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Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 2 of the fantasy baseball season. The minor league baseball season also got started last week, providing us with plenty of big plays and impressive prospect performances.
It's imperative to monitor the top fantasy baseball prospects who have turned heads thus far. The players listed here are not only coming off dominant weeks but have also impressed over the entire season. Don't be surprised when these exact names are painting corners, mashing homers, and swiping bags at the big-league level soon.
Savvy fantasy managers looking for an edge in their leagues should certainly keep an eye on these players over the long haul as they may prove to be excellent adds in no time.
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Wenceel Perez - SS, Detroit Tigers
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 3 G, .273/.385/.727, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB, 15.4 BB%, 0.0 K%, .273 BABIP, .456 wOBA, 178 wRC+
Perez has gradually climbed through the Tigers' farm system since being signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. He made his Triple-A debut last season and looked solid, reaching base at a high rate and maintaining a K/BB rate near 1.0. He lacks power and struggles to hit left-handed pitching but makes up for these deficiencies with solid contact skills, impressive base running, and pure athleticism.
Perez is off to a strong start this season, hitting 3-for-11 with a double, two triples, and zero strikeouts last week. He also drove in two runs, walked twice, and stole two bases. If he can continue to avoid strikeouts and extend plays with his legs, he will be able to make up for his lack of power in the majors.
Wenceel Pérez turns on the burners 🔥
The @tigers' No. 21 prospect hammers a two-run triple for the @MudHens on #OpeningDay. pic.twitter.com/5E8RFv5G8O
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) March 29, 2024
Slade Cecconi - SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 3.60 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 55.6 GB%, .000 BABIP
The Diamondbacks selected Cecconi with the 33rd overall pick in 2020. He appeared in seven MLB games last season but retains his prospect status. Furthermore, given the Diamondbacks' strong rotation, there was simply no room for Cecconi in the Opening Day rotation. The right-hander boasts an impressive four-pitch mix, and while he nearly hit 100 mph with his heater, Cecconi's best results come when throwing the breaking ball.
Cecconi made his 2024 debut last week in a start for the Reno Aces. He tossed five no-hit innings, allowing just two walks and striking out five batters. He was also quite efficient, requiring just 68 pitches before being replaced. Although he won't be an MLB ace anytime soon, Cecconi could be the first player called up when a Diamondbacks starter gets hurt.
No. 18 @Dbacks prospect Slade Cecconi was unhittable tonight in the @Aces opener:
5 IP
0 H
0 R
2 BB
5 K pic.twitter.com/JGwJ58sYnZ— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 30, 2024
Joey Loperfido - OF, Houston Astros
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 3 G, .273/.398/.547, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, 0 SB, 7.7 BB%, 23.1 K%, .000 BABIP, .503 wOBA, 201 wRC+
If you think that the Astros have a surplus of outfield talent in their farm system, you'd be right. Loperfido is No. 3 among Astros prospects but boasts the potential to be an everyday standout in Houston. He runs well, has a strong blend of contact and power, and boasts positional versatility with his ability to play the outfield, first base, or second base. These strengths certainly make up for his average defense and strikeout tendencies.
Loperfido flexed his muscle during Sugar Land's opening series as he went 3-for-11 with three home runs. He added seven RBI, one walk, and three strikeouts along the way. The 24-year-old came close to tallying 30 homers and 30 steals last year, which is a benchmark he could reach as a full-time big leaguer next season.
Joey Loperfido with his 2nd HR in 2 games. I really thought he had an outside chance of making the Astros roster out of camp with his strong spring and the way the org spoke about him. But I could see him up soon thanks to his versatility and bat.
— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) March 31, 2024
Quinn Priester - SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 5.2 IP, 1.59 ERA, 0.87 FIP, 14.29 K/9, 1.59 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, .111 BABIP
The Pirates' farm system might be headlined by Paul Skenes, but the club has another promising starter in Quinn Priester, a 2019 first-round pick. Priester no longer has true prospect eligibility by MLB's standards, but he should be viewed as one given that he is 23 years old, still in Triple-A, and has 10 big-league appearances under his belt. The right-hander gets good velocity behind his mid-90s heater and misses plenty of bats with his curveball.
Priester appeared in the big-league portion of spring training but reverted to the Triple-A roster for Opening Day. In his first outing of the campaign, he lasted 5.2 innings, allowing just one run, one hit, and one walk while striking out nine batters. He figures to be a long-term contributor for Pittsburgh.
Flawless start from Quinn Priester
Final line: 5.2IP, 1hit, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 9SO
His highlights right here: pic.twitter.com/0FmgwdKwoY
— Christian✞ (@CWolfPGH) March 31, 2024
Jordan Beck - OF, Colorado Rockies
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 3 G, .416/.467/1.083, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 0 SB, 13.3 BB%, 33.3 K%, .500 BABIP, .582 wOBA, 250 wRC+
Beck starred at the University of Tennessee and has continued to produce in the Rockies' system. The 22-year-old is a four-tool player whose biggest deficiency is his limited contact skills. He has improved his ability to read the strike zone over time but still struggles with strikeouts, of which he accumulated 142 over 126 games last year. With that said, there's no denying that his power will play quite well at Coors Field. He also has above-average baserunning and defensive skills.
The 38th overall pick from 2022 wasted no time making an impact this season. With the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, Beck has gone 5-for-12 with two homers, six RBI, two walks, and five strikeouts. He should start making contributions at the big-league level in 2025.
Jordan Beck absolutely mashed for Albuquerque on opening weekend.
The @Rockies No. 4 prospect drove in six runs and smacked two homers ...
(📽️ @ABQTopes)pic.twitter.com/9fRrMoisZZ
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 1, 2024
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