A reminder that this is strictly a list for 2019. Several of these prospects are among the best in baseball, but for the purpose of this series, it’s just measuring potential impact for this season. Also, a reminder that prospects who are on MLB rosters are not eligible for this list, nor is any player that has exhausted his prospect eligibility. You can view my top 100 prospects for 2019 and my top prospects by position in our Rotoworld MLB Season Pass.
Without further ado, here’s the top 10 fantasy prospects that can help you in the 2019 season.
1. Brendan McKay, LHP/DH, Tampa Bay Rays
2019 stats: 13 G, 1.22 ERA, 66.2 IP, 38 H, 15 BB, 88 SO at Triple-A Durham; 3 G, 1.69 ERA, 16 IP, 10 H, 1 BB, 13 SO at Tampa Bay.
McKay was sent down after his start on Saturday, which is a bit disappointing, but not necessarily unexpected. It was another very strong effort for the 23-year-old; striking out seven over five shutout innings against the Orioles in the first game of the doubleheader. McKay is going to be back up shortly, and he’s absolutely worth hanging onto while he spends 10 or so days with Durham.
2. Luis Urias, INF, San Diego Padres
2019 stats: 72 G,.318/.400/.585, 18 HR, 7 SB, 36 BB, 60 SO at Triple-A El Paso; 11 G, .083/.241/.125, 0 HR, 0 SB, 4 BB, 11 SO at San Diego.
Urias is currently dealing with a “minor” shoulder injury that has kept him out of the last two contests, but it isn’t expected to keep him out too much longer. When healthy, he’s been a sensational performer at the PCL level, and it’s more than about time that we see how these skills translate at the highest level again. Do not put any stock into his struggles earlier this year or last year. Urias can really hit, and can really help your fantasy team when the Padres make the call to bring him up.
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3. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
2019 stats: 47 G, .313/.386/.487, 5 HR, 15 SB, 21 BB, 38 SO at High-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo.
Bichette is going through a mini-slump right now; picking up just two hits in his last 18 at-bats with the Bisons. If you think a five-game slump is going to deter my optimism in the shortstop, you have come to the wrong place, my friends. Bichette is one of the best shortstop prospects in baseball, and there have been rumblings -- low rumblings, but rumblings -- that a call-up could be happening soon. There are no guarantees here, obviously, but it sounds like he’s going to finish the season with the Blue Jays. He absolutely has a chance to be an impact fantasy player if that happens.
4. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox
2019 stats: 79 G, .353/.406/.634, 18 HR, 30 SB, 17 BB, 76 SO at High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, and Triple-A Charlotte.
Robert’s first game in Triple-A was a doozy; picking up two homers and driving in seven runs for the Knights. There haven’t been fireworks like that since, but Robert has a hit in all four games with Charlotte, and he’s slashing .438/.500/.938 so far. A very small sample size, but impressive nonetheless.
5. Gavin Lux, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
2019 stats: 75 G, .338/.396/.570, 15 HR, 7 SB, 32 BB, 69 SO at Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Robert’s ridiculous numbers are over a very small sample size. Lux’s are, too, but, a bigger small sample size. Just go with it. In 46 at-bats with the Oklahoma City club, the shortstop is slashing .478/.520/.848, and he homered for the second time in the PCL in his 11 games on Sunday. There’s no room for Lux right now, but these numbers are impossible to ignore. If there’s an injury or trade or something unforeseen, you need to run to add Lux to your roster.
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6. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels
2019 stats: 34 G, .352/.424/.641, 8 HR, 5 SB, 12 BB, 30 SO at High-A Inland Empire and Double-A Mobile.
We’re now deep enough into the season where it’s okay to dream. There might not be a sweeter dream in the minors right now than Adell. He’s posted a 1.105 OPS with the BayBears in 28 games, and he’s showing the ability to be an impact player in every category. There are absolutely no guarantees with this player -- or really, any player on this list outside of McKay -- that a promotion is coming, but outside of maybe Robert, no player in the upper-levels offers this kind of upside. The potential here is worth salivating over.
7. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros
2019 stats: 86 G, .270/.352/.575, 24 HR, 21 SB, 37 BB, 87 SO at Triple-A Round Rock.
The hits aren’t falling for Tucker right now, and he’s hitting just .231 in the month of July. That, along with the fact that the outfield is chock-full in Houston, sees him drop a bit in the weekly rankings. As you can see from those numbers above, however, that shouldn’t be considered an insult to Tucker. The long-term future is very, very bright. The 2019 value is too questionable right now to put him in the top five.
8. Carter Kieboom, INF, Washington Nationals
2019 stats: 71 G, .309/.418/.561, 14 HR, 3 SB, 48 BB, 67 SO at Triple-A Fresno; 11 G, .128/.209/.282, 2 HR, 4 BB, 16 SO at Washington.
Kieboom has hits in five of his last six games, which is good. He’s only picked up one hit in all of those contests, which is less good, and he hasn’t homered since July 2. The 21-year-old remains on this list because of his positional value and, well, look above; but he’s going to have to pick things up if he’s going to get a call-up, especially with the Nationals looking like a playoff team right now.
9. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
2019 stats: 15 G, 3.07 ERA, 82 IP, 74 H, 31 BB, 96 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis; 3 G, 10.50 ERA, 12 IP, 21 H, 6 BB, 15 SO at Pittsburgh.
That’s more like it. Keller bounced back from his worst start at the Triple-A level on Independence Day with a six-inning, two-hit shutout effort where he struck out eight. Keller has been mediocre -- mediocre is probably too kind, to be honest -- with the MLB club this year, but that sample is just so small, and if you watched those starts, you saw more than flashes of why he’s considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. He should get another shot soon, and he’s worth the risk if you need pitching help.
10. Deivi Garcia, RHP, New York Yankees
2019 stats: 14 G, 3.01 ERA, 68.2 IP, 50 H, 33 BB, 114 SO at High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton.
Garcia will make his debut with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club on Monday after being promoted early last week to the International League. The 20-year-old is one of the most improved prospects in all of baseball, and he can miss bats with four pitches. There are some command/durability issues here, but his strikeout potential is second to only a few hurlers, and that ability to get swings and misses make him an excellent fantasy candidate.
Also considered: Jorge Mateo, INF/OF, Oakland Athletics; Isan Diaz, 2B, Miami Marlins; Ryan Mountcastle, INF, Baltimore Orioles; Dustin May, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
