Rhys Hoskins, 2017 Fantasy Baseball Prospect

During the winter I made a somewhat bold statement, that I’m not sure many agreed with it at the time. I stated that, I’d rather have Rhys Hoskins long term than Tommy Joseph. There was a great deal of skepticism regarding Hoskins 2016, mostly because it took place in the comfy confines of FirstEnergy (not a typo) Stadium. And really, who can blame them? The ballpark is so bananas, it tricked people into thinking Darin Ruf, and Dylan Cozens were actually good. That said, there was a lot to like about Hoskins profile, FirstEnergy (not a typo) Stadium not withstanding. Throughout his professional career he’s hit for power (.233 ISO), average (.291), gotten on base (.375), and walked at a high rate (10.4%). He’s also done all this while striking out at a sub-20% clip. Tell me that doesn’t scream MLB worthy? In the offseason I was by far the high man on Hoskins, ranking him 57th in my top 100. Fast forward two and half months, and Hoskins is the new danger, hitting a robust .350/.447/.675 with 8 homers, and 15 RBIs in just 24 games. Meanwhile Tommy J struggles in Philly, and the calls for Hoskins in Philly get louder. Sure he’s a right-handed throwing first baseman, but Paul Goldschmidt scoffs at you scoffs at your concerns. I put my money where my mouth is on Hoskins, and dealt Nick Gordon, and T.J. Friedl in the Baseball Prospectus expert league, The Devil Rejects, back in November, and am quite happy with how my gamble looks to paying off. This prospector’s word of advice, go get Hoskins. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this week in the minors.

