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The minor league season rages on. Now that fantasy baseball teams have been drafted and the season is underway, it's imperative to monitor the top prospects who have turned heads thus far.
At this point in the season, excellent prospect performances shouldn't be taken too seriously. Sure, there's no denying that short sample sizes can correspond to long-term success, but we'll need to see a bit more out of the players listed below before we go into a deep dive.
Regardless, keep an eye on these names over the long haul as they may prove to be excellent waiver wire adds soon.
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Trevor Brigden - RP, Tampa Bay Rays
Level: Double-A
2022 stats: 4 G, 8.0 IP, 0.42 FIP, 0.00 ERA, .091 BABIP, 0.25 WHIP, 15.75 K/9, 1.13 BB/9
It's been a strong start to the minor league season for Brigden, a 26-year-old reliever who has played three seasons in the Rays' system since being drafted in the 17th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He posted solid results in the lower levels of the minors last year and big-league Spring Training in March but has really taken off through four relief appearances at Double-A this month.
The right-hander's two-pitch mix is headlined by a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, as well as a mediocre complementary slider. Although he's still in Double-A, it feels like he could find his way to the majors by the end of this season. He's already 26 years old, looked solid facing MLB-caliber hitting during Spring Training, continues to look great in the minors, and has the velocity that is needed to succeed in the majors.
Damon Keith - OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level: Single-A
2022 stats: 8 G, .548/.659/.1032, 3 HR, 10 R, 8 RBI, 12.8 WRAA, 312 wRC+
Keith dominated during the first week of the season, then followed it up with an equally impressive Week 2. An 18th-round pick in last year's draft, Keith has a long way to go before he's ready for the big leagues. However, the glimpse of stardom that he has displayed through eight games cannot go unnoticed. Not only has he put the ball in play, but he has also hit for power and shown great discipline when differentiating balls from strikes.
Keith isn't bad defensively, but he's definitely a bat-first player. Prior to the draft, scouts and analysts viewed the Cal Baptist product as someone who prioritized power over contact. Now, while power continues to remain a prevalent part of his game, he has shown that he can also put the ball in play with ease. It will be interesting to see how the 21-year-old performs over a larger sample size against trickier pitching, but it's clear that he has the potential to be a key fantasy contributor in the majors someday.
Aaron Whitefield - OF, Los Angeles Angels
Level: Double-A
2022 stats: 8 G, .370/.500/.741, 3 HR, 8 SB, 21.6 BB%, 24.3 K%
An Australian prospect, Whitefield has made impressive progress at the Double-A level through eight games this season. After struggling with the bat in his hands through various levels of affiliated ball, the 25-year-old has compiled 11 hits through 32 at-bats since the 2022 campaign kicked off. Not only has he demonstrated a knack to hit for both contact and power (his three home runs over eight games put him on pace to break a personal record), but the outfielder has also excelled on the basepaths with eight stolen bases.
Whitefield made the Twins' roster on Opening Day in 2020 but appeared in just one game before being sent down. He hit free agency this past offseason and subsequently inked a minor league deal with the Halos. Back when he was signed by Minnesota, the right-hander was viewed as someone with above-average speed, average defensive abilities, and below-average offense. However, that has changed. His developing balance of hitting and baserunning abilities could translate to fantasy success if he returns to the majors.
Ceddanne Rafaela - 3B/OF, Boston Red Sox
Level: High-A
2022 stats: 8 G, .421/.450/.921, 5 HR, 14 R, 10 RBI, 4 SB, 240 wRC+
Rafaela has been on a tear this season, clubbing five homers and plating 10 runs through eight games. It's been a small sample size for the 21-year-old, but so far, 2022 is shaping up to be his best season yet. Although his walk rate (4.4 percent) is low, so too is his strikeout rate (17.8 percent). The bottom line is that Rafaela has successfully put the ball in play this year.
At just 5-foot-8 and 145 pounds, Rafaela is a small but mighty infielder. He operates with a smooth swing, high-caliber bat speed, and the ability to hit breaking balls. He has had a tendency to get too aggressive in the past, but the fact that he has cut down on strikeouts so far suggests that he might have refined his approach. He also has raw power and above-average speed; both of these traits should translate to solid fantasy value someday.
Brent Headrick - SP, Minnesota Twins
Level: High-A
2022 stats: 2 GS, 9.0 IP, 1.08 xFIP, 1.13 WHIP, 16.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9
Headrick comes from an Illinois State program that developed him into a ninth-round pick back in 2019. He checks in at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds with a smooth, efficient delivery to accompany his impressive stamina. The talented southpaw has dominated through nine innings of work in the minors this season. Most notably, the strikeout rates that he has posted over the last two years are relatively high for a starter.
Without a doubt, Headrick has the makings of someone who can be a steady starting pitching option in the majors. At 24 years old, there's no reason for the Twins to hold him down. If he continues to display excellent metrics, Headrick will rise through the minors. He could even reach the majors by the end of 2023, and if he does, he'll have some fantasy appeal as a back-of-the-rotation option with a young, fresh arm.
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