MINNEAPOLIS -- Sunday's All-Star Futures Game at beautiful Target Field showcased plenty of power-hitting prospects on the rise, with myriad reporters congregating around the lockers of Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo, and for good reason. Those guys project to be fantasy stalwarts in the home run department, likely as soon as next season.
It's probably going to take Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Jesse Winker longer to make his mark in the major leagues, but when I caught up with this natural hitter prior to the game Sunday, won 3-2 by the USA Team, all he wanted to discuss was fantasy football, as he recognized me and the other significant sport I cover at ESPN.
"I'm a big fantasy football guy, playing in a league with my family, and the guys down at [Double-A Southern League] Pensacola put together a league, and I want to let everyone know that Sammy Watkins is going to be the real deal this year," said Winker, 20, and a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan and native of Niagara Falls, New York. "Everyone's saying, 'Ah, he's a rookie wide receiver. It's only the second year with EJ [Manuel, the quarterback].' But big numbers are coming. That speed is tough to cover!"
After delving into the reasons why oft-injured running back C.J. Spiller will finally break out into true stardom this season -- sounds like Winker expects an exceptional Bills season -- our conversation turned to Winker's progress. A projectable lefty hitter with what scouts call an excellent hit tool, Winker hit 13 homers with a 1.006 OPS at High-A Bakersfield earlier this year and was recently promoted to Double-A Pensacola. So far his numbers aren't quite there, but he doesn't seem concerned. Winker hasn't been overmatched, drawing 13 walks against 20 strikeouts in 20 games, and he has homered twice. We discussed his solid plate discipline, which separates him from many hitting prospects, as well as his future expectations statistically and his timetable.
"I want to hit the ball hard every at-bat, and knock on wood, but I'm a guy that feels like you can't try not to strike out," said Winker, who roped an opposite-field double in the third inning Sunday and scored a run. "I want to continue my approach. I miss more when I try to do a little too much. The Reds have had me progress the way they want; I'm following the plan. It's about me being confident and knowing my abilities.
"I don't want to be that guy that comes up to the majors and then goes back down. I can't wait to have an effect, and think I'm a .300 hitter with 25-30 bombs. That's gonna be me. I can't wait to do that one day."
The Reds have two-thirds of their outfield seemingly set for years, with speedy Billy Hamilton -- who everyone wanted to talk to at last summer's Future's Game in New York -- and Jay Bruce entrenched in right field, but left field is wide open, and Winker could certainly play a role in 2015. Winker sees similarities in his game and Bruce's, and while he hasn't been a base stealer so far, he recognized the fantasy implications and proudly noted "even though that's not my game, that does benefit the team."
Added Winker: "One day I could steal 10-15 bags, maybe 20 on a solid year. Hopefully someday some football guys will draft me in their fantasy baseball leagues!"
You gotta love this guy.
As for the game itself, early on not much happened, as several lefty hurlers (Henry Owens, Daniel Norris) made quick, impressive work of the hitters. The USA team scored once in the third inning, and in the sixth inning it was time for the impressive power display, as Cubs shortstop prospect Javier Baez drilled an opposite-field two-run homer to right field, estimated at 399 feet, for the World team. Then the USA team's Gallo topped that in the bottom half of the inning with a 419-foot blast to right field. (The batter before Gallo was Bryant, and I caught his foul ball in the press box. Not that it has anything to do with anything, but I enjoyed it.) I opined when Prince Fielder was lost for the season that Gallo, currently sitting on 31 home runs across two minor league levels (after bashing 40 homers last year) could be the Rangers' starting first baseman sometime in July. Whether the Rangers are buying or selling could affect that, but Gallo looks ready, and worth adding in fantasy just in case. The lefty pull power will project to the majors.
Meanwhile, there were other hitter prospects I wanted to speak to prior the game, starting with Chicago White Sox second baseman Micah Johnson, the somewhat overlooked 2013 minor league stolen base champ. We had spoken back in March at spring training, and he updated me on his progress. "It's been a good season, ups and downs like normal and being at different levels," said Johnson, hitting .297 at Triple-A Charlotte but with only six stolen bases in 10 attempts.
Johnson has been hampered by a hamstring injury that resulted in a DL stint. Johnson swiped 84 bags in 110 chances in 2013. "Last year I felt I had to do something at that level to make a name for myself; it's what I had to do. You can't steal every time at the next level. You have to try to be smart, work on plate discipline and striking out less. I've really been working on that a lot."
Johnson could get his opportunity with the White Sox soon, and his speed will play. In fact, he compared himself to Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman and All-Star Dee Gordon, which makes sense, though he should shoot for more. The other hitters I spoke to offer a more well-rounded fantasy game with power and different levels of speed, but they don't figure to be big league factors until next season, at least.
• San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe, like Seager, isn't really blocked at the major league level, but he has played only 13 games above Class A ball. Renfroe has 19 home runs so far and says he has "been working on cutting down on the strikeouts. I'm hitting the ball hard, working on plate discipline." I asked Renfroe, 22, about his power potential. "I guess it's realistic for me to be a 30-home run guy. You don't know until you get there. I hope to hit .300 with 20 bombs and steal a few bases." I have to admit Renfroe rates a bit lower on my prospect list for fantasy because of Petco Park. Hey, it's not going away.
• Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager -- the 20-year-old brother of Seattle Mariners All-Star third baseman Kyle Seager -- is producing big numbers at High-A Rancho Cucamonga, with 18 home runs and a 1.044 OPS. He deflected talk that the Dodgers could move him to third base or another position. Seager is 6-foot-4, rather large for a shortstop. "I like shortstop, but whatever they tell me to do," he said. "They told me right now I'll play shortstop until I grow out of it." He's going to play on the left side of the Dodgers' infield, perhaps in 2016, and he's one to target in dynasty formats. He should be even better than brother Kyle, and Kyle is pretty good.
• Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Taylor -- not the former Oakland Athletics outfielder of the same name -- brings an intriguing blend of power and speed, but he has already struck out 116 times in 88 games at Double-A Harrisburg. He's also hitting .323 with 18 home runs and 27 steals. The tools are there. "I've made a couple adjustments, but cutting down on the strikeouts is probably my main focus right now. It's something I can do, have done, and I've showed glimpses of being more consistent. I'm swinging at pitches in the [strike] zone more, and doing that the walks will go up." Taylor is 23 and could be a factor with the Nationals in 2015, regardless of strikeout totals. His on-base percentage is an impressive .404. Taylor singled and whiffed twice Sunday.
• Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Josh Bell is a switch-hitting outfielder with power, and compares himself to Mark Teixeira. "I really think I can hit for a better average than that, but hopefully the same amount of power," Bell said. "It all depends on what park I'm in and who's pitching and all the different factors that go into hitting home runs." Bell, 21, is far from the majors, but colleague Keith Law wrote that he has the best hit tool of those in the Futures Game. Keep an eye on Bell's progress.