BABS assessment of the recently promoted rookies

by Doug Gruber

Several MLB teams are hoping for success from some highly regarded prospects who have been called up this month. How did BABS rate these newcomers before the season? Do they have the skills to keep their jobs through the summer and help our fantasy teams?

BABS was not surprised that several skillful players who earned earlier promotions have already become effective fantasy contributors…hitters such as Rowdy Telez (p,a), Brandon Lowe (p) and Michael Chavis (p) and pitchers Mike Soroka (ER), Domingo German (KK) and Max Fried (e,KK). Let’s examine some of the most recent cast who have been summoned to The Show and see if BABS thinks they also bring the skills necessary for success.

BABS marks Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado (SB) as having significant speed, which would place him in the same asset class with speedsters such as Jonathon Villar, Tim Anderson and teammate Greg Allen. And with over 200 stolen bases in his minor league career, including 14 in 140 PAs at Triple-A this year, the skills and minor league numbers seem to correlate. Can he do it in the majors? The lack of quality outfielders in Cleveland, and the recent release of Carlos Gonzalez, have presented Mercado with the opportunity, including five straight starts. But he will have to pick up the pace…a .238 BA with a caught stealing in his only attempt won’t keep him there long. (Note: Mercado left Thursday’s game after an outfield collision with Leonys Martin. He is day-to-day.)

Brewers top prospect Keston Hiura has earned a BABS score of (a) as having moderate plate skills, similar to players such as Jurickson Profar and Eric Hosmer. But Hiura was doing it all so far this year at Triple-A San Antonio…129 ABs, .333 BA, 1.106 OPS, four SBs. Travis Shaw’s struggles and injury opened the door for Hiura to be promoted. The early returns are so-so, as Hiura has 9 hits in 33 ABs, including 2 home runs, but has also looked overmatched at times as evidenced by his 13 whiffs and only one walk. BABS rates both Shaw (PW,a) and Mike Moustaukas (p,a) as having superior skills at this point, and Shaw has already begun his rehab assignment this week. Hiura will need a solid weekend to make the roster decisions difficult for the Brewers front office, assuming Shaw is ready to return.

BABS rates the Royals Nicky Lopez (a) similar to Hiura, and the Royals rated him high enough that they have moved Whit Merrifield to the outfield to make room. They also have inserted Lopez 2nd in the batting order between Merrifield and Adelberto Mondesi. Nice spot for the rookie, who wasn’t even listed among the top 100 MLB prospects. Incredibly, at Triple-A Omaha, in 138 PAs Lopez had 20 walks and only five strikeouts, a 4:1 ratio! His slash line was .353/.457/.957 with nine SBs at the time of his call-up. In eight games at KC, he is holding his own, hitting .303 in his first 33 ABs, and a 1.00 BB/K rate. However, he is still looking for both his first home run and first stolen base.

Ranger OF Willie Calhoun is also a member of the BABS (a) class, although he struggled last year during his first 35 games with the big-league club. Calhoun received his first opportunity of 2019, based on his strong Triple-A start (.304 BA, .416 OBP, 8 HRs) coupled with roster openings at the expense of Delino DeShields (demotion) and Elvis Andrus (IL). Calhoun had a great first six games this year, going 10-for-23 (.435 BA) including two home runs. Unfortunately, a quad strain has now landed him on the IL. To be continued, hopefully…

Braves top prospect Austin Riley was mashing the ball at Triple-A (.299, 15 HRs, 1.057 OPS in 144 ABs), earning him a promotion when Ender Inciarte hit the IL with back issues. With Josh Donaldson occupying Riley’s natural 3B position, the Braves have elected to play Riley in LF. BABS rates Riley as owning moderate power skills (p), placing him in an asset class alongside players such as Rougned Odor and Rafael Devers. Riley has averaged about 20 HRs over the past three minor league seasons but contact issues have hampered his plate skills. Riley, however, has continued to mash at the major league level with five HRs and a .389 BA in his first 35 ABs with Atlanta. He has also struck out in 12 of 35 ABs, meaning he has 14 hits out of his 23 balls in play, a torrid pace that will normalize. But the power could continue, which will make for interesting decisions in Atlanta once Gold Glove CFer Inciarte is healthy again.

Highly touted Brendan Rodgers (-) was taken with the 3rd pick by the Rockies in the 2015 Draft and earned his first promotion to the majors after a strong start at Triple-A. During his minor league seasons, BABS had yet to see Rodgers demonstrate above average skills in any of the three asset categories, placing him as a peer to players such as Yonder Alonso and Brandon Crawford. BABS has rated teammates Garrett Hampson (S+,a) and Ryan McMahon (p,a) as more skillful, however, neither player has performed up to expectations in 2019, paving the way for Rodgers’ debut. Through his first five games, Rodgers is off to a mediocre start going 6-for-21 with eight Ks, no walks and one XBH. However, he gets his first action at Coors this weekend versus the hapless Orioles staff.

BABS assigns 22-year-old Griffin Canning a (k) rating with moderate strikeout skills, in the same class as other SPs Anibal Sanchez, Vince Velasquez and Trevor Richards. Canning brings a four pitch arsenal, and has had good success as he has progressed through the minors the past two years. He now has four major league starts under his belt, with good results. Through 21.1 IPs, Canning has two wins, an ERA of 3.80, a K/9 rate of 10.1 and a BB/9 under three. The future looks promising for this top 100 prospect.

Padres #11 prospect and 2016 first round pick Cal Quantrill made his MLB debut earlier this month. His minor league numbers have not been overly impressive, with an ERA over 5.00 across more than 300 IPs. BABS has not been impressed, grading Quantrill as (-ER). Unfortunately for him and the Padres, the results through his first three major league starts have resulted in two losses, an ERA of 5.40 and a below average K/9 of 6.0. Quantrill will have to improve these numbers significantly.