1B/OF Tre’ Morgan, Tampa Bay Rays
Morgan, Tampa’s 2023 3rd-round pick, is moving quickly through the minors. Last season’s minor league stint was a small sample size, but the left-handed hitting first baseman slashed .396/.482/.542 with one home run and six RBI in 14 games. Fast-forward to 2024, and he is well on his way to moving up from the 11th spot on Tampa’s prospect rankings list. Through 86 games, between A, A+, & AA, Tre’ Morgan is slashing .357/.436/.530 with nine home runs, 63 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. The prospect may never develop the power associated with first baseman, but he is arguably the most athletic first base prospect in MLB. The ability to play left field would allow the Rays to use a prototypical first baseman at the Major League level when Morgan gets his call to Tampa. From a fantasy outlook, Morgan would have more value as an outfielder, given his speed and lack of home runs. His production, position, and lack of power are reminiscent of former Major League first baseman James Loney. However, Morgan is a much better athlete than Loney.
2B/SS Roc Riggio, New York Yankees
At 5’9” and 180lbs, Riggio has similarities to former Major League second baseman Dustin Pedroia and current Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. Like Hoerner, Riggio can tally a high number of stolen bases even without elite speed. Comparisons to Dustin Pedroia are apparent with Riggio’s violent swing, which can do damage when he connects with the ball. The 2023 4th-round pick has slashed .218/.346/.382 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and 24 stolen bases for A+ Hudson Valley. Riggio has a choice to make in terms of the path he wants his potential Major League career to go. While his OBP is above average, his average reflects that of a power hitter, and should he continue this trajectory, he will ultimately become a platoon player. However, if Riggio puts more emphasis on contact and less on lifting the ball, he can become a solid option in MLB and fantasy baseball. There is much to desire, given his speed/power combination, but he must show the ability to get on base regularly against Major League-ready pitching.
RHP Kumar Rocker, Texas Rangers
Promoted to AAA Round Rock, Rocker made his much-anticipated debut on August 28th. He finished the game with ten strikeouts, one hit allowed, and zero walks over five innings. The 24-year-old is headed as a September call-up after working his way back from shoulder surgery (2021) and Tommy John surgery (2022). Known for his high-90s fastball and electric slider, Rocker has faced adversity since his collegiate days at Vanderbilt. The past few seasons consisted of rehab, but mechanical adjustments have added life and effectiveness to Rocker’s pitches and getting the right-hander back on track for a highly anticipated Major League debut. On the season, through Rookie, AA, & AAA, Kumar Rocker owns a combined 1.71 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. Texas will get their top prospect a few more starts at AAA before calling him to the Majors. Now is the time for all fantasy baseball players to be ready to add Rocker to their active roster in the upcoming weeks.
LHP Colton Gordon, Houston Astros
Selected in the 8th round of the 2021 draft, Gordon has worked his way to Triple-A after working on mechanical fixes to make him more efficient on the mound. His low-to-mid 90s fastball, paired with an above-average slider, has kept hitters off balance, given his low arm slot release. Repeating his delivery has been a main emphasis in Gordon’s growth, as right-handed hitters have done damage when he has gotten his arm too far away from his body. Through 20 games (19 GS) at AAA Sugarland, Gordon has a 4.55 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts in 97 innings. He projects as a back-end starter and should be viewed as such, but he could end up as a valuable fifth or sixth starter on fantasy teams should he continue to hone his mechanics and cut down on any flaws that have produced poor results.