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I feel like I need to clarify a name that can be found later on this list, each week that I do this Fantasy Prospects Power Rankings series. That would be Jameson Taillon. Taillon has yet to throw a pitch at any professional level since early 2014 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Prior to 2014, he was considered to be one of the most MLB ready prospects in baseball, but was dealt a major setback. On May 23, Taillon threw a two inning simulated game and it appears that he could be ready to head back to Triple-A in early June. The Pirates need pitching and Taillon is an elite prospect who is just about ready.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more MLB prospects, rookies and potential call-ups, be sure to check out our MLB prospects for fantasy baseball homepage which has lots of great weekly analysis.
Removed from the list
• Rusney Castillo – called up
All stats current as of Monday, May 26th.
MLB Ready Prospects - Fantasy Power Rankings
To be clear, this list is not the top 30 prospects in baseball. This is a list of the top 30 prospects who are likely going to rise to the major leagues and provide fantasy baseball value this season. The qualifications are simple: a player must not be on an active roster, they must have a clear path to the majors, and while they may have played in seasons prior to 2015, they must still have rookie eligibility. If a player is moved to the active roster of their team, they will be removed from this power rankings list and replaced.
1. Carlos Correa (SS, HOU, AAA) – LW: 1
Stats: 189 PA, .364/.439/.667, 9 HR, 18 SB, 18.0% K rate, 11.6% BB rate
ETA: Late May/Very Early June
It didn’t take too long for Carlos Correa to hit his first home run in Triple-A. In the following game, he hit another one. Correa is proving that he is more than Major League ready. It is only a matter of time until he gets called up.
2. Steve Matz (SP, NYM, AAA) – LW: 2
Stats: 56.1 IP, 2.24 ERA, 3.23 FIP, 9.75 K/9, 3.20 BB/9, 0.48 HR/9, 1.10 WHIP
ETA: Late May/Early June
Can you imagine the Mets rotation of the future? Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, Steve Matz, and Jacob deGrom. That sounds elite to me, potentially one of the best young rotations that baseball has seen in a long time. Mets fans are eagerly awaiting the call up of the only one of those pitchers that has yet to see the Majors come up. Based on how well he has pitched in notoriously hitter-friendly Las Vegas, it will only be a matter of time until Steve Matz gets called up.
3. Daniel Norris (SP, TOR, AAA) – LW: 5
Stats: 22.0 IP, 3.27 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 9.41 K/9, 5.32 BB/9, 0.41 HR/9, 1.50 WHIP
ETA: Mid June
Marco Estrada has made four starts in place of Daniel Norris and he has not convinced anyone that he is deserving of that rotation spot. Meanwhile, Norris has looked sharp overall in the Minors (with the exception of a rough outing his last time out) and could be back in the Majors very soon. Estrada is, at this point, a very temporary placeholder for Norris.
4. Jose Peraza (2B, ATL, AAA) – LW: 6
Stats: 167 PA, .304/.346/.399, 2 HR, 14 SB, 7.8% K rate, 5.4% BB rate
ETA: Mid June
Jose Peraza continues to impress everyone with his incredible contact hitting ability and great speed. He looks very much like a Dee Gordon type player: no walks or strikeouts, .300 batting average, a lot of stolen bases, no power. Expect to see him at the top of that Braves lineup sooner rather than later.
5. Francisco Lindor (SS, CLE, AAA) – LW: 5
Stats: 184 PA, .253/.324/.358, 1 HR, 7 SB, 15.2% K rate, 9.8% BB rate
ETA: Mid June
Francisco Lindor has been doing everything in his power to turn his season around. He started off very poorly and it made many question whether he would eventually take over for Jose Ramirez or Jason Kipnis. While Kipnis has been the offensive leader for the Indians this season, Ramirez has been absolutely terrible offensively for Cleveland. Lindor should be up very soon to help this surging Indians squad stay in playoff contention and the wily fantasy owner will pick him up to provide above average offense from an otherwise weak offensive position.
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6. Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, BOS, AAA) – LW: 7
Stats: 2.98 ERA, 2.36 FIP, 8.19 K/9, 1.30 BB/9, 0.37 HR/9, 1.10 WHIP
ETA: Late May/Early June
The Red Sox rotation continues to be one of the worst in baseball and proves each week that it desperately needs new starting pitching. While Clay Buchholz is in the midst of turning his season around and Rick Porcello certainly won’t lose his spot in the rotation anytime soon, the other three rotation spots are up for replacement and Eduardo Rodriguez is just the guy to do it. He continues to prove that he is ready for the Majors and it should only be a matter of days until he gets called up.
