It's Draft Day 2007. If recent history is any clue, you will want to pay attention to the top names Thursday -- they are broken down here. Like, get your hands on this year's top prospect, David Price of Vanderbilt, as soon as you can in Fantasy keeper leagues.
It is becoming more clear every year that we need to take note of the amateur draft in more than just keeper leagues -- mostly because top college arms have been making it to the majors in short order. Giants rookie Tim Lincecum (10th overall last June) and Tigers call-up Andrew Miller (sixth overall) are reasons No. 1 and No. 1a.
Lincecum, owned in (and borderline dominant in) 89 percent of CBS SportsLine Fantasy leagues, has already dazzled. Now, Miller is arriving (returning, actually) in Detroit -- we say to stay -- this Sunday.
It is not too late to get your hands on the next big thing in 78 percent of our leagues right now. Hurry, though, because he's currently the No. 1 most-viewed player on CBS SportsLine -- and will be for a few days.
Miller is replacing DL'd Nate Robertson (tired arm) in the Detroit rotation and it's not often a defending AL champion can draft the best prospect one year, go to the World Series and then unleash him on baseball the following June. It happened because the Tigers rose from the depths of baseball and the AL Central quickly, and they then struck gold when signability dropped North Carolina's Miller to the sixth-overall pick last June.
All this adds up to an elite pitching prospect getting an early look in a top contender's rotation. And that is the reason Miller has to be added in all Fantasy leagues right away.
Detroit will win 90-100 games, not to mention an offense that has scored the most runs in baseball at almost six runs per game (5.86). A top contender providing wins potential, the No. 1 offense providing run support and the irrepressible talent of Miller are ingredients of an impact Fantasy rookie.
That is not something we can say for Lincecum, Kevin Slowey or even the well-hyped Friday arrival of the Reds' Homer Bailey.
Here's what a scout said about Miller to Baseball America earlier this week:
"No complaints about the fastball -- he's low-to-mid 90s and will flash you 96s and 97s. His slider is also plus, at times it's plus-plus. But he's kind of toying around with his curveball right now. He'll baby it some and doesn't throw it with as much conviction as his other breaking ball.
"And his changeup needs a lot of work. It's easy to pick up, even with as much deception as he has. The arm speed isn't very good and he can't locate it consistently. It needs a major overhaul.
"But this kid is 6-foot-5 and he's right on top of hitters with that kind of velocity and that kind of deception. He kind of throws across his body and hides the ball really well. He could step in and be a reliever in the big leagues right now, but as a starter there's no way he's done developing."
Now, what makes us suggest Miller will be here to stay and flourish? Well, Robertson (4-6, 5.07) was being shopped and auditioned for trades before he was shell-shocked Tuesday in Texas and subsequently shelved. Sure, Kenny Rogers (shoulder) is expected to return before the end of June and Chad Durbin (5-1, 4.75) is secure with his rotation spot, but Mike Maroth (3-2, 5.28) is the next on the chopping, and trading, block.
Miller won't have to be as dominant as he was in Double-A (2-0, 0.59 ERA, .208 BAA in four starts) or in his one big league start (six shutout innings, four hits and a victory). Miller can just be mediocre to win and stick around from here on out and help you win your Fantasy league.
Poor Mr. Price, selected No. 1 overall Thursday by the Devil Rays. He could only be so lucky.
