Cardinals pitcher prospect Michael Wacha is quickly moving up my rankings as a long-term Fantasy keeper.
Wacha, who was reassigned to minor-league camp Thursday, turned in a stellar spring, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in five spring outings. He also had one save and 15 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.
The 2012 first-round pick didn't get a ton of work last season after signing, but he was as impressive in 21 innings as he has been this spring. Wacha had a 0.86 ERA and 0.57 WHIP between three levels in the minors (Rookie, high Class A, Double-A). He also averaged 17.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
Wacha's mid-90s fastball is his best pitch, but his changeup is becoming a reliable secondary pitch. He needs to fine tune his slider and curveball, but Wacha is having little problem getting out hitters, whether he is starting or pitching in relief.
Wacha is headed back to the minors to work as a starter, but it might not be surprising if he makes his MLB debut this summer as a reliever. Wacha pitched in college, so he's ahead of high-school draftees, which is allowing his rapid progression through the minors.
He's probably not worth drafting in seasonal Fantasy formats, but here's a player whose value is certainly on the rise in keeper formats.