In my Week 4 MiLB report, I included a brief writeup on Blue Jays pitching prospect, Roberto Osuna, highlighting his hot start to 2013 season at Low-A Lansing. My blurb from that particular post: “Number five on my Blue Jays top ten from March, Osuna is a rather plump 18-year-old with a front-end arsenal. Through 18 IP at Low-A Lansing, he’s posted a 26/3 K/BB along with an ERA at 2.95 and a WHIP at 0.82. Some folks are concerned about his potentially tubby frame, but the stuff might just be good enough to overcome the weight issue.” Well Osuna was pulled from his most recent start with elbow discomfort. A subsequent visit to Dr. Andrews has revealed a UCL tear, and it’s now all but official that the Jays’ prized prospect will require season-ending Tommy John surgery. The developmental setback is disappointing, but at age 18, Osuna was ahead of the developmental curve already. There’s still reason to remain optimistic about his future outlook, but it looks like it’ll be a full year before we see him pitching in a meaningful game again. And that sucks.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Trevor May
Having already covered my Top 25 Fantasy Baseball Prospects for 2013, I thought I’d expand our scope a bit and take a look at 25 more who could offer fantasy value this year. Again, predicting for arrivals is an inexact science, and there’s plenty of time between now and opening day for circumstances to change. No doubt, this list is missing some prospects who’ll surface in the bigs and make an impact in the fantasy game a la 2012 Kyle Seager. Likewise, there’ll be plenty of duds here too. Anyway, here’s how I see the next 25 2013 fantasy baseball prospects:
Please, blog, may I have some more?Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2012 (19) | 2011 (13) | 2010 (6) | 2009 (22) | 2008 (15)
2012 Affiliate Records
MLB: [66-96] AL Central
AAA: [72-72] International League – Rochester
AA: [75-67] Eastern League — New Britain
A+: [60-75] Florida State League – Fort Myers
A: [77-63] Midwest League – Beloit (Cedar Rapids beginning 2013)
Arizona Fall League Players — Peoria Javelinas
Logan Darnell (LHP); Kyle Gibson (RHP); Caleb Thielbar (LHP); Michael Tonkin (RHP); Evan Bigley (OF); Nate Roberts (OF)
Graduated Prospects
Chris Parmelee (1B/OF); Brian Dozier (SS); Liam Hendriks (RHP); Cole De Vries (RHP); Sam Deduno (RHP); Pedro Florimon (SS); Darin Mastroianni (OF)
The Run Down
There are certainly other teams in the discussion, but when evaluating the most improved farm systems in baseball over the past year, Minnesota needs to be considered near the top. Owning the #2 pick in the draft is always a nice way to bolster a club’s young talent, but the Twins went beyond that in 2012, as impact talents lived up to hype, and forgotten prospects returned to form. And they continued improving into the offseason, adding big-ceiling starting pitchers in Alex Meyer from Washington and Trevor May from Philadelphia. The Twins shipped out MLB outfielders Denard Span and Ben Revere in order to acquire those arms, but with capable outfield prospects pushing through from the minors this year, the added pitching depth seems like a smart move. Do take note of this system as there’s plenty to be excited about in terms of the fantasy game, and certain prospects should be making their impacts this year.
Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2012 (27) | 2011 (11) | 2010 (18) | 2009 (12) | 2008 (22)
2012 Affiliate Records
MLB: [81-81] NL East
AAA: [75-68] International League — Lehigh Valley
AA: [76-66] Eastern League — Reading
A+: [72-60] Florida State League — Clearwater
A: [62-76] South Atlantic League — Lakewood
A(ss): [30-46] New York-Penn League — Williamsport
Arizona Fall League Players — Peoria Javelinas
Jay Johnson (LHP); Tyler Knigge (RHP); Colby Shreve (RHP); Kyle Simon (RHP); Tommy Joseph (C); Cody Asche (3B); Zach Collier (OF)
Graduated Prospects of Note
Freddy Galvis (SS)
The Run Down
With an aging roster at the Major League level, the Phillies are a club that could really use some youthful talent. Trades during the season opened up room for Domonic Brown in the outfield and added a bit of depth to their system, but their infield is ancient and rarely healthy, and their staff, while quite good, is also on the older side. It’s definitely reasonable to expect that key Phillies will land on the DL in 2012, and it’s unfortunate, then, that their farm isn’t quite awesome. They have some nice pieces and a little more depth than last year, but overall, this is a bottom-half system and it’s lacking in the high-impact department.
