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The Stash List Week 17: Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash in 2026

The top thirty pitching prospects to stash in a redraft league.

John Villavicencio
Dynasty 6 Hours Ago

The Pitcher Edition of the Stash List highlights the 10 best pitching prospects likely to make an impact during the 2026 season.

Prospects are often thought of as holding value only in dynasty formats. However, knowing which prospects hold value for the current season can help set you apart in redraft leagues. Several have a 2026 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 2026. 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 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 and roster percentages will be updated weekly.
  • Stats will be updated weekly for all players through Thursday’s games.

 

The Stash List

Graduates/Call-Ups

The following prospects joined the big league clubs over the last week:

Zach Thornton NYM is a pitcher to watch. After having a solid second Major League start, he was promised more time in the Mets rotation as they finish out a season that is far from their expectations.

Owen Murphy ATL will be called up to start on Saturday against the Rangers.

Eduardo Rivera BOS has pitched admirably in his two Major League outings. Last Saturday, Rivera struck out three and walked two with his three-pitch arsenal across 3.2 innings. He was listed as a probable starter for the doubleheader against the Rays on Friday.

Mitch Bratt ARI is listed as a probable starter for two starts next week, with Monday’s game against the Athletics and then again for a weekend matchup at Washington.

Gabriel Hughes COL appears locked into a rotation spot for the upcoming long week. Unfortunately, it’s two home starts. His velocity is up, and his control is strong, so perhaps he pulls off some magic.

 

Top 30 Pitching Prospects to Stash for the Second Half According to OOPSY

 

This week’s stash list is a little different since there weren’t really any new game outcomes to report. Instead of focusing on the previous week, we will look forward by using OOPSY rest-of-season projections to signal which pitchers we should focus on for the last few months of the season. OOPSY states that it includes Minor League park factors and equivalencies, as well as accounting for Stuff+ and regressing statistics by Minor League level. It makes sense to use this system, which appears to be more representative of players without Major League data.

Below, you can find the top 30 most relevant prospect pitchers, ranked by the sum of their rankings across strikeout rate, walk rate, WHIP, ERA, and FIP. The top pitcher has the lowest combined total rank, whereas the last pitcher had the highest combined total. There is a breakdown for each pitcher, but a more in-depth description for the first ten who are stashable for the 2026 season.

 

1. Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners

2026 AA Stat line: 72.2 IP | 1.36 ERA | 41.4 K% | 3.8 BB%

2025 NCAA Stat line: 119.0 IP | 3.43 ERA | 37.4 K% | 7.3 BB%

 

All signs continue to point upward for Kade Anderson. Named the American League’s starting pitcher in the 2026 Futures Game, Anderson answered one of the few lingering questions surrounding his profile by flashing a bit more velocity than we’ve become accustomed to seeing. He touched 95 mph twice and averaged 94 mph across six four-seam fastballs. He paired the heater with his trademark high-spin slider, featuring 38 inches of drop, while also mixing in a changeup with more than 13 inches of horizontal break. The result was a scoreless inning in which the only blemish was a softly hit line-drive single by Jesús Made. Four plate appearances are hardly enough to draw sweeping conclusions, but Anderson did exactly what he has done all season: limit quality contact and avoid damage. The only thing missing was a swing-and-miss.

The lone remaining question is how well his arsenal will translate against upper-level hitters. Until Anderson faces Triple-A or Major League competition, there will naturally be some skepticism about whether his stuff is overpowering enough to dominate at the highest level. The positives, however, continue to overwhelm the concerns.

The biggest statistical red flag is his strand rate approaching 90%, which helps explain his microscopic ERA. Left-on-base rate is one of the more volatile pitching metrics and often regresses over time. Elite pitchers can outperform league averages by elevating their game with runners aboard—either by generating strikeouts or inducing ground balls—but sustaining a number this high is difficult. The other concern surfaced in his lone July outing, when he surrendered two solo home runs. That’s hardly a trend after a single start, but it does highlight the fine margins in his profile. Those mistakes were harmless because the bases were empty. Had runners been aboard, the outing could have looked much different.

