2019 Fantasy Baseball Week 2 Prospect Report: Right Off the Bat

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Alright, so we got the inaugural prospect report last week and it was an exception. This week, you will see the typical layout for the weekly prospect report. I'm planning on adding a few things like 'risers & fallers' and 'dynasty darts', but not this week. This week, I wanted to catch us up to speed on the big news and notes. Moving forward, this will have more of a forward-looking appeal than a backward-looking one.

Additionally, I am very bad about determining what the threshold is for 'prospects'. I wrote a whole shebang on Clint Frazier, only to find out that he had lost his prospect status. Does anyone have a website that tells you point-blank whether or not a player has exhausted his prospect eligibility? Get back at me on that.

In the meantime, let's enjoy a quick prospect update and plan some fantasy moves accordingly!

2019 Fantasy Baseball Week 2 Prospect Report

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Luis Urias

Urias regained his major league status once Franchy Cordero hit the injured list with an elbow injury. The sad thing about that is that Cordero's elbow gave him fits in 2018, so this could be a lengthy stint. Urias' role on the big league roster is also in flux if the first four games tell us anything. The Padres called him up on Monday and threw him in the leadoff spot against a lefty. Then, they sat him on Tuesday against another southpaw before batting him eighth the last two days.

If you're in a deep points league, Urias would be a shrewd pickup given his plate discipline. However, he's not going to play regularly enough to give you full value, plus he doesn't really have a standout category in your typical rotisserie league. He may require more of a wait-and-see approach. He does have Ian Kinsler and his 52 wRC+ going for him, so maybe the playing time will come.

Jason Martin

Martin got his call when Corey Dickerson was sent to the IL last weekend. Dickerson's shoulder injury could keep him off the diamond for a month at least. However, Gregory Polanco has been on an extended rehab assignment and could return anytime now. Martin was part of the trade that sent Gerrit Cole to the Astros at the beginning of 2018.

While this could limit Martin's stay in the big leagues, he's shown some promise in his platoon work against righties. Now, a 0.962 OPS with a 0.083 ISO would be an incredible feat, so let's not look too far into this. However, given his performance in the minors outside of a brief 2018 stint in Triple-A, this guy certainly should raise some eyebrows in the dynasty realm. If he isn't owned in your dynasty or deep-keeper league, you should consider changing that.

Optioned

Alex Reyes

I think Reyes has to be a frontrunner in the 'Most Frustrating Player to Own in Dynasty' race. After injuries that derailed his 2017 and 2018 seasons, he was finally supposed to get a chance to make his mark on the Cardinals. Now, after a few shaky relief appearances, St. Louis has sent him down to Memphis to right the ship. The Cardinals have stated that he will be sent down to work on his role as a multi-inning reliever, not a starter:

Alex Reyes will pitch out of the bullpen in Memphis in a scripted, multiple-inning role. #stlcards

— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) April 7, 2019

This bit of news has to be devastating for redraft owners that took a shot on him in the middle rounds of their draft. His value is zapped if he's not starting or closing, so I would just cut bait in your redraft league if the right name strikes you on the waiver wire. Hopefully, you've already done that, but I know how people get with their name-brand players.

Jonathan Loaisiga

After a couple of mediocre starts and a returning CC Sabathia, Loaisiga was optioned back to Triple-A. Domingo German won the fifth starter spot and looks to retain it given the recent news on Luis Severino.

Loaisiga showed his strikeout potential with nine strikeouts in seven innings, but there lies the problem - just seven innings in two starts. His pitch counts ran high after walking too many batters and the bullpen was forced out there early. If he can get back to five-plus innings with a lower walk-rate, this is a guy with great upside in the starting pitcher world. Should he go back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and dominate, throw him on your watch list. He should be the first in line for spot starts if any more Yankee starters get hurt.

Jon Duplantier

In an aggressive move, the Diamondbacks called up Duplantier in a relief role out of Spring Training. Considering their rebuild, this seemed sort of pointless since they could've held him down and thrown him in Triple-A, a level he has yet to conquer. Instead, they call him up for two appearances, then send him down for a third catcher. I'm still trying to figure all of this out.

Jon Duplantier got Franchy Cordero swinging for his first career strikeout. The #Dbacks' No. 2 prospect retired the side in order in his #MLB debut.
Watch live: https://t.co/BbGs1oDNqB pic.twitter.com/ZwAFcTQA3F

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 2, 2019

Anyway, he should return to a starting role in the minors and get a call to the majors in the summer. He didn't look overmatched in his two appearances, firing four scoreless innings. Like Loaisiga, he will be the first in line for starts if the Arizona staff needs a fill-in. Taylor Widener could have something to say about that, but Arizona has already called Duplantier up so it only makes sense. He would warrant a pickup in pitcher-hungry leagues.

Injury Update

https://twitter.com/deflategator/status/1107084772671655936

Hitters

• The boot's off! Nick Senzel should start testing that ankle pretty soon and the word is that he will be back on the field in a couple of weeks. The real question is how many more positions do the Reds want him to learn before he can finally be deemed 'ready'.
• Hello, it's me. I've been wondering about Jo Adell's latest injury. Does anyone want a full parody? I didn't think so. Anyway, the news on him has been very vague and I don't like it. As far as I can tell, he is in extended Spring Training but not doing baseball things. Bummer.
• A very depressing injury was one to Estevan Florial during a hustle play in the spring. He fractured his wrist in a collision with an outfield wall and it's going to cost him half a season. I would be surprised if the Yankees didn't try to trade him given his injury history and their depth in the outfield. I love the talent and wish him good health and an opportunity to succeed!

Pitchers

Those 6 strikeouts, if you haven't seen 'em.

Scouting report, tool grades & more for #Athletics top prospect Jesus Luzardo, ⚾️'s best left-handed pitching prospect: https://t.co/W0cG3XCjAb pic.twitter.com/3yfXoaBAIm

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 6, 2019

• A couple of Oakland Athletics are on the mend and could be vital in a second-half run for the big league club. Jesus Luzardo and AJ Puk should be ready for rehab starts in late April or early May. Luzardo is especially interesting if he was dropped in your redraft league, so keep an eye out for him.
• The Indians could really use a shot in the arm of their pitching staff with Mike Clevinger's recent injury news. Unfortunately, it won't come in the form of Triston McKenzie, who is suffering from back pain. Upper management says he won't start throwing until late April.
• The latest pitchers to undergo Tommy John surgery are standout youngsters Hunter Greene and Dane Dunning. Get well soon, fellas (because they totally read this and are my friends). See you in 2020.

Live Look-In

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch any minor league contests this week. I'm hoping to catch a couple of games in the series between the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Springfield Cardinals next weekend. Yes, this means this section will be blank next week too. My apologies!

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