Hello, Prospect Report faithful, newbies and everything in between. Welcome to the Week 21 Prospect Report. Michael Kopech is making his long-anticipated debut and he has certainly earned it of late. He is pitching on Tuesday and is pretty much a must watch given he is the 13th overall prospect and has been so electric lately.

I know it’s not easy keeping track of all the promotions happening this time of year. Especially while you are distracted by break-out wide receivers and which QB you are going to and then cry when he gets injured.

Well, this is not the time to lose your focus. Now is the time you can set yourself up for next year, get a boost going into the playoffs, and do the research while your league is checked out.

After all, how could you not stay excited and engaged with this man taking the mound Tuesday:

"Electric, I guess you could say." ⚡️ Here's a look at what to expect from @whitesox flamethrower Michael Kopech when he makes his @MLB debut tomorrow: https://t.co/Ep3cItFUeJ pic.twitter.com/twSvhJPcQf — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 20, 2018

2018 Fantasy Baseball Week 21 Prospect Report

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News & Notes

For all your rookie and prospect news.

Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox

The White Sox have announced the Kopech will be going on Tuesday against the Twinkies. I’ve written about him a lot recently. He is pretty much a must add given the upside. A triple-digit fastball but too many walks have been Kopech’s calling card. Somewhere in June/July he really turned things around in AAA, though. He gave up two or fewer runs in 10 of 11 games during his dominant stretch and hasn’t walked a batter in his last 20 IPs. He’s ready. Just remember progress is not always linear and his ceiling is sky high.

Touki Toussaint, RHP, Atlanta Braves

Soroka, Wright, Gohara, Toussaint, Allard, Wentz, and Wilson. That is seven pitchers in the Braves system that comprise half of their top 15 prospects. The first five all being top 100 prospects as well.

Toussaint is ranked 76 overall with a plus fastball and a buckling curveball. In the 41 IPs since being promoted to AAA this year, Touki has nearly a 10 K/9 to go along with 1.93 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. In his MLB debut Monday against MIA he gave up one ER on two hits, struck out four and walked two over six IPs. So, pretty good. He’s demoted and should get called back up again in September. I love the curveball and am eager to add him. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to watch and see first.

It was an @MLB debut to remember for @Braves No. 7 prospect Touki Toussaint, who allowed just 1 run on 2 hits over 6 frames: https://t.co/Xynqgk2NQy pic.twitter.com/ziH6NgdiTX — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 13, 2018

Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros

Tucker got promoted again on August 11th after Jake Marisnick went on the 10-day DL. He struggled while he was up earlier this year and then crushed it when he went back down to AAA. That said, he is not seeing consistent playing time this go-round either. So, not a great add unless you can stash him.

Bryse Wilson, RHP, Atlanta Braves

Soroka, Wright, Gohara, Toussaint, Allard, Wentz, and Wilson. This is that Wilson and he was surprisingly called up to pitch against the Pirates on Monday. Supposedly, this is to give the current starters an extra day’s rest. Wilson showed up big for his debut going five scoreless with five Ks and only three hits. He is going to go right back down to AAA but this is a good start and confidence booster to add to his recent success of striking out 13 in AAA last week.

When you strike out the first two batters of your career, your family is going to make some noise. @Braves rookie Bryse Wilson introduces himself to big-league hitters. pic.twitter.com/fKq3vSMYQY — FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) August 20, 2018

Chance Adams, RHP, New York Yankees (AAA)

Chance Adams is the 13th ranked prospect in the Bronx Bombers’ system. He came up with J.A. Happ on the DL with illness and was quickly sent back down. Over five innings he gave up three runs against the Boston Red Sox who regularly touch up pitchers for much more than that. Adams has struggled in AAA this year and not been as good since having bone chips removed from his elbow.

Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Minnesota Twins

Gonsalves was called up to pitch on Monday with Ervin Santana on the DL with finger problems. It was not fully a dream-come-true scenario as Gonsalves coughed up four and couldn’t get out of the second inning after pitching a clean first. He is the fifth best prospect in the Twins’ system and is not much to write home about except for in AL-only leagues and very deep leagues. He’s walking nearly five batters per nine in AAA this year. He has a decent swinging strike rate thanks to a good fastball, deception, and a really pretty good changeup.

Jalen Beeks, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Beeks went to Tampa in the Eovaldi trade and was quickly called up to the big league squad in late July. He was set to come in for long relief in his Rays’ debut and it was long but he did not get much relief. He gave up eight runs, ten hits, and three walks in three and third. Ranked as the 15th player in the Rays’ system, he mixes deception with an okay fastball, cutter, and change. Since his rough debut, he has pitched 19 innings with 18 Ks, five earned runs, and seven walks. This has included outings against the Red Sox and Yanks. His value is hindered by not being stellar and the Rays’ not fantasy friendly way of throwing.

Quick Notes

Kevin Newman was promoted on Thursday and will see some inconsistent and backup time in the middle infield for the Pirates. In AAA he slashed .302/.350/.407 but his big contribution was his 28 SBs. He doesn’t have much power but can hit for extra bases with gap ability and speed.

Francisco Mejia’s bat is heating up in the Padres’ AAA system.

Kolby Allard, also one the Braves pitching prospects, was promoted to the bullpen on August 11th and has since been demoted. He has not fared well in the bigs.

The Next Big Thing

Guys you really need to know about.

Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota Twins (A+)

I’m leaving him here because he’s only proving me more right since the last time he was here. After finding a 14 game hitting streak to start August off, Kirilloff now has a .375 AVG and .431 wOBA. He has just four HRs in the 208 ABs in high A but has 22 doubles. He is twenty years old and should make his way through the system next year if he can continue anything resembling this kind of ability.

Alex Kirilloff just keeps hitting

The #MNTwins No. 2 prospect went 3-for-4 today with 3 singles for @MiracleBaseball to bring his average up to .375 in the Florida State League & .352 in 117 @MiLB games this season. No. 30 on @MLB's Top 100 Prospects list: https://t.co/TuTZgd5PTS pic.twitter.com/iJwwXJLGIR — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 20, 2018

Waiver Pick Ups

Players worth your team’s consideration.

Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox

There is no one else that can go here. If he is available, get him.

There is no Risers and Sinkers this month because of too many promotion updates.

Good luck out there and thanks for reading! Check out the rest of our great 2018 Fantasy Baseball content.