Keepers Arrive
June 19, 2005
by Chris Wang
Baseball prospects add a dimension to fantasy baseball whether you are in a one year league or a keeper league. In a one year league, managers must look for players that can have an immediate impact and that will have an everyday job once they are called up. Typically, the teams that are festering at the bottom of the standings will give mid-season chances or tryouts earlier in the season than contenders. But you never know when a prospect will get a shot as an injury or poor performance by a veteran can get an early call-up from even the best of teams.
This spring much of the prospect watch was focused upon two players: shortstop BJ Upton and pitcher Felix Hernandez. The nineteen-year-old Hernandez has been solid at Triple-A going 8-4 with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP - he's also struck out 78 in 73.2 innings. However a mild case of bursitis in his pitching shoulder has put his season on hold and a call-up isn't imminent.
Upton is someone that I figured would be with the D'Rays already as his bat is definitely ready as he's hitting .298/.388/.419 with 16 doubles, 5 homers, 32 RBI and 18 steals in 70 games for Triple-A Durham; however Upton's defense is keeping him the minors as he's made a startling 27 errors. Upton may have to moved to the outfield or used as a designated hitter if his defense doesn't improve drastically.
In recent weeks, several highly touted prospects have been called up but which ones will have the greatest impact?
As the Brewers have sunk below .500, they've shifted their focus to the future by dealing Junior Spivey to the Nationals to make room for the top second base prospect in the minors Rickie Weeks. Weeks was tearing up Triple-A hitting .320/.435/.655 with 14 doubles, 9 triples, 12 homers, 48 RBI and 9 steals in 55 games. This kid is an impact player today and is even worth a look in one-year leagues.
Thanks to interleague play this week, the Brewers brought up Prince Fielder, son of Cecil, to DH and get his first taste of the big leagues. At Triple-A, Fielder was hitting .253/.366/.507 with 13 doubles, 15 homers and 47 RBI in 64 games. Like his father, Fielder has great power to all fields but also has a portly build and will never be more than an adequate defender. Fielder probably won't be much of an impact player this season unless the Brewers can find a taker for Lyle Overbay (Red Sox?).
Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes wasn't very happy getting sent to Triple-A in May and he had reason to be upset after hitting .300/.391/.650 with 2 homers and 5 RBI for the D'Rays in April. With the release of Alex Sanchez, Gomes has been given the call again and this time look for him to stick with the club. Gomes was tearing up the international league hitting .317/.440/.665 with 13 doubles, 15 homers, 47 RBI and 7 steals in 46 games. Lou Pinella has moved Gomes into the middle of the Rays lineup and with Rocco Baldelli out for the season, Gomes will be in the lineup everyday. While Gomes strikes out a lot (136 times in 385 at-bats last season and 44 times in 167 at-bats this year), he also takes his walks. Gomes has at least 20-20 potential.
With Bret Boone's career falling off a cliff, rookie Jose Lopez was called up on Friday and if he hits, he won't be going back down. Lopez was expected to make the team out of spring training but he fractured a bone in his wrist which slowed his progress. Last season at Triple-A, Lopez his .293/.341/.525 with 19 doubles, 15 homers and 39 RBI in 75 games. The Mariners believe Lopez is a potential 30-30 man.
Not many prospects get called up to hit cleanup but such was the case for Pittsburgh's Ryan Doumit. He's looked solid in 10 games hitting .286 with 5 doubles and 8 RBI. At Triple-A, he hit .345/.415/.630 with 11 doubles, 12 homers and 35 RBI in 50 games. Doumit has always been considered a solid hitter but has had trouble staying healthy in the minors. Doumit's value comes with the fact that he qualifies at catcher. He's worth a look in NL-only leagues for this season.
The Braves are an example of a contending team calling up prospects to fill holes in their lineup. Veteran Raul Mondesi was a free agent bust so Kelly Johnson got an early call to the bigs. Johnson was tearing up Triple-A hitting .310/.348/.581 with 12 doubles, 8 homers, 22 RBI and 7 steals in 44 games. Most impressive was his strikeout-to-walk ratio of 22-to-34. Johnson has showed similar patience at the major league level and after a slow start, he went 10 for 24 with 3 homers and 9 RBI this week.
Chipper Jones' injured foot opened up a spot for the Braves top prospect Andy Marte. Marte has power to all fields and good plate discipline. At Triple-A, Marte hit .277/.365/.500 with 16 doubles, 9 homers and 36 RBI in 55 games. He'll likely be sent down once Jones is healthy but he's definitely worth a roster spot in keeper leagues.
Phillies prospect Ryan Howard got his second taste of the majors thanks to Jim Thome's bad back. Howard probably won't be an impact player this season unless Jim Thome gets hurt again or the Phillies trade him at the deadline. He's been on a tear at Triple-A hitting .373/.462/.711 (wow!) with 17 doubles, 13 homers and 42 RBI in 47 games - he's currently on a 22-game hit streak.
Three players to keep a watch for this season are the Marlins Jeremy Hermida, the D'Rays Delmon Young and the D'Backs Conor Jackson.
Hermida is at Double-A hitting .306/.447/.543 with 16 doubles, 13 homers, 39 RBI and 12 steals in 67 games. He's drawn 57 walks against 57 strikeouts. If Encarnacion is dealt or injured, the Marlins may very well look to Hermida who could have a Cabrera type impact.
The Devil Rays would be smart to be patient with Delmon Young this year and to limit his major league service time. Currently he's at Double-A hitting .328/.387/.555 with 10 doubles, 14 homers, 54 RBI and 22 steals in 66 games. Young has drawn comparisons to Albert Belle but with a far better attitude - he has great power to the opposite field.
The Diamondbacks have Chad Tracy at first base but he doesn't provide the production that you expect from a corner infielder (.292-7-28, .792 OPS). Conor Jackson has been white hot at Triple-A hitting .381/.463/.594 with 29 doubles, 6 homers and 52 RBI in 66 games. He has a sick strikeout-to-walk ratio of 17-to-40. This kid is going to hit his way to the big leagues sooner than later.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about this column, please use the comments section below or feel free to e-mail me at cwang@fantasyinfocentral.com.
Fantasy Baseball 
I agree that Weeks is worth a look in even yearly leagues, and I think his demotion to sixth (or seventh) in the lineup will soon be rectified with a promotion to second. Too hard to ignore his OBP.
(I think his baseball cards, Bowman per example, have tripled in price in the last couple of weeks).
As for Hernandez, I can only hope you are wrong. His promotion this year is looking less likely due to the bursitis, but there is a chance, no?
Thanks again for the great work.