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1. Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
2022 stats: 61 G, .315/.431/.655, 18 HR, 20 SB, 43 BB, 71 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
From unranked to the top spot. Welcome back, Corbin. Why the big jump? Well, the jump from Double-A to Triple-A, of course. Unsurprisingly, he made an impact in his first game with the Aces, hitting a homer against Tacoma on Sunday. Carroll is the best prospect in baseball still in the minors, and the best prospect in the minors being one step away from the majors? Not sure you can justify ranking anyone above him at this point in the year.
2. Esteury Ruiz, OF, San Diego Padres
2022 stats: 77 G, .333/.467/.560, 13 HR, 60 SB, 52 BB, 65 SO at Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A El Paso.
Ruiz is not driving the ball very well right now, with a .282 slugging percentage over his last 10 games. He’s also hit just .256 in those at-bats, but he’s getting on at a .408 clip while stealing 11 bases. Ridiculous. Ruiz should have gotten a shot by now, and there’s no guarantee that it’s coming soon. Because of his ability to swipe bags with his improved approach at the plate, I can’t justify ranking anyone else in this spot for now.
3. Francisco Álvarez, C, New York Mets
2022 stats: 72 G, .268/.363/.532, 18 HR, 0 SB, 38 BB, 76 SO at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.
The first week of Triple-A action for Álvarez didn’t go particularly well. He went 2-or-16 and struck out five times in his first five games of action. Tough to be too concerned about a sample this small, but you would have liked to have seen a little hotter run. We’re selfish. Álvarez is the best catching prospect in baseball -- not including Adley Rutschman, of course -- and his power would make him fantasy relevant the moment New York decides to promote him. Here’s hoping it occurs in the next couple of weeks, but there’s no locks here.
4. Max Meyer, RHP, Miami Marlins
2022 stats: 13 G, 69 IP, 3.69 ERA, 19 BB, 69 SO at Triple-A Jacksonville.
Meyer had some command issues in his start on Saturday against New Orleans, walking four over 4 2/3 innings while allowing two runs against the Jumbo Shrimp. He also struck out seven, so the swing-and-miss stuff was readily apparent. The 2020 third-overall pick has looked the part since returning from injury, and looks like he’s ready to contribute at the highest level. Like (pretty much) everyone on this list, it’s unknown when and if Meyer will get promoted in 2022. It’s awfully likely he can help fantasy teams if he does, however.
5. Gunnar Henderson, INF, Baltimore Orioles
2022 stats: 76 G, .293/.427/.532, 13 HR, 15 SB, 61 BB, 72 SO at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.
Another tough week for Henderson, and over his last 10 appearances for the Tides, he’s hitting .139/.262/.167. As you can see from the numbers above, he’s been far too good to be too worried about a sample of two weeks of struggles. That being said, he’s going to have to start performing at that level again if Baltimore is going to consider him for a promotion, so get going, Gunnar. The fantasy upside here competes -- if not beats -- anyone on this list.
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6. Miguel Vargas, INF, Los Angeles Dodgers
2022 stats: 82 G, .293/.377/.494, 13 HR, 9 SB, 43 BB, 57 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
If Vargas played for any other team -- literally, any other team -- Vargas might rank in the top spot. This is an infielder capable of hitting for both average and power from the right side, and he’s looked outstanding for most of the 2022 season with the Triple-A Dodgers. Unfortunately, he does play for this team, and that makes things a bit more complicated. All that being said, Vargas’s talent is impressive, and at the very least someone worth monitoring in redraft formats. If he were to change organizations in a blockbuster trade? Quick escalation.
7. Ryan Pepiot, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
2022 stats: 12 G, 55.2 IP, 1.94 ERA, 25 BB, 76 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City; 4 G, 16.1 IP, 3.18 ERA, 12 BB, 19 SO at Los Angeles (NL).
Pepiot made a start for the Dodgers on Tuesday against the Rockies, and pitched well with five innings of one-run baseball with six strikeouts. The right-hander also only walked one, and while throwing strikes is a key for every pitcher, it’s especially important for a pitcher who has this good of stuff and has shown this poor of command. When Pepiot gets another chance to pitch for Los Angeles, fantasy managers have to consider him because of his ability to miss bats.
8. DL Hall, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
2022 stats: 14 G, 56 IP, 4.02 ERA, 32 BB, 93 SO at High-A, Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.
Welcome to the list, DL. We’ve been expecting you. Hall was going to be a part of the group anyway, but 14 strikeouts over six innings certainly escalated things. The southpaw has a high 90s fastball, two plus pitches in his curve and change, and also will mix in a cutter/slider for good measure. The one thing to keep an eye on here is his control is subpar, so he could be more harmful than help in the WHIP category. Still, the stuff is filthy, and Baltimore should give him a chance to pitch in the coming weeks.
9. Cade Cavalli, RHP, Washington Nationals
2022 stats: 14 G, 67.1 IP, 4.54 ERA, 27 BB, 68 SO at Triple-A Rochester.
A third new member of the list. Welcome, Cade. You may take a look at that ERA and wonder what Cavalli is doing here, but keep in mind that number was above 7 in May, and since then he’s been outstanding. A 6-foot-4 right-hander drafted with the 22nd pick in 2020, Cavalli has four pitches in his arsenal, and all four of those pitches will flash plus or higher. Control/command is well behind the stuff, but it’s getting better with age -- it usually does -- and it shouldn’t keep him from being a starter. Washington is going nowhere, and it would be a surprise if they didn’t give their best prospect a chance in 2022.
10. Shea Langeliers, C, Las Vegas Aviators
2022 stats: 71 G, .272/.368/.502, 15 HR, 5 SB, 38 BB, 72 SO at Triple-A Las Vegas.
The Athletics traded Christian Bethancourt to the Rays last week, which some believed might open a spot for a Langeliers promotion. It certainly didn’t hurt, but the name you’re going to have to see moved is Sean Murphy. That’s very possible for a team that is nowhere close to contention -- even though Murphy is far from a must-move because of his contract situation -- but that’s likely what it’ll take. Still, because of the dearth of MLB ready prospects and because of Langeliers’ power, he belongs in this final spot.
Next in line: Ezequiel Duran, INF, Texas Rangers; Curtis Mead, INF, Tampa Bay Rays; Oswald Peraza, INF, New York Yankees; Hunter Brown, RHP, Houston Astros
