The Hitter Edition of the Stash List is back for the 2026 season.
This Stash List highlights the 10 best-hitting prospects likely to make an impact during the 2026 season.
Prospects are often thought of as only holding value in dynasty formats. However, redraft leagues, especially those that are keeper leagues, can benefit from finding the right hitter to stash at the right time on the waiver wire. Several have a 2026 ETA, and getting ahead of the curve on rostering these prospects is a key part of roster management. So let’s break down the Top 10 prospects to start off the 2026 season.
Ground Rules
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2026.
- Only current minor league players who are expected to make an impact this season are included.
- Upside, proximity, health, and opportunity are all weighed for each player.
- The focus is on 12-team leagues with standard categories.
- Rankings will be updated weekly.
- Stats will be updated weekly for all players through Saturday’s games.
The Stash List
Graduates/Call Ups
As stated in the ground rules, only prospects who are currently on minor league rosters as of Opening Day are available for consideration for this list. That disqualifies a few top prospects who could have been in the minors at the start of the season, such as the Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle, the Mets Carson Benge, and the Cardinals JJ Wetherholt.
However, if any of these players are optioned back down to the minors before they reach 120 plate appearances in the majors or the qualified service time to graduate from prospect status, then they will find themselves on one of these Top 10 hitters to stash lists later in the season.
With the Triple-A season being the only minor league affiliate level in play during week one of the 2026 season, we will focus only on Triple-A prospects for this first edition of hitters to stash.
Other names that will not be mentioned include Chase DeLauter, who made the Cleveland Guardians Opening Day roster; Moisés Ballesteros with the Chicago Cubs; Carson Williams of the Tampa Bay Rays; Owen Caissie of the Miami Marlins; Carter Jensen of the Kansas City Royals; Samuel Basallo of the Baltimore Orioles; and Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds.
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. Konnor Griffin, SS – Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 MiLB numbers
The MLB’s consensus number one prospect, Konnor Griffin, was demoted to Triple-A to start the 2026 season, which came as a surprise to some, given his meteoric rise through the minors last season. The Pirates opted to send their shortstop of the future to a level he’s never played at before, instead of throwing him in the deep end to play at Citi Field against the Mets. Griffin had one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen from a 19-year-old prospect playing up from Low-A to Double-A in 2025. It’s rare to see any 19-year-old pull off a 20 HR/60 SB season at any level, but Griffin did it while driving in 94 RBI and scoring 117 runs.
With Griffin turning 20 on April 24, the Pirates are allowing themselves some time to see what they have with the current Jared Triolo/Nick Gonzales platoon at shortstop until they deem Griffin big league ready. Unlike some other prospects on some lists, Griffin shouldn’t have a long wait to arrive in the majors, and he has the chance to get a call-up before his 20th birthday if he has a hot first few weeks in Triple-A.
Griffin was the prospect for many redraft leagues that had teams making one of their late-round picks just so they wouldn’t have to sweat about opposing teams picking him up after he gets the call-up to the majors. For those teams who spent their draft pick to have Griffin for 2026, his profile is 100% worth the upside to sacrifice a few weeks of early points in your league to ensure you have the next Pirates superstar for the long haul this year.
2. Max Clark, OF – Detroit Tigers
One of two hot prospects in Tigers camp that had the chance to make the Opening Day roster, Max Clark, was optioned to Triple-A to start the season. Despite some great plate discipline across High-A and Double-A last season, the Tigers wanted to have Clark begin his season at Triple-A while McGonigle cracked his spot on the Opening Day roster. That plate discipline was still showcased during the Toledo Mud Hens’ first two games this year, as Clark has drawn two walks, struck out once, but has yet to collect his first Triple-A hit.
Clark just turned 21 on the Winter Solstice, and, with the Tigers’ outfield depth spearheaded by Riley Greene, Parker Meadows, Kerry Carpenter, and Matt Vierling, it may take one of these four players landing on the IL for a significant time before he gets his opportunity. Clark does still have some things to prove at Triple-A. He cooled off at the end of the Double-A season, posting a .219/.348/.360 slash line over 138 plate appearances from August 1st until the final game. Clark will have to battle through the cold weather schedule that often plagues most of the International League in April, so if he can hit slightly above average during that time, then he still can make a case to be in the Tigers outfield by May.
3. Colt Emerson, SS – Seattle Mariners
Colt Emerson earned himself an extra week of playing time at Triple-A to finish out the 2025 season, and he didn’t disappoint. He went 8-for-22 with two home runs and five RBI in his Tacoma debut last season, and has set himself up well for a hot 2026 season in the Pacific Coast League. Emerson impressed many last season with his hot performance from High-A to Triple-A, putting up a .285/.383/.458 slash line, 16 home runs, 78 RBI, and 28 doubles over 130 games.
Emerson is likely to swing a hot bat all season, no matter where he plays, but he will have a harder time finding regular playing time with the Mariners whenever he gets called up. Another former top prospect, Cole Young, is still finding his footing in the Mariners’ infield, and J.P. Crawford has been a staple as the Mariners’ everyday shortstop for over half a decade in the Pacific Northwest. If Crawford, Young, or even the newly acquired Brendan Donovan find themselves hurt early in the season, then Emerson is likely to take their spot on the roster, but it could be summer before he makes his MLB debut and gets an opportunity to hold up the trident.
4. Travis Bazzana, 2B – Cleveland Guardians
For decades, the Cleveland Guardians have been able to produce up-the-middle infield talent at shortstop and second base. Carlos Barega, Jhonny Peralta, Asdrúbal Cabrera, Francisco Lindor, and Andrés Giménez are just a few who come to mind, but Travis Bazanna is looking to make history as the first number one overall pick from Australia to debut in the big leagues.
Bazzana ended the 2025 season on the IL with an oblique strain, but entered his first big league camp healthy before going to Japan to play in the WBC for Team Australia. Bazanna put up a great performance, even though Australia was eliminated during Pool Play, and he is once again with Triple-A Columbus to start 2026. Given how frequently the Guardians turnover their middle infielder talent, Bazzana shouldn’t have too long a wait to make the majors this season, especially if he shows more power in his swing. Bazzana only hit nine home runs last season and underperformed to his expectations in power, but still had a .389 on-base percentage for the season. If he can lower the strikeout rate and produce more home runs, then he will find himself in the majors sooner rather than later.
5. Walker Jenkins, OF – Minnesota Twins
Even with the former president of baseball ops, Derek Falvey, departing two weeks before spring training, the Twins still find themselves loaded with Falvey’s favorite type of hitter profile, left-handed hitting outfielder. Standing out above the seven they have between the 40-man and Triple-A St. Paul is Walker Jenkins.
The 21-year-old earned himself a promotion to Triple-A with four weeks left in the season, and performed decently for the youngest player in the International League with a .242/.324/.396 slash line in 104 plate appearances. As is the case for many prospects in Twins history, Jenkins has had some injury concerns in his career, the latest of which was a hamstring injury during spring training. Jenkins only missed a week’s worth of action and started in the St. Paul Saints Opening Day lineup, but was limited to seven innings as he builds back up.
Jenkins is unlikely to debut before the second half of the season, as his teammate Emmanuel Rodriguez already has a spot on the 40-man roster, and the Twins will need to make some tough decisions on other left-handed hitting veterans such as James Outman and Trevor Larnach before they can make room for the Twins’ number one prospect. However, if you’re high on Jenkins, the time to get him is now to stash him on one of those open bench spots.
6. Bryce Eldridge, 1B – San Fransico Giants
10. Charlie Condon, 1B – Colorado Rockies
Charlie Condon’s 2025 season was limited to just 99 games after he suffered a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for the first month and a half of the season. When healthy, he put up solid numbers with a .268/.376/.444 slash line, 14 home runs, 58 RBI, and a .380 wOBA. However, his big strikeout numbers showed there are still areas for improvement for him to succeed before he reaches the majors.
The Rockies are certainly a rebuild team, and if Condon retools his swing with fewer strikeouts, more walks, and more power with Albuquerque, then he will have no problem making a case to be on the Rockies roster before June 1st.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five hitters considered for inclusion on this week’s list in no particular order.
Cooper Pratt, SS – MIL
Joe Mack, C – MIA
Harry Ford, C – WSH
Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF – MIN
Joshua Baez, OF – STL
Stash List
