Sometimes the key to a successful fantasy season is stashing a player who starts the season riding buses in the minor leagues. It just has to be the right minor leaguer. A lot of times, impact fantasy players begin the season in the minors for a variety of reasons. Don’t waste your last bench spot on a veteran journeyman with zero upside when you can stash a future difference maker.
Noah Syndergaard among prospects to watch
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In 2007, Ryan Braun made his debut on May 25. All he did was hit .324 with 34 homers and 15 stolen bases over the final 113 games. Similarly, Ryan Howard made his debut on May 3 of his 2005 Rookie of the Year campaign and it took Mike Trout a few weeks in the minors before finally getting the call on April 28 back in 2012.
Fantasy owners in deep keeper leagues, AL or NL-only formats and dynasty leagues already know about future stars such as George Springer, Gregory Polanco and Javier Baez. However, standard mixed-league owners don’t typically have a grasp on the up-and-coming prospects. This is where we come in…
In the coming weeks, Sports World News will highlight players who won’t start the year in the majors but have a chance to impact fantasy standings before the season ends. Sometimes injuries open up playing time for a younger player. Sometimes the big-league club is simply too cheap to let a top prospect’s arbitration clock kick in.
Blue Jays prospect Aaron Sanchez is emerging as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects right before our eyes. After an impressive Arizona Fall League, the No. 34 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft is putting together a highly impressive spring.
Sanchez has thrown 21.1 shutout innings through four Spring Training appearances. Sanchez dominated the AFL, posting a 1.16 ERA with 21 Ks over 23.1 innings while holding opponents to a .151 batting average. He’s been arguably the best pitcher in the world since last November.
Sanchez is expected to spend the bulk of 2014 in the minors, but last season another young pitcher was in a similar position. Michael Wacha entered 2013 as a long shot to contribute at the Major League level. He had a dominant spring, tossing 11.2 shutout innings with 15 Ks and went on to make 15 regular-season starts while becoming one of 2014’s trendiest fantasy options.
Sanchez could be this year’s Wacha. He needs to be owned in all long-term keeper leagues and is a nice stash option in deeper re-draft leagues. He could make an impact for Toronto by late June.
Last week, we looked at Kyle Parker of the Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Archie Bradley
Questions? Hit me on Twitter @briansflood
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