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The Graduates: Jorge Soler (Previous Rank: 2), Justin Wilson (13), Mike Clevinger (15)

The Royals activated Soler on Saturday and he started three games in a row in right field before taking a day off Tuesday. He’s hitless in his first 13 plate appearances. Jorge Bonifacio, who had been the Royals’ primary right fielder for two weeks before Soler’s return, remains with the big-league club.

Wilson, as you surely know by now, is the new closer in Detroit.

Clevinger took Corey Kluber’s turn in the rotation Sunday, hurling 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing one solitary hit. He did issue four walks, hearkening back to a problem he had during his 53-inning major league trial in 2016. Kluber won’t be ready to return from his back injury this week, so Clevinger should get at least one more start before likely heading back to Triple-A Columbus.

The Dropouts: Phil Ervin (23), Blake Swihart (25)

Ervin’s been a mess since returning to Triple A after a quick cup of coffee. The combination of his own poor performance and Scott Schebler’s breakout has Ervin drifting farther away from significant 2017 time in Cincinnati.

Swihart is on the minor-league disabled list after taking multiple foul balls off his throwing hand. He had been brutal at the plate immediately before the deactivation, so the Red Sox and Swihart’s fantasy owners are hoping that taking a longer break will get him fully healed and back on track.

1. Yoan Moncada (2B)—Chicago White Sox (Previous Rank: 1)

Asked about Moncada’s timeline, White Sox GM Rick Hahn recently said, “[Moncada’s] shown a fair amount of progress in each of those areas that we’ve asked of him. That said, we want to see that over an extended period of time…we think the world of his talent and future and we think he is responding to the challenges we put ahead of him, but we’re not going to rush this.”

Booooooooo. Booooooooooooooo. Moncada is slashing .345/.419/.549 with six homers, eight steals, and a 26.4 percent strikeout rate.

2. Bradley Zimmer (OF)—Cleveland Indians (Previous Rank: 4)

3. Lewis Brinson (OF)—Milwaukee Brewers (Previous Rank: 3)

Zimmer’s strikeout rate is creeping back up toward 30 percent, yet he’s still managed a .267/.345/.514 line, with four homers and seven steals. Abraham Almonte has one hit in his past 23 at-bats. Lonnie Chisenhall is still playing center field. Keon Broxton is whiffing at a terrifying clip—his 16 percent swinging strike rate is sixth-worst among players with 100 plate appearances—but he has at least one hit in 12 of his past 14 starts, and has a .383 batting average over that time thanks to a .552 BABIP. The surprisingly competitive Brewers don’t have much reason to start Brinson’s clock as long as Broxton is hitting.

4. Carlos Rodon (LHP)—Chicago White Sox (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Rodon was placed on the 60-day disabled list a week ago, which I suspect played a large role in his ESPN ownership level dropping below 25 percent for the first time. Rodon remains at the White Sox complex in Arizona, rehabbing a biceps injury and without a timetable for his return, though he is now throwing from a mound.

5. Jose Berrios (RHP)—Minnesota Twins (Previous Rank: 6)

Six starts, five earned runs allowed for Berrios so far in 2017. In my opinion, people are jumping ship far too quickly on Berrios based on prospect fatigue and his poor performance in 14 major-league starts in his age-21 season. I get the instinct. He was dreadful, and I’m tired of waiting too. Doesn’t make it right to drop him down your pref list in favor of someone you haven’t seen fail yet.

6. Welington Castillo (C)—Baltimore Orioles (Previous Rank: Unranked)

7. Wilson Ramos (C)—Tampa Bay Rays (Previous Rank: 8)

8. Tom Murphy (C)—Colorado Rockies (Previous Rank: 9)

9. Travis d’Arnaud (C)—New York Mets (Previous Rank: Unranked)

D’Arnaud is hitting .203 and hasn’t played in a week, yet is currently the 13th-ranked catcher according to ESPN’s player rater. Catchers, man.

10. Rhys Hoskins (1B)—Philadelphia Phillies (Previous Rank: 7)

Tommy Joseph has been much better since the calendar flipped to May. I still don’t think he holds off Hoskins all summer, and I think Hoskins can be impactful as soon as the opportunity comes.

11. Archie Bradley (RHP)—Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous Rank: 13)

Bradley’s return to the Stash List a week ago was premised largely on when he pitched relative to Jorge De La Rosa and J.J. Hoover, the other two candidates for Fernando Rodney’s replacement. Bradley threw the eighth and part of the ninth in the Diamondbacks’ only win since, and recorded the final out in another appearance. I think he’s clearly in the lead.

12. Austin Meadows (OF)—Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous Rank: 5)

The more Meadows scuffles at Triple A and the more the last-place Pirates skid, the longer the lead time gets. There’s just not much to be gained by pushing their best prospect to the major leagues in what’s looking like it will be a lost season in Pittsburgh.

13. Jacob Faria (RHP)—Tampa Bay Rays (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Truth be told, I meant to include Faria in this past week’s list and straight-up forgot. He led the International League in strikeouts before his effort Wednesday night, in which he fanned 13 of the 14 batters he retired. I haven’t gotten a look despite Faria pitching in my home park of Durham, but I’ve gotten reports of increased velocity. Faria profiled as a back-end innings eater before this change. If it’s real and the strikeout stuff sticks, it obviously raises his fantasy ceiling considerably, and it shouldn’t be long before he gets a crack at major-league hitters.

14. Lucas Duda (1B)—New York Mets (Previous Rank: 11)

15. Matt Duffy (SS)—Tampa Bay Rays (Previous Rank: 10)

16. Brandon Finnegan (LHP)—Cincinnati Reds (Previous Rank: 12)

Duffy’s out on rehab, Duda could be back by the weekend, and Finnegan has started a throwing program.

17. A.J. Reed (1B)—Houston Astros (Previous Rank: 17)

The Astros have the second-highest slugging percentage in the American League despite .410 and .395 marks from their regular first baseman and designated hitters, respectively. So, their offense isn’t necessarily wanting for a slugger like Reed, even if it might be better off with him. There’s not much else for Reed to prove in the minors.

18. Ketel Marte (SS)—Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous Rank: 18)

19. Amed Rosario (SS)—New York Mets (Previous Rank: 19)

20. Franklin Barreto (SS)—Oakland Athletics (Previous Rank: 20)

21. Raul Mondesi (SS)—Kansas City Royals (Previous Rank: 21)

The catching group shown earlier is uniformly more boring than these six spotters, yet rank higher because there’s a pretty good chance that each is better than whomever is filling your catcher slot. Conversely, this group of shortstops is flush with exciting players who likely will be less productive than your current starting shortstop—even if that guy is on the margins of mixed-league relevance.

22. Reynaldo Lopez (RHP)—Chicago White Sox (Previous Rank: 16)

23. Amir Garrett (LHP)—Cincinnati Reds (Previous Rank: Unranked)

The Reds optioned Garrett to Triple A after his start Sunday in order to limit his workload. It makes sense for a rebuilding team, and for a pitcher who hasn’t yet thrown 150 innings in any professional season. The walks make Garrett a WHIP liability, and his strikeout rate would be well-below average without the 12-strikeout outburst against the Orioles. He can still be a back-end mixed option, especially if you have the flexibility to sit him in tougher matchups. Ditto that last part for Lopez, who ranks higher because of greater strikeout ability.

24. Raimel Tapia (OF)—Colorado Rockies (Previous Rank: 22)

25. Dwight Smith, Jr. (OF)—Toronto Blue Jays (Previous Rank: 24)

Honorable Mention: Greg Bird, C.J. Cron, Jose De Leon, Derek Fisher, Dustin Fowler, Ian Happ, Martin Prado, Joe Ross, Mallex Smith, Luke Weaver

Thank you for reading

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BPKevin
5/11
If Holt doesn't come back well, how long can Boston afford to not bring up Devers?
lvhawk
5/13
I think there might be an issue with the Dwight Smith link. I went to his homepage to read more about him and there are no links to prior articles mentions or mentions in chats (has been in at least 2 stash lists, for example). Guessing it might have something to do with some references using the Jr. designation and some not possibly? Thanks in advance for any help with linking his homepage to prior references. Cheers