This article is part of our Minor League Barometer series.
This week's Minor League Barometer will have a trade deadline feel to it with plenty of prospects potentially on the move by the end of the week while others could be thrust into playing time due to departures at the higher levels. In particular, expected sellers like the Cubs, Rangers, Rockies and Twins could soon have vacancies filled by minor league talent. Let's check in with some of those organizations as well as other prospects in the headlines during the calm just before the storm.
UPGRADE
Joe Ryan, P, MIN – Here is a case of a hurler being traded away from the Rays that will actually be beneficial. In fact, an argument can be made Ryan is the Twins' top pitching prospect. Instead of being surrounded by high-upside arms in the Tampa Bay organization, he now has a much clearer path to the bigs. With Michael Pineda possibly on the move and J.A. Happ struggling mightily, Ryan could enter the starting rotation as early as next month. Prior to the trade, he posted a 3.63 ERA and 75:10 K:BB in only 57 innings at Triple-A.
Josh Jung, 3B, TEX – The majors also may not be far off for Jung, who has been raking of late hitting .370 with three home runs and 14 RBI over his last 11 Double-A contests. He's also riding a five-game hitting streak and has knocked in a run during each of those contests. Much like the Twins above, the Rangers could be in sell mode at
This week's Minor League Barometer will have a trade deadline feel to it with plenty of prospects potentially on the move by the end of the week while others could be thrust into playing time due to departures at the higher levels. In particular, expected sellers like the Cubs, Rangers, Rockies and Twins could soon have vacancies filled by minor league talent. Let's check in with some of those organizations as well as other prospects in the headlines during the calm just before the storm.
UPGRADE
Joe Ryan, P, MIN – Here is a case of a hurler being traded away from the Rays that will actually be beneficial. In fact, an argument can be made Ryan is the Twins' top pitching prospect. Instead of being surrounded by high-upside arms in the Tampa Bay organization, he now has a much clearer path to the bigs. With Michael Pineda possibly on the move and J.A. Happ struggling mightily, Ryan could enter the starting rotation as early as next month. Prior to the trade, he posted a 3.63 ERA and 75:10 K:BB in only 57 innings at Triple-A.
Josh Jung, 3B, TEX – The majors also may not be far off for Jung, who has been raking of late hitting .370 with three home runs and 14 RBI over his last 11 Double-A contests. He's also riding a five-game hitting streak and has knocked in a run during each of those contests. Much like the Twins above, the Rangers could be in sell mode at the deadline. If someone such as Joey Gallo is dealt, that could open up a path to everyday at-bats for Jung.
Bobby Miller, P, LAD – Fellow Dodgers prospect Miguel Vargas was also a candidate to be highlighted this week, but Miller's development gets the slight nod. Miller has ideal size, a four-pitch repertoire and throws extremely hard, but skeptics felt he was destined for the bullpen due to his unusual delivery. The Dodgers have continued to develop him as a starter, and the organization's work and faith seem to be paying dividends already with Miller coming off his best outing as a professional tossing five no-hit innings at High-A where h fanned seven batters while walking only one. There have been no command issues overall despite the unorthodox delivery, as can be seen in his 53:11 K:BB across 44.1 innings. The Dodgers may have yet another talented arm to add to their stable.
Reginald Preciado, SS, CHC – While it has been a trying season for the Cubbies at the big-league level, glimmers of hope remain in their minors. Brennen Davis is enjoying a sensational campaign having been named MVP of the Futures Game and considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Preciado should give Cubs management and fans even more to smile about, as the teenager has taken the Rookie League by storm. The chief return in the Yu Darvish deal is slashing .379/.463/.534 with two homers and 10 RBI in 15 games for the ACL Cubs. Preciado should develop more power as he matures, and may even shift over to third base when all is said and done. He's still a ways away from making a big-league impact, but he remains a rising star and a silver lining for the Cubs as they contemplate selling off parts.
CHECK STATUS
Elehuris Montero, 3B, COL – Montero has flipped the script from a disappointing 2019 campaign. Coming over to the Rockies organization as part of the Nolan Arenado deal, Montero is currently hitting .280/.370/.539 with 17 home runs and 52 RBI through 70 contests at Double-A. Still only 22, he's already eclipsed his previous season high for long balls in a season. As discussed in previous articles, the Rockies have been shuffling their infield around the entire year attempting to find long-term solutions. While they have other options on that side of the infield, there will be a gaping hole for someone to fill if Trevor Story gets dealt. Montero could earn a shot at legitimate at-bats as early as 2022, if not sooner.
J.T. Ginn, P, NYM – Ginn's return from Tommy John surgery has gone well thus far, as he is already at his second level in 2021. He began the season at Low-A compiling 2.56 ERA and 35:10 K:BB in 38.2 innings with opposing batters going just .195 against. That success resulted in a bump to High-A, where Ginn's first start was impressive scattering five hits over 5.2 innings while only allowing one run on 86 pitches and not walking a batter while striking out six. He doesn't have an overly dominant fastball, which may hinder his strikeout figures at the higher levels and also put a ceiling on where he can end up in the future rotation. Still, Ginn's ability to throw strikes immediately upon his return from major surgery is very encouraging and his slider is stellar while his hard sinker and emerging changeup give him an exceptional repertoire.
Zach DeLoach, OF, SEA – It's easy for a player like DeLoach to get lost in the shuffle when sharing the outfield with uber-prospect Julio Rodriguez, but he's more than held his own this season. The second-round selection from 2020 has slashed .313/.400/.530 with nine home runs, 37 RBI and six steals in 58 games at High-A. DeLoach is a patient hitter at the dish while also offering an intriguing power/speed combination. He's since been promoted to Double-A, where he has already cracked a homer while walking four times across six contests. DeLoach is not on Rodriguez's level, but he is still a phenom worth monitoring.
Quinn Priester, P, PIT – The Pirates already bolstered their system with the Adam Frazier trade. Unfortunately, they don't exactly have a proven recent track record in developing starting pitchers. Priester represents the top arm in the system and at just 20 years of age and already at High-A is still highly touted. His 2021 campaign has been decent, albeit unspectacular with a 3.27 ERA and 49:24 K:BB in 55 innings. Priester has added some ticks to his fastball, which now sits in the high-90s and his curveball is solid. His changeup remains a work in progress while he hasn't located as well as expected. Priester's upside remains high, but he gets dinged on organization as well as the mixed bag that has been 2021.
DOWNGRADE
Brayan Buelvas, OF, OAK – The international signings for the A's the past few seasons have struggled. Robert Puason is still extremely raw, but his hit tool is questionable. He shares the field with Buelvas, who is a year older at 19 but also has struggled to make consistent contact at Low-A. slashing just .221/.317/.406 through 55 contests. On the plus side, he does have nine home runs and five steals over that span, although he's also been punched out 70 times and caught stealing four time. Buelvas' slight frame (155 lbs) will not garner him the benefit of the doubt either. He was supposed to be a project, but both the A's may have gotten more work than they thought they bargained for between him and Puason.
Freddy Zamora, SS, MIL – The University of Miami product made a successful return from a torn ACL, but it may have robbed him of his best fantasy trait. Zamora swiped 33 bags in 104 games at The U, but it remains to be seen if he will be able to attain that level of thievery as a professional with only seven steals in 48 contests so far at Low-A. Zamora's lack of steals is also a byproduct of his low batting average, which currently sits at .243. He's a superior fielder and isn't afraid to draw a walk, but doesn't project to hit many homers. As a result, Zamora may end up being a better real life player than fantasy commodity.
