X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Rookie Report: Recent MLB Prospect Call-Ups (Week 21)

ronald acuna fantasy baseball rankings MLB Injury news DFS lineup picks

With the fantasy playoffs looming around the corner (or, in some instances, in full swing), rookie impact becomes less and less important due to the fact that there simply aren't any great stashes remaining. A top prospect being promoted for a cup of coffee can make a huge impact, but there does not profile to be a ton of guys who will fill that role this season, making the prospect pool even less intriguing for fantasy purposes.

That does not mean, however, that there will not be any cups of coffee, as indicated by Michael Kopech's MLB debut this past Tuesday. Kopech, who had demonstrated that he was ready for the big leagues, pitched in the Show for the first time this past week despite the White Sox being unequivocally out of the playoff race. Instead of playing with his service clock, the White Sox did the right thing and promoted an MLB-ready player to the MLB. Good on them (no pressure, Blue Jays).

Michael Kopech and Bryse Wilson are the lone new names joining the list this week while Jeff McNeil joins them as a returner. Jacob Nix, Sean Reid-Foley, Touki Toussaint, Brandon Lowe, and Garrett Hampson are saying sayonara. Without further ado, this week's rookie report.

Be sure to check all of our preseason fantasy baseball rankings for Roto, Points, H2H, dynasty, best ball, prospects and more:

 

Prospect Call-Ups and Rookie Performances

Michael Kopech (SP, CWS)

Kopech, after an abysmal 12-start stretch spanning from early May to early July, posted elite numbers for the last month to earn himself a call-up. During his string of bad outings, Kopech walked 47 batters in 55.1 innings and pitched to a 5.69 ERA with a WHIP of 1.59. Not exactly the type of stuff you want to see from a top-of-the-line prospect. The good news for Kopech is that something clicked for him in July; in his last seven minor league starts, Kopech fanned 59 batters in 44 innings and walked just four opposing hitters. He posted an elite 1.84 ERA and was one of the best pitchers in all of the minor leagues during this stretch. So good, in fact, that the White Sox finally decided he had earned a call-up to the show.

What did Kopech do to reward them? Just go two scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no walks in a rain-shortened debut. His fastball looked electric and sat in the high 90s with movement, and he featured three breaking pitches, at least two of which were average or better. Kopech has the makings of a legitimate ace and will be extremely fun to watch down the stretch provided that his old walk issues do not resurface.

Bryse Wilson (SP, ATL)

Wilson, a fourth-round draft pick by the Braves in the 2016 draft, came seemingly out of nowhere to make his MLB debut this past week. After starting the season in Single-A, Wilson managed to climb all the way up the minor league ladder, a rare feat for a starting pitcher, to make his big league debut on Monday night for the Braves against the Pirates and threw a gem: 5 IP, 5 SO, 3 H, 3 BB, 0 R. Wilson is just the fourth player from the 2016 draft class to debut but, unfortunately for him, it looks as though Monday's outing is no more than a spot start. He, like Touki Toussaint, will fall victim to an extremely deep Braves rotation and farm system and be sent back to Triple-A to work on his stuff.

Jeff McNeil (2B/3B, NYM)

Well hello, Jeff. Mr. McNeil, a 26-year-old rookie, is very good at hitting the baseball, which gives me great pleasure as a Mets fan. Entering player on Wednesday, McNeil sported a robust .326/.388/.472 triple-slash through exactly 100 plate appearances. What did he do on Wednesday? Just went 2-4 with an RBI, another day at the office for old Jeff. The reason McNeil was not a bigger prospect is that he has always been old for his level due to injuries, so his performance relative to what someone his age should have been doing at his assigned minor league levels has never stood out. This is a guy who can flat-out hit, though, and is a must-grab in all leagues of 12 teams or deeper, especially for those of you who need infield help. McNeil and his single-digit strikeout rate are both here to stay.

Willie Calhoun (OF, TEX)

Calhoun was demoted due to Nomar Mazara being activated from the disabled list, which is not an encouraging sign. The fact that Calhoun was triple-slashing a relatively uninspiring .275/.325/.391 was no help, but if the Rangers, who are rebuilding, aren't willing to give one of their top prospects an extended look in the majors during a down period for their big league club, that doesn't bode well for his fantasy value. He's a safe drop in all redraft leagues.

