The Pitcher Edition of the Stash List highlights the 10 best-pitching prospects likely to make an impact during the 2024 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 2024 ETA and getting ahead of the curve on rostering these prospects is a key part of roster management. Last year we saw more pitching prospects make their debut than ever before and there is no reason we should expect to see anything change in 2024. Keep reading to find out the top ten pitchers you should stash in your redraft leagues.
Ground Rules
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2024.
- 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 Thursday’s games.
The Stash List
Graduates/Call-Ups
David Festa got the call to make his MLB debut against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, joining the Twins rotation in place of Chris Paddack, who hit the IL with dead arm. Festa didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, which turned into a four-run frame for Arizona. The 6-foot-6 righty wound up allowing five runs in five innings, but got the win thanks to a 13-run outburst from the Minnesota offense. Festa was throwing enough strikes that he issued just one walk, but struck out only two. Festa should get at least a few more starts before Paddack returns and could pitch well enough to stay in the rotation.
Hayden Birdsong also struggled in his debut for the Giants, allowing three runs and three walks in 4.2 innings on Wednesday. The 22-year-old righty had made just two starts for Triple-A Sacramento with a 5.00 ERA after posting a 2.05 ERA over 48.1 innings in Double-A. The Giants have an entire rotation worth of starters on the IL, so there may be a limited window for Birdsong to try to stick in San Francisco when Blake Snell and Co. return.
Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash
1. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Previous Ranking: 1
2024 MiLB (AA) stat line: 16.2 IP | 2.16 ERA | 35.3 K% | 14.7 BB%
2024 MiLB (A+) stat line: 5 IP | 3.60 ERA | 27.8 K% | 5.6 BB%
Jackson Jobe looked a lot sharper in his second rehab start for High-A West Michigan on Sunday, throwing three perfect innings. The 21-year-old righty was only bumped up to 32 pitches from 29 in his previous outing, so it looks like the earliest he could be ready for a call-up to Detroit would be after the All-Star break. Before suffering the strained hamstring that he is rehabbing from, the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder hadn’t allowed a hit over his last two starts, so he’s back to flashing no-hit stuff.
2. Christian Scott, RHP, New York Mets
Previous Ranking: 3
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 42.1 IP | 2.76 ERA | 33.5 K% | 7.3 BB%
2024 MLB Stat line: 27.2 IP | 3.90 ERA | 22.3 K% | 5.4 BB%
Christian Scott appears to be on the verge of getting the call back to New York after ramping up to 81 pitches on Tuesday. The 24-year-old righty was uncharacteristically wild in the start for Triple-A Syracuse, walking three in four innings but allowing just one run. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said on Tuesday that Scott is “in play” to be recalled in the team’s upcoming stretch. That means he could be inserted into a six-man rotation and make his next start in a road series at Washington that starts on Monday.
3. Shane Baz, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Previous Ranking: 2
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 39.1 IP | 4.12 ERA | 24.7 K% | 12.9 BB%
Shane Baz got all the way up to 93 pitches on Wednesday in Triple-A, striking out seven in five innings against Lehigh Valley. The 24-year-old has flipped a switch in June, going 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 23 innings after posting a 7.71 ERA in May. Baz continued to maintain the recent uptick in his velocity that has coincided with much better results for Durham, averaging 96.1 mph on his fastball after 96.5 in his previous two starts. Baz could make his next start for Tampa Bay, returning to a major-league mound in just under two years from undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2022.
4. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Previous Ranking: 10
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 58 IP | 3.10 ERA | 29.0 K% | 14.3 BB%
Jacob Misiorowski is suddenly on fire, tossing his second straight scoreless outing on Tuesday with eight strikeouts in 5.2 frames against Double-A Pensacola. After a wild start on June 12 when he hit three batters, walked two and gave up six runs in four innings, Misiorowski has allowed a combined four hits and two walks with 13 strikeouts in his last 11.2 innings. If he can hold these gains for another start or two, the 6-foot-7 flamethrower could be up in the Milwaukee rotation by the All-Star break.
