The Indians just unloaded Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher to the Braves, which created some breathing room on the roster. Bradley Zimmer could be one of the guys that benefits the most from all that extra oxygen. I ranked Zimmer 14th on my power rankings last week on a whim, but this recent trade has me looking at him as a legit call-up option as we head into September – one that could make a fantasy impact. I get to the Rubber Duck games in Akron a bunch, and seeing Zimmer in person you can definitely see where the Yelich comps come from. He has a long stride with sneaky plus speed, squares everything up, and shows good instincts on the basepaths. He’s one of those players that stands out on the field without even seeing him make a play. Already big and tall, it looks like a frame that could pack on even more muscle. Zimmer is following the typical path of a college bat, and while Double-A is one of the hardest jumps for a prospect, he’s holding his own with a .244/.359/.462 slash line, three homers, six doubles, and six steals through 21 games. He has yet to be caught stealing and his strikeout rate hasn’t spiked against the tougher arms either. He passes the eye test, the stats are yummy, and we could be looking at not only a September call-up but also a quick promotion to the bigs next summer. His ceiling would look something like .270 with 20 homers and 20+ steals in center or right field. Scoop him up in keepers and keep your eyes on him in redrafts for help down the stretch. Speaking of Akron, come say hi if you’re at the Jim Gaffigan show or the Hamburger Festival today. I’m easy to find. Just look for the depressed guy in the Expos cap. Here’s what else is happening around the minor leagues…
Alex Verdugo, OF | Dodgers
What a turnaround for Verdugo. After hitting .217 with one homer in April and May, the 19-year-old outfielder has hit .338 with 16 doubles and five homers in June, July, and August. Apparently he ditched a leg kick and I doubt he ever goes back after these results. I ditched a leg kick in my flashdance routine back in ’92 and won four straight blue ribbons at the county fair.
Dalton Pompey, OF | Blue Jays
If you’ve been on the Pompey roller coaster this past year and a half, you’re probably queasy by now. Since returning to Triple-A Buffalo in mid-July, Pompey has hit nearly .370 but has no homers and just a handful of steals. We’ll probably see him this September, but you’d have to think his role will be more limited now with Ben Revere in the mix.
Jorge Mateo, SS | Yankees
I just like to check in on this guy every now and then. He’s 20, he just got promoted to the Florida State League, and oh yeah he has 74 steals this season. He’s been caught just 15 times as well, which is close to an 80% success rate.
Francis Martes, RHP | Astros
The 19-year-old Martes now has three games under his belt at High-A Lancaster, which is one of the more extreme hitters’ parks in a hitter-friendly Cal league. He’s giving up some runs, which is to be expected, but he’s also striking guys out at an impressive clip. Martes has 22 ponches through his first 15 innings and should be on your radar in dynasty formats if he wasn’t already.
A.J. Reed, 1B | Astros
Reed hasn’t cooled off with his promotion to Double-A. He has six homers there and now has 29 on the year, tying him with Adam Duvall for the most dingers in the entire minor leagues. I popped Reed on the tail end of my midseason top 50 because I believe in the bat, even if it’s coming with the added pressure of being a 1B-only guy.
Tyler Glasnow, RHP | Pirates
It could be in a relief role, but I’m thinking we see Glasnow in Pittsburgh this year. The 21-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A and has 13 strikeouts through his first ten innings pitched. He allowed an ugly six walks in his most recent start however, which raised my eyebrows clear up to my receding hairline. Glasnow is a really big dude, so it’s going to be tough to control his plus stuff now and then.
Brandon Nimmo, OF | Mets
I can’t wait for all the “finding Nimmo” headlines when this guy gets close to a promotion. It will be the most softball headline pun since Seymour Walksalot issued 13 free passes to the Boston Beaneaters back in 1906. Nimmo is hitting .321 with a tater and three steals through nine games in the PCL. There’s no clear path to playing time right now, but he doesn’t strike out a lot and plays solid defense, making him an interesting option for the Mets come September and moving forward in 2016.
Christian Walker, 1B | Orioles
Walker is starting to slug again with two homers, two doubles, and eight runs batted in over his last ten. The first baseman got a very brief stint in the majors and has had an up-and-down season with Triple-A Norfolk. After a slow start, he hit .337 in June and swatted seven homers in July. I picked him up for nothing in a 20-team dynasty, so he’s probably available in a lot of leagues. With Chris Davis slated for free agency, Walker may get an extended look with the O’s next year.
Archie Bradley, RHP | Diamondbacks
A rehab assignment should start soon as long as Bradley stays pain-free. He still has the stuff to be a frontline starter if he can put this shoulder issue behind him. The 22-year-old took a line drive off the face before the shoulder thing popped up, so we really haven’t had a long look at him in the majors yet.
Joey Gallo, 3B | Rangers
Gallo is settling in at Triple-A and recently had a three-homer game with Round Rock on Thursday. He immediately followed that game with an 0-for-6 and four strikeouts on Friday. You don’t need to be a rocket surgeon to see the upside and downside here.
Lewis Brinson, OF | Rangers
Recently promoted to Double-A, Brinson hasn’t cooled off through his first eight games there. He’s 12-for-32 (.375) with a homer, a triple, and three doubles. Like Nick Williams, Brinson has enjoyed a breakout this year, answering questions about his approach (K% down) and displaying his impressive tools in games. It should be noted that only baseball players should display their tools during games…when spectators do it it’s just weird and could lead to legal problems.
Nick Williams, OF | Phillies
Williams has picked up right where he left off with the Rangers, including a 4-for-4 night at the plate on Wednesday. In that game he clubbed two homers (one over the video screen in right-center), doubled, walked, and stole a base. If Williams can maintain the improvements he’s made, the Phils should have an above-average outfielder on their hands that could help the club as soon as mid-2016.
Byron Buxton, OF | Twins
Buxton started a Triple-A rehab assignment on Friday, going 3-for-5 in his first game back. It’s been a long layoff, so I’d expect the Twins to ease him back in. It could take a good portion if not all of August before we see him up again with the big club.
Nick Gordon, SS | Twins
Dee’s younger brother has been on the slow and steady plan and just hit his first homer of the year on Friday. His batting averages month-to-month are .267/.204/.293/.309/.455 and his doubles totals go 2/3/4/7/0. Gordon is still just 19 years old and getting his first taste of full season ball. He’s not a bad buy-low in dynasties right now.
Sean Newcomb, LHP | Angels
Newcomb has been pretty solid since earning a promotion to Double-A. In two starts, he’s allowed just two earned runs while striking out nine batters in 11 innings pitched. The blemish continues to be the walks allowed, which will hopefully settle as he gains experience. The 22-year-old lefty was a first-round pick by the Angels last year and has a high ceiling if he can harness that control.
Javier Baez, SS | Cubs
Poor Starlin Castro. I really like him but it hasn’t been pretty this year. Meanwhile, Baez is hitting .293 with 11 homers and 12 steals for Triple-A Iowa. The bad news is he’s still striking out 26% of the time (although that’s an improvement over the past two years) and he’s hitting just .217 over his last ten games. I’m grabbing my popcorn with this Cubs middle infield, because I have no clue what they’ll do next. It’s so exciting!
