The heat of the summer is getting the best of some veteran players. Seemingly half the stars in baseball are on the IL which means that someone has to take their place. This year that likely means a prospect that you need to know about. That’s why we bring you The Irish Report: Summer Prospects 2.0. As always follow me at @TWS_Irish.
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Fantasy Baseball Prospect News and Notes
Colton Cowser a borderline top-10 prospect was called up and made his debut last night going 1-3. A hit-first tool he should fit in nicely to the youth movement in Baltimore…
The Twins have promoted young 20-year-old pitcher Marco Raya to AA. He has been dominant with a 2.95 ERA almost striking out 30% of batters. Did I mention he’s only 20?…
One of my favorites in the suddenly sneaky good Rangers farm system, Josh Stephen, has been promoted to AA after posting a 2.17 ERA in High A…
Grant Hartwig was mentioned here several weeks ago as being a reliable option going forward if he were to get the call-up. He has pitched 8.2 innings with an ERA of 1.04…
Our boy Jhonny Brito was sent back down after putting up two pretty good starts. 10.2 innings only allowing two earned runs. We should see our hero soon…
Logan Allen was sent down for Cal Quantrill. He sported a 3.47 ERA but his WHIP was 1.44. I think we will see him back before long. Quantrill has been smashed for ten earned in two starts since Allen’s demotion [Editor’s Note: Quantrill has now been placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation but it was Cody Morris who got the call to replace him]…
Another Rangers prospect, Alex Speas has been promoted to AAA after posting a 0.64 ERA in AA. This could be a quick stop. Speas is 25 and posting an almost 15 K/9…
Former local boy for me from New Mexico State University, Nick Gonzales was promoted by the Pirates early last week and has lived up to the hype. Always thought of having a borderline elite hit tool, Gonzales is hitting .314 in 11 games played since being called up….
Under-the-Radar Prospects
Christian Scott, Mets
This is a name we could see in a matter of days or weeks if the Mets were to get another pitching injury. At 24 years old, Christian Scott is a very underrated piece in the Mets farm system. Dominic Hamel and Mike Vasil are getting all the hype, but Scott is a big pitcher that could really eat some innings. Above-average control anchors a fairly average set of pitches but the home-grown youth is what the doctor ordered after the blunders of trades and free agency chasing pitching.
Brandon Barriera, Blue Jays
Currently top 10 in most rankings for the Blue Jays, I have Brandon Barriera on my list due to age. One of the youngest pitchers at the single-A level, Barriera is part of the Blue Jays’ long-term plans. Offering three plus pitches at only age 18 to pair with an above-average tool, the future is bright. I wouldn’t plan to see Barriera on an MLB field anytime soon but the sky is the limit.
Santiago Suarez, Rays
Santiago Suarez doesn’t turn 19 until next January but is dominating in rookie ball so far. The parade of good prospects continues for the Rays. A good fastball/curveball combo at 18 that can only get better, Suarez has a long way to go but if he continues like this, he should start in low A in 2024.
Bonus coverage
Ozzie Albies of the Braves has 22 home runs and 63 RBIs. He’s on pace for 44 home runs and 126 RBIs. While these are numbers, we have seen various times in history they aren’t normal numbers for players that play Second Base.
To put into perspective in my opinion the best two seasons for a Second Baseman are as follows:
Rogers Hornsby: 1925 Season, 39 HR, 143 RBIs, AVG .403, OBP .489
Rogers Hornsby: 1922 Season, 42 HR, 152 RBIs, AVG .401, OBP .459
Modern Era
Jeff Kent: 33 HR, 125 RBIs, AVG .334, OBP .424
While Albies average isn’t going to compare when you look at the average, he is putting together one of the best statistical seasons for a Second Baseman ever. It has been fun watching a piece of history.