Danny Jansen (C, TOR)

Jansen is triple-slashed a cool .381/.391/.667 through his first six contests, making him an extremely valuable fantasy backstop since his debut. The problem is that he is only playing about four times a week, which is a lot less valuable. Still, a catcher who posts elite hitting stats, despite playing just four games a week, is an asset in any fantasy league. He went 0-2 with his first MLB walk on Wednesday night and remains one of the better catching options in fantasy. If he begins to see everyday playing time, he should immediately catapult into the top five fantasy catcher conversation.

Taylor Ward (C/3B, LAA)

Despite hitting well below .250 since his call-up, Ward has been a respectable fantasy catcher, which says a lot more about the state of the position than his hitting ability. Don't get me wrong, Ward should be a valuable fantasy producer at some point, but right now does not seem to be that time. When he loses catcher eligibility after this season he becomes a lot less valuable, so ride him while you can.

 

Quick Hits

Ronald Acuna (OF, ATL)

The Ronald is hot. So hot, in fact, that I think he is as good a bet as any to win Player of the Month for August. With his solo shot on Wednesday, Acuna raised his triple-slash this month to a ridiculous .341/.419/.756. He has also launched nine bombs, scored 21 runs, and driven in 17 in just 22 contests this month. Basically, Acuna is an absolute monster and is now likely the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year in the NL, or at the very least giving Juan Soto a run for his money.

Juan Soto (OF, WAS)

Soto has just five hits in his most recent 27 PA, but the good news is that he is still walking. The strikeouts have ticked up a little bit, but there is nothing in his profile that jumps out as a cause for concern. Deploy Childish Bambino as usual.

Miguel Andujar (3B, NYY)

Andujar still is not walking but it still does not matter. He is seven for his last 26 and has nearly pushed his average over .300 with his recent hot streak. If Andujar can continue hitting and the Red Sox continue to lose, there is a chance that he and the Baby Bombers can steal the AL East. I wouldn't count on it, though.

Shohei Ohtani (SP/DH, LAA) 

Mike Scioscia said recently that Ohtani could pitch again this season for the Angels, which would be a miracle given that he is likely headed for Tommy John Surgery in the not-so-distant future. Meanwhile, the hitter version of Ohtani is four for his last 14 with a homer and four RBI, so that's good too.

Seranthony Dominguez (RP, PHI)

Dominguez, pitching in his first game action in nearly a week, blew the save in his first chance in a week. After recording the save in the second half of a twin bill with the Mets a week ago today, he was called upon once again for a save last night and was unable to shut the door, allowing a walk-off two-run homer to Ryan Zimmerman with the game on the line. Still, Dominguez has been dominant this season and remains one of the top relief arms in fantasy.

Gleyber Torres (2B/SS, NYY)

Torres has heated back up over the past week, picking up a hit in every contest but one over the last seven days. The Rookie of the Year candidate has notched eight hits over his last 24 ABs and is now back to playing shortstop with Didi Gregorius on the disabled list. Business as usual for the youngster.

Jake Bauers (1B, TB)

Bauers looks simply lost at the dish recently. The 22-year-old has just one hit in his last 41 PA and though the walks are still there, hits are a lot more productive for getting on base. If you need the roster space in a redraft league, dropping Bauers makes a lot of sense.

 

Josh Hader Update

Hader this past week: three perfect innings, five strikeouts, and a save to boot. Easy money for Hader.

 

More MLB Prospects Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jordan Romano41 mins ago

Not Expected To Be Out Long
Gerrit Cole45 mins ago

Yankees Put Gerrit Cole On 60-Day Injured List
Elly De La Cruz52 mins ago

Batting In Six-Hole On Opening Day
Anthony Rendon1 hour ago

Hitting Leadoff On Opening Day
Wander Franco1 hour ago

Placed On Administrative Leave
Aaron Ekblad2 hours ago

Returning To Panthers Lineup Thursday
Nikita Kucherov2 hours ago

Establishes New Career High With 42nd Goal
Shane Pinto2 hours ago

Collects Career-High Four Points
Valeri Nichushkin2 hours ago

Nursing A Lower-Body Injury
Samuel Girard2 hours ago

Battling An Illness
J.K. Dobbins2 hours ago

Visiting With Chargers On Thursday
Oskar Sundqvist2 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Season With Torn ACL
Ethan Bear2 hours ago

Enters Player Assistance Program
Keita Bates-Diop3 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Season
Dyson Daniels3 hours ago

