June 1st has passed us by and with that comes the likely call-ups of the “Super-Two” prospects. Super-Two for those that don’t know refers to the MLB service time accrued by a prospect when hitting arbitration and in this specific case, those with between two and three years of service. The top 22% of those players, based on service time, receive a fourth year of arbitration eligibility and thus cost the team millions of dollars. The tricky part about the Super-Two deadline is that it isn’t known for a couple of years since the service time has to accrue first, with that said however, it is usually in the beginning of June.
In this piece I will talk about prospects that are likely to be called up shortly now that the deadline has most likely passed, and the ones that will stay up.
It has been an up and down season for Reynaldo Lopez (RHP CWS AAA) so far in 2017. He currently sits with a 3.82 ERA, 4.45 FIP, 1.30 WHIP and 8.32 K/9 through 12 starts this year. He has seven quality starts in 11 games he actually pitched in, one start was a rain out, and a 5-3 record. Lopez has a fastball that can hit triple-digits that he mixes with a curveball and change-up. The issue is that due to his slight frame (6’, 185) he doesn’t generate a lot of angle on his pitches and therefore is an extreme fly ball pitcher, 45.2% this year.
The other big name pitching prospect nearing a call-up on the south side is Lucas Giolito (RHP CWS AAA). Giolito has been disappointing, to say the least, this season but he is turning that around in two of his last three starts. On the 25th of May he threw a seven-inning no-hitter, issuing three walks, and then in his most recent start he went six innings, giving up five hits, one earned run, and 11 strikeouts. His big-time velocity carries from his fastball into his power curve and he gets good sink on his changeup. Another handful of starts like the ones mentioned will get him into the White Sox rotation.
The centerpiece of the Andrelton Simmons deal with L.A., Sean Newcomb (LHP ATL AAA) is finally regaining his form that had him one of the top pitching prospects in the game. In 11 starts this season, Newcomb has posted a 2.97 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 3-3 W-L record, .212 BAA and 74 Ks over 57.2 innings at Triple-A. With his talent peaking and the injuries/struggles to the Braves rotation, he will be called-up this weekend against the Mets. Newcomb should stick passed the start this weekend and has number-two starter upside when all his talent is realized.
The unheralded Rays prospect, Jacob Faria (RHP TB AAA), is being called up for a start on Wednesday for his MLB debut. He posted a 3.07 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 2.56 xFIP, 12.89 K/9 over 58.2 innings in 11 starts. Faria has a good four-pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball, 12-6 curveball, low-80s short slider, and a mid-80s changeup all play up due to his ability to mix pitches. His command needs a bit more work, despite the high strikeout rate, as Faria also has a 3.38 BB/9 rate and posted a 4.26 BB/9 last year. He has the least upside of the four pitchers on the list and could be a number-four start or a setup man if his curveball betrays him.
Since being taken third overall in the June 2014 draft, Derek Fisher (OF HOU AAA) has been plodding along on his way to the bigs. Now however he is putting on a show at Triple-A Fresno this season. In 55 games, he stroking a .338/.403/.604 slash line with a .430 wOBA, 14 homers, 39 RBI, 36 runs, and 11 steals. If you pair that with his 27-game output from last year at Triple-A, he’s hit 19 homers, 53 runs, 56 RBI, and 16 steals in 82 games. While his speed dictates time in center field, his iffy instincts and 40-grade arm, on the 20-80 scale, place him more in the left field realm. Houston currently has a gapping hole in left field with Nori Aoki currently manning the role and a struggling Carlos Beltran backing him up. It’s just a matter of time before Fisher gets the call.
I touched on the top A’s prospect a bit in a previous article, but now Franklin Barreto (SS/2B OAK AAA) is close to getting a call-up to the big club. In 53 games this season, his posted a .278/.318/.453 triple slash, .379 BABIP, .335 wOBA, seven homers, 31 RBI, 28 runs, and three steals. With Marcus Semien currently on the DL and Adam Rosales not exactly pulling his weight at Shortstop, there’s an opening for the 21-year-old in Oakland. Scouts do see him as more of a second baseman in the long run but that still gives him great fantasy upside.
Cody Bellinger stole the show as the first base prospect to know coming into the season, but Dominic Smith (1B NYM AAA) is also a name you should know just as much. The nearly 22-year-old Smith is getting his first taste of Triple-A Las Vegas this season but hasn’t slowed down at all. He is toting a .318/.371/.477 slash line with a .369 wOBA, seven homers, 39 RBI, and 34 runs for the 51s. He profiles as a solid defender at the cold corner, but by no means Gold Glove caliber, and his 20+-homer capability is plenty of offense. The issue for Smith at the moment is that Lucas Duda is off to a very good start this year and doesn’t show signs of slowing down. Without the DH in play in the National League, Smith will have to wait a bit longer than others on the list to get his chance.