So cool of the Orioles to do right by David Bañuelos. Knowing he was going to be DFA'd today, they promoted the 27 y/o to the majors last night. Not only did they find an AB for him, but he's eligible for the MLB's life insurance plan for life now & received an MLB game check.
Notable infield prospects for the Reds:
- Elly De La Cruz
- Noelvi Marte
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand
- Matt McLain
- Cam Collier
- Carlos Jorge
- Edwin Arroyo
- Leonardo Balcazar
- Hector Rodriguez
- Victor Acosta
Nuts. Trades and position changes coming one day.
Continuing my Top 250 Prospects:
10 Elly De La Cruz CIN
9 Kyle Manzardo TB
8 Andrew Painter PHI
7 Jordan Lawlar ARI
6 James Wood WSH
5 Jackson Chourio MIL
4 Anthony Volpe NYY
3 Jordan Walker STL
2 Gunnar Henderson BAL
1 Corbin Carroll ARI
Write-Ups 👇
It's opening day in the year 2025, who are your top 10 fantasy prospects?
Mine -
1 Emmanuel Rodriguez
2 Jackson Holliday
3 Druw Jones
4 James Wood
5 Samuel Zavala
6 Junior Caminero
7 Evan Carter
8 Tink Hence
9 Adael Amador
10 Carlos Jorge
Who you got? Comment 👇👇
Soto Jr. (Emmanuel Rodriguez) just hit a go ahead 3-run jack against a quality MLB reliever in the 9th inning and has never played above A ball.
I cannot stress this enough... RUN to get this man in dynasty formats.
Is Matt McLain the biggest prospect success story of 2023?
A good, not great prospect coming into the year. Destroys AAA, gets called up and has destroyed the majors thus far.
Anyone else come close to this? Am I forgetting anyone?
Gabriel Gonzalez is such a huge get for the Twins, especially in exchange for an expendable asset.
- Walker Jenkins
- Emmanuel Rodriguez
- Gabriel Gonzalez
Those are some top level OF prospects for their future.
The Reds are 4 games out of their division and 3 out of the 3rd Wildcard spot.
Elly De La Cruz and Christian Encarnacion-Strand are making a mockery of AAA.
They should unquestionably both be called up this week. Will they? Let’s hope.
Jo Adell first game in the 2-hole... How's he respond? How about a 111 MPH HR in first AB.
Is... is he actually here? Has he arrived? He's walking with that "I'm here" swagger.
I still can't believe it until he does it for a sustained period, but I'm loving this!
Soooo... Matt McLain is a stud.
What an awesome start to his career thus far, leaving no doubts he belongs.
Half way through with his 12th game, his updated line sits at .375/.455/.604 (1.059 OPS) with 2 HR, 7 XBH, 13 Runs, 8 RBI, & 1 SB.
🔥🔥🔥
🚨THE VERY LAST Notable prospect spring training performances 3/28/23 -
If you've enjoyed this throughout spring, smash that like button one last time. Appreciate you all!
Note - Those with "NR" aren't in my Top 250, but would likely be in my Top 500.
(Click to enlarge)
I swear the Dodgers just have prospects pop up out of nowhere every year.
Zyhir Hope has been all the buzz so far in '24, but don't take your eyes of his teammate Jeral Perez.
19 years old
.313/.459/.583 (1.042 OPS)
3 HR
7 XBH
16.4% K%
18.0% BB%
174 wRC+
On another note, since I've started this page a few months ago, I've written tens of thousands of words and none of it would have mattered without your support.
Thank you all for your support. Your engagement, likes, & comments have helped me grow and continue to.
Did you know that R.A. Dickey didn’t have a UCL and thus was never at risk for Tommy John Surgery?
Maybe he’s the key to all of this. Let’s study that dude and figure out how he could throw without a UCL, then let’s just preemptively remove everyone’s when they’re a kid. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Sooo.... Someone thought it was a brilliant idea to fast track a 20 year old AJ Smith-Shawver to the big leagues and then never pitch him game after game.
Today will mark the 9th straight day since he last appeared in a minor league game. Brilliant stuff, Snitker.
Edouard Julien is very quietly batting .295/.371/.525 (.896 OPS) with 7 HR in 160 PA. Guy's a stud and the Twins better keep a spot for him somehow once Polanco is back.
In the wake of Victor Scott getting demoted, and several other prospects struggling in the majors, let me remind you as a great scholar once said
"There's levels to this shit."
Read why it's harder than ever for prospects to have early success 👇👇
I don't know what happens with Heliot Ramos from this point forward, but what a great reminder that prospect growth isn't linear.
A solid Top 100 prospect for 4 years, completely bombed in the majors in '22 and '23.
