Featured image by: Parker McDonald
Prospects in a fantasy baseball context are a lot like stocks. Buying low on the right player can set your team up for success for years, while holding on to the wrong asset could result in that player drastically lowering their value down the line. It’s impossible to predict the future, and a lot has to go right for any player to reach the major leagues, but it’s never too early for fantasy managers to start identifying possible value additions for the future.
The prospects on this list were selected because of their tools, their performance in 2025, and their status/prestige within their organization. Prospects in the “buy” section have either started their rise towards being some of the most valuable dynasty assets, or are in prime position to do so next season. For the names in the “sell” section, it comes down to two possible things. Either their value has reached its peak and could come down in the near future, or it’s higher than it should be (in my opinion).
Going back to the stock market analogy, this is “not financial advice” and is instead a collection of opinions. Fantasy managers have full autonomy of their own choices, and my opinions should not be taken as fact. These assessments are based on my own analysis, and fantasy managers should also do their own assessments before buying or selling any of the names featured on this list.
Prospects to Buy
Leodalis De Vries, SS – Oakland Athletics
Okay, I admit, picking the #3 prospect in baseball as a prospect to buy is cheating. That said, I think the trade from one West Coast team to another could prove to be a massively beneficial move for the 18-year-old.
Back in February, I projected that De Vries “should sit comfortably in the 25-30 range in both categories (HR and SB)” at the MLB level. He was on pace to get close to those marks despite being fast-tracked to AA after joining the A’s organization. De Vries finished with 15 home runs and 11 steals, one of seven teenagers to reach those marks. De Vries was one of three to reach AA or higher, alongside Konnor Griffin and Colt Emerson. That production came alongside average bat-to-ball skills (78.6% Contact) and impressive plate discipline (12.3% BB).
Not only is the talent there, but he’s now in a franchise where he could be marketed as the “next big thing” in a brand new city. Take nothing away from the Padres’ player development, but they’re paying Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts a combined $56 million per year for the next eight years at least. By that time, De Vries will be 26 and should have several big league seasons under his belt. He would certainly benefit from being in a lineup as good as the Padres is. However, that competition in the infield could have kept De Vries in the minors for longer than necessary. Now, with the A’s, De Vries has a lot less standing between him and a major league debut.
That’s not to say that the franchise doesn’t have talent. Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, and Lawrence Butler have formed an exciting young core. However, they struggled to find someone to fill holes at second (-1.4 cumulative fWAR, 2nd worst in MLB) and third base (0.7, 6th worst) in 2025. De Vries is still too raw to feature in those spots right away, but with another year of development in the minors, he could be. The best-case scenario for De Vries’ ETA with the Padres was late-2027, early-2028. With the A’s, a late-2026 debut is not out of the question. Even if you don’t trust the Athletics‘ player development, that accelerated debut could allow him to hit free agency and join a more formidable team earlier than he would have with his original ETA.
Like I said in the beginning, De Vries’ value is already sky-high. With his new team, his value could go even higher as he grows into a possible “face of the franchise”.
Kaelen Culpepper, INF – Minnesota Twins
When the Twins selected Culpepper in the first round of the 2024 Draft, he was seen as a safe but uninspiring pick. Culpepper put together good production in his final season with Kansas State, posting a 126 wRC+ with 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 61 games, leading the team to a 35-26 record. That said, his .934 OPS, .437 wOBA, and .252 ISO all ranked outside the top-100 marks in NCAA baseball that year, and none of those numbers cracked the Big-12 conferences’ top ten that season. His first 26 games were once again good, but not outstanding. Culpepper finished with a .724 OPS, a 111 wRC+, and .344 wOBA in his first taste of professional baseball.
The signs for a future breakout were there, but many (including myself) overlooked them. Culpepper’s batting average and BABIP took a nosedive after signing, despite his walk and strikeout rate remaining consistent with his college marks. Whether it came down to getting accustomed to professional competition or adjusting to using a wooden bat full-time, the batting average and overall production skyrocketed after his first offseason as a pro player.
That rebound materialized in the counting stats too. Culpepper was one of nine players in the minor leagues with 20+ home runs and 25+ RBI. That power and speed is clear to see on film. Culpepper’s swing has a slightly uppercut path, but it’s lightning quick, and is able to get to pitches all over the strike zone. His 20th homer of the season was hit off an outside fastball from the Dodgers’ #6 prospect, Jackson Ferris.
Kaelen Culpepper rips his 20th homer of the season, 11th for Double-A @WindSurgeICT ⚡️
The @Twins' 2024 first-rounder is one of three players in the system with a 20/20 campaign in 2025 (Kala'i Rosario, Kyler Fedko): pic.twitter.com/C16QhlQpsK
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 4, 2025
Minnesota is starting a new era in 2026. Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis will hold down the middle of the order, with Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, and James Outman supplementing their production. If Culpepper has a strong start to 2026, he could be pushing to join the AAA roster by the end of the spring. If he’s able to handle the transition to the higher levels of the minors, there will be little resistance on the MLB roster between Culpepper and a major league debut in the second half of the 2026 season.
Joshua Baez, OF – St. Louis Cardinals
Before 2025, the Cardinals’ former 2nd round pick hadn’t posted a strikeout rate under 30% since his first professional appearances in the Complex League in 2022. Between 2023 and 2024, he was ending 35-36% of his at bats with a walk back to the dugout. This season, he’s cut that number down by just under 15%, which has unlocked another level to his offensive potential.
Those improvements have been seen in the counting stats too. Baez was one of two players in all of baseball with 20+ home runs and 50+ steals, alongside the #1 prospect in the sport, Konnor Griffin (spoiler alert: he’s going to be mentioned a lot in this article). The frame he possesses (6’3″, 220) indicates that the power will continue to develop, and his 86% steal success rate showcases his ability to make an impact with his legs on the basepaths. It’s easy to see where the power comes from. Baez’s bat explodes off his shoulder after a lunge-esque load, and his bat speed looks like it should be at least above average at the MLB level.
Baez will enter 2026 needing a remarkable performance to make his MLB debut, but it’s not out of the question. The Cardinals have struggled to lock down consistent performers from their outfielders this season. Jordan Walker hasn’t been able to carry his electric minor league performances into the majors, and Victor Scott II’s offensive woes (74 wRC+) have carried over into a second season. With Nolan Arenado set to depart after this season, the organization is turning the page on an underwhelming period of its history. It’ll be up to Baez and the rest of the Cardinals’ emerging young talent to propel the historic team back into relevance.
Baez has the frame, power, and bat-to-ball skills (76%) to be a legitimate power threat at the major league level, and should threaten the 20-25 homer mark in the majors. That, in tandem with the potential to steal 30+ bases on a yearly basis, would make Baez an incredibly valuable fantasy asset. Baez currently sits outside the top-100 prospects, and in the #11 spot in the Cardinals’ top-30. A strong start to 2026 could result in his name skyrocketing up rankings boards across the industry.
Chase DeLauter, OF – Cleveland Guardians
This one hurts to write. DeLauter is one of my favorite prospects in baseball when he’s on the field. He possesses 60-grade power and a fierce swing that should translate to 30+ home runs over the course of a full season. That power comes without selling out for it, as he maintains good contact rates and acceptable strikeout rates while posting great power numbers. The one issue is with the “on the field part”. DeLauter just cannot stay on the field. The 23-year-old was primed to make his MLB debut in 2025, but a wrist injury ended his season in mid-July.
That injury comes off the back of three straight injury-plagued seasons. After being drafted out of James Madison with the 16th pick in the 2022 Draft, he sat out the remainder of the year to recover from a broken foot. In 2023, he managed his career high in appearances with 57 after coming back from a surgery that cost him the first four months of his first season. In 2024, it was more of the same. Foot injuries limited him to just 39 games. He did make his AAA debut, though, posting a whopping 187 wRC+ in his six games in Columbus. This year, he debuted in early May after he needed surgery on a sports hernia. DeLauter appeared to be back to full strength (131 wRC+ in 34 AAA games), but the aforementioned wrist injury cut his 2025 short.
When he’s on the field, he’s dominant. His xwOBA (.360) and xSLG (.450) are both well above the AAA average, and it’s easy to see why. DeLauter’s 91.2 mile an hour average exit velocity, 12.5% barrel rate, and 51.9% Hard-Hit rate are all among the elite marks in AAA. Despite having the build and traits of a slugger, he doesn’t have the whiff issues that plague many power-oriented prospects. DeLauter’s 16.8% chase rate and 18.9% whiff rate are both outstanding in comparison to his competition in AAA.
There’s still time for DeLauter though. He’s only 23, and his dip in value is not his fault. Additionally, the Guardians need his bat in the lineup. Outside of José Ramírez and Kyle Manzardo, no Cleveland hitter has eclipsed the 15-home run mark in 2025. Only three Guardians hitters have wRC+ marks over 100, and only one is an outfielder. DeLauter could immediately plug into a corner outfield or DH role as early as next spring and provide instant production in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup. Fantasy managers should take advantage of that dip and pick up DeLauter while they have the chance.
Prospects to Sell
Cooper Pratt, SS – Milwaukee Brewers
Cooper Pratt does a lot of things well. He posted eight home runs and 31 steals in AA as one of six qualified 20-year-olds in AA. His .334 wOBA ranked fourth among that group, which includes fellow top prospects George Lombard Jr. and Sebastian Walcott. Pratt also avoided striking out often. His 15.2% strikeout rate was among the best 15 marks among all AA hitters last season. That level of production and plate discipline is also supplemented by the aforementioned steal trait and the potential ability to stick at shortstop. Pratt spent 103 games at the sport’s premium position, posting a .969 fielding percentage with Biloxi this season.
Overall, Pratt has decent pop, which could develop as he continues to grow into his 6’3″, 206 lb frame. His strikeout and walk rates are outstanding for his age, and he has the ability to steal bases and stick at one of the premium positions in the game. So why sell?
Pratt’s profile is strange. His plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills both improved against better competition. At the same time, his offensive production from those balls in play dropped off significantly. The 70-point drop in BABIP (.333 in ’24, .267 in ’25) and 20-point decrease in ISO (.110 this year) indicate that Pratt’s quality of contact has taken a step down from where it was in 2024. That’s not necessarily a red flag. He was almost four years younger than his AA competition (on average), and he has plenty of time to make adjustments. That said, if that continues next season, that flag may start to look more and more orange.
Pratt has little resistance in his way in terms of organizational depth at shortstop. Joey Ortiz (1.5 fWAR) has been solid as the starter for Milwaukee this season, but he could be moved to a utility role if Pratt proves he’s ready. However, Pratt’s offensive production will be a storyline to follow once he reaches the majors. The Brewers will value his 15-homer, 25-steal potential along with his ability to stick at short, but he could certainly fall below those marks if the quality of contact doesn’t rebound. Pratt’s value is that of a future reliable MLB contributor, but he could turn into being a better player in real life than he is for fantasy purposes. Of all the players in the “sell” category, Pratt is arguably the riskiest, but he could see his fantasy value decrease with another less-than-stellar season.
Zyhir Hope – Los Angeles Dodgers
This is the first player featured in the “sell” section who’s suffering from success. He was outstanding in 2025. Hope was one of eight players in the minors with 10+ homers, 25+ steals, and a 130+ wRC+. Among those other seven names are MLB’s #1 prospect, Konnor Griffin, and two of Hope’s High-A teammates (more on that shortly). His swing passes the bat speed eye test, and he’s able to drive pitches in the upper half of the zone for power. When he makes solid contact, his pop is approaching elite, however, he struggles to do that consistently (68.3% Contact). Among that aforementioned group of eight, his swinging-strike rate (13.1%) was the worst.
The Dodgers have not had a good track record of developing prospects as of late. Alex Freeland and Dalton Rushing, top-100 prospects according to MLB.com, both made strong cases to join the Dodgers’ active roster long before they were actually called up. Rushing posted a 138 wRC+ in 72 games before getting the call, and Freeland had an .809 OPS with 21 homers in 145 games before his debut. Both players are now hitting below .200 in the majors, and Freeland was sent back down to AAA. They’re not alone. James Outman, Gavin Lux, and Michael Busch were all seen as top prospects who spent long periods of time in the minors before finally getting a shot with the big league clubs. All three have since moved on to different organizations, where they all are now key pieces of their organizations’ success.
