Fantasy managers should always pay attention to how the top hitting prospects are performing in the minor leagues, but they should also be willing to look past their hitting numbers. When an organization moves a player to a new defensive position, it is often a relevant indication of intent, and pending opportunity. Such is the case with Minnesota Twins SS Brooks Lee. The Twins have Carlos Correa at shortstop, but Lee suddenly played second base for Triple-A St. Paul this weekend. This matters.
Lee, the highly touted first-round pick from the 2022 draft, is hitting .350/.400/.617 through 14 games and 65 PA for the Saints. Lee had missed the first two months of the season due to a herniated disc in his back, but he is healthy now. Prospect evaluators recommend Lee's hit tool, but do not project large totals for home runs and stolen bases. Still, good hitters can develop power, especially when they boast a strong base for plate discipline.
The left side of the infield looks set in Minnesota, with Correa and MVP-talent Royce Lewis. There has been much speculation about Lee, 23, ending up center field, but the Twins are telling us that second base is more likely. This may happen soon, since the contending Twins can move OF/2B/3B/SS Willi Castro just about anywhere.
Jung and the restless
Fantasy managers sure know about Rangers 3B Josh Jung, and they are excited about him returning to active duty after missing months thanks to a fractured wrist and subsequent surgery after he was hit by a pitch during the opening week. Meanwhile, Jung's brother Jace (a Tigers 3B prospect) is currently on the 7-day IL for Triple-A Toledo due to wrist soreness, but he is expected to hit soon. Jace Jung is hitting .270/.390/.500 for the Mud Hens.
The big-league Tigers lack a fearsome lineup, with OF Riley Greene being the lone active player with double-digit homers and an OPS on the good side of .750. OF Kerry Carpenter is on the IL. When Jung is healthy and hitting, he is a candidate for promotion. He bats left-handed, has power, and he draws walks at a high rate. Sure, 2B Colt Keith did those things for Toledo last season, and he is struggling in 2024. Do not assume Jung struggles, too. He may get his chance in July.
Disappointing Blue Jay
Slugging Blue Jays SS/2B/3B prospect Orelvis Martinez finally got the promotion to the majors this past weekend, and he singled in his Friday night debut. Martinez hit 16 home runs over 63 games at Triple-A Buffalo, and it seemed like the Blue Jays would present him a real chance to play regularly. Well, that's not happening. By Sunday, we learned that Martinez was suspended for 80 games for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, after testing positive for a banned fertility drug. His season is essentially over.
Some fantasy managers will shy away from Martinez in 2025, either in redraft or keeper formats, presuming he enhanced his skills illegally. That is merely guessing, and irresponsible. Martinez remains an intriguing power prospect, albeit one likely to hit for a low average and provide little in the way of stolen bases. Perhaps he has a role in the majors next season, perhaps not. I tend to side toward prospects that get on base, like Blue Jays 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz, but let's be open-minded. Each young player can thrive.
Reds rookie ramping up
Speaking of suspensions, Reds 3B Noelvi Marte has served his 80-gamer for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, and he is now playing at Triple-A Louisville. Marte hit 123 times for the Reds last season, which under the 130-AB threshold, so he remains rookie-eligible. Marte hit .316 with an .822 OPS in his 35 games, offering the potential for more than 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Let's be patient, even though he has struggled in his first two weeks at Louisville (.143/.143/.163).
Marte hit .279 with 11 home runs and 18 steals across two minor league levels last season, and he hardly appeared overwhelmed in the majors. He is in his spring training right now. The Reds will make room for him at either third base or DH. Marte, 22, may not be a prospect in the typical sense this season, but he is available in more than 90% of ESPN standard formats, and he absolutely may matter in fantasy leagues soon.
Rising Tides?
I enjoyed tasty barbeque with my pals as the Triple-A Norfolk Tides lost a road game against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs last week, though it was a tad disappointing that the top Baltimore affiliate was missing uber-prospect SS/2B Jackson Holliday. Still, I ate barbeque in awesome weather at a baseball game. It was a fine evening.
Holliday is on the IL due to elbow inflammation. His replacement, the always-smiling journeyman Nick Maton, homered. 2B/OF Connor Norby led off for Norfolk and he singled and doubled, before getting hastily removed in the fifth inning when word came from the Orioles that starting IF Jordan Westburg had left a big league game early because of a bruised hip of then-unclarified concern.
Wait, that might mean Norby is coming back to the majors! ... Nope, Maton got the call. Big sigh. Westburg was fine, ultimately and Maton is headed right back to Triple-A.
We are days away from July and, regrettably, fantasy managers really should adjust expectations when it comes to Orioles prospects for this season. Holliday should return to health soon, but he may not return to any relevant role on the Orioles in 2024. He is hitting .259 for the Tides, albeit with myriad walks. Watch out in 2025!
Norby was up earlier in June, but he barely played. OF Heston Kjerstad barely got a chance when he was up in May, although he is now up again. 3B/1B Coby Mayo is ready, too, it appears. The Orioles also can be patient, even unnecessarily. They are barreling towards 100 wins. They can afford to play the defensive-minded trio of Jorge Mateo, Ramon Urias and Cedric Mullins over the kids, and let's face it, they probably will. Plan accordingly in redraft formats.