Spring training can mean nothing and spring training can mean everything. In this article, we dissect the top five risers and the top five fallers in fantasy circles over the last week of spring training. Instead of pontificating with a long and boring intro, let’s get straight into it!

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MLB Spring Training Risers & Fallers

RISERS

1. Jackson Merrill (OF, SS – SD)

The Padres announced Jackson Merrill will make the team out of camp after back-to-back homer days this week, raising his spring slash line to .351/.400/.595 in 37 at-bats.

2. Ceddanne Rafaela (OF – BOS)

Ceddanne Rafaela hit a couple of bombs this week and now there is talk of him running with the CF job or even playing at 2B with Vaughn Grissom out. He went 4-for-14 this week (as of Thursday, March 14) with two doubles and two homers.

3. Nick Nastrini (SP – CWS) & Garrett Crochet (SP – CWS) 

I was already high on Nick Nastrini in deep Draft Champions leagues entering the spring but he has had a good camp, impressing the higher-ups. So has Garrett Crochett. After the Dylan Cease trade, it looks like both could break camp in the rotation for the White Sox. Nastrini had seven Ks and three BBs with zero ER in three IPs this week (9 Ks, 2 H, 2 BB in 7 IPs this spring) while Crochet had seven Ks and zero BBs in 5 1/3 IPs with zero ER (12 Ks, 7 H, 0 BB in 9 IP this spring).

4. Henry Davis (C, OF – PIT)

Henry Davis slowed down a tad this week with only one home run but that was with Yasmani Grandal out with foot issues, which increases the odds of Davis getting catcher eligibility early in the season and skipping the risk of being sent down to start the year.

5. Shota Imanaga (SP – CHC)

Shota Imanaga was incredible against the Athletics on Thursday, recording nine Ks, giving him 14 Ks in 7 1/3 IPs on the week against two BBs. Stock up… he’s probably up an entire tier for me, even though it was just the Athletics.

Honorable Mentions

1. Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT)
2. Luis Gil (SP – NYY)
3. Victor Scott (CF – STL)
4. Garrett Cooper (1B, DH – CHC)
5. Joel Payamps/Abner Uribe/Trevor Megill (RP – MIL)
6. Dylan Cease (SP – SD)
7. Michael Soroka (SP – CWS)
8. Ryan Weathers (SP – MIA)
9. Zack Thompson (SP, RP – STL)
10. Robert Gasser (SP – MIL)

FALLERS

1. Injured Pitchers:

• Gerrit Cole (SP – NYY) — Out for approximately 10-12 weeks with a recommendation of non-surgical rehab on the elbow, so look for him sometime in June.
• Devin Williams (RP – MIL) — Has a broken back and is out for three months, leaving the Brewers’ closer role up for grabs until the second half.
• Edward Cabrera SP – MIA) — Has a shoulder impingement. From my research, he is likely out for 1-2 months, losing his momentum for a rotation spot.
• Taj Bradley (SP – TB) — Has a pectoral strain and is likely out 6-8 weeks until he’s back at full speed and ready for the rotation.

2. Drew Thorpe (SP – CWS)

The trade to the White Sox will be worse for his development, a worse route to the majors (more young competition) and a worse stadium to pitch in. I still expect Drew Thorpe to be called up by June, but the Padres offered a better ballpark, defense and team around him. Side note: His velo was down a couple of ticks in his Padres debut pre-trade from his average of around 92 miles per hour (MPH).

3. Wilyer Abreu (OF – BOS) 

Wilyer Abreu went 0-15 this week (as of Thursday, March 14) with eight strikeouts. His competition in Ceddanne Rafaela looks to be running away with the CF job. He’s 4-for-36 this spring and warming his bench spot, so to speak, with this lackluster performance.

4. Dominic Fletcher (OF – CWS)

Dominic Fletcher was listed early as the favorite for the RF job after the White Sox traded pitching prospect Cristian Mena for him, but he was 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts this week (as of Thursday, March 14) and has gone 6-for-35 this spring — good for a .171/.275/.229 slash line. He better watch out for Gavin Sheets and Kevin Pillar.

5. Tommy Henry (SP – ARI) 

Tommy Henry has buried himself in the competition against Ryne Nelson for the fifth rotation spot in Arizona as he gave up 10 ER in 6 1/3 IPs this week with only three Ks. On the other side of this competition, Nelson has 14 Ks and only two BBs in 11 2/3 IPs this spring and only four ER.

The MLB Spring Breakout games started on Thursday, March 14th and go until Sunday, March 17th. These games will tell us a few important things:

1. Who is in contention for the Opening Day Roster… it’s unlikely any players in contention for a major league roster spot on Opening Day will play in these games.
2. What prospects are favorites on their teams… this will give us a good idea of who the teams are high on in their organizations, so keep a close eye on who is pitching and when, along with the lineup and who is hitting where.

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