X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

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
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 18 Rookie Roundup: Recently Promoted Prospects

The trade deadline necessitated a flurry of roster moves around the league. Those included below are just the most important prospect call-ups. Since we have so many names to slog through, I'll be going rapid fire on those who require the least analysis.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the recent rookie call-ups, and their outlooks moving forward.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium MLB Subscription for only $1.99 per week. We have all the tools to help win your seasonal and daily leagues: Hitter & Pitcher Streamers, Matchup Ratings for every player, Sleeper Surgers for AVG, HR, Ks, PLUS Daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids. 

 

Hitters

Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox

After failing to acquire a left fielder at the trade deadline, the Red Sox settled for the internal solution by promoting Benintendi. The double-jumped the 22-year-old from Double-A. The lefty raced through the minors with barely a stumble, but he did require a few weeks to catch on in Double-A. The gap between there and the majors is huge - don't be surprised if he slumps before adjusting to the majors.

The statistical profile is a fantasy player's dream - solid power, above average speed, and excellent plate discipline. Be wary of red flags. His stolen base success rate at Double-A was just 8-for-15. He may not have a green light in the majors. Fenway is tough on left-handed power - the 10 feet left of Pesky's Pole being the lone exception. Don't expect a ton of early career power. Plate discipline sometimes evaporates in Triple-A and the majors. Since we didn't get to see him play at Triple-A, it's anyone's guess if he'll retain his quality strikeout and walk rates.

Orlando Arcia - Milwaukee Brewers

Fantasy owners have been clamoring for Arcia's promotion since before the season. Personally, I'm surprised it happened. He did very little to earn it, posting a below average batting line at arguably the highest octane hitting environment in professional baseball (Colorado Springs). Arcia features minimal pop, plus speed, and the potential to eventually hit for a high average. Give the 22-year-old a couple years to develop before you expect steady production. Consider him a source of empty steals for the rest of 2016.

Charlie Tilson - Chicago White Sox

Tilson tore a hammy in his debut on Wednesday. He's done for the season. The speedy lefty reminds me of Jon Jay. The profile reads like a good fourth outfielder with good plate discipline, almost no power, and plus speed. Redraft owners can cross him off their lists. Those in deep dynasty leagues may want to stash him for next spring.

Brandon Nimmo - New York Mets

With Yoenis Cespedes hitting the disabled list, Nimmo is back in New York. The left-handed hitter was nearly traded for Jay Bruce. Incidentally, the presence of Bruce, Michael Conforto, and Curtis Granderson all but assures Nimmo will spend most of his time on the bench. It's where he profiles best due to a wealth of merely adequate skills and no standout talents.

Richie Shaffer - Tampa Bay Rays

Shaffer is a power-first corner infielder whose top skill declined this season. He popped just eight home runs in 424 plate appearances at Triple-A. While owners in deep dynasty leagues should take a flier just in case, his path to playing time is muddy enough to ignore in most formats. If he does play, expect a low average, passable OBP, and modest power.

Gary Sanchez - New York Yankees

The Yankees still have Brian McCann blocking Sanchez, but they'll begin the transition by getting him extra reps as the designated hitter. Sanchez is an aggressive hitter with good power for a catcher. That puts him behind the eight ball as a batter-only. Developmentally, it's important for him to carve out a role as a regular receiver. He needs to make McCann expendable to the Yankees if he wants to take over next season. His fantasy use case is minimal outside of two catcher leagues. He'll bat down in the lineup and projects to provide a below average batting line.

A.J. Reed - Houston Astros

Reed may have officially entered the Quad-A phase of his career. He played 11 games in the minors after a late-July demotion. Over that span, he hit .436/.500/.821 with four home runs in 44 plate appearances. Since returning to the majors, he's 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. If it ever clicks, Reed offers an advanced power bat with plenty of plate discipline. Expect the strikeout rate to remain around 30 percent. I've noticed he can be too passive early in counts, falling behind by watching hittable pitches.

Jorge Polanco - Minnesota Twins

The Twins have called upon Polanco a few times over the years. Finally, they're committing to actually playing him. Polanco has double-plus contact skills with a hint of power and speed. The fantasy profile isn't jaw dropping, but he could become a younger, better Joe Panik. He profiles best as a super utility guy with a high average and OBP. Don't expect him to maintain his current .277 ISO. He'll probably post somewhere around a .120 ISO.

 

Pitchers

Mike Clevinger - Cleveland Indians

The Indians have a number of pitching prospects with breakout potential like Clevinger and Cody Anderson. Clevinger's short term prognosis isn't particularly exciting - something like a league average strikeout rate with too many walks and runs allowed. As he learns to command his arsenal more consistently, he could become an occasional streamer candidate.