Projection systems remain firmly in Anderson’s corner. OOPSY views him as having legitimate frontline upside, forecasting a 2.88 FIP, 2.73 ERA, 10.42 K/9, 2.10 BB/9, 0.92 WHIP, and a .204 batting average against. Those are the kinds of numbers that place him alongside names such as Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, and Cristopher Sánchez. Between Seattle’s pitcher-friendly home park and a relatively favorable division outside of Houston, there’s a strong argument that his skills could translate quickly.

The real question isn’t how good Anderson can be—it’s how much he’ll pitch. OOPSY projects only 17 Major League innings, roughly 3-4 starts, reflecting the conservative expectation that Seattle won’t promote him until September. A more aggressive scenario might triple that workload to roughly 51 innings, or 8-9 starts, giving fantasy managers two months of potentially elite production. Ultimately, Anderson’s dynasty and redraft value come down to where you land on that innings projection. If you believe he approaches even a fraction of what he has done in Double-A, there’s a realistic chance you’re acquiring a fantasy starter capable of performing like a high-end No. 2 or No. 3 down the stretch.

 

2. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Seattle Mariners

2026 AA Stat line: 62.1 IP | 4.04 ERA | 29.7 K% | 4.6B B%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 82 IP | 3.73 ERA | 27.0 K% | 4.5 BB%

 

There are no velocity questions surrounding Seattle’s other premier pitching prospect. Before Kade Anderson made his professional debut, Ryan Sloan looked like the Mariners’ arm most likely to impact the Major League club in 2026. The profile was familiar: elite strike-throwing, advanced feel for pitching, and enough bat-missing ability to follow the developmental path carved out by pitchers such as George Kirby. Sloan was even selected to start the 2026 Spring Breakout game, a strong indication of how highly the organization viewed him entering the season. Since then, Anderson—who is a year older—has surged past him in the public conversation. The more interesting question may be whether that ordering fully reflects the quality of each pitcher’s arsenal.

Sloan’s recent Statcast-tracked outings have only strengthened his case. The All-Star Futures Game provided a national stage for his power repertoire, and he took full advantage. Sloan touched 100 mph with his four-seamer, averaged 98 mph, and generated 14 inches of induced vertical break, giving the pitch true top-of-the-zone carry. Against three left-handed hitters, he also unveiled the breadth of his arsenal: a sweeper with 15 inches of break, a 92 mph cutter, and a low-spin splitter designed to disrupt timing. The only pitch he didn’t feature was the 97 mph sinker he has used to move right-handed hitters off the plate. Anderson was excellent in his own Futures Game appearance, but Sloan may have shown that he possesses the bigger raw stuff while carrying a similarly strong expectation of throwing strikes.

 

OOPSY remains bullish on Sloan’s command and run prevention, projecting him as a strong contributor while taking a more conservative view of the strikeout upside. The underlying indicators leave room for a higher ceiling. Sloan’s swinging-strike rate is currently at its highest point, suggesting his future strikeout rate could exceed the model’s forecast. The primary concern is the home run ball. He has surrendered a relatively high number of home runs, a trend that first appeared during his brief High-A stint in 2025. That makes his elite strike-throwing even more important, as limiting free baserunners reduces the damage when mistakes are elevated.

The bigger takeaway from the Futures Game is that Seattle may not be choosing between Anderson and Sloan at all. If both continue performing at this level, the organization could find itself creating room in August for two high-impact pitching prospects rather than just one.

 

3.  Ty Johnson, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

2026 AAA Stat line: 49.1 IP | 2.74 ERA | 33.0 K% | 9.6 BB% 

2025 MiLB Stat line: 110.1 IP | 2.61 ERA | 34.7 K% | 8.8 BB%

 

Ty Johnson has definitely turned up the dial on his strikeout ability with a strong 1-2 punch from the slider and fastball. These two pitches comprise his entire arsenal, but have been giving opponents fits. Even after the promotion to Triple-A to start the season, Johnson has maintained a solid 23% K%-BB%, while limiting the runners via the hit with a .171 average against. The slider is the main weapon with a 40% whiff rate. It moves anywhere from zero to seven inches horizontally, giving him a few different looks. The arm action is a bit deceptive as he keeps it closer to his body and releases it from a low height.

 

OOPSY is really feeling what Johnson has been doing, with top-five finishes across the major categories except for walk rate. The playing time projections from Depth Charts do not see a fit in Tampa Bay, which makes sense for a rotation that appears fairly steady.

With the emergence of Ian Seymour and the positive development of Griffin Jax, the starting rotation is not the biggest weakness for the team right now. Of course, Johnson will have to continue to outcompete teammate Brody Hopkins and the recently promoted Michael Forret to earn a promotion.

 

4. Robert Gasser, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers

2026 AAA Stat line: 26.2 IP | 3.37 ERA | 33.3 K% | 7.0 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 46.1 IP | 5.24 ERA | 21.4 K% | 7.0 BB%

 

Robert Gasser appears to have graduated and is listed as a probable starter for Tuesday’s game against the Mets. He throws a well-regarded sweeper and three types of fastballs, which have helped him earn almost four quality starts out of his last five appearances. Unfortunately, the most recent outing saw him chased out of the game after giving up two home runs and seven earned runs overall.

 

5. River Ryan, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2026 AAA Stat line: 36.1 IP | 4.46 ERA | 27.2 K% | 5.1 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: Did not pitch 

 

River Ryan seemed on his way to the Dodgers rotation after producing strong results with a wide arsenal in the spring. Of course, he was being managed with kid gloves after missing so much time with injury. Yet, two bouts on the injured list with a hamstring strain have put the brakes on that imminent promotion. That delay has now allowed more wrenches, aka a returning Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, to be placed in the gears. Assuming Ryan, who hasn’t pitched since June 17, can fully heal, he should get back to dominating Triple-A lineups with his 91 mph slider and 98 mph four-seamer.

OOPSY gives Ryan strong marks across the board, with a slight hesitation on his ability to generate strikeouts and prevent hits. This doubt may be warranted despite any excitement around Ryan. He actually has an average swinging strike rate, while hitters are dropping in more hits in June.

With the recent history of arm injury, there are reasonable concerns about how many innings Ryan will actually pitch in his first full season back from surgery. Nevertheless, we see the upside and want to see how his stuff fares in the Major Leagues this season.

 

6. Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Boston Red Sox

2026 AAA Stat line: 55.2 IP | 1.29 ERA | 34.5K% | 9.7BB%

2025 NCAA Stat line: 108 IP | 3.00 ERA | 33.9 K% | 8.0 BB%

 

Anthony Eyanson quickly earned the promotion to Double-A, but has stalled out. The strikeout rate and walk rate have worsened. However, Eyanson is still producing groundballs (54%), swinging strikes (15%), and limiting baserunners via the hit (.178 average). Thoughts for a 2026 debut have fizzled after a few weeks of fun speculation when he was striking out the world.

 

7. Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2026 A, A+ Stat line: 69 IP | 2.61 ERA | 40.8K% | 11.0BB% 

2025 High School Stat line: 53.1 IP | 0.39 ERA | 105 K | 7 BB

 

Seth Hernandez, at 20 years old, is pushing the envelope for how early a high school draftee can make it to the Major Leagues. There are plenty of teenage pitchers who made an impact before they turned 20, so there is a realistic chance that Hernandez moves quickly through the levels. High-A has not been the cake walk that Single-A was, but in the long-term, folks just want to see him develop the stuff and stay healthy. Against some of the best prospects at the Futures Game, Hernandez earned three whiffs and a strikeout on the 100 mph four-seamer. The changeup caused the other strikeout with its average of 12 inches of break. Those pitches will be his bread and butter, but having a 91 mph slider in his back pocket is a nice touch to the arsenal.

 

8. Tyson Hardin, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

2026 AAA Stat line: 81.1 IP | 5.09 ERA | 27.6 K% | 7.8 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 96 IP | 2.72 ERA | 24.7 K% | 4.4 BB%

 

The Brewers’ pitching pipeline keeps producing viable Major League arms. Whenever one starter goes down, another seems ready to step in, and Tyson Hardin is quietly positioning himself to be next in line. Promoted to Triple-A Nashville in early May, Hardin attacks hitters with a six-pitch mix that lacks a true knockout offering. Instead, his success comes from sequencing, strike-throwing, and consistently inducing weak contact. That formula has translated better against Triple-A hitters than it did in Double-A, as evidenced by an outstanding 3% barrel rate and 30% hard-hit rate.