5. Max Meyer, RHP, Miami Marlins
Previous Ranking: 4
2024 MLB Stat line: 17 IP | 2.12 ERA | 21.5 K% | 4.6 BB%
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 39 IP | 6.00 ERA | 26.3 K% | 10.3 BB%
The Marlins are finally ramping Max Meyer back up for a return to Miami, where he started the season with a 2.12 ERA over 17 innings in three starts. The 25-year-old was up to 76 pitches on Wednesday after 69 and 56, respectively, in his previous two outings for Triple-A Jacksonville. Meyer struggled again on Wednesday, walking three and giving up four runs (two earned) in 4.1 innings. The 6.00 ERA Meyer has posted in AAA is a bit concerning, but we can likely just chalk it up to a young pitcher without anything to prove in the minors just going through the motions. Expect to see better results in his next start as Meyer makes what could be one of his final tuneups before returning to Miami.
6. Chayce McDermott, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Previous Ranking: 6
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 76 IP | 3.79 ERA | 32.5 K% | 13.1 BB%
After a wild stretch where he issued 14 walks over 21.2 innings in four starts, Chayce McDermott has cleaned up his control with a combined three walks in 11.1 innings over his last two outings for Triple-A Norfolk. The 25-year-old struck out eight with just one walk in 5.2 innings on Tuesday against Charlotte. With the way Orioles pitchers have been going down with injuries this season, McDermott could get a chance in Baltimore sooner than later. Dean Kremer has been drubbed in his two rehab starts coming back from a strained right triceps and Cole Irvin was hammered in his last start for the O’s, so there are some vulnerable spots in the rotation that could be an opening for McDermott by the All-Star break.
7. Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Previous Ranking: 7
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 63 IP | 5.29 ERA | 29.2 K% | 12.5 BB%
Carson Whisenhunt can’t wait to get out of the PCL, where he was struggled badly away from the friendly confines of Sacramento. The 23-year-old southpaw allowed three walks and five runs (four earned) in two innings at Las Vegas on Tuesday. Whisenhunt has a 8.65 ERA in seven road starts, but has sparkled at home with a 2.92 ERA over nine outings. There were reports that Whisenhunt was coming up to make his MLB debut this past week, but instead the Giants went with Birdsong. There’s still an opening in the Giants rotation on Sunday against the Dodgers in San Francisco, so Whisenhunt could get his chance then.
8. Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs
Previous Ranking: 8
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 16.1 IP | 1.10 ERA | 29.0 K% | 3.2 BB%
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 18 IP | 7.50 ERA | 27.2% | 13.6 BB%
Cade Horton left his May 29 start in Triple-A after just one inning with lat soreness, which was then diagnosed as a subscapular strain that will shut him down from throwing for about a month. The 22-year-old right-hander could be back on the mound in early July and could be an option to make his MLB debut by the end of July. Horton is among the very best pitching prospects, so he can still be stashed on teams that can afford to wait.
9. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Blue Jays
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MiLB (AAA) stat line: 8 IP | 5.63 ERA | 23.8 K% | 21.4 BB%
2024 MiLB (A) stat line: 4.1 IP | 0.00 ERA | 60.0 K% | 13.3 BB%
2024 MiLB (FCL) stat line: 0.1 IP | 81.00 ERA | 20.0 K% | 40.0 BB%
Ricky Tiedemann is working his way back from ulnar nerve inflammation in his left elbow that flared up in mid-April. The 21-year-old lefty has been lights out in his past two starts, striking out nine with two walks in 4.1 hitless innings for Low-A Dunedin. Tiedemann was up to 44 pitches in his start on Wednesday, so he’s got a ways to go, but he appears to be on track. Next up could be a return to Triple-A Buffalo where he can finish building back up for a possible MLB debut after the All-Star break for Toronto.
10. Brandon Sproat, RHP, New York Mets
Previous Ranking: 9
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 35.2 IP | 1.94 ERA | 28.1 K% | 6.5 BB%
2024 MiLB (A+) Stat line: 25.1 IP | 1.07 ERA | 32.4 K% | 15.7 BB%
Brandon Sproat tossed six scoreless innings on Thursday, maintaining his control gains since coming to Double-A by issuing two walks. The 23-year-old has walked just 10 in 35.2 innings for Binghamton after giving out 16 free passes in 25.1 innings in High-A. With the Mets surging in the NL East, Sproat could give New York a boost sometime in July.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list: Bubba Chandler, PIT; Caden Dana, LAA; Zebby Matthews, MIN; Tink Hence, STL; Jack Leiter, TEX