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: 77 G, .400/.454/.681, 18 HR, 3 SB, 30 BB, 32 SO at short-season Gulf Coast, High-A Dunedin, Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo.
In the dozen games since Vlad Jr. was promoted to Triple-A, he's hit .395/.489/.763. He homered in four straight games. He's picked up six extra-base hits and struck out a total of four times. He's absolutely ridiculous. Each week we don't see Guerrero called up it obviously becomes more and more likely that he won't receive a call to the show, and that's a huge disappointment, because he's ready to hit MLB pitching right now. He remains at the top spot on this list because if -- and it is if -- he gets the call, he's capable of providing tremendous fantasy numbers over the final quarter of the season. He is soo good.
2018 stats: 77 G, .400/.454/.681, 18 HR, 3 SB, 30 BB, 32 SO at short-season Gulf Coast, High-A Dunedin, Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo.
In the dozen games since Vlad Jr. was promoted to Triple-A, he's hit .395/.489/.763. He homered in four straight games. He's picked up six extra-base hits and struck out a total of four times. He's absolutely ridiculous. Each week we don't see Guerrero called up it obviously becomes more and more likely that he won't receive a call to the show, and that's a huge disappointment, because he's ready to hit MLB pitching right now. He remains at the top spot on this list because if -- and it is if -- he gets the call, he's capable of providing tremendous fantasy numbers over the final quarter of the season. He is soo good.
2. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox
2018 stats: 87 G, .331/.379/.597, 20 HR, 0 SB, 26 BB, 57 SO at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.
Two more homers for Jimenez last week, and that gives him a total of 10 in 34 games since he was promoted to Charlotte. He's also hitting .325 over his last 10 games, which is slightly off his regular season pace, but not enough to complain. The only thing to complain about is that Jimenez is still doing this in Triple-A, and you can thank service time restrictions for that, unless you believe the "check all the boxes" stuff being said by the White Sox front office, and you shouldn't. Jimenez is more likely to receive a call to the show than Guerrero, and his offensive upside is still quite palpable.
3. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Atlanta Braves
2018 stats: 21 G, 117 1/3 IP, 2.68 ERA, 7 HR, 49 BB, 139 SO at Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Charlotte.
2018 stats: 21 G, 117 1/3 IP, 2.68 ERA, 7 HR, 49 BB, 139 SO at Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Charlotte.
Oh, this is fun. Toussaint is going to make his debut this
afternoon against the Marlins, and as you can probably guess from how
high I'm placing him on this list, I'm a big fan of the stuff. Toussaint
has two legit out pitches in his high 90s fastball and ridiculous
curve; the latter being one of the best breaking balls of any prospect
at any level. His ability to miss pitches is obvious to anyone who has
seen the right-hander pitch. There is one reason to be concerned,
however. At times, Toussaint's control can be an issue. In the past,
that was an understatement, but now it's simply iffy compared to well
below-average as it was at this point last year. This is also a possible
one-off, which is why I can't put him above Guerrero or Jimenez. I'd
add him to my redraft roster, but if I was worried about walks or WHIP, I
might be a bit cautious. I expect him to pitch well against the
Marlins, but it's worth pointing out.
4. Francisco Mejia, C, San Diego Padres
2018 stats: 94 G, .279/.332/.419, 8 HR, 0 SB, 23 BB, 68 SO at Triple-A Columbus and Triple-A El Paso.
Mejia got off to a hot start after being traded to the Padres, but he's hit a bit of a rough patch, going 1-for-16 in his last four games. That's a very small sample size, however, and it could just be regression to the mean for a hitter who scorched the ball for most of the summer after getting off to a slow start. It also could be that Mejia isn't being challenged at the Triple-A level; we've seen plenty of hitters get bored in the summer doldrums. Mejia offers big offensive potential at a premium position, and with San Diego nowhere close to playoff contention. he should finish the year with the Padres.
5. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox
2018 stats: 23 G, 120 1/3 IP, 3.81 ERA, 12 HR, 60 BB, 161 SO at Triple-A Charlotte.
We often see young pitchers finish the year on a downslope; it's tough to keep your mechanics together for a full season/baseball is hard. Don't tell that to Michael Kopech, who is pitching as well as he has all season. He had two seven-inning starts for the Knights last week, and he allowed just two runs combined. Most impressively, he walked just two batters over those 14 innings, and he's walked just four in his last five. Considering he couldn't find the zone at all in June, this is most welcome news, indeed. Like Jimenez, the White Sox are likely going to play the service time game with Kopech, which is too bad. If he does get the call, however, he's definitely worth an add because of his ability to miss bats.
2018 stats: 23 G, 120 1/3 IP, 3.81 ERA, 12 HR, 60 BB, 161 SO at Triple-A Charlotte.
We often see young pitchers finish the year on a downslope; it's tough to keep your mechanics together for a full season/baseball is hard. Don't tell that to Michael Kopech, who is pitching as well as he has all season. He had two seven-inning starts for the Knights last week, and he allowed just two runs combined. Most impressively, he walked just two batters over those 14 innings, and he's walked just four in his last five. Considering he couldn't find the zone at all in June, this is most welcome news, indeed. Like Jimenez, the White Sox are likely going to play the service time game with Kopech, which is too bad. If he does get the call, however, he's definitely worth an add because of his ability to miss bats.
