The Stash List Week 14: Top 10 Hitter Prospects to Stash in 2023

The Hitter Edition of The Stash List is back and updated for Week 14.

This Stash List highlights the 10 best-hitting prospects likely to make an impact during the 2023 season.

Prospects are often thought of as only holding value in dynasty formats. However, knowing which prospects hold value for the current season can help set you apart in redraft leagues. Several have a 2023 ETA and getting ahead of the curve on rostering these prospects is a key part of roster management. You can check out last week’s edition of the list here and keep reading to find out the latest updates.

 

Ground Rules

• The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2023.
• 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 and rostership percentages will be updated weekly.
• Stats will be updated weekly for all players through Friday’s games.

 

The Stash List

Graduates/Call-Ups

Finally, the top prospect on the Stash List graduated. The Orioles called Jordan Westburg up to the major leagues and have been giving him everyday playing time. He has already made starts at both second and third base and should gain additional eligibility as the season moves along. As previously noted in this article, he has five-category upside and needs to be rostered in all 12+ team leagues. Hopefully, you had him stashed and can enjoy more hits like the one below:

First MLB Hit for Jordan Westburg! pic.twitter.com/6rrdXf8FSL

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) June 27, 2023

 

Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash

 

1. Colton Cowser, OF Baltimore Orioles

 

An Orioles’ prospect hangs onto the top spot on the latest edition of the Stash List. With Jordan Westburg getting the call to Baltimore, Colton Cowser now ranks as the number-one stash for your redraft teams. Cowser continues to dominate the minor leagues and is showing no signs of letting up anytime soon. Since June 14th, Cowser is batting .333. His season slash line is up to .328/.458/.540 with 10 home runs and six stolen bases. Since joining Triple-A, Cowser has an Average EV of just under 90 mph, a Sweet Spot rate of 41.9%, and a Swinging Strike rate under 11%. Cowser is going to be a doubles machine with the speed and power to contribute in all facets of the game.

The Orioles have already proven that they are willing to call up their top guys this year. After his torrid start, Aaron Hicks has slowed down at the plate with just two hits in his last 26 plate appearances. Hicks is starting to look more like the player we saw in New York and Baltimore will not stick with him for too long. They know that Cowser is ready for the major leagues and we should expect his promotion to come around the All-Star break. Stash him now before everybody rushes to pick him up.

2. Ronny Mauricio, SS/2B New York Mets

 

The situation in New York has continued to get worse as the season moves along. The Mets are still losing games despite a massive payroll which only makes it more likely that they promote their top prospect to try and spark the team. Ronny Mauricio’s average has not dipped below .300 since April 4th and there is nothing left for him to prove at the minor league level. He has an impressive blend of power and speed that makes him an enticing profile from a fantasy perspective. His Average EV in Triple-A is over 92 mph with a Max EV of 115.8 which would rank in the 97th percentile at the major league level.

One new storyline to follow is the struggles of Jeff McNeil. McNeil is batting just .196 since the start of June. The Mets are unlikely to bench McNeil entirely, but his struggles could result in them promoting Mauricio faster than anticipated. Mauricio’s other path to playing time is in place of Daniel Vogelbach who continues to get most of the at-bats at DH. Vogelbach is batting just .200 since the start of June and is not deserving of an everyday lineup spot. The Mets are going to call up Mauricio soon making now your last chance to stash him.

 

3. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B Cincinnati Reds

 

The video game numbers that Christian Encarnacion-Strand was putting up in Triple-A have slowed down recently. CES has not hit a home run since June 10th while batting just .200 over that span. His strikeout rate has gone back up and the walks have come down to be more in line with the kind of numbers he was posting early in the season. You have to wonder if the promotion of the Reds’ other two prospects is weighing on his mind. Baseball is a mental game and being stuck in Triple-A could be leading to frustration. Even with his slump, CES still owns a .323/.395/.625 slash on the year proving why he is such a valuable stash.

