Today's Fantasy Rx

Baltimore: J.R. House, 27, C-R
45/145 for .310/.374/.448 with 3 HR, 21 RBI, 21 R, 1/3 SB%,
and a 14:20 BB:K for AAA Norfolk(IL).

Ramon Hernandez remains both solid and injury-prone, opening a possibility for House to claim playing time in the majors if Hernandez returns to the DL later this year. Neither Paul Bako nor Alberto Castillo truly even belong on the roster as back-ups, and although House isn't wowing anyone, his respectable power potential makes him an intriguing option for a club with as weak a bench as Baltimore. Definitely target House upon his eventual promotion if you need a second catcher with quantitative upside.

Boston: Jacoby Ellsbury, 23, OF-L
14/52 for .269/.356/.308 with 0 HR, 2 RBI, 8 R, 6/8 SB%,
and a 6:9 BB:K for AAA Pawtucket(IL).
33/73 for .452/.518/.644 with 0 HR, 13 RBI, 16 R, 8/9 SB%,
and a 6:7 BB:K for AA Portland(EL).

Brandon Moss and David Murphy also continue to impress, but with Coco Crisp struggling, the Red Sox appear most likely to push their future leadoff man to the majors rather than simply rejigger the bench. Yes, Ellsbury clearly would benefit from another few months at Pawtucket. However, his combination of speed, plate discipline, and defense would add a needed new dimension to the bottom of Boston's batting order. Definitely make every attempt to acquire the youngster as soon as you see any indication that he might reach Fenway in the new future.

Chicago White Sox: Jerry Owens, 25, OF-L
36/133 for .271/.359/.316 with 0 HR, 8 RBI, 24 R, 16/21 SB%,
and a 19:19 BB:K for AAA Charlotte(IL).

With Scott Podsednik still sidelined and the White Sox receiving little from Rob Mackowiak, Pablo Ozuna, and Ryan Sweeney in left field, Owens could receive a shot in the near future. He at least could add extra speed to the bottom of the lineup, though given his lack of power, he probably doesn't rank as a net improvement over Sweeney or even Brian Anderson. Of course, his SB potential alone makes Owens a solid target whenever Chicago gives him a chance in the majors.

Cleveland: Ben Francisco, 25, OF-R
0/1 for .000/.000/.000 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0/0 SB%,
and a 0:0 BB:K.
38/115 for .330/.408/.487 with 3 HR, 19 RBI, 21 R, 8/8 SB%,
and a 14:19 BB:K for AAA Buffalo(IL).

Promoted for two days earlier this month, Francisco now seems as likely to return to the Indians as Shin-soo Choo or Franklin Gutierrez, who also appear set to ride the Buffalo-Cleveland shuttle throughout the summer. He owns solid all-around skills, along with the position flexibility to contribute anywhere in the outfield. The biggest obstacle Francisco faces is the sheer multitude of outfield options available on the Indians' 40-man roster, so unless you see him begin to receive regular playing time in the majors, you probably just should ignore the youngster.

Detroit: Ryan Raburn, 25, OF-R
37/141 for .262/.365/.511 with 8 HR, 27 RBI, 20 R, 9/10 SB%,
and a 22:32 BB:K for AAA Toledo(IL).

While the Tigers haven't suffered a single injury of note on offense, rough starts from Marcus Thames and Sean Casey eventually could lead to the incorporation of another bat into the lineup rotation. Right now Raburn leads the pack of candidates for that promotion, though even his power potential may not convince Dave Dombrowski to overlook his continued contact issues. Fantasy owners need to wait until Raburn secures at least a platoon job before investing here.

Kansas City: Fernando Cortez, 25, 2B-L
36/118 for .305/.383/.432 with 3 HR, 9 RBI, 24 R, 4/4 SB%,
and a 15:22 BB:K for AAA Omaha(PCL).

With Esteban German already scrambling for playing time behind Mark Grudzielanek, Cortez appears stuck in the minors indefinitely. However, if Dayton Moore admits his biggest financial error by dealing Grudz this summer, Cortez looks like the best bet to join the Royals' bench. He offers a good batting average and surprising speed, but unless he quickly gains Buddy Bell's favor, treat Cortez as more than a secondary target in any quest for MIF help.

Los Angeles Angels: Nathan Haynes, 27, OF-L
52/130 for .400/.483/.615 with 4 HR, 28 RBI, 25 R, 12/16 SB%,
and a 19:23 BB:K for AAA Salt Lake(PCL).

Though the former first rounder lacks a spot on the 40-man roster, the Angels will make room for Haynes if he holds his BA around .400 much longer. Yes, the club appears loaded with promising young outfielders desperate for time in the majors, but I see no reason for Los Angeles not to give Haynes a look at some point given the success of Reggie Willits. Only wait until you see Haynes entering the lineup more than once a week before seeking to grab him in AL-only leagues where you need speed.

We'll continue tomorrow with more American League hitting prospects.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Even with Casey Blake apparently set at third base, Ryan Garko's emergence just doesn't leave many at-bats available for Cleveland's corner outfielders. Grady Sizemore hogs all the playing time in center, and the veteran trio of Trot Nixon, David Dellucci, and Jason Michaels at least offers sufficient upside to prevent Eric Wedge from turning to any of the promising AAA options. Unfortunately for their owners, Shin-soo Choo, Franklin Gutierrez, and Ben Francisco, along with Trevor Crowe and all other outfield prospect in the Indians' system, appear unlikely to contribute positive fantasy value prior to 2008.