This article is part of our Minor League Barometer series.
We hope this article finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy during these uncertain times. We can all take a cue from the unprecedented moves to postpone and/or cancel virtually all sports to practice social distancing to try to flatten the curve and stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
There's no telling when the baseball season will resume. In the interim, we will continue with the content you have become accustomed to and attempt to maintain some sense of normalcy. While there is nothing normal or usual about the current circumstances, if fantasy baseball can provide even a temporary reprieve from the anxiety and stresses of this situation, that is a victory.
So please enjoy the Minor League Barometer from the comfort of your own home. Stay healthy, stay safe and be considerate of those who may be more susceptible.
UPGRADE
Riley Greene, OF, DET – Before the hiatus, Riley Greene was 5-for-12 (.417) with two home runs and four RBIs in spring training. Not bad for a teenager who won't turn 20 until September. A first-round draft pick of the Tigers last year, Greene finished the season at Low-A, though didn't exactly tear the cover off of the ball. While he was not projected to hit the big leagues this year, he could be moved quickly through the system, though, if he returns with a hot bat whenever play resumes. The Tigers are bereft of hitting prospects aside from Greene, and the current outfield at the
We hope this article finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy during these uncertain times. We can all take a cue from the unprecedented moves to postpone and/or cancel virtually all sports to practice social distancing to try to flatten the curve and stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
There's no telling when the baseball season will resume. In the interim, we will continue with the content you have become accustomed to and attempt to maintain some sense of normalcy. While there is nothing normal or usual about the current circumstances, if fantasy baseball can provide even a temporary reprieve from the anxiety and stresses of this situation, that is a victory.
So please enjoy the Minor League Barometer from the comfort of your own home. Stay healthy, stay safe and be considerate of those who may be more susceptible.
UPGRADE
Riley Greene, OF, DET – Before the hiatus, Riley Greene was 5-for-12 (.417) with two home runs and four RBIs in spring training. Not bad for a teenager who won't turn 20 until September. A first-round draft pick of the Tigers last year, Greene finished the season at Low-A, though didn't exactly tear the cover off of the ball. While he was not projected to hit the big leagues this year, he could be moved quickly through the system, though, if he returns with a hot bat whenever play resumes. The Tigers are bereft of hitting prospects aside from Greene, and the current outfield at the big-league level is quite lackluster. As such, despite no incentive to rush Greene to the bigs, the sheer lack of outfield depth and/or talent could lead to a quick rise.
Nick Solak, 3B/OF, TEX – The Rangers have been trying to find a place for Solak to play in the field because his bat should be in their starting lineup. Solak does a lot of things pretty well with the bat. He hit 27 home runs at Triple-A last season, then batted .293 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and two steals in a 24 game stint with the big club in September. Solak doesn't exactly have a position now. He could play left field if Willie Calhoun is slow to return from his jaw injury, but he has also seen reps at second and third. He likely will be shuffled around the diamond once the season begins because he has the ability to hit for average, get on base and also hit the ball out of the ballpark.
Michael Kopech, P, CHW – Kopech is an extremely high upside arm who is making his way back from Tommy John surgery. He has struggled with command at times, and command is usually the last item to return to a pitcher following the surgery, so it is not surprising that many pundits are worried about what to expect from Kopech in 2020. However, he can hit triple-digits on the radar gun, his strikeout totals were off the charts in the minors and he is still just 23. Add possible struggles for Reynaldo Lopez, and Gio Gonzalez barely functioning as a No. 5 starter these days, and Kopech will get his chance to strut his stuff once the season begins. He is simply too talented to keep down in the minors for long, even coming back from Tommy John surgery on a possible innings limit.
Jose Urquidy, P, HOU – Urquidy came from virtual anonymity to become a legitimate contributor for a World Series team by the end of the 2019 campaign. With Gerrit Cole signing with the Yankees, Urquidy's slot in the starting rotation in 2020 seems even more certain. Urquidy posted a 40:7 K:BB in 41.0 innings in 2019 for the big club. He has strong command as indicated, and even if the hitters on his own team don't know what pitches are coming this season, they should still score him plenty of runs. Urquidy appears to be going later in drafts than he actually should given his control, ability to miss bats and favorable team situation.
CHECK STATUS
Nico Hoerner, 2B, CHC – Second base is a crowded position for the Cubbies. Javier Baez shifted to shortstop with Addison Russell gone, but Chicago held onto Kris Bryant despite the trade rumors, so it is set at third for the time being as well. The Cubs then added veteran help in Jason Kipnis, to go with Daniel Descalso and David Bote. Hoerner clearly has the most upside of those options, but the Cubs still are likely in "win-now" mode. As a result, patience with Hoerner, despite his upside and polish, could be at a minimum.
Joey Bart, C, SF – The face of the Giants, Buster Posey, could be hanging up his cleats soon. He will turn 34 when his contract ends following the 2021 season, and the Giants seem to have a more than capable replacement who is nearly ready to take the reins. Bart is a stellar defensive catcher with home run pop, swatting 16 home runs 79 games between High-A and Double-A. Bart had a torrid start to spring, hitting 7-for-16 (.438) with two home runs. He will still start the season in the minors whenever that begins, but it may not be long before Bart forces the organization's hand.
