Hot MLB Prospects to Watch for Fantasy Baseball - Week 12

Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 12 of the fantasy baseball season. The minor league baseball season is off to a hot start, 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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Edgar Quero - C, Chicago White Sox

Level: Double-A
2024 stats: 52 G, .273/.367/.471, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 23 R, One SB, 10.1% BB%, 17.9% K%, .293 BABIP, .388 wOBA, 151 wRC+

Quero was flipped from the Angels to the White Sox during Los Angeles' brief window of aggressive buying last July. He's one of the best defensive catchers in the minors and should have no trouble staying (and contributing) behind the dish long-term. He frames pitches well and is capable of throwing out plenty of baserunners. Offensively, he hits well enough to maintain a decent average and produce respectable power. Fielding is his top skill, but an average (or slightly above average) hit tool rounds out his game.

Quero was terrific at the plate last week, going 13-for-21 with three homers, five RBI, five walks, and just three strikeouts. He showed advanced vision with the bat in his hands, creating some optimism about the impact he could have with his bat and glove down the road. All signs point to Quero being a starting catcher with All-Star potential.

What a difference a month makes.

In May, Edgar Quero had just 15 hits.

With just 10 days gone in June, he already has 17 hits.

(🎥 @BhamBarons)pic.twitter.com/zcF1VcdSte

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 11, 2024

Noah Dean - SP, Boston Red Sox

Level: Single-A
2024 stats: Nine G, Seven GS, 0-2, 33.2 IP, 4.28 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 12.03 K/9, 5.08 BB/9, 1.07 HR/9, 41.3% GB%, .194 BABIP

Dean is a former fifth-round pick out of Old Dominion. He's an athletic southpaw with a mid-90s fastball, low-80s curveball, and mid-80s changeup. He's had trouble locating the breaking ball at times, allowing his changeup to emerge as his best secondary offering even though he didn't throw it consistently in college. Control remains a concern with the 23-year-old, but there's some optimism in Dean given that he still has some more development and hasn't nearly reached his ceiling.

Fans got a glimpse into the type of pitcher Dean could be last Sunday. He spun five shutout innings in Single-A, allowing just one walk and zero hits along the way. He also struck out eight batters. Dean has now allowed just one run over his last 12 innings, showing comfort as both a starter and reliever.

Noah Dean was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week after throwing 5 no-hit innings and striking out 8 in Sunday’s @salemredsox win. pic.twitter.com/BCgDZcG1Y3

— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) June 11, 2024

Brice Matthews - SS, Houston Astros

Level: High-A
2024 stats: 21 G, .364/.479/.662, Six HR, 15 RBI, 19 R, 13 SB, 17.7% BB%, 24.0% K%, .449 BABIP, .510 wOBA, 26 wRC

Matthews was the Astros' first-round pick last year. Houston selected him out of Nebraska and he has wasted no time making an impact, already climbing to No. 3 on MLB Pipeline's ranking of top Astros prospects. The 22-year-old has impressive bat speed, showcasing an ability to hit the ball hard and far. He pulls the ball consistently and has shown a willingness to adapt in the minors, bringing his strikeout rate from 26.3 percent in 2023 to 24 percent in 2024. Defensively, he's a rangy infielder with pure athleticism, but the jury is still out on his ability to play shortstop long-term given some concerns about his throwing accuracy.

Last week, Matthews put on a show at the plate. Over the course of six games, he ultimately went 12-for-26 with four homers, seven RBI, four walks, and eight strikeouts. He continued to demonstrate his pure speed, swiping five bags on five attempts. His best game came on June 5 as he went 4-for-4 with two homers and two walks. As long as Matthews continues to swing a hot bat, the buzz about his future will grow louder.

Brice Matthews in 21 games this season:

.364 BA/.479 OBP/.662 SLG, 5 2B, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 13 SB, 208 wRC+#Astros #Relentless

pic.twitter.com/zHe2KVwno0

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) June 10, 2024

Carlson Reed - SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 10 G, 10 GS, 4-2, 44.2 IP, 2.22 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 11.28 K/9, 5.44 BB/9, 0.40 HR/9, 53.7% GB%, .260 BABIP

Reed is a former collegiate closer who has shown real potential as a starter in the lower levels of affiliated ball. He throws a mid-90s fastball while also deploying an incredibly effective changeup that sits in the mid-80s. He rounds out his repertoire with a mid-80s slider. The right-hander's advanced repertoire helps mask some of his control issues, which are the biggest stain on his profile to this point.

Reed did look quite effective once again last Thursday, striking out nine batters over five shutout innings. He limited damage along the way, surrendering just two hits and one walk. The lefty is still far from making his MLB debut, but he's a promising pitcher to keep tabs on nonetheless.

Carlson Reed sets a new career high with NINE strikeouts! pic.twitter.com/SALn44y0Uj

— Bradenton Marauders (@The_Marauders) June 6, 2024

Chris Newell - OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Level: High-A
2024 stats: 55 G, .232/.364/.571, 18 HR, 47 RBI, 44 R, 14 SB, 15.2% BB%, 32.1% K%, .269 BABIP, .415 wOBA, 153 wRC+

Newell is a former 13th-round pick who has developed into a promising power hitter within the Dodgers' minor league system. The left-hander is capable of putting a charge into any pitch thrown his way, and he's even shown some improvement in terms of hitting to all parts of the field. He also lets his power-happy approach lead to swings and misses, and while that's okay to some extent, he simply strikes out too much. Defensively, Newell has decent speed but below-average arm strength, keeping him in center or left field for the foreseeable future.

Last week was a memorable one for Newell as he went he went 8-for-18 with three homers, six RBI, six walks, and five strikeouts. He was also a threat on the basepaths, stealing five bags on five attempts. Newell's upside is undeniable as long as he can keep his strikeout rate in check.

Chris Newell hit HR #17! Listen to the call from @VicariJohn , it's all you need to know about it. He did it justice! #dodgers pic.twitter.com/dsm2oqnaoO

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 9, 2024

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