Every week, FantasyPros will take a look at the upper minor leagues for players with a potential fantasy impact in 2017. This week, we’ll look at some Phillies prospects and how the lack of MLB depth might force their call-ups, as well as starting pitcher updates from around Triple-A.
Import your team to My Playbook for instant Lineup & Trade advice 
Batters
Jorge Alfaro (C – PHI)
Jorge Alfaro’s first taste of Triple-A has gone quite well, albeit a bit quiet to start the season. After 19 games Alfaro has slugged three home runs and driven in a total of 13. The backstop is slashing .351/.383/.532 for a .915 OPS, but he’s walked only three times in 80 plate appearances while striking out 21 times.
For most prospects, this would be grounds for a call-up, but as a 23-year-old catcher, the Phillies will want to make sure Alfaro can handle everyday activity behind the plate before making that commitment and starting his service time clock. Phillies’ catchers aren’t exactly setting the world on fire with their offense, and one has to think Andrew Knapp and Cameron Rupp are just placeholders for the potential franchise catcher in Alfaro. He’s worthy of a stash on rosters with a mediocre catcher (which is most of them) and should see more value in 2017 than a slew of catchers currently on MLB rosters.
Rhys Hoskins (1B – PHI)
Another Lehigh Valley Iron Pig makes the list this week, first baseman Rhys Hoskins. While top prospects Jorge Alfaro and J.P. Crawford get all of the attention, Hoskins has quietly bashed 71 HRs in 364 MiLB games.
Of course, 38 of those came in Double-A in 2016, and to start 2017; he’s already hit 7 HRs and driven in 15 runs in just 24 games. His slash line of .338/.427/.636 is also pretty solid, and all of these numbers equate to a 195 OPS+.
The current first base situation in Philadelphia is wide open, and Hoskins might not have to knock on the door any harder if he keeps up this pace. It’s unlikely Hoskins will be a star at the MLB level, but as for cheap 1B talent, he might be worth taking a look.
Amed Rosario (SS – NYM)
Perhaps it’s because he’s only 21, but there remain very few reasons for the Mets keeping young SS Amed Rosario in Triple-A Las Vegas. David Wright is months from returning, Jose Reyes has been terrible, and while Asdrubal Cabrera has been passable, the decline is evident.
Rosario, on the other hand, is surging in Triple-A, batting .406 with a .454 OBP and .531 SLG. There’s not much power in Rosario’s bat, but he’s shown the ability to get on base and then take a few extras. Over five MiLB seasons, he’s swiped 48 bags in 71 attempts, which isn’t an excellent rate, but enough to have value for fantasy rosters.
Rosario will be fantasy-relevant as soon as he’s in a Mets’ uniform. With the lack of depth on this team at the MLB level, the thin lineup and an opening at the top, his value should be immediate once he gets the chance.
Pitchers
Jose Berrios (SP – MIN)
Okay, so we’ve heard this one before. Berrios stuns at Triple-A, gets the call-up, and gets shelled. After the first month of the 2017 season, Berrios is up to his old tricks. Through five starts, he’s 2-0 with a 1.09 ERA, 35 strikeouts in 33 innings, and only eight walks.
Walks have been what has undone Berrios at the MLB level, where he’s 3-7 with an 8.02 ERA and an unacceptable 5.4 BB/9. Is he finally starting to put it all together?
It’s worth mentioning his walk rate is down significantly from 2016, and also that Berrios is still only 22 years old. If that call-up comes, and with the demotion of Adalberto Mejia this week seeming possible, he’s worth stashing to see how he adjusts to another stint in the majors.
Sean Newcomb (SP – ATL)
With an uninspiring rotation treading choppy water at the MLB level, the Atlanta Braves will likely be looking for rotation help by mid-summer, and 23-year-old Sean Newcomb is seeking to be the first man up in 2017. In five starts with Triple-A Gwinnett, Newcomb is 1-1 with a 3.08 ERA over 26 innings. In that time he’s struck out an impressive 35 batters, but he’s also issued 15 free passes.
He’ll need to limit those walks to get the call to Atlanta, but as of right now, the strikeouts are tantalizing. Over his short MiLB career, he’s racked up 373 Ks in just over 317 innings pitched.
While Newcomb is dealing well at Gwinnett, there’s probably no rush for his services with four rotation spots in Atlanta solidified with Bartolo Colon, Julio Teheran, Jaime Garcia, and R.A. Dickey. As such, watch the starts of streaky SP Mike Foltynewicz for any signs of weakness.
Jeff Hoffman (SP – COL)
It’s only a matter of time before a rotation shake-up in Colorado and Triple-A Albuquerque Isotope Jeff Hoffman will likely be the first to rise and stick with the MLB club. Before too long the Rockies will realize that they might be in the hunt this summer and search within the organization for another arm. Although he’s 1-2 to start the season, he’s running a 3.86 ERA in the extremely hitters-friendly Pacific Coast League and has racked up 24 strikeouts in 28 innings.
In his most recent start, Hoffman blanked the Las Vegas 51s, surrendering only one hit over seven innings, striking out eight. Unfortunately, he also walked three batters.
Hoffman will be ready soon, but as with any Rockies pitcher, the home stadium looms large. He’s worth watching over his next few starts but wait for some Major League success before buying in.
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud | Google Play | TuneIn | RSS
Roy Widrig is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Roy, check out his archive and follow him @rolewiii.