The biggest issue for CES is the lack of space on the major league roster. Joey Votto is swinging it well, as is Spencer Steer and Will Benson. The team does not want to call up CES for him to be stuck on the short-side of a platoon. Everyday at-bats are important for CES and he might be reliant on an injury to get a promotion to the major leagues. There is a chance the team could make a trade at the deadline that opens up a spot for him on the major league roster. He is knocking on the door and should be stashed now even without a clear path to Cincinnati.

 

4. Sal Frelick, OF Milwaukee Brewers

 

Sal Frelick is moving up this list thanks in large part to his health. There is a high likelihood that Frelick already would have been in the major leagues if not for injury. He has an excellent hit tool and plus speed which profile to form a dynamic fantasy asset. My biggest concern with Frelick stems from a low exit velocity and lack of true power. Frelick has never hit more than 11 home runs in a season and has an average exit velocity of just 84.5 mph in Triple-A so far. That being said, he has a 4.6% swinging strike rate which is incredible. Steven Kwan has proven that you do not need to have elite power to be a valuable fantasy asset. Frelick is looking to follow in his footsteps.

The NL Central is suddenly not the Brewers’ to lose. The Reds are red-hot and filled with exciting young talent that profiles to continue getting better. Milwaukee currently is giving Blake Perkins regular playing time. He has just a 82 wRC+ despite a BABIP over .330. Frelick gives the team the best chance to win games now and Milwaukee cannot afford to waste time letting Frelick develop in Triple-A. He will join the team soon and you should have him stashed on your fantasy teams.

 

5. Kyle Manzardo, 1B Tampa Bay Rays

 

Kyle Manzardo’s slump has continued. His average has dipped under .250 and he is batting just .143 since June 13th. The bright side to this is that his BABIP over this period is just .200. His BABIP remains the lowest in his professional career despite a Line Drive rate over 30% and a Sweet Spot percentage just under 40%. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with Manzardo’s swing or swing path. He is the same player who was dominating the minor leagues before this, he just ran into some poor luck. As I mentioned in his player analysis this prior off-season, Manzardo might never be a 30+ home run bat. However, he profiles as a player that can hit 40 doubles in a season and be a valuable fantasy contributor.

Despite his recent slump, Manzardo remains a strong stash option. His Triple-A data reveals no noticeable flaws to his profile and he should have a smooth transition to the major leagues. The issue remains finding him a spot at the major league level. Luke Raley has cooled off some, but is still performing well enough to keep Manzardo in Triple-A. The best case scenario is a trade that sends Manzardo out of Tampa. The worst case is that he stays in Triple-A until an injury pops up. Regardless, he has elite upside and remains a priority stash thanks to his proximity to the major leagues.

 

6. Austin Wells, C New York Yankees

 

Years ago, it would be weird to see a player in Double-A come in sixth on the Stash List. Now, teams promote players straight from Double-A to the major leagues all the time. While I think it is possible that the Yankees send Austin Wells to Triple-A soon, there is also a chance they just call him straight up to the major leagues. He has a 127 wRC+ on the season with ten home runs in just 43 games. Over 600 plate appearances, Wells would be on pace for 30 home runs. He has massive power upside and the Yankees need to win as many games as possible.

Wells is such a great stash option because of the lack of talent ahead of him on the depth chart. Jose Trevino’s wRC+ is down to 55 on the season and the combination of him and Kyle Higashioka is not working offensively. Wells offers an instant offensive upgrade to the Yankees’ lineup and the team cannot afford to keep him in the minor leagues. If Wells continues to mash home runs, we could see him in The Bronx before August.

