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6 Close Proximity MLB Prospects To Stash in Re-Draft Fantasy Baseball Leagues

By Richard Haake
Colt Keith Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash

The season has reached its midway point and we have seen more MLB prospects make their debuts than in any other season in my memory. This makes the search for the next man up more challenging but in the words of MCR, “I Dont Care! We’ll Carry On!” Let’s dive into three pitching prospects and three hitting prospects that could be knocking on the door to the majors.

More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers

6 MLB Prospects to Stash in Re-Draft Fantasy Baseball Leagues

Pitching Prospects On The Cusp

Michael McGreevy, RHP STL AAA

(15 GS, 84.1 IP, 69 K, 21 BB, .279 AVG, 3.42 ERA)

The general feeling around St. Louis Cardinals fans is that things are not looking great right now. The Cardinals are 35-48 and rest in fifth place in the NL Central, a full 9.5 games back. This leads me to believe the Cards could be sellers at the deadline. With Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, and Adam Wainwright set to be free agents/retire at season’s end, it would not surprise me to see them move one of these arms, if not all three, to contenders. This theory opens up the door for Michael McGreevy to make his major league debut this season.

Currently in Triple-A Memphis, the 22-year-old McGreevy has moved swiftly through the Cardinals organization. In McGreevy’s 12 starts in Memphis, he’s pitched 65.2 innings while striking out 53 batters, good for a 7.26 K/9. Now McGreevy is not a high strikeout pitcher and he never was. He is more of a control and keep the ball on the ground type.

This fits the mold of a true Cardinals pitcher of the last 20 years. To me, McGreevy has earned his opportunity if the team sells at the deadline. With Tink Hence on McGreevy’s heels in Double-A it’s only a matter of time before that rotation is filled with the next wave.

Landon Knack, RHP LAD AAA

(15 GS, 71 IP, 77 K, 18 BB, .215 AVG, 2.41 ERA)

For some reason, Landon Knack has always been one of the Dodgers that I have wanted to see in the majors. Drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft out of East Tennessee State, Knack has had a steady rise through the Dodgers organization, culminating in his most recent promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Knack features a plus fastball, curveball, and sharp cutter along with an average change-up that flashed above average at times. In his first 12 starts of the season in Double-A Tulsa, Knack struck out 61 batters in 57.1 innings with a .200 average against and a 2.20 ERA. With his solid 9.58 K/9 and 1.88 BB/9, Knack was promoted to Oklahoma City. Once with the OKC Dodgers, Knack showed an uptick in his strikeout rate to 10.54 while his walks climbed with it to 3.95.

Now Knack is more of a control pitcher than his 3.95 BB/9 leads on and I expect his walk rate to come back down into the sub-two range. The Dodgers rotation has been solid this season with the call-ups of Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan. I believe Knack’s best path is to take the Ross Stripling approach; come up as a long reliever, and step in when an injury arises (they always do). Expect Landon Knack to get his chance with the Dodgers shortly after the All-Star break.

Blayne Enlow, RHP MIN AAA

(14 G, 12 GS, 66.1 IP, 77 K, 22, .217 AVG, 3.80 ERA)

The Twins are leading a dogfight right now in the AL Central with a 42-43 record. The rotation has been solid with Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Bailey Ober. With Kenta Maeda coming back off the injured list and being less than solid, pitchers like Blayne Enlow might see a push this season. Enlow started his season in Double-A where he struck out 65 batters in 54 innings with a .200 average against and a solid 3.17 ERA in 10 starts.

He had a 10.83 K/9 and had the walks down to a 2.17 BB/9.

Enlow has now started two games for Triple-A St Paul where the command has broken down a bit, with his walk rate jumping to a 6.57 BB/9. Enlow profiles as a back-end rotational arm and could be a solid long reliever if Maeda gets his groove back.

Hitting Prospects On The Cusp

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B/3B CIN AAA

(58 GP, .321/.393/.625, 18 HR, 53 R, 54 RBI, 1 SB)

With the arrivals of Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, the next man up in Cincy has got to be Christian Encarnacion-Strand. How can it not be? CES has 18 home runs in only 58 games and has raised his walk rate to 9.9% at Triple-A Louisville. Even with the big power numbers, CES has not been a victim of strikeouts as he has only stuck out 22.8% of the time. Encarnacion-Strand profiles to be a middle-of-the-order masher that will fit in nicely with this young high-powered offense. I believe the Reds were waiting to see how Joey Votto did coming off the injured list before bringing CES up to play first base.

With Votto slashing .143/.302/.400 in 11 games, it will not surprise me if they call CES up after the Futures Game and All-Star break. Now is the time to grab him in shallow 10-team leagues if he is on your wire and if you have him in deeper leagues get ready to enjoy the ride!

Zach DeLoach, OF SEA AAA

(73 GP, .289/.397/.455, 10 HR, 49 R, 43 RBI, 4 SB)

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB draft, Zach DeLoach has had a swift rise through the Mariner’s farm system. Currently, at Triple-A Tacoma, DeLoach is slashing .289/.397/.455 with a 13.9 walk percentage and a 28.8 strikeout percentage in 73 games. To this point in his minor league career, DeLoach has not had a walk percentage below 11.2% at any stop. DeLoach has some sneaky pop as he has 10 home runs on the season thus far putting him on pace for 20 home runs.

Seattle’s outfield is filling up quickly and a polished college bat like Zach DeLoach could be a key piece in a trade before the trade deadline. It’s less expensive to go out and acquire a bat like this before he is moved or promoted so take a look in your dynasty leagues and enquire on Zach DeLoach.

Colt Keith, 2B/3B DET AAA

(66 GP, .336/.402/.598, 16 HR, 49 R, 57 RBI, 3 SB)

The Detroit Tigers have some fun prospects coming up the pipeline with Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy tearing the cover off the ball in Triple-A Toledo. Keith just recently got the call to Toledo so this might be a bit premature but I don’t expect him to stick around too long.

Earlier this season Keith played 59 games in Erie, slashing .325/.391/.585 with 14 home runs, 43 runs scored, 50 RBIs, and two stolen bases. Colt Keith showed excellent plate discipline in his time with the Sea Wolves, walking 9.1 percent of the time while only striking out at a 22.8% clip. It should be noted that Keith has performed well despite being only 21 years old; a good two years younger than the average age for the level.

Since his call up to Toledo Keith has picked up where he left off, slashing .440/.500/.720 with two home runs, seven RBIs, and one stolen base in seven games played. If Keith continues this level of play there is no reason for the Tigers to leave him in the minors to finish the season, making him an intriguing stash in shallow leagues and a smart target in dynasty.

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