RADIO
We're changing things up a bit for our September prospect series. Instead of ranking the top 30, we'll be doing two top ten lists. The first will still look at players in the minors, while this piece will look at the top 10 prospects currently in the MLB who should be scouted / picked up off the waiver wire. With rosters expanded and so many prospects up in the majors, it's just as important to look at current MLB rosters for impact prospects as the minors.
A prospect will not be eligible for this list if they were on the active Major League roster on August 31 because they would’ve been a call up prior to the expansion of the rosters. A prospect will also lose eligibility to be on this list once they are owned in greater than 50% of Fleaflicker Leagues.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more MLB prospects, rookies and potential call-ups, be sure to check out our MLB prospects homepage which has lots of great weekly updates and analysis.
Top MLB Prospects to Pick Up off the Waiver Wire Right Now
1. Corey Seager (SS, LAD)
Baller Move: Own in All Leagues
Owned In: 6% of Fleaflicker Leagues
The Dodgers are in a very precarious situation and they need any help on offense that they can get. The Dodgers have been no-hit twice in the span of two weeks and this had only increased the calls for Corey Seager to start at short over the struggling Jimmy Rollins. Seager has been officially called up and will likely serve in the role of utility infielder, but he will see some playing time. With both Enrique Hernandez on the DL and Jose Peraza likely to miss some time with a hamstring issue, that puts Seager in a prime position to earn a starting role on the team and bump another struggling starter (Rollins) out of the lineup. Fantasy owners should absolutely own the shortstop in all leagues.
2. Javier Baez (2B/SS, CHC)
Baller Move: Own in All Leagues
Owned In: 26% of Fleaflicker Leagues
This is one of the big names on this list and should definitely be owned in all leagues. Starlin Castro has struggled and was replaced in the lineup on the day that Javier Baez was called up. Baez has incredible value as he is able to generate gaudy home run totals from positions that are typically weak in power numbers. He will strikeout frequently and his batting average won’t be excellent, but his middle of the order presence combined with his ridiculous power gives him great value to fantasy owners down the stretch.
3. Hector Olivera (3B, ATL)
Baller Move: Own in All Leagues
Owned In: 4% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Hector Olivera is another player who should be owned in all leagues. There are many questioning whether or not he can hit major league pitching, but fantasy owners in need of a jolt from third base should take the risk and add Olivera before it is too late. Olivera will be the everday third baseman for the Atlanta Braves and should be hitting right behind Freddie Freeman in the lineup. Is Olivera the best hitting third base prospect? No. But will he receive the most consistent playing time? Yes.
4. Zach Davies (SP, MIL)
Baller Move: Own in 12+ Team Leagues/NL-only Leagues
Owned In: 0% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Zach Davies has been called up and officially placed in the Milwaukee Brewers rotation. Davies is by no means a strikeout machine (7.15 K/9 in 23 MiLB starts), but he represents a solid arm with middle of the rotation potential. The big reason he is so high on this list is his playing time. For fantasy owners who are in desperate and immediate need for starting pitching help should definitely consider adding Davies. He won’t be an ace, but he will provide very solid innings for fantasy owners.
5. Joey Gallo (3B, TEX)
Baller Move: Own in All Leagues
Owned In: 7% of Fleaflicker Leagues
I discussed earlier how Hector Olivera is not the best hitting third base prospect and that would be because Joey Gallo is. A left-handed version of Javier Baez, Gallo is unlikely to hit for much of an average or steal many bases, but he will do virtually everything else very well. When he plays, Gallo will be in the middle of the lineup for the Rangers. The only question is the amount of playing time that he will receive. With Adrian Beltre at third and Prince Fielder/Mitch Moreland switching between first and DH, there is no immediate pathway to playing time for Gallo. Don’t be too concerned though, the Rangers will find a way to plug his bat into the lineup.
6. Rob Refsnyder (2B, NYY)
Baller Move: Own in 12+ Team Leagues
Owned In: 3% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Rob Refsnyder’s biggest advantage is a direct path to playing time. He is a likely candidate to split playing time with Stephen Drew at second base for a Yankees team that needs all of the help that it can get. Refsnyder wasn’t overly impressive in his brief stint earlier this season, hitting a slash line of .167/.167/.417 with only one home run. The sample size however was way too small (13 PA) to make any immediate judgments. Refsnyder won’t contribute any one offensive category overwhelmingly great, but could provide a little bit of everything for fantasy owners willing to take the risk with owning him.
7. Dalton Pompey (OF, TOR)
Baller Move: Own in Deep/AL-only leagues
Owned In: 4% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Dalton Pompey has been called up for one reason: to serve as a fourth outfielder. He will not see regular playing time so most fantasy owners would be wise to look elsewhere for outfield help. But if you are an owner in a deep league, Pompey could have some potential value. His night on September 2 about sums up what you can expect from Pompey: he came in as a pinch runner, stole two bases and scored a run. A role similar to what Billy Hamilton had in 2013 with the Reds is what you can expect out of Pompey. Again, if you are not in a deep league, chances are there are better options available off the waiver wire.
8. Marco Gonzales (SP/RP, STL)
Baller Move: Own in Very Deep/NL-only Leagues
Owned In: 3% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Marco Gonzales spent much of this year on the DL with the Triple-A team, and when healthy he was less than impressive. He had a 5.20 ERA and a 5.08 FIP in 64.0 innings which suggested that he likely wasn’t going to get much better. He was kicked around in his 2015 debut with the Cardinals as well, lasting only 2.2 innings and giving up four earned runs. Gonzales is a candidate to receive starts with the big league club, but the Cardinals depth and the struggles of Gonzales leave a lot of uncertainty. Much like with Dalton Pompey, he is only worth the risk for fantasy owners in deep leagues.
9. Miguel Castro (RP, COL)
Baller Move: Own in Very Deep Leagues/NL-only leagues
Owned In: 1% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Miguel Castro could see some opportunities to take the closer’s role for the Rockies, a position that has been very shaky so far this season for them. It is not a guarantee at this point, but it is a possibility that he impresses them enough to see some save opportunities in the second half of September. Due to the uncertainty, Castro’s value is definitely questionable and is not worth an own without a guarantee of save opportunities unless you are in a deep league or NL-only league.
10. Adam Duvall (1B, CIN)
Baller Move: Own in Very Deep/NL-only leagues
Owned In: 0% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Adam Duvall has one at-bat with the Reds at this point and it ended with a home run. Too small of a sample size? Absolutely, but it does give the Reds a brief glimpse of the type of player that Duvall is. He will likely not be starting in left-field for the Reds (he certainly will not see any time at first base or third base), but there is a chance that he gets the job. If the Reds make the decision to call up Jesse Winker however, don’t expect Duvall to receive any starting time. For the moment though, fantasy owners in deep leagues could add Duvall if they need a boost in first-base production or need some added home run totals.
