So far this season we’ve focused our prospect content on dynasty specific purposes with the intent of getting you prepped up to master your leaguemates and colleagues for years to come. We’ve looked at incoming players for 2017, re-ranked the top 25, profiled numerous players, while also updating you on Razzball’s in house dynasty the Razznasty. Today we’re going to take a bit of a different approach, today we look at the more immediate impact of up and coming prospects. The players we’ll review have short ETA’s, and could be up within the next two-three months. I’ll add in a guesstimate ETA on my behalf. I mean I’ve had a sterling record with such prognostications so far, and by sterling I mean awful. I am the man that told you Turner would up by today, which now looks like June, as well as the man in the preseason predicting Nomar Mazara wouldn’t be up until August. So yeah, I’m great!
Blake Snell, LHP Rays: Was called up from Durham yesterday and made his major league debut against the Yanks at the Stadium across the street from the parking lot Ruth built. Snell was quickly optioned back to Durham so it will probably be a few more weeks before we see him. Be on the look out, as any injury or bout of ineffectiveness should prompt a swift recall for the lefty.
Jameson Taillon, RHP Pirates: Another strong outing from the big righthander. He went 6 strong allowing only a single hit against the Reds AAA affiliate the Louisville Bats. He’s now gone 16.1 struckout 16, walked no one, and drove his ERA down to 1.65. It’s never been an issue of ability with Taillon, it’s really still the question of whether or not he can stay healthy. If he keeps this up for another month or so, he’ll be up in Pittsburgh in short order. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was called up for a spot start at any time should the right situation present itself for the Pirates. ETA: Early to mid July
Nick Williams, OF Phillies: Yesterday I decided to do a little “scouting” at the local AAA affiliate of the Red Sox in Pawtucket. By “scouting” I mean watched the game with my oldest son while he crushed popcorn and ice cream and A “Gansett” or two. Phillies affiliate the Iron Pigs were in town and former first overall pick Mark Appel was on the mound. Williams went 1-5 with an RBI and a couple of loud outs, but overall looked blah. I’m a Williams fan so I was a little disappointed. ETA: Early to mid July the earliest
Mark Appel, RHP Phillies: Overall looked pretty good early but made a mistake pitch in the bottom of the fourth to Justin Maxwell with Blake Swihart on first. He’s pitched well in his three starts this season. Posting a 1.62 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. The sample size is small and the Whip of 1.25 is a bit scary. ETA: Early August
Joey Gallo, 3B/OF Rangers: The power hitting prospect is slugging his way back into prospect hounds good graces with a .286/.400/.633 slash line to go along with 4 homers and 11 rbis in 14 games. He’s cut his K% down to 23% and is sporting a gaudy .348 ISO. If anything happens to Adrian Beltre, any of the outfielders, or even Prince Fielder it should prompt a Gallo promotion. ETA: Late June/Early July
Dalton Pompey, OF Blue Jays: Remember me! He’s hitting .290 at Toronto AAA affiliate Buffalo Bison and continues to show solid on base skills (.371 OBP) and speed. There’s not much power there, but with the Jays struggling to find a leadoff guy and with current leadoff hitter and leftfielder Michael Saunders out of the lineup the last few days with a hamstring injury. There’s certainly a chance that Pompey is only a DL stint away from the prime lineup spot in one of the games premier lineups. ETA: Late May-Early June.
Hunter Renfroe, OF Padres: Hitting .308 with a couple of homers and an .896 OPS. Could he play in San Diego now? Sure why not, but he’s more than likely blocked by Melvin Upton Jr. He’s got serious power and is another player an injury or long bout of ineffectiveness away from some playing time. ETA: Mid-late July
Manuel Margot, OF Padres: One of the centerpieces of the Craig Kimbrel trade, Margot is presently blocked by Jon Jay, but if Jay ends up injured Margot will be up. He’s hitting .269 with 1 homer, 4 steals, 6 runs, and 4 rbis. ETA: Early July
Rusney Castillo, OF Red Sox: He’s past his limits but he’s hitting for average and getting on base in Pawtucket, but hasn’t done much else. He’s just not good enough. ETA: Hopefully never
Sam Travis, 1B Red Sox: Of course I go to the Pawsox game and mi amor doesn’t play. He’s hitting .317 with a couple of homers, with 13 rbis and 11 runs. ETA: early-mid August
Henry Owens, LHP Red Sox: He’s making the start for the Red Sox today and through three starts with Pawtucket is leading the International League in strikeouts with 23. I wouldn’t be shocked if he sticks. He’s over his limits (63 innings) and there’s a spot in the rotation, AL East is a tough place to pitch unfortunately.
Aaron Judge, OF Yankees: Hitting .302 with a couple of homers and 9 rbis and 8 runs. On the flip side, he’s striking out 29% of the time. ETA: Late July
Trea Turner, SS Nationals: Still setting the world on fire, still in Syracuse, and it sounds as if the Nationals plan on waiting out his super two which could push his ETA to mid July due to last seasons 27 game stint with the big club. I’d like to say he’ll be up next week, but in order for that to happen something must change. ETA: Early June
Julio Urias, LHP Dodgers: The Mexican wonderkin has been steady in his first extended stay at AAA. He’s made three starts, gone five innings in each, and two of them have been good and one of them bad. The really impressive numbers are the strikeouts and walk totals. Through 15 innings Urias has struckout 20 while only walking 2. I still think the Dodgers don’t rush him and you see him arrive just in time to give them a push down the stretch and possibly into the playoffs. ETA: Mid-Late August
Orlando Arcia, SS Brewers: Hitting .283 with 1 homer and no steals! No steals!!!! He’ll be fine and should be useful once he’s up. ETA: Early-Mid July
Renato Nunez, 3B Athletics: Hitting .294 with a .841 OPS in 14 games with Nashville. Even with Danny Valencia hitting the DL there’s no reason for the A’s to rush Nunez. There’s a strong possibility he could force his way up to the big club by July. ETA: Late July
Sean Manaea, LHP Athletics: My love for Manaea is well documented, and he’s done nothing to change that other than be dreamy. He’s 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 21 k’s in 18 innings. Could easily be in the rotation now, but Oakland isn’t going to ignore service clock and or super 2 dates. So there’s the conflict of just how soon until he’s up. My gut says late May while my head says late June. Let’s split the difference ETA: Mid-June
Jose Peraza, 2B Reds: The good: He’s hitting .314 The bad:He’s been caught stealing in all three of his attempts. If you aren’t going to steal a ton of bases Jose, you’re of no use to me as a .300 hitter with zero power. Cust kayin.
Josh Bell, 1B/OF Pirates: Bell is certainly answering many of his critics of late slugging his way to a 1.016 OPS with 3 homers, 14 rbis, and a .308 batting average. Already a elite on base and contact hitter if he can develop into a 20-25 home run hitter we’re looking at universally owned fantasy first baseman. Hit for the cycle on friday night, while reaching base in 5 of 6 plate appearances, with 5 rbis, fueled by a grand slam. ETA: Late June-Early July
Gary Sanchez, C Yankees: After a slow start Sanchez has 6 hits in his last 9 at bats, half of those going for extra bases. He and Judge occupy the 2 and 3 spots in the Railriders order, lot of power between the two but also a lot of strikeouts. The Yankees have no reason to rush his service clock. ETA: Late July
