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It's Week 21 of the MLB season, and we have seen several top prospects come up to the major leagues and have a mixed bag of results.
Some top prospects are enjoying a successful rookie season and leading fantasy teams to the playoffs like Jackson Merrill and Jackson Chourio.
In this piece, we will look at two high-upside bats and a rising starting pitcher who are performing at an elite level in the minor leagues and are making a strong case to see the final weeks of the season in the major leagues. This week I will look at two budding starts on the Southside of Chicago and a fast-rising Twins pitcher. These prospects have high potential and could be the final piece your team needs to secure a championship.
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Zebby Matthews - SP, Minnesota Twins
Current Level: Triple-A St. Paul
Availability: 5% rostered
2024 Minor League stats: 17 GS, 97 IP, 2.60 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 7:114 BB:K
Currently ranked as Minnesota's No.6 prospect and No.98 in the sport on MLB.com, Zebby Matthews has been one of the biggest risers in the minor leagues this summer.
The right-hander opened the season by getting his second look at High-A ball and needed just 22 innings to earn the call to Double-A. At Double-A Wichita, the Western Carolina product posted a stellar 1.95 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP while maintaining a near-perfect 6:63 BB:K ratio.
Then, the 24-year-old moved up to Triple-A St. Paul where he struggled with a 5.68 ERA but only served up one free pass which shows how incredible his command is.
Compared to his production last summer with a 3.84 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across the lower levels of the minors, Matthews has developed even further and did so when facing tougher competition.
Zebby Matthews has officially been called up!
AA/AAA: 97 IP, 2.60 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 1.9% BB, 30.5% K
Matthews has ELITE command/control over a dynamic arsenal. He's my #5 pitching prospect and needs to be added in all leagues.#FantasyBaseballpic.twitter.com/39gTVfIWlh
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) August 12, 2024
On Monday morning, he was promoted to the big leagues which makes him a must-add going forward. He should provide an elite WHIP ratio with an upside for high-strikeout production.
Colson Montgomery - SS, Chicago White Sox
Current Level: Triple-A Charlette
Availability: 5% rostered
2024 AAA stats: 95 G, .209/.331/.380, 13 HRs, 45 RBI, 50 R, 7 SB
The top prospect on the Southside has struggled to get accustomed to Triple-A ball. After holding a .244/.400/.427 line through a full season at Double-A last summer, Montgomery has posted a mere .209 AVG at Triple-A.
However, he has begun to turn the corner this month. Since August 1, he has only gone hitless twice in his past nine games and reached safely in all but one.
☑️ 110 mph EV
☑️ 4th extra-base hit in the past weekMLB's No. 16 prospect Colson Montgomery (@WhiteSox) plates a pair for Triple-A @KnightsBaseball: pic.twitter.com/PmiwM3qoi1
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 10, 2024
In addition, during this span, he holds a .455 SLG which is on pace to be his best monthly mark of the campaign.
With the White Sox out of playoff contention, they may want to give their top prospect a taste of the big leagues as they focus their eyes on the future.
Edgar Quero - C, Chicago White Sox
Level: Triple-A Charlotte
Availability: 1% rostered
2024 AAA stats: 22 G, .329/.426/.532, 4 HRs, 17 RBI, 13 R, 0 SB
Rounding out this piece is another budding star in the White Sox system. Unlike Montgomery, Quero has taken a significant step forward in his progression after moving up to Triple-A last month.
The backstop opened the campaign at Double-A and held a solid .272/.360/.463 line with 12 home runs through 72 games. So far in his first 22 games at Triple-A, Quero is on pace to smash those numbers and has continued to showcase high-upside power.
Since August 1, he carries an incredible .419/.472/.677 line and has posted three three-hit games this month.
Another day, another Edgar Quero rocket. He raises his AAA OPS to .979 pic.twitter.com/ULW6NEhKag
— Pipeline to 35th (@PipelineTo35th) August 4, 2024
Similar to Montgomery, Quero might get a look later this month as the White Sox want to see how far their top prospects have developed and if they could perform in the big leagues next summer.
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