Now he's bombing the majors a different way in '24. Amazing.
IF Kelenic is actually a thing now, it's an example of why dynasty fantasy baseball is so damn hard. It's so difficult to know when it's time to cut bait and when to give players time because there's far too many examples of busts. It must be driving Adell owners mad.
This crop of rookie starting pitchers this season is so fucking good. I think it’s going to be a few years before we get this much talent all up in the same year.
Just today alone you’ve got Abbott, Woo, and Sheehan all beasting. What a season.
🔥🔥🔥
Recap of OF Prospects that could breakout in 2023
Alejandro Osuna TEX
Emmanuel Rodriguez MIN
Jaison Chourio CLE
Heston Kjerstad BAL
Yasser Mercedes MIN
Samuel Zavala SD
Joshua Baez STL
Gabriel Martinez TOR
Jorge Barrosa ARI
Anthony Gutierrez TEX
Posted:
If this shit with Wander Franco is verified, this could (and should) be a career ender. No way you can abolish Bauer and let Franco be ever play again.
Strider averaged 95.9 MPH on his fastball tonight, down from 97.2 MPH last season.
That's uh... a bit concerning. It's near 60 degrees in ATL too. Hoping it's just early season stuff.
Tanner Bibee's AAA start was scratched tonight.
The Guardians haven't named a starter tomorrow.
1 + 1 = Tanner Bibee is making his MLB debut tomorrow. This guy is a stud and should be owned in all leagues (except for 4 man NL only leagues).
Excited to watch him pitch.
For all my fellow Ezequiel Tovar dynasty owners, we've got some life!
Last 8 games:
9 for 26
.346/.370/.615 (.986 OPS)
HR, 3B, 2 2B
Crushing a lot of balls over 100 MPH.
Still striking out too much.
I firmly believe Tovar will be a stud one day, he's just so young rn
Continuing my Top 250 Prospects:
22 Noelvi Marte CIN (Skipped him)
19 Eury Perez MIA
18 Druw Jones ARI
17 Emmanuel Rodriguez MIN
16 Ricky Tiedemann TOR
15 Curtis Mead TB
14 Ezequiel Tovar COL
13 Grayson Rodriguez BAL
12 Francisco Alvarez NYM
11 Miguel Vargas LAD
Write-Ups 👇
Food for Thought:
A lot had Druw Jones as the
#1
Prospect in the 2022 draft. Jackson Holliday was right up there as well, but it surprised a few that the Orioles took him over Jones.
Looking back, what a marvelous job by the Orioles to select Holliday over Jones.
Don't lose sight at just how impressive it is for a 20 year old AJ Smith-Shawver to dominate a solid AAA line-up tonight. This kid is special. Unreal season and very possible, if not LIKELY he will make his MLB debut at 20 years old this season. 🔥🔥🔥
Continuing my Top 250 Prospects:
30 Royce Lewis MIN
29 Tink Hence STL
28 Jackson Merrill SD
27 Kyle Harrison SF
26 Evan Carter TEX
25 Junior Caminero TB
24 Jasson Dominguez NYY
23 Daniel Espino CLE
22 Marcelo Mayer BOS
21 Jackson Holliday BAL
Write-Ups 👇
Samuel Zavala is a stud. Still just 18 in Low A.
Rocky start in his first 23 games, but since May 7, he's slashing .294/.445/.437 (.882 OPS) in 156 PA. He strikes out a bit much right now, but he walks at an exceptional pace and the power is only going to get better.
Answer the following -
Who is your
1. Biggest prospect bust of '23
2. Biggest riser of '23
3. Favorite "my guy"
4. Guy you're much lower on than the consensus
5. A guy outside the Top 200 who can be Top 50 after next season.
6. A guy you talked up that crashed in '23
🚨Brice Turang makes the opening day roster for the Brewers. Upside for 15 HR and 25+ SB and can be taken late in drafts. Will get 2B eligibility. Dominated the last half of '22 in AAA.
Congrats to baseball fans who wanted to cheer for the Orioles young talented team, but couldn't bring themselves to want good things for John Angelos.
Huge day.
Looking through minor league pitching prospects and their numbers. Here's a few that caught my eye:
Thread 👇
- Mariners Bryan Woo looks like an absolute stud. First time in AA and sits with a 1.59 ERA in 4 starts with an outrageous 41.5% K% and 6.2% BB%. Fastball that touches
Mets fans, you don't want to hear this, but you need to.
McNeil acted like a little baby. You booed Hoskins, he then owned you today. You threw at Hoskins, you missed.
Just take the L and move on. McNeil started all of it. Now you just like petty babies.
Wow, this shows me that the Braves are serious about fast-tracking this kid to the majors this season.
