This is an exciting time of year around the minors. We just had arguably the most exciting Futures Game in history with eight dingers (see Peter Alonso’s home run below). There’s plenty of offense, and numerous prospects are on the move. Some are just climbing another rung on their organization’s ladder, while others are changing uniforms as parts of trade deadline deals. With the deadline now just a little over a week away, expect to see several more prospects heading to new homes.
However, it hasn’t all been good news lately. Another elite prospect is done for the year, and that’s where we begin this week’s Minor League Report.
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Minor League Headlines/Notes
Fernando Tatis Jr. Potentially out for Season
If you’ve ever watched “The Office” or seen the .gif online where it shows Michael Scott yelling no over and over? That’s how I feel in what has become a season riddled with injuries to top prospects, Tatis Jr. is the latest victim. He’ll likely miss the remainder of the 2018 season with a fractured left thumb and possible ligament damage.
Thumb injuries may appear to be minor. They’re anything but, though. Thumb injuries can affect a hitter’s grip on the bat and sap some of his power. Now, Tatis wasn’t what you would call a masher, but he does have plus raw power that will put him in the 25-35 HR range more often than not. This injury delays Tatis’ MLB debut to likely around this time next season.
Wander Franco on Fire
What Franco is doing as a 17-year-old in his first taste of the minors is downright impressive. First off, he only has one hitless game and is currently on a 23-game hitting streak. Reminder, that’s in just 27 games total. The overall stat line sits at .384/.418/.652 with 4 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBIs, 3 SB, and 20 R…wow!
On top of that, Franco has only struck out eight times in 122 plate appearances. He even has a cycle to his name. Need I go on? Franco has the potential to become an offensive superstar in this league with a plethora of plus tools and poise beyond his years. The dynasty stock here is skyrocketing in a hurry.
Video of top international prospect Wander Franco, who has a deal in place with the #Rays pic.twitter.com/QzXqb4ARqV
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 2, 2017
Royce Lewis Promoted
The top overall pick in the 2017 draft, Lewis is one step closer to the Majors after being promoted to high Class-A over the weekend. In 295 at-bats, Lewis was slashing .315/.368/.485/.853 with 23 doubles, nine homers, and 22 stolen bases on 26 attempts. He’s been even better than that with Fort Myers, hitting .357 in his first seven games. Lewis is one of the top shortstop prospects in the game with .300/15/40 upside.
Pair of Top Prospects on the Move
Manny Machado is finally on the move. The superstar shortstop is heading west to the Los Angeles Dodgers with Yusniel Diaz being the primary return piece heading to Baltimore. Diaz isn’t exactly what you would call an elite prospect, but he did make both my preseason and midseason top-100 dynasty prospect rankings and carries decent fantasy upside. With a plus hit tool, great plate discipline, and moderate power and speed, Diaz is a great combination of ceiling and floor that should debut sometime next summer.
Heading to the opposite coast, Francisco Mejia now has a much clearer path to playing time with the San Diego Padres. The top catching prospect was San Diego’s big return piece in the Brad Hand trade, which in my opinion, is an incredible haul. Yes, Hand is a very good reliever, but I would take the top catching prospect in baseball for him any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Mejia’s plus hit tool is his most noteworthy asset, with .300 seasons likely in his future. However, his power is average at best and having Petco Park as his new future home ballpark certainly doesn’t help. He’s still the top catching prospect in baseball though and should blossom into a top-five option at the position before too long.
Hot Starts & Notes from 2018 MLB Draft Class
Joey Bart (C – SF)
Remember when I said that Joey Bart would be the top catching prospect within a year’s time? Well, I need to update my statement. Bart will be the top dog by the end of this season. If it seems like he goes yard every other day, it’s because he does. Bart has seven home runs and four doubles through his first 79 at-bats, though he’s only walked two times compared to his 21 strikeouts thus far.
Nolan Gorman (3B – STL)
The top power hitter in this year’s draft class has wasted no time showing why he has that title. Gorman has already slugged seven home runs in his first 86 at-bats, which is tied with Bart for the most of any hitter from the 2018 draft. On top of that, he’s slashing .302/.412/.605/1.017 with a 15.7 BB% and respectable 24.5 K%.
Nolan Gorman open faced slow mo – line drive 2B to RCF with good carry#Cardinals pic.twitter.com/6wreOSLsyu
— Jason Woodell (@JasonAtTheGame) July 17, 2018
Jarred Kelenic (OF – NYM)
The multi-category juice is already on full display for Kelenic with three homers and eight steals through his first 79 at-bats. The slash line is damn impressive too at .329/.407/.544. You better get used to high levels of across the board production from Kelenic. The kid is going to be special.
Jonathan India (3B – CIN)
The counting stats haven’t taken off yet, but India has walked 15 times in his first 12 games.
