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Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Pitching Prospects from Week 20

Mike Fiers could be one of the best under the radar trades at the deadline. And I’m not just saying that because of the no-hitter, though that may have some influence on why I am now discussing him. If you all recall, Fiers dominated last season with the Brewers throwing 71.2 innings with a 2.13 ERA and 2.99 FIP. While Fiers certainly is no ace, he can be a very solid middle of the rotation starter for the Astros going into the postseason.

This week we discuss some pitchers who probably won't reach the majors until next season. They're still smart stashes in deep keeper and dynasty leagues.

Editor’s Note: to read about even more MLB prospects, rookies and potential call-ups, be sure to check out our MLB prospects homepage which has lots of great weekly updates and analysis.

 

Jose De Leon (SP, LAD, Double-A)

Stats: 103.0 IP, 2.97 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 12.76 K/9, 2.97 BB/9, 0.70 HR/9

After flying under the radar in the 2013 draft, Jose De Leon has established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. De Leon was taken with the 724th overall pick by the Dodgers and has quietly shot up to be the 27th overall prospect in baseball. He's the seventh best right-handed pitching prospect according to MLB.com.

De Leon has a nice repertoire that could help him progress into an eventual front of the rotation type starter. His best pitch is his fastball which can sit anywhere between the low-to-mid-90s. His best secondary pitch is a slurve that sits in the low-80s and has proven itself over time to be a dominant strikeout pitch. His changeup is not great, but it has the potential to eventually be something more than a below-average pitch.

The Dodgers have a very special pitcher with  De Leon, but they likely won’t give him any time to start until next season. Since the highest level he has ever pitched at is Double-A, the 23-year-old is expected to start at Triple-A next year. He could work his way into their rotation as soon as May if he continues his string of dominance in the minors.

 

Frankie Montas (SP, CWS, Double-A)

Stats: 108.1 IP, 2.49 ERA, 2.89 FIP, 8.47 K/9, 3.57 BB/9, 0.17 HR/9

Montas scuffled in his brief tenure with the Boston Red Sox farm system before being dealt to the Chicago White Sox in the Jake Peavy deal. Montas always had the electric fastball, but didn’t have the secondary pitches to make himself a top pitching prospect. Now having changed sox, Montas has become more developed and now has a peak of a top of the rotation starter.

Montas has one of the best fastballs of all minor leaguers, routinely throwing it in the upper-90s while at times reaching triple digits. The transition from a thrower with a reliever peak to a pitcher with ace peak has been the development of an elite slider that sits in the mid-80s and complements his fastball very well. His changeup requires a lot of development, but shows of potential.

The White Sox are taking their time with developing Montas which is understandable given his potential. His control still leaves a lot to be desired, but he could be a fixture in the White Sox rotation for years to come if he can rein in his command. Don’t expect him to start the season with the Sox. Like De Leon (discussed above) he will likely start the year at Triple-A and could have a spot in the rotation before the start of the summer.

 

Mark Appel (SP, HOU, Triple-A)

Stats: 113.0 IP, 4.46 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 7.33 K/9, 3.27 BB/9, 1.04 HR/9

Mark Appel was drafted in the first round twice and has shown at times the statistics to prove that the Astros did not waste the first overall pick in 2013. In Appel’s first Double-A stint back in 2014, he threw 39.0 IP with a 3.69 ERA, 2.99 FIP and seemed to have all of his best stuff working. After being promoted to Triple-A (in spite of a less-than-stellar Double-A showing in 2015), Appel struggled in his first two starts, but has since found his groove. He has thrown 41.0 innings and has a 3.51 ERA and 4.22 FIP.

The reason the Astros are not too concerned with Appel’s struggles is because of his stuff. Appel has an electric fastball that can reach as high as 98, but is typically at 94-95. His slider is an elite secondary pitch and is typically the pitch that helps him rack up the punch outs. His changeup needs some improvement but has the potential to be a plus-plus pitch. He knows how to throw strikes, but gets in trouble when he misses inside of the zone to hitters.

The future is bright for Appel even if it looks bleak at the moment. He has the stuff to be a top of the rotation starter, but needs a little more time. If he can string a few more solid starts in Triple-A and look sharp in Spring Training, he could have a shot of starting the season in the Houston rotation. However, it does not look likely that the Astros will take a shot on the right-hander in 2015.

 

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