If you’re a fan of power, you’ve certainly come to the right place this week. Plenty of hitters from June’s amateur draft are already imposing their will on minor league pitching. They’re not the only ones either. Vladdy is beginning to hit Triple-A taters and Eloy Jimenez, Peter Alonso, Bobby Dalbec, and others can’t stop mashing them lately. Power is a beautiful thing, isn’t it? Let’s start this week’s report with an 18-year-old with 70-grade power that was recently promoted to Single-A after less than 150 at-bats in rookie ball.
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Minor League Headlines/Notes
FYPD Updates
Nolan Gorman, ladies and gentlemen. In my initial FYPD rankings after the draft in June, Gorman was ranked 3rd overall behind Jonathan India and Nick Madrigal. My heart wanted to rank him first, but my head won out, putting the two collegiate bats ahead of him. Well, screw what my head thought, Gorman is top dog now. No doubt about it.
My updated top-10 FYPD rankings.
1. N. Gorman, 3B, STL
2. J. India, 3B, CIN
3. N. Madrigal, 2B/SS, CHW
4. J. Kelenic, OF, NYM
5. A. Bohm, 3B, PHI
6. C. Mize, RHP, DET
7. J. Groshans, 3B/SS, TOR
8. J. Bart, C, SF
9. T. Larnach, OF, MIN
10. S. Beer, OF, HOU#MiLB— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) August 6, 2018
After just 149 at-bats in rookie ball, the Cardinals saw all they needed to see and promoted the 18-year-old phenom to Class-A Peoria, skipping short-season A ball altogether. In those at-bats, Gorman slashed a majestic .345/.440/.662/1.102 with 11 home runs, 28 RBI, and 41 runs scored. Extrapolate those at-bats out to 600 at-bats and you’d have 44 dingers, 113 RBI, and 165 runs scored. Yes, that’s a small sample size to extrapolate, but it certainly does create plenty of excitement. He only has two hits in his first 11 at-bats for Peoria but already mashed his first homer at the level.
When drafted, Gorman’s 70-grade power was well known. What he’s proven to everyone since then is that his hit tool and plate approach are also pretty darn good with the potential to develop into 55 or 60-grade down the road. I would even argue that he’s already 55-grade with his bat to ball skills. Gorman has all the tools and the swing to become an offensive monster in the Major Leagues. He loads well onto his back leg, times with a big leg kick, and shifts his weight forward with clean, slight uppercut swing that generates plenty of power and loft. Buy, buy, buy.
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
One of the few hitters, and the only one from round one, from the 2018 draft class that is on the same planet as Gorman right now is #2 overall pick, Joey Bart. And even though he might be on the same planet, he’s still in a different zip code. The future San Francisco backstop is slashing .324/.376/.662/1.038 with nine homers, 28 RBI, and 26 runs in 136 at-bats. We haven’t seen a catcher with this type of offensive upside come along in quite some time. The ability to hit for a high average and plenty of pop makes him the top catching prospect for dynasty leagues already.
Okay, let’s switch gears for a second and get off this power trip we’re on. Power might be the sexy tool when it comes to prospects, but when a 70-grade hit tool comes along, it needs to be ranted about. That’s right, I’m talking about Nick Madrigal, the man who hates striking out like I hate broccoli. Through his first 92 plate appearances, Madrigal has one lone strikeout. One. Uno. That’s a 1.1% strikeout rate. Never thought you’d see 1.1% and strikeout rate listed next to each other, did you?
Now, I know what you’re thinking. What else can he do besides not strike out? Well, the power stroke isn’t there yet, but Madrigal is hitting .308 across three levels with five doubles and three strikeouts, though he has been caught stealing four times. Don’t worry too much about the subpar success rate stealing bases. Madrigal has 30 SB speed in those legs to go along with batting title upside.
Red Hot Sox Prospect
Don’t look now, but the Boston Red Sox depleted farm system has some firepower brewing. Third baseman, Bobby Dalbec, has done nothing but annihilate baseballs over the outfield fence since the season began back in April. On the season, Dalbec has an even 30 homers with 93 RBI and 64 runs scored and has already mashed four taters in his first eight games for Double-A Portland. The raw power has always been there, but his overall hit tool and batting average upside have been a major question mark since the Red Sox drafted him in the 4th round of the 2016 amateur draft out of the University of Arizona.
In case you missed it, @BobbyDalbec hit a mammoth homer last night for the Red Sox. Here’s the video! pic.twitter.com/KUaf5O9o42
— Salem Red Sox (@salemredsox) June 6, 2018
The average might be a respectable .263 this season, but the strikeouts are still a concern. Dalbec’s strikeout rate sits at 38.1% this season and 32.1% for his minor league career. He’s going to need to be more selective at the plate if he wants that batting average to stay out of the dumpster. Having 40-homer upside is wonderful and all, but it’s not of much use if a .200 average comes along with it. I’m looking directly at you Joey Gallo.