Ariel Miranda - Seattle Mariners

The Mariners acquired Miranda in exchange for Wade Miley. As of this writing, the 27-year-old was scheduled to make his first major league start later in the evening. The Cuban reportedly owns a 94-95 mph fastball with a solid curve and changeup. He may profile better in relief. He averaged 93 mph on the gun in a two-inning debut.

Brock Stewart - Los Angeles Dodgers

Stewart had the misfortune of pitching at Coors Field on Wednesday. It did not go well. However, the righty has a useful mix of traits. He can induce whiffs, throws 93 mph, and has above average command. Although he isn't a touted prospect, he has the stuff and wherewithal to become a back end fantasy starter. If they continue to use him this season, there may be a few streaming opportunities.

Julio Urias - Los Angeles Dodgers

Urias appeared in relief of Stewart and that didn't go well either. The 19-year-old phenom is set to chill in the bullpen. He could be a good source of ratios and vulture wins if you have a particularly deep bench. Now may also be a good time to pry him from contending owners in keeper leagues.

Jose Berrios - Minnesota Twins

Berrios earned his first major league win on Monday. He held the Indians to three runs in six innings of work. Berrios is one of the top pitching prospects in the league because he can overwhelm opponents with his 94 mph fastball and a sharp power curve. The pitch is particularly tough on right-handed hitters. Scouting reports credit him with an above average to plus changeup, but I've yet to see much from that particular offering. Command remains an issue for the young righty.

Joe Musgrove - Houston Astros

Musgrove is expected to take the place of Lance McCullers while he recovers from a (hopefully minor) elbow injury. As is the case with most command and control prospects, Musgrove will need to quickly adapt to working the edges. In the minors, command pitchers can run a tiny walk rate without getting punished. If they fall behind in the count, they just pump strikes. In the majors, they have to be more willing to pitch outside the zone in three ball counts. This must be done deceptively with pitches that legitimately look like strikes.

If it comes together, Musgrove could post numbers comparable to Jordan Zimmermann. That's the upside, expect closer to a high-3s ERA with 7.00 K/9 and 3.00 BB/9.

 

Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)

Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-55" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tyler Bertuzzi

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Andre Burakovsky

Available Saturday
Alex Nedeljkovic

Available for Saturday's Action
Filip Hronek

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Friday
Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Hurts Ankle in Friday's Win
Seth Jarvis

Not Expected to Be Out for Long
CFB

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful vs. Arkansas On Saturday
Tari Eason

Injured on Friday Night
OG Anunoby

Suffers Hamstring Injury on Friday Night
Edwin Díaz

Blue Jays Interested in Signing Edwin Diaz?
Jacob deGrom

Named AL Comeback Player of the Year
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Wins NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
Aroldis Chapman

Named AL Reliever of the Year
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Named NL Reliever of the Year
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't Pursue NFL Head-Coaching Vacancies
Anthony Davis

Out Again on Friday
Khalil Shakir

in the Clear to Play in Week 11
P.J. Washington

Sidelined Against the Clippers
Dereck Lively II

Officially Active, Will Have a Minutes Cap
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Returning Versus the Hornets
LaMelo Ball

Back in the Lineup on Friday Night
Domantas Sabonis

Good to Play on Friday
Bam Knight

Considered Questionable for Week 11
Brian Thomas Jr.

Tagged as Questionable for Week 11
Christian Braun

To Miss At Least Six Weeks With An Ankle Sprain
Calvin Ridley

Listed as Questionable for Week 11
Zach Edey

Questionable To Make Season Debut
Cedric Coward

Doubtful For Saturday's Game In Cleveland
John Gibson

Fine for Saturday
Kaiden Guhle

Ruled Out for 8-10 Weeks
Justin Thomas

Will Miss Start Of 2026 After Undergoing Back Surgery
Ja Morant

Off The Injury Report, Will Play Saturday
Alex Newhook

to Miss Four Months With Broken Ankle
Marco Rossi

Out Week-to-Week
J.K. Dobbins

Out in Week 11 and for "Foreseeable Future"
Zach Hyman

Set for Season Debut Saturday
Jack Hughes

Sustains Non-Hockey Hand Injury
Quinn Hughes

a Game-Time Decision Friday
Jaden Ivey

Participates in Pistons Morning Shootaround on Friday
Rashod Bateman

Ruled Out for Week 11
Sam LaPorta

Ruled Out for Week 11 With Back Injury
Coby White

Nearing A Return?
Isiah Pacheco

Officially Ruled Out for Week 11
Josh Giddey

Fully Practices On Friday
Day'Ron Sharpe

Available to Play on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Shemar Stewart Both Out for Week 11
Julian Champagnie

