Majors and Gonzales appears to no longer be required. If they keep this level of production up against the Twins, Phillies, Marlines, and Cubs, then they may no longer require a call up of Gonzales.
20. Luis Severino (SP, NYY, AAA) – LW: 29
Stats: 54.2 IP, 3.13 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 9.22 K/9, 2.47 BB/9, 0.33 HR/9, 1.10 WHIP
ETA: Mid July
With the Yankees playing incredibly well this season, they could be looking for all the help that they can get. And with their pitching staff hovering around the middle of the MLB in team ERA, they may look for help in pitching before hitting. It appears that they will build from within, for once, and that would start with Luis Severino as opposed to acquiring a starting pitcher via trade. Severino has a great arm and has pitched phenomenally so far in 2015. He could see a call up come just before the trade deadline so the Yankees can see what he looks like against big league hitting.
21. Jameson Taillon (SP, PIT, NA) – LW: 27
Stats: NA
ETA: Mid-August
22. Miguel Sano (3B, MIN, AA) – LW: 23
Stats: 227 PA, .255/.357/.495, 11 HR, 4 SB, 25.1% K rate, 13.2% BB rate
ETA: Early August
23. Tyler Duffey (SP, SDP, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 75.0 IP, 3.48 ERA, 2.11 FIP, 8.76 K/9, 1.92 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 1.21 WHIP
ETA: Late July
(No, there is no typo, Duffey has thrown 75 innings and hasn’t given up a home run yet).
24. Steven Moya (OF, DET, AAA) – LW: 21
Stats: 234 PA, .241/.288/.426, 8 HR, 2 SB, 31.2% K rate, 6.0% BB rate
ETA: Early August
25. Colin Moran (3B, HOU, AA) – LW: NR
Stats: 122 PA, .277/.320/.375, 0 HR, 0 SB, 14.8% K rate, 5.7% BB rate
ETA: Mid August
26. Henry Owens (SP, BOS, AAA) – LW: 26
Stats: 64.1 IP, 3.64 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 7.13 K/9, 5.88 BB/9, 0.56 HR/9, 1.34 WHIP
ETA: Early September
27. Christian Walker (1B, BAL, AAA) – LW: 22
Stats: 243 PA, .259/.309/.357, 2 HR, 0 SB, 23.5% K rate, 7.0% BB rate
ETA: Mid-August
28. Matt Olson (1B, OAK, AA) – LW: NR
Stats: 264 PA, .223/.383/.406, 7 HR, 0 SB, 22.0% K rate, 20.8% BB rate
ETA: Early September
29. Jose Berrios (SP, MIN, AA) – LW: NR
Stats: 75.2 IP, 3.21 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 9.75 K/9, 2.50 BB/9, 0.71 HR/9, 1.19 WHIP
ETA: Late August
30. Aaron Blair (SP, PIT, AA) – LW: NR
Stats: 83.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 4.02 FIP, 6.91 K/9, 2.48 BB/9, 0.86 HR/9, 1.12 WHIP
ETA: Early September
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