Back in late May when I updated my Top 300 MLB Prospect Rankings, Vinnie Pasquantino was highlighted in that update as a big riser. The rising continues up the fantasy baseball rankings for the MLB top prospect. On June 27th, the Kansas City Royals called up Pasquantino after making a trade to ship Carlos Santana to the Seattle Mariners. The Royals' first baseman could be a popular fantasy baseball waiver wire target for managers looking for an offensive jolt. Pasquantino would be a nice fantasy baseball lineup replacement if you have a starter or two on the MLB injury report. With the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline approaching soon, keep an eye on the latest fantasy baseball news as moves are made and more MLB top prospects are called up. I had suggested Pasquantino was on his way to Kansas City from Triple-A Omaha back in late May — one month later, that’s the case. Let's take a closer look at the newest MLB rookie and his fantasy baseball MLB projections and expectations this season.

 

 

Vinnie Pasquantino MLB Prospect Report

 

 

The call-up of Vinnie Pasquantino is a potentially big boost for the Royals’ lineup as they continue to bring their next core up to the majors. We’ll now get to see him and Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel, and others start to gel in that starting nine. At the time of the late-May Prospect Report, this is what I had to say about the first baseman: 

"A late bloomer. That’s the best way to describe Vinnie Pasquantino at this point starting as a junior in college at Old Dominion. Since that season, he’s been a remarkably consistent hitter with a high average and a very good power stroke. He has one of the prettiest swings in the minors and an approach that’s just as good, having produced a .298/.388/.585 slash line in 215 minor league games, 42 of which have come at Triple-A Omaha. In addition to the good slash line, he’s hit 50 homers in that span while walking 115 times. He’s shown enough at every level to be up very soon with Kansas City as they have a hole to fill at either 1B or DH. Don’t be surprised if he’s a top-five fantasy first baseman as soon as next year.”

Since then, Pasquantino has added another 27 games played at Triple-A Omaha this year. The stat line in that span is very good as well. Over the 250 at-bats, Pasquantino has slashed .280/.372/.576 with a .402 wOBA and 144 wRC+ with 18 homers, 67 RBI, 51 runs, and three steals. In addition to that, his walk rate is higher than his strikeout rate (12.5-percent to 12.2-percent) for the second-straight year. He is a very good offensive first baseman and has the defense to not be a liability at the spot as well.

If Pasquantino is available in your league, he should be picked up immediately. The power is real and he profiles as a 30-plus home run bat in the middle-of-the-order with a high average and an even better on-base percentage. The handful of steals won’t stick in the majors, but the run production is serious. The shipping of Carlos Santana out of town means Pasquantino will get all of the first base or DH at-bats going forward and there’s no real threat to him being sent down to the minors again either. He has the makings of a top-five first baseman going forward and should be a staple near the top of the position for a long time to come.

 

 

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