Remains Out On Thursday But Nearing Return
LaMelo Ball3 hours ago

Ruled Out For Rest Of 2023-24
Jose Alvarado3 hours ago

Questionable To Face Milwaukee
Jaden Springer3 hours ago

Considered Questionable
Xavier Tillman3 hours ago

Sr. Questionable Thursday
Gabe Vincent3 hours ago

Expected To Return To Action On Sunday
Al Horford14 hours ago

Back On The Injury Report
Derrick White15 hours ago

Off The Injury Report
TJ Friedl16 hours ago

Hits 10-Day Injured List
Aaron Gordon16 hours ago

Cleared To Face Phoenix
Michael Porter16 hours ago

Jr. Good To Go Wednesday
Nikola Jokic16 hours ago

Playing Against Phoenix
Jackson Chourio16 hours ago

Will Start In Right Field Friday
Jrue Holiday16 hours ago

Might Return On Thursday
Khris Middleton16 hours ago

Expected To Play On Thursday Night
Joel Embiid16 hours ago

To Return Soon?
Jamal Murray17 hours ago

Out Again On Wednesday
Rudy Gobert17 hours ago

Ready To Rock Against Pistons
LeBron James17 hours ago

Officially Active Against Memphis
Eduardo Rodriguez17 hours ago

Starts Throwing Program
Anthony Davis17 hours ago

Won't Play Against Grizzlies
Victor Wembanyama17 hours ago

Playing On Wednesday
Anthony Edwards17 hours ago

Will Play Against Detroit
Garrett Mitchell17 hours ago

Will Miss 6-8 Weeks
Chad Green18 hours ago

To Lead Closer Committee In Toronto?
Erik Swanson18 hours ago

Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson Officially Heading To Injured List
Kevin Gausman18 hours ago

To Make Season Debut Sunday Or Monday
Gleyber Torres19 hours ago

Will Bat Leadoff On Opening Day
Mark Hubbard19 hours ago

Coming Off A Career Performance
Davis Thompson20 hours ago

Looking To Pay Off A Stellar Run Of Ball-Striking
Max Scherzer20 hours ago

Making Solid Progress
Akshay Bhatia20 hours ago

Coming Into Houston With Confidence
Thorbjorn Olesen20 hours ago

Still Trying To Find Footing On U.S. Soil
Patrick Rodgers20 hours ago

Fighting Inconsistencies Heading Into Houston
Malik Nabers21 hours ago

Shines At Pro Day
Carolina Panthers21 hours ago

Jadeveon Clowney Signing Two-Year Deal With Panthers
Jordan Lawlar21 hours ago

To Have Thumb Surgery, Out A Couple Months
Wyndham Clark22 hours ago

Battling Back Injury Ahead of Houston Open
San Francisco 49ers22 hours ago

Talanoa Hufanga Expected To Return At Training Camp
MLB22 hours ago

Braves And Phillies Rained Out On Thursday
Jayden Daniels22 hours ago

Raiders To Meet With Jayden Daniels
MLB22 hours ago

Mets And Brewers To Be Postponed Thursday
Tank Bigsby23 hours ago

Jaguars Want Tank Bigsby More Involved
Will Smith23 hours ago

Inks 10-Year Extension With Dodgers
Josh Reynolds23 hours ago

Signs Two-Year Deal With Broncos
Jon Berti24 hours ago

Yankees Acquire Jon Berti From Marlins
Kodai Senga1 day ago

Throws Wednesday
Matt McLain1 day ago

Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
Doug Ghim1 day ago

Looks To Bounce Back At Houston Open
PGA1 day ago

Cameron Davis Seeking Consistency Ahead Of Houston Open
Thomas Detry1 day ago

A Gamble At Houston Open
Ryan Fox1 day ago

Lacks Upside Heading Into Houston Open
Andrew Novak1 day ago

Will Be Chalk At Houston Open
Josh Doan1 day ago

Scores Twice In His NHL Debut
Filip Forsberg1 day ago

Makes History In Big Comeback Win
Jamie Benn1 day ago

Scores In Fifth Consecutive Game
Sidney Crosby1 day ago

Collects Three Points Versus Carolina
Artemi Panarin1 day ago

Continues Scoring Tear With Three Assists
Joey Daccord1 day ago

Shuts Out Ducks
Sahith Theegala1 day ago

Showing Consistency This Season
Wyndham Clark1 day ago

Working Toward Star Status
Scottie Scheffler1 day ago

Heads To Houston At His Best
Sam Ryder1 day ago

Putting The Lights Out Of Late
Joel Dahmen1 day ago

All Systems Go For Joel Dahmen In Houston
Kurt Kitayama1 day ago

Ready For Houston Debut
Ben Griffin1 day ago

Finding Form Heading To Houston
Taylor Moore2 days ago

Continues Made-Cut Streak Heading To Houston
Adam Svensson2 days ago

Hoping For Consistency In Houston
Taylor Montgomery2 days ago

Looks To Bounce Back In Houston
Amon-Ra St. Brown2 days ago

Discussing Extension With Lions
Jared Goff2 days ago

Lions Discussing New Deal
J.K. Dobbins2 days ago

Cleared For Football Activities
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Tre'Davious White To Join Rams
PIT2 days ago

