Minor League Barometer: Risers & Fallers

The long-awaited debut for Wander Franco is finally upon us. He's expected to be called up Tuesday by the Rays, and there's little reason to suggest he will not immediately be inserted into the starting lineup. Franco has been the top prospect in the minors for a couple of years now and has found little resistance at Triple-A so far in 2021 slashing .315/.367/.586 with seven home runs, 35 RBI and five steals through 39 games. The switch-hitter has the chance to have a Fernando Tatis type of impact at the age of 20.

Let's take a look at some other phenoms making headlines in this edition of the Minor League Barometer.

UPGRADE

Reid Detmers, P, LAA – Detmers vied for a bullpen role out of spring training, but the Halos ultimately decided he would be better served sticking as a starter. He's made that decision look smart, as the 2020 draftee is mowing down the competition at Double-A with a 3.34 ERA and 60:13 K:BB in only 35 innings. Detmers doesn't throw particularly hard, but he's got exceptional command of his fastball/curveball combination and uses them in any count against any batter. He also offers all the intangibles in addition to working on both a changeup and slider. Detmer also fanned a staggering 14 batters in only six innings in his last start Sunday. The lack of fastball velocity (low-90's) scares some pundits, but that hasn't stopped Detmers from striking out opposing hitters at an extremely high rate.

Riley Greene, OF, DET – Greene has been surging of late, including missing the cycle by a single on Saturday. Over his last 13 appearances at Double-A, he's slashing .313/.414/.563 with three home runs, seven RBI and one steal. Just 20, Greene boasts an elite hit tool, can easily tap into his power, and shows exceptional patience at the dish. Though teammate Spencer Torkelson gets the pub, Greene has just as much of a chance to be a superstar and is a year younger than Torkelson yet further along in his professional experience.

Austin Martin, OF, TOR – In Martin's last 11 contests at Double-A, he's hitting .362 and that includes a monstrous outing Saturday where he went 5-for-6 with two doubles and four RBI.  He hasn't yet been able to tap into his in-game power, though the Blue Jays are not concerned. Martin's hit tool is stellar and he should be able to swipe a few bases while not being afraid to take a walk. The only question for him is where he'll end up defensively, but there is little worry about his abilities at the plate and could debut in the big leagues as early as September.

Alek Thomas, OF, ARI – Corbin Carroll and Kristian Robinson have gotten more press than Thomas in the past, but neither of them is currently playing with Carroll undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery last month while Robinson still not taking the field yet due to visa/personal issues.  That leaves Thomas as the top active hitting prospect in the Diamondbacks organization, and he seems to have hit his stride of late slashing .302/.388/.651 with three home runs, 10 RBI and three steals across his last 10 outings. He also offers above-average speed, decent power and the ability to hit for average. If Thomas can continue to tap into that power potential, he could see the big leagues as early as next season for the rebuilding D-Backs.

CHECK STATUS

Kyle Harrison, P, SF – The strikeout numbers jump off the page for Harrison as he's managed 57 punch outs in only 32.2 innings at Low-A. Opponents are hitting just .183 against while he keeps the ball down with a 2.55 GO:AO. As a result, Harrison hasn't given up a home run so far this season. His only concern at the moment is control with 21 walks in those 32.2 innings. He offers a deceptive, three-quarter arm slot from the left side while throwing a wipeout slider and an emerging changeup. Harrison is already the top pitching prospect for the Giants and could soon emerge as one of the top southpaws in all of baseball.

Oneil Cruz, SS/OF, PIT – Cruz is among the more high-risk, high-reward prospects in the minors standing at 6-foot-7 with superior athleticism. He's played shortstop in the past, but may end up in right field.  Cruz homered in three straight games earlier this month and has also stolen eight bases while hitting an even .300 through 37 contests at Double-A. There are concerns that due to his height, the upper-echelon pitchers will be able to exploit holes in his swing along with a belief his steals will trend downward. That being said, Cruz has 20-20 potential and the ability to hit for average with tremendous upside.

Jake Meyers, OF, HOU – A 13th-round selection in 2017, Meyers has slowly but surely made his way up the Astros' organizational ladder. He's also off to the best start of his brief professional career by hitting .304/.385/.616 with 12 home runs, 26 RBI and five steals from 35 games at Triple-A. Meyers has already bested his prior career high in home runs, and the former Nebraska Cornhusker also brings a bit of speed to the table. The Astros carry other young centerfielders currently on the active roster with Myles Straw and Chas McCormick, but that position is far from locked down with George Springer now in Toronto. That means Meyers could be next in line.

Austin Hendrick, OF, CIN – The elite Cincinnati pitching prospects have made a lot of noise recently as Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are off to superb starts to their 2021 campaigns. The hitting phenoms have not had quite the same luck, with Rece Hinds on the Injured List with a meniscus tear and Hendrick struggling to make consistent contact during his first taste at Low-A batting .200 with 32 strikeouts in only 19 contests. It hasn't been a total letdown for Hendrick, as he's still crushed seven home runs while drawing 19 walks that translates into a .415 OBP. The sample size is small, but big power, a decent amount of walks and plenty of strikeouts seem to be what he brings to the table. Whether Hendrick can hit for any sort of average will determine his future path.

Tanner Burns, P, CLE – The 36th overall selection in 2020 out of Auburn, Burns is off to a solid start at High-A with a 36:8 K:BB line over 30.2 innings while primarily using his fastball. He locates the pitch exceptionally well and the heater has plenty of movement. The changeup and breaking ball remain works in progress and there have also been concerns about Burns' durability. He doesn't have ideal size and also experienced some shoulder issues in college. Nevertheless, opposing batters are hitting just .183 against. If Burns can continue to develop his secondary pitches, he could quickly move through the ranks.

DOWNGRADE

MacKenzie Gore, P, SD – There were whispers earlier this year Gore had a case of the "yips".  Rick Ankiel and Chuck Knoblauch are the two names that come to mind when that colloquial term is tossed around. I don't believe the Padres would be trotting Gore out there virtually every fifth day if that were still the case, but suffice to say he hasn't performed well in limited innings so far at Triple-A with a 5.85 ERA in 20 innings along with 18 strikeouts and 12 walks. He walked five batters in his final outing in May, then allowed three homers in his most recent start. it's clear something is amiss with Gore, who was once the top pitching prospect in baseball but whose stock has taken a downturn early in 2021.

Jhoan Duran, P, MIN – Duran has been placed on the IL with a strained right elbow, something no pitcher, organization or fan wants to hear. Arguably the top pitching prospect for the Twinkies, Duran had already missed time earlier this season due to trapezius tightness. The hope here is clearly that the injury is not serious and Duran will not require Tommy John surgery. He struggled with control in limited action at Triple-A this season while punching out 22 batters but also walking 13 across 16 innings. There's also the elephant in the room of whether Duran will end up being a starter or reliever, even with his ideal size and athleticism. But health comes first.

Dax Fulton, P, MIA – Fulton underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2019, but that still didn't stop the Marlins from picking him in the second round of the 2020 Draft. He entered 2021 without any significant restrictions, but has struggled thus far with a 5.63 ERA through seven contests over a span of 24 innings. While the teenager has fanned 28 hitters, he's also walked 13.  Fulton's youth and his recent return from surgery certainly gives him the benefit of the doubt. He also induces plenty of ground balls, which should only further serve to aid his cause moving forward. Still, Fulton has been far too hittable and at 6-foot-7 there remain concerns about the repeatability of his delivery.