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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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Riley Martin - RP, Chicago Cubs
Level: Single-A
2022 stats: 4 G, 13.1 IP, 1.09 FIP, 0.68 ERA, .176 BABIP, 0.53 WHIP, 18.23 K/9, 2.70 BB/9
Martin has impressed in his second pro season with the Cubs. The 2021 sixth-round pick was respectable last season but has really taken a significant step forward this year. Over his last three outings (12 innings), the southpaw has struck out 25 batters and walked just three. During this span, he has surrendered two hits and zero runs. Regardless of whether you prefer basic or advanced statistics, Martin's numbers this season should please you.
Martin was a low-risk pick when the Cubs gave him a $1,000 signing bonus last summer. The Division II product threw in the low-90s ahead of the draft but has since been clocked around 95 mph. In addition to this respectable heater, Martin has a plus curveball that offers a sharp, breaking motion capable of fooling opposing hitters. This nasty stuff bodes well for Martin as he looks to put together a long career. The 24-year-old still has to trek through three more levels of the minors before he gets called up to the show, but there's reason to be excited about Martin's future. It's not hard to envision him having fantasy relevance someday, whether that be as a starter or, more likely, out of the bullpen.
Moisés Gómez - OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Level: Double-A
2022 stats: 12 G, .455/.490/.1159, 9 HR, 18 RBI, 22.4 K%, 269 wRC+
The Cardinals might have found a diamond in the rough this winter. Prior to the lockout, St. Louis signed outfielder Moisés Goméz to a minor league contract. The Venezuelan product had been cut loose by the Rays in October, culminating his seven-year stint in Tampa Bay's pipeline. In hindsight, the Cardinals loved that move. Goméz has been on a tear all season long, but his performances over the last week are particularly impressive. Over his last six games, he is 12-for-23 with three homers, seven RBI, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Throughout Goméz's career, he has been primarily known for his power. He went yard 35 times between 2018 and 2019 and now has nine homers through a dozen games alone this year. Still, Goméz is viewed as a below-average hitter and fielder. If he makes a big-league roster someday, it will likely be as a bench option or lower-tier designated hitter. He won't have much fantasy value if he can't make great contact or run the bases with ease.
Daniel Espino - SP, Cleveland Guardians
Level: Double-A
2022 stats: 3 GS, 13.2 IP, 2.84 FIP, 2.63 ERA, .214 BABIP, 0.66 WHIP, 19.76 K/9, 1.98 BB/9
Espino, listed second among Guardians prospects on MLB Pipeline's latest rankings, went wild this past week. The former first-round selection pitched against the Bowie BaySox, striking out 14 batters through five innings. That's right: of the 15 batters he retired, all but one were sent down on strikes. He's averaging a whopping 2.27 K/IP rate and continues to mow down batters who have tried to challenge him.
Espino's best pitch is his fastball, which maxes out around 101 mph. He also has a slider that moves vertically and horizontally, leaving him unpredictable to hitters and much more challenging to hit. Even at 21 years old, he has proven that he has the repertoire and stuff needed to succeed at a higher level of play. Espino might have a chance to sneak onto the Guardians' roster as a late-season call-up by the end of the year. Regardless, whenever he does debut, Espino will be a must-add thanks to his unhittability.
Darick Hall - 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
Level: Triple-A
2022 stats: 18 G, .269/.355/.582, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 10.5 BB%, 15.8 K%, 147 wRC+
A first-round pick back in 2014, Hill continues to work hard in the minors in hopes of earning a call to the show someday. He has certainly made his presence felt as of late, going 11-for-25 with four homers, 13 RBI, four walks, and five strikeouts over the course of six games from April 17 to 23. He went yard 89 times over the last four years and, currently in his second year at Triple-A, has positioned himself nicely as a potential replacement on the Phillies' active roster in case a vacancy appears at first base.
Power has been the biggest part of Hall's game thus far. He is capable of putting a charge into the baseball in big spots. However, his overall hitting approach has also been impressive. Most notably, Hall has walked in more than 10 percent of trips to the plate while striking out in less than 16. Those are good clips for any player, but especially one who focuses so much on power. It doesn't appear that he has had to make too many sacrifices with his hitting approach in order to keep swatting homers.
Adrian Chaidez - SP/RP, Houston Astros
Level: High-A
2022 stats: 3 G, 1 GS, 0.74 FIP, 9.0 IP, 10.2 K, 0.84 BB/9, 15.19 K/9, .154 OBA, 0.66 WHIP
Drafted in the 15th round of last year's draft, Chaidez has done nothing but impress at High-A this season. The reliever has struck out batters with ease while posting a well-below-average walk rate. He had the best outing of his young career last week, striking out nine batters through six perfect innings in his first pro start.
Chaidez throws a fastball that registers in the mid-to-upper-90s on the radar gun. The pitch has good spin and blatant vertical break. Additionally, the right-hander offers a sweeping slider in the low-80s. It will be interesting to see if he can develop a tertiary offering in the minors. If he does, Chaidez might be able to progress as a starter. Otherwise, he could be destined for the bullpen, albeit in a role that gives him longer outings. Regardless, his staggering strikeout-to-walk ratio will give him fantasy upside when he makes it to the majors someday.
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