We continue our look around the minor leagues at which prospects could provide an impact to their big league club in the coming season. Today, we focus on Part One of the outfielders. Projecting outfielders by position once they reach the majors proves somewhat difficult as often times, they will fill a hole that wasn’t necessarily where they expected to be. So we will look at the outfield as a collective whole, looking first at the bigger names ready to move and then some under-the-radar guys who may be ready.
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Bird is the Word: Yankees first baseman heating up in Arizona
While Mark Teixeira helped bring a World Series ring back to the Bronx in his first year in pinstripes, there is no denying that his career had seen better days entering 2016. Instead of figuring out how to move Tex and his big contract, he stepped off quietly out of the spotlight and retired, leaving behind an outstanding career.
The timing couldn’t be better for the Yankees, as Greg Bird is back out in the desert and it seems he has found his groove for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
FIVE IMPACT THIRD BASE PROSPECTS FOR 2017
Now that first and second base are in the books, it is time to turn our attention to the hot corner. We continue our look at possible impact prospects for the 2017 season, with five third basemen who may be ready for The Show in 2017.
Once again, this isn’t a top prospects list. You won’t see names like Rafael Devers, Ke’Bryan Hayes or even Valdimir Guerrero, Jr. because they are far away from their big league promotions. You won’t seem Austin Riley, whose second half surge that led Rome to their SAL title has him fast-rising amongst baseball’s best third base prospects. This is not a rankings of any sorts, it is merely five prospects who could see enough big league time in 2017 that they impact their team’s play.
So, who’s in store for 2017?
Keep reading for the next in my series of impact prospects for 2017.
FIVE IMPACT SHORTSTOP PROSPECTS FOR 2017
Today we continue to take a look at some of the minors’ biggest and brightest prospects ready to jump out on the national stage next season. Having already looked at five impact first basemen, second basemen and third basemen, we turn our attention to the shortstops.
There are some big shoes to fill. Shortstop has become one of the more exciting young positions in the game with the emergence of Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and even the little we saw of Dansby Swanson this season. Who is the next in line?
Remember, this isn’t a ranking or list of best shortstop prospects. You won’t see Brendan Rodgers because as long as Trevor Story is healthy, the Rockies are pretty set up the middle and can allow Rodgers another season of maturity. You also won’t see Amed Rosario, because even if the veterans at the big league level go down with injury, Gavin Cecchini is likely next in line. Nor will you see the New York Yankees dynamic duo of Gleyber Torres or Jorge Mateo, who are both a little bit away, despite Torres absolutely sizzling in the desert out in the Arizona Fall League. And you won’t see the aforementioned Swanson. Yes, by MLB’s statistical standards, he will still be a “rookie” in 2017, but there is no question that Swanson is the everyday shortstop for the Braves and he already showed his impact in their remarkable 20-10 September run.
Keep reading for the next installment of impact prospects for 2017.
The WN Fantasy Football Report: Starts and Sits
Six byes this week.
That is a ridiculous amount of byes, leaving just a few games to be played this week. Add in the mounting injuries, or maybe not injuries by game time (see the Buffalo Bills irresponsible handling of Shady McCoy), and there is a lot of work to be done this week.
As usual, we got ya covered.
Keep reading for this week’s Fantasy Football starts and sits.
FIVE IMPACT SECOND BASE PROSPECTS FOR 2017
Yesterday, we began our look at possible impact prospects for the 2017 season with five first baseman poised to bring their talents to The Show. Today, we switch our focus to their neighbor in the infield: the second baseman.
Remember, this isn’t a list of the best second base prospects in baseball. You won’t see names like Forrest Wall or Andy Ibanez (although he is hitting everything thrown his way in the Arizona Fall League right now) on the list with a 2018 full-time debut much more likely. Nor will you see the Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ or Boston Red Sox’s Yoan Moncada (at least not until Sunday).
No matter how young and exciting Happ may be, there simply isn’t any room on the current roster with Ben Zobrist and the red-hot Javier Baez. That could easily change if Theo Epstein goes wheeling and dealing in the offseason as he has become infamously known for, but as it stands, the Cubs have time to allow Happ to mature for a full season at Triple-A. The Red Sox extended Dustin Pedroia until 2021, meaning Moncada is likely the new third baseman of the Red Sox future, which makes him ineligible for this list.
So who’s on tap for 2017?
Keep reading for the next in the series of impact prospects.
The Houston Texans need to get the Brock out of here
The season has been brutal for Houston Texans fans. Yes, Arian Foster was released — and now retired in a uniform that wasn’t Houston’s — but that pain has been relieved by Lamar Miller. Yes, J.J. Watt and Kevin Johnson — and now Derek Newton — are out for the year, but the pain has been alleviated by a surprisingly still strong defense and the return of Duane Brown.
No, the Texans faithful — and you know our faithfulness when we pack out Reliant after the years we have put up with — have had to endure the Brock Osweiler Era. It is one that has gone from bad to worse in a course of seven games.
And it has to end now.
From Ryno to Rizzo: My life as a Cubs fan
(Note from the editor: Today’s World Series Preview isn’t a prediction special. It is a recollection of what 36 years of being a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan is like in the words of my brother Jonathan. Thank you to my brother, who not only took the time to put his emotions and make his writing debut, but remained loyal to the lovable losers for as long as he has. Go Cubs Go!)
Here we are, on the eve of the first World Series for the Chicago Cubs in 71 years.The Cubs last appearance in the World Series was just two months after the end of World War II for the United States. I, like most baseball fans growing up in my town, idolized No. 23 though I was cheering for Ryne Sandberg and the Chicago Cubs, not Don Mattingly of the Yankees. People do not realize watching the Yankees dominance the past 15 years how difficult it is to make the playoffs consistently. Don Mattingly never made it to the World Series. Ryno, in his Hall of Fame career, made only two playoff appearances, 1984 and 1989. I was too young to understand the epic collapse of the ’84 team to the Padres or understand the significance of the loss to the Giants in ‘89. Just imagine this for one second however, if the Cubs win the ‘89 series, Game 3 would have been played in Wrigley, not Candlestick, and thus the earthquake would not have impacted the World Series. A different history would have been written.
What do the Yankees have in Dillon Tate?
Dillon Tate has officially become quite the enigma as a pitcher. The righty with the electric arm was drafted as a starter by the Texas Rangers in 2015 and a year later was dealt away to the New York Yankees and put into the bullpen. Where he winds up is anyone’s guess.
Five Impact First Base Prospects for 2017
The big influx of rookies over the last several seasons has since changed the landscape of Major League Baseball. The aging veterans have become more like dinosaurs on the verge of extinction, while a youth rebellion has taken over the big leagues. Names like Corey Seager, Tyler Naquin, Michael Fulmer and Gary Sanchez were some of this year’s big breakouts.
Who’s on tap for 2017? Let’s take a look at five first baseman who could contribute as early as Opening Day.
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