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Winning in a fantasy baseball redraft league requires a nice blend of high-floor players and upside shots. While prospects do present more risk in a one-year setting like a redraft league, if they hit, they pay big dividends. The reward could be huge if these players get adequate playing time and perform.
Throughout the season, there will be plenty of prospects who will get promoted and make an impact on their respective MLB teams and fantasy teams. Getting ahead of the curve on these players can pay huge dividends when it comes to FAAB bids. You can save money and have your league mates question how you are already in on that player so far in advance.
This biweekly article will dive deep into three players who could make an impact sooner rather than later. Over the weeks, the majority of our players discussed have gotten the call rather quickly. In the last edition, it was Kyle Manzardo, and while we are still waiting on several of the others, it could be soon. So, who is next and ready to make a splash in the majors? Let's dive in.
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Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
Caminero is doing all the right things to earn a call to the majors as he would step in and help Tampa Bay's lineup immediately. The issue becomes, how does he fit into a full lineup? Well, part of the problem could be solved by the fact Caminero is playing some second base in Triple-A Durham.
Everyone knows how good Caminero can be. Mashing 31 home runs in 2023 across 117 games, Caminero posted elite exit velocities, reaching 111 mph on his 90th-percentile exit velocity, which would rank in the top five among all hitters in baseball. The power is evident to all fields, and he can hit opposite-field home runs with the flick of his wrist. You could argue for a 70 grade on his power, and I would not be upset.
This year, the power numbers are not quite where they were last year, but still at the top of hitters his age. With an average exit velocity of 93 mph and a 90th percentile of 108.3, Caminero would rank 15th in MLB in average exit velocity beside Yordan Alvarez, and the 90th percentile ranks 20th next to Elly De La Cruz.
The contact skills are average, as Caminero has a contact rate of 71 percent and a zone contact rate north of 86 percent. He is not going to be a .300+ hitter as we have seen in the past, but he is capable of being a .270+ hitter consistently. The bat speed and barrel control allow Caminero to make adjustments on the fly in his swing and cover the zone well without expanding it too often.
The quad injury set Caminero back a bit, but he has not missed a beat after a two-week absence in April. In 30 games, Caminero has seven home runs and a slash line of .279/.343/.500.
Caminero is more than ready to be back in the majors mashing home runs. It could happen as soon as this weekend, though an early June call-up seems more likely.
Here's a 114.5 mph double off the bat of Junior Caminero vs. fellow Top 100 prospect AJ Smith-Shawver.
It's the highest Triple-A EV measured for Caminero this season. His previous best: 110.5 mph pic.twitter.com/MVYvxkbgvH
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) May 1, 2024
Cade Povich, RP, Baltimore Orioles
John Means is injured again, and it could be a lengthy absence. While the team does have Cole Irvin on the roster, who has pitched well this year and can step in a starter's role, they could begin to look at two starters in Triple-A who are both worthy of getting a call up at some point soon. Let's talk about both.
Povich, a lefty, has had a strong start to his Triple-A season at this point, posting a 2.08 ERA across 47.2 innings with a 34.2 percent strikeout rate and a 9 percent walk rate.
The fastball looks good and sits 91-93 mph with a good arm-side run. The mid-70s curveball shows incredible depth, having 60-65 inches of drop regularly with 10 inches of sweeping action. The mid-80s changeup showed nice depth and run, while also featuring a sweeper and a cutter.
It is a true five-pitch mix, and while he is pitching, you might get him confused with Max Fried with how similar the mechanics are. Povich has seen his strike-throwing improve this year and he steals a lot of called strikes, having a 31.5 percent CSW.
On The Verge #BabyBird of the day for 5/18:
LHP Cade Povich (NOR): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Season line for Povich:
47.2 IP
65 K/17 BB- Leads all of MiLB in K's
2.08 ERA
.193 BAA pic.twitter.com/TG3qX0dn5U— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) May 19, 2024
Chayce McDermott, SP, Baltimore Orioles
McDermott is pitching quite well in the month of May, and his most recent start was no exception, as he struck out 10 batters over five innings. It now gives him 37 strikeouts and four walks over his last four starts (21.2 innings pitched).
McDermott averages 94 mph on his fastball and generates whiffs with all five of his pitches. His changeup and cutter are both missing bats at the highest clips, while the slider comes in third. All three of those pitches have been excellent offerings for him to pair off the fastball.
Things are coming together after a rough start to the year for McDermott. In his last six starts, he has a 3.48 ERA with a 38.5 percent strikeout rate to an 8.9 percent walk rate. As previously mentioned, over the last four, the walk rate has dropped to 4.7 percent and the strikeout rate is up to 43 percent.
McDermott will make starts in Baltimore this year, but it is just a matter of time. If John Means' injury is serious, Povich or McDermott could earn the call. Which one gets the first crack at an MLB start? I really wish I had a crystal ball.
Chayce McDermott in three starts this month:
16.2 IP, 27 K, 3 BBMcDermott fanned 8 with 0 BB in 5 IP last night, inducing 21 whiffs and posting a CSW% of 44% with his fastball. pic.twitter.com/jjHMlw6Wmc
— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) May 16, 2024
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