Prospects Report: What the future holds
Even rain can't stop the Futures. It just made it a little more difficult to follow.
A few notable developments are worth recapping, though, especially the rising stock of Phillies farmhand Kyle Drabek and the potential call-up of Padres soaring talent Mat Latos. Neither of which should be as understated as the Futures Game was itself.
The Padres have talked about calling up the elite pitching prospect Latos to the major leagues Sunday. That's real good news.
Even if: They can't score runs. They won't win games. But San Diego is a great pitcher's park for a young arm to develop in and Latos is good enough to impact all Fantasy leagues immediately.
He has been blowing people away in the minor leagues this season, going a combined 8-1 with a 1.37 ERA and a .168 batting-average against through 13 games between low Class A and Double-A. The 21-year-old right-hander has allowed just one homer in 72 1/3 innings, walking just 12 and striking out 73.
The Baseball America Prospect Handbook described his stuff as ridiculously good at times. Those numbers certainly suggest so.
Tim Lincecum is not a comparison player, but you will like hearing a bit of this: Latos' second-half performance could match what Lincecum did in his rookie season.
In 2007, the Giants right-hander posted a 4.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a strikeout per inning. Those are numbers well within Latos' reach. Watching him the next 2½ months will determine whether he can be Lincecum-good.
Other notable Futures Game risers:
- Drabek -- The Phillies signed Pedro Martinez just days after watching the son of former Pirate Doug Drabek dazzle in St. Louis. It might mean Drabek won't be a candidate to help the Phillies this year, but it could signal an even more significant development: A potential bargaining chip for Roy Halladay. That is the Phillies' real big prize. It would make the defending champs easy NL favorites. Drabek hasn't risen as quickly as Latos as a prospect, but it was because his career was quickly sidetracked by a Tommy John surgery. He is healthy now and looking capable of being a Rookie of the Year favorite in 2010.
- Neftali Feliz -- When Red Sox import Junichi Tazawa was scratched from the start for the World team, the converted reliever Feliz became a temporary starter again. He looked every bit the flamethrower he has been billed to be, striking out two in a scoreless inning. He will be called up to serve in a setup role for the Rangers down the stretch, but that will position him to be a member of the rotation next spring -- or the closer. Either role can make Feliz a highly sought young arm on Draft Day. It makes him worth stashing in hold-over leagues, even if you have to stash him as a middle reliever.
- Dayan Vicideo, the White Sox's teenage Cuban import drove in a run, but it wasn't enough to cause people to jump on him in Fantasy on CBSSports.com. His ownership remained steady at 5 percent. These other Futures Gamers saw a rise in their ownership this week, though: Chris Tillman, SP, BAL; Brian Matusz, SP, BAL; Brett Wallace, 3B, STL; Brad Lincoln, SP, PIT; Chris Heisey, OF, CIN; and Scott Sizemore, 2B, DET.
Prospect watch
Every week, we break down all the minor leaguers who are owned in at least 1 percent of our Fantasy leagues. This will be your essential guide to unearthing the elite prospects before they hit the big time.
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