There’s been a ton of new MLB injuries around the league. With those injuries has come a rash of MLB prospect promotions to MLB lineups. However, just because they’re being called up, does that mean they’ll help you in fantasy baseball? 

 

 

 

MLB Prospects Who Were Recently Promoted

We’ll try and answer that previously-posed question by looking at guys like Adam Mazur, Blake Dunn, DJ Herz, Connor Norby and others. We’ll also take a stab at figuring out some MLB prospects that may head to the Chicago White Sox from the San Diego Padres if Garrett Crochet is traded.

Cade Povich — LHP Baltimore Orioles

It shouldn’t come as a shock that the Orioles are adding to their rotation given the John Means and Tyler Wells news this week. That help is coming in the form of Povich. The southpaw has been masterful at Triple-A Norfolk this year through 56.2 he’s posted a 3.18 ERA with 75 Ks and a 1.11 WHIP. 

His fastball sits in the mid-90s and touches 96 with high spin rates that make it more swing-and-miss than it seems on the surface. The changeup is his main secondary pitch and flashes plus more often than not while the slider and curveball are at least average. When he has all four pitches working in a start, he’s a number two starter. 

However, when he’s not spotting the breaking pitches and the feel isn’t there for the change, it can get rough. The hope is he can get more consistent and be closer to a low-end number two starter than the backend starter Povich is when only two of the four pitches are working.

Connor Norby — 2B/OF Baltimore Orioles

It’s been more than a year in the making for Norby. He had a great 2023, all at Triple-A Norfolk, with a .290 AVG 40 doubles, 21 HR, and 10 steals. Then he started where he left off in 2024. The Orioles have seemingly had a never-ending rotation of young bats coming up so far this year, but Norby might be the one that sticks for the longest. 

Why? He does everything well and is coming up with the least fanfare. There’s not one standout trait for Norby, it’s just a very good total package with every trait being at least MLB-average if not above-average. The right-handed hitter is patient at the plate and has a time-tested approach that leads to not only good contact but good on-base marks too. 

With him being capable of playing second and all three outfield spots, the flexibility should help him stay up as well. Then there’s that he hit a HR in his MLB debut that can’t hurt either right?

Adam Mazur — RHP San Diego Padres

With both Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove on the IL for the Padres, they needed a piece for their rotation. That’s where Mazur’s call up comes in. The 6’2”, lanky, 23-year-old righty put up very good numbers in the Padres’ system since being taken with the 53rd overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. 

Sitting mid-90s with the fastball, but touching 98, his arsenal is anchored by that above-average pitch while using his 60-grade slider as a true out pitch. The other two pitches, a curveball and changeup, are at least average with some room to improve. Over 147.1 IP in the minors since being drafted, Mazur has posted a 3.18 ERA and FIP around that mark as well. 

His 140:26 K:BB ratio is among the best in the minors in that time and is giving some, including myself some George Kirby vibes. He’ll never be an elite top of the rotation or frontline starter type, but a very good mid-rotation starter with high-strikeout and low-walk results is what Mazur is.

 

 

 

Justyn-Henry Malloy — OF Detroit Tigers

After being drafted in the 6th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by Atlanta, he was sent to Detroit in return for Joe Jimenez. Regardless of the level, or organization, Malloy’s skill set shown through well. Across 350 MiLB games the righty-hitting outfielder slashed .278/.410/.462 with 51 HR, 226 R, 212 RBI, and 17 steals while adding 73 doubles to his stat line too. 

The Hit tool is above-average to start with but plays up thanks to his outstanding approach at the plate and drawing walks (270 in 350 games). The Speed is below-average in terms of stealing bags but he’s quick enough to run down balls in the corner outfield spots. The 24-year-old is expected to be another piece for the middle of the Tigers’ lineup for a while to come.

Blake Dunn — OF Cincinnati Reds

The turnover in the Cincy outfield continues with Dunn’s promotion. The 25-year-old 15th-rounder in the 2021 MLB Draft had a breakout year in 2023 across two levels of the minors. Over 123 games and 458 at-bats last year, Dunn slashed .312/.425/.522 with 23 HR, 107 R, 79 RBI, and 54 SB and 22 XBH. 

Overall, Dunn has an average Hit and Power tool while possessing above-average speed that plays up thanks to his baseball IQ. The counting stats through 44 games at Triple-A Louisville though the slash line was not quite up to snuff. We’ll have to see if that trend continues with his time in Cincinnati but it’s possible that Dunn’s first trip to the majors might be short-lived.

DJ Herz — LHP Washington Nationals

The great start to the year for Trevor Williams in the Nationals’ rotation has been blunted by a trip to the IL. To fill his spot, at least for the time being, is DJ Herz making his MLB debut. The southpaw was part of the return from the Cubs in the Jeimer Candelario trade at the 2023 Trade Deadline. 