My 45th Ranked prospect Isan Diaz, went 0 for 4 and snapped a 12 game hitting streak last night. Over the course of streak, the diminutive middle infielder hit .388/.436/.796, with 5 homers, 15 RBIs, 2 steals, and the most encouraging sign, a 16.4% K rate. After a rough start, he’s really come on.
Off the fringe radar is Diaz’s teammate Jake Gatewood, who might be even hotter than Diaz. As he continued his 13 game hitting streak last night, going 2 for 2, with a homer, his fifth of the season. The 41st overall pick in the 2014 draft was moved to first base this year, and looks to be improving on previous flashes of power.
The Phillies Daniel Brito is off to a fine start, and has been labeled a potential breakout prospect for 2017 by many of the scouting publications. He’s slashing .320/.369/.447, with 3 homers, and 6 steals for the low A Lakewood Blue Claws. The lefthanded hitting second baseman is still only 19, and is getting his first taste of full season ball. Definitely one to watch.
Another day, another Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homer yesterday afternoon. The spawn of Vlad, is hitting .342/.457/.579 for Lansing of the Midwest League. To put this in perspective, he turned 18 on March 16th! Meaning he’s one of the youngest players in full season ball, and amongst it’s best performers. He’s not getting lucky either, he has an elite 27% line drive rate, and the reports are he’s making consistent hard contact.
The other Vladimir, no not Vlady Jr.’s pops, but Reds pitching prospect Vladimir Gutierrez made friends last night as he cruised through 7 innings last night against Fort Myers, striking out 9 over 7 innings, and allowing 2 earned runs. The Cuban pitching prospect could move quickly with more performances like this.
You might remember the name from his short time in Colorado or my glowing prose, but old friend Raimel Tapia’s hit streak reached 10. What might be even more impressive, he’s reached base in each of his 19 minor league games.
The Fresh Prince of Rancho Cucamonga Will Smith, jacked his 5th homer of the season last night. At the moment he’s been one of the more impressive hitters among catching prospects. Then again, that’s not going out on a limb here, he entered last night’s game slashing .301/.416/.575, with a 13.3% BB%, and a 21.1% K%.
Here’s my obligatory post about Lewis Brinson sponsored by Fresh Balls, and the Crab Army. Brinson went 1-4 with a solo homer….and 3 K’s. There has to be an expression for a golden sombrero and homer in the same game. If I had magical Grey powers I’d ask for a glossary term.
Oakland A’s prospect Renanto Nunez homered for the fourth consecutive game last night. He’s started to turn it on of late (no shizz Ralph), but the strikeouts remain an issue. Might see some time in Oakland this year, but my excitement is waning.
Another prospect Dave Dombrowski traded to the Padres is making noise. This time it’s Logan Allen, as the 19 year old lefty went 6 scoreless innings, striking out 9. The swing and miss stuff is so for real here, not a bad stash in deeper dynasty.
Sad news on the injury front, AAA Cubs masher Ian Happ hit the DL, with a bruised left thumb. Hopefully this heals quickly and has no lingering effects.
Louisville lefty ace/slugging first baseman Brendan McKay is gaining traction on more and more mock drafts as going 1.1 to the Twinkies. There’s an interesting wave of 2 way players coming into the game between McKay, fellow 1.1 candidate Hunter Greene, and Japanese superstar Shohei Otani. I’m pulling for McKay sticking as hitter. We need some college bats in a draft very thin on them.
My pre-season number 12 overall prospect Clint Frazier hit his 2nd homer in three games last night, and looks to be breaking out of his slump. If this Yankees squad continues to gel, gets back Gary Sanchez, and then can add Frazier and Gleyber at some time in the next year, that’s going to be one formidable squad. This time the young Yanks aren’t overhyped. I will not call them the baby bombers, because I refuse.
No-no alert: Nationals pitching prospect Jefry Rodriguez took a no hitter into the 8th last night, before yielding a double in the 8th, as Potomac won behind a Victor Robles homer. Rodriguez isn’t any thing special. The far more interesting part of this story is his teammate Victor Robles. Because everything the guy does is exciting, he does it all, a true 5 tool prospect.
One of the big movers up draft boards is North Carolina prep lefty MacKenzie Gore, with some scouts even rating him higher than Greene. Lots of mocks see him going 5th overall to the Braves. You know, because the Braves need more pitching prospects…
All Luis Urias does is hit, leading many to speculate just how soon the talented 19 year old will be in the bigs. He’s slashing .354/.431/.563 with an obsessive compulsive’s dream K% and BB%, both are 11.7%. He might be a bit of an “empty average”, but that’s all relative when you’re hitting above .310. This is an elite contact player, and they’ve moved him back to short.
Former Vandy ace, and new infatuation Walker Buehler was promoted to AA Tulsa on Tuesday, after striking out 27 in 16.1 innings for Rancho Cucamonga. This is his first full year back from TJ, so let’s pray for good health, but a cameo in the Doyers pen at the end of the season, wouldn’t be a shock.
More big news from former college aces coming back from TJ in the Cal League, Cal Quantrill struckout 12 over 6 innings for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore, striking out rehabbing major leaguers Joc Pederson (1), and Logan Forsythe (3). I still say there’s an outside shot we see Quantrill in San Diego when rosters expand. They might shut him down before then, so it is remote.
After missing two weeks with a left wrist injury A’s 3rd base prospect Matt Chapman slugged his first two homers on Tuesday night. His defense is elite, and he hit 36 homers last year, it’s just a matter of keeping his K’s in check. Yeah… just that.
Right now the Red Sox need all the help they can get at the hot corner. And help just might be coming in the form of Rafael Devers. The top prospect in the Sox system, went 5 for 5 on Tuesday night, and is slashing .324/.351/.606 so far this season. With a career single-season high of 11 homers, he’s already connected for 5 in 2017. He’s arguably the best defensive 3rd baseman on the Red Sox now, and how much worse can his offense be than the guys there now?
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Kyle Funkhouser’s 4.08 ERA is a bit deceiving. If you remove the one blowup where he allowed 7 runs in just two innings, you see just how dominant he’s been. How about 1 run across 14.2 innings with 27 strikeouts?
Through 28.1 innings this season Mets righty Merandy Gonzalez is yet to allow a run. So far the control has been pristine, waling less than a batter per inning. He’s got a quick, short arm action that gives him some deception, tough to tell if this is breakout or a hot streak.
Don’t look now, but Mickey Moniak is showing why he was the top overall selection in last year’s draft. Over the last 7 games, Moniak has hit safely in 6 of them, going 2 for 5, with a pair of doubles last night for Class A Lakewood. This Phillies system is busting at the seams with talented players.
The other Cody Reed of the Diamondbacks, has been looking to move ahead in the “who’s the better Cody Reed”, with a really nice showing with Kane County in the Midwest League, as he struckout a career high 11 last week, while lowering his already impressive 1.35 ERA.
Great pitching matchup tonight for those with MiLB TV, as two double A arms go head to head in Michael Kopech and Kolby Allard. If you’re a prospect head, that’s appointment television.
The UNO, aka the top prospect in baseball, aka Yoan Moncada, extended his hit streak to 9 games and is now hitting .330 after going 3 for 4 last night with 2 runs scored. He’ll be up within a month, mark my words.

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