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Jarod analyzes three top fantasy baseball prospects who could make big impacts this season. These MLB prospects are potential waiver wire pick-ups or stashes.
We are closing in on the final weeks of the fantasy baseball season and there are still some players in the minors who could help out for fantasy purposes were they to get the call tomorrow.
Even if they do not get the call this season, these prospects could have big impacts next season, so redraft and dynasty managers alike should be familiar with these players and their profiles.
Prospects are captivating, as many have yet to reach their ceiling and some of them will potentially become the face of the sport and of fantasy for years to come. Let's take a look at three prospects we should be keeping an eye on.
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Dalton Rushing - C/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Current Level: Triple-A Oklahoma City
Availability: 1% rostered
2024 AA stats: 77 G, .270/.378/.512, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 44 R, 0 SB, 20.7% K%, 11.4% BB%
2024 AAA stats: 22 G, .308/.439/.551, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 19 R, 1 SB, 19.4% K%, 17.3% BB%
Dalton Rushing ranks as the Dodgers' top prospect, but with Will Smith signed long-term behind the plate, the Dodgers began giving him looks in the outfield this season in an attempt to give him some versatility so they could have other ways of getting his bat into the lineup.
The former second-round draft pick played all of 2023 at High-A, belting 15 homers in just 89 games, but it came with a 24.4% K% and .224 BA. Through 77 games at Double-A in 2024, the 23-year-old sent 17 balls over the wall, reduced his K% to 20.7%, and hit .270.
Dalton Rushing has been red-hot lately and hit two more home runs last night.
Last 30 Games: 134 PA, .342/.448/.730, 7 2B, 12 HR, 14.2% BB, 19.4% K
Could be up with the Dodgers any day now.#LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/3TYb9Z5ulB
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) August 28, 2024
To continue to see improvements despite a tougher level of pitching is a welcome characteristic in a hitter, so to see him with a 19.4% K% and hitting .308 through 22 games at Triple-A since early August only reinforces his offensive potential.
Combine that with a career walk rate of 15.7% and you have a player you can reasonably assume will get on base at a decent clip once he gets a shot in the majors. While he may be a full-timer come 2025, he could be the first bat added when rosters expand in September, especially with the way he's hitting.
Colby Thomas - OF, Oakland Athletics
Current Level: Triple-A Las Vegas
Availability: 0% rostered
2024 AA stats: 59 G, .282/.340/.568, 14 HR, 47 RBI, 32 R, 12 SB, 18.0% K%, 6.5% BB%
2024 AAA stats: 54 G, .261/.338/.522, 11 HR, 33 RBI, 29 R, 2 SB, 29.9% K%, 7.3% BB%
Colby Thomas, selected by the Athletics in the 2022 MLB Draft, has methodically moved his way up the ranks, playing for Single-A and High-A in 2023, then starting 2024 at Double-A before earning a promotion to Triple-A in mid-June.
The former third-round draft pick displayed both power and speed in his first pro season, belting 18 home runs and swiping 25 bags while hitting for a solid .286 average across two levels.
The 23-year-old slashed .282/.340/.568 with 14 home runs and 12 steals in 59 games at Double-A which earned him a promotion to Triple-A where he quickly impressed, smacking 16 doubles and 10 home runs over his first 38 games for Las Vegas.
Colby Thomas putting in work 👏
He gets his 19th double of the year #AviatorsLV pic.twitter.com/TEdlmiFm1r
— Las Vegas Aviators (@AviatorsLV) August 31, 2024
His bat has gone somewhat cold since then, however, hitting just .136 (8-for-59) with just one home run and zero stolen bases.
Still, there's a chance he gets the call after rosters expand for a taste of his first major league action, but whether or not that happens, managers should be familiar with him for next season as he offers multi-category production in an offense that is looking more dynamic than it has in recent years.
Jacob Wilson - SS, Oakland Athletics
Level: MLB
Availability: 7% rostered
2024 AA stats: 22 G, .455/.473/.705, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 18 R, 2 SB, 10.8% K%, 2.2% BB%
2024 AAA stats: 26 G, .396/.448/.613, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 26 R, 0 SB, 4.3% K%, 7.8% BB%
The Athletics' Jacob Wilson is another reason the offense is looking more dynamic than in recent years, as he brings elite-level contact rates and a keen eye to the park.
As a 2023 draft pick, he is one of the fastest to reach the majors in his class. He was able to do so by hitting .401 in the 79 games he played across various levels of the minors the last two seasons. The former sixth-overall draft pick struck out at just 7.7% during his minor league tenure, legitimizing his strong batting average.
While he doesn't hit a lot of home runs yet, he is still just 22 years old and was able to muscle out eight of them (four at Triple-A), but also belted 39 doubles in 307 minor league at-bats. One could expect some of those to turn into round-trippers with some added power.
Wilson has looked good in his small sample in the majors as well, collecting a hit in his first game for the A's and going 3-for-10 with a 2:2 BB:K in his first four contests.
First MLB hit for Jacob Wilson!! pic.twitter.com/VKzh3z9wGu
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 20, 2024
Redraft managers will want to pay close attention to how he fares over the final month as it could portend of things to come in 2025 and could start increasing his draft stock for next season.
Hopefully, we'll see Luis Arraez-type contact but with more pop (maybe Steven Kwan-like?). Managers also looking for help on the waiver wire for this year's fantasy playoffs could take a flier on the youngster as he's available in nearly all Yahoo leagues.
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