Hello, and welcome to another edition of the prospect call-up watch. There haven't been many prospect call-ups this week, but I'll still be taking a look around the majors for recent news and updates.
Today I'll be focusing on three high-upside future MLB studs. We begin, oddly enough, in Germany. Let's get to it.
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.
MLB Prospect Updates & Recent Call-Ups - Week 21
Aaron Altherr (OF, PHI, Owned in 2% of fleaflicker leagues)
Aaron Altherr hails from Germany and has really found a level of high quality consistency this season. In the minors this year, Altherr has 14 HR, 16 SB, a .293 BA, and a .854 OPS. In his entire minor league career Altherr has accumulated 56 HR, 132 SB, and a .734 OPS in 2,505 AB since 2009. Not bad for a European who started his minor league career as an 18-year-old.
Since being called up by the Phillies, Altherr has produced two HR and a .952 OPS in 18 AB. He is yet another young power/speed combo in the outfield. With Philadelphia now saying Altherr will begin to see more playing time, he is now a valuable and widely available roster addition who can accumulate HR, BA, and SB.
Trea Turner (SS, WAS, Owned in 3% of fleaflicker leagues)
Trea Turner has zero hits in his first four major league AB. That is hardly a reason to worry about the North Carolina State product who has worked his way up to MLB almost as quickly as he runs the bases. On the farm, Turner produced 24 doubles, seven triples, eight HR, 29 SB, a .322 BA, and a .828 OPS in 454 AB. In his only other minor league campaign in 2014, Turner had 16 doubles, two triples, five HR, 23 SB, a .323 BA, and a .854 OPS in just 279 AB.
Turner's playing time is still up in the air due to the National's seemingly stacked lineup (tell that to the Mets). When hen he plays, Turner is a SB machine who can also provide a great BA and surprising power. He could be an interesting stash for fantasy baseball managers this September.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN, Owned in 44% of fleaflicker leagues)
With Aaron Hicks being sidelined by injury, baseball's consensus #1 prospect Byron Buxton has gotten the call for the Twins. He has really started to forget his initial struggles. In 2015 in the minor leagues, Buxton had ten doubles, 13 triples, seven HR, 22 SB, a .305 BA, and a .867 OPS in just 292 AB. He had his share of growing pains in Minnesota this season with just three doubles, one triple, one SB, and a .585 OPS in 67 AB. However, in his last 24 AB, Buxton has seen fantastic improvement with a .333 BA and a .777 OPS.
Buxton isn't exactly widely available, but he is a high reward asset for fantasy baseball managers who believe in his development. If Buxton continues at his increasingly warmer pace, he is bound to produce a solid amount of HR for a speed specialist, a solid BA, plenty of triples (if you need those), and many SB of course.
All three of the recent prospect call-ups discussed today are fantastic power/speed combo options for fantasy baseball managers heading into September.
Rest of Season Rankings
1. Aaron Altherr
2. Byron Buxton
3. Trea Turner
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