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0In last week’s Minor Accomplishments, I highlighted Mike Olt, his .304/.404/.576 slash line, and his 12 homers. Well, in only a week’s time Olt’s already-impressive numbers have became drastically more impressive. After blasting six more homers, he’s raised his SLG to .624 and his RBI total now sits at 48. He’s hotter than any hitter in the minors right now and he’s surely forcing the Rangers to consider their options regarding his future. We’ve discussed this plenty, but with Beltre locked up for the long term, Olt’s path to the majors as a 3B is thoroughly blocked. Frisco has been giving him some time at 1B, and given Mitch Moreland’s struggles, Texas could absolutely consider using him there. All along, however, I’ve looked at Olt as a valuable chip to be used in a potential trade. Recent uncertainties in the Rangers’ rotation have me thinking they’ll most certainly dangle Olt as trade bait in the coming months.
Trevor Bauer | RHP, D’Backs
Bauer lasted 7 inning in his most recent Triple-A start, walking two while whiffing 11. Arizona GM Kevin Towers recently noted that there’s really nothing left for Bauer to prove in the minors, but also that an opportunity will have to present itself before a call-up would take place. Those stashing him should continue to hold as this waiting game carries on.
Julio Teheran | RHP, Braves
Tim Hudson’s been scratched from his scheduled start for Sunday. Braves top prospect Julio Teheran will take the hill instead. Hudson is nursing a sore ankle and is expected only to miss one start, so don’t go scooping Teheran just yet. But if you have the flexibility, a speculative add might be within reason. Mike Minor’s been trash most of the year, and an solid outing from Teheran might earn him Minor’s spot in the rotation.
Wil Myers | OF, Royals
Myers hit a grand slam off of Roy Oswalt earlier in the week, and through 89 PA at Triple-A he’s collected 15 XBH (8 HR). That’s in addition to the 13 bombs he hit at Double-A to start the year. I’ve been thinking that a late July promotion seemed in order for Myers, but he could make it by late June if this pace continues.
Jake Odorizzi | RHP, Royals
Odorizzi’s posted a 2.22 ERA through 28 IP at Triple-A Omaha. He struck out 10 in his most recent outing, and he’s truly been a sign of hope for Royals fans who’ve watched top-prospect Mike Montgomery struggle for the past year and a half.
Nick Castellanos | 3B, Tigers
After batting .405/.461/.503 through 55 games at High-A Lakeland, the Tigers decided they’d seen enough of Castellanos in A-ball and bumped him up to Double-A Erie. The 20-year-old has collected five hits through his first 17 PA at the new level. It’s too soon to say that he’s continuing his dominance at the plate, but I’m confident that he’ll fare just fine versus Eastern League arms.
Jackie Bradley | OF, Red Sox
Bradley is a defense-first prospect, but his .379/.488/.581 line at High-A could fool you into thinking otherwise. He leads the minors in OBP by a comfy margin, and it shouldn’t be long before the Red Sox move him up to Double-A.
Billy Hamilton | SS, Reds
In all likelihood, he’ll have 70+ steals by the time you’re reading this. Nothing new, here.
Oscar Taveras | OF, Cardinals
A week ago, it seemed like Taveras was slumping a bit. Then he went 5 for 5 with a homer on Monday, and followed it with another bomb on Tuesday. The 19-year-old is .315/.371/.575 in the Texas League and has established himself as one of the top hitting prospects in the game.
Mark Appel | RHP, Pirates
After being drafted at #8 overall on Monday, Appel took the bump for Stanford on Friday and was knocked around by Florida State hitters in a super regional matchup. He was pulled in the fourth as the Seminoles went on to a 17-1 victory.
Domonic Brown | OF, Phillies
With four homers over his last 10 games, Brown is starting to heat up at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. On the season, he’s hitting an unimpressive .270/.318/.428, but the toolsy outfielder could catch fire in a hurry. Perhaps there is hope still left for Brown.
Drop Howie Kendrick for Neil Walker? Also drop Laroche for Goldschmidt? Thanks!
@Kane, Not much of an upgrade on either. I’d hold Kendrick for position flexibility. Laroche/Goldschmidt comes down to your preference. I guess I lean toward Goldschmidt, but it’s not an emphatic lean. More like a slight tilt.
Re my boy Olt, call him up to play 1st, let everyone see how he can hit and then shop him for pitching help. Makes most sense right? Surely showing whether he can hit MLB pitching will make him a lot more valuable, as you never know how guys will fare in the big show (Rizzo or even better example D Brown). As a keeper league owner though, I don’t care as long as he’s starting on a big league team come next april. Seems few fantasy owners know much about this guy but I don’t care as he should rake once he gets called up. Saying he finds his way onto a big league club around all-star break, projections for 2nd half (OBP over AVG)?
Re the Sheik (Teheran), seeing as there’s a chance he’s now up for good, would you take him over a (lucky) Miley? In a 16 team non-keeper that is.
Keep up the good work!
@TheNewGuy, Just heard some rumblings of a Hultzen (another on my keeper league farm) call-up if Milwood’s unable to make his next start.
Not a question more a FYI. Interesting possibility!
@TheNewGuy, I’ve been stashing Olt all season. I think deep league owners have been aware of guys like Olt for a while. The average fantasy owner only cares about prospects like Middlebrooks, Rizzo, Bauer, Hultzen, that are virtually guaranteed to arrive this year.
