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Farm Report: Trea Turner building call-up case

Andy Behrens
Fantasy analyst

Washington's Trea Turner is widely considered one of the game's more intriguing prospects, as most of you know. Turner, 22, made a cameo appearance for the Nationals late last season (9-for-40, HR, 2 SB) following an outstanding year in the high minors (.322/.370/.458, 8 HR, 29 SB). He opened his 2016 campaign at Triple-A Syracuse, where he's basically been a hitting machine: 8-for-19, 6 BB, 4 Ks. He's reached base at least twice in every game this season, with a 4-for-4 performance included.

Meanwhile, the Nats are starting Danny Espinosa at shortstop. His next hit will be his first since April 6. Espinosa is 0-for-16 over his last six games, batting .130/.276/.174 so far this season. Not good. The Nats are winning, of course, so perhaps the organization finds it easier to overlook Espinosa's non-hitting.

It seems pretty clear that Turner will be Washington's everyday shortstop before long — it's not as if Espinosa's history suggests a surge is forthcoming. Turner is owned in 16 percent of Yahoo leagues as of this writing, and he's going to be a popular pickup upon arrival. He doesn't have fence-clearing power necessarily, but he can offer doubles/triples pop and useful speed at a premium position. He's a reasonable stash.

• No one should be at all surprised that Joey Gallo has been roughing up PCL pitching. He's 10-for-30 so far through eight games with four homers, 11 RBIs and nine runs scored. Gallo has twice reached the 40-homer plateau in the minors, plus he went deep six times for the Rangers last season, so his power credentials are well known. He'll surely return to Texas at some point soon-ish. Ian Desmond has been a mess in the early weeks (.116/.174/.116) for Texas, just in case you hadn't noticed.

• Here's a partial list of dominant young starters who delivered excellent stat lines in their first minor league appearances of 2016: Minnesota's Jose Berrios (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, 4 BB, 9 Ks), Pittsburgh's Tyler Glasnow (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, 3 BB, 6 Ks), Washington's Lucas Giolito (4.0 IP, H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 Ks) and Detroit's Michael Fulmer (5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 7 Ks). Tampa Bay's Blake Snell has been terrific over two starts as well (9.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 14 Ks). Give me Giolito for the long-term, but I'd spend waiver priority on whoever is first to arrive.

• Shortstop J.P. Crawford has hit safely in seven straight games for Reading, so he's pushing for an early promotion to Triple-A, if not to Philly. Crawford figures to be a double-digit power/speed player, and he's demonstrated on-base ability at every stop. His career minor league slash is .292/.383/.411.

• Arizona couldn't find a spot for Peter O'Brien on the opening day roster, so he took the power show to Reno. Look at this bomb. O'Brien, 25, hit 60 homers in the minors over the past two seasons, plus another two in six games this year. If the Diamondbacks ever decide to simply stick him in left-field (or give him to an A.L. team), he'll become a priority fantasy add.