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It's almost Week 17 of the MLB season and in the fantasy community, we are looking around, scouring the waiver wire for players that could potentially help our team. In many cases, the waiver wire has been picked through and there's nothing left but dull or underachieving hitters that cannot help get you to the fantasy playoffs.
So where do we look? Sometimes we have to look to the minors to find those fantasy assets that will help us hoist that trophy. We love covering prospects here at RotoBaller, and in this piece, I wanted to highlight three fantasy baseball prospects who could make notable impacts for their teams (and your fantasy teams) as soon as they finally get to the big leagues.
These are players that can be volatile, so while there is massive upside, there could also be potential massive downside. But in fantasy, sometimes you have to take a leap of faith in order to win it all. For each player I wanted to highlight, I also included the availability of each player in Yahoo leagues with each breakdown. Let's take a look at some of the hottest names in the minor leagues!
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Deyvison De Los Santos - 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Current Level: Triple-A Reno
Availability: 7% rostered
2024 AA stats: 38 G, .372/.426/.696, 14 HR, 37 RBI, 28 R, 1 SB
2024 AAA stats: 44 G, .297/.340/.611, 13 HR, 45 RBI, 30 R, 0 SB
Deyvison de los Santos has always had power, blasting 22 home runs in 2022 across three levels and another 20 at Double-A in 2023, but wasn't hitting for much average. That is, until 2024. De los Santos belted 14 home runs while hitting .372 at Double-A Amarillo, earning a promotion to Triple-A. Instead of taking some time to get used to the higher level of competition, the 21-year-old showed he belonged there, hitting .297 with another 13 home runs over 44 games.
His 27 home runs make him the current minor league home run leader, with two more than the Cardinals' Luken Baker. His 82 RBI are also more than anyone else, including the Mariners' Lazaro Montes who has 78, and he even recorded one in the All-Star Futures game on Saturday.
Deyvison De Los Santos extends his Minor League home run lead with a 27th long ball!
MLB's No. 9 1B prospect (@Dbacks) will be showing off his power at the Futures Game on Saturday: https://t.co/2g4PFSxpe2 pic.twitter.com/aIcZvMiqOE
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 11, 2024
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen has even recently said that he "will be looking for opportunities... to put him on the team at some point." The Dominican is eligible at both first base and third base in Yahoo leagues, giving managers some flexibility in how he is deployed and is available in over 90% of leagues. Fantasy managers in need of some power could look to stash the slugger ahead of his call-up. Major league pitching is obviously better than Triple-A pitching, but we've seen Rece Hinds of the Reds come up and produce right away, so the same could be true for de los Santos.
Jackson Holliday - 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Current Level: Triple-A Norfolk
Availability: 38% rostered
2024 MLB stats: 10 G, .059/.111/.059, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB
2024 AAA stats: 63 G, .266/.440/.459, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 67 R, 5 SB
Jackson Holliday was the first overall draft pick in 2022 and has risen up the O's ranks quickly, even making a brief debut with the club earlier this season. While that did not go as hoped, the kid is still just 20 years old, so not to worry, he'll be back with the Orioles at some point and probably this season.
The kid goes yard! @J_Holliday7 breaks the tie with his 8th home run of the year!#DefendtheHarbor pic.twitter.com/MzOlP4jUuD
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 2, 2024
After being sent back down, Holliday dealt with inflammation in his elbow which caused him to be placed on the IL for a short time, however, he returned on June 25. Since then, the left-handed hitter has gone 11-for-44 (.250). Though not hitting for a high average, the kid has shown an impressive eye at the plate, drawing 18 walks in 13 games since his return (12 K). For the season, he's got a 72:66 BB:K which has resulted in a superb .440 OBP and has allowed him to score 67 times, seventh-most in all the minor leagues.
Holliday will get another shot with the big league club, but a promotion doesn't seem imminent. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues could consider stashing the youngster, but it'd be harder to justify in shallower leagues. Keep an ear out for any rumblings of a promotion and pounce when appropriate. And don't be scared off by his first go-round, the Orioles will make sure he's ready before bringing him back up.
Colby Thomas - OF, Oakland Athletics
Current Level: Triple-A Las Vegas
Availability: 0% rostered
2024 AA stats: 59 G, .282/.340/.568, 14 HR, 47 RBI, 32 R, 12 SB
2024 AAA stats: 21 G, .309/.398/.543, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 11 R, 2 SB
The Oakland Athletics drafted Colby Thomas in the third round of the 2022 Draft and he has hit for average at each level of the minors, never finishing less than .282 at any stop. The 23-year-old began 2024 at Double-A, but a .282/.340/.568 slashline along with 14 home runs in 59 games helped earn him a promotion to Triple-A.
Colby Thomas keeps us on top!
The Athletics #11 prospect keeps adding to his RBI total! #AviatorsLV pic.twitter.com/7ruQfZ41Qm
— Las Vegas Aviators (@AviatorsLV) July 13, 2024
Since arriving at Triple-A, Thomas has hit .309 and belted another four homers. His 63 RBI give him fifteenth-most in all the minors. The Athletics' 11th-ranked prospect is also a capable base stealer, swiping 25 bags in 2023 and another 14 so far in 2024.
MLB.com has an ETA of 2025 for the outfielder, but should he continue to hit it would not be a surprise to see him get a shot in the majors later this season. Managers in deeper leagues could take a flier on the youngster in hopes he continues to hit for average and displays the power he's shown throughout his minor league career.
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