 

7. Oswald Peraza, SS New York Yankees

AAA Stats:

8. Endy Rodriguez, C Pittsburgh Pirates

 

Endy Rodriguez’s Stash List value feels like it has been a roller coaster lately. Trending up, injury, trending up, slump, trending up, Henry Davis promotion, slump, and now we are trending up again. Rodriguez finally hit another home run (his first since May 16th) and has been swinging it well at the plate. He has four multi-hit games since June 23rd while continuing to post excellent BB/K ratios. The plate discipline has never been a question, but the recent performances have Rodriguez’s stash value trending back in the right direction.

Endy Rodriguez crushes a home run while Austin Hedges strikes out looking for the 400th straight at bat

pic.twitter.com/8hQe7tCScO

— Kody Duncan (@KodyDuncanPGH) June 25, 2023

Another positive note is that Henry Davis is yet to catch a game at the major league level. This is a clear indication that the team views Rodriguez as the catcher of the future. This is great news, as Austin Hedges continues to be a black hole of offensive production for Pittsburgh. His wRC+ is down to 23 this year. He is 77% WORSE than the league average. Pittsburgh cannot keep trotting him out there on a consistent basis. Rodriguez’s recent hot stretch makes it more likely he will be promoted soon and fantasy managers should have him stashed now.

 

9. Justin Foscue, 2B Texas Rangers

 

Justin Foscue returned from a brief stay on the IL this past week. He mashed two doubles in his return to the lineup and is batting .324 in 11 games in June. Overall on the season, his stat line is not the flashiest, but he has proven to be an all-around contributor ready for his chance in the major leagues. His Swinging Strike rate is a minuscule 6.5% on the year. Funny enough, the biggest question when Foscue was drafted was whether or not his hit tool would ever develop. Safe to say, Foscue is going to be just fine in the batting average department.

Stashing Foscue is not the most obvious move. He is clearly blocked in Texas with Marcus Semien occupying the second base position and Josh Jung over at third. Sure, one of those players could go down with an injury and open the door, but this stash is really about the Trade Deadline. The Rangers have a surplus of middle infielders and a team looking for a quick rebuild would love to acquire a major league-ready player like Foscue. The closer we draw to the deadline, the more valuable Foscue becomes. Stash him now.

 

10. Tyler Soderstrom, C/1B Oakland Athletics

 

The newest name to debut on the Stash List is Tyler Soderstrom. Soderstrom was the Athletics first-round pick back in 2020 and has done nothing but mash home runs since his debut. He hit 12 in 57 games at Low-A, 29 between three levels last year, and has already hit 19 this season.

Soderstrom landed on my prospect busts article but he has made significant changes to his swing path. Last season, Soderstrom’s ground ball rate was near 50%. My skepticism stemmed from a player transitioning to first base who hit a lot of ground balls (see Josh Bell’s inconsistencies).

Now in 2023, Soderstrom has redesigned his swing to get the ball in the air more allowing him to tap into his massive power even more frequently. The average never profiles to be great but a player who has never posted a HR/FB% below 21.1% is well worth stashing.

Second straight game with a homer for top-ranked @Athletics prospect Tyler Soderstrom!

This two-run jack extends the @AviatorsLV lead: pic.twitter.com/sdf062xEHi

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 30, 2023

The Athletics are looking at which players are valuable to the team moving forward. While the team will likely want to give Shea Langeliers a longer leash at catcher, there are plenty of other avenues for Soderstrom to break through to the major league level. The Athletics are going to be sellers at the deadline and could trade away Seth Brown, Brent Rooker, or both. This would open up the DH spot for Soderstom.

The power upside is massive and there is a strong likelihood Soderstrom will make his debut in Oakland sooner rather than later. Henry Davis is having a huge fantasy impact due to his everyday playing time and catcher eligibility. Soderstrom is in the same position and should be stashed now before it is too late.

 

On The Bubble

In no particular order, the top five hitters that were in consideration for inclusion to this list were: Justyn-Henry Malloy (#10 Week 13), Curtis Mead (#9 Week 1), Jordan Lawlar, Brayan Rocchio, and Michael Busch.