OOPSY projects Hardin as a league-average starter, which lines up well with what he has shown in Nashville. His swinging-strike rate is a bit below average, but his command has been remarkably stable throughout his professional career. Through 10 Triple-A starts, his run prevention, WHIP, and overall production have taken a meaningful step forward compared to his time in Biloxi.

Milwaukee’s rotation depth will inevitably be tested over the course of the season. If Kyle Harrison misses extended time, joining Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester on the sidelines, another opportunity will open. Robert Gasser appears to be first in line, with Coleman Crow close behind, but Hardin has quietly worked his way into that conversation. He doesn’t need to overpower hitters or reinvent his arsenal to succeed. By continuing to fill the strike zone, limit hard contact, and let his deep repertoire work, Hardin has a legitimate chance to earn meaningful innings as a dependable back-end starter.

9. Mitch Bratt, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

2026 AAA Stat line: 52.1 IP | 2.41 ERA | 25.2 K% | 6.9 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 122.1 IP | 3.38 ERA | 29.3 K% | 4.2 BB%

 

Mitch Bratt’s athletic delivery turned heads during his Major League debut. On some pitches, he actually leaves the ground on his follow-through, giving his mechanics a unique, acrobatic look. With that kind of explosiveness, you’d expect more than 6.1 feet of extension, but the deception in his delivery appears to be doing more of the work than pure reach. His most-used offerings aren’t landing for strikes, aren’t generating whiffs, and are pretty hard. He will need to improve the outcomes of his flat 92 mph four-seamer and slurve to stay longer in his appearances.

 

What hasn’t carried over from Triple-A Reno is his trademark command. Through his first two starts with Arizona, Bratt has posted just a 58% strike rate and an 18% walk rate, a startling departure for a pitcher who had never posted a walk rate above 8% in the minors. OOPSY projects his control to rebound much closer to his historical levels, which he has been doing even in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. If that happens, it would significantly improve the outlook after a rough first six Major League innings.

Depth Charts projects him for one of the largest workloads among prospect pitchers, recognizing the opening in Arizona’s rotation. He should receive additional starts after the All-Star break, even with Michael Soroka returning. The Diamondbacks remain firmly in the playoff race, however, so Bratt’s leash won’t be long—he’ll need to translate his Triple-A command to the majors quickly to avoid a return to Reno.

 

10. Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Baltimore Orioles

2026 A+, AA Stat line: 86 IP | 2.30 ERA | 30.9 K% | 6.1 BB%

2025 NCAA Stat line: 91.2 IP | 2.36 ERA | 28.0 K% | 5.9 BB%

 

Joseph Dzierwa is a pop-up prospect who uses extreme torso rotation and low arm angle to sling the ball to home plate. Oh, did I mention that he is 6’8″? This gives him insane deception with a long arm action that plays up the horizontal movement in his entire repertoire. The Double-A pitcher only threw two pitches in the Futures Game, which happened to be 93 mph four-seamers that had over 17 inches of armside break. What?! The 2025 draftee is enjoying a meteoric rise after a few solid years at Michigan State and has easily put himself in the conversation for some time on the 2027 Orioles.

 

11. Zachary Root, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2026 A+ Stat line: 49.1 IP | 2.37 ERA | 34.2 K% | 9.4 BB%

2025 NCAA Stat line: 99.1 IP | 3.62 ERA | 30.0 K% | 8.3 BB%

 

Zachary Root is another 2025 draftee who is soaring up the rankings. Root utilizes a power delivery that drives a 96 mph fastball and 82 mph curveball with a big drop. This wide arsenal helped the big lefty strike out eleven batters in a recent game. Root does have a toe tap, glove tap timing mechanism that could be attributed to his low strike rate and rising walk rate. The 22-year-old former college pitcher could move quickly through an organization ladder if he were in any other organization besides the Dodgers.

 

12. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

2026 CPX Stat line: 2.0 IP | 4.50 ERA | 50.0 K% | 0.0 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: Did not pitch

 

OOPSY offers an aggressive forecast for once-promising pitching prospect, Ricky Tiedemann. When I say aggressive, I mean any projection because Tiedemann has only pitched two innings since July 2024 , and he was recently reported as receiving injections to quell an injured neck.

