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Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 14 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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Matt Shaw - 2B/3B, Chicago Cubs
Level: Double-A
2024 stats: 65 G, .245/.358/.421, 10 HR, 33 RBI, 42 R, 17 SB, 14.3% BB%, 20.4% K%, .278 BABIP, .362 wOBA, 134 wRC+
The Cubs selected Shaw with the 13th pick in the first round of last summer's draft. The talented infielder has an advanced approach and high baseball IQ at the plate, showcasing a rare blend of both aggressiveness and discipline. He produces hard contact, hits to all parts of the field, and has even exceeded power expectations so far this year. He also draws walks at a decent clip and has kept his strikeout rate in a reasonable range. Defensively, he has a reliable glove, so while not super rangy, he should stick at second or third base long-term.
Shaw put on a show last week, hitting 9-for-21 with four homers, nine RBI, five walks, and five strikeouts. He also stole a base. His best performance during that stretch came on Sunday as he slugged two homers in one game. The 22-year-old has played pro baseball for less than one year, but he's already pushing for a promotion to Triple-A.
Matt Shaw (@Cubs) to straightaway center!
MLB's No. 42 prospect crushes his 3rd homer in the past 6 games -- 9th of the season -- for @smokiesbaseball. pic.twitter.com/EngkX4ZsLT
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 23, 2024
Christian MacLeod - SP, Minnesota Twins
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 8 G, 8 GS, 1-1, 26.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 10.13 K/9, 6.08 BB/9, 0.68 HR/9, .308 BABIP, 43.9% GB%
MacLeod sits in the low-to-mid 90s, throwing a fastball, curveball, and changeup. The breaking ball is certainly his best offering because of its lethal vertical movement, but his changeup is also above average. The biggest issue for MacLeod (even dating back to his NCAA career)? Walks. He's issued 52 free passes over 99 innings of work, good for a career walk rate of 4.73 BB/9. He needs to improve his command and control before a promotion to Double-A is even considered.
With all that said, MacLeod certainly helped his stock last week. The right-hander struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings on Tuesday, allowing just one hit and one walk along the way. Once MacLeod starts to improve his control, he should get summoned to Double-A.
Christian MacLeod had the best start of his professional career yesterday in the @CRKernels win💥
6 IP / 1 H / 0 R / 1 BB / 10 K
That was the first time the @HailStateBB alum went 6+ IP as a pro and had 10+ strikeouts…and he currently has a 2.70 ERA this season‼️#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/jxulRpv3GE
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) June 19, 2024
John Garcia - C, Houston Astros
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 53 G, .303/.383/.517, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 39 R, 6 SB, 7.9% BB%, 26.7% K%, .396 BABIP, .408 wOBA, 149 wRC+
Garcia wasn't selected until the 19th round of the 2022 draft. The Grambling State product has put up terrific numbers at the plate this season, and even his relatively high strikeout rate can be excused given how well he's been able to hit the ball. Defensively, he primarily plays behind the dish but has also seen action at first base, left field, and right field since turning pro.
Last week, Garcia went 10-for-24 with four homers, nine RBI, two walks, and six strikeouts. The 23-year-old backstop had two different games in which he slugged multiple homers. He's certainly beginning to turn some heads within the lower levels of Houston's farm system.
John Garcia last 14 games for Asheville:
.436 BA/.493 OBP/.887 SLG, 7 2B, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 3 SB
The 23-year-old catcher has been on fire! #Astros #Relentless pic.twitter.com/92OCatdd7o
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) June 22, 2024
Didier Fuentes - SP, Atlanta Braves
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 11 G, 10 GS, 2-3, 45.0 IP, 2.60 ERA, 3.19 xFIP, 10.80 K/9, 2.60 BB/9, 1.00 HR/9, 44.8% GB%, .235 BABIP
Fuentes, still just 19 years old, signed with the Braves out of Colombia in 2022. A true athlete, Fuentes has certainly exceeded expectations early in the 2024 season by keeping his strikeout rate relatively high and maximizing his ground-ball rate. He headlines his repertoire with a fastball thrown in the low-to-mid 90s.
Last Thursday, Fuentes allowed one hit over six scoreless innings of work. He issued zero free passes while striking out seven batters. The right-hander has now strung together two shutout appearances, reducing his 2024 ERA to a solid 2.60. Look for Fuentes to earn a promotion to High- or Double-A sooner rather than later.
Masterful performance by Didier Fuentes tonight
6IP 1H 0R 0BB 7K pic.twitter.com/Qy1PS4wYEW— Gaurav (@gvedak) June 20, 2024
Nick Vogt - OF, San Diego Padres
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 49 G, .271/.340/.432, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 41 R, 16 SB, 8.0% BB%, 26.3% K%, .359 BABIP, .364 wOBA, 109 wRC+
Vogt is a former seventh-round pick who has played a variety of outfield positions in his career. At the plate, he needs to cut down on strikeouts, especially for someone who isn't mashing dozens of homers on a yearly basis. Vogt can't afford to sacrifice discipline, which will in turn allow him to get on base and steal, which he does so well.
Vogt certainly found his groove last week, going 10-for-22 with three homers, two doubles, six RBI, and five strikeouts. He failed to draw a walk during this span but made up for it with a generally impressive line at the plate. The 23-year-old's solid start to the 2024 campaign makes him a fitting candidate to round out this week's honorees.
Nick Vogt with a 2-Run laser in the top of the 14th inning. With Wyatt Hoffman in line for the win if he can get three outs!! pic.twitter.com/wGOKMcb782
— Friars On The Farm (@Friarsonthefarm) June 22, 2024
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