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What's up Rotoballers? I'm back with a check-in on some prospects doing some damage recently in the minors, and to tell you what you can expect from them the rest of this season or even beyond. So listen up dynasty leaguers... this one's for you!
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Top MLB Prospects & Their Fantasy Baseball Outlooks
Jose De Leon, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Last three starts: 20 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 29 K
Jose De Leon has skyrocketed his way up every prospect ranking imaginable, and for good reason. The 23-year-old was signed in 2013, and all he’s done since then is produce. That production has been on another level recently, as De Leon is coming off of back-to-back 10 strikeout games in Triple-A. His most recent start was on Wednesday, when he pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just four hits, with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Make no mistake about it; he’s ready right now. De Leon has a 2.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 43.1 innings in Triple-A this season, and has a ridiculous 64/14 K/BB ratio. He also has a 12.48 K/9 in his minor-league career.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been riddled with injuries on their pitching staff. With the recent news of Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood possibly missing the rest of the season, the Dodgers require long-term options for the rest of the season. While the money-rich Dodgers will likely trade for a big-name pitcher at the deadline, you can still bet De Leon will have a shot at the rotation very soon. Expect him to put up big strikeout numbers, but he could also struggle early on, just like most other young pitchers. His long-term outlook is very bright, and he should secure a full-time starting job next season.
Austin Hedges, C, San Diego Padres
Last 10 games: .372, 16 Hits, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 2 BB, 5 SO
Do you remember Austin Hedges? Just last year, Hedges was a very highly thought-of prospect, but struggles at the Major League level have forced him off of most people’s radars. Hedges could have officially fallen off the map after being injured towards the end of April, but he has been on a mission since returning to action on June 9th. Overall, Hedges is hitting .385/.426/.763 with a ridiculous 17 HR and 61 RBI in 45 games. Needless to say, this is a career year for the still young 23-year-old.
Derek Norris and Christian Bethancourt are not the long-term answer for San Diego behind the dish. While Bethancourt does have some potential himself, Hedges is the big-name former second-rounder, and the Padres would love for him to become the answer at catcher soon. With the way he’s hitting, Hedges will get a chance to come up this season and get every day at-bats. He’s a career .272/.330/.438 hitter in the minors, and it remains to be seen if this ridiculous run he’s on is the new him (obviously not to this extent) or if he reverts back to the same hitter he was before; which would still be an above-average MLB catcher.
Trey Mancini, 1B, Baltimore Orioles
Last 10 games: .390, 16 H, 2 BB, 10 SO
For the second year in a row, Trey Mancini is destroying minor league pitching. The eighth-round pick in 2013 hit .341/.375/.563 with 21 HR and 89 RBI, with most of that damage coming in Double-A. After posting a 1.112 OPS in 17 games in Double-A this year, he was promoted to Triple-A, where he’s hit .310/.376/.481. He has 17 HR in 98 total games this season.
The Orioles don’t have room to play Mancini at first base with Chris Davis playing there, but if he continues to hit, he could find a way into the struggling Orioles’ lineup as a DH. Mancini strikes out too much- getting punched out 94 times in 98 games this year- leaving himself susceptible to getting exposed at the big-league level. Mancini’s long-term outlook looks better than his potential for this season. Owners should take a wait-and-see approach this year, and he could be worth taking a flier on for the future.
Tyler Skaggs, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Last three starts: 17.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 29 K
Could this finally be the year Tyler Skaggs puts it together? The left-hander missed all of 2015 with Tommy John surgery, and appears to be better than ever post-surgery. Even before the procedure, he was producing very good strikeout totals in the minors. Skaggs has a career 9.96 K/9 in the minors, but the 25-year-old has struggled when he’s had an opportunity at the MLB level. His career 4.72 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 31 big-league starts has contributed to him falling off the fantasy/dynasty radar, but he will get a chance to improve on those totals soon.
With the Angels’ pitching staff struggling with injuries, look for them to turn to Skaggs soon. He has a 1.60 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 39.1 minor-league innings, with a 53/8 K/BB ratio. His last two starts have been ridiculous, as he’s picked up 26 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. How he does with his opportunity remains to be seen, but you can bet he’s more equipped for success now, as opposed to when he was first called up as a 21-year-old.
Jake Thompson, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Last three starts: 20 IP, 9 H, 0 ER, 7 BB, 13 K
Wow! What a run Jake Thompson is on. One of the main pieces in the deal that sent Cole Hamels to Texas has a sparkling 2.29 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 117.2 innings in Triple-A this season. The strikeouts haven’t been there for Thompson, as he’s registered just 82 of them this year. That’s a change from his other four seasons of professional baseball, but his ERA and WHIP are the best of his career.
Thompson is just 22-years-old and with the Phillies looking towards the future, you can bet the former second-rounder will get his first cup of coffee in the bigs this year. Expect Thompson to get a September call-up this season. He could even get the call if the Phillies trade Jeremy Hellickson at the deadline, like they are expected to. That would be just the right time for a kid who has given up two runs or less in nine-straight games. He might not end up becoming an ace, but Thompson has the poise, mound presence and results to indicate that he can become a very good middle-of-the rotation arm.
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