We’ve spent the first three weeks of the season talking about the players you should be focusing on from the top level of the minors. That’s all well and good, but those of us, myself included, who are in dynasty leagues every year, or leagues that have minor league drafts, may need deeper prospects to look at. Everyone wants that can’t miss prospect, but most owners don’t understand the patience it takes to let them develop while sitting on your bench. I held onto Addison Russell and Noah Syndergaard for three to four seasons each before they were starters on my active roster. With any luck, and time, these prospect will be of that caliber soon enough.
If you are lucky enough to be in a league where Rafael Devers (3B-BOS AA) is still available, you need to snatch him up as fast as you can. Off to a solid start with the stick this year for the Portland Sea Dogs, his power hasn’t exactly shown yet with just one homer on the year. A .320/.333/.480 slash line illustrates that point despite his solid .365 wOBA mark. Overall however, he has all the makings of a 20+ home run guy with a decent ability to steal some bags; he stole 18 at High-A last season. Devers gets a grade of 60 in the hit skill and 60 in power on the 80-20 scale where 50 is an average MLB player.
The almost 23-year-old Anthony Alford (OF-TOR AA) has been a quick riser the last couple of years after injuries derailed his first few years in pro ball. He is currently slashing .434/.508/.604 in 61 PA at Double-A New Hampshire with a .500 wOBA and a solid .170 ISO. Alford has the speed to play center field in the majors but will likely move to Left as Kevin Pillar is the primary option in Center. Alford profiles to have average hit skill and power for an outfielder but grades out as 70 in the speed tool and will be able to swipe 30+ bags a year at the major league level.
You may have heard of Francisco Mejia (C-CLE AA) last season when he put together an historic hitting streak of 50 games that spanned two levels of the minors. He is more than his hit streak though. A .367/.411/.551 slash line at Double-A Akron with a .422 wOBA and .184 ISO shows that. The switch-hitting catcher is the second-ranked backstop prospect in baseball but is more of an average and defense guy than a typical masher behind the plate. In a full 162 games in Low-A, over 2015-2016, he hit 16 homers and for a .282 AVG over 630 at bats. An average like that is rare from the catcher spot and being a switch-hitter means he won’t have to come out for matchup issues on the mound.
Another Toronto prospect I’m watching is Sean Reid-Foley (RHP-TOR AA), who is the number two prospect in their system. The 21-year-old righty broke on to the scene a year ago, his first full season on the mound, with a 2.81 ERA, double-digit K/9 rate and better than a 3:1 K/BB ratio. With a 92-95 mph fastball, that touches 97, a better than average slider and curveball plus a developing changeup, he has the stuff to be a number two pitcher for the up and coming Blue Jays rotation. He does only have one season with 100+ innings pitched, and that finished with a balky elbow ending his year in August. He needs to show durability before he becomes a real threat to be moved up.
The Nationals did trade previously mentioned Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the White Sox but they still have a top-pitching prospect in Erick Fedde (RHP- WAS AA) in their system. Fedde was the 18th overall pick in the 2014 draft but didn’t pitch until June of 2015 because of Tommy John surgery in May of 2014. When he did get on the mound though, he was very good. Pitching to a 3.12 ERA with a matching FIP in 121 innings over two levels in 2016 and a solid 9.1 K/9. An arsenal of a mid-90s fastball, a low-80s slider, and a deceptive changeup has him in line to be a number two pitcher in a deep MLB rotation.
White Sox prospect Michael Kopech (RHP- CWS AA) is a former first round pick, 33rd overall, in 2014 by Boston, coming to Chicago in the Chris Sale deal. The lanky righty has a repertoire that features a blistering 96-98 mph fastball that has been clocked at 105 mph in the Arizona Fall League, a wipeout slider that can hit 90+ and a changeup that is developing. Due to some issues he hasn’t pitched more than 65 innings in a season in pro ball yet, but should change this season with ease. He has the stuff, and strikeout numbers to be a frontline starter in the mold of Noah Syndergaard, however control issues may ultimately turn him into an Aroldis Chapman type closer, only time will tell.
Coming into the 2015 June draft, Kolby Allard (LHP-ATL AA) was in the running for a top-five pick until a back injury dropped him to 14th with the Braves. He has only pitched a total of 114 2/3 over three levels (Rookie, Class-A, and now Double-A) but in that time he has impressed with a 2.65 ERA and a 3.14 FIP with an outstanding 4:1 K:BB ratio as well. He may not have the top end velocity other pitchers mentioned above have, but his offerings play up due to his delivery. He will need to work on his changeup to give him three above-average pitches, but at just 19 years old for much of the 2017 season, time is on his side to do that and become the top half of the rotation starter I believe he can be.