Every week, FantasyPros will take a look at the upper minor leagues for players with a potential fantasy impact in 2017. Today we will look at some of this week’s call-ups.
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Promotions
With an injury to Abraham Almonte, Zimmer finally received his call to the show on Tuesday. Over 33 games Zimmer homered five times and drove in 14, slashing .294/.371/.532 for .902 OPS for Triple-A Columbus. Over three-plus MiLB seasons and 338 games, Zimmer has homered 42 times, so the potential for a solid-average/on-base OF with 20-HR power is totally plausible. However, the strikeouts are likely to be a problem. He’s struck out 43 times this season in 126 AB (34%) and that number probably won’t go down at the world’s most competitive level of baseball.
Incorrectly predicted by last week’s version of this post, Happ got the call over the weekend for Chicago, and he might be even hotter than he was with Triple-A Iowa. In just twp games he’s 3-for-7 with a double, HR, a pair of RBIs and only one strikeout. With his second base eligibility, Happ is much more valuable than most prospects to get the call, even if his future position is likely in the outfield. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Pitchers
The White Sox’s Carson Fulmer is cruising through Triple-A Charlotte, posting a 5-1 record and 2.72 ERA over 39 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 33 and walked only 12 while posting a .235 BAA. Fulmer struggled mightily in his brief call-up at the end of 2016, posting an 8.49 ERA and two losses over just 11 2/3 innings pitched, so the White Sox will be forgiven for their reluctance to call him up despite his Triple-A dominance.
The future is bright in Atlanta, and SP Lucas Sims is one of the arms that will light the way. With an aging rotation, the Braves rookies will likely have to wait until R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon are forced out. Still, Sims is dominating at Triple-A Gwinett, posting 4-0 record over 41 2/3 innings pitched. All he’s done over that stretch is walk only nine while striking out 42, with opponents posting a bleak .171 BAA.
Hitters
We’re living in a time where fantasy teams are flush with shortstop talent, and by this summer we’ll likely have another elite shortstop in Franklin Barreto. Acquired by the Athletics in the Josh Donaldson trade, Barreto features plenty of power, a good glove, speed and the ability to drive in runs. With 35 games played at Triple-A Nashville this season, Barreto has slashed .317/.365/.493 with five HR and 21 RBIs. He’s only 3-for-7 in stolen bases, but any steals he provides will be icing on the cake. His main drawback right now is his apprehension to walking, as he’s only reached base via 10 free passes this season with 43 strikeouts in 152 PA.
Demotions
After a mediocre start to the season as a result of far too many walks, Rays SP Blake Snell was optioned to Triple-A Durham last week to work some things out. In 2017 Snell’s K/9 has dropped significantly (9.9 to 7.3) while his BB/9 has jumped only slightly (5.1 to 5.3), the lower K/9 no longer balances the walks. He was also much more hittable – and to large extent, seeing his HR/9 of .51 climb all the way to 1.29 this season.
Snell will probably be fine in the long-term, but he’ll need to work on his control. Expect him back before the weather gets hot.
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Roy Widrig is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Roy, check out his archive and follow him @rolewiii.
