Winter leagues are starting up with notable prospects playing in most of them. One player who’s just happy to be back on the field is Roman Quinn. The Phillies’ switch-hitting outfielder was off to a great start in 2015, and was even named an Eastern League All-Star, but a hip flexor tear essentially ended his season. Quinn’s not a blue chip prospect, and he likely won’t be relevant until 2017 at this point, but he’s a prospect I’ve always personally liked and have wanted to see succeed. His best tool is his elite speed, but in the first half of 2015 he seemed to have figured something out with his bat as well – hitting .306 with four homers. He could eventually be a top-of-the-lineup runs and steals producer for fantasy teams, with a little bit of pop sprinkled in (~8 homers) but that will hinge squarely on how his hit tool progresses. He’ll play for Licey this offseason, and I’m hoping that the improvements he made in 2015 have carried over. Things went well for him in his debut – going 3-for-5 with a triple and a steal. Here are some notes on other prospects playing in the offseason leagues…
Jeimer Candelario, 3B | CHC – 8-for-10 with 2 HR and 4 2B in 3 games played. A player you can probably still snag in most deeper formats, Candelario is a switch-hitting 21-year-old third baseman in the Cubs’ system who projects for at least average hit and power. He had a good year in 2015 between High-A and Double-A – hitting .277 with 10 homers. Keep an eye on his AFL teammate Willson Contreras as well, who broke out in 2015 and will look to build on that this fall.
Chad Pinder, 2B | OAK – 3-for-9 with 2 HR in 2 games played. Pinder can hit, but in each of the last two seasons he’s also shown double-digit power. This year the 23-year-old handled the jump to Double-A beautifully, hitting .317 with 15 homers and seven steals. He’s an interesting fantasy prospect that you can probably still acquire relatively easily in most formats.
Alex Reyes, RHP | STL – 3.2 IP, 3 baserunners, 5 strikeouts. I profiled Reyes this season, and he has all the raw stuff to be a strikeout machine with both his fastball and curve grading as easy plus pitches. First-hand looks from this game had him at 97-98, topping out at 100 with the fastball. The 21-year-old posted another 4+ walk rate between High-A and Double-A in 2015, so if there’s a blemish it’s that there’s still work to be done in the command/control department. Something to watch for this offseason and early next year.
D.J. Peterson, CI | SEA – 4-for-8 with 2 HR and a double in 2 games played. Peterson had a pretty lackluster 2015 (.223 with 7 HR), so any signs of life this winter are going to be noteworthy. There’s still plus hit and power lurking in his bat, with a chance for a middle-of-the-order power hitter if he hits his ceiling. He’ll get his reps in the AFL before seeing the bulk of the 2016 season in AAA. A mid-season call-up to Seattle would be in the cards if he starts strong.
Gary Sanchez, C | NYY – 6-for-11 with 2 HR in 3 games played. If it seems like Sanchez has been around forever, it’s because he has. He was actually signed the same summer as Miguel Sano as a 16-year-old, when all that controversy over Sano’s age was happening. He split time between Double-A and Triple-A this season – hitting .274 with 18 homers. He’ll be one of the better catching prospects heading into 2016 with a major league call-up almost certain.
JaCoby Jones, SS | DET – 7-for-13 with 2 HR in 3 games played. Jones was traded to the Tigers this season, but kept up his solid numbers in his new digs. Jones is a power/speed threat in the middle infield. He hit 16 homers and stole 24 bases between High-A and Double-A in 2015, and should get some Triple-A time in 2016. My guess is he’ll get more attention now that he’s out of the stacked Pirates’ system and can stand out on a weaker Tigers’ farm.
