The Hitter Edition of The Stash List is back and updated for Week 17.
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
There were two very notable promotions in the past week. After ranking second on the Stash List last week, Christian Encarnacion-Strand is finally getting his chance in the major leagues. CES has massive power that makes him an instant fantasy asset. The biggest issue is going to be finding consistent playing time. He is likely to fill in for a variety of players as well as get into the lineup every game against lefties. The Reds are doing a good job of getting him regular playing time and he is worth adding in all 12+ team leagues.
The other prospect promoted after landing on this list was Endy Rodríguez. Rodriguez was the top-ranked catcher on here and figures to be the primary catcher for Pittsburgh for the remainder of the season. He has a plus-hit tool and holds more value in OBP leagues. He is off to a slow start but is still worth a look in leagues where there are 15+ catchers rostered.
Three other prospects were also promoted last week. Oswald Peraza, Liover Peguero, and Cade Marlowe were all added to their respective major league rosters. Peraza is the most notable for fantasy purposes after landing on this list for several weeks. He is batting leadoff for the Yankees most games and is worth adding if you are looking for speed in the middle infield. Peguero and Marlowe are worth keeping your eye on, but not must-adds.
Sal Frelick was set to rank third on this list before earning his promotion to Milwaukee yesterday. He should be in the lineup every day and has one of the best hit tools in minor league baseball. He is worth a speculative add if you need help in the outfield. All he did in his first game was get a hit in his first three at-bats and a sac-fly in his fourth. Pretty special:
No. 2 @Brewers prospect Sal Frelick easily beats the throw to first with elite 30.7 ft/sec sprint speed for his first Major League hit: pic.twitter.com/oq2cYK4nVN
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 22, 2023
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. Ronny Mauricio, SS/2B New York Mets
Even with all the prospect promotions over the past couple of weeks, Ronny Mauricio remains in Triple-A. This is no fault of his own though as he continues to dominate Triple-A pitching. He is now up to 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases, demonstrating exactly why he will be such a valuable fantasy asset once promoted. He has power, speed, and is showing off much-improved contact skills that should translate to major league success. Just look at this rocket he hit the other night:
115.8 mph off the bat from Ronny Mauricio#LGM pic.twitter.com/1LlDoo1PBv
— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) July 20, 2023
There is really no reason that the Mets have not promoted Mauricio yet. Despite his continued struggles this season, the Mets are giving Daniel Vogelbach everyday at-bats. Mauricio would be both an offensive upgrade and an upgrade in the field allowing some of their other players to get more days off their feet. Starling Marte was also placed on the IL this week, opening up another lineup spot Mauricio should be in consideration for. Mark Canha is not deserving of regular playing time and the Mets should give Mauricio a shot soon. Pick him up and stash him now as he will be in Queens any day now.
2.Jordan Lawlar, SS Arizona Diamondbacks
Two promotions from last week’s top four has allowed Jordan Lawlar to continue his ascent up the Stash List. Lawlar’s move to second on this list is all about the immense upside he offers. After his slow start, he has continued to dominate Double-A. He profiles to be an elite base stealer and is one of the few prospects in baseball who have 25/40 potential. He has plenty of power and continues to show improvements to his hit tool. This is a potential five-category contributor that needs to be on fantasy manager’s radars.
The Diamondbacks are right in the middle of things in the National League playoff race. Not only are they battling the Dodgers and Giants for the division, but they are also battling the Phillies and Reds for the Wild Card. They need to win as many games as possible and to do so they will prioritize putting together their best lineup. Despite only being in Double-A, Lawlar has the kind of talent that will make an instant impact on the major league team. Geraldo Perdomo is batting .184 since June 28th. Lawlar needs to be a priority stash at this point in the season.
3. Curtis Mead, 2B/3B Tampa Bay Rays
Curtis Mead continues to put his early season struggles in the rearview mirror. He looks like a man on a mission, and most importantly, looks like a player that is finally healthy. Mead has hit safely in all but one game since the break including four multi-hit performances. He has already raised his Triple-A wRC+ up to 110 which is much more in line with the numbers he was posting last season. Although the game power is yet to fully show up, this is a player that hits the ball hard with excellent contact rates. He understands and controls the strike zone forcing opposing pitchers to give him pitches that he can do damage on. Mead was one of baseball’s top prospects coming into the season and it is time to start viewing him that way again.
