Top 20 Fantasy Baseball Prospects for Week 22

With September just around the corner, we’re quickly running out of time for minor league prospects to make impacts on the 2021 redraft season. However, that doesn’t mean a well-timed rookie or two still can’t push you into the playoffs or help you wrap up a title.

Service time consideration has become a major factor when trying to predict prospect promotions. Strong performances and big-league needs are no longer the sole factors to consider. Clubs that slide out of the playoff picture are less likely to promote a top prospect to the majors in the waning months and weeks of the season. That’s why we’re unlikely to see Bobby Witt Jr., Adley Rutschman, or Riley Greene in the majors in 2021.

Playoff-hopeful teams remain busy though. Last week, we saw infielders Jose Barrero (Reds) and Kevin Smith (Blue Jays) graduate from the list after their promotions to the majors while a couple of other prospects slid off the list due to performance issues or injuries. On the flip side, the Orioles, Yankees, Padres, and Braves saw prospects added to the list this week.   

Top Impact Prospects for Redraft Leagues

This prospects list is a ranking for 2021 redraft leagues only and is not a dynasty ranking. It also does not include any prospects on MLB rosters.

Top 10 Prospects

1. Josh Lowe, OF: Like seemingly every promising young prospect these days, strikeouts have been an issue for Lowe with 92 in just 83 games (26%), but he’s doing so many other good things that it really doesn’t matter. The young outfielder is one stolen base away from joining the 20-20 plateau — and he has yet to be thrown out trying to steal this year, which underscores how good of a base runner he’s been.

2. Jose Miranda, 1B/3B: Any team could have had Miranda a year ago during the Rule 5 draft. He was a fringe prospect who had last produced a 98 wRC+ in High-A ball before the pandemic hit and wiped out the 2020 season. Fast-forward to August 2021 and Miranda now looks like a near-untouchable prospect who has blown away pitchers in both Double-A and Triple-A while producing a 158 wRC+ for the year. He has an intriguing blend of power and contact skills.

3. Vidal Brujan, IF/OF: The early-season power has officially dried up and was no doubt a mirage, but Brujan still has a lot of useful skills, including the ability to hit for average and steal bases. He has been very good in August and has a .333 batting average on the month while going 11-for-12 in steal attempts.

4. Luis Gil, SP: Gil’s reward for not allowing a run in his first three career MLB starts was a demotion to the minors. He’ll no doubt be back in the majors soon, but the Yankees are hot enough right now that they'd probably win games with Rougned Odor on the mound. Through 15 2/3 innings, Gil has a K-BB of 18-7 with just nine hits allowed.

5. Nate Pearson, RP: The Blue Jays are fading fast in the hunt for a playoff spot but Pearson could still pitch some important innings for Toronto in September. Ongoing injuries will keep him in the bullpen at least through the 2021 season, but he could rack up some big strikeout numbers and perhaps some saves.

6. Seth Beer, OF/1B: It’s a little hard to believe that the Diamondbacks (with a -171 run differential) cannot use Beer’s bat. He has been consistently good all season long with a 129 wRC+. In the month of August, Beer is hitting .379 with four home runs. At the very least, the rookie’s promotion would give the Arizona sports editors some interesting headlines to write for what will probably be an otherwise depressing month for the rudderless organization.

7. Hunter Greene, SP: Greene returned from a minor injury on Aug. 17, but was roughed up in 2 2/3 innings of work. If the hard-throwing right-hander is healthy, he could be an impact arm for the Reds in the final month of the season. With a history of injuries, any big league innings for Greene in 2021 will likely come out of the bullpen.

8. Keibert Ruiz, C: The Nationals acquired two catchers at the trade deadline in Riley Adams and Ruiz. In a bit of an interesting move, the organization handed a big-league job to the former while the latter was sent to Triple-A. With a playoff spot out of the cards for 2021, Ruiz appears stuck in the minors due to service time concerns. However, if he does get a shot at the majors in September, he could be one of the better hitting rookies around with his blend of contact skills and improving power.

9. Khalil Lee, OF: It’s been a little bit of feast or famine for Lee in August. He has just nine hits so far this month — and almost twice as many strikeouts — but five of those hits have gone for extra bases. And while he hasn’t run much this year, he also has above-average speed. The Mets outfield hasn't exactly hit well this season so perhaps they can catch lightning in a bottle with Lee.

