Andrew Painter and other prospects on the rise

The Philadelphia Phillies boast 1 of the apical pitching rotations successful the large leagues, truthful they tin spend to beryllium diligent with RHP imaginable Andrew Painter. Well, possibly not excessively patient. Phillies president of shot operations Dave Dombrowski, ne'er 1 to clasp prospects back, has made it wide that Painter volition beryllium handled cautiously this season, famously calling his pending debut astir "July-ish." Fantasy managers imagination of imaginable aces, and Painter, with a repertoire including a 100-mph fastball and powerfulness slider, whitethorn beryllium one. He is already rostered successful astir 3% of ESPN modular leagues.

Painter, 22, made his Triple-A debut past week, striking retired 5 implicit 3 scoreless innings, and squad officials came distant impressed and excited for the future. After all, they haven't seen overmuch of Painter, a 2021 first-round pick, successful existent games. Elbow woes led to Tommy John surgery, costing him some the 2023 and 2024 insignificant league seasons. He dominated the Arizona Fall League precocious successful 2024. The Phillies had him skip Double-A, and fig to utilize him judiciously astatine Lehigh Valley for abbreviated outings. The big-league nine is contending. A steadfast Painter should person a relation this summer, but it whitethorn beryllium problematic for phantasy managers.

With RHPs Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola joined by LHPs Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez, the rotation is full. RHP Taijuan Walker already serves arsenic swingman. Philadelphia's bullpen lacks right-handed leverage options. Hmm. The Phillies assertion Painter, with a starter's physique and stuff, is 100% a starter -- arsenic helium should be. Be careful, phantasy managers. Painter whitethorn beryllium awesome, this twelvemonth oregon eventually, but it is hard to trust connected idiosyncratic (despite his skills), connected this benignant of innings/pitch number limit. Even erstwhile helium starts, the starts whitethorn beryllium brief. Those successful re-draft formats whitethorn privation to put successful much contiguous help.

Stock rising

Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers: Misiorowski, 23, utilized to beryllium held successful higher esteem by imaginable evaluators, but years of power issues person near his aboriginal relation successful doubt. Painter, besides checking successful astatine astir 6-foot-7, overpowers hitters and issues fewer walks. Misiorowski walked 60 crossed 97 1/3 innings astatine 2 insignificant league levels past season, adding successful 15 chaotic pitches. He struck retired 127. This season, astatine Triple-A Nashville, the 2022 second-round prime has improved his control. Misiorowski has a 1.49 ERA and an 0.92 WHIP successful 42 1/3 innings.

Perhaps his eventual relation is arsenic a aboriginal reliever/closer but, for now, he's inactive starting. The Brewers, having demoted RHP Tobias Myers connected Monday, request help. Promotion seems imminent, though arsenic with Painter and each young starters, retrieve that young hitters are acold safer and reliable.

Moises Ballesteros, C, Chicago Cubs: Ballesteros, 21, has hammered Triple-A pitching astatine a .372/.420/.526 pace. He earned a promotion connected Tuesday with OF Ian Happ (oblique) hitting the IL. Not known for his antiaircraft acumen down the plate, the Cubs fig to DH Ballesteros, with Seiya Suzuki moving to the outfield. The squat Ballesteros (he's listed astatine 5-foot-8, 200 pounds) showed some powerfulness and sheet subject crossed 2 insignificant league levels past season. For phantasy purposes, it doesn't substance wherever the Cubs usage him. He is catcher-eligible each this season. Never presume a promotion is simply a short-term one, arsenic Ballesteros whitethorn instrumentality astir if helium hits truthful overmuch that helium forces the enactment to play him.

Dalton Rushing, C/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: Newcomer Michael Conforto entered Tuesday hitting conscionable .153 with a .537 OPS. Perhaps the Dodgers tin cruise into October carrying respective underachieving regulars similar Conforto and 3B Max Muncy, but Rushing and IF Alex Freeland some look acceptable for the large leagues. Rushing, 24, is hitting .304/.421/.490 astatine Triple-A Oklahoma City. He boasts powerfulness and sheet subject and immoderate acquisition successful near field. Freeland, 23, is simply a shortstop who tin play 2nd basal and 3rd base, too. He has a .781 OPS astatine Triple-A. The Dodgers tin beryllium patient, due to the fact that their apical hitters are outrageously productive, but they can't play Conforto/Muncy for six months with these numbers. OF Zyhir Hope lurks for 2026.

Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals: House, 22, received his archetypal promotion to Triple-A Rochester past season, and helium deed lone .250 with a 3% locomotion complaint implicit 54 games and 236 PA. It was a setback. This season, House is up to a 9.2% locomotion complaint for the Red Wings. OK, truthful House does not task arsenic a aboriginal batting champion oregon 30-HR option, but for galore of america successful heavy phantasy leagues, competent playing clip would suffice. Third basal is unfastened for the Nationals, arsenic is simply a spot successful the mediate of the lineup. House seems apt to assertion these spots astatine immoderate constituent this summer.

Stock falling

Coby Mayo, 3B, Baltimore Orioles: It inactive feels premature and unfair to notation to Mayo, 23, arsenic simply a Quad-A subordinate -- idiosyncratic who produces large numbers successful Triple-A but cannot capitalize astatine the MLB level. The Orioles promoted Mayo with Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias injured and presented him each of 4 starts and 13 PA. Now he's backmost astatine Triple-A Norfolk again, having deed conscionable .094 successful his precise little enactment successful Baltimore. Mayo is 5-for-53 (all singles) with 28 strikeouts successful the large leagues. Life isn't fair. Mayo is amended than this, of course, but the Orioles are successful past place, and thing but patient. Perhaps Mayo needs a caller home, similar Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby earlier him. Regardless, it'll beryllium pugnacious to trust connected Mayo for phantasy successful 2025.

Tink Hence, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals: Hence, 22, who earned announcement by striking retired 109 hitters implicit 79 2/3 innings for Double-A Springfield past play (and due to the fact that of his antithetic name), remains connected the IL for Triple-A Memphis owed to a rib cage strain. He's yet to debut this season. He entered 2025 astatine a vocation crossroads contempt intriguing numbers, arsenic limb and enarthrosis injuries support holding him back. Hence has yet to scope 100 IP successful immoderate play arsenic a professional, and things are not looking large for this year, either. With his flimsy framework and deficiency of durability, the bullpen whitethorn beryllium successful his future.

Harry Ford, C, Seattle Mariners: Ford, the No. 12 prime successful the 2021 draft, continues to scope basal astatine a precocious clip astatine Triple-A Tacoma. However, conscionable 5 extra-base hits implicit 26 games and 118 PA does not impress. Ford appeals to phantasy managers successful dynasty leagues due to the fact that helium is simply a catcher who steals myriad bases -- a invaluable accomplishment for sure. Yet helium isn't providing power, and his defence remains problematic. Oh, and there's this Cal Raleigh chap successful the way. Ford tin assistance the Mariners -- oregon different enactment -- by moving distant from catching, but there's small denotation helium volition beryllium helping phantasy managers soon.