Around 7 PM yesterday evening, in a clear case of ominous foreshadowing, and bad juju. I added Gleyber in several RCL leagues. With his recent AAA numbers, I figured gotta pounce now. But of course, almost simultaneously in Buffalo, just as I add him, the real Gleyber Torres was sliding into home, head first, and hyper-extending his left elbow. Oh yeah, and it was in the process of being thrown out. Because of course it was. It’s a curse, some sort of bad luck butterfly effect I have here in 2017. What can I say? Such a shame my curse had to crush this potential star in the making. And trust me I sincerely believe that Gleyber Torres is just that. Prior to Saturday’s home plate incident, the Yankees top prospect seemed headed for a call-up within weeks. This is all obviously up in the air now, but the X-Rays were negative, and he’s going to be further evaluated on Monday. It’s tough knowing which direction to go when a situation is still developing. A lot could change, but there’s still a possibility it’s nothing, and he misses a couple games. I’d look to be stashing him again if that’s the case come game locks on Thursday. Let’s all hold hands, and pray for Gleyber’s safe return into the lineup. Do it for your boy Ralph, do it for all the father’s out there looking for middle infield help, do it for America, sick orphans, organ donors, brewmasters, iron workers, beautiful strippers, doctors who do breast enlargement, and the guy who’s happy as hell shining shoes. These people want Gleyber! No! These people need GLEYBER!!! Let’s go do some MiLB!!!!
- In the same game another Yankees prospect, not far from a callup, in Chance Adams had a solid but unspectacular outing. The stout righty earned his 4th win of the season, tossing 5 innings of 1 run ball, allowing 5 hits, and 3 walks. While it was Luis Cessa getting the call for C.C. this time, I do believe we see Chance in pinstripes before long, like weeks.
- You know who’s having a strong season in AAA? Please try not to laugh… Rusney Castillo. The punchline of Cuban signings is slashing .296/.328/.493 with 9 homers, and 9 steals. He’s got nowhere to play in Boston, but he’s on a 14 game hitting streak, so I figured I’d let you know he’s not dead. He can’t be traded, well maybe he can, but he’s still owed over $25 million! Not sure how much the Red Sox might eat but it’s a sunk cost anyway, right?
- If you’re in a deeper dynasty, and you’re looking for an off the radar SAGNOF stash grab Twins prospect Zack Granite. He’s hitting .348 at AAA and stole 56 bags last season. Some things would have to happen, injuries and such, but it’s worth a flier in the right format.
- Nationals center-field prospect Andrew Stevenson has been coming on of late, he went 4 for 4 on Saturday, and is hitting .444 over his last 10 games. There’s a catch, coming into the season Stevenson was known for his speed, but he hasn’t been running (4 steals). This is someone who stole 62 bags across his first season and a half of pro-ball. So it’s gotta be an opportunity thing. Hopefully the steals come back, otherwise, he’s empty average.
- Not going to sugar coat it Rhys Hoskins has been slumping for close to a month. I’m not giving up hope and neither should you. I mean his “struggles” are relative, he’s hitting .248 the last month, but he has 6 homers, 22 RBIs, and an .876 OPS. Like I said, don’t give up, we’re going to see Hoskins sooner or later.
- The Red Sox top prospect, and another potential 2017 call-up candidate, Rafael Devers connected for another homer on Saturday his 3rd in the last four games. I covered the last couple. The kid’s mastering AA, slashing .306/.365/.568 with 13 homers, and 42 RBI in 59 games.
- I received an interesting question on Twitter yesterday, the guy wondered if I thought Eloy Jimenez’s callup to AA was over or under a month. I said over, mostly because I think the Cubs play it safe with him, he’s only played 27 games to date. It’s tough to ignore the combination of power, contact, with plus approach, His K% (15.4%) is nearly identical to his Walk% (14.4%). That’s an elite hitter’s tooset for a 20 year old.
- Checking in on the AAA leaderboards, A’s prospect Renato Nunez leads in homers with 18, and could be a source of some cheap power, if they can find him a position. Yankees middle infield prospect Tyler Wade leads in steals, and he’s a favorite buy in deep dynasty leagues for me. No chance he ever sees any real playing time in the Bronx, but it wouldn’t shock me if he was traded, and then became a decent player somewhere else.
- Despite being awful in his first few tastes of the majors, Royals prospect Raul Mondesi has been awesome at AAA. He’s slashing .340/.372/.566 with 14 steals in 49 games. I think it’s easy to look at Mondesi and dismiss him based on his lack of MLB success, but there’s some power and speed here, and he’s 21 with a total of 114 games above AA.
- There’s a trio of 19 year olds in the Sally League catching my eye. Ding!! Ding!!! Ding!!! Ding!! Ding!! “What are awful ways to start a conversation Alex!” While that is correct, that’s not where I’m going with this. The Yankees Estevan Florial, the Royals Khalil Lee, and the Rockies Colton Welker. All three are bringing some power and speed to the table (Lee 11 homers, 14 steals; Florial 8 homers, 12 steals; Welker 6 homers, 6 steals), while Florial and Welker bring .300+ batting averages to the table Lee is far more raw. All three are worth your attention if you’re in total rebuild mode in your 16+ team dynasty.
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