Fantasy Baseball Prospects Report: Ralphy Velazquez, Ethan Salas Making a Late Promotion Push

With less than 45 days remaining in the season, the fantasy baseball community is eagerly anticipating the next wave of call-ups. As the September 1st roster expansion looms closer, several top prospects are making a strong case for their inclusion in the big leagues.

One of the most notable prospects to make a late push for a promotion is Ralphy Velazquez, the 21-year-old first baseman for the Cleveland Guardians. Since moving up to Triple-A, Velazquez has been on a tear, hitting 11 home runs in his last 16 games and showcasing his raw power. With the Guardians acquiring Nate Lowe at the trade deadline, Velazquez’s path to the majors has become more plausible, especially if the team decides to play him alongside Lowe.

Another prospect making waves is Ethan Salas, the 20-year-old catcher for the San Diego Padres. After a slow start in 2024, Salas has made a significant leap forward this season, boasting a .297 batting average and 10 home runs in 316 at-bats. His impressive performance in Triple-A has caught the attention of fantasy baseball enthusiasts, who are eagerly anticipating his potential call-up.

Quinn Mathews, the 22-year-old pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, is another prospect worth mentioning. Despite not being the highest-end prospect, Mathews has already made two spot starts for the Cardinals and has shown himself to be serviceable in the majors. His ability to adapt to the big leagues has earned him a spot on this list, especially with the Cardinals’ pitching staff in need of a boost.

Kade Anderson, the 22-year-old pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, has been a fixture on this list for over three months now. His dominance on the mound has been nothing short of spectacular, with a 1.06 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched. Anderson’s ability to lower his ERA in his last four outings has further solidified his case for a promotion.

Walker Jenkins, the 21-year-old outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, has been hindered by injuries since being drafted fifth overall in 2023. However, his premium plate discipline and impressive on-base skills have made him a top contender for a call-up. With the Twins currently sitting just half a game up in the AL wild card standings, Jenkins’ inclusion in the big leagues could be a game-changer.

As the fantasy baseball community eagerly awaits the next wave of call-ups, these prospects are making a strong case for their inclusion in the big leagues. With less than 45 days remaining in the season, the clock is ticking, and these prospects are ready to make their mark.

FIVE ON THE VERGE

Kade Anderson, SP, Mariners

Kade Anderson has been a fixture on this list for over three months now, and his dominance on the mound has been nothing short of spectacular. With a 1.06 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched, Anderson’s ability to lower his ERA in his last four outings has further solidified his case for a promotion.

Anderson’s impressive stats include a 0.61 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, and 12.7 K/9 in his last 11 outings, with only two earned runs allowed in that span. If you remove his only hiccup this season, a five-run outing on May 15, he’s given up just six earned runs all season, good for a 0.60 ERA.

Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins

Walker Jenkins has been hindered by injuries since being drafted fifth overall in 2023. However, his premium plate discipline and impressive on-base skills have made him a top contender for a call-up. With the Twins currently sitting just half a game up in the AL wild card standings, Jenkins’ inclusion in the big leagues could be a game-changer.

Jenkins’ impressive stats include a .309 batting average, 9 home runs, and 13 stolen bases in 256 at-bats. His premium plate discipline has allowed him to connect 92 percent of the time when he swings on pitches in the zone and chase pitches out of the zone only 21 percent of the time.

Quinn Mathews, SP, Cardinals

Quinn Mathews is far from the highest-end prospect who could come up in the next two weeks. However, he claims a top spot on this list because he’s already established himself as next in the pecking order, having made two spot starts for the Cardinals, and has already shown himself to be serviceable in the majors.

Mathews’ impressive stats include a 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 120 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched. His ability to adapt to the big leagues has earned him a spot on this list, especially with the Cardinals’ pitching staff in need of a boost.

Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Guardians

Ralphy Velazquez has been on a tear since moving up to Triple-A, hitting 11 home runs in his last 16 games and showcasing his raw power. With the Guardians acquiring Nate Lowe at the trade deadline, Velazquez’s path to the majors has become more plausible, especially if the team decides to play him alongside Lowe.

Velazquez’s impressive stats include a .286 batting average, 22 home runs, and .904 OPS in 388 at-bats. His ability to hit for power and get on base has made him a top contender for a call-up.

Ethan Salas, C, Padres

Ethan Salas has made a significant leap forward this season, boasting a .297 batting average and 10 home runs in 316 at-bats. His impressive performance in Triple-A has caught the attention of fantasy baseball enthusiasts, who are eagerly anticipating his potential call-up.

Salas’ impressive stats include a .297 batting average, 10 home runs, and .832 OPS in 316 at-bats. His ability to get on base and hit for power has made him a top contender for a call-up.