The Hitter Edition of the Stash List is back for the 2024 season.
This Stash List highlights the 10 best-hitting 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 prospects debut than ever, and there is no reason we should expect to see anything change in 2024. 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 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 will be updated weekly.
- Stats will be updated weekly for all players through Thursday’s games.
The Stash List
Graduates/Call Ups
No one from last week’s Top 10 list jumped to the major leagues, however, a few players on the fringes earned their debuts this week. Nacho Alvarez Jr. was called to the Atlanta Braves after a red-hot stretch with Gwinnett. Alvarez Jr. had a 160 wRC+ in 28 games in Triple-A. He walks at a solid clip and doesn’t strike out a lot. He also showed flashes of power in his swing, hitting all seven of his home runs this season after reaching Triple-A. The 21-year-old hit second in the lineup in his debut with the Braves, and will likely remain in the lineup while Ozzie Albies is on the injured list.
Brooks Baldwin was one of my favorite “under-the-radar” prospects to follow this season, however I thought he would debut in 2025. The former 12th-rounder was promoted to Triple-A on July 3, where he caught fire. In eight games, he hit .345 with two home runs and a 179 wRC+. So far, he’s taken over the reins at second base with the White Sox. With Chicago out of contention, it would be in their best interests to stick with Baldwin in the lineup and see if he can be a piece to build around.
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. Coby Mayo, 3B – Baltimore Orioles
There are no surprises here, Coby Mayo remains at the top of the Stash List for another week. The 22-year-old slugger enters the trade deadline period with uncertainty surrounding his future. There is no question that Mayo is ready for a major league opportunity, but with Baltimore deep in the playoff fight, they may opt to cut ties with Mayo to add another star to their roster. Over the past few weeks, the Orioles have been linked with nearly every “big fish” on the trade market. They’ve already made a splash, landing Zach Eflin and Seranthony Domínguez, and more reinforcements may be on the way. There is no guarantee that Mayo will end up in a deal, but it’s far from impossible.
As for Mayo himself, he’s entered a slight slump. In his last five games, Mayo is hitting just .188 with one extra-base hit and four strikeouts. In July, he has a wRC+ of 93, a far cry from his June mark of 247 (!!!). Comparing his current numbers with his June form is slightly unfair, as he put up numbers that you would expect from an MLB The Show player. Mayo slashed .400/.492/.891 with seven home runs in 15 games. While he’s come back down to earth since then, that shows just how dominant Mayo can be when he’s hot. The Orioles have spots on their roster that Mayo could take, but if he is traded, he will make an immediate impact for the lucky team that acquires him.
2. Jace Jung, 2B/3B – Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have an interesting young core of hitters in their lineup, and Jace Jung should join them soon. Justyn-Henry Malloy has posted a 115 wRC+ since his promotion, and Colt Keith has been on fire in July (six HRs, 208 wRC+). Riley Greene has blossomed into a legitimate power threat in the middle of the order, and Wenceel Pérez has laid claim to a spot in the lineup going forward. Still, some pieces on the roster should be seen as replaceable by young talent as the Tigers fall out of the playoff hunt. Gio Urshela and Zach McKinstry could see their roster spots become expendable if Detroit opts to see what they have in the farm system.
Jace Jung has been one of the crown jewels of that farm system this season. His .885 OPS ranks fifth among Tigers prospects. His Triple-A teammate, Dillon Dingler, is narrowly ahead with a .924 OPS so far. Jung possesses an impressive combination of power and plate discipline that should serve him well in the majors. He should fit nicely in the middle of the order among the Tigers’ young bats and provide solid production immediately after his call to the show. The one question regarding Jung is where he will play defensively, but his bat is strong enough to land him in the lineup every day.
3. Junior Caminero, SS – Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays’ top prospect has started slowly since returning from injury. Caminero missed the entire month of June with a leg injury that saw his redraft value diminish dramatically. In his first eight games since returning to action, Caminero has just five hits and has struck out five times. The encouraging news is that four of those hits have left the ballpark. The power stroke is back, and Rays fans will hope that Caminero will be launching balls out of Tropicana Field soon. There is still no question that Caminero has the talent to contribute at a major league level once he reaches that level, and his arrival could be accelerated by trade activities in the coming weeks.