Questionable For Rematch Against Warriors
Jaxson Dart

Officially Ruled Out for Week 11 Due to Concussion
Jonathan Kuminga

Sitting Out Friday's NBA Cup Game
Darius Slayton

Ruled Out for Sunday
Dereck Lively II

Expected To Return To Action Friday
Davante Adams

Questionable for Sunday but Expected to Play
Drake London

Questionable vs Panthers
Islam Makhachev

Set For UFC 322 Main Event
Jack Della Maddalena

Set For His First Title Defense
Zhang Weili

Can Become The New Women's Flyweight Champion
Valentina Shevchenko

Set For UFC 322 Co-Main Event
Garrett Wilson

Jets Expect Garrett Wilson to Play Again This Season
Michael Morales

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Lamar Jackson

Ready to Roll for Sunday
CFB

Mario Craver a Game-Time Decision for Week 12
Sean Brady

Set For Title Eliminator Bout
Quentin Johnston

Questionable to Play Against Jaguars
Carlos Prates

A Favorite At UFC 322
Jaxson Dart

"on Track" in the Concussion Protocol
Leon Edwards

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set To Open Up UFC 322 Main Card
Beneil Dariush

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Chris Godwin

Missing Another Game
Bucky Irving

Officially Ruled Out for Week 11
Darius Slayton

Expected to Miss Week 11
Kawhi Leonard

Out on Friday vs. Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Drops 40 Points Against Hawks
CFB

Virginia's Chandler Morris Trending Toward Facing Duke on Saturday
Shane Pinto

Lands Four-Year Extension
Thomas Chabot

to Sit Out Two Weeks
William Karlsson

Out Week-to-Week
Alex Newhook

Injured in Big Loss
Jeff Skinner

Hurt Early on Thursday
John Gibson

Exits With Upper-Body Injury Thursday
Kaapo Kakko

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Says There's a "50-50" Chance he Returns to Mets
Shohei Ohtani

Wins his Fourth MVP Award
Aaron Judge

Wins AL MVP Award Again
Dylan Samberg

Makes Season Debut Thursday
Raisel Iglesias

Dodgers Interested in Signing Raisel Iglesias
Pete Alonso

Orioles Could be in the Mix to Sign Pete Alonso
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista Could Return in Second Half in 2026
Kodai Senga

Attracting Trade Interest, Will the Mets Move him?
Yordan Alvarez

Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
Byron Buxton

Could Waive his No-Trade Clause
Paul Skenes

the Unanimous NL Cy Young Winner
Tarik Skubal

Wins AL Cy Young for Second Straight Year
CFB

Still No Update on Jermod McCoy's Return Timeline
Sami Valimaki

Riding Momentum Into Bermuda
Matthieu Pavon

Struggling Through a Rough Season
Taylor Montgomery

Hopes to Get Back on Track at Port Royal
Ben Martin

a Risky Play at Bermuda Championship
Mark Hubbard

Primed for a Bounce-Back Week in Bermuda
Lee Hodges

Searching for a Spark in Bermuda
Stephen Vogt

Wins Back-to-Back AL Manager of the Year Honors
Milwaukee Brewers

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager of the Year Again
Patrick Fishburn

Looking to Bounce Back in Bermuda
Eric Cole

Carrying Momentum into Bermuda
Tommy Edman

to Have Ankle Surgery Next Week
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks Unlikely to Trade Ketel Marte
Roman Anthony

to Have a Normal Offseason
Sahith Theegala

Finishes Tied for 27th at Bank of Utah Championship
Sam Stevens

Finishes Tied for 36th at Baycurrent Classic
Patrick Rodgers

Finishes Tied For Sixth at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke List

Finishes 75th at World Wide Technology Championship
Ben Kohles

Finishes Tied for 63rd at World Wide Technology Championship
PGA

Nico Echavarria Finishes Tied for 14th at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke Clanton

Finishes Tied for 46th at World Wide Technology Championship
Blades Brown

Finishes Tied for 18th at Korn Ferry Tour Championship
CFB

Nic Anderson Could Return for LSU this Season
Randy Brown

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Gabriel Bonfim

Extends His Win Streak
Joseph Morales

Gets First-Round Submission Win
Matt Schnell

Suffers First-Round Submission Loss
Muslim Salikhov

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Uros Medic

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Ismael Bonfim

Loses Back-to-Back Fights
Chris Padilla

Remains Unbeaten In The UFC
Marco Tulio

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Christian Leroy Duncan

Scores Second-Round Knockout Victory

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP