Fantasy baseball prospect watch Is Paul Skenes promotion imminent

McLaren drops injured IndyCar driver Malukas

Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Paul Skenes, the first pick in the 2023 amateur draft out of LSU, is appointment watching. The right-hander has made three starts for Triple-A Indianapolis, striking out 19 of 33 Toledo, Memphis and Louisville hitters, permitting a mere four singles and two walks. Skenes has thrown 97 of 145 pitches for strikes. Yes, it is only three outings and 9⅓ innings -- with no more than 55 pitches in any one of them -- but the big-league Pirates are thriving, and everyone wants to see Skenes in the major leagues.

That may be what everyone was hoping for when Pirates LHP Marco Gonzales, fresh off a solid weekend outing in Philadelphia, hit the injured list for a forearm muscle strain. Why not promote Skenes to the open rotation spot? OK, so 16 minor league innings in less than one calendar year is not much, but Skenes is no ordinary prospect. He is 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, with an explosive fastball, dominant slider and an emerging changeup. He elicits comparisons to the great Stephen Strasburg, also a No. 1 overall pick.

Skenes is rostered in 22% of ESPN standard leagues, mostly on the premise the Pirates will promote him to the majors this season and he will deliver instant and impressive fantasy numbers. All indications are the Pirates will comply, at some point, but it may not be in April or May. Who knows? Would it take several more rotation openings for the franchise, which last won a playoff game in 2013, to make the move everyone seems to want? The Pirates are off this Thursday, so they can wait a week to fill the open rotation hole. RHPs Mitch Keller and Jared Jones, and LHPs Martin Perez and Bailey Falter are pitching well. They have other rotation options.

Rookie starting pitchers make for dangerous investments in fantasy baseball, but Skenes sure looks different, more special than everyone else. Last season, only two traditional rookie hurlers earned Rookie of the Year votes in Cleveland's Tanner Bibee and Miami's Eury Perez. (The Mets' Kodai Senga was 30 years old.) The year prior it was Atlanta's Spencer Strider, Seattle's George Kirby and Cincinnati's Nick Lodolo. Certainly, some pitchers debut and find early success. If Strasburg is truly a comp, he had a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts his first season of 2010.

Three bench spots are the norm in ESPN standard points leagues, so perhaps it is understandable that Skenes remains available in more than 75% of these formats. Managers are looking for immediate statistics and the few bench spots are valuable and reserved for the "now." Skenes is next scheduled to pitch on Thursday, in Indianapolis, versus the St. Paul Saints, not in the major leagues. Still, he seems like a solid fantasy investment for the 2024 season. The wait for his presumptive promotion seems weeks away, not months. Do not wait too long for this ace.

The Chicago Cubs want Christopher Morel in their lineup, because he is a legitimate threat to hit 30 home runs. They hit him cleanup and play him at third base, but even with relative defensive competency so far, he is not a particularly good third baseman. Morel profiles better at designated hitter, and the Cubs have generally rotated that lineup spot among regulars so far, with fourth outfielder Mike Tauchman getting time against right-handed pitching, and he is not doing much there.

There is room for the franchise to promote Matt Shaw, and since Shaw is hitting a rather notable .381/.552/.905 with three home runs and three stolen bases through seven games at Double-A Tennessee, it seems like this would aid Chicago's lineup and defense. Shaw, a Maryland product and the Cubs' first-round pick in 2023, is strong defensively up the middle -- so handling third base should be natural -- and he profiles capable of hitting for high average, with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

The Cubs may elect to give Shaw playing time at Triple-A, or they may not. It may depend on how Morel defends, or whether Tauchman produces, but as with the Pirates, if the Cubs continue to contend, the team may be forced to act. Shaw is an exciting, young talent rostered in 0.6% of ESPN standard leagues, and fantasy managers look forward to his promotion. His production may not match that of a potential ace, but it still matters.

Tampa Bay Rays 3B/SS Junior Caminero failed to make the big-league roster out of spring training, and then he hit the minor league injured list at Triple-A Durham with a hamstring strain. Caminero returned to the active lineup Sunday, at Lehigh Valley, and mashed a three-run home run at 110.5 mph over the fence in right-center to key a 12-9 win. Caminero also doubled in the game.

This is Caminero's first stint at the Triple-A level, as the Rays summoned him late last season for their playoff push from Double-A, and he hit .235 over 34 at-bats. He was 19. Caminero is going to hit, and the Rays probably will not wait too long to promote him again. OF Harold Ramirez is generally the designated hitter, while 3B Isaac Paredes and SS Jose Caballero handle the left side of the infield. Ramirez is hitting .258, but with nary a walk and only two extra-base hits. There is room for Caminero, who is rostered in 19.1% of ESPN standard leagues. Again, don't wait too long to add him.