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  "description": "Tom Gates highlights some Minor Leaguers who he's moving around in his rankings. It's never too early to over-react to some small samples!",
  "path": "/3-up-3-down-16/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-13T10:00:40.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.prospectslive.com",
  "tags": [
    "James Tibbs III",
    "Tanner Franklin",
    "Breyson Guedez",
    "3 Up 3 Down - Prospects LiveProspects LiveTom Gates",
    "Juan Valera",
    "@RedSox",
    "@GreenvilleDrive",
    "pic.twitter.com/JKPIaH7sSj",
    "April 10, 2026",
    "Gage Wood",
    "Johnny King",
    "Jackson Ferris",
    "Michael Forret",
    "Gage Stanifer",
    "Logan Henderson",
    "Branden Nett",
    "Khal Stephen",
    "Blake Burke",
    "Subscribe now",
    "@MLBPipeline"
  ],
  "textContent": "It’s been over a week since the minor league season kicked off, which means it’s officially time to overreact! There are a few names I’ve already moved up that I won’t dive into here since they’re getting plenty of attention, like James Tibbs III. He’s been an absolute monster. Tanner Franklin with the St. Louis Cardinals is another I wish I had more shares of after he was mowing hitters down in his first outing. And Breyson Guedez skipping the ACL is always an encouraging sign.\n\n3 Up 3 Down - Prospects LiveProspects LiveTom Gates\n\nAt the beginning of every season, there is hesitation to every move you think about making. Is this a reaction to a small sample? Shouldn't I just be patient with my team? I mean, there is a reason why I drafted them. Both are true, and yet, you still need to find some aggression in your moves. You can't be afraid to be wrong because you'll never hit on any of these players who pop up. If you wait to see if what they are doing is \"real\", it's probably too late. Speaking of \"real\", did you know it was National Unicorn Day last week?\n\n## 3 Up\n\n### Juan Valera, (High-A) RHP BOS\n\n _2026 Stats: 8.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 HRA, 3 BB, 16 K_\n\n _Feb Rank: 447_\n\n _New Rank: 142_\n\nIt would appear Valera has made some changes, and being in the Red Sox organization, it’s easy to buy into those sticking. Heading into the 2025 season, our scouts gave him a 55 for his fastball, which topped out at 97 mph, a 55 for his slider, a 40 for his change-up, and 40 for command. His numbers last season were a mix of positives and negatives. He struck out 46 in 38 innings and only walked 10. But he gave up six home runs and 23 earned runs, allowing more than a hit per inning. In May, he landed on the 60-day IL due to elbow soreness. Never a good sign.\n\n**Why the move up?**\n\nThe fastball has ticked up, now graded a 70, and he’s now hitting 100 mph with it.\n\n> Come for the K's, stay for the gas from Juan Valera ⛽️\n>\n> The @RedSox No. 5 prospect -- who rocks a 65-grade fastball -- notches a career-high 9 K's over 5 scoreless IP for the High-A @GreenvilleDrive: pic.twitter.com/JKPIaH7sSj\n>\n> — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 10, 2026\n\nHere is the list of pitchers coming into the 2026 season with a 70-grade fastball and at least 50 command: Gage Wood and Juan Valera. Valera has simplified his delivery. In 2024, it was slower, with a hesitation in the middle. Now, it’s one motion, out of the stretch, with no steps. Just pick up that front leg and fire the ball. This leads me to believe that the command improvements we’ve seen will stick. He’s throwing 65% strikes so far.\n\nWe now recognize the slider as a cutter; our scouts gave it a 60, and it’s a nasty two-pitch combo. He’s also developed a third pitch by introducing a splitter, and it’s performing as an average offering thus far. What I really like about Valera is that he can attack in the zone with all of his pitches and get swings and misses. In his two starts, he induced 11 swinging strikes and 12 swinging strikes, good for a 21% swinging strike rate.\n\nHe looks like a top 200 prospect right now because of his upside. The only thing keeping him down is his age. At 19 and at High-A, it might take a while to reach the Majors, and while he’s developing, we have to hope he avoids major arm injuries. With that all in mind, I plugged him in at 142. He’s right next to Johnny King, who has a similar upside but a farther ETA. He’s ahead of Jackson Ferris, Michael Forret, and Gage Stanifer because I think he has better stuff. He’s behind a lot of guys who should be making the Majors before him, like Logan Henderson, Branden Nett and Khal Stephen.\n\nThere is top 50 upside here. I can easily see him jumping those last three guys this season if he keeps this up. He’s been a hot add recently, but if he’s out there in your league and you have room, this is a move I’d make.\n\n## Sign up for Prospects Live\n\nYour one stop shop for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball, MLB Draft, Baseball Card & MiLB Baseball content. Blending Data & Scouting into our Player Evaluation\n\nSubscribe\n\nEmail sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.\n\nNo spam. Unsubscribe anytime.\n\n### Blake Burke, (Double-A) 1B MLW\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "3 Up 3 Down: Major Moves in the Minors",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-13T10:00:42.035Z"
}