When you think about playing the deep sleeper game in fantasy baseball, you are usually looking for top prospects who could get a chance at a promotion and a possible clear path to playing time when they do get to the show. With the exception of Trey Mancini (who is already pounding the ball for the Baltimore Orioles), here are the other 8 guys I would think of picking up and stashing if I were you:
[the_ad id=”384″]Trey Mancini, 1B.OF, Baltimore Orioles – 25-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Trey Mancini has been platooning so far this year, but if he keeps raking like he is right now he will be starting full time soon! He has played in 7 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 8 for 22 (.364 avg., 1.371 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 4 homers and 9 RBI. He has hit lefties well so far this year, but he is pounding righty pitchers too! He has batted seven times against righty pitchers so far this year and he is 3 for 7 (.429 avg., 2.214 OPS) with 3 homers and 7 RBI. He has now played in 12 games in his first two years with the Orioles and he is 13 of 36 (.361 avg., 1.410 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 7 homers and 14 RBI. Mancini came into this year as the Orioles’ #5 prospect according to Baseball America! He has played in 483 games in four years in the minors with the Orioles and he is 574 of 1,878 (.306 avg., .829 OPS) with 276 runs scored, 54 homers, 275 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.
Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians – The Cleveland Indians had to be tempted to let 24-yer old lefty swinging outfielder Bradley Zimmer to break camp as their starting CF, as he had a great spring training. In the end, they decided to start him out in AAA-ball. He came into this season as the Indians’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. He has played in 11 games in AAA-ball so far this year for the Indians and he is 12 for 42 (.286 avg., .857 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer, 5 RBI and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 316 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 312 of 1,162 (.269 avg., .818 OPS) with 205 runs scored, 38 homers, 162 RBI, and 98 stolen bases. He has the potential to be a 20/30 man in the show, but his batting average could be a problem if he doesn’t cut down on his whiffs (346 so far in the minors). That being said, the only guys in front of him in Cleveland are the platoon of Abraham Almonte and Austin Jackson in CF.
Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Seattle Mariners – 24-year old lefty swinging 1B Dan Vogelbach was a surprising cut at the end of spring training, as he was expected to platoon with righty swinging Danny Valencia. Valencia is off to a poor start this year, as he has played in 12 games for the Mariners so far this year in which he is only 8 for 46 (.174 avg., .481 OPS) with 1 run, 0 homers, 3 RBI and 13 strikeouts. Vogelbach has a big time bat from the left side. He has played in 10 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 10 for 33 (.303 avg., .764 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers, 5 RBI and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 554 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 570 of 1,991 (.286 avg., .870 OPS) with 308 runs scored, 83 homers, 360 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.
[the_ad id=”693″]Charlie Tilson, OF, Chicago White Sox – 24-year old lefty swinging Charlie Tilson was supposed to open the 2017 season as the White Sox’ starting CF. But, he had a stress reaction in his right foot in spring training which caused him to start this year on the disabled list. Tilson brings speed to the table and stolen bases are hard to find these days. He played in 100 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 99 of 351 (.282 avg., .753 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 4 homers, 34 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. He has now played in 473 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 538 of 1,836 (.293 avg., .738 OPS) with 265 runs scored, 19 homers, 154 RBI, and 89 stolen bases. Tilson should have no problem getting the starting job in CF back the day he is deemed healthy enough to return to action. The White Sox have a time share in CF so far this year between 25-year old switch hitting Jacob May and 26-year old switch hitting Leury Garcia. May has played in 8 games so far this year for the Pale Hose and he is 0 for 21 (.000 avg., .087 OPS) with 1 run scored and 2 RBI. Garcia has played in 9 games so far this year for the White Sox and he is 5 for 22 (.227 avg., .701 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers, 0 RBI and 1 stolen base.