Sam Poulin Recalled From AHL
Jack Quinn2 days ago

Could Return Wednesday
Scott Mayfield2 days ago

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
TOR2 days ago

Mitch Marner Skates On His Own Tuesday
Trevor Zegras2 days ago

To Return Tuesday
Justus Annunen2 days ago

Inks Two-Year Extension
Nick Chubb2 days ago

Expected To Start Load Running Next Month
D'Andre Swift2 days ago

Bears View D'Andre Swift As Receiving Weapon
Cordarrelle Patterson2 days ago

Signing With Steelers
Sam Howell2 days ago

Seahawks Believe Sam Howell Can Be A Full-Time Starter
Tennessee Titans2 days ago

L'Jarius Sneed Agrees On Four-Year Contract With Titans
Dak Prescott2 days ago

No Indication A Deal Is Coming For Dak Prescott
Calvin Ridley2 days ago

To Have Big Role In Tennessee
Josh Jacobs2 days ago

To Be Used More In Passing Game
Brandon Saad2 days ago

Gets Another Goal In Monday's Loss
Logan Thompson2 days ago

Stretches Winning Streak To Three Games
Pittsburgh Steelers3 days ago

Cameron Heyward Expected To Be Healthy For Training Camp
Zach Wilson3 days ago

Jets Could End Up Keeping Zach Wilson
Amanda Ribas3 days ago

Takes Decision Loss
Rose Namajunas3 days ago

Snaps Losing Streak
Edmen Shahbazyan3 days ago

Scores Vicious Comeback Knockout
AJ Dobson3 days ago

Knocked Out In The First Round At UFC Vegas 89
Fernando Padilla3 days ago

Gets Back On Track With Submission Win
Luis Pajuelo3 days ago

Submitted In UFC Debut
William Byron3 days ago

Dominates For Victory At COTA
Ty Gibbs3 days ago

Grabs Another Solid Finish At COTA
Chris Buescher3 days ago

Texas Native Chris Buescher Finishes Eighth At COTA
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Kyle Busch Confronts Christopher Bell Following A Top-10 Finish At COTA
Justin Haley3 days ago

Disqualified After Strong COTA Run
Martin Truex Jr3 days ago

. Rounds Out Top Ten At COTA
NASCAR3 days ago

A.J. Allmendinger Worms Way Up To Sixth At COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen3 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Comes Down to Earth After Mediocre COTA Run
Ross Chastain3 days ago

Ran Well at COTA as Usual Despite Late-Race Fade
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Furious Charge Falls Just Short at COTA
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Scores Strong Finish of Fifth at COTA
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Finishes 16th at COTA After Lackluster Performance
Billy Quarantillo4 days ago

Suffers Submission Loss At UFC Vegas 89
Youssef Zalal4 days ago

Gets Submission Win In Return To The UFC
Cameron Saaiman4 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 89
Payton Talbott4 days ago

Scores KO Win At UFC Vegas 89
Justin Tafa4 days ago

Drops To .500 In The UFC
Karl Williams4 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Is One Of The Optimal DFS Options For COTA
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Should Denny Hamlin Be Rostered For DFS Lineups At COTA?
Kaz Grala4 days ago

Is A Serviceable DFS Play For COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Will Start 12th In First COTA Cup Start
Todd Gilliland4 days ago

Is A Sneaky DFS Play With Upside For COTA
William Byron4 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win At COTA
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Is A Comfortable DFS Play For COTA
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

the Favorite to Win at COTA
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Looking for First Career Win at COTA
Rose Namajunas6 days ago

Looks To Get Back In Win Column
Amanda Ribas6 days ago

Set For Main-Event Matchup
Edmen Shahbazyan6 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
AJ Dobson6 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 89
Fernando Padilla6 days ago

Seeking Victory In Third UFC Appearance
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

2024 NFL Draft: Bold Predictions and Potential Surprises for Round 1

Football never sleeps at RotoBaller! With the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, we're digging into what might transpire on draft night. RotoBaller analyst LaQuan Jones previews the 2024 NFL Draft and makes some BOLD Predictions about possible surprises and potential landing spots for the first round of the draft. Win MORE in 2024 with RotoBaller!... Read More


