Prospects Ahoy

Without further ado, here’s the top 10 fantasy prospects for the remainder of the  2018 season.

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

2018 stats: 60 G, .407/.455/.655, 11 HR, 3 SB, 21 BB, 24 SO at Double-A New Hampshire and short-season Gulf Coast.

Since returning after missing a month with a knee injury, Guerrero has picked up at least a hit in all six games he's played in, and he's hitting .381/.409/.524. He hasn't homered yet, but he's hit three doubles, and the bombs should start showing up again for the 19-year-old superstar prospect. Guerrero still hasn't made his way to Triple-A Buffalo, but it should be happening relatively soon. This is a special offensive prospect, and his capabilities will make him the top prospect on this list until he's promoted.

2. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox

2018 stats: 73 G, .326/.377/.573, 15 HR, 0 SB, 23 BB, 46 SO at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.

Jimenez is absolutely scorching the baseball right now, hitting  .410 over his last 10 games and three homers in his last six. He isn't drawing very many walks right now, but when you make as much hard contact as he does, it's tough to complain. He's also struck out just twice in the last 10 appearances, so it's fair to see Jimenez is seeing the baseball right now. It's nice to see the 21-year-old hit the ball well in the International League. It'd be nicer to see him attempt it in Chicago, because he's ready. 

3. Francisco Mejia, C, San Diego Padres

2018 stats: 79 G, .279/.328/.426, 7 HR, 0 SB, 18 BB, 58 SO at Triple-A Columbus.

Mejia would have moved up anyway -- Willy Adames and Willie Calhoun were both called up last week -- but there's no denying that his trade to the Padres improves his fantasy stock both in the short and long-term. With all due respect to Austin Hedges, Mejia is a much better offensive player, and he can hold his own with the glove. Expect Mejia to be up within the next couple of weeks for the Padres, to be the everyday backstop down the stretch. 

4. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox

2018 stats: 19 G, 94 1/3 IP, 4.29 ERA, 11 HR, 58 BB, 131 SO at Triple-A Charlotte.

Michael Kopech: Strike-throwing machine. In his last two starts, Kopech has walked just two hitters, and he's punched out 20, including nine in his last outing on Thursday against Pawtucket. Put simply: When Kopech gets ahead in the count, he's going to be difficult to hit, and minor league hitters don't stand a chance. The sample size of throwing strikes is small, but as you can see from the strikeout totals, the electric stuff has been there all season.

5. Shane Bieber, RHP, Cleveland Indians

2018 stats: 13 G, 79.2 IP, 1.47 ERA, 4 HR, 7 BB, 77 SO at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus; 7 G, 43.1 IP, 3.53 ERA, 4 HR, 8 BB, 42 SO at Cleveland.

Amazingly, this is Bieber's first time on the list. He barely qualifies as a prospect, but here's eligible, and he belongs here. There's no prospect in the minors with better command than he has, and there are two plus pitches here that can miss bats, as well. He's been hit-and-miss in his starts with the Indians this year, but there's been more good than bad over those 43 1/3 innings. Expect Bieber back with the Cleveland rotation before the end of the summer, and expect him to pitch well.

6. Peter Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

2018 stats: 95 G, .275/.402/.547, 24 HR, 0 SB, 61 BB, 88 SO at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas.

Welcome to the list, Peter. Alonso has put up some of the best power numbers in minor league baseball, and while he's only hitting .198 since his promotion to Las Vegas with 38 strikeouts in 30 games, he's also hit nine homers and drawn 18 walks in that time frame. He can take the ball out to any part of the park, and his quality patience allows him to draw his fair share of free passes, as well. I have serious doubts about him hitting for a high average at the next level, but the power is legit, and the lowly Mets should give Alonso a chance to hit at the highest level fairly soon.

7. Justus Sheffield, LHP, New York Yankees

2018 stats: 17 G, 85 IP, 2.38 ERA, 3 HR, 39 BB, 99 SO at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

Sheffield pitched relatively well in his last start, giving up just one run and striking out four over 5 2/3 innings. It's a more impressive line when you consider he was pitching in the hitting utopia that is Colorado Springs. The 22-year-old southpaw has really picked things up in 2018, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently told reporters that Sheffield was "close." What exactly that means, we don't know, but it beats the alternative. Sheffield has the stuff to be an impact fantasy starter, and the Yankees should see if he can help them down the stretch.

8. Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta Braves

2018 stats: 70 G, .309/.380/.534, 11 HR, 1 SB, 27 BB, 84 SO at Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett.

Riley has made solid contact since he was able to rejoin Triple-A Gwinnett after battling a knee injury, and he's reached base in each game' hitting .333 over his last 10 appearances and drawing five walks in that time frame. Riley can flat out hit, and while the power hasn't shown up as of late, it's definitely there. He's not a lock to get a call-up -- there are very few locks left at this point in the season until September, that's just the way this works -- but Riley's offensive upside could really help the Braves -- and your fantasy team -- over these final two-plus months.

9. Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

2018 stats: 67 G, .349/.396/.506, 8 HR, 4 SB, 21 BB, 38 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City; 9 G, .265/.306/.352, 0 HR, 0 SB, 2 BB, 6 SO at Los Angeles

Verdugo had a bit of a down week, but only comparatively,  as he was as hot as any hitter at the upper levels for the past two months, and there's reason to believe he'll continue to do so. That reason is that he's good at baseball. The best chance for Verdugo to reach the MLB right now is a trade, but that's not likely to happen as the Dodgers value Verdugo. And they should: he's among the top outfield prospects in the game. I still think he has a chance to help the Dodgers outfield over the final few months, but I do acknowledge it might take an injury or something unforeseen for that to happen. He absolutely should be on your radar in preparation, either way.

10. Luis Urias, 2B, San Diego Padres

2018 stats: 90 G, .278/.392/.417, 7 HR, 2 SB, 59 BB, 82 SO at Triple-A El Paso.

Urias takes the place on this list of Fernando Tatis Jr., who is very likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his thumb. While Urias doesn't offer the same kind of upside Tatis does, he's a quality prospect who offered a better chance of reaching the show, anyway. His average of .278 is a bit misleading, as he had a downright terrible stretch that saw his average drop into the .250s in May. He makes hard contact to all parts of the field, and he is willing to get on via walk, as well. The power isn't anything to write home about, but the ability to hit for average as a middle infielder makes him fantasy relevant. He should finish the 2018 campaign with the Padres.

Just missed: Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies: Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals; Luiz Gohara, LHP, Atlanta Braves; Dakota Hudson, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals