Stock Up, Stock Down on MLB's Top 10 Prospects After Week 9

The Major League Baseball season is more like a marathon than a sprint. A high level of performance needs to be sustained over the long term. However, when you're in the minor leagues waiting to be called up, you need a little bit more urgency.

You need to consistently look better and better in order to earn a promotion that could ultimately lead to a trip to the show. As a result, here is how the past one-week sprint went for each of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball.

10. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins

Christian Yelich has been having a little bit more difficulty generating runs over the past seven days. He appeared in all seven games, but he only scored one run and drove in two.

His batting average over that time span was only .240, but it is worth mentioning that his on-base percentage has been a very healthy .387. Nevertheless, he needs to be producing a little bit more.

Stock: Down

9. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

The past week has not been nice to Francisco Lindor. His average was only .130, and he had quite a bit of trouble even getting on base.

He only drew two walks during the week for an on-base percentage of .192. While he only had three hits during the week, two of them were doubles, and while that power is nice, he obviously needs to get on base more.

Stock: Down

8. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets

Zack Wheeler had a pair of starts over the past week, and the results were mixed. On Monday night, he was only able to finish four innings and surrendered five runs, three of them were earned.

On Saturday, he came back with a very nice quality start where he went six innings while giving up three hits and one run.

He is still having a solid campaign, but I'm not sure if this week really helped him.

Stock: Hold

7. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox

Xander Bogaerts had an incredible last week. He played in six games, and his batting average ballooned to .526. Before this week, he only had two home runs all season. He ended the week with three more.

With three doubles as well, he averaged an extra-base hit every game. No wonder his on-base plus slugging was an insane 1.801.

He had the biggest increase in performance this week.

Stock: Up

6. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Taijuan Walker only started on May 26, and he was unfortunately the hard-luck loser against the Montgomery Biscuits.

He only allowed one run and three hits over seven innings of work, but he ended up having to take the loss. That has happened on a few other occasions this year as his record is only 3-5.

Nevertheless, he is throwing the ball well and the wins will come eventually.

Stock: Up

5. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Gerrit Cole only had one start this past week, but he certainly made the most of that opportunity.

He went seven innings and only surrendered two hits. No runners crossed the plate while he walked one and struck out five. Naturally it is more difficult to evaluate only one start, but this was certainly a great one.

Stock: Up

4. Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Over the last seven days, Wil Myers has gotten hot. In five games, he has five extra-base hits, and three of them were home runs. He has also driven in 10 runs and hit at a .429 clip.

He is in triple-A right now, but if he is able to continue on this type of run, I do not think he will be there for very long.

Stock: Up

3. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

Dylan Bundy has not stepped on the mound this season, but according to Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun, he is going to start throwing on June 10.

For now, it is hard to evaluate his stock, but if he is able to bounce back from this injury, the Baltimore Orioles will surely be appreciative.

Stock: Hold

2. Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Oscar Taveras has not stepped on the field since May 12 because of an ankle injury, but he has been having a great season.

Overall, he is hitting .317 with four home runs and 20 RBI. He does strike out a little bit too much, but with the type of gap and sometimes home run power that he is capable of delivering, that should not be a huge problem.

There is not too much to say about his stock change because he has been on the DL.

Stock: Hold

1. Jurickson Profar, 2B/SS, Texas Rangers

Jurickson Profar has been on a tear since the Texas Rangers decided to bring him back up to the major leagues. In this past week, he appeared in only four games, but he hit .357 with an excellent .971 OPS.

He has been playing mostly at second base by this point, but he has generally been a shortstop throughout his career, so I'm not sure that he will stick at second.

This has been a great week for him, and if that momentum keeps building, the Rangers are in for a great season.

Stock: Up

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