We’re just one day from the opening of the 2015 MLB season, but some of you still haven’t completed your fantasy baseball draft.
My colleague Creg Stephenson and I will be writing about fantasy baseball happenings throughout the season. We can’t promise you’ll dominate your league, but we feel like we have some tips to help out.
This post deals with prospects and when they’ll be called up to the majors this season, if at all. We’ll look at a few guys who are starting the season in the minors, not guys who made the Opening Day roster as of Saturday morning. Maybe this list helps you better if you’re in a keeper league, or maybe you can get a time frame on when to pounce on the latest greatest prospects.
This doesn’t include rookies projected to start in the bigs, such as Toronto Blue Jays CF Dalton Pompey, Chicago Cubs OF Jorge Soler and Los Angeles Dodgers CF Joc Pederson.
KRIS BRYANT, 3B, Chicago Cubs – It’s a shame Bryant isn’t the opening day third baseman for the Cubs, who play on ESPN’s Sunday Night baseball, but the team can delay his free agency until 2021 by keeping him in the minors for 12 days after the season starts, per the Chicago Tribune. It’s worth it to draft Bryant now and high in a keeper league, but have a safety valve at the position until late April when he gets promoted. He’ll hit for average and power.
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a spring training baseball exhibition game in Glendale, Ariz., on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) CARLOS RODON, LHP, Chicago White Sox – The No. 3 pick in the 2014 MLB Draft from North Carolina State struck out 21 with just five walks and a 3.06 ERA in 17 spring training innings. He’s big-league ready, but honing his command and improving his changeup down at AAA Charlotte for a couple of months. Late May or early June seems like a good time for Rodon to make his debut, unless injuries impact the Sox rotation earlier. He won’t be rushed.
FRANCISCO LINDOR, SS, Cleveland Indians – The 21-year-old is Cleveland’s hottest prospect, but he’s blocked by Jose Ramirez at short and Jason Kipnis at second. Lindor is a shortstop all the way, though, but he’ll get regular at-bats at AAA Columbus for at least half of the season. Ramirez was a second-half surprise in 2014 and could have a sophomore slump, or Kipnis may not turn around his slumping 2014 season. Lindor is a future power hitter from the middle infield spots, but it’s likely July at the earliest before he’s starting full-time as the Indians’ shortstop.
BYRON BUXTON, OF and MIGUEL SANO, 3B, Minnesota Twins – These two were the hottest prospects in baseball last year, but not much has changed. However, if you’re reading this in a Southern League town, they’ll start the season at AA Chattanooga. Sano missed all of last season with an elbow injury and Buxton played just 31 games because of various ailments. Sano has a powerful bat but needs to cut down on strikeouts and raise his average. Late-summer call-ups seem most likely for the two, but if you’re in keeper leagues, be ready to pounce. Both could be elite major league players.
RUSNEY CASTILLO, OF, Boston Red Sox – He signed a $72.5 million contract with Boston, but is blocked by a deep outfield. He’ll play right field in AAA to start the season. Boston has aging Shane Victorino in right and will have injury-prone Hanley Ramirez in left, but backups include veterans Daniel Nava and Allen Craig. Despite the investment, Castillo will need several injuries or trades to clear his path. He’s not yet worth a stash in regular leagues (keep him on your watch list, though), but Yasiel Puig was called up to a crowded Dodgers outfield in early June of 2013 and never lost his starting spot. Something similar could happen here. If Victorino gets hurt, run to the wire.
Others to watch for late summer call-ups: SS Carlos Correa (Houston), SS Addison Russell (Chicago Cubs, if Starlin Castro gets traded), 3B Joey Gallo (Texas Rangers), RHP Noah Snydergaard (New York Mets) and C Blake Swihart (Boston). Other midseason potentials, some with MLB experience, include 2B Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs), LHP Andrew Heaney (Los Angeles Angels) 1B Jon Singleton (Houston), LHP Brandon Finnegan (Kansas City).
