Every weekend, I will be posting about the minor leaguers you should be stashing on your team. This list will be arranged by impact for this year only. Players that will be called up sooner will be ahead of players with more talent who might only be called up late in the year. Prospects are a great way to stay ahead of everyone else rather you are in a dynasty league or a 10-team league.
I am very excited about the hitting prospects on this list. Over the past few years we have been blessed with a number of young players coming up and make immediate impacts. There are a number of guys on this list that I believe will come up and make immediate fantasy impacts. Every single one of these guys could be an immediate add even in 10 team leagues. Well lets get to it.
1) Yoan Moncada, AAA, ETA: June
The White Sox cut Brett Lawrie in what appears to a roster move to clear a path for Yoan Moncada. He has the ability to be a star in the league but he did not show that in his brief debut in 2016. The Sox could keep him in the minors for more development. Even if his bat is not quite ready his power and speed combo makes him a must add in any format. Additionally he will likely be the 2B in Chicago and that will give him two-position eligibility after he makes 10 appearances.
2) Austin Meadows, AAA, ETA: June
Scouts like Austin Meadows, but they do not seem to love him. I believe it is because he has only played 100+ games in one of his three professional full seasons. He needs more at bats and to show he can be healthy. MLB Pipeline gave him a 50 grade in power, but I believe he is closer to 60 than 50. He has good gap power and speed and can be a 25 homerun, 20 stolen base player with a decent average. He is blocked in Pittsburgh but he could force them to make a move.
3) Clint Frazier, AAA, ETA: May
The prize of the Andrew Miller deal, Clint Frazier is a stocky, powerful Outfielder. He can hit 25 HRs year in and year out. He has some speed to him but not more than 10-15 stolen bases per year. His average might not be as high as some of the players on this list but when he makes contact, he gets results. I love him in New York and Cashman probably cried when this deal was finalized.
4) Ozzie Albies, AAA, ETA: June
Ozzie Albies has been thrown into the deep in by Atlanta, starting 2016 in AA and eventually progressing to AAA. He starts in AAA in 2017 nearly 7 years younger than the league average. He has held his own in the minors and should be up near the super two deadline. Dansby Swanson and Ozzie will be quite the tandem in Atlanta. He will be a high average, ok pop, and good speed player. I can see a .300/10HR/30 SB in a full year from him.
5) Tyler O’Neill, AAA, ETA: June
Tyler O’Neill did not have a very hot WBC debut, going 1 for 11 with five strikeouts. He has good power and could be a good addition to the Mariners line up after the super two deadline. He can be a cog in the middle of that line up for years to come. He could immediately be inserted into the lineup with Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano batting around him. If you have a weak OF, add him when he gets the call.
6) Cody Bellinger, AAA, ETA: June
Dodger Manager, Dave Roberts, had Cody Bellinger playing all three OF spots in Spring Training. He got off to a hot start but towards the end, he crashed ending spring training with 2 HRs, 10 RBIS and only a .207 AVG. He is off to AAA to start the year and with a crowded line up, the dodgers could keep him down longer to continue his development. With an aging crop of 1B keepers, Bellinger could be a player to stash in Keeper/Dynasty League and should be add in all league formats when he is called up.
7) Gleyber Torres, AA, ETA: August
The #2 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Torres came to New York in July for Aroldis Chapman. Cubs are happy to win a World Series for the first time in 100+ years but the Yankees must be ecstatic. They shipped out a player for 2 months that they did not need, continued to lose games to get a better pick, and then locked up a couple prospects. Torres is going to be good but his time line for a call up is not certain. The Yankees are not likely going to be a winning ball club and do not need to rush the 20 year old. He starts the year in AA and might not make his major league debut until September but the talent is there.
8) Amed Rosario, AAA, ETA: June
MLB Pipeline made Amed Rosario the #4 prospect coming into 2017. He had a very good average last year .324 across two levels and even showed some pop with 42 XBH in 479 ABs. He is also a defensive wizard that should keep him in the lineup even when he struggles offensively. I want to see him continue his development at the plate though. In his first three years of pro ball, he only had a .257 avg in 903 ABs across four levels. He needs to prove he is truly an above average bat. He starts the year in AAA, and if he can put up solid numbers, he could be up in May or June.
9) Jesse Winker, AAA, ETA: June
Winker only had 3 HRs in 393 AB in AAA last year after averaging 15 the previous three years. He is 6’3 and 215 Pounds and will play at the Great American Ballpark; he should be closer to 15-20 HRs/year. He is very good for OBP leagues and can be a player that does many things well but nothing exceptional. He will be a good OF2/3 in his prime. I think he could be up quick this year and could be a solid addition to the middle of the Reds line up.
10) Alex Verdugo, AAA, ETA: July
Verdugo is another prospect I like. He is in the same situation as Bellinger with no open spots. Regardless, he is a top hitting prospect that could be a decent batting average player with solid pop and swipe 10-15 bags a year. As the year progresses and we have a better understanding of player roles and call up times, Verdugo could move up or move off this list very quickly. He could be a very sneaky producer when he does get the call, we just do not know when that will be.