If he puts together a strong 2-4 starts in the minors, very possible he gets the call.
He's very much Strider-lite right now. Relies on high 90's fastball with a great (1/2)
RHP A.J. Smith-Shawver, the
@Braves
No. 4 prospect according to
@MLBPipeline
, has joined the
@GoStripers
after just five starts (all scoreless) between
@TheRomeBraves
and
@mbraves
this season. The 20-year-old is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut on Friday at Memphis.
Esteury Ruiz is batting .311/.392/.400 for one of the worst line-ups in the history of baseball and Kotsay still bats him 9th against RHP.
Can't fault the guy though, when you have a chance to bat a career .329 OBP and .689 OPS in the lead-off spot, you gotta take it (Kemp).
David Peralta: .579 OPS, 56 wRC+
Chris Taylor: .696 OPS, 85 wRC+
Trayce Thompson: .566 OPS, 64 wRC+
James Outman last 27 games: .557 OPS, 40% K
Jonny Deluca time is coming soon one way or another.
.291/.378/.606 (.984 OPS) w/ 13 HR & 11 SB in the minors.
2 HR Last Night:
In the Battle of the Millers, it's Mason who takes the crown this time over Bryce, but both were PHENOMENAL. Was that the greatest prospect vs prospect SP match-up ever? Amazing.
Bryce leaves giving up 2 hits and 1 run in 6 IP with 10 K.
Mason goes 7 HITLESS innings with 6 K.
One prospect to keep your eye on is Jorbit Vivas. He's always had elite plate discipline but not too much power to speak of. Through 70 PA's this season in his first AA action, he's hit 4 HR with a .400/.486/.800 (1.286 OPS) line. If his power is taking a step up, lookout. 📈📈📈
The Stowers for Kjerstad MLB/AAA swap tells me the Orioles would rather Stowers sit in the MLB and not get AB's rather than Kjerstad, and it's the right call.
It really sucks when a system is so stacked that 25 y/o prospects with nothing left to prove can't get a real shot.
Continuing my Top 250 Prospects:
70 Bryce Miller SEA
69 Tyler Soderstrom OAK
68 Brooks Lee MIN
67 Bo Naylor CLE
66 Gavin Stone LAD
65 Spencer Jones NYY
64 Sal Frelick MIL
63 Oscar Colas CHW
62 Christian Encarnacion-Strand CIN
61 Kodai Senga NYM
Write-Ups 👇
Notable prospect spring training performances 2/26/23 -
Note - Those with "???" will have ranks revealed later as my Top 250 unfolds. Those with "NR" aren't in my Top 250, but would likely be in my Top 500.
(Click to enlarge)
This is so cool. A 21-year-old Nicaraguan struck out Devers, Julio Rodriguez, and Soto today and was signed by the Tigers shortly after the game.
WBC: Making dreams possible.
Not real sure why Nick Gonzales is still sitting in Triple A.
After tonight, he's sitting with a .364/.424/.619 (1.043 OPS) line with 4 HR and a ridiculous 20 XBH in 118 AB.
Meanwhile, Jared Triolo is sporting a .216/.303/.259 (.562 OPS) line in the majors.
Wake up, Pirates.
As that fantasy baseball season comes to a close, I wanted to send a out a thank you to all who have supported, followed, and engaged with me this season. I started this account from ground zero and built a nice little following this year.
Fun to see Jonatan Clase already get the call. I'm not sure if he's ready, but he's off to a flying start in Triple A, so why not give it a go.
80 grade speed, sneaky pop, walks very well, some issues with K's and hit tool, but I'd definitely add him if he's available in your lg
JJ Bleday deserves your attention.
Former big prospect, sort of fizzled once he turned pro. Always walked well and has good power, but K's and hitting for average were a big problem.
After being traded to the A’s in ’23, he slashed .316/.429/.643 (1.072 OPS) in AAA with (1/2)
I know Jordan Walker, Anthony Volpe, & Jasson Dominguez are getting all the shine, but don't lose sight of Heston Kjerstad's spring.
He's now batting .478 in 23 PA's and hit his 3rd HR today. This after a massive AFL performance.
Very possible we see him mid to late season.
Who's your pick for the quietest best prospect?
Someone that's constantly disrespected in rankings that you think deserves to be higher.
Someone underrated.
*Some* (I'm some) had Emmanuel Rodriguez in their Top 20 before it was the cool thing to do. STS was on them early too. He has
#1
prospect potential and I expect he'll be in Top 10's by the end of the season.
Our model has ranked Emmanuel Rodriguez top 5 for months based on his pristine combination of age, stats, league & level.
Where would you rank E-Rod in your dynasty top prospect lists after his scouting-friendly week?
*VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED*
Christian Walker EJECTED for inexcusable behavior!
SUSPEND THIS MAN! Cannot have this in our sacred game of baseball!
(Yes, I'm joking. More like suspend this umpire.)
That'll be it for AJ Smith-Shawver's debut.
2 1/3 hitless innings with 3 K's. Leaves with a runner on 1B via walk.
The stuff and command looked excellent. Undoubtedly a bright future ahead.
Kinda funny in hindsight that the Dodgers were SO committed to Gavin Lux and not to Michael Busch, and it’s Lux who ends up at 2B, where Busch could have played.
Justyn-Henry Malloy is a man on a mission and can't be ignored any longer. Through 87 AAA PA's he's slashing .385/.540/.569 (1.109 OPS) with 3 HR, more walks than K's, and a massive 23% BB%.
At this rate, I believe he'll be with the Tigers in 10 days or less.
How did Nolan Jones perform after his inexcusable demotion back to AAA after not appearing in a MLB game?
2 for 4, Grand Slam (7), Walk, 4 Runs. Just a measly 1.398 OPS on the young season.
The Rockies are helpless.
The Twins simply have to find a way to keep Edouard Julien in their line-up when Jorge Polcano returns.
He was demolishing AAA pitching prior to his recall, and since his recall he's OPS'ing 1.059.
One kid I'm ALL the way in on?
Alexander Albertus
Been a monster at every step of his career and has elite plate discipline already. I think he keeps developing power into that 6'1 frame.
Angel Hernandez just called this a strike. Look at the game he's called...
Until he's out of the league, I will always support the automatic ball/strike system and can't wait for it to come into the game. The umpire's union is such a joke to protect this guy from being fired.
Excellent first major league start for AJ Smith-Shawver.
The 20 year old goes 5 1/3 with 0 ER only giving up 3 hits. 2 were bloopers and one was an INF single.
The K's weren't there, but that's just nitpicking. They'll be there in the future.
Surprise, Connor Norby is on fire again.
After a lack-luster start to '23, he's been great since May 1st, but he's really turned it on these last 2 weeks where he sports a .383/.448/.633 (1.081 OPS) line with 3 HR.
Hey uh, Baltimore. Maybe promote him, Westburg, and/or Cowser?
Anyone ever wonder what type of water and environment it takes to grow the Mariners shortstop tree?
I mean seriously...
- Colt Emerson
- Cole Young
- Felnin Celesten
- Dawel Joseph
- Tai Peete
- Michael Arroyo
- Ryan Bliss
AND they traded Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo!
🤯
Andres Chaparro first 7 games in AAA this season:
0 for 27, 13 K, 3 BB
Andres Chaparro since (25 games):
.361 BA
.426 OBP
.753 SLG
1.179 OPS
10 HR
18:11 K:BB
The underrated Yankees 3B prospect could be nearing an MLB promotion since there's nothing really blocking him.
Maybe a hot take here, but I don't think if you catch a ball at a game you should *have* to give it to the nearest kid. The reality is, you have no idea if they have a son at home, or a kid in their life that would find joy in getting that ball.
The Royals are a sad horrible franchise, but don’t let that distract how bad the KC media is that follows them.
One of our biggest radio hosts said tonight on his podcast that the Royals should trade Aroldis Chapman and Scott Barlow for Jackson Chourio 😂😂😂
This is just absurd. I have him ranked 159 due to K issues he'll need to work on as he comes stateside in '23, but the power potential here is enormous. One to watch this season. What a freak.
So umps clearly caught Domingo German with something on his hands, enough to tell him to go wash his hands, but what? There's a level of stickiness it has to be to get tossed? If we're not tossing people after we find stuff, then stop checking and wasting everyone's time.
1-2-3 for Smith-Shawver's 1st MLB inning, getting Corbin Carroll looking to end the inning! 🎯🔥
I doubt his day is finished yet, may have 1 or 2 more innings depending on situation and effectiveness.
(Also yes, his family has literally been at every game waiting for his debut)
My toxic trait is starting my just-called-up rookie pitchers in their first start knowing they're probably going to get lit up but the excitement doesn't allow me to bench them.
Let's roll Bryan Woo! 🙃🙃
Hold up... So the Rockies send down their primary 3B this season and STILL don't call-up Nolan Jones who has been primarily playing 3B this season?
I mean, I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here, but good mercy Rockies. Get your shit together.
Let’s talk about a few players –
Thread 👇
- After starting the season with a 136/286/204 (490 OPS) line in 12 games (56 PA), Samuel Zavala has hit 375/480/650 (1.130 OPS) with 3 HR and 5 SB over his last 13 games (52 PA). He’s walked well all season and is now busting out of