Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. The minor league baseball season is off to a hot start, providing us with plenty of big plays and impressive prospect performances.
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.
Savvy fantasy managers looking for an edge in their leagues 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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Heston Kjerstad - OF, Baltimore Orioles
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 9 G, .462/.522/1.026, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 13 R, 0 SB, 10.9 BB%, 17.4 K%, .462 BABIP, .638 wOBA, 284 wRC+
Kjerstad is a household name at this point, and he even appeared in 12 big-league games last season. A deep Orioles roster led to Kjerstad opening the 2024 campaign at Triple-A, but he's become nearly impossible to keep down at this point. He possesses impressive strength and bat speed, using these skills to produce steady contact and power. Despite his aggressive tendencies, he's done an excellent job minimizing strikeouts. Defensively, he has a decent glove and an impressive arm that should allow him to play right field for the long-term.
You'd be hard-pressed to find an individual prospect performance as dominant as Kjerstad's from last week. The former first-round pick mashed opposing pitching, finishing the week with a 12-for-27 line, six homers, 21 RBI, five walks, and six strikeouts. Yes, you read that correctly: Kjerstad drove in 21 runs over the course of one week (six games). He's destined for a promotion to the majors sooner rather than later.
25 year old @Orioles prospect Heston Kjerstad (@hestonkjerstad) starts the season off hot with 5 HR and 21 RBI in his first six games. pic.twitter.com/P0tHXPyJyp
— Prospect Dugout (@prospectdugout) April 7, 2024
Cade Povich - SP, Baltimore Orioles
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 2 G, 2 GS, 1-0, 11.0 IP, 0.82 ERA, 1.97 FIP, 11.45 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 40.9 GB%, .136 BABIP
The Orioles' Triple-A team can shut you down with their bats and their pitching. Povich was no stranger to our Hot Prospects series last year, and he quickly returns to the list in 2024. The southpaw has a solid four-pitch mix headlined by his mid-90s fastball, but he's just as effective when throwing his slider, curveball, and changeup. Control has been an issue for him in the past, but he's maintained an impressive 11.45 K/9 and 2.45 BB/9 this season.
Povich was dominant last week as he made his first two starts of the season. Through 11 innings, he allowed just one run on three hits and three walks. He also struck out 14 batters. Look for Povich to reach the majors this season, perhaps sooner rather than later.
On The Verge #BabyBird of the day for 4/7:
LHP Cade Povich (NOR): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 9 K
Povich has allowed 1 ER on 3 H with 14 K through his first 11 IP. pic.twitter.com/DIuetNPzkV
— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) April 8, 2024
Connor Norby - 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 9 G, .395/.438/.767, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 13 R, 0 SB, 6.3 BB%, 18.8 K%, .419 BABIP, .516 wOBA, 207 wRC+
It was all Orioles at the Triple-A level last week. Norby is the third and final Baltimore farmhand featured in this list. He makes good contact, showcasing a strong awareness of the entire strike zone. He also has plenty of power for a second baseman, boasting the potential to go yard 30-plus times in a single season. He's slightly above average in the field, possessing the necessary glovework to play second base long-term. He can also patrol left field in a pinch.
Norby logged a hit in every game last week, building a six-game hitting streak. He ultimately went 11-for-28 with three homers, three doubles, 10 RBI, three walks, and nine strikeouts. Ideally, he'll be drawing more walks and fewer strikeouts by the time Baltimore summons him to the majors.
Connor Norby deserves a shot in the MLB pic.twitter.com/UWODmLVf8L
— 𝙆am Brice (@kambrice1tv) April 6, 2024
Calvin Ziegler - SP, New York Mets
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, -1.61 FIP, 20.25 K/9, 0.00 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 33.3 GB%, .000 BABIP
Ziegler is a former second-round pick who possesses a dominant three-pitch repertoire. He needs to work on his control, but there's no denying the promise behind his mid-90s fastball with rise, mid-80s curveball with lethal drop, and a mid-80s splitter capable of missing bats. A pair of arm injuries held Ziegler to just one inning of work last year, so 2024 will be key as he works to prove himself as a reliable starter.
The right-hander's season is certainly off to a strong start as he threw four perfect innings during his High-A debut on Sunday. In addition to keeping opponents off the basepaths, he flashed fantastic control by striking out nine of the 12 batters he faced. Ziegler will be an important name to watch over the next few months.
Mets pitching prospect Calvin Ziegler today for the Brooklyn Cyclones:
4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 53 pitches
Fastball was up to 96 mph and struck out eight consecutive batters at one point.
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) April 7, 2024
Zyhir Hope - OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 3 G, .417/.533/1.250, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB, 20.0 BB%, 20.0 K%, .333 BABIP, .682 wOBA, 271 wRC+
The Dodgers were reportedly high on Hope before last year's draft but lost him to the Chicago Cubs. In the end, though, they got their guy, acquiring Hope in a four-player deal that allowed Los Angeles to clear space on its 40-man roster. The left-handed outfielder is a terrific athlete with decent contact skills and impressive power. Defensively, he's capable of putting on a show with his elite speed, a cannon of an arm, and strong glovework.
This analysis may portray Hope as a glove-first player, and while that's not necessarily false, his offensive capabilities should not be ignored. The 19-year-old went 5-for-12 with three homers, five RBI, three walks, and three strikeouts during the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes' opening series last weekend. He also stole a base.
Zyhir Hope showing off his 65 grade arm from LF with big assist to get the runner at home pic.twitter.com/tzteMubGF3
— ∞ The Infinite Dodger ∞ (@InfiniteDodger) April 6, 2024
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