Rookies are always undervalued in fantasy leagues and unless it's a dynasty league, often can be had at a massive discount. It seems year after year we look at owners who are in the top of the standings and see them grab a hold of that rookie difference maker. Now, some of these young arms and bats are already in the majors and likely on teams contributing already like Jasson Domingez or Kyle Stowers, but these are two names that can transform your team into an immediate contender or put you over the top for a championship run, if you invest now.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a poverty organization, and they often act like one which is the only reason why Bubba Chandler isn't in the major leagues yet. The Pirates want to control as many years as they can on the back end of his contract, so they are keeping him in the minors, but his time is coming fast.
Chandler has nothing left to prove in the minors and has perhaps the best fastball in any level outside the big leagues. Chandler was hitting triple digits in the 5th inning in his most recent start and that shows what sort of upside he possesses. His season stats show he is ready for the next step. On the year he Season stats has pitched in 5 games, good for 20.1 innings pitched, a sparkling 1.33 ERA, with 27 K’s to only 6 walks. Pittsburgh might be a bad franchise, but they certainly have a good track record when it comes to young arms, and this is just another in the line of Cole, Tailon, and Skenes who can shake up the fantasy landscape.
The Royals also should be bringing up their future sooner rather than later. Jac Caglianone has little to prove in the lower levels and all eyes are on the young first baseman to get the call. Because his path to the majors is blocked by Vinnie P in the show, the Royals have started to use him in the outfield in order to get his big bat into the lineup. Hunter Renfroe isn't cutting it for KC and a special bat like Cags could put the Royals back into the mix for a playoff spot.
Caglianone is a saber metrics dream. His exit velo and launch angle are things they drool over with him being just the 5th player in history to hit a ball 121 mph this year, you can see the potential right away. But he is not just some masher who will be like Adam Dunn or Rob Deer. Cags can hit to all fields and is selective at the plate as you can see by his numbers. He is hitting .330 with a 1.012 OPS at Double-A that goes along with 9 HR and 35 RBI.
The Royals OF's are hitting .226 combined with very little pop and are almost automatic outs in the lineup so a move from AA to the bigs is not out of the question. This is a bat to grab even if you have to wait until the summer to reap the rewards.