POSTED 8-22-07

September presents the opportunity for baseball teams to see what kind of talent they have brewing in the minor leagues. It may be hard to fathom how there can still be impact players left with all the prospects who have come up through the ranks this year alone, from Tim Lincecum and Justin Upton to Cameron Maybin and Yovani Gallardo.

But that collective talent pool never seems to go dry. So who's next? UPDATE! has put together a list of five possible call-ups who can help your fantasy team down the stretch.

JAY BRUCE
Cincinnati Reds, OF
Comment: Bruce is another top talent playing in the minor-leagues who deserves a chance to shine in '07. He's had a good year thus far playing for the Reds' farm teams, accumulating a .319 AVG, 25 HR, 87 RBI, 85 R and 8 SB in 129 games. His bat would be a potent weapon for fantasy owners desperate for power as Bruce would be playing his home games in the comfy confines of the Great American Ballpark. However, the Reds outfield is rather crowded, so his playing time would be in question. Another negative to consider is the fact that Bruce has averaged over a strikeout per game. That being said, someone with this type of power-potential should be scooped up in all keeper-leagues if he makes his arrival to the big leagues. Mixed league and NL-only players should also take a chance on the youngster if he gets the call.

IAN KENNEDY
New York Yankees, SP
Comment: First it was Philip Hughes, then Joba Chamberlain, but will Kennedy be the third top pitching prospect in the Yankees' organization to make the leap to the majors? His numbers this year scream yes as Kennedy has gone 12-3 in 25 starts with a 1.91 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 164 SO in 146.1 innings. The only thing standing in his way is the starting rotation as there is simply no room for him on it. That may change after Monday night's Yankees-Tigers game. There has been talk that this may be Mike Mussina's last game in New York's rotation this season if he does not turn his horrible 2007 around and Kennedy's name has surfaced as a leading candidate to replace Moose in the starting pitching staff. A top gun like Kennedy pitching with all that run support for a team contending for the playoffs sounds like a recipe for fantasy success. Add the right-hander in all formats if he does indeed join the Yankees major-league roster.

EVAN LONGORIA
Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 3B
Comment: Fear not gentle reader, there will be no poorly constructed jokes here regarding the Desperate Housewives star. What you will find with Longoria, however, is a player who hit .315 with 18 HR in just 62 games last year post-amateur draft. Longoria's numbers this season in the minors have been solid as well (.304 AVG, 25 HR, 92 R, 91 RBI, 4 SB in 127 games). At the third base position, numbers like that could go a long way towards aiding your fantasy team. The Devil Rays have some roster flexibility as well as current third baseman Akinori Iwamura is a utility-man who could easily shift to the outfield in order to make room for Longoria. Consider him a must-have fantasy commodity if and when he joins the D-Rays lineup.

JEREMY SOWERS
Cleveland Indians, SP
Comment: Certainly the most surprising name on this list, namely because he is not a rookie. Sowers bombed out early in 2007 before being demoted from the Indians major league roster with a 6.93 ERA in 12 games. He struggled a bit early on in the minors, but has since gone on cruise control allowing no more than 2 earned runs in 6 of his last 7 starts (the other start saw him give up 3 runs in 6 innings). If that isn't impressive enough, one need look no further than his 2006 major-league numbers in the second-half: 6-2, 2.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 28 SO in 72.2 IP (including 2 complete games shut-outs). It should be noted that he was recently passed over for a promotion by left-handed rookie Aaron Laffey, but if Laffey can't hold it together or the Indian's rotation suffers an injury, Sowers will almost certainly get the call to return to the majors.

JOEY VOTTO
Cincinnati Reds, 1B
Comment: Let's be blunt, when Scott Hatteberg is your current starting first baseman and you team is playing for pride at this time of the year, why the heck wouldn't you plug in a top prospect? Votto is hitting .297 this year with the Louisville Bats with 22 HR, 89 RBI, 70 R and 16 SB in 126 games. The Canadian born player also had 22 HR and 24 SB last year in the minors. At the first base position, guys with pop in the bat and speed on the base-paths are hard to come by. Those in NL-only leagues will want to take an immediate flier on Votto if he makes it to the majors this season, especially since he will be playing in a premier hitting ballpark in Cincinnati. Mixed leaguers should also show some love to Votto, particularly those of you looking for any help you can get in the steals department.

Starbonell is UPDATE! Major League Baseball Editor.

PHOTO BY Sporting News / ZUMA Press / Icon SMI
Jeremy Sowers can help the Cleveland Indians win the arms race.


The Lineup
Answer Gal
Trader Matt
Fantasy Sports Update! - Home
©2007 Early Edition Media, Inc. Terms of Service are applicable to you. All rights reserved.
©2007-08 Early Edition Media, Inc. Terms of Service are applicable to you. All rights reserved.