Fantasy Baseball Prospect Report – Bazzana Finally Back From Injury

Roster moves, trades, and injuries are starting to make the waters of MLB prospects churn a little faster. For our fantasy baseball teams, this means new players who have yet to make fantasy impressions coming up for their first evaluations. For other teams, trades in the coming week could open lots of playing time for potential prospects.

This is the time of year when prospects are traded, players are called up, injuries force new players into the big leagues, and roster moves are frequent. This is what they mean when they talk about the dog days of summer in fantasy baseball. Staying on top of this news is important right now.

As players graduate to the Major Leagues, new names will always take their place as the season goes along, but for now, some prospects are just starting to get their first shots. All stats are as of games completed on July 20th. Today’s piece will focus on the most relevant prospect news from around the minor leagues, focusing on some injury news and those who have recently been called up for various big league roles.

Now, coming out of the All-Star Break and with the trade deadline just about a week away, let’s take stock of where some of the Top 100 are right now.

Fantasy Baseball Prospect Report

Chase DeLauter, CLE, OF

Chase DeLauter, one of the top prospects in the Cleveland organization and someone who was supposed to make his debut this year, has not played since July 11 due to a wrist injury. The problem is serious enough that DeLauter will visit a specialist this week to try and determine what is going on. DeLauter was hitting .278/.383/.476 with five homers in 34 games before the injury in AAA.

Cam Schlittler, NYY, SP

An arm injury scare isn’t going to keep Cam Schlittler from making his next start on Tuesday against the Blue Jays. In his first MLB start, Schlittler gave up three runs and struck out seven batters in 5.1 innings, earning him a longer leash in the Yankees’ rotation. Schlittler has amazing strikeout stuff, and the Yankees hope he can keep his home runs under contro,l which is what hurt him in the first outing.

Michael McGreevy, STL, SP

Michael McGreevy is getting called up to start Monday night in Colorado against the Rockies. Matthew Libertore is getting a start skipped, and McGreevy gets the call, although not in the easiest of locations as he draws Coors Field. McGreevy does have 21 innings pitched in the majors this season, and has a 4.22 ERA with 16 strikeouts. A strong audition in Colorado could lead to more time in the rotation the rest of the season.

Jack Perkins, ATH, SP/RP

The Athletics need pitching help badly, and it’s possible that help in the rotation could come from Jack Perkins before the end of the season. Recently, Perkins was called up, and he is serving as the long man in the bullpen. So far, Perkins has a 2.84 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 12.2 Major League innings. It’s likely just a matter of time before Perkins gets some starts for the Athletics.

Samuel Basallo, BAL, C/1B

One of the best hitters in AAA is now sidelined with an oblique injury, with a severity that is unknown at this time. The Orioles’ top catching prospect will be out at least a couple of games, which halts his path to the Major Leagues at least for the time being. So far in AAA, Basallo has a .264/.383/.591 line with 19 homers and 48 RBI through 62 games with Norfolk. Basallo should get a call-up at some point this season.

Travis Bazzana, CLE, 2B

Travis Bazzana is off the IL after two months with an oblique injury and played Friday night. He went 2-for-4 in his first game back, and played nine innings of a 10-inning game. He continues to play second base, which will eventually be his position with the Guardians. His path to MLB took a hit with this injury, but the top pick from last year’s draft appears to be ready to make a case for his promotion to AAA soon.

Adrian Del Castillo, ARI, C

Adrian Del Castillo got his MLB career started with a three-hit game over the weekend, and he appears to be taking over the Pavin Smith DH role while Smith is on the injured list. He only played 14 games for AAA before he was called up, but slashed .288/.386/.559 with four home runs. Del Castillo now has five hits and two RBI in his first three games, and has a bat that very well could be Major League ready and here to stay.

Owen Caissie, CHC, OF

Own Caissie has been dominating AAA Iowa with 19 home runs in 72 games, including a .951 OPS this season. The problem for Caissie, however, is that despite being such a good prospect, he has nowhere to play this season with Kyle Tucker, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Pete Crow-Armstrong all hitting very well. MLB.com reported that Caissie could be included in the right trade if the Cubs think he will help them add a piece that gets them to the World Series. However, if he stays, Caissie looks to take over an outfield spot if Kyle Tucker leaves in free agency next season.

Bryce Eldridge, SFG, 1B

Bryce Eldridge is on his way back from a hamstring injury and started a rehab assignment at the Giants’ rookie-level league this weekend. With Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers on the roster, Bryce Edleidge might not get a long look, or a look at all, this season. But he has hit 10 home runs in 50 minor league games this season and provides some much-needed power for this Giants’ lineup.

Luke Keaschall, MIN, 2B

In even more injury news, Luke Keaschall – a top infield prospect for the Minnesota Twins – began a rehand assignment this weekend after being out since April with a fractured right ulna bone. He was smoking hot in the Majors prior to the injury, but this has been a long road back for the talented prospect. He will need to basically start over this season and work his game back into shape.

Ricky Tiedemann, TOR, SP

Anybody remember Ricky Tiedemann? The highly-touted pitching prospect was a third-round pick in 2021 for Toronto, but has been on the shelf rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in July 2024. He is now throwing bullpens again and has apparently reached 95 miles per hour just one year after having the procedure. Tiedemann is still just 22 years old and has a lot of promise in his potential MLB career. But even with this progress, his days in Toronto’s rotation will probably have to wait until 2026.