Prospect Alert
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

One Week, Many Transactions

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.

Recent Promotions

The most recent feature added to Prospect Alert, the “Recent Promotions” section of this report will inform fantasy owners of minor leaguers who were recently promoted to the big leagues. This includes any notable promotion, with a special emphasis put on those minor leaguers who were promoted for their first action in the big leagues. Each prospect will be rated using a five-star system, which will combine a prospect’s present (first rating) and future (second rating) potential. A one-star rating represents the lowest possible rank, while a five-star rating is the greatest. Obviously, these ratings should be compared only to other prospects, as it’s unfair to make comparisons to current major leaguers.

OF Todd Linden, San Francisco Giants */****
OF Alex Escobar, Cleveland Indians **/***
2B Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies **/***
OF Jason Lane, Houston Astros */***
1B/OF Dernell Stenson, Cincinnati Reds **/*

Todd Linden experienced only brief major-league action before his demotion earlier today, but his future remains bright. Linden offers an intriguing power/speed combination, but will need to work a bit on his plate discipline before he is able to become a legitimate force in the majors. Extra time in the minors should do the trick, and Linden could be a full-time starter as early as next season. There is still some work to do, but Linden isn’t too far away from making an impact.

Alex Escobar was once one of the top prospects in baseball, but injuries and poor plate discipline have hampered his development. He had some hot stretches in the minors, especially with his power numbers, but his on-base percentage dropped due to poor plate discipline. If he cuts back on strikeouts, this kid could make a huge splash over the next few years.

Chase Utley has made a quick splash for the Phillies, and could be a solid short-term option for fantasy owners in need of middle-infield help. He will provide a solid average, nice power for a middle-infielder, and a few steals. Utley is a name to watch, especially in NL-only leagues.

Jason Lane is another interesting bat to watch. His average was high and his plate discipline was outstanding in Double-A this year, but his lack of power was puzzling. Lane is a solid outfield prospect, but his true impact won’t come until at least next season. If his power doesn’t show itself soon, it could be quite a bit longer than that.

Dernell Stenson will likely receive sporadic playing time over the next few weeks, but his production will be inconsistent. Stenson has always been a solid power prospect, and he posted some impressive numbers in the minors this year, although he was a bit old for Double-A. With an immensely crowded outfield jam in the future for the Reds, it’s hard to imagine Stenson making much of an impact in the future, at least with this team.

Recent Demotions

Similar to the “Recent Promotions” section of this report, the “Recent Demotions” section will inform fantasy owners of major leaguers who were recently demoted to the big leagues. Only players recently considered “prospects” will be considered for this section, as older players don’t belong in this column. Each prospect will be rated using a five-star system, which will combine a prospect’s present (first rating) and future (second rating) potential. A one-star rating represents the lowest possible rank, while a five-star rating is the greatest. Obviously, these ratings should be compared only to other prospects, as it’s unfair to make comparisons to current major leaguers.

1B Hee Seop Choi, Chicago Cubs */****
OF Michael Restovich, Minnesota Twins */***

Prospect Pulse

The “Stock Rising” list is back. In this feature, I’ll list the hottest prospects in the game today. This is a new feature that will be tried out a little differently this week, and is similar to the ones featured in many team reports. One list will be created, and these lists will be based on performance over the season as a whole, with the emphasis on the past few weeks. Since performance usually has a great impact on a prospect’s “stock,” we’ll focus on those prospects who have experienced a recent rise in their net worth. This, of course, will represent each prospect’s total overall value to his organization, and how that value has changed due to recent performance. Hopefully these lists will help fantasy owners looking for a gem in keeper leagues, but be sure to check each prospect’s actual statistics after checking this list. These will be a nice guideline, but be sure each player fits your needs before making a quick acquisition.

It is important to note that this list is based primarily on overall performance this season, with the emphasis on the past few weeks.

1. 3B Dallas McPherson, Anaheim Angels
2. OF Jeremy Reed, Chicago White Sox
3. C Dioner Navarro, New York Yankees
4. LHP Scott Olsen, Florida Marlins
5. OF Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians
6. 2B Victor Diaz, New York Mets
7. RHP Shawn Hill, Montrael Expos
8. RHP Bobby Jenks, Anaheim Angels
9. LHP Greg Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers
10. 1B Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers

With adequate feedback, next week’s column will be devoted to any questions that readers might have. Feel free to use the specified thread on the message board or the “comment” feature at the bottom of this thread for the best chance to have your question answered. Simply include your question, and leave your name if you’d like it to be mentioned. All questions will be answered, and they can cover any prospect-related topics.

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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