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Welcome back RotoBallers. We're heading into Week 13 of the fantasy baseball season, and the minor league season rages on. Note that this week, we're running this series on a Wednesday because Minor League Baseball replaced its usual Monday off day with a full slate of July 4 games.
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 waiver wire adds in no time.
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Matt Krook - SP, New York Yankees
Level: Triple-A
2022 stats: 15 G, 12 GS, 74.0 IP, 4-6, 4.01 ERA, 3.69 xFIP, .317 BABIP, 56.6 GB%, 10.95 K/9, 3.89 BB/9
Krook was drafted by the Giants back in 2016 but has bounced a total of three organizations since then. He was originally dealt to the Rays in the Evan Longoria trade before finding his way to New York in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. Interestingly, Krook is best known for his low velocity. His fastball sits right around 90 mph, and it's not a rarity to see it dip into the upper-80s. However, the way it approaches hitters has been effective in getting outs. He also throws a sinker with similar velocity, a solid changeup, and a nasty slider. The breaking ball is certainly his best pitch and will be relied upon heavily to retire batters once he reaches the majors.
Krook has long been effective in the minors, but he truly took things to the next level this past week. During his start against Buffalo last Friday, the 27-year-old allowed just one hit and one walk over 7.2 scoreless innings. The icing on the cake? He struck out 10 batters en route to earning the win. After a very poor May and early June, Krook has bounced back in a big way, amassing zero earned runs over his last three starts. He has done a good job generating strikeouts, which should give him plenty of fantasy intrigue once he gets the call to the bigs.
Eguy Rosario - 2B, San Diego Padres
Level: Triple-A
2022 stats: 74 G, .268/.359/.485, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 57 R, 13 SB, .314 BABIP, .366 wOBA, 11.3 BB%, 21.5 K%
The Padres signed Rosario out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and he has slowly but surely climbed through the minor league ranks ever since. Now 22, the infielder is best known for his strong arm and good defensive instincts, which have allowed him to see reps at third base, shortstop, and second base. While he undoubtedly provides value on the left side of the infield, his being undersized could keep him at second base in the majors. Of course, some guys named Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. will also have an impact on Rosario's future position. Offensively, the right-hander has good bat speed and pitch recognition, using these traits to drive the ball into gaps. He's not a big power hitter, though his home run totals have increased nicely over the past few seasons.
Rosario put on a show this past week, going 10-for-25 (.400) with four homers, 15 RBI, eight walks, four strikeouts, and two stolen bases over the course of seven games. His big week offered a glimpse into his upside as a player who drives in runs, works walks, and even hits for above-average power.
Gerald Ogando - RP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Level: High-A
2022 stats: 6 G, 9.2 IP, 1-1, 2.79 ERA, .208 BABIP, 9.31 K/9, 0.93 BB/9
Ogando signed with the Diamondbacks out of the Dominican Republic back in 2017. He has since progressed to High-A, getting the bulk of his work out of the bullpen. The 21-year-old right-hander's best pitch is his four-seam fastball, which consistently registers north of 95 mph. The pitch has a good sink and can be used to set the tone early or miss bats late in the count. He complements his heater with a slider, and while the pitch has a solid break, he has struggled to command it. Relievers can survive on a two-pitch repertoire, but in order for that to happen, both offerings need to be reliable. Undoubtedly, Ogando needs to work on his breaking ball more.
One rough outing in June blew up Ogando's stats due to his small sample size, but he got right back on track and has looked great over his last two appearances. During that span, the hurler has thrown 4.1 perfect innings, keeping opponents off the basepaths while striking out seven of them. He also earned one win in the process. Ogando has been responsible for 10 strikeouts and just one walk through 9.2 innings this season, suggesting that he may have found his command again after a promising 2021 campaign.
Estevan Florial - OF, New York Yankees
Level: Triple-A
2022 stats: 62 G, .308/.384/.521, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 41 R, 26 SB, .394 wOBA, .424 BABIP, 139 wRC+, 10.7 BB%, 29.5 K%
Florial has seen MLB action in each of the past three seasons, though all of his stints in New York have been short-lived. He's now back in Triple-A, putting the ball in play while swiping bases like a wizard. This is no surprise considering running is one of Florial's best tools. His quickness not only helps on the basepaths but also translates very nicely to his role in center field. Defensively, the 27-year-old has a good glove, but it's his arm that stands out. Viewed as one of the best-throwing arms in baseball, Florial could always shift to right field if his profile or the Yankees' MLB roster necessitates it. Offensively, Florial doesn't have a lot of power, nor has he done a great job drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. This is a legitimate concern because MLB pitching only gets harder and harder to process.
Although Florial's offensive stats aren't elite by any means, he has done a great job at the plate recently. The Dominican Republic native is 12-for-25 (.480) with five homers, eight RBI, four walks, six strikeouts, and three stolen bases over the course of his last seven games. He should receive a call to the majors soon, whether it be due to unforeseen injury or to replace a struggling player like Joey Gallo or Josh Donaldson. When he does, Florial won't be an immediate fantasy addition, but he could have some long-term upside thanks to his baserunning.
Garrett Hawkins - SP, San Diego Padres
Level: Single-A
2022 stats: 4 G, 3 GS, 2-1, 14.2 IP, 6.75 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, .328 OBA, .370 BABIP, 7.36 K/9, 0.61 BB/9
A Canadian right-hander, Hawkins was selected by the Padres in the ninth round of last year's MLB Draft. At 6-foot-6, Hawkins works with a simple, smooth delivery that is easy to replicate. He's not afraid to move his fastball around the zone, consistently touching the low-to-mid-90s. He also throws a changeup and curveball. The changeup is technically his No. 2 pitch and works fine off his fastball, but it's nothing special. He also throws an average curveball with strong command. Considering his great command, it makes sense that Hawkins posted a super high strikeout rate and super low walk rate in college. Nobody is surprised that he has continued to pound the zone in the minors.
Hawkins was roughed up pretty badly in May and June, though he got back on track in his first start of July. Last Friday, Hawkins threw seven perfect innings. That's right: he did not allow a single batter to reach base. He stuck out seven batters in the process and earned the win. Alan Mundo relieved Hawkins for the final two innings. The Lake Elsinore Storm came two outs away from a perfect game but still managed to no-hit the Inland Empire 66ers.
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