6. Peter Alonso, 1B, New York Mets
2018 stats: 112 G, .293/.384/.554, 29 HR, 0 SB, 67 BB, 110 SO at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas.
Remember when Alonso was struggling to hit for average at the Triple-A level? That was short lived. Alonso has hit .400 over his last 10 games with the 51s, and he had a three homer week; showing that he's not dinking-and-dunking the ball by any means. Alonso could have a 40-homer season if he stays in the minors, and he might just do it when he gets a call to the big leagues. Whether or not that will happen will depend on things out of Alonso's control, because it's obvious that the bat is capable of contributing at the highest level right now. It certainly wouldn't hurt anything but the Mets' pockets to give Alonso a shot.
7. Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
2018 stats: 23 G, 126.2 IP, 2.98 ERA, 8 HR, 47 BB, 146 SO at Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo.
I'm cheating again, but Reid-Foley was a contender to be a contender for this list before the news that Reid-Foley was going to be called up to start for Monday's game against the Royals. You have no reason to doubt me, do you? Reid-Foley has had a terrific bounceback season after struggling for most of 2017, as you can see from those numbers. He has two swing-and-miss pitches in his fastball and breaking-ball, and he's made progress with his change-up, as well. His command can come and go, which is something to be cognizant of if you are worried about WHIP. Still, he's a hurler with a deceptive delivery, and especially considering he's pitching against the woeful Royals, he's an intriguing plus-and-play in both DFS and redraft leagues.
2018 stats: 23 G, 126.2 IP, 2.98 ERA, 8 HR, 47 BB, 146 SO at Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo.
I'm cheating again, but Reid-Foley was a contender to be a contender for this list before the news that Reid-Foley was going to be called up to start for Monday's game against the Royals. You have no reason to doubt me, do you? Reid-Foley has had a terrific bounceback season after struggling for most of 2017, as you can see from those numbers. He has two swing-and-miss pitches in his fastball and breaking-ball, and he's made progress with his change-up, as well. His command can come and go, which is something to be cognizant of if you are worried about WHIP. Still, he's a hurler with a deceptive delivery, and especially considering he's pitching against the woeful Royals, he's an intriguing plus-and-play in both DFS and redraft leagues.
8. Justus Sheffield, LHP, New York Yankees
2018 stats: 20 G, 107 IP, 2.19 ERA, 3 HR, 45 BB, 114 SO at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Sheffield's streak of allowing one run in his start ends at five. That's the "bad" news. It's only bad news if you have a weird fascination with the number, however, because Sheffield's streak ends because he didn't give up anything on Thursday against Norfolk; allowing just three hits and striking out five in five scoreless innings. He now hasn't allowed more than a single run in a start since June 22; a ridiculous run for the 22-year-old southpaw. He hasn't been working deep into games, but it's hard to complain when you've been that effective. He should get a chance to pitch for the Yankees before the end of the season. Whether he will or not is still up for debate, but he certainly should.
2018 stats: 20 G, 107 IP, 2.19 ERA, 3 HR, 45 BB, 114 SO at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Sheffield's streak of allowing one run in his start ends at five. That's the "bad" news. It's only bad news if you have a weird fascination with the number, however, because Sheffield's streak ends because he didn't give up anything on Thursday against Norfolk; allowing just three hits and striking out five in five scoreless innings. He now hasn't allowed more than a single run in a start since June 22; a ridiculous run for the 22-year-old southpaw. He hasn't been working deep into games, but it's hard to complain when you've been that effective. He should get a chance to pitch for the Yankees before the end of the season. Whether he will or not is still up for debate, but he certainly should.
9. Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals
2018 stats: 32 G, .241/.371/.296, 1 HR, 15 SB, 20 BB, 19 SO at short-season Gulf Coast, short-season Auburn and Triple-A Syracuse.
Since picking up two hits against Charlotte on Wednesday, Robles has been in a funk; going 0-for-13 and striking out four times in five games. That last number isn't atrocious, but it's noticeable for a player that has excellent hand-eye coordination. Robles could be pressing, or it could just be a rough stretch for a 21-year-old who missed most of the season with a hyperextended elbow. The talent is certainly there for Robles to make a contribution, but he's going to have to perform much better of the coming weeks if he's going to get a shot to play in Washington.
10. Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 stats: 76 G, .346/.395/.500, 9 HR, 6 SB, 25 BB, 40 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City; 14 G, .280/.345/.440, 1 HR, 0 SB, 5 BB, 7 SO at Los Angeles.
My goodness gracious can Verdugo hit. The 22-year-old outfielder had a pair of three-hit games last week, and he sprinkled in a two-hit game for good measure. It's funny to think that a .317 batting average over the past 10 games has seen his average plummet all the way down to .346. Yes, the sarcasm is thick. Unfortunately for Verdugo, the outfield situation hasn't changed, and it won't change without an injury. Still, Verdugo's advanced ability to hit for average -- with some sneaky power in his bat as well -- makes him well worth a spot in the top 10.
Just missed: Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies; Luiz Gohara, LHP, Atlanta Braves; Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates; Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers; Luis Urias, SS, San Diego Padres
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