When preparing the Dynasty Review, I always begin by checking in on my picks from the previous week. The big prediction was the promotion of Brandon Nimmo. I can't take much credit for that one. There were already grumbles about Michael Conforto's impending demotion. I don't expect any rapid call ups from this week's crew.

I thought the Astros would wait a little longer on A.J. Reed. One of the best power hitters at the Triple-A level, Reed was playing well. However, his day-to-day performance lacked the standout quality of a player who has mastered the minors. He merely looked like a good Triple-A player rather than a major league quality masher. I expect some difficulty with his transition to the majors - either in the form of increased strikeouts, reduced power, or both. Now is his honeymoon phase while pitchers challenge him with fastballs over the plate. In other prospect news, Lucas Giolito is getting the call today for the Nationals. He has the chance to win a rotation job, but there's no guarantee he's ready to stick.

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Dynasty Advice for Week 13

Austin Hedges - San Diego Padres

They don't come much hotter than Hedges. As of this writing, he's homered in each of his last five games. He has seven home runs over his last nine games. For a supposedly low-power catching prospect, he's certainly going wild.

Hedges is buried on the depth chart behind Derek Norris. Everybody expects the Padres to trade Norris at some point in July, freeing Hedges' path to starting. Long considered an excellent defensive receiver, Hedges' offensive development has lagged. He's always featured quality plate discipline with middling power.

He missed most of 2015 with an injury and showed better power tendencies upon returning. After another late start to the season, Hedges is mashing through 94 plate appearances - .365/.426/.718 (.354 BABIP, .353 ISO). Neither the BABIP nor ISO can be expected to remain this high. Still, he should be an average or better hitting catcher once he's in the majors thanks to the low standard at the position. He'll soon have an opportunity for regular work too.

Jeimer Candelario - Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have an embarrassment of prospect riches. I nearly included Candelario in last week's round up of Cubs trade assets. While Dan Vogelbach and Mark Zagunis are probably destined to join a new club, I expect Chicago to hang onto Candelario.

The 22-year-old switch-hitter has yet to fire on all cylinders as a power source. After swatting 15 home runs across three levels last year (558 plate appearances), he has just six home runs between Double- and Triple-A this season. His best skill is a discerning eye at the plate which has translated into a high walk rate and average strikeout rate.

Although his current home run power may be in doubt, he's one of the few players to have more extra base hits than singles. Those doubles could eventually become home runs. The scouting report notes a bit of funk in his mechanics - enough that there are some doubts about his ability to succeed in the majors.

He seemingly has a super utility floor with a ceiling similar to a low speed, higher strikeout Mookie Betts. Any comp to Betts is sure to generate excitement so allow me to clarify. Betts without speed and more strikeouts is probably a roughly league average hitter. We're looking at 15 to 25 home run power with a high OBP as the upside. The downside isn't anything more than a bench guy.

Candelario may be a September call up this season. At this point, I'm looking at him purely as a 2017 asset.

 

Rapid Fire

Alex Bregman - Houston Astros

With Reed joining the Astros, that should put the Bregman rumors to bed - at least for a couple weeks. Bregman is expected to receive a promotion to Triple-A later this week. He's hitting .296/.410/.562 at Double-A with close to twice as many walks as strikeouts. His profile has changed somewhat this season. It appears he traded some speed for better lower half strength over the offseason. What once profiled as a 10 home run, 20 stolen base package now looks like a potential 20 home run, five steal combination.

Francisco Mejia - Cleveland Indians

One of the top catching prospects in the game, Mejia's bat is beginning to develop. The 20-year-old is hitting .343/.378/.517 in Single-A. He has a 24 game hitting streak which includes 11 multi-hit games and six of his seven home runs. Mejia is still a long way from the majors. He's worth a spot in leagues that roster 750 or more players.

Darin Ruf - Philadelphia Phillies

There's a certain satisfaction to dumping a player like Ruf. Nearly 30, he's had his chances in the majors. Now, while the Phillies give Tommy Joseph an extended test in the majors, Ruf is quietly mashing at Triple-A with eight home runs and a .291/.348/.553 line in 158 plate appearances. Since he doesn't fit into a platoon on the Phillies roster, I expect him to be traded in the coming weeks. He could offer some useful power production down the stretch. He's not a fit for owners in weekly leagues.

David Washington - St. Louis Cardinals 

The Cardinals are kind of infuriating. Time and time again, they develop something out of nothing. Nobody has talked about David Washington as a prospect, yet here he is with 17 home runs split between Double- and Triple-A (280 combined plate appearances). Washington has serious swing-and-miss issues with a near 35 percent whiff rate at Triple-A. The overall profile reminds me of Jabari Blash. Admittedly, I haven't had an opportunity to watch Washington play. Still, very deep league (900 players rostered or more) may want to roll the dice.

Chad Green - New York Yankees

Green has been one of the most successful pitchers at the Triple-A level this season. The righty isn't a touted prospect despite a 95 mph fastball and decent slider. The lack of a third quality offering seems to imply a future in the bullpen despite his 1.67 ERA, 9.04 K/9, and 2.14 BB/9 in 75 Triple-A innings. He's made two spot appearances in the majors with mixed success.

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