We’ve used scouting reports, our proprietary roto scoring method, and our Prospect of the Week lists to create our Prospect Team of the Month for June, 2018:

Some highlights:

C – Francisco Mejia

Mejia started off 2018 really cold, but he went on a tear in June, raising his batting average to .289 by the end of the month. The big question with Mejia is whether or not he can stick behind the plate defensively. If he’s a 1B/DH type in the Majors, he probably doesn’t hit for enough power to have a ton of fantasy value. That being said, he’s only 22 and catching prospects generally take longer than anyone else to develop, so be patient with this kid. There is still the chance that he develops a little more pop and becomes a serviceable major league backstop in the future.

(22 yr/Indians/AAA) C, 104 PA, 99 AB, 3 BB, 14 SO, 4 HR, 0 SB, .454/.475/.707

1B – Roberto Ramos

It’s a repeat POTM performance for Ramos in June, who followed-up his 9 HR in May with 9 more in June. Ramos was finally promoted to AA Hartford this month, and he hasn’t slowed down a step facing Eastern League pitching. He’s got 22 HR on the year and he’s slugging .659. The power is legit. Look for him to advance to AAA before the end of the season.

(23 yr/Rockies/AA) 1B, 102 PA, 86 AB, 12 BB, 34 SO, 9 HR, 1 SB, .302/.411/.686

2B – Keston Hiura

It looks like this kid might legitimately have a 60-grade hit tool already. Hiura has handled his promotion to AA ball with aplomb, posting a .399 wOBA and 149 wRC+ in 24 games. Add in power, speed, and solid defense at 2B (the real question mark on him coming into the season), and we might be looking at the best fantasy baseball prospect from the 2017 draft class.

(21 yr/Brewers/AA) 2B, 105 PA, 97 AB, 5 BB, 18 SO, 4 HR, 6 SB, .360/.409/.587

SS – Carter Kieboom

Another player who was promoted to AA ball this month, Kieboom has had no issues with his posting, slashing .382/.433/.564 in 14 games for the Harrisburg Senators. At the moment, it doesn’t look like there is a need for him at the big league level. But the Nationals have proven that they aren’t shy about moving up the kids when they are needed, so don’t be surpised if we see Kieboom in the majors sooner rather than later.

(20 yr/Nationals/AA) SS, 112 PA, 100 AB, 11 BB, 21 SO, 7 HR, 2 SB, .350/.410/.650

3B – Luke Williams

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the shelf, the 3B position was up for grabs this month. Phillies farmhand Luke Williams is a relatively unheralded prospect, but he was excellent for the Clearwater Threshers this month, showing pop and speed.

(21 yr/Phillies/A-Adv) 3B, 100 PA, 94 AB, 3 BB, 9 SO, 6 HR, 4 SB, .340/.370/.606

LF – Ernie De La Trinidad

Arizona’s 19th round pick out of UNLV in 2017, De La Trinidad looks like he’s got future leadoff hitter potential for the Diamondbacks. He now boasts a .391 OBP in 2018 after an excellent month of baseball in June. He’s 22, so he needs to get moved up a level so that we can measure him against competition that’s closer to his age.

(22 yr/Diamondbacks/A-Full) OF, 109 PA, 96 AB, 8 BB, 11 SO, 5 HR, 3 SB, .333/.385/.552

CF – Kyle Tucker

He was the best prospect in baseball in June. He could be the best prospect in baseball, period, very soon. He has real 5-category monster potential.

(21 yr/Astros/AAA) CF, 122 PA, 110 AB, 9 BB, 22 SO, 6 HR, 8 SB, .372/.418/.627

RF – Socrates Brito

Is this just the case of a Quad-A bat going on a BABIP-fueled tear? Or is there something more here? Brito has the tools to be a well-rounded contributor at the MLB level. If he keeps hitting like this, we might find out soon if he can live up to that potential.

(25 yr/Diamondbacks/AAA) RF, 96 PA, 82 AB, 11 BB, 20 SO, 10 HR, 3 SB, .414/.489/.902

SP – David Parkinson

He was our #1 overall pitcher this month, with 3 of his 4 starts making our daily top-performers panel. He’s been excellent in 2018, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.41 ERA (2.50 FIP), 29% K-rate, and 8% BB-rate. We are wondering why he’s still pitching in the Sally League.

(22 yr/Phillies/A-Full) P, 4 GS, 24 IP, 35 SO, 5 BB, 7 KBB, 0.375 ERA, 0.75 WHIP

SP – Colin Poche

Fangraphs Jeff Sullivan called him “the most unhittable arm in the minors.” The Rays actually used Poche to start 2 games this month, extending ‘The Opener’ experiment to the minors. It makes a lot of sense, as Poche is what we Strat-o-Matic nerds would call a ‘reverse lefty’, as right-handed bats actually have a harder time against him than lefties. Not that it matters, as no one has been able to hit this guy for the past 2 years. He will probably be opening some games for the Rays in the near future. Or closing them.

(24 yr/Rays/AAA) P, 2 GS, 15.9 IP, 28 SO, 3 BB, 9.33 KBB, 0.566 ERA, 0.628 WHIP

SP – Michael King

All 4 of his starts this month made our daily top performers panel, and King is fresh off a PotW win last week. He’s been just as good at AA as he was at A-Advanced ball.

(23 yr/Yankees/AA) P, 4 GS, 36 IP, 32 SO, 6 BB, 5.33 KBB, 1.25 ERA, 0.777 WHIP

SP – Luis Oviedo

A tall (6’4″) Venezuelan righty who was has been the best pitcher in the NY-Penn League so far this season. In 4 starts he’s 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA, .117 average against, 34:3 K:BB ratio, 47.4% K-rate (!), and 0.95 FIP. Look for him to be pitching in the Midwest League soon.

(19 yr/Indians/A-Short) P, 3 GS, 16 IP, 27 SO, 3 BB, 9 KBB, 0.562 ERA, 0.5 WHIP