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Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 21 of the fantasy baseball season. There were plenty of big plays and impressive prospect performances throughout Minor League Baseball during last week's action.
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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Kristian Campbell - INF/OF, Boston Red Sox
Level: Double-A
2024 stats: 89 G, .347/.455/.577, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 72 R, 20 SB, 14.5% BB%, 20.0% K%, .420 BABIP, .461 wOBA, 189 wRC+
Campbell is a former fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech who has had one of the fastest ascensions to prominence in all of Minor League Baseball. At the plate, he makes good contact, peppers all parts of the field, and minimizes whiffs. He has traditionally been more of a line-drive hitter but is starting to step into some more power this year. Defensively, he's speedy and athletic enough to patrol center field or second base, and the Red Sox will likely leave the door open for him to play one or both of those spots long-term.
Last week, Campbell went 8-for-18 with three homers, five RBI, six walks, and three strikeouts. He was also a threat on the basepaths, swiping five bags on five attempts. The young star wasn't one of the several top prospects the Red Sox promoted to Triple-A last weekend, but he's likely not very far behind.
Kristian Campbell (@RedSox) homers in his third straight game for the @PortlandSeaDogs!
Campbell's prospect stock is among the fastest-rising in baseball: https://t.co/3aNoq1wPJ1 pic.twitter.com/4ZMBihL58y
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 11, 2024
Jhancarlos Lara - SP, Atlanta Braves
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 15 G, 14 GS, 1-2, 62.0 IP, 3.92 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 10.45 K/9, 5.23 BB/9, 0.29 HR/9, .335 BABIP, 50.3% GB%
Lara, 21, is a talented starter who signed with the Braves out of the Dominican Republic three years ago. The hurler touches 100 mph with his fastball, but the pitch lacks the command or competitiveness we'd like to see from someone with such a hard heater. Fortunately, he makes up for it with one of the best sliders in the minors. His repertoire suggests he could be destined for the bullpen, but it looks like Atlanta will at least give him a chance as a starter in the lower levels of affiliated ball.
If the Braves are indeed willing to take a closer look at Lara as a starter, he made a good case for himself last week. Pitching last Wednesday, he went six full innings, allowing zero runs, zero hits, and one walk along the way. He also struck out 12 batters, setting a new season-high and tying his existing career-high.
This is Jhancarlos Lara's empire 🐧
The @Braves' No. 12 prospect whiffs 12 over 6 hitless frames en route to victory for the @GoEmperors: https://t.co/ndtnaAyjam pic.twitter.com/dcyKZ93jyD
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 7, 2024
Tanner Schobel - SS/3B, Minnesota Twins
Level: Double-A
2024 stats: 93 G, .222/.316/.365, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 53 R, 12 SB, 12.1% BB%, 22.5% K%, .270 BABIP, .318 wOBA, 95 wRC+
The 68th overall pick in 2022, Schobel is a Virginia Tech product who has made a significant impression in the Twins farm system. He has struggled to adjust to Double-A pitching, but there's still a lot to like about his swing and pitch recognition. Defensively, he has boasted plenty of versatility and has a good chance to stick on the left side of the infield given his quickness, range, and arm strength.
Last week, Schobel went 7-for-23 with four homers, six RBI, two walks, and four strikeouts. He also went 2-for-2 on stolen-base attempts. The young prospect's floor is a utility player who can provide an impact off the bench, but his ceiling is an everyday player on the left side of the infield if he can improve his offensive production.
Tanner Ties The Game!
Tanner Schobel launches his third homer of the week a long way away.
T9
Wind Surge: 1
Hooks: 1 pic.twitter.com/sIDhT9CHds— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) August 9, 2024
Travis Sykora - SP, Washington Nationals
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 15 G, 15 GS, 3-3, 63.1 IP, 2.42 ERA, 2.06 FIP, 13.64 K/9, 2.98 BB/9, 0.28 HR/9, .256 BABIP, 40.0% GB%
Long time, no see! Sykora continues to deal on the mound and is now making his second consecutive appearance in our Hot Prospects series. The right-hander was the Nats' third-round pick in 2023, but he's already exceeded expectations after just one year with the organization. Now, he's the best pitching prospect in the Washington system. Perhaps unsurprisingly given his 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame, Sykora has touched triple-digits with his fastball, showing incredible velocity for a 20-year-old. His complementary slider and splitter aren't nearly as elite, but they're still solid secondary offerings.
Sykora started a combined no-hitter last Friday, delivering six perfect innings while striking out a whopping 10 batters. His contributions have been enormous lately, and he's looking at a promotion to High-A sooner rather than later. Don't be surprised when Sykora becomes a top name in the minors.
#Nats No. 12 prospect Travis Sykora hurled six perfect innings, striking out 10, to earn the victory Friday. @USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/t75vEbIpbF
— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 13, 2024
Tre' Morgan - 1B, Tampa Bay Rays
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 74 G, .356/.433/.530, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 57 R, 19 SB, 10.4% BB%, 9.1% K%, .376 BABIP, .442 wOBA, 173 wRC+
The Rays spent a third-round pick to land Morgan out of LSU last summer. He's proven to be effective both at the plate and in the field, playing some left field but projecting best at first base long-term. Morgan is capable of hitting to all parts of the field, and there aren't too many players we'd trust more than Morgan to hit a baseball to the opposite field. His plate discipline has also been spectacular as he's drawing more walks than strikeouts. That might not be sustainable forever, but it's very promising nonetheless.
Last week, Morgan went 10-for-22 with two homers, four doubles, and seven RBI. He also drew one walk, struck out twice, and stole a base. One of the best pure hitters and on-base machines in the minors, Morgan projects to make a quick rise through affiliated ball before becoming an impact first baseman at the MLB level.
TRE’ MORGAN LAUNCHES A MOONSHOT HOMER IN THE ⬆️7!
It was only a question of staying fair and it did as Morgan blasted a 3-run homer over the right field wall! The former @LSUbaseball Tiger has 3 hits tonight with 4 RBI’s as the lead is 7-1!@BGHotRods @tremorgann #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/RQRpJe468C
— Ralph Greene (@Ralph_Greene945) August 10, 2024
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