As if it weren’t enough that the injury bugs are destroying our MLB fantasy teams in the early weeks of the season, they’re apparently coming after our precious pitching prospects now too. Brent Honeywell, number 21 in your programs but number one in your hearts, experienced some forearm soreness and will be shutting it down for at least a week or so. If somebody like me gets forearm soreness it’s no big deal and people just question what I do with my free time. But for Honeywell, who is coming off Tommy John surgery and was a sexy pick for some second half starts with the Rays, this is crappy news. Hopefully this is just a case of the Rays being extra cautious with a top prospect and in two weeks we can put the noose back in our underwear drawer. *assistant whispers in my ear that not everyone keeps a noose in their underwear drawer* Well then, Mr. Happy, here’s what else is happening around the minor leagues…
Cole Tucker, PIT – Have you been sacrificing small animals to the gods of SAGNOF? Do you have a makeshift altar in your bedroom made up of a poster of Rajai Davis, incense from Hot Topic, and all of your family’s missing Easter flowers? Your prayers have been answered. Cole Tucker was called up to the bigs Saturday to replace the injured Erik Gonzalez. Tucker can run, stealing 47 and 35 bases in each of his past two minor league seasons respectively. His success rate was around 75%, which is solid. Yes, I’d add him in all formats if you need speed. Oh, and just to screw with us, his first MLB hit was a two-run homer to center, because that’s how all the cool kids with 45-grade power start their career.
Michael Chavis, BOS – Called up by the Red Sox, where he’s likely to split time with Lin at second base while Pedroia is on the shelf. Chavis had four homers, hitting .250 before the call up. If he gets his strikeout rate sorted and selects his pitch, he has 20-25 homer power. I’m not sure if he’s up for good as an infield utility or if this will only last as long as Pedroia is hurt, but I’d add Chavis in AL-only formats and monitor his playing time shituation in deeper mixed leagues. He was in Friday’s Buy column as well, written by some guy named Grey. I think he’s new to the site so let’s give him a warm welcome!
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, TOR – Reportedly will be called up sometime this week, so I can stop throwing eggs at the Blue Jays front office demanding his promotion. I’m hearing that that wasn’t the Blue Jays front office and was in fact the Toronto Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. I’d like to formally apologize to them aboot this and say keep up the great work, the eggs were organic, and may I have some reasonably priced Effexor extended release? Thanks!
Mike Soroka, ATL – Called up to start and gave up one run in five innings with six strikeouts. Both Soroka and Toussaint have a lot of potential as speculative adds in all formats, but both also have three options left. Stay tuned as to who the odd man out is when Folty comes back. My guess is Touki heads to long relief/spot start duties or maybe even back to Gwinnett? and Soroka stays in the rotation. Then again, Soroka is coming off a short 2018 due to shoulder injury and the Braves may want to limit his innings, so…
Nick Senzel, CIN – Still no timetable for his return, but he started playing extended spring training games at center, which leads me to believe he’s only a week or two away. I’d stash him now if he’s not already owned. Jesse Winker has a weird stat line so far, hitting just .169 but with five homers, so my guess is Senzel could split time with him or even take over at center once he’s called up, forcing Winker and Kemp into a timeshare in left.
Luis Robert, CWS – Hitting a ridiculous .482 with six homers. Just promote the guy to Double-A already! Hell, promote him to Chicago!
Ryan McKenna, BAL – I’m not a pro baseball scout (shocking!) so you’ll have to take this with a grain of salt substitute (stay healthy!), but McKenna looked great when I went to the Akron/Bowie game Thursday night. He hit a double on a rope to the gap, worked two walks, and appears to be the perfect table setter that grinds out at bats. He’s off to a slow start this year, but swatted 11 homers last season with a .315 average. McKenna could be in a weak Orioles lineup by the end of the summer, if not sooner. Also, Hunter Harvey was pitching and struggled against an average Akron lineup, bringing his ERA up to 7.82 in AA.