Prospect Power Rankings
Prospects currently in the minors that can make the biggest 2018 impact.
1. Eloy Jimenez (OF – CHW) – Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Eloy Jimenez went yard again last night, giving him 10 in his first 33 Triple-A games to go along with a .365 batting average. He’s not going to be in Charlotte for much longer. Stash him now before it’s too late.
2. Michael Kopech (RHP – CHW) In his two starts since our last minor league report, Kopech has back to back starts of seven innings, nine strikeouts, and most importantly, zero walks. These last two starts have lowered his walk rate to 2.8 BB/9 in his last 10 starts and 0.9 BB/9 in his last six.
3. Peter Alonso (1B – NYM) You want hot? Peter Alonso will give you hot. In his last six games, Alonso is raking to the tune of a .440 average, four homers, and 13 RBI. He was also the first hitter to surpass 100 RBI this season.
4. Jesus Luzardo (LHP – OAK) Though he’s still not legally old enough to drink and has only one Triple-A start under his belt, Jesus Luzardo could get some run down the stretch this season. Oakland’s pitching staff is currently the best staff ERA-wise since the all-star break, but when you see names like Edwin Jackson, Trevor Cahill, or Brett “Injury Maestro” Anderson in this rotation, you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop. With Oakland clinging to the second wild-card spot in the American League, Luzardo should get the call if the need arises for a starter in Oakland.
5. Austin Riley (3B – ATL) Just when I was about to write off Austin Riley in 2018 after a 0/9 stretch with eight strikeouts, he roars back with seven hits in his last two games, including a dinger last night against Syracuse. If he hits well for the remainder of August, a September call-up is still well within reach.
Call-Up City
Fantasy-relevant prospects that have recently gotten the call or a call-up is imminent.
Kyle Tucker (OF – HOU)
Let’s try this again, shall we? Tucker’s first go around with the Astros didn’t quite go as planned, but he was quick to prove after his demotion that he’s still too damn good for Triple-A, hitting .382 with three home runs and three steals in eight games before getting recalled to Houston. With the Astros banged up, Tucker should get regular at-bats moving forward and that power/speed upside warrants additions in all fantasy leagues. Don’t let his rough start in the Majors deter you. Remeber, he’s still only 21. The sky is the limit here.
Touki Toussaint (RHP – ATL)
Another day, another highly-touted Atlanta pitching prospect making his Major League Debut. It’s becoming commonplace, isn’t it? With Max Fried on the disabled list, Toussaint will make his Major League debut on Monday during a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins. Toussaint has the arsenal and projectability to turn into a very strong #2 starter in the Majors. He mixes a 94-96 mph fastball with a plus hammer curve and a high-80’s change-up with solid fade that has the potential to be an above-average or even plus offering for him with some continued development.
Touki Toussaint hits 97 MPH and shows off the curve pic.twitter.com/02DdAGoZ64
— Matt Powers (@MattPowers31) July 15, 2018
Yes, that is one damn impressive arsenal. No doubt about it. However, what hasn’t been impressive in his career is his control and command of his arsenal. Though, it has gotten better every year of his minor league career. Toussaint’s BB/9 sat at 5.7 in 2014 before dropping some each year to 4.9, 4.8, 4.0, and 3.8 so far this season. If he can continue to harness that control and improve the command of his arsenal, look out. This promotion might just be for a spot start, but he’s worth adding at least as a streamer for tomorrow against a Miami team 29th in runs scored and 28 in OPS against right-handed pitching.
Cedric Mullins (OF – BAL)
Talk about a lost season. There’s not much going right these days in Baltimore. After dropping a doubleheader to the Red Sox yesterday, Baltimore is now an abysmal 35-83, 48.5 games back of Boston and now officially eliminated from playoff contention less than two weeks into August. When you’re this bad, the term “play the kids” comes into play. The first kid to get his shot in Baltimore is outfielder, Cedric Mullins.
You won’t find the 23-year-old outfielder high on many prospect lists, but there’s some sneaky good fantasy upside here. Mullins’ most notable asset is his plus speed. During his four years in the minors, Mullins has swiped 77 bases in 95 attempts for an 81.1% success rate. Buck Showalter doesn’t like to run that much (Baltimore 24th in SB), but he also hasn’t really had anyone with Mullins’ speed either.
In addition to those 30-steal wheels, Mullins bat to ball skills are at least average with room for improvement and he has double-digit pop as well, with the potential for 15-20 home runs annually. Mullins wasted no time making his presence felt in Baltimore with three hits in his debut and is a solid add in deeper mixed leagues for the stretch run.
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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.