The Rays are in a peculiar position as the trade deadline approaches. They sit at 50-50 and aren’t out of the Wild Card race yet. However, Isaac Paredes and Yandy Díaz are expected to be two of the most sought-after hitters on the trade market. A premium package for either player should convince Tampa to part ways with their sluggers and build on their solid farm system (No. 3 in MLB according to Bleacher Report). They’ve already sold Zach Eflin, so their position in the market looks like it’s more on the “sell” side. Should a trade occur, it would open the door for Caminero to fill the holes left by Paredes and/or Diaz. José Caballero and Taylor Walls are currently holding down the left side of the Rays’ infield, but neither should be seen as immovable objects in the field should Caminero come up.
4. Matt Shaw, INF – Chicago Cubs
What does Matt Shaw have to do to earn a call-up? Shaw battled back from an underwhelming start to the season to re-establish himself as the most exciting bat in the Cubs minor league system. In April and May, he still had a wRC+ of 114 despite a .229 batting average. Since June 1, he’s improved in every offensive category. Shaw is slashing .295/.369/.524 with six home runs and a wRC+ of 157 over the past two months. He’s also proven to be a threat on the basepaths. His 20 stolen bases are tied for fourth in the organization. Shaw provides a well-rounded option at third base for the Cubs.
Christopher Morel has been a solid power threat for the Cubs, but outside of his pop, he offers little other value. His defense continues to be among the worst at his position in Major League Baseball. Morel’s -12 outs above average is dead last in the league, six points worse than the next third baseman on the list. His power potential warrants the team keeping him around, but he cannot be relied on to play third every day. Matt Shaw is proving that he is ready to take over the hot corner at Wrigley Field, and should be in the Cubs’ lineup soon.
5. Nick Yorke, 2B – Boston Red Sox
Nick Yorke is another name that has been tossed around in trade proposals. The Red Sox have enjoyed a stellar season, and at 54-47, they find themselves in the mix for a Wild Card berth. The Yankees and Orioles have some daylight between them and the Sox, but the gap is closing. Boston has been mentioned in discussions revolving around starting pitchers like Jameson Taillon and Jack Flaherty, which would require a significant return. They landed James Paxton from the Dodgers, but he likely won’t be the last pitcher in the door. There is no guarantee that Yorke will be moved, but with the amount of middle infield talent in the Red Sox system, they may see trading the 22-year-old as a necessary evil.
Even if Yorke is not traded, he’s played well enough to warrant discussions about a promotion. In a stacked Triple-A lineup, Yorke has fit right in. In 35 games, he’s hitting .313 with six home runs with Worcester. His 141 wRC+ would rank him comfortably in the top 10 in the organization, among names like Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel. The Red Sox haven’t enjoyed consistent production from their middle-infielders this season. Adding a contact-heavy bat like Yorke to the mix could improve an already solid lineup. If Yorke is not traded at the deadline, look for him to make his Fenway debut soon.
6. Deyvison De Los Santos, 1B/3B – Miami Marlins
Deyvison De Los Santos became the first prospect domino to fall as a part of the trade market on Thursday. The slugger was traded to Miami in return for reliever A.J. Puk as the NL Champion Arizona Diamondbacks look to sure up their bullpen. De Los Santos was on the verge of the major leagues but was blocked at first base by Christian Walker, who has been one of the top first basemen in the league this season. He will be behind Josh Bell and Jake Burger at the corner infield spots in Miami, but his power bat will warrant an audition in South Beach before long.
De Los Santos immediately becomes the most potent power threat in the Marlins system. MLB ranks him as the organization’s top-hitting prospect, one spot ahead of another player on this list at No. 4 overall. His 28 home runs this season are far and away the most in the system, with the previous number to beat being 17. De Los Santos’ 155 wRC+ immediately sets the benchmark among Marlins prospects, and he will be hoping to build on his stellar season with his new club. The Marlins are officially open for business, and roster spots should open up as the Marlins ship contributors away.
7. Moises Ballesteros, C – Chicago Cubs
The Cubs’ backstop of the future takes the place of Owen Caissie on the Stash List this week. Caissie will be a contributor at Wrigley soon, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely that a debut will come this season. Ballesteros, his teammate in Iowa, has seen a meteoric rise this season that should result in a late-season audition behind the dish for the Cubs. A .299 average with nine home runs in 56 games in Tennessee earned him a promotion to Triple-A. Since then, he’s continued to mash. Ballesteros has already added four more homers to go along with a .856 OPS with the Cubs’ top farm team. With the big league club struggling to generate offense, Ballesteros should be considered as a late-season call-up to see if he can be a fixture in the lineup next season.
