Hello and once again welcome to the prospect call-up update for Week 19 of the MLB and fantasy baseball season.

While it has been a bit of a slow week in prospect activity, that certainly doesn't mean that those few prospects who got the call don't have the potential to produce for fantasy baseball managers. This is of course the calm before the storm that will be the September roster expansions.

Editor’s Note: 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.

 

MLB Prospect Updates & Recent Call-Ups - Week 19

Jose Peraza (2B / SS, LAD)

Owned in 6% of Fleaflicker leagues

Jose Peraza was a high profile chip in the Los Angeles-Miami-Atlanta three way deal that also allowed the Dodgers to receive Mat Latos and Jim Johnson. Peraza was called up to replace Howie Kendrick who could be out until late September. The upside to Peraza is obvious: he is fast. In 1788 AB in his minor league career, Peraza has 204 steals to go along with a career .305 BA and .737 OPS. In 2015 at the Triple-A level, Peraza has hit four home runs, eight triples, produced a .302 BA and .724 OPS, and stole 27 bases in 430 AB. In Peraza's first seven PA in the majors he went 1-6 with his lone hit being a triple, giving him a .786 OPS. Peraza is made valuable to fantasy baseball managers due to his vast base stealing ability and the fact that he is eligible at both middle infield positions. Fantasy baseball managers can also count on Peraza getting plenty of AB, as the Dodgers backing out of the Chase Utley talks signify that they are comfortable for now keeping Peraza as the starting second baseman.

UPDATE: Jose Peraza has been optioned back to Triple-A as infielder Justin Turner returns from his leg infection. The Dodgers didn't let me rest for ten minutes before this news update.

 

"Chi Chi" Gonzalez (SP, TEX)

Owned in 4% of Fleaflicker leagues

Nick Martinez was optioned to Triple-A after a horrendous few weeks, so the prospect with the most fun name to say in baseball is back with the Rangers. Chi Chi Gonzalez started off very strong in MLB but eventually cooled off with some rough outings. Gonzalez still ended up with a 3.74 ERA, 4.76 FIP, 1.246 WHIP, 0.6 HR/9, 3.9 BB/9, and an insanely low 3.1 K/9. Gonzalez probably has a safe spot in the Rangers rotation for now but fantasy baseball managers be warned: Gonzalez's FIP indicates he has been lucky to have an ERA as low as his currently is and since he produces so few strikeouts, Gonzalez doesn't offer fantasy baseball managers much upside as a streaming option.

 

Lesser Known MLB Prospects

Colin Rea (SP, SDP)

Owned in 1% of Fleaflicker leagues

Instinct will always tell you to take notice whenever a pitcher plays for a team that plays half of its games in Petco Park. It is widely thought that Coin Rea is auditioning for the San Diego rotation next season; as Ian Kennedy, James Shields, Tyson Ross, and Andrew Cashner have all been linked to trade and free agency talks. Rea's first major league start, he made a solid case for himself: going five innings, allowing three earned runs, seven hits, one walk, producing four strikeouts, and ending up with a 2.10 FIP. This year in the minor leagues Rea had a 1.95 ERA, 1.003 WHIP, 0.3 HR/9, 2.0 BB/9, and 7.1 K/9 in 101.2 IP. It is initially unclear exactly how many starts the Padres will allow Rea to make. At this point, Rea is a deep league streaming option when he is pitching in San Diego. However, for fantasy baseball managers, it would seem like Rea carries more upside than most deep league streaming options.

 

Greg Bird (1B, NYY)

Owned in 0% of Fleaflicker leagues

Greg Bird is the fourth rated prospect in the Yankees' farm system and he has defended that rating by producing a high OPS year after year in the minor leagues. Since 2011 in 1246 AB Bird has 48 home runs, 95 doubles, a .282 BA, and a .878 OPS. Bird was called up after 1B/OF veteran Garrett Jones was designated for assignment. Fantasy baseball managers probably should only use Bird in a daily format as a hitting streamer, as it is believed Bird will only be used to give Mark Teixeira and A-Rod occasional rest. When in the starting lineup though, Bird can be looked at for a healthy mix of HR, high quantity of XBH, and a solid BA.

 

Prospect Call-Ups Update

Tyler Duffey (SP, MIN)

Tyler Duffey was called back up after Phil Hughes hit the 15-day DL for back inflammation. Duffey got lit up in his first major league start, but unless he struggles mightily again, can probably be counted on to start in Hughes's place until he returns. Fantasy baseball managers should probably play the wait and see game to make sure Duffey gets it together. If Duffey gets shelled...it will probably be time for Jose Berrios.

 

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