For a prospect with so little evidence to support it, OOPSY gives him the huge benefit of the doubt that Tiedemann would make a strong impact at the Major League level. With this latest setback stacked on top of the poor elbow health, it is hard to fathom that the Blue Jays have him pitch any more than his career high of 78.2 innings in 2022.

 

13. Ramon Marquez, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

2026 A, A+ Stat line: 49 IP | 2.02 ERA | 40.4 K% | 9.0 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 55 IP | 4.42 ERA | 30.3 K% | 7.1 BB%

 

Ramon Marquez is another pop-up prospect who is flashing major strikeout upside with a 40% strikeout rate and 23% swinging strike rate. The changeup is an unhittable pitch with elite horizontal break. Marquez also has a 94-plus mpb fastball and 88 mph slider. High groundballs and a solid strike rate support a rising star.

 

14. Christian Zazueta, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2026 A+,AA Stat line: 65.2 IP | 3.43 ERA | 36.6 K% | 5.1 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 67.1 IP | 2.41 ERA | 29.7 K% | 5.9 BB%

 

Here is another burgeoning ace for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Christian Zazueeta is a hard-throwing righty with a 96-plus mph four-seamer with a lot of zip and ride. He follows that up with a big-moving changeup and slider. There is major strikeout appeal from the 6’3″ righty in Double-A who also locates his entire arsenal for strikes. OOPSY gives little credit to his 2026 profile, so this projection feels a bit off.

 

15. Gage Wood, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

2026 A, AA Stat line: 55 IP | 3.44 ERA | 35.4 K% | 9.4 BB%

2025 NCAA Stat line: 37.2 IP | 3.82 ERA | 46.0 K% | 4.7 BB%

 

The hometown kid gave it his best shot at the All-Star Futures Game, but he came up a bit short. Gage Wood allowed one earned run on one hit in his one inning of work. Wood throws a 97 mph fastball with a low release height alongside breaking pitches with excellent spin characteristics. He has some minor issues with walks at times, but the strikeouts have been piling up in his short stints. Wood may be a premium college pitcher, but Philadelphia appears to be easing him up the levels as he is consistently working 60-70 pitches in a game. Even if he is in Double-A already, it would be hard to see him break through to the Major Leagues this season.

 

16. Riley Quick, RHP, Minnesota Twins

2026 A, A+ Stat line: 49.1 IP | 3.47 ERA | 36.1 K% | 12.7 BB%

2025 NCAA Stat line: 62.0 IP | 3.92 ERA | 25.9 K% | 8.9 BB%

 

The walks are a bit out of control, but this 2025 draftee is posting a ton of strikeouts using a 97 mph fastball and dynamite slider. The 6’6″ righty is now working limited pitch counts in High-A. Hopefully, he recovers fully from a blister issue he suffered in his most recent start.

 

17. Blade Tidwell, RHP, San Francisco Giants

2026 AAA Stat line: 57.1 IP | 4.40 ERA | 26.0 K% | 10.8 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 12.0 IP | 3.00 ERA | 21.3 K% | 6.4 BB%

 

Blade Tidwell continues to be one of the more intriguing “better than the results” pitching prospects in Triple-A. The raw ingredients are there, but they have yet to consistently translate into production. A change of scenery, however, may provide the reset he needs. Now in the Giants organization—and pitching in one of the game’s most pitcher-friendly environments—Tidwell has an opportunity to rewrite his narrative.

Before returning to the rotation with Triple-A Sacramento, Tidwell made eight relief appearances for San Francisco, giving evaluators another look at his five-pitch arsenal. His two standout offerings remain the sinker and sweeper. The sinker generates the ground balls expected from a pitch with that kind of movement, while the sweeper has emerged as his premier swing-and-miss weapon. The biggest obstacle continues to be the four-seam fastball. Despite sitting around 96 mph, the pitch has been hit hard throughout the season. Given those results, it would be reasonable to expect Tidwell to reduce its usage after returning to Triple-A. Instead, the four-seamer remains his most frequently thrown pitch, even during his encouraging three-start stretch. The results have improved, but the underlying batted-ball data on the fastball have not. If Tidwell hopes to earn another opportunity as a Major League starter, the next step may be rebalancing his pitch mix and leaning more heavily on the pitches that consistently generate weak contact and whiffs.

OOPSY projects Tidwell as roughly a league-average contributor across the board, which aligns with what he has shown in 2026. The flashes have been encouraging, but sustained dominance has been elusive. His best outing of the year featured seven strikeouts over six innings with just one walk, demonstrating the ceiling that still exists in the profile. That performance, however, came immediately after a start in which he issued seven walks, perfectly illustrating the inconsistency that has held him back.

The encouraging sign is that Tidwell appears to be trending toward more stable performances and fewer blowup outings. His most immediate path back to the Major Leagues is probably in a relief role, where his power sinker-sweeper combination could play up. Even so, Tidwell has not abandoned his goal of starting. With San Francisco expected to be active at the trade deadline and reportedly open to moving veterans such as Tyler Mahle, rotation opportunities could emerge in the second half. Already on the 40-man roster, Tidwell will be competing with Carson Whisenhunt and Carson Seymour for those innings. If he can better optimize his arsenal—particularly by reducing reliance on a vulnerable four-seamer—he has the talent to force his way back into the Giants’ rotation conversation.

 

18. Daniel Espino, RHP, Cleveland Guardians

2026 AAA Stat line: 21.2 IP | 4.98 ERA | 32.3 K% | 17.2 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 5.0 IP | 5.40 ERA | 39.1 K% | 13.0 BB%

 

Daniel Espino’s path may have shifted from future starter to high-octane reliever, but simply making it back to the Major Leagues is one of the better comeback stories in baseball. A wave of injuries kept him from pitching professionally after 2022, when he looked every bit like a frontline prospect, opening Double-A with a 51% strikeout rate and 6% walk rate across his first four starts. That trajectory was derailed, making his return to Cleveland all the more encouraging.

 

Now working out of the bullpen, Espino has strung together five relief appearances while showcasing the electric arsenal that made him such a coveted prospect. The triple-digit fastball is back, the 91 mph slider/cutter remains a legitimate bat-misser, and he has recorded multiple strikeouts in four of those five outings. There have been bumps along the way, as he has allowed runs in two appearances, but the raw stuff is clearly intact. OOPSY still flags command risk, yet it also recognizes the enormous strikeout ceiling. His 20% swinging-strike rate with Cleveland mirrors what he produced in Triple-A, reinforcing that his ability to miss bats has carried over to the highest level.

The biggest concern is the quality of contact when hitters do connect. Opponents have elevated the ball frequently, contributing to a troublesome home run-to-fly ball rate. Even so, Cleveland’s bullpen lacks another arm with the pure power of Espino’s four-seam fastball, giving him a realistic opportunity to carve out a meaningful late-inning role ahead of someone like Franco Aleman. Ultimately, though, the priority isn’t piling up saves or strikeouts in 2026—it’s proving he can stay healthy for a full season. If he does, the talent that once made him one of baseball’s premier pitching prospects still has a chance to shine.

 

19. Matt Wilkinson, LHP, San Francisco Giants

2026 AA, AAA Stat line: 64.2 IP | 2.37 ERA | 29.7 K% | 9.2 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 104 IP | 4.24 ERA | 26.2 K% | 10.1 BB%

 

If you’ve enjoyed Parker Messick’s ascent, Matt Wilkinson offers a similar archetype. Both left-handed starters attack hitters with a high-energy delivery and relentless competitiveness, though they arrive there with different arsenals. Wilkinson doesn’t have Messick’s velocity, topping out around 91 mph on his best days, which leaves him with much less margin for error. After a brief stint on the injured list with an undisclosed injury, he is also still building back toward a full starter’s workload. His latest outing was an encouraging step in that process, as he worked four innings with four strikeouts, generating a healthy mix of called strikes and whiffs.

The surface numbers paint an interesting picture. Wilkinson’s strikeout rate has improved in 2026, yet his swinging-strike rate has declined and his walk rate has climbed, suggesting the strikeout gains may not be entirely sustainable. Even so, one skill has remained remarkably consistent: limiting contact. Hitters continue to have difficulty squaring him up, thanks in large part to his 6.7 feet of extension and low release height, two traits that allow his modest fastball velocity to play above the radar gun.

 

OOPSY reaches a similar conclusion. The model projects limited strikeout upside and acknowledges the elevated walk rate, but also recognizes Wilkinson’s ability to suppress hits and keep traffic off the bases. At the moment, Depth Charts doesn’t project much of a Major League role for him with the Giants, though that outlook could change quickly if San Francisco reshapes its roster around the trade deadline. Like Blade Tidwell, Wilkinson is competing with Carson Whisenhunt, Carson Seymour, and Joe Whitman for spot starts during the second half of 2026.

At 23 years old, Wilkinson may currently sit lowest on that depth chart, but his profile still offers a path to the Major Leagues. Without premium velocity, he’ll need to squeeze every ounce of value from his slider and changeup while continuing to leverage his deceptive release traits. If those secondary pitches continue to disrupt timing and generate weak contact, Wilkinson has a chance to outperform the projections and carve out a role as another dependable starter from the Giants’ pitching pipeline.

 

20. Coleman Crow, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

2026 AAA Stat line: 41.1 IP | 5.01 ERA | 24.9 K% | 10.2 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 18.2 IP | 5.30 ERA | 11.8 K% | 7.1 BB%

 

Coleman Crow has been used as a stopgap measure for the Brewers this season three times already. Crow has a ton of spin on his pitches, with the curveball being his standout pitch. It’s not a strikeout profile, and there is bad flyball risk with all of the breakers.

21. Jonah Tong, RHP, New York Mets

2026 AAA Stat line: 66.0 IP | 6.00 ERA | 27.5 K% | 13.1 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 10.0 IP | 3.60 ERA | 14.9 K% | 14.9 BB%

 

We have to remember to be a bit patient with 23-year-old Jonah Tong. He may not have completed the ascension to Major League status, but he had enough skills to register some solid strikeout games there. This 2026 season is refining school as he is being asked to add a new pitch to his repertoire at the same time he is throwing from a new arm slot. You can read more about the progress in Ben Kafta’s piece. The outcomes are predictably erratic as it can be difficult to parse what is the result of tinkering and experimentation.

Nevertheless, Tong has a worse walk rate and is not displaying the same level of swing and miss as he had in the Minor Leagues in 2025. Hitters are actually teeing off on his entire arsenal right now, with a rising fly ball rate and home runs allowed in five consecutive games.

OOPSY projections are also cognizant of the high walk rate and deflated strikeout rate. Depth Charts also doesn’t see much service time for Tong, but that could change around the trade deadline with the potential departure of Freddy Peralta. Tong is definitely behind the lefty Zach Thornton, but has a 40-man roster spot that could place him ahead of Jack Wenninger. Either way, Tong needs to find a groove with the new delivery and arsenal before being considered a strong stash candidate again. If he has a few games in a row with improved swinging strike rates and low walks, then that is a signal that the new approach is starting to click.

 

22. Ethan Pecko, RHP, Houston Astros

2026 A, AAA Stat line: 64.2 IP | 2.37 ERA | 29.7 K% | 9.2 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 104 IP | 4.24 ERA | 26.2 K% | 10.1 BB%

 

Ethan Pecko was looking really sharp after starting the 2026 season late due to injury. Even in a limited time, he has shown a penchant for groundballs while posting a moderate strikeout-to-walk ratio. It’s also comforting that he has three fastballs and solid secondaries that are getting average swing-and-miss from hitters. Lately, though, the opposition has been doing more damage, and his outlook is not as promising. With Houston, the rotation is in flux, with Lance McCullers Jr. being traded away and Ronel Blanco looking like he is on his way back soon.

 

23. Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, San Francisco Giants

2026 AAA Stat line: 77.1 IP | 4.42 ERA | 23.9 K% | 10.8 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 10.2 IP | 3.38 ERA | 13.0 K% | 13.0 BB%

 

Carson Whisenhunt has a frequent rider pass for Amtrak’s Zephyr line between the Bay Area and Sacramento. He is currently back in Triple-A. Whisenhunt lives on a changeup with 18 inches of break that elicits big-time swing and miss. The four-seamer is being damaged, and something he may want to fade in his next big league cup of coffee.

 

24. Carson Seymour, RHP, San Francisco Giants

2026 AAA Stat line: 67.1 IP | 4.01 ERA | 20.9 K% | 10.1 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 4.1 IP | 14.54 ERA | 8.0 K% | 8.0 BB%

 

Carson Seymour is a tall righty with a six-pitch arsenal that appears to be heading towards long relief. He has started only one of the last nine appearances. There is moderate strikeout appeal, but he is still giving up too many baserunners via hits and walks to be a strong stash candidate until he turns it around.

