Prospect Alert
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Hot Starts

Welcome to “Prospect Alert,” the informative new column with information regarding all aspects of the minor leagues. Throughout the course of this season, we will focus on minor leagues with the goal of informing fantasy players about the minor leagues. From player scouting to specific player breakdowns, this is the place to visit for top-notch minor league information.

This week, we’ll take a look at the hottest-hitting prospects in the game this season. From the unknowns to some of the top prospects in the game, these are the prospects that have turned in the best performances so far this year.

3B Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins

AB: 117
OPS: 1.146
AVG: .419
K/BB: 13/10
HR: 5
SB: 7

Everything looks good for Cabrera. His plate discipline has been well above-average, he’s pounding the ball to all fields, and he’s thrown in a nice stolen base total. Cabrera could rise rapidly through the Marlins’ organization, and is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in baseball. Remember this name, as he is tremendously talented. If you’re in a keeper league, now’s the time to grab him.

OF Alexis Rios, Toronto Blue Jays

AB: 61
OPS: 1.235
AVG: .426
K/BB: 8/9
HR: 3
SB: 1

Rios has been overlooked, possibly because the Blue Jays’ outfield depth has been a strength in the past. That might not matter for Rios, as he has the potential to be a difference-maker in the big leagues. While others skim over his name, remember the hot start and don’t be scared away by a crowded outfield in the Toronto organization.

3B Garrett Atkins, Colorado Rockies

AB: 113
OPS: .886
AVG: .354
K/BB: 11/7
HR: 3
SB: 0

Atkins could earn a promotion to the big leagues in the near future, but beware of his rather low OPS. For a prospect that has been as highly-hyped for a hot start as Atkins, the numbers don’t all add up. Nevertheless, there has been quite a bit of talk about moving Atkins up in the coming weeks, although his effectiveness after that promotion is certainly debatable. For those in fantasy leagues, the best advice would be to stay away from Atkins until he proves himself at the major-league level.

1B Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins

AB: 79
OPS: 1.326
AVG: .329
K/BB: 14/7
HR: 6
SB: 0

Morneau has been so good that he has already earned himself a promotion, and he’s been absolutely dominating from a power perspective. The plate discipline could be worked on a bit, particularly the addition of a few more walks. The lack of patience could hurt Morneau as he continues to climb the organizational depth chart, but hasn’t had much of an effect on him as of yet. Morneau is one of the best corner infield prospects in baseball.

1B Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers

AB: 107
OPS: .988
AVG: .336
K/BB: 22/14
HR: 6
SB: 0

Prince is the son of Cecil Fielder, the former power-hitting first baseman. Like Dad, Prince has a tremendous amount of raw power, and has possibly the best raw power of any player currently in the minors. His average should be solid in the bigs, and he has solid enough strike-zone judgment to be a consistent power threat as he advances in his career.

OF Nick Swisher, Oakland A’s

AB: 104
OPS: .989
AVG: .327
K/BB: 26/21
HR: 4
SB: 0

Swisher is rarely mentioned as a top-notch prospect, yet has drawn some interest after a hot start. His strikeout total is a bit high, but the walk total more than covers for the excess strikeouts. He has shown a nice power/average combination, and could develop into a solid major league hitter. A bit more speed would certainly help his stock, but that isn’t a huge problem. A nice year could help Swisher quite a bit.

OF Jason Bay, San Diego Padres

AB: 96
OPS: 1.200
AVG: .375
K/BB: 15/21
HR: 9
SB: 8

Bay is quickly developing into one of my favorite prospects. He has been undervalued by numerous organizations, and that has only increased his production. Bay has tremendous power, speed, and average potential, and has displayed outstanding plate discipline. Bay is the top positional prospect of the year so far, and his stock has skyrocketed in recent weeks.

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The prospect depth charts are changing daily, particularly due to recent performance trends. Therefore, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the surging stars of tomorrow. A small hot streak can do wonders for a prospect’s status, and often provides the opportunity to turn a struggling career around. The above lists just a few of the many prospects who have improved their prospect status over the past few weeks.

Please leave any comments/suggestions/questions using the “comment” feature at the bottom of this page, or feel free to leave a message on the Fantasy Info Central message board. The more feedback provided, the better this column can be devised. In the coming weeks, look for an in-depth look at the league’s top prospects.

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