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Welcome back, RotoBallers! The regular season is officially here. We're heading into Week 2 of the fantasy baseball season, and while there has already been plenty of action in the majors, we can't ignore some of the top prospect performances that took place in Triple-A during Week 1.
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.
Fantasy managers 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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Jose Caballero - SS/2B, Seattle Mariners
Level: Triple-A
2023 stats: 3 G, .800/.917/1.600, 50.0 BB%, 0.0 K%, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, 3 SB, .865 wOBA, .750 BABIP, 391 wRC+
Jose Caballero in his 1st Triple-A series:
3G, 4-5, 2B, HR, 3R, 5RBI, 6BB, HBP, 0K, 3/3 SB. #Rainiers— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 3, 2023
Caballero is off to a great start through the first three games, going 4-for-5 with two singles, one double, and one home run. He has also drawn a whopping six walks, meaning he has reached base in 11 of 12 trips to the plate.
While Caballero's early-season stat line comes from a small sample size and certainly isn't sustainable long-term, it could be indicative of a strong year to come for the 26-year-old middle infielder. So far, he has done a little bit of everything, including hitting for power, swiping bags, and working counts.
Caballero has long been a threat to steal bases, but his tendency to also hit for average has exceeded what scouts and analysts expected back when he was a seventh-round pick in 2017. There's a chance he could become an impact bat off the bench in the majors this year.
Cody Bradford - SP, Texas Rangers
Level: Triple-A
2023 stats: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K
6 K's over 5.1 scoreless last night for Cody Bradford in his Triple-A debut. 👏 pic.twitter.com/nxHKVW1vdA
— Rangers Player Development (@TEXPlayerDev) April 2, 2023
Bradford made his Triple-A debut this past week and worked into the sixth inning without allowing any runs. The 25-year-old southpaw demonstrated solid command, building on the 10.51 K/9 and 2.26 BB/9 he accumulated throughout his first three seasons of affiliated ball.
A sixth-round pick out of Baylor in 2019, Bradford checks in at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds. He is viewed as a solid left-hander whose repertoire might be good enough to keep him in the rotation long-term.
Bradford owns a low-to-mid-90s fastball that misses bats and pairs well with his deceptive changeup. These two pitches are Bradford's best offerings, but he also has a cutter and slider, both of which show up on the radar gun in the low-to-mid-80s. He has really impressive poise and control on the mound, which has translated to his performance in the minors and could serve him well at the big-league level in no time.
Samad Taylor - 2B, Kansas City Royals
Level: Triple-A
2023 stats: 3 G, .429/.471/.786, 11.8 BB%, 17.6 K%, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 2 SB, .503 wOBA, .455 BABIP, 200 wRC+
Taylor is coming off a strong opening series in which he went 6-for-14 with a triple and homer, all while driving in six runs and stealing two bases. It was promising to see him post strong offensive results after he seemed to regress at the plate in 2022.
Taylor was on the move last summer when the Royals acquired him from the Blue Jays in exchange for Whit Merrifield. This midseason move could have had an impact on the infielder's subpar numbers at the plate, and it also indicates that he could get back on track with a smoother, less chaotic season ahead of him.
Despite being undersized at 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, Taylor is an aggressive, toolsy player who can generate bat speed and put the ball in play. What he lacks in power, he makes up for with speed, allowing him to hustle around the basepaths quite naturally. Additionally, Taylor has the range and glovework needed to stick in the middle of the infield (likely second base) long-term.
Matthew Liberatore - SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Level: Triple-A
2023 stats: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Liberatore was a key piece in the Rays-Cardinals trade involving Randy Arozerena more than three years ago, and now he's finding success at the top level of the minors in the St. Louis organization. In his season debut this past week, he tossed five shutout innings, struck out seven batters, and earned the win.
Success is nothing new for Liberatore, who generated 9.08 K/9, 3.21 BB/9, and a 4.27 xFIP in Triple-A last year. He eventually earned a call to the majors, going 2-2 while limiting home runs but struggling to locate the strike zone. It was pretty evident that he would benefit from starting 2023 in the minors, but the Cardinals can only hold him down so long. Within another quality start or two, Liberatore should rejoin the big-league squad.
Liberatore is still working on refining his velocity, but he currently sits low-to-mid-90s with his fastball and sinker. These offerings allow him to set the tone in at-bats, but what really keeps hitters on edge is the threat of his curveball, which far and away grades out as his best pitch. He locates it nicely and has no trouble using it to generate swings and misses.
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