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A look at top prospects who impressed during Week 5 of the 2023 fantasy baseball season in the minor leagues and may be strong waiver wire stashes or pickups.
Welcome back, RotoBallers! The regular season is in full gear. We're heading into Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season, and while there has already been plenty of action in the majors, we can't ignore some of the top prospect performances that took place in the minor leagues during Week 4.
It's imperative to monitor the top fantasy baseball prospects who have turned heads thus far. The players listed here are not only coming off dominant weeks but have also impressed over the entire season. Don't be surprised when these exact names are painting corners, mashing homers, and swiping bags at the big-league level soon.
Fantasy managers should certainly keep an eye on these players over the long haul as they may prove to be excellent adds in no time.
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Jackson Holliday - SS, Baltimore Orioles
Level: High-A
2023 stats: 13 G, .392/.523/.667, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 15 R, 3 SB, 21.5 BB%, 18.5 K%, 223 wRC+, .554 wOBA, .486 BABIP
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Holliday has been hitting the ball well in the minors. He has a rare ability to do it all at the plate, whether it be pushing the ball to the opposite field, working counts and drawing walks, or driving in runs. Viewed as a five-tool player, Holliday is equally talented on defense and should have no trouble sticking at shortstop long-term with his advanced glovework, strong arm, and fantastic range. Additionally, his baseball IQ is quite impressive for a 19-year-old.
Holliday is coming off a big week with the Orioles' Low-A affiliate in which he went 9-for-20 (.450) with two homers, six RBI, six walks, seven strikeouts, and a stolen base. His results have wowed the organization so much that he earned a promotion to High-A on Monday afternoon, representing another step in the young star's ascension to the majors.
Gavin Williams - SP, Cleveland Guardians
Level: Double-A
2023 stats: 3 G, 3 GS, 1-0, 14.1 IP, 0.63 ERA, 0.95 FIP, 12.56 K/9, 1.88 BB/9, .200 BABIP
Williams, 23, is a big-bodied right-hander whom the Guardians selected with the 23rd overall pick back in 2021. He has wasted no time showing off his skills in the minors, headlined by a fantastic fastball that touches triple-digits. Williams supports his high-velocity heater with a trio of effective complementary offerings: a slider and curveball, which can both be lethal options that break enough to miss opponents' bats, as well as a changeup with a solid fade. These offerings offer a fantastic change of pace from his fastball and can be incredibly effective late in counts.
The East Carolina product delivered big results in the minors this past week. During his outing on Thursday, he surrendered zero runs, zero hits, and just one walk over five innings of work, all while striking out eight batters. He was incredibly effective in the outing, building on an already strong start to the year. Williams should have no trouble advancing through the minors and projects as a reliable fantasy weapon in the next year or two.
Jonatan Clase - OF, Seattle Mariners
Level: High-A
2023 stats: 14 G, .309/.449/.600, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 13 R, 12 SB, 20.3 BB%, 27.5 K%, 189 wRC+, .483 wOBA, .424 BABIP
Clase, at 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds, is an undersized speed threat who signed with the club back in 2018. Scouts instantly fell in love with his baserunning, but once he joined the Mariners' organization, he started to show off promising bat-to-ball skills and equally impressive power. The outfielder's top-notch bat speed was presumably the source of his unexpected surge of home runs in 2022, and that appears to be continuing into 2023.
The 20-year-old is coming off a big week at High-A in which he went 7-for-21 with three homers, seven RBI, six walks, and nine strikeouts. He also stole a whopping seven bases during this five-game span. Clase showed a little bit of everything at the plate, and while he's still a while from reaching the majors, there's no doubt that he could have a significant fantasy impact in the future if his power is truly here to stay.
Brycen Mautz - SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Level: Single-A
2023 stats: 3 G, 3 GS, 1-0, 15.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 1.81 FIP, 11.40 K/9, 1.80 BB/9, .219 BABIP, 56.3 GB%
The Cardinals took Mautz, a left-hander, with their second-round pick in the 2022 draft. The San Diego product has a mid-90s fastball that induces plenty of ground balls, as well as a deceptive sweeping slider that serves as a phenomenal putaway pitch. Finally, he also throws a sinker, which plays nicely off the fastball and is a great tertiary offering.
Mautz truly put on a show this past Wednesday, tossing six perfect innings while striking out a whopping 11 batters. He has continued to be effective on the mound in 2023, thanks in large part to his ability to induce ground balls and avoid pitching to loud contact.
Andrew Cossetti - C, Minnesota Twins
Level: Single-A
2023 stats: 9 G, .486/.558/.649, 7 RBI, 8 R, 1 SB, 14.0 BB%, 20.9 K%, 232 wRC+, .567 wOBA, .643 BABIP
Cossetti is a talented catcher whose offensive ability has been on full display. After posting incredible numbers at the plate in college (St. Joseph's), the backstop has wasted no time transitioning his offensive skills to pro ball. Most notably, his 43 homers over four NCAA seasons set a program record. While his bat is his calling card, the Twins are also optimistic about Cossetti's ability to develop defensively, and as of now, it looks like he should remain behind the dish long-term (rather than projecting as a first baseman or designated hitter).
This past week, Cossetti showed off the same offensive firepower that has wowed scouts for a while now. Through six games, he went 10-for-18 with three homers, 14 RBI, five walks, and three strikeouts. This is a phenomenal line in multiple regards, from his BB/K ratio above 1.0 to his ability to smash homers and drive in runs. Cossetti's MLB debut may still be several years away, but it's not hard to imagine the ways in which he could eventually provide key value in fantasy baseball.
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