Back in May, while previewing some draft prospects, I mentioned that Marcus Stroman was well suited to climb the ladder quickly. And then just three weeks ago in my Week 18 MiLB report, I reiterated that sentiment, this time suggesting that Stroman might even be in line for a September call-up. Well, a lot can change in just a few weeks, especially when, during those few weeks, you test positive for something called Methylhexaneamine. That’s what Stroman did. And in case you hadn’t deduced it already, Methylhexaneamine is banned substance in baseball. Hence: Stroman was slapped with a 50 game suspension. The Jays’ first-rounder won’t see a pro ball field ’til late next May, and that’s truly bad news for a guy who should’ve been competing for a spot on the big club in spring training. With big time heat to go with a plus slider, Stroman has immediate high-leverage reliever potential. He certainly could’ve entered 2013 with hype similar to that with which Addison Reed entered 2012. Not anymore.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Well, it’s not how the Nationals envisioned the arrival, but Bryce Harper is here. The promotion is based more on necessity than performance – Harper’s hitting just .250/.333/.375 in the early going at Triple-A Syracuse. Looks like he’ll occupy the 7th spot in the Washington batting order while Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse are shelved on the DL. It’s probably unrealistic to expect too much out of Harper just yet, but he’s the No.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Philadelphia Phillies 2011 Minor League Review
Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America:
2012 (27) | 2011 (11) | 2010 (18) | 2009 (12) | 2008 (22) | 2007 (21) | 2006 (22)
2011 Affiliate Records
MLB: [102-60] NL East
AAA: [80-64] International League – Lehigh Valley
AA: [74-68] Eastern League – Reading
A+: [75-63] Florida State League – Clearwater
A: [68-69] South Atlantic League – Lakewood
A(ss): [43-33] New York-Penn League – Williamsport
The Run Down
The Phillies graduated quite a bit of talent in 2011. They also shipped a few nice prospects Houston’s way. What’s left is not exciting. Not from a fantasy perspective, at least. The Phillies have some nice arms in the lower rungs of their system – A-ball pitchers like Trevor May, Jesse Biddle and Jonathan Pettibone. Biddle will need a few more years of seasoning, but May and Pettibone could be up next year. There are a few relief arms ready to contribute in the bigs, but the closer situation in Philly is locked up for the time being. Offensively, the Phillies a pretty well set at the Major League level. Any reinforcements they needed arrived last year. Freddy Galvis might catch on in a utility role, but he won’t see regular time unless Jimmy Rollins or Chase Utley gets hurt. Don’t expect this system to produce a big league regular until Sebastian Valle arrives two years from now.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
The top 50 fantasy baseball prospects list aims to provide a list solely for fantasy baseball purposes. Due to fantasy baseball’s immediacy of statistical production, players are not necessarily ranked based on tools or projections far into the future, but instead, current production.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Trevor May | RHP (SP) | Philadelphia Phillies | D.o.B: 9/23/89 | 6’5″ | 215 lbs | B/T: R/R | Rd 4, 2008 | MiLB Player Page
With a six-five frame, May has the perfect projectable physical frame. Throwing from a three-fourth arm slot, May’s 91 to 95 MPH plus-fastball with heavy life and good angle is his best pitch.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Today is the trade deadline so we’ll look at a few of the prospects that have been on the move before jumping into minor league player news.
As of this writing (3 pm CST), the trade of Hunter Pence for right-handed pitchers Jarred Cosart, Josh Zeid, first baseman Jonathan Singleton and a PTBNL between the Phillies and Astros has been the largest trade based primarily on the value of prospects.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