There’s no doubt that Herz has nasty stuff with a plus-Fastball, double-plus-Changeup, and above-average Slider. However, his well-below-average control mitigates the results his stuff should produce. Over his 317.2, in 83 MiLB starts, Herz has produced a whopping 455 Ks but also 208 free passes. To put that in perspective, he’s only given up 198 hits in that same time. 

If he’d cut the walks down by 25% to 156, that alone would drop his WHIP from 1.28 to 1.11 in those innings. He continues, and will continue, to get chances at starting but at some point, the control will move him to the bullpen where his stuff can function as a late-inning strikeout reliever.

Ryan Bliss — 2B/SS Seattle Mariners

The Mariners, looking for a bit more excitement on the base paths, have promoted their middle infield prospect Ryan Bliss. The 24-year-old has been tearing up the base paths in the minors for the last two and half years with at least 28 steals a year in that span. That includes 28 in 50 games at Triple-A this year. Coming with that speed is an ability to get on base well with a career .347 OBP in 327 games, despite just a .262 AVG. 

The Mariners have needed a guy who can get on base and more and steal bags for a little while and that’s where Bliss fits. He can also play the role of super utility defender with an ability to play second, short, and a bit of outfield as well. If you need steals and OBP, Bliss may help as he already has 3 steals in 6 games in Seattle with a .333 OBP despite a .091 AVG.

 

 

 

MLB Trade Candidates

The biggest name that has been floated as a traded candidate this year has been Garrett Crochet. The San Diego Padres just lost Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove for a while and need help in the rotation. They’re targeting Crochet for that help. With 2.5 seasons of control left, what will it take to get Crochet from the White Sox? Likely some big name prospects. Let’s take a stab at who could be involved.

I’ll preface this with this: The top two prospects being asked for are Ethan Salas, an 18-year-old catcher, and Leo De Vries, an 18-year-old shortstop who was the prize of this recent international class. The Padres’ are unlikely to move either of them in this deal. If they do it’d be a great haul for the White Sox who need a lot of top end talent in their system.

Robby Snelling (LHP) & Dylan Lesko (RHP)

If the Padres want a young, relatively proven, starter, they may have to give up young starting prospects on the mound. Both Snelling and Lesko fit that bill as they’re both 20-year-olds with front end starter upside and stuff. Snelling has the better command and control while still having between plus and above-average stuff. 

Lesko on the other hand, literally, has double-plus and plus pitches but has control issues that have led to a high walk rate. Either guy, with the right development would be an adequate replacement for Crochet.

Graham Pauley — 3B/2B/OF

We got a taste of Pauley in the majors earlier this year in SD before he was sent back down to Triple-A El Paso. The fact that Pauley is an MLB-ready, versatile bat could help fill holes in the White Sox lineup that are gaping at this point. 

The above-average Hit tool and average Power will play nicely in the fair park that is Guaranteed Rate Field, especially given the multi-positional ability that Pauley has from the left-side of the dish.

 

 

 

Homer Bush Jr. — OF

One thing the White Sox desperately need in their system is speed. They don’t have much of any among their top-20 prospects. Bush has that in spades, and hearts and clubs and diamonds to complete the deck. It’s a 70-grade, minimum, tool for Bush which has led him to swipe 48 bags in 92 minor league games so far. 

The Hit tool is above-average as well which helps the steals chances. On the other hand, he’s got below-average power in the range of 10-15 dingers a year. While the White Sox have decent outfielders in the system, the speed is the difference maker for Bush in his inclusion in the package.

Victor Lizarraga — RHP

If the Padres want to try and offer another young arm in the deal instead of their top pieces, Lizarraga could be that arm. The 20-year-old righty who was signed in March of 2021, has been making his way through the San Diego system pretty well having made it to Double-A San Antonio already. 

Possessing a four-pitch mix that is between average and above-average, he’s amassed a 236:97 K:BB ratio in his 249.1. While not electric, it is fitting that he’s a mid-rotation or number-four starter who needs to learn to miss a bit more bats to help the ratios a tad.

Lamar King Jr. — C

If the White Sox still want a young backstop with upside, King could fit in this package. The Hit tool is a tad below-average, but that’s to be expected at the catcher spot. The Power, Field, and Arm though are all above-average for the 20-year-old former 4th-round pick. 

He’s missed some time in the development so far with injuries, including a torn ACL, but he’s still young enough that he can make that up by logging innings behind the dish. Overall, we’re talking about a .240 AVG with 25 or so home runs and burgeoning Gold Glove defense from King.