X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Arizona Fall League Preview - Prospects to Watch

As October baseball begins, fantasy fanatics shift their attention to the next season, which means diving into prospects and performances. Luckily for fantasy players, the Arizona Fall League (AFL) offers the perfect chance to check-out top prospects, and how they look against other high profile players. While many of these names are a year or two away from re-draft leagues, for dynasty owners, these players are must watch for 2020 production.

The AFL typically showcases two of the top prospects from each organization, and this year is no different. And yet, to be helpful for fantasy owners, this column will look past some of the top players. This means that Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette Jr., Peter Alonso, and others will not make the team. Players of this caliber will already be on fantasy radars, and instead, the focus is on players who might work their way into contention with a strong performance this fall. 

For owners already itching for minor league baseball, the AFL is back to fill that void. Keep an eye on the following players, and get ready early for dynasty league baseball. A good AFL might mean that a prospect is that much closer to the Majors than expected, or might mean that he could be dealt in a trade this offseason. Whatever the case, any excuse to watch prospects seems to be a good idea.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Players to Watch

C - Jake Rogers (C, DET)

The former third-round pick who was dealt to Detroit in the Justin Verlander deal, Rogers has an excellent case to make as the top prospect in the Tiger’s farm system. What might limit his fantasy upside is the bat. So far in his career, Rogers has been named as one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, but the offensive side of his game still has questions. That is why he makes this list. If he can show some pop with the bat versus top competition, then he will shoot up fantasy boards, but if not, might fall into that backup fantasy role that limits his playing time and ultimate fantasy worth. Case in point, in 2017, at High-A, Rogers slashed .265/.357/.457, but in 2018, at Double-A, that line dropped to .219/.305/.412. He did add to the homer numbers with 17 in 2018, after only 12 in 2017, so there is power upside in the bat. If Rogers can hit he will be a catcher with a high floor for playing time, but if not, could be the next coming of Roberto Perez.

1B - Brent Rooker (1B, MIN)

Could Rooker be the heir to Joe Mauer at first for the Twins? While he might not have that ceiling, the production is there to be a solid player at the spot. In all fairness, he is more likely the next Logan Morrison as opposed to a Hall of Famer, but still a fantasy option to watch. In 130 games at Double-A this year he slashed .254/.333/.465 with 22 homers and 79 RBI. Both are elite numbers for the level and bodes well due to a spike in power from 2017 numbers. The key to watch is the K rate, as in 2018 he posted a 26.4 K%, which limits that contact upside even at first. While the short sample at the AFL might be misleading, this will offer a good window into his approach versus top talent. If he can keep the batting line near .250, drop the rest of the limiting factors, and keep the power, this is a sneaky fantasy pick with a good park context to add value to the bat.

2B - Keston Huira (2B, MIL)

Perhaps the highest ranked of the prospects on this list, Huira is a top player who might be owned in most leagues already. Playing at second keeps his value high, as there is no one pushing him for the spot, and most others second basemen will be moving from short. This is not a negative but instead means that Huira will be a year ahead in the development pipeline and owners can cash in earlier. This year, Huira started at High-A but ended at Double-A where he posted a slash of .272/.339/.416 with six homers and 11 steals. While most sites only give him a 55 FV, the overall production makes him one of the top fantasy options up the middle, and perhaps, even on prospect lists. The ceiling is there for a .280 hitter with 15 homers and 25 steals, at least early in his career. This would give owners Dustin Pedroia with more speed, and that might be a top-five player at the position when all is said and done. The AFL is vital to see if he is ready for the Brewers where there area few bodies in the way. A strong fall performance and he might push Jonathan Schoop off the team, but if he is a bit underwhelming, then stash for another year and wait for the Rookie of the Year in 2020.

3B - Michael Chavis (3B, BOS)

The 2018 AFL will be a redemption tour for Chavis, who is back from his suspension that kept him out for the most of the year. After entering the 2018 season as one of the top prospects in the Boston organization, Chavis should still have a good outlook, and the next few months will determine just how excited owners should be. The good news is that in his 41 games after suspension, Chavis looked to be back on pace, with eight homers and 24 RBI over those games. The batting line across two levels was .282 which also bodes well. The AFL is designed for players like Chavis, or players that miss time and need to get their reps in to stay on the right developmental track. Case in point, his K rate was close to eight points higher in his return, and a spell in the AFL might help see if this will be the new norm going forward. While not one to insinuate anything, Chavis has questions to answer about the raw skills post suspension, and the AFL will make him one of the keys to watch. If he does perform, his stock is low and offers decent value for owners looking to add prospects.  

SS - Nico Hoerner (SS, CHC)

A 2018 first round pick, Hoerner is the quickest player to move from draft to the AFL and shows how close he might be to competing with the Cubs. The issue is that he is blocked at the position, as there is no reason to move Javier Baez to accommodate the youngster, so this is more of a scouting option for a potential trade chip. Hoerner perhaps needs to move to be a fantasy option, but also could force his way into a Joe Maddon-style fantasy spot. Regarding the performance so far, Hoerner has only played in 14 games, even as he has played at three different levels. In that time he is hitting above .300 with two homers and six steals, so there is production even in a limited time. His best asset looks to be speed, as Fangraphs lists his FV with this tool at 70, but also seems to have an above average hit tool. Hoerner has the most to gain this fall and could be a key piece in a deal this offseason. Owners should take notice and grab this potential young stud in case he stays or goes.

OF - Luis Robert (OF, CWS)

While Robert does not look to the next Mike Trout, as some had projected, he has looked like a competent ballplayer so far in his career. The AFL is another crucial step for the player who has been driven by hype more than performance, but still, even with some struggles is firmly in the top 20 on most prospect lists. This year Robert played at both Single-A and High-A with a declining season overall, dropping his batting average from .289 to .244 over those stops. And yet, this is not a prospect who needs to hit .300 to be a top player, and instead, owners should look to his power and speed for a better idea of what he will offer. In 45 games he did not hit a homer this year, which is worrying, but the 12 steals do add incredible value for what looks to be a power hitter long term. The other thing to keep in mind is that catchers in the minors are still learning the craft as well, so steal numbers are typically inflated by those match-ups. The other good news this season was 21 runs and 11 RBI which show the overall approach works in the team context. For owners who own Robert, use the AFL to gauge if this is a sell-high or a stash long-term. The hype will always be there, and without some power, this might be the last chance to move on from the player with a top return.

OF - Buddy Reed (OF, SD)

The former 2016 second round pick started off the 2018 season as one of the top breakout players but then struggled following a promotion to Double-A. After hitting .324 at High-A over 79 games, he only managed to hit .179 in 43 games at Double-A. The good news is that the speed was still there, with 18 steals over those 42 games. Compare this to the 33 steals a level below, and clearly, Reed is one of the next fantasy speed options to watch. What made him unique was 12 homers at High-A, meaning that unlike Billy Hamilton, this looked to be a speed option that did not mean owners were selling out for speed alone. After his promotion, the power dropped to only one homer, and the K line added close to nine points as well. Reed needs to have a good AFL to stay on fantasy lists, as the skills are there, and with an increase in competition, it will be interesting to see if he can make those adjustments.

OF - Cristian Pache (OF, ATL)

Long known as one of the top defensive prospects in the minors, Pache has begun to hit a bit more keeping him firmly on fantasy watch lists. Like Reed, he struggled after a move to Double-A, but the drop-off was not as concerning. In 93 games at High-A he hit .285 with eight homers and seven steals, and then after the move up the ladder, hit .260 with one homer and no steals in 27 games. The concerning piece was adding close to eight points onto the K rate, but also this is not unusual for a prospect getting the promotion. He did walk a bit more at Double-A, but even this was only a point jump. Overall, Pache is showing that he can offer something with the bat to keep him in the relevant conversations, and at worst, his glove will keep him on the field. This is another player that might be on his way out of town, as while this is only speculation, if a top starter enters the market, perhaps Madison Bumgarner, this could be a key piece in a package. Ender Inciarte also blocks him, so there will need to be some movement for him to gain a starting role. The key here is can he hit at the AFL, and if so, no matter where he plays, this is a prospect that owners want.

P - Jesus Castillo (P, LAA)

After starting his career with the Diamondbacks and Cubs, Castillo looks to be firmly set in the future plans with the Angels. For a team in desperate need of pitching, this is a high-upside prospect with a lot on the line this fall. At Double-A this year, Castillo showed some good signs, but also that he has much to work on to make this all come together. The good news is that he looks like a future starter with 20 of his 21 appearances coming in the starter role. And yet, he only struck out 5.49 per nine, while walking 2.84 per nine. The control seemed to be there after improvements from close to four walks per nine back in 2014, but the stuff is not enough to carry him alone. The ERA is also a bit worrying with a 4.94 line so far, but the FIP sits a 4.17, so there is some potential there as well. Castillo is on this list due to the proximity to the majors, and a team that needs starters. If he can push those K numbers up a bit, he has SP4 upside, but if not, this could be a good option out the pen. A strong AFL might make Castillo a last-round dart throw and, if not, offers an interesting mix of skills and situation.

P - Grant Holmes (SP, OAK)

After suffering a rotator cuff injury in March, making the roster in the AFL is a good sign for Holmes concerning the return from that time away. Not only will there be an incentive to push him to make up for lost innings, but this will also be a pivotal time to see what long terms effects there might be from that time away. When healthy, Holmes has the upside to be a big piece for the Athletics, and a good AFL will keep that in the minds of owners. In 2017 for example, Holmes made a total of 24 starts and posted a record of 11 and 12. The downside was the 4.49 ERA and 3.70 BB/9. The good news was a jump in the strikeout rate to 9.10 K/9 from 2016’s 7.53 K/9. The walks stayed much the same at 3.7 BB/9, which again is not great but also within the outcomes for a starter in the minors. Holmes has a lot to prove, and if he can keep the ball in the yard, which was another positive in 2017, then he should be back on prospect lists. Oakland can always use the pitching, and if he is healthy from the surgery, could be in line for an appearance as early as next year in Oakland.

P - Luis Patino (SP/RP, SD)

Perhaps the highest upside of any of the pitchers on this list, Patino was not expected to be with the Padres until 2022, but this roster spot might say otherwise. To date, Patino has flashed the stuff with 10.58 K/9 in 2018 and has dropped the walks to 2.59 per nine. Add to that a 0.11 HR/9 rate, and this is a pitcher with the performances to back up the skills so far. In 17 starts he was able to post a record of six and three and kept the ERA intact with a 2.16 line. What is unusual in the line was a middling 43.5 GB%, but again, he does not give up homers. This means that Petco Park will be the ideal landing spot, and if he can keep the length up, should be an SP2/3 when he makes it. If there is one player to keep an eye on for dynasty owners, it is Patino, as he is perhaps the most available due to the age, but could be an impact player sooner rather than later.

More 2019 MLB Prospects Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nolan Arenado

Ready for Second Half
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Back in Action to Begin Second Half
Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF