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It’s May 15th, tax day was a month ago, so that can only mean one thing. The prospects are coming, the prospects are coming! Yes, as we scoot ever so much closer to June and the arbitration deadlines pass, clubs will be calling up some of the game’s biggest prospects who might be able to help save your fantasy baseball season.
Doesn’t it seem like the Tampa Bay Rays‘ Wil Myers has been more hyped than Tim Tebow? Myers, the reigning Minor League Player of the Year, has probably been taking up bench space in most leagues, but now is the time to check your league’s waiver wire in anticipation of the highly touted prospect’s call up which should occur in the next two to three weeks. Myers offers a big bat and could provide 20 homer potential this season. He should hit in the middle of a Rays lineup that struggles to score runs. Seriously, the Rays have been batting James Loney behind Evan Longoria. Yes, the same Loney who has had very little fantasy value at a position known for its big bats. While Loney has been putting up some nice numbers recently, don’t expect it to last. Don’t be surprised to see Myers hitting either in front of or behind Longoria. If Myers is available in your league, add him immediately.
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The most exciting pitching prospect awaiting call up is the New York Mets‘ Zack Wheeler. Since being acquired in the Carlos Beltran trade with San Francisco Giants, Mets fans have thought of Wheeler as the savior and future ace of their rotation. Then Matt Harvey happened. Harvey’s early season Cy Young performance can only help Wheeler as it should alleviate some of the pressure on him. There are rumors around the Mets camp that Wheeler will be called up in early June to push his arbitration clock back a year. He is another must add prospect. He will almost definitely have an innings cap and is probably already owned in all keeper and NL only leagues, but he’s most likely available in most mixed leagues. Should you be in need of a stud pitcher and not like the current options on your league’s waiver wire, go ahead and snag Wheeler as he should help contribute in every category except wins; after all it is the Mets.
The one big time prospect who will probably not get called up when the arbitration clock strikes midnight is the Texas Rangers‘ Jurickson Profar. Profar has dealt with a few minor injuries this season, and the Rangers still don’t have a position for him to play as he is being blocked at short by Elvis Andrus and at second by Ian Kinsler. If only Profar could play the outfield. Definitely add Profar to your watch list, as should Kinsler or Andrus suffer an injury, Profar would be immediately called up.
A few other prospects to add to your watch list that might not receive an immediate call up are the Seattle Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker and infielder Nick Franklin, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole, and the fastest man in baseball, the Cincinnati Reds‘ Billy Hamilton.
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