Although the Rays’ lineup is crowded, there is a realistic path to playing time for Mead. Brandon Lowe only plays against righties and even with his extreme platoon splits, he is only batting .215 against righties. Taylor Walls is drawing the starts against lefties while also playing the other infield positions against righties. Walls is playing around four times a week even though he has a .157 batting average since the start of June. The Rays could easily turn to Mead to fill this role and potentially even take playing time away from Lowe. Stash Mead now before it is too late.
4.Austin Wells, C New York Yankees
In huge news for Austin Wells, the Yankees placed Jose Trevino on the IL with a season-ending injury. While unfortunate for Trevino, this opens the door wide open for the team to promote Wells to the major leagues. For the time, the team promoted Ben Rortvedt to the major leagues and Austin Wells up to Triple-A. However, this moves Wells even closer to the major leagues and it should not be long until he is starting games in The Bronx. Wells has excellent power that is going to play wonderfully in Yankee Stadium. His understanding of the strike zone is another plus that allows him to work walks and pick specific pitches to hit. If you are looking for help at the volatile catcher position, stash him now. Rotverdt is not a player that will prevent Wells from breaking through to the major leagues.
5. Kyle Manzardo, 1B Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Manzardo’s stock feels like it is at the lowest point it has been all season. Manzardo remains on the IL this week although his injury is not expected to keep him sidelined for an extended period of time. Why is a player on the IL with a 93 wRC+ in Triple-A coming in at sixth on the stash list? Manzardo has tremendous upside and has been extremely unlucky this season. His average exit velocity is above 90 mph with a barrel rate pushing 10%. His whiff rate is a measly 20% and his sweet spot is as high as they come at 39.2%. He has all the tools to be an elite offensive player at first base and it is important to not focus too much on his overall statistics.
With the current talent on the Rays’ major league roster, you have to wonder if a trade is possible. While it is very unlike the Rays to deal away their top prospect, they are in a blood bath right now in the American League East. Toronto is gaining on them, Baltimore has already passed them, and they might feel the need to make a big move. Manzardo would be a trade chip that could net them exactly what they are looking for and a trade would be perfect for his 2023 fantasy value. He remains a strong stash option despite his current situation.
6. Justin Foscue, 2B Texas Rangers
To me, it feels as if Justin Foscue is one of the most underrated prospects in all of baseball. Foscue is a former first-round pick who is posting a 114 wRC+ in Triple-A. Prorating his 2023 statistics over 600 plate appearances, Foscue would be on pace for 20 home runs, 13 stolen bases, he is walking more than he is striking out, and there is reason to believe that his average should be even higher than the current .274 mark it sits at. He might not do any one thing spectacularly, but profiles to be a consistent contributor across the board. These are often the most underrated players in fantasy baseball.
Obviously, there is no path to playing time in Texas. This stash is all about the impending Trade Deadline. Texas is going to be aggressive in acquiring pitching and they have a plethora of infield options both at the major and minor league level. A team trading with Texas will undoubtedly be zeroing in on acquiring one of them and Foscue could step right into a starting role if traded. He is ready for the major leagues and is a strong stash option. If he gets dealt, there will be a rush to pick him up and stashing him now ensures you beat that.
7. Michael Busch, 2B Los Angeles Dodgers
| AVG | HR | SB | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .304 | 11 | 2 | 15.2% | 19.9% |
Michael Busch cannot stop hitting home runs since being sent back to Triple-A. He has appeared in 15 games down in Triple-A in his latest stint and has hit six home runs. Busch has consistently shown off his massive power throughout his minor league career and continues to do so this year. He is up to 13 on the season and could have even more if not for his time in the major leagues. Although his strikeout rate has been an issue in the past, he is making big strides in this area proving he is ready for a real shot in the major leagues.
