Fantasy Focus: All Rookie Team

Unless you are in a deep keeper league, you are really only interested in prospects who are likely to play a lot this season for your fantasy baseball team.  In other words, you want to look for players who can potentially win ROY this season, not some 17 year old uber prospect who hasn't played above rookie ball.  With that background, here's my 2020 All-rookie team:

C   Sean Murphy, A's.

AAA:  .308/.386/.625, 6 2B, 3B, 10 HR, 10.7 BB%, 22.1 K%, 140 PA.
MLB:  .245/.333/.566, 5 2B, 4 HR, 10.0 BB%, 26.7 K%, 60 PA.

Murphy is listed at the top of the A's catching depth chart.  Playing time and starting the season on Opening Day are half the battle in fantasy value.  Power looks real.

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1B  Evan White, Mariners.

AA:  .293/.350/.488, 13 2B, 2 3B, 18 HR, 2 SB, 7.3 BB%, 23.0 K%, 400 PA.

Mariners signed him to a long term contract so there is no reason to keep him down on the farm to manipulate service time.  Very athletic 1B who throws lefty but bats righty.

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2B  Gavin Lux, Dodgers.

AA:  .313/.375/.521, 7 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR, 7 SB, 9.6 BB%, 20.6 K%, 291 PA.
AAA:  .392/.478/.719, 18 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR, 3 SB, 14.2 BB%, 18.1 K%, 232 PA.
MLB:  .240/.305/.400, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 2 SB, 8.5 BB%, 29.3 K%, 82 PA.

Nick Madrigal of the White Sox would be a reasonable choice here, but Lux has significantly more power and a clear path to the bulk of 2B PA's for the Dodgers.

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3B  Carter Kieboom, Nationals.

AAA:  .303/.409/.493, 24 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 5 SB, 13.8 BB%, 20.2 K%, 494 PA.
MLB:  .128/.209/.282, 2 HR, 9.2 BB%, 37.2 K%, 43 PA.

Presumptive starting 3B for the Nationals in the wake of Anthony Rendon leaving via free agency.  Whether you want to take a chance on him for your fantasy team depends on how deep your league is.  Alec Bohm of the Phillies projects better, but has not clear path to playing time in 2020.

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SS Mauricio Dubon, Giants.

AAA(Brewers):  .297/.333/.475, 22 2B, 3B, 16 HR, 4.2 BB%, 13.8 K%, 427 PA.
AAA(Giants):  .323/.391/.485, 4 2B, 4 HR, 8.9 BB%, 8.0 K%, 112 PA.
MLB:  .274/.306/.434, 5 2B, 4 HR, 4.5 BB%, 18.0 K%, 111 PA.

The more I see this kid play, the more impressed I am.  Hit 24 HR's over 3 levels last season.  I think he can that again this year.  Only question is if he will get close to 600 PA's in a super-utility role.

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OF  Dylan Carlson, Cardinals.

AA:  .281/.364/.386, 24 2B, 6 3B, 21 HR, 18 SB, 10.8 BB%, 20.3 K%, 483 PA.
AAA:  .361/.418/.681, 4 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 2 SB, 7.6 BB%, 22.8 K%, 79 PA.

Cards could keep him down for some more salt and to delay his service time,  but their OF is weak and they want to compete, so he's not going to be down long, if at all.  ROY candidate.

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OF  Luis Robert, White Sox.

A+:  .453/.512/.920, 5 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 8 SB, 4.8 BB%, 23.8 K%, 84 PA.
AA:  .314/.362/.518, 16 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 21 SB, 5.3 BB%, 22.1 K%, 244 PA.
AAA:  .297/.341/.634, 10 2B, 5 3B, 16 HR, 7 SB, 4.9 BB%, 24.7 K%, 223 PA.

Destroyed 3 levels last season.  Signed a longterm contract so service time not a factor.  Should be starting CF on Opening Day.  Will his swing happy approach work in the majors?  Strong favorite for AL ROY.

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OF  Jaylin Davis, Giants.

AA:  .274/.382/.458, 9 2B, 10 HR, 7 SB, 14.3 BB%, 25.5. K%, 251 PA.
AAA(Twins):  .331/.405/.708, 11 2B, 3B, 15 HR, 2 SB, 8.7 BB%, 26.6 K%, 173 PA.
AAA(Giants):  .333/.419/.686, 6 2B, 10 HR, SB, 12.0 BB%, 23.9 K%, 117 PA.
MLB:  .167/.255/.238, HR, SB, 6.4 BB%, 23.4 K%, 47 PA.

OK, why not?  Only other viable candidate from Fangraphs list of 2020 ETA OF prospects is Jesus Sanchez of Marlins who may have a path to more playing time, but I wasn't too impressed with the scouting report.  Davis may not win Opening Day roster, but if he does, great shot at breaking out and contending for ROY.

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SP  Jesus Luzardo, A's.

AAA:  1-1, 3.19, 31 IP, 9.87 K/9, 2.32 BB/9.
MLB:  0-0, 1.50, 10 IP, 12.00 K/9, 2.25 BB/9.

Luzardo was poised to break out last season but suffered an injury which kept him out most of the season.  If he can stay healthy, should be awesome.

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SP  AJ Puk, A's.

AAA:  4-1, 4.91, 11 IP, 13.09 K/9, 2.45 BB/9.
MLB:  2-0, 3.18, 11.1 IP, 10.32 K/9, 3.97 BB/9.

Ditto Jesus Luzardo above.

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SP  Deivi Garcia, Yankees.

AA:  4-4, 3.86, 53.2 IP, 14.59 K/9, 4.36 BB/9.
AAA:  1-3, 5.40, 40.0 IP, 10.13 K/9, 4.50 BB/9.

Garcia has electric stuff and with Yanks SP's dropping like flies, should get his shot by midseason.

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SP Michael Kopech, White Sox.

DNP.  Fireballing RHP coming back from TJ surgery.  Only question is return to full health.

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SP  Logan Webb, Giants.

AA:  1-4, 2.18, 41.1 IP, 10.23 K/9, 2.61 BB/9.
AAA:  0-0, 1.29, 7 IP, 9.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9.
MLB:  2-3, 5.22, 39.2 IP, 8.39 K/9, 3.18 BB/9.

Again, why not?  The MLB ERA is deceiving as it is inflated by 1 bad start.  Webb most likely won't be on the Opening Day roster but will almost certainly pitch in the Giants rotation in 2020.  I expect him to do well when he gets his chance.

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RP  Nate Pearson, Blue Jays.

A+:  3-0, 0.86, 21 IP, 15.00 K/9, 1.29 BB/9.
AA:  1-4, 2.59, 62.2 IP, 9.91 K/9, 3.02 BB/9.
AAA:  1-0, 3.00, 18 IP, 7.50 K/9, 1.50 BB/9.

I probably should list the fireballing Pearson as a SP, but he would also make a lights-out Closer for the BJ's when Ken Giles hits the wall.