 

25. Michael Forret, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

2026 AA, AAA Stat line: 79 IP | 3.30 ERA | 26.3 K% | 10.4 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 74 IP | 1.58 ERA | 32.3 K% | 7.4 BB%

 

Michael Forret was freed from Tampa Bay through an offseason trade, but poor control has weighed him down. The arsenal features three fastballs and his standout pitch, a slider with its 12 inches of horizontal movement. There is strikeout upside for Forret, who is now in Triple-A Norfolk, once he can rein in the command.

 

26. Tyler Bremner, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

2026 A+ Stat line: 34 IP | 4.24 ERA | 33.1 K% | 8.3 BB%

2025 NCAA Stat line: 77.1 IP | 3.49 ERA | 35.8 K% | 6.1 BB%

 

The practice of rushing prospects in the Angels organization may finally be slowing down as they chart a new path after firing their five-year-long general manager, Perry Minasian. The poor results from Christian Moore, among others, are a sign that there needs to be more substantive development and training for high picks like Tyler Bremner. The 22-year-old college pitcher got a late start to his initial professional season, but has been settling in nicely at High-A using his smooth delivery of a 95-plus mph fastball. It is unlikely that the Angels will push him this season, but 2027 is definitely in play.

 

27. Jonathan Santucci, LHP, New York Mets

2026 AA Stat line: 80 IP | 3.60 ERA | 30.5 K% | 12.1 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 117.2 IP | 3.06 ERA | 28.7 K% | 8.5 BB%

 

On the season, Jonathan Santucci is getting hit more often and allowing more free passes. Yet, he is locking in each subsequent month each start since June. As the league leader in strikeouts, he features a 95-plus mph fastball, an 87 mph frisbee slider, and a changeup. He may also be developing a sinker and cutter. This is another pitching development win for the Mets as he makes himself an option for the 2027 season.

 

28. Owen Murphy, RHP, Atlanta Braves

2026 AA, AAA Stat line: 81.0 IP | 4.44 ERA | 27.1 K% | 11.2 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 4.0 IP | 2.25 ERA | 28.6 K% | 0.0 BB%

 

Owen Murphy receives one of the highest innings estimates of the prospects on this list. This makes sense to me. Despite his injury history, Atlanta has let him go deep into games, even in his initial games back from the injured list in 2025. Murphy has a flat attack fastball with a big drop curveball as his best whiff pitch. Atlanta is expecting three starters back in the second half, but you never know what setback can occur for an injured pitcher. Murphy is the healthy pitcher they can start this month.

 

29. Hagen Smith, LHP, Chicago White Sox

2026 AAA Stat line: 52.0 IP | 4.67 ERA | 33.9 K% | 15.9 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 75.2 IP | 3.57 ERA | 33.9 K% | 17.6 BB%

 

The talent is off the charts for Hagen Smith, but the results have been inconsistent. The high walks may be attributed to his delivery style, where he appears to flick the ball to home plate. The former college strikeout leader now finds himself on the injured list with a shoulder impingement, jeopardizing what should have been his debut season.

30. Hunter Barco, LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2026 AAA Stat line: 40.1 IP | 4.91 ERA | 25.0 K% | 10.1 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 11.2 IP | 7.71 ERA | 13.3 K% | 15.0 BB%

 

Hunter Barco is the 30th pitcher on the list and has been a disappointment with poor control and modest strikeout appeal. The 6’4″ lefty, who throws from an extreme outside release point, has introduced a 93 mph sinker to his arsenal this season. Barco made a rehab start this past week after falling on the injured list for elbow discomfort in late June. The Pirates did bring him up as long relief for his Major League debut in April, so there is the potential that he gets another cup of coffee once healthy.

 

On The Bubble

Here are the next several pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list:

Carlos Lagrange NYY, David Sandlin CHW, Brandon White MIA, Joe Whitman SFG, and Jaxon Wiggins CHC.

 

Pitcher Stash List

 

Stash List Key
Stash now! Upside + Proximity
Upside Stash
Proximity Stash

 

Featured Image by Justin Redler (@reldernitsuj on Bsky/Twitter)

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