These 10 prospects will make an impact soon

These 10 prospects will make an impact soon

Reds' Senzel, Dodgers' Buehler lead top fantasy hopefuls

May 4th, 2018

It's been a good week for pitching prospects coming up, hasn't it?
Some have been elite-level guys on our Top 100 list. Both and (more on them below) came up for starts, then got sent down after competing well. Mike Soroka (Atlanta's No. 3 prospect) was brought up and won his debut for the upstart Braves, with his next outing to be determined. Twins' No. 2 prospect Fernando Romero also won his first Major League start and is being given every opportunity to stick.
The prospect start of the week, though, came from the Pirates' . The No. 12 prospect on the Bucs' Top 30 list, Kingham took a perfect game into the seventh inning and earned himself another start. He's a better starting option long-term than , in my opinion, so don't be surprised if he pitches his way into a more permanent role.
Maybe I have pitching on the brain, but a couple of arms have moved up this week on the list of top fantasy prospects moving forward behind a repeat at No. 1.
1. Nick Senzel, 3B, Reds' No.1 prospect, No. 7 overall (Previous rank: 1)
The Reds entered Friday 13th in the National League in OPS and their overall struggles have been well-documented. Yes, is back and Scooter Gennett has been solid. But Gennett could also move around like he did in 2017, and Senzel has been heating up (8-for-20 with two homers in his past six games, hitting .306 over his past 10).

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Senzel hits first Triple-A homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1939871383

2. Walker Buehler, RHP, Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, No. 12 overall (Previous rank: 6)
Buehler, and Flaherty, the No. 4 player on this list, can form a support group of pitchers riding the shuttle between the bigs and the Minors, but with out for an extended period of time, Buehler and his electric stuff should become a mainstay in the big league rotation, making this the last time he appears on a list like this.

3. , RHP, White Sox No. 2 prospect, No. 10 overall (Previous rank: 4)
White Sox starters have combined 5.02 ERA and the team is off to a very rough start. Meanwhile, Kopech is striking out 11.7 while walking only 3.0 per nine in his five Triple-A starts to date and the International League is hitting just .216 against him. Chicago should give him the chance to see how his premium stuff plays in the big leagues, and you, the fantasy owner, should be ready to nab him for the K's he's likely to collect.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Kopech fans eight - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1976482783

4. Jack Flaherty, RHP, Cardinals' No. 2 prospect, No. 36 overall (Previous rank: 5)
Flaherty has had two starts spread out over three-plus weeks, and even though he gave up three runs over five innings in his most recent outing against the Pirates, it's pretty clear he's ready to compete at the highest level. With 's creaky right elbow and (5.17 ERA) not lighting the world on fire, the Cardinals should give Flaherty an extended look.

5. , OF, Rangers' No. 2 prospect, No. 51 overall (Previous rank: 2)
Wherever Calhoun's been, he has hit, for average and power. There's no reason to think he won't again, even though he's off to a .236/.308/.358 start in Triple-A. Rangers left fielders haven't been overwhelmingly successful, and once Calhoun gets his bat going, he'll be an upgrade offensively.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Calhoun drills solo shot - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1967485483

6. , SS, Rays' No. 2 prospect, No. 22 overall (Previous rank: 8)
The Rays' middle infield hasn't been bad, so that, along with service-time issues, might be slowing Adames' ascension to Tampa Bay. But Adames is hitting .298/.404/.500 and has much more upside than either or Joey Wendle. Nab him now so you can be ready to put him in the lineup when he's finally called up.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Adames crushes three-run shot - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2001683283

7. , 1B/2B/3B, Rockies' No. 2 prospect, No. 39 overall (Previous rank: Unranked)
Now that McMahon is back down in Triple-A, he's again eligible for this list. Look for him to get his feet back under him as he gets to be in a lineup every day. Where the next opportunity will come remains to be seen, but I'm still bullish on McMahon's offensive upside.
8. , OF, Athletics' No. 5 prospect (Previous rank: 10)
A's outfielders have been underperforming across the board, with ' .764 OPS the group's best. The center fielders have struggled even more. Meanwhile, Fowler is now up to .318/.345/.464 and his hitting .413 over his past 10 games (including 12-for-22 in the past five games). It's time to give him a chance to see what he can do.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Fowler collects fourth hit of game - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1994952183

9. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Blue Jays' No. 1 prospect, No. 3 overall (Previous rank: Unranked)
There's been a hesitation to put a teenager in Double-A on this list, but it's hard to ignore what Vlad Jr. is doing in the Eastern League. Guerrero is now up to .388/.452/.624 and has hit .486 in his past 10 games. There hasn't been a ton of over-the-fence power yet, but he does have 13 extra-base hits and has more walks than strikeouts. Does anyone doubt this kid's ability to hit big league pitching?

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Vlad Jr. triples to right - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1993801983

10. , OF, Orioles' No. 1 prospect, No. 23 overall (Previous rank: 3)
Hays scuffled through April (.221/.284/.360), and it's down in Double-A, so he almost was moved off of this list, but the offensive profile is too good. He went 4-for-13 with a homer and three RBIs in his first three games in May. If that's a sign Hays is turning the corner, he could help out the O's lineup soon.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Hays legs out RBI triple - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2002576383

Dropped out:, C, Indians' No. 1 prospect, No. 11 overall (Previous rank: 7); , OF, White Sox No. 1 prospect, No. 4 overall (Previous rank: 9)