Prospect Stock Watch: Anderson, Law, Musgrove, Sisco

We’ve hit the midway mark in the 2015 season and it’s time to start thinking about players that might help in 2016 — especially if you play in a keeper league.

Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox: Chicago hasn’t had much success with top draft picks in recent years with the exception of ’14 pick Carlos Rodon but Anderson could also help turn the tides. The 22-year-old infielder is currently hitting .302/.326/.402 at the Double-A level. He’s shown occasional gap power with also nabbing 25 bases in 31 attempts. The downside to his game could hurt him as he reaches the Majors, though. Anderson has walked just 10 times in 72 games and he’s gone down on strikes 65 times. He’s also not a lock to stick at shortstop and may be better suited for the keystone. Micah Johnson and Carlos Sanchez have been disappointments at second base and Alexei Ramirez has an OPS below .600 in 2015. Look for the middle infield prospect to receive a big league shot in 2016. [Value Even]

Derek Law, RHP, Giants: The young reliever caught attention of prospect watchers in 2013 when he struck out 102 batters and walked just 12 in 66.1 innings over three minor league levels. He followed that up with a solid showing in 2014 at Double-A. Unfortunately, he lasted just 28 innings before blowing out his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. The right-hander has returned from the injury and is looking good back at the same level. In six games, he’s struck out 10 batters with just one walk in 5.2 innings. Law, 24, isn’t overpowering but he works in the low 90s with his heater and can throw four pitches for strikes. He also has a funky delivery that generates good movement on his offerings and excellent deception. A good reliever is hard to find these days and the Giants might have a good one — and he could be ready in 2016. [Value Up]

Joe Musgrove, RHP, Astros: I wrote about Musgrove early in the year but he deserves another mention because of his breakout season… and also because the Astros are in the market for starting pitching help and he could be an interesting trade piece. The right-hander was originally drafted by the Blue Jays 46th overall in the 2011 draft as a highly projectable California high school pitcher. Injuries and inconsistencies kept him in short season ball for four years and he looked like a bust. Musgrove, still just 22, opened 2015 in Low-A ball but then made six appearances during a brief stop in High-A. He’s now in Double-A where he’s produced a 0.70 ERA in five more games (25.2 innings). In a total of 74.2 innings, he’s struck out 75 batters with just four walks. And the 6-5, 255 pound hurler isn’t just a command/control guy; he can dial his fastball up into the mid 90s. If/when the Astros make a trade this July, look for his inclusion in the deal. [Value Up]

Chance Sisco, C, Orioles: One of the better young catching prospects in the minors, Sisco played just 11 games in April and May due to injury. On return, he hit .333/.398/.452 in 24 June games and has also been above .300 with his batting average on into July. He hasn’t shown much power early in his career but he has the frame to eventually slug home runs from the left side of the plate. Cisco, 20, also controls the strike zone well for his age and currently has a BB-K rate of 15-16 in 128 at-bats. Former No. 1 draft pick Matt Wieters never turned into the star player that was projected of him, in part due to injury, and Caleb Joseph is a modest offensive player at best. As a result, Sisco should be a welcomed sight at the big league level in 2017. [Value Up]