While their value is highly established in dynasty and keeper leagues, there are still prospects that are worth holding onto in redraft leagues while you wait for their call up to the big leagues. Each week I'll be looking at my top ten prospects that currently aren't in the majors, but could be worth holding in a bench spot given their potential value for the rest of the season. These rankings are based solely on their potential 2014 value, and do not include any players that are already in the majors as of yesterday.
Graduates So Far
George Springer, Trevor Bauer, Tommy La Stella, Marcus Stroman, Jon Singleton, Eddie Butler, Kevin Gausman, Gregory Polanco, Andrew Heaney, Jake Marisnick, Oscar Taveras, Taijuan Walker, Mookie Betts, Arismendy Alcantara, Jimmy Nelson
This Week's Graduates
Wilmer Flores - Flores was called up on Thursday after Ruben Tejada was hit in the head by a pitch on Wednesday. It remains to be seen how long he'll be up, but he should play fairly regularly while he is.
1. Joc Pederson (#32)
RANK LAST WEEK: 1 (No change)
BLOCKED BY: The four-headed outfield machine that is Puig, Crawford, Kemp, Ethier and Van Slyke
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME OF CALLUP: The second that another of these four are required to go on the disabled list.
At this point, I think that Pederson can provide 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases over the last two months, but whether he will be able to do that in the majors as an everyday player for that time frame is up for debate. We should know by this time next week whether Pederson is still a Dodger or if he is starting somewhere else.
2. Javier Baez (#3)
RANK LAST WEEK: 3 (+1)
BLOCKED BY: Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney, Emilio Bonifacio, Not being on the 40-man Roster, Arismendy Alcantara
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: All-Star Break Late August
The early reports on Baez at second base have been good, and with Alcantara getting reps in center field as well, it's possible we could see Baez up as soon as Bonifacio is off the roster.
3. Andrew Heaney (#34)
RANK LAST WEEK: 2 (-1)
BLOCKED BY: Jacob Turner
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: Late July mid-August
Well, it turns out that Heaney was not called upon as the fifth starter, with the team opting to put Jacob Turner back in the rotation instead. He threw five innings and allowed two earned in that start, and will start again on Sunday. At this point, I think that unless Turner gets completely destroyed in his next start or two, we don't see Heaney again for a few more weeks.
4. Mookie Betts (#60)
RANK LAST WEEK: Graduate
BLOCKED BY: Shane Victorino, Brock Holt, Jonny Gomes
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: mid-August
The return of Victorino from the disabled list sent Betts back to AAA, but the impending trade deadline could see at least Gomes moved out of his way in the quest for playing time.
5. Noah Syndergaard (#19)
RANK LAST WEEK: 5 (No change)
BLOCKED BY: Jacob deGrom, Bartolo Colon?
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: Mid August
After an atrocious start in Salt Lake City, Syndergaard rebounded with a much better line in Tacoma this week. Colon continues to come up in trade rumors, which would give the opening needed for Syndergaard. That said, he's not on the 40-man roster and would need to be added to do that.
6. Alex Meyer (#51)
RANK LAST WEEK: 6 (No change)
BLOCKED BY: Mike Pelfrey, Sam Deduno and Kevin Correia, Yohan Pino, Kris Johnson
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: Mid-August
Meyer had a pair of great outings this week, striking out 8 over 6 shutout innings in his last start on Wednesday. The Gleeman and the Geek podcast noted that the team seems willing to run out a prospect that may not be ready (Jorge Polanco) if they're a hitter, but not a pitcher who by all appearances seems to be ready. Logan Darnell is starting today in a spot start, so it's theoretically possible they go to Meyer at some point soon, but when that happen remains to be seen.
7. Taijuan Walker (#6)
RANK LAST WEEK: 4 (-3)
BLOCKED BY: The Mariners' front office?
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: early August
Your guess is as good as mine at this point. He's struggled with his control in the majors, and at this point it's a bit unclear when he would return to the majors given that he was optioned back out as soon as he started on Wednesday. I'm hoping that a trade clarifies things for Walker now.
8. Jonathan Gray (#22)
RANK LAST WEEK: 7 (-1)
BLOCKED BY: Franklin Morales, Tyler Matzek and Franklin Morales
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: late August
Gray continues to pitch reasonably well in Tulsa, and it's possible that he gets a call up given the relative weakness of the back end of the rotation. I could see a promotion to AAA before too long, but it's definitely not guaranteed.
9. Kris Bryant (#8)
RANK LAST WEEK: 8 (-1)
BLOCKED BY: Mike Olt and Luis Valbuena
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: Mid-August
The organization finally send Mike Olt down to AAA, but with that Bryant remains the 3B there and Olt will play in a number of positions it sounds like. Olt was at first base for his first game there, and it's possible Olt could see time in the outfield as well. The Iowa squad is loaded with talent now that Soler is up as well, but Bryant could be in the majors before the end of August in order to get him some time. This week was the first time we've really seen a significant drop in his numbers, so we'll have to see how the performance goes this week.
10. Archie Bradley (#7)
RANK LAST WEEK: 9 (-1)
BLOCKED BY: Trevor Cahill, Vidal Nuno, Josh Collmenter
ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR CALLUP: Late August
Bradley had a great start last week, striking out 10 over 7 innings in Mobile. He started last night for the team, and if that start went well (I'm writing this in the afternoon), we might see him back at AAA Reno finally.
Honorable Mentions (in Alphabetical Order by Group)
Hitters
Matt Davidson, 3B, CHW (#64)
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI (#36)
Francisco Lindor, SS, CLE (#35) - Lindor was promoted to AAA recently, and has set himself up nicely for a potential late season call-up. If Asdrubal Cabrera was expected to be out for an extended period of time or traded, we could see Lindor the next day.
Jake Marisnick, OF, MIA (#69)
Rob Refsnyder, 2B/OF, NYY (NR)
Pitchers
Trevor May, RHP, MIN (NR)
Rafael Montero, RHP, NYM (#95)
Robert Stephenson, RHP, CIN (#17)
Allen Webster, RHP, BOS (#135)
Matt Wisler, RHP, SDP (#67)