The Hitter Edition of the Stash List is back for the 2025 season.
This Stash List highlights the 10 best hitting prospects likely to make an impact during the 2025 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 2025 ETA, and getting ahead of the curve on rostering these prospects is a key part of roster management. Read to discover the top 10 hitters you should stash in your redraft leagues.
Ground Rules
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2025.
- 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 Thursday’s games.
The Stash List
Graduates/Call Ups
One of 2025’s most polarizing players, Chandler Simpson, made his return to the Major Leagues this week. After being sent down at the end of May, he’s rebounded well in AAA. Simpson is hitting .366 in 16 games and was in the midst of a six-game hit streak before earning his promotion. In those games, he also hit five extra base hits (two triples) and stole eleven bases. He still isn’t hitting the ball hard (83.6 AVG EV, 14% hard hit), but his 96% Z-Con and 11% whiff rate mean he’s putting the ball in play enough for his speed (29.8 mph AVG sprint speed, 98th percentile) to make an impact. The debate will rage on between fantasy managers about whether his speed is worth keeping on the MLB roster, despite no power and lackluster defense. However, for now, he serves as a good bench option for teams in dire need of more speed on their rosters.
The Mariners were forced into calling up Harry Ford late on Thursday night due to Mitch Garver’s injured jaw. MLB’s #8 catching prospect will join Seattle’s roster if the veteran backstop needs an IL stint, but his AAA performance is deserving of a call-up anyway. His 135 wRC+ ranks 2nd among catchers at the level, and his .895 OPS ranks third. This season, he’s boosted his average (.311) by over 60 points and cut down his strikeout rate from 22% to 17%. In 2024, Ford stole 35 bases in AA. While he only has three this season, that speed tool is incredibly unique at the catcher position. Until there’s more clarity on Ford’s role going forward, fantasy managers should proceed with caution. However, if he sticks, he could prove to be a high upside stash in the catcher spot.
Two notable absences from the list this week are Bryce Eldridge and Jordan Lawlar; however, it’s not due to a promotion or graduation. Eldridge was diagnosed with a hamstring strain this week, which will cause him to miss significant time, while Lawlar will miss “over a month” with his own hamstring issue. Both players should return to the list once they get healthy.
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. Chase DeLauter, OF – Cleveland Guardians
Sound the alarms. Chase DeLauter is playing like a top prospect again. The 23-year-old is making good use of his time since returning from injury, and has been one of the hottest hitters in the sport recently. Over the last seven days, DeLauter is hitting .438 with a 1.295 OPS and 231 wRC+ (stats courtesy of Christian Mack’s MiLB Stats app), which are all among the upper echelons of the AAA ranks during that time (min. 20 PAs). At the time of writing, DeLauter is in the midst of an 11-game hit streak, with two homers and nine walks compared to four strikeouts. His hard hit rate (51.4%) sits in at 17th among AAA hitters (min. 400 pitches), and is higher than the marks set by Brady House (46%), Coby Mayo (44.9%), and Dalton Rushing (45.6%) before their promotions.
DeLauter is ready to face big league pitching, and while there may be some drop-off in performance between the Majors and AAA, the upside he brings is worth the risk. Lane Thomas (.173 AVG) and Nolan Jones (78 wRC+) have not worked out this season, and the time is approaching for the Guardians to try something new in their spots instead. Despite the lack of production from 2/3 of their outfield, Cleveland still sits at 40-39, and could vault itself into the forefront of the playoff conversation with a win streak. DeLauter is not a blanket fix to every weak spot in the lineup, but he serves as another power bat behind Manzardo, Ramirez, and Santana. Even if he struggles to hit the ground running, he’ll be an offensive upgrade to Thomas or Jones in the heart of the lineup.
2. Samuel Basallo, C – Baltimore Orioles
If not for the otherworldly performance by Chase DeLauter, Basallo would be the clear #1 prospect to stash right now. By his lofty standards, it’s been a slow week for the 20-year-old catcher. He managed just two extra base hits in the past week, and his .118 ISO was way below his season mark of .312. On the other hand, he posted a walk rate just under 30% and an OBP of .440 in that time. Basallo’s elite power (94.0 AVG EV, 57.6% hard hit) is starting to scare pitchers away, and it’s leading to a major boost to his walk rate this season. When he is getting pitched to, he’s causing damage. Assuming Basallo plays every day for the rest of the season, he’s on pace for a career-high 34 home runs to go with a .400+ wOBA and 149 wRC+.
To say that would be an upgrade on Baltimore’s current catching situation would be an understatement. With Adley Rutschman on the shelf, Gary Sánchez and Chadwick Tromp make up the current tandem. Sanchez has been okay with a .203 AVG and 89 wRC+, but a sub-5% walk rate and .650 OPS are not good enough to warrant him keeping his job long-term. Tromp has been bad (.063 AVG, -36 wRC+), but he’s only appeared in six games this season. Even when Rutschman does return from his oblique injury, Basallo would serve as an upgrade over either backup option. Basallo’s path to the Majors may get even clearer over the next month, as the Orioles still sit 12 games under .500 with the trade deadline looming. If Baltimore opts to move on from some of their older assets, the spots will clear for the team to give their top yet-to-debut prospect a chance to make an impact.
3. Kristian Campbell, 2B – Boston Red Sox
This selection might be considered cheating, as Campbell has arguably graduated from prospect status. The former Georgia Tech standout broke camp with the big league club out of spring training, but failed to live up to the lofty expectations that were placed on him as a result of his excellent 2024. After a 20 HR/24 SB season over three levels, Campbell struggled to reach those heights in the show. After hitting safely in 7/8 games to start the year, he hit just .199 over his next 57 games, including a 1-18 slump before getting demoted. In his short stint back in AAA, he’s starting to show flashes of the talent that earned him the promotion, but there’s still a way to go.
In four games with the Worcester Red Sox, he’s 3-13 with a double, a triple, and three walks. There was one 0-4 game with four K’s, but otherwise, he’s been solid. Campbell showcased above-average bat speed (73.3 mph) and a good feel for the strike zone (11% BB, 23.4% chase), but struggled to produce offense on his swings (10.1% pull AIR, 5.1% barrel). They also need him to work on his defense, as his -8 outs above average was the third worst in the big leagues among second basemen. The Red Sox could really use his bat in the lineup, especially as they fall under .500 and are losing ground in the division. Campbell’s potential ability to impact the game with his power and speed makes him a high-upside stash. That said, Campbell has plenty of things to work on.
4. CJ Kayfus, 1B – Cleveland Guardians
Chase DeLauter is dominating the Guardians’ prospect-related headlines right now, and rightfully so, but C.J. Kayfus is giving him a run for his money. He ranks in the top five among AAA first basemen in wOBA (.410, 4th), OPS (.943, 4th), and wRC+ (147, 2nd). All of those marks would also rank in the top five among MLB competition. Those numbers put him eerily close to another top prospect, who already featured at #2 on this list. He doesn’t hit the ball as hard as some other top prospects (89.8 AVG EV), but with a 49% hard hit rate and 66% FB+LD%, he’s still capable of producing elite offensive numbers.
In comparison to DeLauter, he doesn’t have the same level of power upside, but he could still be good for 15-18 over the course of a full Major League season. That, in tandem with his ability to get on base via walk (career .400 OBP) and via base hits (.300 career AVG, .415 BABIP in ’25), makes him a valuable asset to have in any big league lineup. Kayfus has the ability to play at first and in both corner outfield spots. With Manzardo/Santana holding down first and the DH spot, and Steven Kwan in left, it becomes a challenge to get both Kayfus and DeLauter into the lineup. However, if Cleveland wants to improve their offensive output, they’ll have to find a way to get both of their top hitting prospects into the lineup on a daily basis.
5. Brooks Baldwin, UTL – Chicago White Sox
Since being featured for the first time this season on last week’s list, Baldwin is yet to register a hitless game. He’s 7-19 over his last four games, with two home runs and a 166 wRC+. In 27 games with the AAA squad, Baldwin now has a 1.189 OPS and 199 wRC+. Those are both the best marks at the level (min. 120 PAs). His batted ball metrics aren’t among the elite numbers that we’ve seen from top prospects this season (89.7 AVG EV, 42.2% hard hit), but a 38% fly ball rate and 32% HR/FB rate are both dramatically better than his MLB rates this season. Baldwin also has the advantage of being used to the Majors, having played in 80 games with the White Sox over the last two seasons. The former 12th-round pick may not have the ceiling of a Roman Anthony or Jac Caglianone, but he could serve as an underrated asset to stash for the second half of the season.
At 26-55 at the time of writing, the White Sox should be sellers at the deadline. Anyone over the age of 26 should be considered available in trade discussions, especially when it comes to hitters. Luis Robert Jr. will undoubtedly generate the most interest out of that group as a “change of scenery candidate” despite his underperformance (64 wRC+) this season. Mike Tauchman, Ryan Noda, and Josh Rojas could also generate some interest from contenders who need bench depth. In the event that any of these moves occur, Baldwin is the natural replacement to fill any of these roles. He has the positional versatility to step into most defensive spots, and his offensive performance has dramatically improved. The White Sox rebuild continues to roll on, and Baldwin may get an extended run in the Majors after another season of deadline selling in the South Side of Chicago.
6. Deyvison De Los Santos, 1B – Miami Marlins
It hasn’t been smooth sailing since De Los Santos returned to the AAA lineup. In ten games since being activated from the injured list, he’s hitting .189 with a .632 OPS and 79 wRC+. So why is he in the top six on this week’s list? Two reasons. First, the Marlins distinctly lack production at first base. In 2025, first basemen in Miami have combined for just 12 homers, a .621 OPS, and 68 wRC+. Those numbers are good enough for a -1.7 WAR. It’s not like there’s high-level talent in the pipeline in that spot either. De Los Santos is the only member of the Miami top-30 with the first baseman distinction, not to mention he’s already on the 40-man.
The second reason is the immense upside that De Los Santos brings. It hasn’t exactly materialized this season, but De Los Santos has hit 90 homers since 2021, so the power upside has been there throughout the minor leagues. Even if the output stats aren’t coming through yet, the 91.3 average exit velocity and 48.7% hard hit rate indicate that it’s coming. De Los Santos carries a fair amount of risk for fantasy managers, though. The strikeout rate has sat around 30% all season, and while the walk rate has almost doubled this season, it still sits below 10%. The Marlins should be inclined to give De Los Santos a shot at first base this summer, and he could be a “out-of-nowhere” breakout candidate if the power output rebounds.
7. Colby Thomas, OF – Athletics
At this point, I’m running out of things to say about Colby Thomas. It feels like Groundhog Day. Thomas has more than performed well enough, and for long enough, to earn a shot at the big leagues, but the A’s have not rewarded him. Between the start of 2024 and now, only one player has driven in as many runs as Thomas (162 RBIs), and that same player is the only player with more home runs than Thomas’ 48 in that time frame (Ryan Ward, with 58). In over 200 games with the Las Vegas Aces, he’s hitting .284 with 22 steals to pair with the run production.
That production has cooled off slightly recently. Thomas is hitting just .192 over the last eight games and has multiple strikeouts in three of those games. Thomas’ 17 homers on the year are still impressive, but he hasn’t hit one in 41 plate appearances. He’s now closer to matching his 31 HR/15 SB output in 2024 than exceeding it, as he was on pace for before the mini slump. With the A’s now well out of playoff contention, they may be forced into selling off some of their older assets. Brent Rooker is under contract, so it’s unlikely he moves. JJ Bleday (2029 FA) could be moved if a team values his team control, and Miguel Andujar’s expiring contract could be moved. In either case, Thomas is a viable option to take an open spot on the roster in the near future.
8. Justin Crawford, OF – Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are going to be in a dogfight for the rest of the season alongside the Mets. The two teams sit just 0.5 games apart in the standings right now as we draw near the All-Star Break. Offensively, Philadelphia has been good, but not dominant. They sit between 9th and 15th in the MLB in most offensive categories, including OPS and stolen bases. Lucky for the Phillies, they have someone sitting on their AAA roster who could provide a boost in both of those areas. Brandon Marsh (101 wRC+) has been fine in center field, but Johan Rojas has struggled as the backup. That same player who could provide a boost offensively can also play a pretty good center field defensively, which can only help the Phillies.
I’ll admit, coming into this season, I was skeptical about how Crawford would provide value at the big league level. Now, that picture is becoming clear. The 21-year-old outfielder is 5th among AAA hitters with 26 stolen bases, and 3rd in batting average. As opposed to other speed-first players (Esteury Ruiz, Chandler Simpson), Crawford hits the ball pretty hard. His average exit velocity sits around 90 miles an hour, and his 41.4% hard hit rate is higher than both of the examples. If he can get back to the nine-homer output in 2024, or even build on it, he could provide more value than he can with just his legs. Crawford should get some level of opportunity in the big leagues this season, but fantasy managers should wait and see what his role is before jumping in headfirst.
9. Brice Matthews, INF – Houston Astros
The hot streak continues for Brice Matthews. The 23-year-old outfielder continues to make waves in AAA, this time by hitting .450 over the last seven days. In 25 plate appearances, he has three doubles, three steals, with an OPS of 1.160 and wRC+ of 214. While that level of production is unsustainable over a full season, the improvements he’s made at the plate are showing signs of sticking. His average exit velocity (91.4) remains three ticks higher than his 2024 mark, and his hard hit rate (45.2%) is up two points since last year. Matthews’ ground ball rate (44.1%) and strikeout rate (28.8%) are still causes for some concern, but there is legitimate upside here, especially when you factor in the stolen base potential (54 in 143 games between ’24 and 25).
That upside may just be enough to land him on Houston’s roster in the near future. Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes have been staples of the Astros’ lineup this season, so Matthews’ best chance may be on the other side of the infield. Mauricio Dubón has been in Houston for over three full seasons and has posted average offensive production in all of them. The Astros are going to have competition for supremacy in the AL West, even if they’re leading the race right now. Matthews would provide a spark to the bottom half of the Astros’ lineup that they currently lack. Even if it hasn’t hurt them yet this season, there’s no such thing as having too many impact bats in the lineup.
10. Owen Caissie, CHC – Chicago Cubs
Once again, numerous Cubs prospects were considered for this spot, but Caissie ultimately won out. Kevin Alcántara arguably has more upside than Caissie, but an 88 wRC+ and 32% strikeout rate scares me just enough to keep him off. Jonathon Long and Moisés Ballesteros have both been excellent this season, but unless an injury occurs, the Cubs aren’t going to promote either. That’s likely the case for Caissie, too, although there is more room for a backup outfielder on the roster than anything else. Caissie’s combination of power potential (91.6 AVG EV, 50% hard hit) and speed (9/12 steals) makes him a potential 20/20 player at the next level, if he gets the opportunities.
Despite the talent that Caissie (and several other players on the Cubs AAA roster) possesses, there’s just not a spot for him in the lineup to get consistent playing time, barring injury. However, Chicago is rumored to be one of the more active teams at the trade deadline, and has plenty of prospect capital to move. The Cubs’ need for a starting pitcher has been well documented, and they could use a couple of extra arms in the bullpen, too. MLB’s #10 outfield prospect would be of interest to “selling” teams should they opt to make a deal with the Cubs. Should a trade occur, Caissie’s 2025 outlook improves dramatically. With how good they’ve been, breaking into Chicago’s outfield is a tall task. However, if Caissie ends up on a team like Miami, that task gets much easier.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five hitters considered for inclusion on this week’s list in no particular order.
Stash List
