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Andersen looks at the top prospects who are coming off an impressive week in the minor leagues heading into Week 6 of the 2024 season. These MLB prospects may become strong fantasy baseball waiver wire stashes or pickups.
Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 6 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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Owen Murphy - SP, Atlanta Braves
Level: High-A
2024 stats: 4 G, 4 GS, 3-1, 24.0 IP, 1.13 ERA, 1.78 FIP, 13.88 K/9, 2.25 BB/9, 0.38 HR/9, 30.2% GB%, .178 BABIP
Murphy was the Braves' first-round pick in 2022 and has flashed significant upside ever since making his pro debut. The right-hander gets good spin behind his offerings, making up for a lack of velocity likely caused by his relatively undersized 6-foot-1 frame. His fastball registers in the low 90s. He also throws a slider with good break and a slow, loopy curveball that misses enough bats. Finally, he's working on improving his changeup.
Murphy was quite effective in his outing last week, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one hit over seven scoreless innings. He has looked brilliant at the High-A level this year, never allowing more than two runs in a single outing. If he continues to pitch well, he could earn a promotion to Double-A by the end of May.
Owen Murphy was special again tonight
7IP 1H 0R 0BB 10K
61 strikes on 89 pitches pic.twitter.com/2sqJyWwYJc— Gaurav (@gvedak) April 26, 2024
Ryan Ward - OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level: Triple-A
2024 stats: 24 G, .258/.291/.680, 11 HR, 30 RBI, 19 R, 1 SB, 3.9% BB%, 28.2% K%, .241 BABIP, .387 wOBA, 117 wRC+
Ward is a power-first player whose claim to fame is that he hits a lot of home runs. The former eight-round pick went yard 76 times from 2021 through 2023 and is hitting homers at an even higher rate than ever this season. With that said, outside of his power, there are real flaws in Ward's game. His strikeout total is more than seven times his walk total, and his batting average and on-base percentage are both significantly lower than you'd like to see from someone with a home run every 2.2 games. Finally, the 26-year-old is an unstable defender, possessing a subpar arm and likely settling into left field or designated hitter long-term.
Ward went on a tear last week, continuing to slug homers but also cutting down on his strikeout rate. He ultimately went 9-for-19, slugging five homers over four games. He also drove in 11 runs, worked two walks, and struck out four times. Before the Dodgers consider Ward for a promotion to the majors, he'll need to show a little more consistency in terms of getting on base and reducing his strikeout total.
It's a double dinger day for Ryan Ward!
He ties the game in the 8th inning with his second homer today and fourth in the last four games! pic.twitter.com/YhmAJvb4Cw
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) April 28, 2024
Matt Wilkinson - SP, Cleveland Guardians
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 4 G, 4 GS, 2-0, 20.2 IP, 0.44 ERA, 0.80 FIP, 17.85 K/9, 2.61 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 36.0% GB%, .240 BABIP
You can count all of Wilkinson's minor league appearances on one hand, but that doesn't detract from his excellence ever since the Guardians selected him in the 10th round of last year's draft. He gets plenty of spin on his fastball, which he commands quite well. He can also locate his slider and changeup, both of which are effective secondary offerings.
Wilkinson's big run in the minors technically started with a scoreless relief appearance last season when he struck out all three batters he faced. However, he's already seen much more action in 2024, remaining nearly unhittable through four phenomenal starts. In his latest outing last week, Wilkinson tossed six hitless innings, surrendering just one walk while striking out 15 batters. The 270-pound southpaw nicknamed "Tugboat" might ride the wave to High-A sooner rather than later.
TUGBOAT WILKINSON HAS 11 K’s IN 4 INNINGS ❕@CleGuardPro pic.twitter.com/qRhmxwPnnF
— Lynchburg Hillcats (@LynHillcats) April 25, 2024
Deyvison De Los Santos - 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Level: Double-A
2024 stats: 21 G, .376/.430/.682, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 18 R, 1 SB, 7.5% BB%, 23.6% K%, .446 BABIP, .498 wOBA, 200 wRC+
Selected by the Guardians in December's Rule 5 draft but returned to Arizona this spring, De Los Santos has seen his prospect stock drop lately (he was MLB Pipeline's No. 5 Diamondbacks prospect in 2023; he opens 2024 at No. 14). However, he still continues to flash significant upside in the field and at the plate. The 20-year-old converts excellent bat speed into plenty of power, and he's done a good job keeping his strikeout rate somewhat in check so far this season. In the field, he has a slightly erratic glove and arm at the hot corner, suggesting he's destined for first base or designated hitter long-term.
Last week, De Los Santos did what he does best: turn heads with a big showing at the plate. The Dominican Republic native went 13-for-24 over the six-game span, adding three homers, nine RBI, two walks, and three strikeouts. He's been in Double-A ever since September 2022 but could secure a much-deserved promotion if he continues to hit the ball well.
Deyvison De Los Santos posts the second multihomer game of his career!
MLB's No. 5 first base prospect (@Dbacks) is up to a 1.143 OPS with seven homers in 20 games with the @sodpoodles: https://t.co/wGtl9eouYx pic.twitter.com/7nkCdVdbkR
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 28, 2024
Quinn Mathews - St. Louis Cardinals
Level: Single-A
2024 stats: 4 G, 4 GS, 2-0, 18.0 IP, 0.50 ERA, 1.36 xFIP, 19.00 K/9, 4.50 BB/9, 0.50 HR/9, 72.7% GB%, .273 BABIP
Mathews is a former fourth-round pick whom we covered in the Week 4 hot prospects piece. He makes his second appearance on the list just one month removed from his pro debut. The southpaw has a low-90s fastball and rounds out his repertoire with a curveball, slider, and changeup. Of those secondary options, the changeup is the best, though all three can be effective. Mathews flashed decent control in college and has racked up strikeouts so far this year. He also struggled with walks in his pro debut but has seemed to harness his control since then.
Last week, Mathews delivered six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out 13 batters along the way. He's averaging more than two strikeouts per inning this season, and he also hasn't allowed an earned run since his pro debut back on April 5 (two runs, one earned). Keep an eye on Mathews, who could push to make his MLB debut sometime next year.
Cardinals LHP Quinn Mathews is the second prospect I'm sounding the alarm on in '24. He was a quintessential crafty lefty in college but his stuff has taken a significant jump as a pro.
Sat 90-92 at Stanford, comfortably 94-96 now. Masterful on Friday w/ 13Ks in 6 scoreless IP. pic.twitter.com/shqnpZ2aQ1
— Beck (@Upper_Beck) April 28, 2024
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