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Brenton analyzes three top fantasy baseball prospects - Junior Caminero, Dylan Crews, Deyvison De Los Santos - who could make big impacts this season. These MLB prospects are potential waiver wire pick-ups or stashes.
We might be into Week 18 of the fantasy baseball season with a hefty dose of youth taking over the game of baseball but it's never too late to consider more top prospects doing damage and knocking on the door for their big-league promotions.
We have put together a trio of prospects continuing to show they have little left to prove in the minor leagues. Regardless of age or the state of their respective big league clubs, these guys boast the ability to make a fantasy baseball difference in the second half of the season.
Let's dive in and see which three prospects should either already be stashed or grabbed off the waiver wire before it's too late.
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Junior Caminero - INF, Tampa Bay Rays
Current Level: Triple-A Durham
Availability: 28% rostered
2024 stats: 36 G, .253/.323/.479, 9 HRs, 25 RBI, 20 R, 1 SB
Aside from Jackson Holliday, the Rays' Junior Caminero was perhaps the highest-touted prospect in baseball entering the 2024 season considering he made his big-league debut at the ripe old age of 19 in 2023. Predictably, Caminero scuffled against big-league arms but also mashed to the tune of a .309 average alongside 20 homers and a 921 OPS across 81 contests at Double-A Montgomery.
Unfortunately, a lingering quad issue and subsequent diminished results at the plate have plagued MLB Pipeline's No. 3-ranked prospect this season. Camerino's OPS has dipped to .802 in 36 games this season, although his power has been on par with last season as his .226 isolated power is just below his .239 mark from Double-A a season ago.
It's been an interesting return to action for Caminero since returning from the minor-league injured list on July 9. In eight games since returning, the 20-year-old has just five hits. At the same time, four of those have gone for home runs and the other was a double. His five walks match his five strikeouts in that time but there's no doubt consistency has been an issue.
Junior Caminero (@RaysBaseball) continues to roll 🔥
MLB's No. 3 prospect goes deep for the Triple-A @DurhamBulls -- it's his fourth homer in his past eight games since returning from injury. pic.twitter.com/ZFtth6X8nQ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 21, 2024
There is little doubt his upside requires a dynasty league stash but his uneven season combined with injury issues put a significant damper on his value for redraft managers.
Dylan Crews - OF, Washington Nationals
Current Level: Triple-A Rochester
Availability: 10% rostered
2024 AA stats: 51 G, .274/.343/.446, 5 HRs, 38 RBI, 26 R, 15 SB
2024 AAA stats: 23 G, .257/.336/.426, 4 HRs, 14 RBI, 15 R, 5 SB
Just one spot behind Caminero on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews has split the 2024 campaign between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Jacksonville.
The 22-year-old fared well in his 51 games against elite young pitching at the Double-A level, posting a 123 wRC+ that sat 23% above the league average but that figure has dipped to 97 at Triple-A, 3% below the league average. While he has unquestioned speed on the basepaths, Crews hasn't shown a ton of home run power since moving on from Single-A in the 2023 season.
Of course, 14 homers and an .801 OPS in 424 minor league at-bats is nothing to scoff at but it's likely he doesn't hit for much in terms of home run power early in his big-league career. He does, however, boast excellent speed with 20 stolen bases in 74 games this season. That speed has aided him in notching 16 doubles and three triples to go with his nine long balls on the season.
Dylan Crews (@Nationals) opens the scoring for the @RocRedWings!
MLB's No. 4 prospect belts his fourth homer in 23 Triple-A games -- ninth of the year.
Tune in FREE: https://t.co/aKtGFgWBY3 pic.twitter.com/UlLktXCMpa
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 21, 2024
Dynasty league managers would be wise to stash baseball's No. 4-ranked prospect but his value to redraft managers doesn't appear to be there in 2024.
Deyvison De Los Santos - INF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Level: Triple-A Reno
Availability: 8% rostered
2024 AA stats: 38 G, .372/.426/.696, 14 HRs, 37 RBI, 28 R, 1 SB
2024 AAA stats: 47 G, .289/.333/.599, 14 HRs, 46 RBI, 31 R, 0 SB
Not even ranked inside MLB's Top 100 Prospects and way down as the 14th-ranked D-backs prospect, corner infielder Deyvison De Los Santos is bar-none having the best season on this list.
The recently-turned-21-year-old absolutely obliterated Double-A pitching to the tune of a 1.122 OPS with 14 long balls in 38 games before continuing to throttle Triple-A arms with a .932 OPS and another 14 taters in 47 contests. He has 48 home runs, 34 doubles, and four triples over his last 198 minor-league contests with the D-backs.
Over the shrubbery!
Deyvison De Los Santos just LAUNCHED his 2️⃣8️⃣th HR of the year with 1️⃣4️⃣ in Triple-A and 1️⃣4️⃣ in Double-A 💣 pic.twitter.com/IQyG5EfCu5
— Reno Aces (@Aces) July 20, 2024
One of the faster risers in the minor leagues this season, there is seemingly a path to the big leagues sooner than later for De Los Santos. The D-backs are tied for the third and final Wild Card spot in the senior circuit with an above-average offense but third baseman Eugenio Suarez has struggled. Acquired from the Mariners prior to the season, the veteran third baseman has hit just .214 with 11 homers and a .665 OPS on the season, production that sits 11% below the league average, as per his 89 wRC+.
Add it up and the surging De Los Santos sure appears to have something to contribute to a playoff contender down the stretch, even if he just turned 21 years old. Now would be the time to hop on board before he gets the call to the big leagues, even in redraft leagues.
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