I’m not saying Hope should or will get traded, but I’d understand it if the Dodgers chose to part ways with him. Josue De Paula and Eduardo Quintero have been equally impressive as Hope, and they arguably have higher ceilings. De Paula has the frame and power to threaten the 40-homer mark in the majors. Quintero’s combination of power, contact, and athleticism (47 steals and 660+ innings in CF) makes him a possible 25/25 center fielder, a mark that only three players have hit since 2025 (Julio Rodríguez 3x, Cedric Mullins, Pete Crow Armstrong). Hope possesses plus power and speed, but the sub-70% contact rate in High-A is a major red flag in comparison to the other two.
Hope still has time to develop his hit tool. If he does, he’ll vault himself into the top five to ten prospects in baseball. However, if he doesn’t, his performance could take a significant dive in AA and AAA, which could lower his stock. Selling or holding Hope is a risky move either way, as a breakout or fall-off seems equally likely. However, if I managed Hope, and an opportunity arose to acquire a bona-fide fantasy-productive MLB player, and the cost included Hope, I’m taking that deal.
Justin Crawford, OF – Philadelphia Phillies
In May, fellow staff writer Trevor Hooth said “sometimes org(anizations) tell you what they think of guys” when discussing a different prospect in the Pitcher List Discord. While Crawford was not the player in question when he said it, few players embody that statement more than him. He did everything right this season. Crawford posted solid production (.863 OPS, 133 wRC+), and it didn’t seem to be a fluke (85.3% Contact, 40.7% Hard Hit). His .334 AVG ranked third in AAA, as did his 46 steals. Crawford also spent the majority of the season as the primary center fielder, making just five errors in 73 starts at the position.
So why did the Phillies keep in AAA despite seemingly being a perfect fit for their roster? Brandon Marsh (116 wRC+) has been a solid outfield piece, and Harrison Bader has broken out since joining Philadelphia (149 wRC+), but Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos have struggled. Donovan Watson and Weston Wilson are also holding down bench spots that certainly could have gone to Crawford. There have been plenty of opportunities for the Phillies to call up their #3 prospect, but their hesitance to do so should be a red flag for dynasty managers.
The reason could be something I mentioned in several Stash List articles this season. Crawford does not hit the ball in the air very often. Making contact is not an issue, and his 89.8 mile an hour average exit velocity is in the “average-to-good” tier. However, his fly-ball rate sits at just 17.7% and his Pull-Air rate is among the worst marks in AAA (9.3%). Crawford still managed 16 home runs in his last 222 minor league games between 2024 and 2025, but he could possibly double that number if he could elevate the ball.
Crawford’s current offensive profile still holds value. He will be a consistent 35-45 steal threat if he’s in the lineup consistently, and he’ll get on base more than 40% of the time once he’s accustomed to MLB competition. That said, he may not prove to have the same future value as other names around him in the top 100 (Culpepper #72, Mike Sirota #62). Moving Crawford in a package for a reliable MLB-level player should be a no-brainer.
Lazaro Montes, OF – Seattle Mariners
Baseball America’s Mariners Minor League Player of the Year was outstanding in 2025. The 20-year-old came close to exceeding his home run total from 2023 and 2024 combined (34), mashing 32 home runs in 131 games between High-A and AA. Montes’ .263 ISO led the Mariners system, with his 136 wRC+ and .858 OPS ranking in the top five. At 6’5″, 210 lbs, with a track record of hitting for power, Montes fits the bill of a future power-first corner outfielder.
Those are the positives, but there are plenty of negatives to worry about. Like other large-framed corner outfielders (eg. Spencer Jones), Montes struggles with strikeout issues. In High-A, Montes’ talent hid some of those issues, and he was still able to dominate. Once he was tasked with facing better competition, the production looked a lot more like a “three-true-outcome hitter” than a bona fide offensive threat.
