Fansided

10 MLB prospects who can help your fantasy baseball team in 2019

By Brad Berreman

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23:Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles (16) steps up to bat against the New York Mets at Nationals Park September 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Nationals lost to the New York Mets 8-6 in the last home stand of the season.(Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23:Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles (16) steps up to bat against the New York Mets at Nationals Park September 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Nationals lost to the New York Mets 8-6 in the last home stand of the season.(Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images /

6. Francisco Mejia, C, San Diego Padres

Mejia got his most extensive run yet in the big leagues after being traded to the Padres before the deadline last year, as he hit .185/.241/.389 with three home runs and eight RBI in 20 games (58 plate appearances). Over 31 games in the Pacific Coast League after the trade, he hit .328/.364/.582 with seven home runs and 23 RBI, and including his time with the Indians’ Triple-A team he posted a .293/.338/.471 slash with 14 home runs, 68 RBI and 30 doubles at that level last year.

There is a question about Mejia’s long-term future as a catcher, and Austin Hedges is in line to be San Diego’s regular catcher when the season starts with a bit of pop to offer fantasy owners (32 home runs over the last two seasons). But a shift of playing time toward Mejia feels inevitable, even if it waits until the middle of April.

Mejia struck out in 30.6 percent of his plate appearances in the majors last year, but the larger sample of his minor league career points to a strike out rate in the mid-to-high teens as a high-contact (82.2 percent), high average (.293) hitter.

The shallowness of the catcher position, made a little worse by Salvador Perez being headed for elbow surgery, puts Mejia on the radar as a draft and stash in leagues where carrying two catchers is palatable. But in time, there’s real mixed league potential here.

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