Welcome to the July 24th installment of The Daily Farm Report! We rake the news for each organization’s top prospects and give you a digest with some commentary for you greedy prospectors to enjoy. Here’s some recent news and highlights:
Fernando Tatis Jr.
STATS and RANKINGS
Padres #1 by MLB Pipeline
Baseball Farm Roto #132 Overall
Top Padres prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. is indeed slated for season-ending surgery on his left thumb. Plan is for him to play some form of winter ball or AFL. Then they fully expect him to compete for a starting job next year in Spring Training.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) July 23, 2018
The official word from the Padres is that Tatis Jr. is done for the regular minor league season. It sounds like there is a possibility that he will participate in the Arizona Fall League, but I’m sure it will depend on how well his thumb recovers from surgery. The lede is kind of buried here though, as Tatis is expected to challenge for a starting job out of spring training next year. His fantasy owners just need to be patient.
Heath Quinn
STATS and RANKINGS
Giants #10 by MLB Pipeline
Baseball Farm Roto #98 Overall
Down on the farm: After injury-shortened seasons, Logan Webb and Heath Quinn are shining in the Giants system, via @melissalockardhttps://t.co/w3iJgUcEkY
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticSF) July 23, 2018
Quinn is having a very nice bounce-back year, currently sitting at #98 overall using our Baseball Farm roto scoring method. His OPS sits at .884. He is playing in the A-Advanced California League as a 23-year old, so we would anticipate a promotion to AA is in short order. The AA Eastern League will be a greater challenge and a more difficult run-scoring environment, so how his offense adapts to AA will be a good test of where Quinn is at developmentally.
Braden Bishop
STATS and RANKINGS
Mariners #5 by MLB Pipeline
Mariners prospect Braden Bishop to miss the remainder of the season with injury; Kyle Lewis promoted https://t.co/KMEkOQ89hF pic.twitter.com/f054TmnFeJ
— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) July 21, 2018
Brutal news for Bishop, who fractured his forearm after being hit by a pitch. Seattle’s 3rd round pick had a .772 OPS in 84 games in the AA Texas League this summer.
Kyle Funkhouser
STATS and RANKINGS
Tigers #7 by MLB Pipeline
After seeing him on the minor league circuit this season, #Dodgers are impressed with progression of Kyle Funkhouser, I'm told.
They courted Funkhouser during his junior year at Louisville in 2015 before Funkhouser ultimately decided to return for his senior season.
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) July 23, 2018
This is a very interesting development. The Tigers are in full rebuild mode, so you would think that they would want to keep their hands on Funkhouser. Then again, the system has more high-end pitching talent than hitting talent, and there might be a move with the Dodgers system that makes sense for both teams. For now, watch Funkhouser’s progress at AAA, where he’s off to a rough start so far (6.23 ERA over 2 starts).
Brendan McKay
STATS and RANKINGS
Rays #3 by MLB Pipeline
Baseball Farm Roto #20 Overall
Stone Crabs running out 3 pitchers returning from injury tonight. Jonny Venters makes an MLB rehab outing in front of AAA starter Jose Mujica and top-25 prospect Brendan McKay. McKay making his first FSL appearance since June 11 in Dunedin #RaysUp https://t.co/P84CKjDAaN
— John Vittas (@JohnVittas3) July 23, 2018
McKay is back after missing a month and a half of baseball due to an oblique issue. He’s one of baseball’s most intriguing prospects, as he’s performed well as both a starter and at 1B this season. The Rays are a good organization for McKay, as they have shown that they aren’t afraid to try unorthodox strategies. Maybe developing McKay as a 2-way player all the way up to the major league level will be one of them. Just based on pitching alone, he’s having an excellent season, coming in as our #20 overall pitching performer in the minors in 2018 thus far.
Garrett Hampson
STATS and RANKINGS
Rockies #6 by MLB Pipeline
Baseball Farm Roto #26 Overall
The Colorado Rockies have selected the contract of infielder Garrett Hampson. pic.twitter.com/MJIttvoIgT
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 21, 2018
It has been a great ride for Colorado’s 3rd round selection in the 2016 draft. Hampson looks like a future leadoff hitter, with a career MiLB OBP of .389 and 120 career stolen bases (83.9% success rate). He also hits for just enough power to be really intriguing going forward. He’s a must-own in all formats.
Magneuris Sierra
STATS and RANKINGS
Marlins #6 by MLB Pipeline
OF Magneuris Sierra, 22, was a darkhorse to make Marlins Opening Day roster, but suffered minor hamstring injury this spring. Batting .260/.287/.341 at Triple-A NOLA with 14 SB. He is allergic to walks (1 BB in last 100 PA) and excellent defensively. Already has 40-man spot. pic.twitter.com/hrpAQkAGGG
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) July 24, 2018
Sierra has been called-up and will get some opportunities to show what he can do in the Marlins outfield. He can run a bit and play some solid defense, but his offensive skills are lacking so far in his young career. The .287 OBP in AAA this year is particularly troubling. Hold-off on calling up Sierra in your dynasty league until you absolutely have to.
Luis Rengifo
STATS and RANKINGS
Angels #27 by MLB Pipeline
Basball Farm Roto #12 Overall
#Angels Report: Need to pace Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani's elbow injury will make it tougher for MGR Mike Scioscia to split DH ABs between the two; Halos grooming Luis Rengifo as possible long-term solution at 2B; Kinsler Gold Glove-worthy. https://t.co/GJA5edEyVX
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) July 24, 2018
It is eye-popping that the Halos are talking about Rengifo as their long-term answer at 2B. He has looked the part of a future leadoff hitter while burning through 3 MiLB levels so far this season. He’s a switch-hitter and is sporting a .420 OBP and has stolen 37 bags in 47 opportunities. Like Hampson, Rengifo has also hit for just enough power to be very interesting for fantasy purposes.
