Hitter Profiles: Prospect Darts

With the MLB trade deadline looming, fantasy baseball managers know it will soon be time to look beyond blockbuster trades for hidden gems. As teams recalibrate and make their final playoff pushes or look to test young talent for the future, an influx of minor league talent often comes to the forefront. At this juncture, we start to see some surprise callups that can be real difference-makers, injecting fresh energy and unexpected production into our fantasy lineups. In this week’s Hitter Profiles, we dive into a selection of under-the-radar minor league prospects poised to receive the call and make an impact during the crucial stretch run. Whether you’re contending for a title or searching for keeper league gems, these lesser known names could be key to your future success.

Gavin Cross

Gavin Cross, an outfield prospect, was drafted 9th overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2022 out of Virginia Tech.  Cross fits the mold as a well-rounded player with strong marks for his defense, speed, plate approach, and slight power.  Overall, this is a profile that rings of Lane Thomas and others that have achieved through a strong overall profile but lack of a single outstanding tool.  At 23-years old, Cross has been able to produce at Double A with a 15 homer and nearly 40 steal pace.  There is not much standing in the way at the outfield level for the Royals with Hunter Renfroe, Kyle Isbel, and Drew Waters.  With the Royals playing well this season, they cannot afford to have an outfield producing a combined 1.1 WAR and should be looking elsewhere for production.  A consensus top 10 organizational talent, Gavin Cross deserves a look and would certainly be a viable option with how he can fill a stat sheet for fantasy owners.

Cooper Bowman

Drafted by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Louisville, Cooper Bowman is now in his third season in the Oakland Athletics system.  A second basemen by trade, Bowman’s calling card is his speed and ability to get on base.  For the 2024 season, Coop has stolen 33 bases, good for third best at the Double A level, in 38 attempts leveraging a walk rate over 12%.  While Bowman has impressive base stealing skills, he also has delivered 12 homers this season.  At Double A Midland, that total is even more impressive recognizing a park that tends to surprise power.  At 24 years of age, there is little left to prove or mature at the minor league level.  As the Athletics subtract at the deadline, there may be even more room for Cooper’s bat to enter the mix as the Athletics surely need to figure out what they have in the infielder that has a 133 wRC+ down on the farm this season.

Gustavo Campero

Campero was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees in 2016.  He remained with New York through 2020, when he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the Minor League Rule 5 draft.  At 26-years old, Campero has shaken off much of the prospect status and watch dogs.  However, there is still value to be found for an Angels team that needs to review their young talent in what is another rebuilding year. This season, Campero has operated mainly as an outfielder after pursuing catching as recently as 2022.  In Double A, he has parked 13 homers with 29 steals in 36 attempts.   Since the beginning of July, he has hit .343 with four homers and steals apiece and a combined 22 runs plus RBI.  Also showing a strong approach at the plate, he has walked more than he has struck out during that span.  Since joining the Angels system, Campero has delivered at every stop of the minor league ladder and there is a good chance the Angels give him a look in 2024.

Adrian Del Castillo

Going a bit deeper for this last dart, Adrian Del Castillo was a competitive balance pick out of Miami in 2021.  Del Castillo does not get much prospect hype as he checks in just inside of the top 30 prospects for Arizona and receives middling grades for his tools.  The reason Castillo shows up in our profiles today is pretty simple, he hits with catcher eligibility.  In his second season at Triple A Reno, Adrian is hitting .313 with 21 homers pacing for a full season of 35 long balls.  Sure, Reno is certainly a hitters paradise which will boost minor league stats, but there are clearly results being put up to the notion of 36% better than league average.  Playing time at the next level behind Gabriel Moreno is the biggest question mark here, but at some point, Del Castillo deserves a shot at big league pitching with this power.