On call
It's June and prospect season, when major league clubs have done months of evaluating and are readily moving their talent up the system. We're adding a new section this month to rank the best call-ups in the past week (stats through June 6):
| Recent call-up rankings | ||
| Position, player, team | Minor league stats | |
| 1 | SP Andrew Miller, DET | A-AA: (3-4), 2.25 ERA, 52 K, 1.181 WHIP |
| Contending Tigers can make elite talent a big winner immediately. | ||
| 2 | SP Homer Bailey, CIN | Triple-A: (6-1)-2.31-51-1.080 |
| Makes debut in Cincy on Friday. If only the Reds didn't stink ... | ||
| 3 | SP Kevin Slowey, MIN | Triple-A: (6-2)-1.54-57-0.808 |
| Has already made two big league starts and picked up first victory. | ||
| 4 | 3B Josh Fields, CHW | Triple-A: .283 AVG, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 28 R, 8 SB |
| Joe Crede might be out for season and this guy is ready to go. | ||
| 5 | CF Felix Pie, CHC | Triple-A: .389-3-24-31-5 |
| He's likely here to stay (to start in CF). And here to star now? | ||
| Also intriguing Fantasy prospects (ranked): 3B/SS Yunel Escobar, ATL; SP J.P. Howell, TB; SP Andy Sonnanstine, TB; OF Franklin Gutierrez, CLE; SP Rick Vanden Hurk, FLA; C Curtis Thigpen, TOR. | ||
On the verge
Here are some of our favorite prospects who are in the minor leagues and are worth tracking closely (stats through June 6 -- note: four of our top five from last week were called up):
| Minor league hotlist | ||
| Position, player, team | Minor league stats | |
| 1 | SP Jon Lester, BOS | A-Triple-A: (1-1), 1.51 ERA, 35 K, 0.936 WHIP |
| He should be up with Sox already, so it's any start now. | ||
| 2 | SP Yovani Gallardo, MIL | Triple-A: (8-1), 2.14 ERA, 95 K, 0.950 WHIP |
| Has made it into the 6th in every start; hasn't struck out less than 7. | ||
| 3 | SP Anthony Reyes, STL | Triple-A: (0-1)-1.29-4-0.429 |
| Cards turning it around, eventually (soon) Reyes will be part of it. | ||
| 4 | SP Jason Hammel, TB | Triple-A: (3-5)-3.15-70-1.107 |
| He won't pitch this well, but he's worth a flier in all leagues now. | ||
| 5 | SP Matt Garza, MIN | Triple-A: (3-5)-3.44-66-1.294 |
| He had a bad outing after getting passed up for recent promotion. | ||
| Honorable mentions: 1B Joey Votto, CIN; SP Blake Hawksworth, STL; SP Eric Hurley, TEX; OF Adam Jones, SEA; OF Justin Upton, ARI; OF Billy Butler, KC; OF Matt Kemp, LAD; OF Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS; SP Clay Buchholz, BOS; OF Colby Rasmus, STL; OF Wladimir Balentien, SEA; OF Terry Evans, LAA; 3B Chase Headley, SD; SP Radhames Liz, BAL; DH/C Taylor Teagarden, TEX; SP Gio Gonzalez, CHW; SP William Inman, MIL; SP Jeff Niemann, TB; SP Mitch Talbot, TB; SP Josh Banks, TOR; SP Troy Patton, HOU; 1B Steven Pearce, PIT; OF Rick Ankiel, STL; C Lou Palmisano, MIL; SS Reid Brignac, TB; 3B Evan Longoria, TB; 3B Chase Headley, SD; SP Nick Adenhart, LAA; SS Sean Rodriguez, LAA; RF Travis Snyder, TOR; SP Clayton Kershaw, LAD; SP John Van BenSchoten, PIT; SP Chris Mason, TB; SP Wade Townsend, TB; SP Wade Davis, TB. | ||
Rookie watch
Here are the top rookies in Fantasy to date (stats through June 6):
| Top 5 AL Fantasy Rookies | ||
| Position, player, team | Rotisserie stats to date | |
| 1 | SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS | 7-4, 4.63 ERA, 76 K, 1.305 WHIP, 0 SV |
| Hey dumb critics: This guy is smoking rooks in Fantasy scoring. | ||
| 2 | OF Reggie Willits, LAA | .320 AVG, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 30 R, 14 SB |
| Leads all major league rookies with 30 runs scored and 14 steals. | ||
| 3 | RP Hideki Okajima, BOS | (1-0)-1.21-28-0.809-4 |
| Picks up first relief win, but otherwise quiet amid recent Sox struggles. | ||
| 4 | 2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS | .319-2-16-19-0 |
| Hot streak had him moved up to No. 2 spot in potent Sox lineup. | ||
