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It is getting to crunch time in fantasy baseball and it could be time to look for an edge in redraft leagues.
That edge could come from a minor league prospect who debuts during the final month-plus of the regular season or a recent call-up.
Here is a look at three prospects, one of whom has already debuted at the major league level, that could make a big impact down the stretch of the fantasy season.
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Shay Whitcomb - SS, Houston Astros
Level: Houston Astros
Availability: 12% rostered
2024 Minor league stats: 108 G, .293/.378/.530, 25 HRs, 91 RBI, 73 R, 26 SB
2024 MLB stats: 2 G, .333/.429/.500, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 0 SB
Whitcomb got the call-up to the Astros this week and made his first start on Saturday. He went 2-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored for Houston. Whitcomb's minor league numbers at Triple-A this season were gaudy, especially the 25 homers and 26 steals.
That combo in the power-speed categories will catch the eye of any savvy fantasy manager. At 12 percent rostered, Whitcomb looks like a potential quality waiver wire addition this coming week.
Shay Whitcomb whistles his first MLB hit, a double, 393 feet -- which would have been a homer in 14 big league parks!
The @astros prospect is the only player to compile 25 homers and 25 steals in the Minors this year. pic.twitter.com/o9u8YzO2yB
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 18, 2024
If you didn't already stash Whitcomb, it might be worth putting in a waiver claim or free-agent bid on him in most leagues. He can fill up the stat sheet and will be hitting in a good Astros lineup.
Hurston Waldrep - P, Atlanta Braves
Level: Triple-A Gwinnett
Availability: 14% rostered
2024 Minor league stats: 15 GS, 4-6 record, 71 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 78 Ks
2024 MLB stats: 2 GS, 0-1 record, 7 IP, 16.71 ERA, 2.73 WHIP, 3 Ks
Waldrep struggled in a brief trial run in Atlanta this season but has returned to Triple-A with better results. He has huge strikeout potential with a strikeout rate of more than a punchout per inning in the minors.
He was shut down for a bit with elbow inflammation and after a rehab assignment has returned to Gwinnett for three August starts with mixed results. He was very good over five innings of his most recent outing, when he did not allow a run, but did walk six batters with five strikeouts in a win.
Hurston Waldrep, 96mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/Es9eazYjIL
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 16, 2024
Because of his strikeout upside, Waldrep is an intriguing pitcher prospect in fantasy. While the first go-around didn't go according to plan, that doesn't mean he can't still have success in the majors. He could show improved results as soon as this year if given an opportunity.
Jordan Lawlar - SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Level: Triple-A Reno (on 7-day IL)
Availability: 26% rostered
2024 Minor league stats: 13 G, .327/.414/.531, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 11 R, 5 SB
Lawlar has battled injuries all season long and his most recent ailment, a hamstring setback put a 6-8 week timetable on his return back in early-to-mid July. That puts him on track to pretty soon.
That gives him enough time to make a fantasy impact but he will likely need time to prove he is back to full health before being called up to Arizona before the end of the season. The timeline is tricky here, so it is worth reading up on his injury news.
Jordan Lawlar is officially back!
In his return from a rehab assignment, MLB's No. 8 prospect (@Dbacks) launches an absolute moonshot of a homer (38 degree launch angle) for the Triple-A @Aces: pic.twitter.com/Arv6Bnwc4h
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 12, 2024
He has the talent to be a difference-maker but in redraft leagues, it will just come down to whether he gets any kind of extended look this September with the Diamondbacks in what has been a lost season due to injuries.
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