Speaking of....here's some writeups from Fantrax, a fantasy sports (mostly dynasty leagues) site:
Georga Valera, OF, Cleveland Indians
2018 Stats (RK): 6/18, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 SB, 3 BB, 3 K
I couldn't help myself. Sure, he's outside my top-50, which was a qualification to be included here, but I've been shying away from players just close to my top-50 overall as well. But with Valera, this is warranted.
https://twitter.com/IsItTheWelsh/status ... 2485558273
George Valera is a beast in the making and a candidate to rise into my top-25 overall rankings in the very near future, potentially as early as my mid-season update. Why? Mainly due to his plus contact skills and plus raw power. That will always give me tingles. Here's a little snippet from my Indians top-25...
"Lightning quick wrists and the ensuing explosive bat speed is the first thing I notice when watching him in the batter’s box. Back leg load, hip rotation, and forward weight transfer are all fluid with a toe tap used for timing."
It's still VERY early in Valera's professional career, but I can't help but see a future .300/30/10 guy with the upside for more. If you want him in dynasty, it's likely going to cost you an elite-level price moving forward. This is the last time we're going to see him outside my top-50. After his season ending early due to a fractured hamate bone that needed surgery, Valera will return in 2019, likely terrorizing minor league pitchers on a routine basis.
Current Rank: 60 | Projected 2020 Rank: 20-40
Brayan Rocchio, SS, Cleveland Indians
2018 Stats (RK): .335/.390/.442/.832, 12 2B, 2 HR, 22 SB, 5.6 BB%, 11.5 K%, 242 AB
A switch-hitter with plus contact skills, plus speed, a solid plate approach, and that can limit his strikeouts is always someone I want on my dynasty roster. Brayan Rocchio began his breakout in the Arizona League and Dominican Summer League last season, flashing all those beautiful skills I listed above. The power upside is minimal, but Rocchio offsets that with a high batting average upside and plenty of speed to go along with it. From my Indians top-25...
"Rocchio has a great feel for hitting from both sides of the plate with an advanced approach well beyond his years. He starts with a balanced setup with his hand high, times pitches with a toe tap, and explodes through the zone with plus bat speed and a level swing path. It’s not often that a 17-year-old hitter displays an advanced approach and contact skills from both sides of the plate, but that’s exactly what we have here with Rocchio."
That blurb above is the reason why I feel strongly about Rocchio and the upside he possesses. It's also why I project him to vault up into my top-100 by next spring.
Current Rank: 128 | Projected 2020 Rank: 50-75
Ethan Hankins, RHP, Cleveland Indians
2018 Stats (RK): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/statu ... 1991585792
I'm now going to be referring to Ethan Hankins as the gas man. The man throws straight up cheddar, sitting in the mid-90's with plus life and could add a tick or two if he adds some strength to his lanky frame. As it currently stands, Hankins is more of a thrower than a pitcher. He'll mix in three off-speed pitches, all of which are fairly inconsistent but show potential to become above-average or better pitches. If Hankins can develop the secondaries and keep his control in check, there's big-time upside here.
Current Rank: 154 | Projected 2020 Rank: 75-100
Luis Oviedo, RHP, Cleveland Indians
2018 Stats (A-/A): 57.0 IP, 2.05 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 10.6 K/9, .190 AVG
Take a quick look at those stats above. Impressed? Well, get used to is, because Luis Oviedo is blossoming into a premier pitching prospects. I don't see him reaching the elite ranks in the Gore/Paddack/Mize range, but Oviedo is a pitcher firmly on the rise that could settle into the tier below them with another strong showing in 2020. Oviedo features four potential above-average of better pitches with good command of them all. He might even add some velocity if he adds strength to his slender 6'4 frame. While he's behind Hankins on most prospects lists now, I anticipate Oviedo closing the gap in 2019.
Current Rank: NR | Projected 2020 Rank: 125-150
Lenny Torres, RHP, Cleveland Indians
2018 Stats (RK): 15.1 IP, 1.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, 12.9 K/9, .246 AVG
Man, I could probably write a whole article on just Cleveland Indians prospects on the rise. My 5th and final Indians prospect on the list was the 41st overall pick in the 2018 draft, not too far behind the Kowar/Lynch/Hankins trio that were picked 33rd through 35th respectively. Back when I wrote my Indians top-25, I started the Torres section with "By this time next season, this ranking could be 8-10 spots too low." I ranked him 17th due to the sheer depth of talent in this system, but knew in the back of my mind that he'd be much higher by as early as mid-season. Torres already features a plus fastball/slider combo with solid command and really knows how to attack hitters on the mound. If he can continue to develop his changeup into a 3rd weapon, Torres is bound to shoot up prospect ranks this season.
Current Rank: NR | Projected 2020 Rank: 175-200