| 5 | 3B Akinori Iwamura, TB | .370-1-6-18-3 |
| Injury again holds him back, but he could lead off when healthy. | ||
| Honorable mentions: OF Travis Buck, OAK; OF Elijah Dukes, TB; RP Dustin Moseley, LAA; RP Joakim Soria, KC; SP John Danks, CHW; OF Delmon Young, TB; SP Tyler Clippard, NYY; SP Jeremy Guthrie, BAL; 3B Alex Gordon, KC; SP Brian Burres, BAL; RP Santiago Casilla, OAK; OF Adam Lind, TOR; SP Kevin Slowey, MIN; SP Brian Bannister, KC. | ||
| Top 5 NL Fantasy Rookies | ||
| Position, player, team | Rotisserie stats | |
| 1 | OF Hunter Pence, HOU | .368 AVG, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 15 R, 5 SB |
| He just seems to be getting hotter and hotter; a must-have now. | ||
| 2 | OF Chris Young, ARI | .267-8-22-25-6 |
| Developing a flair for the dramatic with walkoff HR this week. | ||
| 3 | SP Tim Lincecum, SF | (2-0), 4.05 ERA, 39 K, 1.025 WHIP, 0 SV |
| Last start wasn't his best, but his KO stuff is far too promising. | ||
| 4 | 3B Ryan J. Braun, MIL | .313-3-8-9-2 |
| Wow, this guy sure has zipped past Alex Gordon in a hurry! | ||
| 5 | OF Josh Hamilton, CIN | .264-8-18-20-3 |
| If not for his stomach ailment, he could be running away here. | ||
| Honorable mentions: 3B Mark Reynolds, ARI; SP Justin Germano, SD; OF Felix Pie, CHC; SP Micah Owings, ARI; C Carlos Ruiz, PHI; C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, ATL; RP Henry Owens, FLA; SP Chris Sampson, HOU; SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL; OF Tony Gwynn, Jr., MIL; OF Michael Bourn, PHI; 3B Tony Abreu, LAD; OF Norris Hopper, CIN; OF Daniel Ortmeier, SF. | ||
Baby talk
Jim Newton, Trenton, Mich.: Do you think Matt Belisle is worth dropping now to grab Gallardo or Andrew Miller? Pitchers are gone before you can say their name ... they might be gone any minute now. Or do you think Kenny Rogers is worth a pick up now over the hot prospects?
Emack: Rogers is worth having over Belisle, but Miller is likely gone already and Gallardo is en route soon, too. Get Gallardo now before it's too late.
Bill: Who's the best pitching prospect for the remainder of this season: Homer Bailey, Yovani Gallardo, Andrew Miller or Kevin Slowey?
Emack: Miller, Bailey and Slowey is how we rank them today. Gallardo, because of the Ks and knockout potential, is more intriguing than them all. Gallardo is the best Mexican pitching prospect since Fernando Valenzuela.
Scott Williams, Hawthorne, N.J.: I have Mark Reynolds and Chad Tracy on my team. You guys keep saying when Tracy comes back, Reynolds will be made a backup. I think the D-Backs should bench Stephen Drew, who has been terrible at the plate and let Reynolds take over the shortstop position. I can see that happening before they bench Reynolds. What is your opinion if that situation occurs and what is the likelihood of that happening?
Emack: Reynolds is not the defensive player Drew is. Reynolds likely sticks around, but not as an everyday player over Drew at shortstop. Reynolds would start vs. all left-handed pitching initially and play as much as his bat warrants.
Lee D., Bayside, N.Y.: My question lies with college's scariest pitcher, David Price. Where can we, if we can at all, predict when Price will make any impact in the major leagues? Aside: Soon, we're going to be scouting high school players. Geez. This isn't an obsession.
Emack: Price will have the potential to impact Fantasy leagues next June, but he will have to do it with a non-contending team -- although one that is developing a pretty nice offense around Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Delmon Young, Akinori Iwamura and Rocco Baldelli.
You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Prospects Report in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we do not guarantee personal responses to all questions.
