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Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 25 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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J.C. Escarra - C, New York Yankees
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 113 G, .258/.355/.441, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 73 R, 2 SB, 11.3% BB%, 13.5% K%, .277 BABIP, .359 wOBA, 120 wRC+
Escarra is 29 years old, which means he's not necessarily your prototypical prospect. Nevertheless, he gets mentioned here because of his tremendous stats at Triple-A recently and the wonderful story around his rise to prominence.
Escarra was out of affiliated ball after the 2021 season, spending 2022 and 2023 in independent and winter leagues. He found his way back to affiliated ball at the start of 2024 on a minor league deal with the Yankees. Escarra has shown impressive plate discipline while showing flashes of power. He was previously a first baseman but has shown real promise in his new role behind the dish.
Last week, Escarra went 8-for-17 with six homers, 12 RBI, three walks, and just one strikeout. It was an impressive all-around stretch of games from the backstop, who will remain an interesting name to monitor when the 2025 campaign comes around.
J.C. Escarra has launched six homers and drove in 12 runs across his past five games.@USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/zfzQe9L1ku
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) September 10, 2024
Jonah Tong - SP, New York Mets
Level: Double-A
2024 stats: 24 G, 22 GS, 6-4, 109.2 IP, 2.87 ERA, 2.16 FIP, 12.72 K/9, 3.53 BB/9, 0.16 HR/9, .317 BABIP
Tong is a former seventh-round pick whom the Mets selected out of high school, luring him away from North Dakota State for $250,000. He has posted impressive results at all levels of affiliated ball up through Double-A.
The right-hander gets a good ride on his mid-90s fastball and can locate the pitch well. He's still developing the rest of his repertoire, with the curveball currently serving as his best secondary offering.
He has the repertoire needed to be a starter, but there's some speculation that he'll operate best as a multi-inning reliever so that he doesn't need to run through the order several times.
In his latest start last week, Tong delivered six perfect innings. He looked phenomenal, holding his opponent without a single hit or walk. Along the way, he struck out nine batters. The right-hander is a very intriguing name to watch as he continues to develop in 2025.
Jonah Tong has enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, performing well across both Class A levels.
Tong made his Double-A debut on Thursday and dominated.
6 IP | 0 H | 0 ER | 0 BB | 9 SOpic.twitter.com/2i4rX8gelj
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) September 10, 2024
Drew Compton - 1B, Atlanta Braves
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 110 G, .289/.394/.414, 8 HR, 62 RBI, 43 R, 6 SB, 12.9% BB%, 17.2% K%, .343 BABIP, .384 wOBA, 138 wRC+
Compton went undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2023, but a lack of draft capital hasn't held him back in his first full season of pro baseball. The 23-year-old is making a major impact at High-A as we head into the final stretch of the minor league season.
Compton isn't a major power or speed threat, but what he does well is put the ball in play and get on base. His .289 batting average and 1.33 K/BB ratio are both indicators of his ability to make a real impact offensively. There's less confidence about his production in the field, where he'll likely nestle into first base when he's not the designated hitter.
Last week, Compton went 10-for-25 with two homers and 11 RBI. He drew five walks while striking out just four times, continuing to showcase real discipline. We'd like to see either power, speed, or defensive prowess, but perhaps his hit tool will be enough to carry him through affiliated ball.
Drew Compton for the lead! 💣 #RuleTheLand 🐧 pic.twitter.com/v46O9dMbMf
— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) September 5, 2024
Owen Hackman - SP, Atlanta Braves
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 5 G, 3 GS, 2-2, 20.2 IP, 1.31 ERA, 2.42 FIP, 10.45 K/9, 3.05 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 42.2% GB%, .239 BABIP
Hackman has already made a significant impression in just a few months since being drafted with a ninth-round pick out of Loyola Marymount.
The right-hander boasts a solid four-pitch mix headlined by a low-to-mid-90s fastball that he commands quite well. He also throws a slider, changeup, and cutter, all of which are in development as secondary offerings. He's capable of producing strikeouts, but we'd like to see him win counts earlier so that he can keep his pitch count down and throw more innings.
Last week, Hackman delivered the best outing of his young career as he threw six shutout innings. The right-hander surrendered just one hit and one walk while striking out eight batters. He's still several years from a potential arrival in the majors, but the Braves have to be excited about their ninth-round pick.
HACKKKKKKKK ATTACKKKKKKKK!!!
6 scoreless for Owen Hackman with a career-high 8 Ks.
Jackets lead 4-0 at the stretch! pic.twitter.com/hvx8S3rjBz
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) September 7, 2024
Cameron Decker - 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 81 G, .253/.371/.526, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 63 R, 1 SB, 14.3% BB%, 31.7% K%, .343 BABIP, .408 wOBA, 131 wRC+
Decker was drafted as an 18th-round shortstop in 2022, but he hasn't played a single inning at that position in affiliated ball. He's gotten opportunities at the corner infield and corner outfield spots, with the Dodgers seemingly most interested in deploying him at first base.
Offensively, Decker boasts plenty of power, a tendency to drive in runs, and the ability to draw walks. We're less excited about his habit of striking out in nearly one-third of his trips to the plate. Defensively, there's no arguing with the Dodgers' approach to playing him at first base, where he owns a .990 fielding percentage in 2024.
Last week, Decker went 7-for-21 with three homers, one double, and one triple. He also drove in eight runs, drew three walks, and struck out 10 times. As much as his offensive output was intriguing, the strikeout total is astronomically concerning and could be a barrier that prevents him from climbing to the top of affiliated ball.
Home Run #14 for Cameron Decker went deep into the California sky. Decker is averaging hitting a home run every 19 at-bats, has 60 RBIs and an OPS of .874. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/j3aipHtDcQ
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) September 4, 2024
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