Cubs fans have been clamoring for Ballesteros at Wrigley Field for weeks now. The catcher position has been a black hole offensively all season. Miguel Amaya leads the club’s catchers this season with a 72 wRC+ and a 0.2 WAR. Tomás Nido was signed after Yan Gomes was designated for assignment, but he’s put up a 4 wRC+ in 16 games. Even if Ballesteros struggles out of the gate, he provides more impact offensively than either option currently on the roster. The Cubs are in a state of limbo as the trade deadline approaches. If they remain under .500, it could be time to see what the prospect pipeline has to offer. Should that situation arise, Ballesteros should be one of the first players called up.
8. Victor Mesa Jr., OF – Miami Marlins
Victor Mesa Jr. was first in the headlines when he signed with the Marlins after defecting from Cuba in 2018. He’s returned to relevance this season after some up-and-down seasons in his minor league career so far. 2024 has been his best season as a professional to date. His batting average is his highest since his days in Single-A as a 19-year-old in 2021. His power numbers have also jumped. Before the 2023 season, he had just 11 home runs. Since the start of last year, he has 31. Mesa Jr. is a very pull-heavy hitter, but his lefty swing is a thing of beauty. He’s spent time at every outfield position this season, so his versatility could be an asset as the Marlins once again look to build for the future.
The impending trade deadline could accelerate Mesa Jr’s arrival in the major leagues. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been the brightest star in Miami for some time, but he will be wearing pinstripes going forward after being traded to the Yankees. Trying to recreate his production is a tall order for a rookie, and replacing his popularity will be impossible in the immediate future. However, as the Marlins prepare for another offseason of their rebuild, giving young players like Mesa Jr. a shot in the major leagues should be seen as a priority.
9. Colby Thomas, OF – Oakland Athletics
Oakland’s No. 11 prospect has flown somewhat under the radar this season, but Colby Thomas has put up a solid 2024 season. The former Mercer Bear has 19 home runs and a wRC+ of 136 in 84 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Thomas is far from a perfect prospect. His walk rate is lower than you’d expect from a prospect on the fringes of the big leagues, and he strikes out a lot. Thomas’ Triple-A spray chart also shows that he pulls the ball on the ground a ton. However, some qualities are encouraging. His average exit velocity with two strikes is above 97 mph, and a 17.8% whiff rate would put him near the top 20 in the majors.
Oakland will once again be a seller at the deadline. One of their top assets this time around is slugger Brent Rooker. The 29-year-old outfielder has been linked with contenders in both leagues, and the Athletics have been no strangers to making deals over the past few seasons. The A’s have been said to be against moving Rooker, but they might be inclined to make a deal for the right return. Miguel Andujar has also put together a great season under the radar in Oakland. A team on the fringes of contention could look to acquire the former Yankee for a lower price than one of the marquee names on the market. Should either of these moves occur, Thomas would be next in line to audition for an outfield spot for the A’s. Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday have all but locked in their places for the future, and Thomas should be allowed to play alongside them this season.
10. Jackson Holliday, SS – Baltimore Orioles
As Matt Heckman said last week, Jackson Holliday is just too talented to not have a spot on the list. Yes, he struggled in his first time in the majors, and the trade rumors swirling around his name likely haven’t benefitted his performance. Despite all of the noise, he has put together a remarkable season. 10 home runs and a 151 wRC+ for a 20-year-old in Triple-A would be outstanding for any prospect, but because it is Holliday those stats are seen as par for the course. The same question marks are still present with the O’s top prospect though. Will he get a second chance at the major leagues? And will he play enough to make a fantasy impact this season?
Despite numerous publications proposing trade ideas involving the former No. 1 pick, it would be a massive shock if Mike Elias decided to include him in a blockbuster trade. It’s no secret that Baltimore is in the playoff hunt and will look to add pieces to their roster. Their ongoing battle with the Yankees at the top of the division will require all of the help they can get. However, they have enough depth in their farm system to make a deal for a superstar to happen without including Holliday. In the unlikely chance that Holliday is moved though, he could immediately contribute to many of the teams out of contention this season.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five hitters considered for inclusion on this week’s list in no particular order.
Stash List