10. Josh Jung, 3B: I’ve been eagerly anticipating a promotion of Jung and it finally came — but it was just from Double-A to Triple-A. While the organization has shown a willingness to promote prospects to the majors right from Double-A, it’s not going to happen this time. Perhaps a week or two of strong play at the top level of the minors will convince the Rangers to give Jung a shot in September…..and give fans something to get excited about while other clubs prepare for the playoffs.

Prospects 11-20

11. Joe Ryan, SP: In his first game back from the Olympics (and his first since being traded from the Rays), Ryan allowed just one hit and struck out nine batters in four innings of work. If the Twins are willing to start his service clock in 2021, he’ll likely offer much more than some of the arms currently being utilized by Minnesota at the MLB level.

12. Shane Baz, SP: Like Ryan above, Baz was at the Olympics. He also had a good showing upon his return to the U.S. and allowed just one run in three innings of work. His repertoire could be dynamic out of the bullpen (assuming the club wants to protect his arm) for the Rays down the stretch as the club looks to fend off the surging Yankees.

13. Edward Cabrera, SP: Cabrera struck out just six batters in his last start, which broke a string of three straight outings with double-digit strikeouts. The promising young hurler could be a solid contributor to the big league club in September if (wait for it…) the club is willing to start his service time clock.

14. Kyle Bradish, SP: I’m not convinced the Orioles will do anything that might help them win games in September as the club looks to lock up the first-overall pick in the 2022 draft. However, Bradish could be an interesting name to know if he does get the call. The 24-year-old starter has 97 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings this season and has the potential to be one of the better arms on the Orioles staff. With that said, control issues have been his downfall in 2021. Since being promoted from Double-A, he has 31 walks in just 58 innings of work.

15. Cody Thomas, OF: Thomas continues to be sidelined by what has been referred to as a minor Achilles tendon issue. However, he hasn’t played since July 25. If he can get back into action in the next week or two, he has a shot at helping the big league club in September. He has 18 homers and a 139 wRC+ so far this year.

16. Hunter Brown, SP: Brown has been roughed up during his last two starts at Triple-A but he’s still just two strikeouts away from the century mark in only 71 1/3 innings this season. With an eye on a lengthy stay in the playoffs, the Astros could use every arm they can find, and getting Hunter some experience during the regular season would be wise.

17. Luis Campusano, C: With nearly half his hits going for extra bases in Triple-A, Campusano could perhaps offer a spark to a club desperately in need of a kick-start. MLB catchers Victor Caratini and Austin Nola have not exactly been setting the world on fire, but the rookie could offer some thump in the bottom third of the club’s lineup as they chase a playoff spot (which the front office desperately needs to deliver on).

18. Nick Lodolo, SP: Lodolo has battled injuries this season and has seen his innings kept to a minimum. His last appearance in Triple-A was just three innings but he struck out five batters and did not issue a walk. He could be a useful contributor to the Reds’ bullpen as the club desperately looks to hang on to a playoff spot.

19. Cristian Pache, OF: Old friend Pache is back in the ranking after falling off for most of the season while struggling to show much with the bat. His offense has come alive in August though, and he’s hitting .320 with seven of his 16 hits going for extra bases — including three homers. The club acquired a number of outfielders around the trade deadline, but they haven’t exactly done much.

20. Matthew Liberatore, SP: This young hurler is surging at the right time. After being jumped over both High-A and Double-A ball to begin the year, Liberatore understandably struggled for much of the year. Over his last two starts though, he’s thrown seven innings. In his last outing, he allowed just three hits, one run, and produced a K-BB of 9-1.

Names to Know for 2022 Redraft Leagues

The majority of the prospects below won’t sniff the major leagues this year because their clubs are out of the playoff races and unlikely to see value in burning big-league service times. They'll likely be top prospects to target in 2022 redraft leagues.

Bobby Witt Jr., SS
Adley Rutschman, C
Nolan Gorman, 3B/2B
Julio Rodriguez, OF
Riley Greene, OF
Spencer Torkelson, 1B
Brennan Davis, OF
CJ Abrams, SS
Grayson Rodriguez, SP
Max Meyer, SP

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