7. Adam Duvall (1B/3B, SFG, AAA) – LW: 11
Stats: 181 PA, .325/.359/.633, 12 HR, 0 SB, 22.7% K rate, 5.5% BB rate
ETA: Early June
Matt Duffy: Fantasy Baseball Player News & Analysis" href="http://dev.rotoballer.com/fantasy-baseball-mlb-player-news/Matt+Duffy">Matt Duffy is the replacement for Casey McGehee? Don’t get me wrong, Duffy is a decent player. But he should only be a placeholder for Adam Duvall who has just torn through Triple-A pitching this season. Expect Duvall to be called up very soon and add him to your fantasy team. Even playing in pitcher-friendly AT&T Park, Duvall could do some special things with his power.
8. Andrew Heaney (SP, LAA, AAA) – LW: 8
Stats: 50.2 IP, 3.02 ERA, 2.73 FIP, 8.70 K/9, 2.13 BB/9, 0.18 HR/9
ETA: Mid June
While I certainly believe that Matt Shoemaker is capable of turning his season around, there are many in Anaheim who either don’t believe that he can or simply are getting impatient for the turnaround to happen. Andrew Heaney has looked sharp in the Minors and his peripherals suggest that he will be even better than his low 3.02 ERA would suggest. Heaney provides the Angels with a great backup plan to any starter failing, even if that starter was one of their best last season.
9. Aaron Nola (SP, PHI, AA) – LW: 10
Stats: 1.54 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 6.66 K/9, 1.03 BB/9, 0.34 HR/9, 0.82 WHIP
ETA: Early August
First Cole Hamels’ name gets tossed around in trade rumors; Now another name that has popped up is Aaron Harang’s. If Nola wasn’t on the fast track to a Major League rotation with one starter’s name on the trade block, he certainly is now with another rotation spot potentially opening up.
10. Brian Johnson (SP, BOS, AAA) – LW: 12
Stats: 42.1 IP, 2.55 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 8.72 K/9, 3.61 BB/9, 0.64 HR/9, 1.20 WHIP
ETA: Late June
Brian Johnson has moved up the rankings on this list in spite of Eduardo Rodriguez’s success and likely positioning as the next starter to be called up. The reason being that Brian Johnson has continued to look very sharp in Triple-A and there is more than one starter struggling for Boston. Steven Wright has not looked good replacing Justin Masterson in the rotation, Joe Kelly has a FIP of 4.24, and Wade Miley has walked almost as many batters as he has struck out (and not because he is walking a lot of batters but because he isn’t striking anybody out). The Red Sox have a lot of pitching woes, but they also have many in-house solutions to fix them and Brian Johnson is currently their second best.
11. Buck Farmer (SP/RP, DET, AAA) – LW: 15
Stats: 51.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 8.77 K/9, 3.33 BB/9, 0.18 HR/9, 1.17 WHIP
ETA: Mid June
The Tigers have an interesting situation. Their pitching has actually been really good with the exception of Al Alburquerque (one of their most consistent relievers in past years) and Kyle Lobstein. Lobstein is a temporary solution to the injury problem of Justin Verlander, but Farmer could see time in the bullpen if Alburquerque continues to struggle. One thing that is certain is that Farmer has excelled in Triple-A and should see time with the Major League club very soon.
12. Domingo Santana (OF, HOU, AAA) – LW: 13
Stats: 168 PA, .301/.405/.601, 10 HR, 1 SB, 32.1% K rate, 14.9% BB rate
ETA: Early July
The good news: Domingo Santana is starting to hit for a higher average and look like a more complete player. The bad news: Preston Tucker has been unbelievably good for Houston and looks to stay there for a while.
13. Alex Meyer (SP, MIN, AAA) – LW: 9
Stats: 39.1 IP, 7.09 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 9.38 K/9, 5.49 BB/9, 0.46 HR/9, 1.91 WHIP
ETA: Early August
Alex Meyer was handed a major setback when he was moved to the bullpen at Triple-A. Meyer has really struggled this season and while the Twins claim the move is just to help Meyer get back on track as a starter, there is no question this hurts his value. It may not be until August or September that he gets called up to the Majors now.
14. Marco Gonzales (SP, STL, AAA) – LW: 14
Stats: 28.1 IP, 6.35 EA, 5.79 FIP, 6.99 K/9, 2.54 BB/9, 1.91 HR/9, 1.59 WHIP
ETA: Late July
Marco Gonzales is having injury problems again with the same pectoral muscle issues. While still believed by many to be the eventual replacement of Wainwright in the rotation, he needs to stay healthy and show positive results before being called to the bigs.
15. Matt Wisler (SP, ATL, AAA) – LW: 16
Stats: 45.0 IP, 4.40 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 7.60 K/9, 1.80 BB/9, 0.80 HR/9, 1.31 WHIP
ETA: Early July
Matt Wisler is turning his season around start by start and could be poised for a call up very soon. He struggled initially out of the gate, but the former Padres farmhand is looking like the pitching prospect that the Braves hoped they would be getting. Wisler now has an outstanding FIP of 3.35 (considering that he how high it was earlier this season) and looks to be in position for a call up around the start of July if not before.