Nick Madrigal (2B/SS – CWS)
When I said that Madrigal has the best hit tool in this year’s draft class, I wasn’t messing around with you. It’s a small sample size, sure, but Madrigal has yet to strikeout in his first 27 minor league plate appearances.
Jordan Groshans (SS/3B – TOR)
Groshans already has amassed 27 RBIs, which is fourth most from this draft class. The only three with more RBIs are Drew Avans (28 RBIs, LAD 33rd-round pick), Jordan Qsar (27 RBIs, TB 25th-round pick), and Chris Williams (27 RBIs, MIN eighth-round pick). On top of that, Groshans is slashing .372/.440/.590 with eight doubles and three home runs.
Seth Beer (OF – HOU)
From this class, Beer ranks fourth so far with 65 total bases and has a stellar .322/.433/.551 slash line with six dingers.
Prospect Power Rankings
Prospects currently in the minors that can make the biggest 2018 impact.
1. Michael Kopech (RHP – CWS)
Is this a mirage or the real thing? Kopech now has back-to-back games with only one free pass. I think the answer to my question is a little bit of both. Kopech is never going to have pinpoint control, but instead, will likely go on stretches of good control, followed by times of extreme wildness.
2. Eloy Jimenez (OF – CWS)
Arguably the top power hitting prospect in the minors, Jimenez has been hitting his stride lately at Triple-A. In his last 10 games, Jimenez is hitting .350 and has three home runs in his last four games.
3. Austin Riley (3B – ATL)
The arrival time of Riley largely hinges on two things — Johan Camargo and what Atlanta does at the trade deadline. Riley is finally back in Gwinnett, but that doesn’t guarantee that he’ll see Atlanta during the 2018 season, especially with Atlanta contending and looking like buyers at the deadline.
4. Peter Alonso (1B – NYM)
If you weren’t watching the Futures Game, I advise you to open a new tab right now and search for video of the home run mammoth blast Alonso hit that basically broke Statcast. Actually, just look below. The Mets keep saying they’re not bringing him up, but Alonso is going to force their hand soon. The slugging first baseman now has four homers and nine RBIs in his last seven games.
Peter Alonso hit a bomb to top all bombs! pic.twitter.com/MBEX1PXwpy
— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) July 16, 2018
5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3B – TOR)
Vladdy has yet to go yard since his return from the DL, but has recorded at least one hit in all six games. Now back up to Double-A, it shouldn’t be long until he’s up in Triple-A like Toronto said he’d be when he returned from the DL…unless they were lying to us.
6. Christin Stewart (OF – DET)
Stewart remains on the cusp of a call-up, but this little slump of his couldn’t come at a more inopportune time. Over the last 10 games, Stewart is hitting just .171, though he does have two homers and 10 RBIs in that span.
7. Griffin Canning (RHP – LAA)
The same can be said here for Canning. The Angels can definitely use him, but his struggles so far at Triple-A are delaying that potential call-up. Canning has now allowed five runs or more in three of his last four starts.
8. Mitch Keller (RHP – PIT)
Keller hasn’t pitched since 7/10 and wasn’t pitching that well before then anyway. He’s going to need to turn this slump around if he wants to see Pittsburgh this year.
9. Victor Robles (OF – WAS)
After missing three months with an elbow injury, Robles is finally back in action and hasn’t missed a beat, hitting .304 with four steals and more walks (7) than strikeouts (4) in his first nine games back. The Nationals outfield is currently full, but an injury could thrust Robles into an everyday role.
10. Enyel De Los Santos (RHP – PHI)
The overall stat line isn’t that great, but De Los Santos has shown flashes of promise in each of his first two Major League starts. He should get another shot in the very near future.
Call-Up City
Fantasy-relevant prospects that have recently gotten the call or a call-up is imminent.
Willie Calhoun (OF – TEX)
Wild Willie is loose in the lone star state. After an incredibly slow start to the season that saw his average sit at .235 on May 2, Calhoun flipped a switch and began demolishing Triple-A pitching. Since that low mark, Calhoun has hit .332 with 24 doubles and five home runs.
The five home runs aren’t anything special, but Calhoun has proven in the past that he has 30-home run upside and the thin Texas summer air should give him a power boost. Calhoun should see regular playing time at least until Mazara returns from his thumb sprain. And who knows, if Calhoun hits well, his stay with Texas could extend longer than that.
Domingo Acevedo (RHP – NYY)
One Domingo up, another one sent down. After another lackluster start from German, pushing his ERA up to 5.68, he was optioned to Triple-A with Acevedo taking his roster spot. Acevedo carries a plus fastball/change-up combination and has been pitching well at Double-A this season with a 2.84 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. However, the big 6’7 right-hander is expected to pitch out of the bullpen and doesn’t carry much, if any, fantasy upside at the current point in time.
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Eric Cross is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Eric, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @EricCross04.