Raimel Tapia, OF, Colorado Rockies – The Rockies are kind of stacked in the outfield right now, but, 23-year old lefty swinging Raimel Tapia is worth a stash spot on your roster. He has played in 2 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 0 for 7 (.000 avg., .000 OPS) so far this year. Tapia got his first taste of the show last year with the Rockies when he played in 22 games in which he was 10 for 38 (.263 avg., 556 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 0 homers, 3 RBI, and 3 stolen bases. He also played in 128 games in AA+AAA-ball in 2016 in which he was 173 of 528 (.328 avg., .819 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 8 homers, 48 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. Tapia has now played in 584 games in seven years in the minors and he is 741 of 2,328 (.318 avg., .813 OPS) with 382 runs scored, 37 homers, 314 RBI, and 122 stolen bases. Tapia came into this season as the Rockies’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. Tapia has a huge upside, so be the smart owner that stashes him on your roster right now and laugh at the rest of your league down the road!
Tyler O’Neill, OF, Seattle Mariners – 21-year old righty swinging Tyler O’Neill came into this season as the Mariners’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. He is off to a slow start in AAA so far this year. He has played in 10 games in AAA-ball so far this year in which he is 8 for 37 (.216 avg., .736 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers, 5 RBI and 1 stolen base. O’Neill was outstanding in AA-ball last year for the Mariners. He played in 130 games in AA-ball for the Mariners last year and he was 144 of 492 (.293 avg., .882 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 24 homers, 102 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. He has now played in 335 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 347 of 1,267 (.274 avg., .858 OPS) with 186 runs scored, 72 homers, 249 RBI, and 36 stolen bases. O’Neill will give you power numbers when he arrives in the show, but he could hurt your batting average a little bit, as he has whiffed 410 times in his minor league career so far. Outfielders Jarrod Dyson and Leonys Martin are both off to horrible starts with the bat in 2017 for the Mariners, so if O’Neill starts raking in AAA, he could get a call to the show soon.
Brent Honeywell, SP, Tampa Bay Rays – 22-year old righty starting pitcher Brent Honeywell came into this season as the Rays’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. He has just been promoted to AAA by the Rays and is one injury away from pitching in the show. He has started 2 games in AA-ball this year for the Rays and he was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.62 WHIP. Honeywell pounds the strike zone and he has a full arsenal of pitches including a screwball, which is rare these days! He has pitched in 55 games (54 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 19-11 with a 2.56 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He has only given up 227 hits and 62 walks while whiffing 306 batters in his first 292 1/3 innings in the minors so far in his career. Grab him and stash him right now!
[the_ad id=”471″]Mike Clevinger, SP, Cleveland Indians – 26-year old righty starting pitcher Mike Clevinger had a rough first taste of the show in 2016 for the Tribe. He pitched in 17 games (10 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 3-3 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Clevinger has been lights out in AAA-ball for the Tribe so far this year, so he wants a second chance! He has started 3 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP. Clevinger has only given up 9 hits and 5 walks in his first 19 innings in the minors this year while whiffing 25 batters! Clevinger could be another bad start or two from Josh Tomlin away from a call from the Indians. Tomlin has started 2 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 0-2 with an 18.47 ERA and a 2.68 WHIP! Tomlin has given up 15 hits (2 homers) and 2 walks while whiffing 6 batters in his first 6 1/3 innings for the Tribe so far this year, so opposing batters have been running up to the plate when he’s on the pitcher’s mound so far in 2017!
Ryan O’Hearn, 1B, Kansas City Royals – 23-year old lefty swinging 1B Ryan O’Hearn came into this season as the Royals’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. He has played in 9 games in AAA-ball for the Royals so far this year and he is 8 for 34 (.235 avg., .816 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBI. O’Hearn has now played in 334 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 361 of 1,260 (.287 avg., .865 OPS) with 183 runs scored, 64 homers, 213 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. If the Royals fall out of contention by July 31st, I see them dealing Eric Hosmer to a contender (as he is in his free agent walk year). If the Royals are going for it on July 31st, then O’Hearn becomes great trade bait. Either way, I see O’Hearn playing in the show at some point in 2017.