Fantasy: FAAB Targets For Week 12 — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Image credit: CJ Abrams (Photo By Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

It’s been a few weeks since we released a proper FAAB article, but after a couple of busy weeks we return with another 11 names to help you this week in dynasty leagues big and small. With half a season of data and scout-driven insight to work off of the cream is beginning to rise to the top, and flukes of the first few months are beginning to fade. Let’s take a look at some of the hottest players over the last three weeks who are looking to ride their current momentum into the second half of the season.

CJ Abrams, SS Padres

League Type: Dynasty – All League Sizes

After an injury to Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. accelerated Abrams’ timeline, the young shortstop was called upon to not only fill FTJ’s shoes, but produce every day in the major leagues. He wasn’t ready yet, and the results were poor. Often struggles at the major league level can create buying opportunities in dynasty leagues. While it’s very unlikely you can FAAB your way into Abrams, you might be able to acquire his services for a lot less than they would have cost in February.

Enmanuel Valdez, 3B Astros

League Type: 14+ Teams or 200+ Prospects Rostered

Promoted to Triple-A a few weeks back, Valdez has continued to produce following the bump up to the highest level in the minors. He hit a trio of home runs on Wednesday and has shown that his Double-A production over the last two seasons is likely not a fluke. He’s a slightly aggressive hitter with some swing and miss, but by and large the swing decisions have been strong. He takes good angles to the ball and makes consistent hard contact, with his average exit velocity sitting at a very respectable 89 mph between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022. Valdez is a worthwhile flier in all but the shallowest of dynasty leagues. Valdez still needs to be added to the Astros 40-man roster but it wouldn’t surprise me if he is at some point this summer.

Jonah Bride, 1B Athletics

League Type: Redraft Add or All Dynasty Formats

After just two weeks at the Triple-A level, Bride was promoted to the major leagues on Tuesday. Bride for the better part of the last 18 months has done everything he can to answer the question surrounding any corner infielder—“can he hit”. So far in 2022 the answer is a resounding yes! His elite bat-to-ball skills, discerning eye at the plate and line drive swing mean Bride is rarely fooled or beaten at the plate. The downside, there’s limited power here, as Bride’s exit velocities and launch angles don’t yield themselves to big power production, so temper expectations. Despite this, Bride is a wise name to marry in on-base percentage and points leagues. He rarely strikes out, gets on base and will rack up hits by the bunches. He’s a worthy flier in all formats, as the Athletics have plenty of opportunities to go around.

Ky Bush, LHP Angels

League Type: 16+ Teams or 250+ Prospects

The Angels went pitching heavy to an extreme in the 2021 draft and so far the strategy is paying off, as the Angels have added depth among their starting pitching ranks. While Chase Silseth has gotten the most attention, Bush might project for the most success long term of the group. A tall lefthander with feel for his four-pitch mix, Bush’s slider and changeup provide him with above-average secondaries to play off of his low-to-mid-90s fastball. While his four-seamer isn’t a very good bat-missing pitch, it does a good job of stealing strikes early in counts and setting up his low-80s slider and his hard-running mid-80s changeup. It’s a mid-rotation ceiling, but a high floor arm with little questions around his ability to start long term.

Mason Auer, OF Rays

League Type: 16+ Teams or 300+ Prospects

Speed is always a commodity worth going out and acquiring in dynasty formats of all types. What if I told you there’s a speedster widely available in a variety of formats that has all-around abilities? Welcome Mason Auer, a former two-way player as a freshman at Missouri State who transferred to San Jacinto (Texas) JC last spring before the Rays selected him in the fifth round last July. He’s a true five-tool player who was once considered a better pitching prospect than positional prospect. However, after showing a tantalizing combination of plus-plus foot speed, power and general athleticism he’s now a full-time outfielder. So far in 2022 Auer has been successful in 23 of his 26 attempts, hitting .314/.391/.514 with four home runs. If that’s not enough to sell you, perhaps this fact will, Auer attended Kickapoo High in Springfield, Mo.

Taylor Dollard, RHP Mariners

League Type: 16+ Teams or 300+ Prospects

If you’ve read enough baseball content this spring, you’re likely to be fairly familiar with the current popularity of the sweeper slider. The pitch has captivated the baseball world, and those that throw a good sweeper have gained traction in pitching circles of late. Enter Taylor Dollard, a righthander in Double-A with the Mariners. While Dollard’s fastball may not overpower you at 91-93 mph with average vertical break, his ability to play his fastball off of his sweepy low-80s slider has yielded strong results in 2022. In an organization known for developing pitching over the last few years Dollard is an unheralded name with the stuff to contribute at a variety of roles long term.

Ruben Ibarra, 1B Reds