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Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 22 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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Lazaro Montes - OF, Seattle Mariners
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 104 G, .292/.394/.474, 17 HR, 92 RBI, 70 R, 4 SB, 13.3% BB%, 24.0% K%, .364 BABIP, .401 wOBA, 134 wRC+
Montes was once a highly regarded international prospect who ultimately signed with the Mariners in 2022. He possesses solid discipline and awareness at the plate, but he makes his mark in the power department, slugging homers left and right.
On the other hand, his defense is holding him back and will likely require him to play left field, first base, or designated hitter long-term. It should be noted, however, that he's earned plenty of opportunities in right field throughout the lower levels of affiliated ball.
Montes is coming off a big week in which he went 10-for-19 with two homers, two doubles, and seven RBI. He also showed advanced plate discipline with six walks and six strikeouts. The 19-year-old remains a name to watch as he rises through the minors.
Lazaro Montes crushes a 2-run HR. 92 RBI for Lazaro. pic.twitter.com/KncMnk0CdU
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) August 19, 2024
Ryan Bergert - SP, San Diego Padres
Level: Double-A
2024 stats: 18 G, 18 GS, 2-7, 70.1 IP, 5.12 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 8.19 K/9, 2.94 BB/9, 0.77 HR/9, .343 BABIP, 37.9% GB%
Bergert is a former sixth-round pick whom the Padres selected out of West Virginia University in 2021. The right-hander throws a low-90s fastball and has flashed real upside with his slider. He rounds out his repertoire with a mid-80s fastball that could also develop into a plus offering.
Although he's been knocked around at times this year, there's a lot to like about his control and his FIP. In his latest outing last Thursday, Bergert threw six perfect innings. He struck out nine batters along the way.
Not only did Bergert succeed in staying one step ahead of batters, but he did so while going the distance. The hurler has made significant progress ever since averaging two innings per start in July, and last week's six-inning appearance was his longest of the 2024 campaign.
Ryan Bergert was perfect tonight for the Missions, tossing 6 perfect innings with 9 Ks.
Fastball that played up at 92-94 MPH, a Slider in the 83-85 range, and a Changeup with strong fade at 84-85. pic.twitter.com/T0QwX5gp5f
— Danny (@TatisMVPszn) August 16, 2024
Thayron Liranzo - C, Detroit Tigers
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 89 G, .247/.378/.420, 11 HR, 43 RBI, 50 R, 1 SB, 17.2% BB%, 24.6% K%, .317 BABIP, .376 wOBA, 132 wRC+
Liranzo was one of the top prospects in the Dodgers farm system before being flipped to Detroit in this summer's Jack Flaherty swap. The young backstop generates plenty of loud contact, but he's also capable of whiffing quite often. On a positive note, he's managed to walk in nearly one-fifth of his trips to the plate.
Defensively, Liranzo's tools are fringy at best, which could mean he's destined for a shift to first base or designated hitter. In the meantime, fantasy managers can monitor his stock behind the dish, where his arm strength and accuracy are borderline subpar.
At the plate last week, Liranzo went 11-for-18 with three homers, three doubles, and eight RBI. He also drew a whopping nine walks as opposed to just two strikeouts. You wouldn't usually expect a catcher to walk as much as (or more than) they strike out, but Liranzo is inching closer to that mark after his incredibly productive stretch of games.
Thayron Liranzo, the @tigers' No. 6 prospect, left the yard twice and collected four hits and 4 RBI for the @wmwhitecaps last night!#RepDetroit @tigers @wmwhitecaps
pic.twitter.com/tk6CWlKfFe— Alexander Johnson (@AJohnsonSports) August 14, 2024
Ethan Bosacker - SP, Kansas City Royals
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 15 G, 15 GS, 11-3, 108.2 IP, 2.40 ERA, 3.21 FIP, 7.37 K/9, 1.90 BB/9, 0.41 HR/9, .277 BABIP
Bosacker was the Royals' 13th-round pick in 2023. He's been quite impressive in the minors so far, pitching primarily out of the rotation but earning a flurry of bullpen looks, too.
The right-hander boasts a low-90s fastball with good sinking action, as well as a complementary slider in the low-80s that might be the best pitch he throws. Bosacker rounds out his repertoire with a changeup that's still in development.
Bosacker most recently pitched last Thursday, striking out a whopping 12 batters over seven scoreless innings of work. He surrendered just two hits and zero walks along the way.
This “Bo” knows pitching…and painting on the mound.
Ethan Bosacker retired the first 20 batters he faced last night for QC! Ended up striking out a career-high 12. #RaisingRoyals 🧱x🧱 pic.twitter.com/7wKWXVHViZ
— Raising Royals (@KCRoyalsPD) August 16, 2024
Bo Davidson - OF, San Francisco Giants
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 60 G, .333/.444/.609, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 43 R, 7 SB, 14.5% BB%, 24.2% K%, .426 BABIP, .478 wOBA, 174 wRC+
Davidson is a 22-year-old outfield prospect from Caldwell Tech Community College in North Carolina. He went undrafted in 2023 but latched on with the Giants as a free agent and has essentially been on a tear ever since then.
Davidson fleshes a valuable blend of tools, including his ability to hit to all parts of the field, launch some home runs, swipe bags, and draw walks. His strikeout rate is higher than we'd prefer, but that's a fair concession when we're talking about an outfielder who's reached in almost half of his trips to the plate.
Speaking of big games, Davidson kept things rolling last week as he went 10-for-19 with three homers, two doubles, and 12 RBI. He also walked four times and took six strikeouts.
B7: Giants 6 | Stockton 2
BO DAVIDSON ADDS A GRAND SLAM TO HIS HOT WEEK 🔥 @MiLB | @SFGiants pic.twitter.com/zXxpi2MPXv
— San Jose Giants (@SJGiants) August 19, 2024
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