Minor League Barometer: Risers & Fallers

Information is out regarding where prospects will be placed when the minor league season begins this week. As has previously been mentioned in this column, it will be intriguing to see which phenoms go where in light of the canceled 2020 campaign. For example, Bobby Witt of the Kansas City Royals is headed to Double-A. While there were rumors he could make the big league squad directly out of spring training, he has yet to play at even Low-A since being drafted in 2019. While those stashing Witt in redraft leagues may be disappointed with this assignment, he could nevertheless advance quickly to the majors if he mashes like he did this past March.

We will finally get some game action this week in the minors. Let's take a look at some prospects ready to make some noise for their respective squads.

UPGRADE

Max Meyer, P, MIA – Meyer is expected to start Tuesday's season opener for Double-A Pensacola despite being drafted last year and never pitching in an affiliated game. This aggressive assignment should only show just how highly he is thought of in the Marlins organization. Meyer boasts a devastating slider and a fastball that can hit 100mph. The development of a changeup will set the tone to see just how good he can be, with the expectation he'll see the big leagues as early as next season.

Adley Rutschman, C, BAL – Rutschman will start at Double-A, a sign he could see the big leagues towards the end of the 2021 campaign. He rates as one of the better catching prospects to come along in recent years, and the Orioles are starved for offense currently 26th in runs scored per game. Rutschman offers the ability to hit for both power and average at an extremely thin offensive position, making him an ultra-valuable fantasy commodity.

Shane McClanahan, P, TB – The Rays get knocked for the handling of their starters from a fantasy perspective, but they seem to churn out hard-throwing pitchers from the farm system.  McClanahan was called up for a start last week and flashed his electric stuff. One particular pitch went viral, a filthy 101-mph four-seam fastball which the southpaw was able to tail away from a right-handed hitter. McClanahan also throws a power sinker, a changeup harder than some other pitcher's fastballs, and can even mix in a curveball now and again. The 24-year-old allowed two runs on five hits in four innings while fanning five and not walking anyone. The line was decent, but the stuff was elite. At this point in time, McClanahan is expected to remain as a starter and that would keep his value up even on a team like the Rays.

Josiah Gray, P, LAD – The top four hurlers in the Dodgers' rotation remain as dominant as expected, with Trevor Bauer, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler all pitching like aces and Julio Urias coming into his own. Dustin May had occupied the No. 5 starter slot, but unfortunately he'll require Tommy John surgery. David Price and Tony Gonsolin, who both could have been options to fill that No. 5 slot, are also hurt. That could leave Gray as a legitimate option. Manager Dave Roberts did not seem to take the bait when asked about the possibility of calling up Gray, although he could just be playing coy. Gray is the organization's top pitching prospect and likely would have made his MLB debut in 2020 if not for the COVID-shortened season. The Dodgers may want to keep Gray down a bit longer to hone his craft or they may be left with no choice but to give him a shot.

CHECK STATUS

Jasson Dominguez, OF, NYY – Be wary of misinformation, as it had previously been reported that "The Martian" would be assigned to High-A, which would have been extremely aggressive for Dominguez. Those reports have since been refuted and instead the 18-year-old will be held back in extended Spring Training. It's important to remember the leagues below Low-A have been eliminated, so each organization will likely handle their teenaged prospects a little differently. The lack of affiliate assignment does nothing to dim the future prospects of Dominguez and his outrageous physical gifts and only further highlights the choices at each club's disposal.

Asa Lacy, P, KC – The polished No. 2 selection in the 2020 Draft has been assigned to High-A when games begin this week, an aggressive - albeit, not surprising - promotion. Lacy will start right out of the gate and the Royals have indicated he will not be limited in terms of innings. This is a strong indication that if successful early, he could skyrocket to the big leagues. KC have already started quickly promoting pitching prospects to the majors, with Daniel Lynch and Kris Bubic joining Brady Singer on the pitching staff just this past week. Lacy is a power lefty who will need to refine his command, but he boasts the potential for four stellar pitches and a rotation anchor.

Pedro Leon, SS, HOU – Leon is an intriguing player to watch for the Astros. Carlos Correa is a free agent at the end of the season while fellow shortstop prospect Jeremy Pena underwent wrist surgery and will miss the next few months. Meanwhile, Leon will turn 23 at the end of the month and will start the season at Double-A.  He is expected to hit for both average and power while also displaying a cannon for an arm, something that may allow him to be more versatile and even move out from shortstop if need be. Leon is expected to play the bulk of his games at shortstop this season, but some outfield work also appears to be in the cards. There will certainly be an adjustment for him as he can be a bit too impatient at times at the dish, but he's flying slightly under the radar and has the chance to be a superstar.

Robert Hassell, OF, SD – Padres officials are apparently drooling over Hassell's potential, as the 19-year-old with the sweet left-handed stroke was the No. 8 overall selection in 2020. He's more hit than power, but is expected to fill out and gain some strength as he matures. Hassell also has some speed and could end up playing centerfield for the Padres. He's still a ways away from making a big-league impact, so a lot can happen until now and his ETA to the bigs (2024?).  Still, Hassell is definitely a name to keep on your radar.

DOWNGRADE

Kristian Robinson, OF, ARI – Robinson has had some off-field/personal issues that will delay his start to 2021. At the time of this writing, he remains in his native Bahamas attempting to renew his visa. Robinson is a beast, with mammoth raw power and stellar speed. I have viewed him as Julio Rodriguez-lite in the past. However, it remains to be seen how he will be affected not only by the off-diamond drama, but also with the lack of developmental time in terms of his hit tool lagging slightly behind his extraordinary athleticism and physical gifts. Robinson remains a potential impact prospect, but his path to the big leagues may take a bit longer than anticipated.

Ethan Hankins, P, CLE – Hankins reportedly suffered an unspecified elbow injury, which is certainly not what Cleveland wants to hear about one of the top pitching prospects. The severity of the ailment is currently unknown. There's also the issue of his fastball velocity, which has oddly trended down. The idea would appear to be to sacrifice a few ticks off the radar gun for better command/control, but the fastball was one of the main reasons Hankins was viewed as a possible frontline rotation piece in the first place. He offers a good slider and his changeup should look solid, but the expectations  appear to have been bumped him down a notch or two. Add in possible elbow issues and things suddenly look a bit murkier for Hankins.

Ed Howard, SS, CHC – Will Howard's bat catch up to his glove? Will he hit enough to become a relevant fantasy prospect? Howard has elite bat speed and can really hammer the baseball and is expected to fill out and hit plenty of home runs in the big leagues. He's expected to begin the season at Low-A Myrtle Beach and his bat will be tested right away in pitcher-friendly confines.  Howard's arm and glove will allow him to stay at shortstop, but his swing mechanics need some work and the Cubs will be tasked with getting Howard to unlock a consistent hit tool to pair with the rest of his skills. That's not to say it cannot happen, but Howard will be punching above his weight from the very start with no developmental leagues below Low-A. It will be important to exercise patience with him, who should be viewed as a long-term investment.