Re: Hultzen – I get the feeling Seattle will have him jump AAA straight to the Majors, but that’s just a gut feeling.
@TheNewGuy, Hultzen is as close as anyone right now, and that includes Bauer. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s slotted into that rotation as you say.
@TheNewGuy, I hear ya on Olt, but while he may be a little under the radar in these fantasy circles, he’s certainly well known on a pro scouting level. He’ll fetch a nice price regardless. To answer the second part of your question, a rookie campaign from Olt could look like this: .265/.330/.460, with a ton of whiffs.
Re: Teheran, I’d keep a close eye on his game this afternoon. If he looks dominant, I’d pull the trigger on the move. Worst case, you squander Miley. No big deal.
@TheNewGuy, By the way, notice how our conversation in the comments from earlier this week re: Olt & Teheran works it’s way into my Sunday post? Pretty soon I’m just gonna start posting our back-&-forth’s verbatim.
@Scott Evans, Yeah man was happy to see it headlined, good job!
Anyone playing in the commentator leagues know how many Games started we should be on now to stay on track for the 180 for the season.
@ritzer, If you check out the RCL Forums, I update the pace weekly in the thread “Limits and Pace.”
Through Friday it was around 65.
http://razzball.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=21
Is Wil Myers power real or is this recent hot streak a product of the PCL? Also, he seems to have some decent plate discipline (my keeper league is points based and hitter k’s are a major factor).
@Cole, 14 of his 21 home runs came in AA. His last HR came off Oswalt (even if Oswalt is aging) and if you watch his highlights over on milb.com most of his HRs are clearing the fence by a mile.
@jhawk613, Nice. Does he have a clear path to starting on KC? I take it he be a corner OF…
@Cole, He’ll eventually make it to a corner, but his clearest path would be to center. He DH’s quite a bit, but Omaha has been using him strictly in CF when he’s playing the field.
@Cole, His power is real, indeed. Improved approach this season has him behaving a bit more aggressively in the batters box & clearly it’s paying off. He’s not a 40+ HR guy, but he’ll hit 25-30 in the bigs.
I know they are different style hitters, but who has the higher upside bat? Ply or Castellanos?
@chris, By “Ply” do you mean Olt? If so, then I lean toward Castellanos. He doesn’t yet have the pop that Olt has, but he’s quite a bit younger & it’ll come. Sky high ceiling for Castellanos.
I know Tavares is still pretty young, but when do you expect a call-up? Sept ’13?
@Benny, Same question to Soler as well? I know you haven’t prolly seen much of him, but how much power are you anticipating? And is he a all-or-nothing type guy, or does he project to have a respectable batting average? I’m wondering how quickly teams will feel compelled to promote him with all the expectations and $$$ he’ll be given.
@Benny, Always a little difficult to project a guy like Soler who hasn’t yet faced pro pitching in the states. No one questions the power potential, but there are some who think his ability to hit for average is fringy. I don’t think he’ll kill ya with the average, but from what I understand, he’s not a .300 hitter. And nowadays, I don’t think there’ll be much pressure to rush him to the bigs. He’ll be moved along according to readiness.
@Benny, Seems about right. The real plan is to slot him into RF when Beltran’s contract expires after 2013. But Beltran is no beacon of health, so could be sooner.
wedge is saying millwood will make his next start so it sounds like hultzen won’t get the call quite yet.
@Raj, thanks for the update.
Hey Scott, would you own Olt, Odorizzi, Castellanos, Taveras or Dom Brown over Brett Jackson, Leonys Martin, Tyler Skaggs or (…I know they’re not prospects but they’re still on my minor league roster) Brandon Belt or Mike Minor in a keeper league?
Thanks!
@Jon, Hold Skaggs. Add Taveras, Castellanos, Olt. And I’m sure you can upgrade Minor from the wire. Try for Taijuan Walker or Jameson Taillon, or any number of higher upside guys than Minor.
Millwood likely makes his next start. If someone is needed to replace Beavan or Millwood, I would expect Iwakuma or Erasmo Ramirez to get the call first. Hultzen should be in triple A soon. I don’t think the Mariners are in any rush to promote him beyond that.
This question was in the wrong place so i would like to address it here.. bauer is obviously the top pitching prospect this year.. but for sum of us who missed out (me), who are the next best in line? Hultz, peacock? Could you rank a couple for us please??
Thanx a mill!!!
@Prezii, I’m interested too, Sir Scott.
@Prezii, Danny Hultzen would be next on that list, and he might be the only other guy outside Bauer worth stashing. Two other intriguing names who I think arrive this season: Jake Odorizzi (KC) & Robbie Erlin (SD).
@Scott Evans, thanks man!! Helpful stuff over here.. gotta know your rooks in order to contend.. when does hultz get the call you think? And one more then ill leave ya alone buddy.. What about tijiuan walker? I know hes young but do we see him this year? Maybe as a septembr call up? LOVE that guys potential…
Thanx again!
@Prezii, Walker is a beast. Ceiling is sky-high — check out some more of my thoughts on him here: http://razzball.com/taijuan-walker-and-yasmani-grandal-scouting-the-unknown/
Hultzen’s call-up is tough to gauge. He’s ready, but opportunity needs to present itself. Confident he’ll be up before August.