Rookie Angels C Gustavo Campero (26) spent just 14 games in Triple-A and turns 27 on Friday, so we probably aren’t talking about a long-term piece when discussing the 5’6” switch hitter, but crazier things have happened than a catcher-eligible outfielder making a rotisserie splash over a short stretch. He hit 15 home runs and stole 29 bases against 36 attempts in 93 games (80.5 percent). If he does carve out a niche, I’ll be ready with a nickname for him.
Rangers OF Trevor Hauver (25, AAA) hasn’t been great since coming over from the Yankees in the Joey Gallo trade, but he’s flipped that script over the last – games, slashing .367/.482/.689 with five home runs and a 23.6 percent strikeout rate over his last 25 games. Late-season evaluation is complicated by the quality of pitching left in the upper minors, but I still think it’s better to keep an eye on the ball than to assume that nothing means anything.
After a rough first few days, Rockies OF Zac Veen (22, AAA) is making an impact against Triple-A arms with four home runs and five steals in his last 12 games. Even better, his strikeout rate is 18.2 percent over that stretch. If he can make enough contact to earn a job, his blend of power and speed could still sneak up on the dynasty world despite entering the league with quite a bit of wind at his back.
Diamondbacks 2B Tim Tawa (25, AAA) hit well in his freshman season at Stanford but slumped as a sophomore and then lost most of his junior season to the Covid shutdown. His glove kept him in the lineup anyway, as Tawa can play second base, third base and outfield. In his senior season, he hit .290 with 12 home runs and 14 stolen bases, and Arizona selected him 318th overall in the 11th round of the 2021 draft. His pro career has been somewhat similar. He hit early before struggling and bouncing back. He’s played a lot of first base this season, which isn’t a great fit for a six-foot righty, but the Diamondbacks have seen that work with Christian Walker, so they’re probably a little more keen than some orgs to put a capable athlete at the three. In 33 Triple-A games, he’s slashing .310/.371/.627 with nine home runs and a 19.3 percent strikeout rate. We have to take these numbers with a grain of salt late in the Reno season, but Tawa posted a 131 wRC+ in Double-A and has a 140 now. It’s crowded in the desert, with Catcher Adrian Del Rosario getting demoted despite playing well, but Tawa should push for a roster spot early next season.
For much of the season, Rangers 1B Abimelec Ortiz (22, AA) really struggled to get anything going, but thanks to a hot summer stretch, he’s at a respectable 114 wRC+ for the year. Over his last 29 games, Ortiz is slashing .364/.470/.700 with ten home runs and an 18.2 percent strikeout rate. I’m not trying to bash Nate Lowe because I have him on a fantasy team, but I suspect the club might like to replace Nate Lowe in the near future, something I feel pretty strongly about because I have Nate Lowe on a fantasy team.
Rangers OF Alejandro Osuna (21, AA) has been almost as hot as Ortiz as the Double-A Rangers enjoy circling the bases. In 57 games at the level, he’s slashing .306/.379/.523 with nine home runs and seven stolen bases, giving him 18 homers and 17 steals in 102 games across High-A and Double-A this season. Osuna made some noise as a 19-year-old in Low-A but has since faded to the dynasty background, so he might be available in your leagues.
I tried to trade for Phillies OF Justin Crawford (20, AA) in one of my leagues this year, but the deal fell through in late stages and never came back together. In his 110 games across two levels this year, Crawford is slashing .313/.360/.44 with nine home runs and 42 stolen bases. In other words, he’s added power to his profile this season and is looking a bit like his old man out there.
Thanks for reading!
