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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:. Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit:. Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images /

5. Jesus Luzardo, SP, Oakland Athletics

Luzardo pitched at three levels in Oakland’s minor league system last year, going 10-5 with a 2.88 ERA, a 10.6 K/9 and a 2.5 BB.9 over 23 combined starts (109.1 innings). A 7.31 ERA over four Triple-A starts is concerning, but with 10.1 K/9 rate over those outings and what scouts see as three major league-caliber pitches (fastball, curveball, changeup), the 2016 third-round pick that only fell that far because of Tommy John surgery that spring is ready for the big leagues.

The A’s aren’t generally beholden to service time concerns, but it’s safe to say they’ll be careful ramping up Luzardo’s innings this year. He’s also not on the 40-man roster as of this writing, so having him get more a little more seasoning in Triple-A might be a convenient way to manipulate service time anyway.

If Oakland had to name their starting rotation today, Mike Fiers, Marco Estrada, Daniel Mengden, Brett Anderson and Frankie Montas would be the five. But Anderson is an injury waiting to happen, or if someone in the bullpen were to go down a rotation spot could open up that way.

With a week to go before Opening Day, Luzardo was shut down for 4-6 weeks with a strained rotator cuff. As long as he remains on that track with no setbacks, a return around May 1 will maintain the possibility of a notable fantasy contribution this year.

Luzardo would be helpful to fantasy owners in rate statistics, with just enough wins to offer something there. Even if he is in Triple-A for a bit to start his season, don’t forget about the young left-hander as the weather starts getting warmer.

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