Time to check back in on some winter league action. I mentioned him two weeks ago, but we need to talk about Randall Delgado again. Since our last update, the right-hander has pitched 12 innings with 12 strikeouts, eight hits, two walks, and one earned run allowed. He currently leads the Dominican Winter League in strikeouts with 41. Here’s what I said about him last time “Delgado isn’t a lock for a spot in the rotation this spring, but he’s throwing as a starter this winter after getting only four starts in all of 2014. Two things I like about Delgado are his strikeout numbers and his age/potential for more growth. Last season he posted a 10.0 K/9 in 77+ innings pitched and his FIP was a full run lower than his ERA.” He now has an 11.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 33 innings in the DWL. While he’s currently listed as long relief on the Diamondbacks’ depth chart, I really think he’s going to get his chance to start at some point this year and run with it. Entering 2012, Delgado was listed as Baseball America’s #46 prospect. He was still with the Braves at that point, then was traded in 2013 along with Martin Prado in the Justin Upton deal. The Diamondbacks looked like the losers, but the jury is still out on Delgado at just 24 years old. This has prospect fatigue and breakout written all over it. Here are some other recent highlights from the winter leagues…
Arismendy Alcantara, OF | CHC
Getting those 25 games at second base last year is really going to help Alcantara’s fantasy value heading into 2015. He’ll be eligible at both middle infield and outfield for at least this year and offers a nice combination of power and speed in an improving Cubs lineup. The 23-year-old is slashing .326/.383/.558 with three homers and three steals in just 43 at bats this winter for Licey. Alcantara will be a fantasy asset this year as a middle infielder or fourth/fifth outfielder.
Rougned Odor, 2B | TEX
Rougned “Roogie” Odor is smoking hot in Venezuela. Granted it’s only 63 at bats, but the 20-year-old is hitting .381/.443/.571 with seven doubles, a homer, and a steal. In 2014, Odor held his own as the youngest player in the American League with nine homers and four steals. In fact, he was the youngest player in the majors until Dilson Herrera was called up. Odor wasn’t really supposed to do anything last year but Jurickson Profar’s injury pushed him into the second base job. The Rangers will have to decide once again how to handle their middle infield depth now that Odor has shown he is a capable major league hitter.
Nomar Mazara, OF | TEX
Still a prospect, Mazara’s stock is up after a nice year splitting time between Hickory (A) and Frisco (AA). Just 19, he hit .306/.381/.506 with seven doubles and three homers in the 24 games he played after his promotion to the Eastern League. He was the youngest player in Double A. Mazara has logged 34 at bats this winter and is slashing .294/.415/.441 with a homer. Baseball America recently ranked him #4 in a strong Rangers top ten and he’s going to be a valuable prospect on fantasy lists too. Mazara’s best tool is his above-average power and he is on track to be an everyday right-fielder in the majors. Definitely worth scooping up in dynasty leagues.
Alen Hanson, SS/2B | PIT
Hanson is getting close to the majors and he’s the type of prospect who might be more valuable in fantasy than in real life. In a super small sample of 17 at bats in the Dominican, Hanson is hitting .294/.429/.471. The Pirates moved him from shortstop to second base in August of 2014 to give him some versatility, and it’s still up for debate whether he’ll stick at short. It might be a moot point this year, as the Pirates are set at second with Neil Walker and may need Hanson’s bat to help the club in the second half. The Pirates have a strong farm system and the 22-year-old Hanson seems to get lost in the shuffle. Some are down on him because of his defense and “make-up” concerns after issues with minor league managers. Don’t be one of them. He’s a power/speed guy in the middle infield and a nice value in fantasy.
