Smada here to let you know that your weekly PLIVE+ update is ready to view. Had fun with the writeups last week so continuing with some this week as well.
Smada
AAA hitter promotion of the week
Ben Rice got his promotion to AAA and responded by hitting 3 HR in 3 games. He's now the 22nd ranked PLIVE+ hitter with a peak projection that would appeal to any fantasy owner (.253/.334/.460, 27 HR, 11 SB per 600 PA). A promotion seems likely as some point this summer for the 25 year old catcher... wait catcher? Ugh why they gotta do us like that. He's actually played about 40% of his games at 1B. The fact he's still catching has to tell us the Yankees find value in him playing the position, but he's only caught 4 out of 50 stolen base attempts this year. The cracks are showing in Anthony Rizzo and there is a club option for 2025 that probably won't be picked up. My gut says that we'd need a Rizzo injury for a call up as he's likely a liability behind the plate. That said, the Yankees don't like to hand non-elite prospects jobs and it wouldn't surprise me if he's not their first option at 1B entering 2025. I'd add in 15+ team leagues with an aim to flip him based on the promotion and recent performance hype.
AA hitter promotion of the week
C.J. Kayfus received a promotion to AA after just destroying high-A with a 181 wRC+. Similar to Rice, he had a loud entrance to AA with a grand slam in his 2nd game at the level. He's just a year removed from being taken in the 3rd round of the 2023 draft. Here's the blurb our Draft Director Tyler Jennings had to say about him (ranked 114th):
Kayfus is an undersized, yet underrated, prospect in this class. Primarily a first baseman, Kayfus has hit for average throughout his Miami career, hitting to all fields and peppering the corners. Most of his power does play to his pull side presently. He's likely to be limited to first base defensively, but he can handle his own in the outfield.
PLIVE+ now has Kayfus as the 38th ranked hitter. Like many college prospects who rise up the ranks, we expect them to hit in the lower minors. I'd keep a close eye on his first 150 PA at AA but advise not waiting and adding in all leagues with 200+ prospects owned ASAP.
Biggest non-CPX hitter riser
Brice Matthews missed most of May with lower back discomfort. Since getting back to high-A on 6/1 he's hit 5 HR and stolen 4 bases over just 29 PA. The strikeouts are a touch high, but it looks to be more passivity than swing and miss. It's a college Emmanuel Rodriguez-esque stat line. The non-regressed version of PLIVE+ likes him a bit more, but he's getting knocked for the high K-rate combined with being 22 at high-A. This is obviously no fault of his own and all you can do is perform at the level you're assigned and he's doing that thus far. This is a bat that could move quickly. I'm potentially interested in buying in OBP leagues and selling in AVG leagues.
Biggest CPX hitter riser
Aroon Escobar moved into a virtual tie with Dameury Pena for the CPX PLIVE+ lead this week. A Phillies infield prospect, Escobar features a near identical peak projection as Pena. The profile is strong hit tool - high BB and low K supported by low SwStr%. The main difference between Escobar and Pena is that Aroon has run more, tallying 9 SB in his 104 PA. My preference is to always be aggressive adding these hit-tool first young CPX guys and hope that they add power.
Under the radar pitcher
K.C. Hunt (MIL) has been a K:BB god through 34 IP across A and high-A and is the 12th ranked pitcher by PLIVE-. The rub is he's a 23, almost 24 years old and still pitching at lower levels. If I'm getting my timeline correct he was drafted by the Pirates in 2022 then went back to school in 2023 and went undrafted and signed with the Brewers. He just made his first start of the year going 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. I've only been able to find pre-season training velo topping out at 94.5 but also notes of multiple weapons. This is a perfect spec add in super deep leagues as he's 0% owned on Fantrax (where he is designated as a SS lol). Love the development org for pitchers. I'm going to see if the draft guys have any additional info on him.
Is Tugboat for real?
Matt Wilkinson didn't rise much in PLIVE- because there is not much higher he can go. He's currently the 2nd ranked pitching prospect across all of PLIVE- well behind Paul Skenes and just above Noah Schultz. The strikeouts and 5 IP outings have continued in his three starts at high-A. Will it continue when he inevitably gets the call to AA? Some of our scouts are doubtful. If he's available in any league with 150+ prospects owned, I'd stash to find out.
Crazy CPX pitcher stat line of the week
Complex level pitching is tough to evaluate and the PLIVE- rankings at the level change aggressively week to week. Jesus Palacios (BAL) became PLIVE- relevant due to one start and it was a doozy.
4 IP, 1 H, 0 BB & 10 K!
He had yet to show the strikeout upside in his first four appearances but has shown an ability to not relinquish base hits as he's only allowed three through 14.2 IP so far this year.
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