Crooked Pitch

To say that you must keep up with minor league prospects in order to win your fantasy baseball league is a bit of a stretch. You don’t HAVE to look to the youngsters in the minors, but boy can it sure help. Think about Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo from last season. Don’t you think the fantasy GM’s who were tracking them in the minors greatly benefited from signing them upon the call ups to the show?

So, we’re going to keep an eye on the minor leagues this season. Here we go…

1. Cameron Maybin | AA Carolina Mudcats | Florida Marlins - Maybin should have won the center field job for the Marlins out of Spring Training, but a little more minor league seasoning can’t hurt, right? Through 10 games in 2008 he’s averaging .303/.477/.545 with 2 home runs and 3 stolen bases and is just a quick flight away from Miami when Amezaga stops overproducing. Maybin should use the extra time in Double-A to work on hitting lefties, which shouldn’t be a problem for this right-handed youngster. MLB ETA: June 2008
2. Clayton Kershaw | AA Jacksonville Suns | Los Angeles Dodgers - What does a mid-90’s fastball with a plus curve get you these days? Well, if you’re Clayton Kershaw, it gets you to Double-A by the time you turn 20 and also turns you into the top Dodgers pitching prospect. He’s 0-2 so far this season in two starts, but his ERA is good at 3.38 and he’s got a very nice strikeout to walk ratio of 3.00 (12:4). The Dodgers rotation isn’t really rock solid at the #5 spot, and Kershaw could find himself pitching in Los Angeles earlier than expected if he keeps his K:BB ratio rolling along. MLB ETA: July 2008
3. Jo-Jo Reyes | AAA Richmond Braves | Atlanta Braves - This 23-year-old lefty was brought up to Atlanta a bit too early last season and suffered in 10 Major League starts with a 6.21 ERA and an abysmal 0.9 strikeout to walk ratio (27:30). If anyone could benefit from another year in the minors, it’s Jo-Jo. But, it doesn’t look like that is going to happen in 2008. Atlanta starting pitchers are dropping like flies and Reyes is really impressive so far in 2008 in his 2 starts.  He’s yet to record a victory, but he hasn’t allowed an earned run and has a phenomenal strikeout to walk ratio of 4.66 (14:3). MLB ETA: May 2008 (most likely late April… next week even)