Top Fantasy Baseball Prospects & MLB Report - Week 13: The Halfway Point
We’re at the midway point of the 2024 MLB season and teams are starting to get desperate for healthy players. Some of those healthy players are coming from their farm systems. MLB prospects getting called up this week include Hayden Birdsong, Valente Bellozo, David Festa, and CJ Alexander.
Fantasy Baseball Prospects 2024: MLB Prospects On The Rise
Each of those are interesting for fantasy reasons, but we’re also going to look at prospects likely to come up sooner rather than later. Prospects like James Wood, Coby Mayo, and a sleeper like Steward Berroa could be in the majors shortly. It’s time to pay attention to these prospects for our MLB lineups and fantasy baseball rosters.
David Festa — RHP Minnesota Twins
Slated to start on Thursday for the Twins, Festa has been rolling at Triple-A St. Paul. The 13th rounder from the 2021 MLB Draft, he his four-pitch mix to rack up strikeouts at every stop he’s made in the Twins’ system. Only once, in less than 12 innings, has Festa posted a K/9 under 10.95. The ERAs, FIPs, and xFIPs have all been solid as well in those same spots.
The only real concern over his minor league career thus far has been the walks, somewhat. Each stop from High-A and above, the 60-grade Fastball, 55-grade Slide, 55-grade Changeup, and 45-grade Curveball have produced at least 3.16 BB/9. Festa profiles as a high-end number 3 starter for a big-league rotation with more strikeout upside than we usually see from that spot.
Hayden Birdsong — RHP San Francisco Giants
It’s been a heck of a start to the campaign for Birdsong over his first 13 starts. Over those 57.1 innings, between Double-A and Triple-A, the righty has posted an impressive 75:26 K:BB ratio and a combined 2.51 ERA. A sub-.200 BAA is also solid. The 6’4” righty has three pitches that are above-average to plus with a fourth offering that flirts with average.
The main pitch is a mid-90s fastball with really nice run that cuts in on right-handed hitters, while the main secondary pitches are his plus-curveball and above-average slider that keeps lefties and righties, respectively, at bay. The fourth pitch flirting with an average grade is the mid-80s changeup.
Valente Bellozo — RHP Miami Marlins
The Marlins are having to dig deep into the starting pitcher reserves at this point. With all of the injuries and moves they’ve made, Bellozo will be their 14th starting pitcher used. He’s not a flashy prospect by any means with a 5.02 ERA, 4.77 FIP, 3.95 xFIP and 1.27 WHIP over 52 IP between Double- and Triple-A this year. Bellozo has struck out a nice amount of hitters with a 9.86 K/9 and 25.6% K-rate.
Whether he sticks in the majors for more than one start has yet to be determined, but his first start facing the Royals went quite well. He pitched 5 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits and posting 2 strikeouts in those frames. Bellozo is nothing more than a backend starter with decent strikeout ability but whose stuff isn’t anything more than average.
CJ Alexander — 3B Kansas City Royals
Speaking of the Royals, they called up corner infielder CJ Alexander earlier this week. He was having a tremendous first half at Triple-A Omaha in which he slashed .323/.369/.555 with 9 HR, 42 R, 35 RBI, and 2 steals while adding 16 doubles and 4 triples as well. Kansas City is hoping the 27-year-old brings that hot start to their hot corner which has ranked 6th worst in MLB (based on wRC+).
The Power tool flashes plus for Alexander but nothing else is better than average, which includes the Hit tool. For those who are desperate for some corner help and a guy who can hit homers in spurts, Alexander is intriguing in deep leagues. That being said though, there’s risk that he’s only up for a part-time gig and flounders.
James Wood — OF Washington Nationals
In an interview with a local sports radio show this week, Mike Rizzo, the GM of the Nationals, said he will be calling up the Nationals top prospects. That includes Wood. He’s been lighting up Triple-A all season. Well, as long as he’s healthy.
In 50 games for the Rochester Red Wings, Wood is slashing .352/.464/.588 with 10 each of HR and SB, 42 R, and 34 RBI while walking nearly as many times as he’s struck out. Quite simply, there’s nothing more to prove in the minors. With the seeming go ahead from Mike Rizzo, it’s now time to add Wood and stash him in any format.
Coby Mayo — 3B/1B Baltimore Orioles
Mayo is about the only young Baltimore bat who hasn’t gotten a shot in Camden Yards this year. That’s mainly due to him being injured for a chunk of the season so far. Over his 48 games at Triple-A Norfolk, Mayo is slashing .301/.370/.617 with 15 HR, 41 RBI, 36 R, and 3 SB.
The Hit tool and Power tool have been evident at each stop in the minors for Mayo as last year, across Double- and Triple-A, he slashed .290/.410/.563 with 29 HR, and 19 HR in 104 games the year before. Once back on the field, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he’s on the short list to take a starting spot at third for Baltimore. Ramon Urias has been solid, but he’s not the answer and Mayo might start making that clear shortly.
Steward Berroa — OF Toronto Blue Jays
The offense for the Blue Jays has been generally a tough watch this year. One of the main culprits has been the woeful play of George Springer. The Blue Jays have a potential replacement for the struggles, while adding some excitement, in Steward Berroa. Sure, he’s older than the typical prospect at 25 years old, however, the skills are there.
In 62 games at Triple-A Buffalo this year, he’s slashing .295/.380/.451 with 7 HR, 38 R, 32 RBI, and 29 SB while walking 11.7% of the time. That’s just what the Blue Jays need, a hitter who can get on base and generate runs with steals. If Toronto really wants to compete in the AL East, it should only be a matter of time before we see Berroa get a shot in the outfield.
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.