Prospect Alert
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Hamilton Update, Various Promotions

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.

The injury bug has begun to strike, and many teams have been left with gaping holes due to untimely injuries. Prospects have been promoted to fill many of those holes, so we’ll take a look at the potential of these players for both this season and in the future. In some cases, these prospects have been promoted to plug an unproductive position.

SP Jeroime Robertson, Houston Astros

Robertson struggled mightily in his first stint with the big league club, and there is little to suggest that anything will change on the second go-around. He doesn’t throw very hard, and his stuff is marginal. There is a decent chance that he’ll develop into a fringe fifth starter in the future, but even that might be asking too much. If his control is not there, neither is the production.

Prospect Alert says: Avoid Robertson in all fantasy leagues. He could be decent for a few stretches this season, but might not stick around long enough to get the opportunity. Until Robertson shows drastic improvement, there is no reason to take a chance on him. Even in keeper leagues, it would be wise to stay away.

SP Eric Junge, Philadelphia Phillies

Junge received the call after the demotion of Brandon Duckworth, and could be a useful arm out of the bullpen. He is a better long-term option than many other prospects, and could eventually stake a claim in an organization rather full of quality young arms. Junge has a low-90s fastball, but does not account for as many strikeouts as would be expected for a player with such velocity. He has done nothing but produce in the past, yet does not receive much mention as a prospect.

Prospect Alert says: Junge will be a solid arm out of the bullpen, but that likely won’t mean much from a fantasy perspective. In deeper NL-only leagues that value appearances, Junge would be a viable option; however, very few leagues exist with such a setup. For now, keep this situation in the back of your head, as a move to the rotation could significantly help Junge’s fantasy value.

P Dewon Brazelton, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Brazelton is one of the Devil Rays’ top young arms in quite some time, and he has a chance to be special. Quite frankly, he could use more seasoning in Triple-A, but that doesn’t appear to be in the Devil Rays’ short-term plan. He hasn’t been tremendously effective in the minors, as his control needs some work and his breaking ball needs improvement. The rest of his stuff, however, is incredible. Brazelton throws a mid-90s fastball that will overpower many hitters in his day, and he compliments his heater with an above-average changeup.

Prospect Alert says: Brazelton is not ready for the big leagues, but he could manage to post some decent numbers. In two starts so far, he has been solid, and his most encouraging statistic is the low walk rate. Considered to be one of the top young arms in the minors, Brazelton could dominate for the next 10-15 years, or he could fizzle out as a result of the premature promotion. He will struggle in the majors this year, but has a huge upside for the future.

SP Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks

Webb has been successful in his ascent through the minors, so it’s not surprising to see him producing at a higher level than most people expected. The surprising aspect, though, is that he has been able to produce at such a high level this early in the season, as it didn’t appear that he would be adequately prepared for the majors for another year or so. Webb has very little experience at the Triple-A level, but has the talent to make the leap. He has a low-90s fastball, two solid breaking pitches, and an average changeup. He has a rather high strikeout rate for a prospect with his arsenal, which is encouraging for his future growth.

Prospect Alert says: Webb has never been a highly-publicized prospect, yet is one of the best young arms currently in the Diamondbacks’ organization. He projects as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for the future, and is useful in some fantasy leagues this season. Webb has taken over Randy Johnson’s spot in the rotation, which will provide a nice trial run for Webb in the majors. His success has already surpassed expectations, and he’s one to watch.

2B/CF Willie Harris, Chicago White Sox

Harris is quite possibly the fastest player in the entire White Sox organization, and had posted tremendous numbers in Triple-A before his promotion. So far, he has struggled to adjust to the major league level of play, yet remains a solid prospect for the future. If given the green light, Harris would wreak havoc on the basepaths.

Prospect Alert says: Harris has a few too many at-bats to be considered a true prospect, yet has not been in the majors for very long. His speed is sensational, and he would be a nice source of steals if able to reach base. For now, that’s not happening, but his success in the minors earlier in the year is difficult to overlook. If he was able to produce anywhere near that level in the big leagues, his value would rise tremendously.

SP Claudio Vargas, Montrael Expos

Vargas was traded to Montrael in the Cliff Floyd deal last season, and has a fairly high upside. He could eventually develop into a top-of-the-rotation starter, but his control is too shaky at to currently be considered a top pitching prospect. Overall, he has pitched well in three starts at the big league level this year, and has maintained a decent K/BB ratio, considering he usually struggles in that department.

Prospect Alert says: Tony Armas Jr. will get his spot in the rotation back when he is healthy, but Vargas should receive a few more starts until that happens. He could manage to post a few more solid starts, but needs some additional time in the minors. If he is able to iron out some problems in his curve, Vargas should have a bright future.

Update: Tampa Bay OF Josh Hamilton will miss the remainder of the season due to unspecified family reasons. Hamilton returned to the Devil Rays this past week, and it appeared as though he would have an opportunity to turn things around. Unfortunately, he will not get that opportunity, and his future with the organization is now in doubt.

Fortunately, the absence does not appear to be related to alcohol or drug issues. References to depression caused by certain family issues has been labeled as the reason for leave, but nothing more has been said. Hopefully, the time off will cure these problems and Hamilton will regain his status as one of the top prospects in baseball. For those in keeper leagues, Hamilton’s value will take a significant hit, if only for the delay before he reaches the majors. Proceed with extreme caution in those types of leagues.

Next week will be devoted, at least partially, to any questions that readers might have. This includes any and all questions regarding prospects or the minors in general, and all questions can be left at the bottom of this page or on the message board, as those will be the easiest to access.

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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