When to call up from Minors

[bucknut7]

I just got to the second season in my White Sox fantasy draft franchise, and I have a lot of young talent that I’m grooming. Particularly, I have an 18 year old CF that I took #3 overall last year. He’s already a 67 with 91 potential. 60+ in contact and power, 84 speed but just mid 30s in fielding. I’ve currently got him in AA and he’s hitting well.

My second best prospect is Sixto Sanchez. Pitched decently well last year, and is coming on so far in his second season. He’s a 68 right now.

How do you guys handle young players like this? Do you let them ride it in AA, or do you promote to AAA before sending to majors? When do you send to majors? Don’t want to stunt their development, but eager to see both in the bigs

[Bullit]

Re: When to call up from Minors

Honestly not to sound flippant, but I move people up as it makes sense to do so. I am usually slow to pull the trigger on calling up guys. As a rule I do not usually call anybody up unless the are equal or higher in ability to who they may be replacing or platooning with depending on my roster,bench or injuries.

Of course any extended injury time and you just have to do what you have to do. But I will always send them back down when I can before they start to struggle, unless they are ready for a full time promotion. But then you need to take into account how many options they have left, potentially leaving a minor leagues team short of its required players, then leaving other teams short as you are forced to move guys up or down.

So yeah I guess if we are just talking straight up ability and preparedness for the move up or down, I do so only if they are equal or above where they are going.

[countryboy]

Re: When to call up from Minors

I'm slow with moving players through the minors. Anyone I draft generally spends the entire year (barring injuries of course) in Single A ball, and they train on their weakest area all year. Example your 18 yr old CF who's in the mid-30's in fielding, he would be training in fielding the entire season. He wouldn't get a chance to even sniff the majors until he's at least in the 60's in fielding.

Something to keep in mind is a young prospect that you're wanting to express lane through the minors should immediately be added to your 40 man roster. This way during Spring Training and September call ups, you can get a chance to see how they perform on the biggest stage and generally against high caliber players. I do this quite often. I will take a young prospect and add him to the 40 man versus that of an aging vet who's just on the roster to fill gaps and be ready for call up given a significant injury. I'll add them to the 40 man when an injured player is going on the 60 Day IL.

There's really no set in stone/correct way to handle prospects and call them up. Its on an individual basis and on feel. You have to essentially make an educated guess and hope you're right.

[bucknut7]

Re: When to call up from Minors

I'm slow with moving players through the minors. Anyone I draft generally spends the entire year (barring injuries of course) in Single A ball, and they train on their weakest area all year. Example your 18 yr old CF who's in the mid-30's in fielding, he would be training in fielding the entire season. He wouldn't get a chance to even sniff the majors until he's at least in the 60's in fielding.

Something to keep in mind is a young prospect that you're wanting to express lane through the minors should immediately be added to your 40 man roster. This way during Spring Training and September call ups, you can get a chance to see how they perform on the biggest stage and generally against high caliber players. I do this quite often. I will take a young prospect and add him to the 40 man versus that of an aging vet who's just on the roster to fill gaps and be ready for call up given a significant injury. I'll add them to the 40 man when an injured player is going on the 60 Day IL.

There's really no set in stone/correct way to handle prospects and call them up. Its on an individual basis and on feel. You have to essentially make an educated guess and hope you're right.

Is there a benefit to having them develop in single A rather than AA?

[Funkycorm]

Re: When to call up from Minors

Is there a benefit to having them develop in single A rather than AA?

Yeah they don't get injured so it does not slow down progression and they don't regress from bad stats. Most of my future MLB players stay in A until I have no space then they go to AA but are decently rated so they own there. I don't call up early unless needed. I don't have a magic number but only call them up if they will be starting. A prospect is AAA who is starting will progress faster than a prospect on your MLB roster on the bench.

[bucknut7]

Re: When to call up from Minors

Yeah they don't get injured so it does not slow down progression and they don't regress from bad stats. Most of my future MLB players stay in A until I have no space then they go to AA but are decently rated so they own there. I don't call up early unless needed. I don't have a magic number but only call them up if they will be starting. A prospect is AAA who is starting will progress faster than a prospect on your MLB roster on the bench.

Will a prospect performing in AAA develop faster than one in AA?

[Funkycorm]

Re: When to call up from Minors

Will a prospect performing in AAA develop faster than one in AA?

No, it's stats based. So my AAA is typically just full of career minor Leaguers. I like them in AA because they play against weaker competition and will perform better.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: When to call up from Minors

I consider the factors when considering moving players into the majors.

1. Merit: if a guy is hitting 390 or has a sub 3 ERA, I start considering him for callups.

2. Hands on experience: if during spring training or one of my "scouting trips" down in minors I find out I gel really well with a guy's swing or delivery, they will get special consideration when thinking about roster moves.

3. Fielding attributes: I don't care if a guy's contact is 15, if I can hit with them they are fair game to be on the team. By the same factor, I don't care if his contact 95, if his results bad I'll send him down. However I find results are much more true to attributes when it comes to fielding, and if a guy is just going to be a defensive liability I'll seriously think twice about bringing him up.

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[Caulfield]

Re: When to call up from Minors

I keep a revolving door shuttling relievers back and forth all season long. Other players its anything goes with no set rule. Just when someone on the 25 man has screwed up one time too many and I/he needs a change of scenery

[Bunselpower32]

Re: When to call up from Minors

No, it's stats based. So my AAA is typically just full of career minor Leaguers. I like them in AA because they play against weaker competition and will perform better.

This is more indicative of real life too, at least with top tier prospects. Generally, if a player can hit at AA, he can hit at AAA, so if you have a young star that is tearing up AA, not much is gained by letting him move up. The jump from High A to AA is probably the biggest jump in sports besides the jump to MLB. That is where the cream rises.

[Funkycorm]

Re: When to call up from Minors

This is more indicative of real life too, at least with top tier prospects. Generally, if a player can hit at AA, he can hit at AAA, so if you have a young star that is tearing up AA, not much is gained by letting him move up. The jump from High A to AA is probably the biggest jump in sports besides the jump to MLB. That is where the cream rises.

Definitely. That's why I do that. It keeps it close to real life.

[Instant C1a55ic]

Re: When to call up from Minors

I'm a sink or swim guy myself. I check at, or around draft time to see who's hitting well in the minors. Also, read the roster alerts every month to see who's hitting and pitching well. I usually jot down their names in my phone in a notepad, and check on them periodically to see if they continue.

For hitters, they have to be hitting about .300, and I dont call up any hitters before the all star break, barring any injuries or under performers of course. For example, in year 3 of my Rockies chise, Garett Hampton at draft time is hitting .159. I have been grooming 3B Nolan Gorman who I acquired the season prior. His hitting skills are in the mid 60's, his vision etc is high 50's which is concerning, but he is batting .350 while playing everyday.


Pitching, I try and run a 7 man rotation. 5 starters, and 2 long releiver/spot starters. I try, and I cant emphasize enough, I try and keep the long relievers my young arms from the minors. Again in the same chise, 3 years in, I have Peter Lambert and Riley Pint as my long relievers who occasionally start. I have built them up from 74ish to 79-80 in about a season or so. I use the next man up approach, if any of my young arms struggle, they are sent down and next man up. I also only use 4 relievers, and a closer as I cant seem to develop any minor releif pitchers. I reserve free agency and trading to fill those gaps.


Hope that helps.