Texas Rangers first base prospect Blaine Crim is your Triple-A hits leader through the first two weeks of the season, collecting 17 of them thus far and batting .459 through nine games. The right-handed slugger isn't just slapping singles either, now with five doubles, a triple, and a home run to go along with nine RBI, seven runs scored, and a 5:7 BB:K. His performance over the last week even earned him PCL Player of the Week honors. A 2019 draft pick, Crim has spent the last two full seasons at Triple-A, where he's acquitted himself well, slashing .283/.378/.487 with 42 home runs, a 17.8 percent strikeout rate, and a 12.1 percent walk rate. With the numbers he's put up at Triple-A, it seems there's nothing left to prove, andhopefully 2025 is the year he finally gets the call. The 27-year-old is currently blocked at first by offseason acquisition Jake Burger, but perhaps he can work his way into some at-bats as designated hitter, especially given how poorly veteran Joc Pederson has begun the year.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had another exciting offensive performance in Monday's 6-4 loss to the Nationals. Ohtani was a double away from hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a single, a triple, a two-run home run, a walk, and a strikeout. The 30-year-old tied things up at 2-2 in the third inning, launching a MacKenzie Gore fastball into the right-field bullpen. While Ohtani is still working his way back to providing fantasy value on the mound, he has picked up where he left off offensively from last season. He now owns a .311/.436/.644 slash line with four HR, 13 runs scored, five RBI, and two stolen bases in 55 plate appearances. Ohtani should continue to be a top fantasy contributor as a hitter alone, with the potential to return to the mound later in the season.

The Athletics selected the contract of right-hander Jason Alexander from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday and optioned right-hander Joey Estes to Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Alexander will be making his first appearance in the big leagues since 2022, when he appeared in 18 games (11 starts) and had a 5.40 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 71 2/3 innings with the Milwaukee Brewers. The A's bullpen was taxed over the weekend in their series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies, so Alexander will provide some length in relief before most likely being sent back down to Las Vegas. The 32-year-old veteran made one start for Vegas this year before his call-up, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking none and striking out three in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Alexander won't move the needle at all for fantasy managers in any leagues.

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that starting pitcher Zach Eflin (shoulder) left Monday's 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks after throwing 73 pitches due to shoulder fatigue, per the Baltimore Banner's Andy Kostka. Eflin pitched well against a tough lineup, allowing one run on four hits and no walks with one strikeout. He also hit a batter. Hyde mentioned that the O's will learn more on Tuesday, so fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more news. It would be a blow to fantasy managers and the O's if Eflin were to miss time, as their rotation is already short-handed with Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) on the injured list with elbow inflammation. Eflin has just eight strikeouts in 18 IP this season, but he also has a 3.00 ERA and one walk allowed, so he has served as an anchor atop the O's rotation.

Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom continued to flex his muscles early in the season in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Padres. Soderstrom went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs and a walk. The 23-year-old lined a third-inning Michael King offering into the right-field bullpen and launched a seventh-inning Jeremiah Estrada offering over the right-field bullpen. The former fantasy prospect is starting to show why he was highly regarded, slashing .381/.435/.857 with six HR and 10 RBI in 46 plate appearances. Soderstrom would have even greater fantasy appeal if he were able to gain catcher eligibility, although he has yet to make a start behind the plate. Regardless, he is providing plenty of fantasy value as a first baseman, making him worth a look in all leagues at this time.