16. Mark Appel (SP, HOU, AA) – LW: 18
Stats: 34.1 IP, 6.03 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 6.55 K/9, 3.93 BB/9, 0.79 HR/9, 1.72 WHIP
ETA: Late July
The Astros may need starting pitching to help them win this division, but Appel has to prove in Double-A that he can be that guy. So far he has not. That 6.03 ERA looks even worse when it is next to the 4.50 FIP. The longer he struggles, the longer he (and fantasy owners) will have to wait before he sees time in the Majors.
17. Jon Gray (SP, COL, AAA) – LW: 17
Stats: 40.1 IP, 6.47 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 6.92 K/9, 2.68 BB/9, 1.12 HR/9, 1.61 WHIP
ETA: Early July
Jon Gray looked great in his last time out. Fans of the Rockies can’t wait for this guy to come up and though he may need a little bit more ironing out. When he gets called up, fantasy owners would be wise to sit him on the bench or hold off on adding him though until he proves that he can pitch in Coors, but the potential is there for him to be that next ace for the Rockies.
18. Henry Owens (SP, BOS, AAA) – LW: 19
Stats: 42.1 IP, 3.19 ERA, 4.44 FIP, 7.44 K/9, 6.38 BB/9, 0.43 HR/9, 1.32 WHIP
ETA: Early August
Henry Owens has started to look sharp in his last couple of outings having given up only one run in his past two outings and only eight hits in his past three outings. But the 11 walks in his last 15.1 IP looks really bad. His rise to the Majors will continue to be held back until he can prove that he can start a game without walking four or more batters.
19. Corey Seager (SS, LAD, AAA) – LW: 20
Stats: 170 PA, .308/.347/.484, 5 HR, 1 SB, 14.7% K rate, 5.3% BB rate
ETA: Late August/Early September
Earlier this year, I thought that Seager wouldn’t see the Majors until September of this year at the earliest. And while I still believe that he won’t be up too long before then, he has shown to the Dodgers that he is more than ready to be called up to the Majors.
20. Peter O’Brien (C, ARI, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 165 PA, .333/.370/.640, 10 HR, 1 SB, 20.0% K rate, 4.2% BB rate
ETA: Mid August
Tuffy Gosewich and Jordan Pacheco have split time at catcher for the Dbacks Notebook" href="http://dev.rotoballer.com/mlb-fantasy-news/?team=ARI">Diamondbacks and have been (for lack of a better word) terrible. They have combined for a slash line of .222/.284/.310 with a mere three home runs and 21 RBI in 190 plate appearances. Peter O’Brien has torn up Minor League pitching throughout his career, especially with his power. In 131 games last season, O’Brien hit 39 home runs with a .268 average. He may not ever hit for a high average, but he has tremendous power as a catcher that can’t be denied. If called up, he would be a great add for any fantasy team.
21. Dylan Bundy (SP, BAL, AA) – LW: 22
Stats: 22.0 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.86 FIP, 10.23 K/9, 2.05 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 1.18 WHIP
ETA: Late July
22. Steven Moya (OF, DET, AAA) – LW: 21
Stats: 148 PA, .237/.265/.417, 5 HR, 0 SB, 32.4% K rate, 4.1% BB rate
ETA: Mid July
23. Christian Walker (1B, BAL, AAA) – LW: 24
Stats: 171 PA, .247/.298/.329, 1 HR, 0 SB, 22.8% K rate, 7.0% BB rate
ETA: Early August
24. Kyle Crick (SP, SFG, AA) – LW: 23
Stats: 23.2 IP, 2.28 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 11.79 K/9, 6.46 BB/9, 0.38 HR/9, 1.48 WHIP
ETA: Late July
25. Byron Buxton (OF, MIN, AA) – LW: 26
Stats: 190 PA, .267/.321/.512, 5 HR, 13 SB, 19.5% K rate, 7.4% BB rate
ETA: Late August
26. Miguel Sano (3B, MIN, AA) – LW: 27
Stats: 176 PA, .250/.352/.493, 8 HR, 3 SB, 26.1% K rate, 13.6% BB rate
ETA: Early August
27. Jameson Taillon (SP, PIT, NA) – LW: 25
Stats: NA
ETA: Mid August
28. Kyle Kubitza (3B, LAA, AAA) – LW: 28
Stats: 186 PA, .307/.371/.464, 1 HR, 1 SB, 23.7% K rate, 9.1% BB rate
ETA: Late July
29. Braden Shipley (SP, ARI, AA) – LW: 29
Stats: 44.0 IP, 5.11 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 6.95 K/9, 5.11 BB/9, 0.61 HR/9, 1.66 WHIP
ETA: Late August
30. Zach Lee (SP, LAD, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 46.2 IP, 2.89 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 7.52 K/9, 2.12 BB/9, 0.77 HR/9, 1.20 WHIP
ETA: Early June
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