Knowing the baseball season is around the corner makes a grown man smile from ear-to-ear as fantasy owners gear up for their drafts. Spring training is a great part of the season because we get to see young players mixed in with veterans as the present and future stars collide and collaborate. For those of you who want that added edge over your opponents this season, check out the prospects worth putting on your payroll.
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Fantasy baseball prospects for the 2015 MLB season
Kris Bryant, ChC 3B
Owners in all formats should consider drafting Bryant in the mid and later rounds after he hit 43 home runs and drove in 110 runs combined between Double and Triple-A last year. The 23-year-old isn’t a lock to make the Opening Day roster because the Cubs get an extra year of control if he spends 21 days in the minors before being called up. But even if that happens, owners should draft and stash, if possible, because the kid can really hit and with lots of power to all fields.
Cubs’ new manager Joe Maddon has the former No. 2 overall pick in 2013 working in the outfield this spring and that could be where he ends up long-term. Bryant has the speed and athleticism to be a viable corner outfielder and his presence at the plate will be something to talk about for years to come.
Jorge Soler, ChC OF
Let’s stay in Chicago where the right field situation looks sown up for the foreseeable future as Soler looked good in 24 games for the Cubs last season. The 22-year-old Cuban defector hit .294 with five home runs and 20 runs batted in over 97 plate appearances after being called up in late August. That came after Soler hit .340 with 15 home runs in 67 games across all three minor league levels.
Fantasy owners should draft Soler with the intentions of him being a No. 3 outfielder, but knowing the upside is there hitting in the middle of a young and talented lineup.
Joc Pederson, LAD OF
The Dodgers traded Matt Kemp to the Padres this offseason to pave the way for Pederson to start in center field as early as Opening Day. The 22-year-old was originally taken in the 11th round in 2011 out of Palo Alto High School and has since progressed well through the minors. He had a great year in Triple-A with a .303 batting average, 33 jacks and 30 stolen bases, but struggled mightily in his September call-up in Los Angeles.
Fantasy owners shouldn’t reach too far for Pederson, but certainly don’t take him off your radar with this kind of speed and power combo. This youngster figures to have his growing pains while eventually becoming a key component in the Dodger lineup.
Daniel Norris, Tor SP/RP
At the ripe age of 21, Norris will be in competition for an Opening Day roster spot in the rotation as Spring Training gets underway. The southpaw pitched well on all three minor league levels in 2014 with a combined 12-2 record to go with a 2.53 earned run average.
Norris’ fastball isn’t overpowering in the low-90s, but he also has several above average off-speed pitches including a slider, changeup and a sweeping curve. Fantasy owners should expect Norris to be in the Jays’ rotation at some point this season making him worth a late-round draft pick in deeper leagues.
Andrew Heaney, Ana SP
This young man went from over hyped to almost forgotten about after being traded to the Dodgers and then to the Angels in the same day this past offseason. The Marlins originally drafted Heaney with the ninth overall pick in 2012 and he has some great stuff throwing from the left side of the mound.
Although he struggled in five starts with Miami last year, the Oklahoma City native will have a chance to be the Angels’ fifth start at least until Garrett Richards recovers from his knee injury. Fantasy owners could do worse in deep leagues and AL-only formats.
Aaron Sanchez, Tor SP/RP
Toronto has a nice stockpile of young arms including this 22-year-old who pitched very well in 24 relief appearances last season with a 1.09 ERA and converted three saves. The Jays drafted Sanchez with the 34rd overall pick in 2010 and it is uncertain as to how he will be used this season. He has a live arm and can pump the fastball up to 96-98 MPH out of the pen with a mean curveball and improving changeup. Whether he cracks the rotation or pitches in the back end of the bullpen, this kid is worth taking late in deep leagues or AL-only leagues.
Maikel Franco, Phi 3B
It won’t likely be by Opening Day, but sometime this summer Franco will take over the everyday third base job in Philadelphia. The 22-year-old Dominican has shown good pop in the minors, but struggled as a September call-up last season going 10-for-56 (.179 batting average) in his taste of the Show. Franco is still young and has good potential after having been groomed in the Phillies’ farm system since he was only 17. Fantasy owners in dynasty/keeper leagues may have already missed the boat on Franco, but those of you in the deepest of leagues and NL-only might want to keep tabs.
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