Patrick Sandoval, P, LAA – Sandoval is an intriguing arm for the Halos, who admittedly have a plethora of mediocre pitchers in line for 2020. Sandoval misses bats; he fanned 42 batters in 39.1 innings during his stint in the big leagues a season ago, and that type of ratio is generally consistent with what he has done throughout his minor league career as well. Of course, his ERA was also higher than 5.00 last season, and he struggled with command at times. That said, the Angels are expected to score runs, and how much can the likes of Julio Teheran, Andrew Heaney and Dylan Bundy really be trusted? The 23-year-old southpaw should get his chance at the starting rotation sooner rather than later once the season begins.
Daulton Varsho, C, ARI – Varsho is an intriguing catching prospect in that he actually has some speed, or at least knows how to run the bases. The athletic backstop stole 21 bases at Double-A Jacksonville last season. He also cracked 18 home runs while slashing .301/.378/.520 in 108 games. So why not more love? The Diamondbacks want him to play some outfield, which would increase his versatility but also decrease his fantasy value if he eventually ends up coming out from behind the plate for good. Carson Kelly may also be viewed as the catcher of the future for the D-Backs, though Varsho could still see enough playing time to retain fantasy eligibility. Varsho tore a ligament in his ankle in Japan during the offseason, so his return to his usual self is also worth monitoring, even with an extended layoff. Varsho is a capable hitter, though it remains to be seen if his speed and power will be enough to make him truly fantasy relevant once he hits the majors.
DOWNGRADE
Austin Hays, OF, BAL – Let's be honest; the Orioles projected starting lineup looks like a Triple-A squad. With the recent news of Trey Mancini undergoing surgery for colon cancer, the Orioles outfield looks extremely thin, so Hays should be given all the at-bats he can handle. He played well during a brief stint in September, hitting .309/.373/.574 with four home runs and 13 RBIs and two steals in 21 games. The big question for Hays is can he stay on the field. Since the end of his breakout 2017 campaign, he has battled an assortment of injuries, including but not limited to shoulder, thumb, ankle and hamstring issues. Hays could actually be the most talented player on the Baltimore roster, which is both promising and frightening at the same time. I'll believe Hays has that star potential when I see it for a consistent period.
Alex Kirilloff, 1B/OF, MIN – Coming off a breakout 2018 campaign, Kirilloff hurt his wrist at the beginning of 2019, limiting him to 94 games at Double-A. He hit .283/.343/.413 with nine home runs, 43 RBIs and seven steals over that span. It is likely the wrist injury hampered him even upon his return, but overall, there are doubts about his power potential. Even in his breakout season he clubbed just 20 home runs in 130 games. He's a pure hitter who will drive in runs, but power might not be his forte. There is also the issue concerning where he plays. The Twins have a glut at DH and 1B now due to the signing of Josh Donaldson to play third, and outfield isn't much better. Kirilloff is still just 22, but he has to prove he can stay healthy and hit for power, plus the Twins have to find a spot for him. As a result, he could end up spending a lot of time at Triple-A this year.
Alec Bohm, 3B, PHI – Bohm's production normalized once he hit Double-A last season, batting .269/.344/.500 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI in 63 games. Then there is the issue of his home vs. road splits. The home park for Double-A Reading is extremely hitter-friendly, as seen by the gargantuan numbers put up by the likes of Rhys Hoskins and Dylan Cozens. Like Kirilloff above, Bohm might not quite have the game power to become a star at a corner infield spot. He also has an issue in terms of where he will eventually play. With the signing of Didi Gregorius, Jean Segura shifts to third and Scott Kingery starts at second but will play all around the diamond. Rhys Hoskins now looks entrenched at first. With no DH in 2020 in the National League, the Phillies will find it difficult to find at-bats for Bohm, barring massive injuries. He is still viewed as the eventual third baseman of the future for the Phillies, but in the short term he is likely to bide his time in the minors, and the power numbers must start to show out.
Brendan McKay, P, TB – What do the Rays envision McKay's role being? That may perhaps be the most important question in terms of projecting what he will be for Tampa Bay in 2020. The Rays have three projected full-time starts in Blake Snell, Charlie Morton and Tyler Glasnow. Ryan Yarbrough pitched well as a starter down the stretch as well, but both he and McKay could be used as the type of opener the Rays have come to love so much the last season or two. McKay struggled toward the end of the season; though his strikeouts were fine, his home runs were up, and so was his ERA, higher than 5.00 in fact. What we do know is that McKay will no longer be a two-way player (no more hitting). The Rays have championship aspirations this season, and McKay's leash could be short. The Rays also have an excellent bullpen plus the two Shanes (McClanahan and Baz) waiting in the wings. McKay is talented for sure, but could be used as a true starter, as an opener, or even strictly out of the bullpen. As such, his fantasy value is up in the air.
