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There are about 1,200 players drafted every year in the MLB draft. For the vast majority of these prospects, we are able to put their names in our back pockets for three to five years until we see if they were able to develop into big league quality players. For a very special handful of drafted prospects, however, Fantasy Baseball Managers should take careful notice now.
With the high profile ascent of Brandon Finnegan to the Kansas City Royals last season, Carlos Rodon and Jacob Lindgren already up with their Major League clubs after just a season in the minors, and the successful promotions to the high level minor leagues of players like Aaron Nola, Tyler Beede, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Michael Conforto, it seems as if college players are more ready than ever to make a quick impact in MLB.
Here are a few prospects drafted in the 2015 MLB draft who could make an impact in the majors in the foreseeable future. It's never too early to start looking at improving your dynasty and keeper leagues.
Editor’s Note: be sure to also check out our weekly updated piece on the top 30 MLB prospects to make a fantasy impact when called up in 2015. 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.
2015 MLB Draft Dynasty and Keeper League Prospects
Dansby Swanson (SS, Arizona Dbacks)
Swanson is a great player who can fill the infield that Arizona is so clearly lacking this season. Chris Owings, Cliff Pennington, Aaron Hill, and Nick Ahmed aren't exactly blocking Swanson's path to the majors. This season for Vanderbilt; Swanson had a .350 BA, 23 2B, six 3B, 15 HR, 16 SB, an 89% SB%, and a 1.103 OPS. Arizona has some great young building blocks on their team. If they wanted to build for the distant future, they would've drafted Brendan Rodgers. Swanson could make a big impact soon.
Dillon Tate (SP, Texas Rangers)
The Texas Rangers are 20th in MLB with a 4.07 team ERA, seventh worst in MLB with nine blown saves, and 23rd in MLB with a 62.5% save percentage. Dillon Tate of the University of California Santa Barbara could be the answer. This season, Tate had a 2.26 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 9.67 K/9, 2.44 BB/9, and 0.26 HR/9 in 103 and 1/3 IP. His impressive control, strikeout potential, and ability to limit damage through the long ball displays that he could be ready to contribute for the Rangers sooner rather than later.
Ian Happ (OF, Chicago Cubs)
The Chicago Cubs have the most loaded prospect chain in all of baseball, but their superstar prospects are infielders. There is still room in the outfield for a young player to come in past Chris Coghlan and Chris Denorfia, and it could be Ian Happ in the coming seasons. This season with the Cincinnati Bearcats, Happ had a .369 BA, 18 2B, 14 HR, a 1.164 OPS, and 12 SB on the way to being named a Second Team All-American. Happ's glove will also help keep him in the game. This season, he had only one error and a .992 fielding percentage in 56 games. Happ could make a quick move up the ranks just like Kyle Schwarber if the Cubs decide they need him enough.
Carson Fulmer (SP, Chicago Sox)
The White Sox have proven this season that they aren't afraid to believe in a pitcher who is fresh out of college when they called up Carlos Rodon. Due to Carlos Rodon's great start to the season, the White Sox may try this approach again by calling up Carson Fulmer. This season with Vanderbilt, Fulmer was one of the most dominant pitchers in the college ranks with a 1.82 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, a .186 opponent BA, a K/9 of 12, and a BB/9 of 3.6 in 114 IP. Fulmer also had three complete games. Look for Fulmer to make a quick climb through the minors and start producing for a team with a dynamic young rotation.
Walker Buehler and Kyle Funkhouser (SPs, Los Angeles Dodgers)
The Dodgers made it pretty clear that they are looking for pitching help soon by taking two college starting pitchers in the first round of the draft. Walker Buehler (also out of Vanderbilt) this season had a 2.97 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, and only 2.86 BB/9. This season as a Louisville Cardinal, Funkhouser had a 3.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .228 opponent BA, 8.33 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, and allowed only two HR all season in 112 and 1/3 IP. The Dodgers are looking for more permanent fixtures for the fifth spot in their rotation and in their bullpen, as they have been plagued by injury and lack of production in those spots. Buehler and Funkhouser could get the call for the Dodgers soon if they prove themselves in the minors.
Tyler Jay and Kyle Cody (SPs, Minnesota Twins)
The Twins are very much in the AL Central race and they acknowledged their weaknesses in SP (and a few weak links in the bullpen) by drafting LHP Tyler Jay out of Illinois and RHP Kyle Cody out of Kentucky. Tyler Jay was mostly a reliever through his college career, but the Twins say they see him as a future starter. This year for the Fighting Illini, Jay put up incredible figures such as a 1.08 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, .177 opponent BA, 10.26 K/9, and 0.95 BB/9. Kyle Cody for the Kentucky Wildcats this season had his struggles and still finished the year with a 4.91 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 8.59 K/9, and only 2.32 BB/9. Cody picked it up at the end of the season. In his last two starts, he had a 0.00 ERA, a 0.67 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, and 2.45 BB/9 in 11 IP.
Tyler Jay is quite possibly the most MLB ready pitcher in the entire draft. Kyle Cody is 6 feet 7 inches tall and has a fastball that can reach 98 mph, and he has solid control to go along with it. If the Twins are in the race come September, keep an eye on these two pitchers to give the Twins support.
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