George Pickens - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Early Look At Wide Receivers In 2024 Fantasy Football Drafts

The upcoming NFL Draft is less than a month away. While everyone is excited for the NFL Draft, fantasy players are looking forward to the regular season. While we won’t have meaningful NFL football for months, it’s never too early to prepare for your fantasy football drafts. Last year, the fantasy football world saw multiple... Read More


Spencer Rattler, College Football Transfers

Underrated Rookie Draft Targets - Early 2024 Sleepers for Dynasty Fantasy Football

We are a month out from the NFL Draft, meaning if you are here, you are probably looking for draft content and reading up on prospects. You probably have all of the information you need on stud prospects like Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. That’s not what you’re here for.  Rookie draft season for... Read More


Breece Hall - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Free-Agency Winners and the Fantasy Football Impact - Part II

The NFL's offseason, including trades and free agency, can strongly impact a player's fantasy football value. This effect can be positive or negative. For this series, we're focusing on fantasy football players who have seen their fantasy value increase. This can occur via a player's direct movement, such as a trade or signing with a... Read More


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 1: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2024)

It's finally here: the UFL season is set to kick off with two games on Saturday, March 30 and two games on Sunday, March 31. Saturday's games will be broadcast on Fox Sports while Sunday's matchups will be on ESPN. The most anticipated Week 1 matchup pits the 2023 USFL champion Birmingham Stallions against the... Read More


Jared Goff - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Will the Lions Extend Jared Goff's Contract This Offseason? 2024 NFL Outlook

Jared Goff's career in Los Angeles didn't take off like many expected after his appearance in Super Bowl LIII, and he was traded to the Lions for Matthew Stafford. Goff's first season in the Motor City was terrible, but he has completely turned things around over the last two seasons. In 2022, he almost led... Read More


Kyle Pitts - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Free-Agency Winners and the Fantasy Football Impact - Part I

Free agency symbolizes the start of a new NFL season. It's the first opportunity for NFL clubs to start addressing their weaknesses and considerably impacts how the upcoming season plays out. Just as free agency can improve or worsen a team's outlook, a player's fantasy football value is also impacted. Free agency marks the real... Read More


Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, WR, NFL Draft Sleepers

Coach Knows Ball: Malik Nabers 2024 NFL Draft Film Breakdown of LSU WR

Welcome to Coach Knows Ball, an NFL Draft series analyzing the top prospects in the 2024 class. I'm a college football coach with nine years of NCAA experience and have been scouting NFL Draft prospects for over 15 years. This series will give a deep dive into the film of some of the top players... Read More


Avoid These Running Backs in 2024: Fantasy Football Outlook

Football never sleeps at RotoBaller! The staff is already looking ahead to the 2024 season to help our readers get the jump on their competition. RotoBaller analyst LaQuan Jones discusses five Running Backs that you should AVOID in 2024 fantasy football drafts. Win MORE in 2024 with RotoBaller! Be sure to tune into RotoBaller Radio... Read More


Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NCAA College Football, Prospects

Brock Bowers 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update – When Will the Georgia TE Be Selected?

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers was arguably the top tight end in college football over the past few years. Bowers was outstanding his freshman year, totaling 56 receptions for 882 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production slightly slipped in 2022 as defenses started to game plan for the star tight end. Bowers had... Read More


Xavier Worthy 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update – When Will the Texas WR Be Selected?

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been one of the top pass-catchers in college football over the past few years. The explosive receiver was outstanding his freshman year, totaling 62 receptions for 981 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production slipped in 2022. Worthy had 60 receptions for 760 receiving yards and nine touchdowns... Read More


Blake Corum - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, RB, NFL Draft Sleepers

Blake Corum 2024 NFL Draft Stock Update - When Will the Michigan RB Be Selected?

Former Michigan running back Blake Corum is one of the most popular prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class. The 23-year-old is fresh off a College Football National Championship victory and a 2023 campaign consisting of over 1,300 yards from scrimmage. However, given the devaluation of the running back position and Corum not being an... Read More


Brandon Aiyuk - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News

Will The 49ers Trade Brandon Aiyuk?

Brandon Aiyuk had a career year last season, finishing seventh in the league in receiving yards (1342), second in yards per catch (17.9), and catching seven touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named to the Second-team All-Pro. However, despite many expecting them to do so, the 49ers failed to win Super Bowl LVIII and now... Read More