With Miguel Vargas in Triple-A, the Dodgers are relying on Mookie Betts to play second base on a regular basis. Betts at second is fine by itself, but it forces both David Peralta and Jason Heyward into the lineup at the same time. Heyward is playing well, but Peralta has been hovering around league average for much of the season. It feels like only a matter of time until the Dodgers shift Betts back to the outfield and give Busch his chance in an everyday role. Pick him up and stash him now because he has rare power for the second base position that makes him extremely valuable in fantasy.
8. Colt Keith, 3B Detroit Tigers
Perhaps no prospect has risen faster up prospect lists this season than Tigers’ third baseman Colt Keith. Since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 draft, Keith has made quick work of the minor leagues. He really took off after being promoted to High-A in 2022. Keith proceeded to make quick work of Double-A this season with a 162 wRC+ across his first 59 games.
Now in Triple-A, Keith feels like he is on the verge of a major league promotion landing him at number eight on this week’s edition of the Stash List. He combines an excellent understanding of the strike zone with strong contact rates and an ability to drive the ball out of the park. He looks like a points-league monster and a future four-category contributor.
In his first Triple-A at-bat, Colt Keith hit a 425-foot homer. Then he reached base four more times.
The 21-year-old showed why he’s the No. 1 @tigers prospect with an impressive debut for the @MudHens: https://t.co/ZFQkYOggH5 pic.twitter.com/0gDEhl3LCZ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 29, 2023
As was noted earlier this season when discussing Justyn-Henry Malloy, the Tigers have plenty of holes in their infield. Nick Maton is splitting time at third base with Zack Short. Maton has already been demoted to Triple-A once this season and Short only has a 63 wRC+. Neither one should be seeing regular playing time and Keith is pounding on the door demanding a promotion. Stash Keith now and expect him up before the end of August.
9. Masyn Winn, SS St. Louis Cardinals
Another new player has broken into the Top 10 on the Stash List. Coming off a breakout in 2022, Masyn Winn entered 2023 with as much helium as any prospect in baseball. The Cardinals fed into this hype by starting Winn off in Triple-A making his major league debut seem imminent. Things did not get off to the best start and by the end of April, he was slashing a measly .224/.291/.319.
Winn has really turned things around since his rough start. Since May 1st, Winn is slashing .309/.381/.494 with 10 home runs and eight stolen bases. He has really caught fire lately with four home runs and a .387 average since the start of July. Although his power at the major league level profiles to be close to league average, he has plus speed and a plus hit tool that will make him a valuable fantasy asset.
1⃣ pitch, 1⃣ swing, 1⃣ homer for Masyn Winn!
The top @Cardinals prospect (MLB No. 43) leads off the game with a dinger for the @memphisredbirds. pic.twitter.com/aA3iGD38ba
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 21, 2023
Although they have been hot lately, the Cardinals’ season has been a major disappointment. Figuring to be sellers at the deadline both current shortstop Paul DeJong and Opening Day shortstop Tommy Edman could be on their way out the door. With possibly both of St. Louis’ primary shortstops leaving, it is reasonable to assume that Winn will be given an opportunity to show what he is capable of at the major league level. Stash him now while the trade deadline is still over a week away.
10. Everson Pereira, OF New York Yankees
| AVG | HR | SB | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .308 | 12 | 7 | 9.5% | 27.6% |
The third new player to find himself on this week’s edition of the Stash List is Everson Pereira. Pereira has been working his way through the Yankees’ system since 2018 and now finds himself playing in Triple-A. He started the year in Double-A but earned a promotion after slashing .291/.363/.545 in his first 46 games. He combines plus power with excellent speed and can profiles to be a legitimate 20/20 threat. The biggest issue with Pereira is going to be making consistent contact in order to keep his strikeout rate at a manageable level.
Similar to catcher, the Yankees are desperate for help in the outfield. While Aaron Judge is working his way back, the team needs solutions now. They are currently running Franchy Cordero on a regular basis while giving consistent at-bats to both Oswaldo Cabrera, and Billy McKinney. None of those players are deserving of regular roles and the team should give Pereira a shot soon. Stash him now while you still can.
On The Bubble
In no particular order, the top five hitters that were in consideration for inclusion to this list were: Justyn-Henry Malloy, Jackson Chourio, Heston Kjerstad, Connor Norby, and Dustin Harris.