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The Stash List Week 2: Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash in 2026

top 10 pitching prospects to stash in redraft league

John Villavicencio
SP To Stash 4/4/2026

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 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 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 are poised to join their squads straight out of spring training: Luinder Avila KCR (Likely sent back down after he had his 2026 debut postponed on Friday), and Blade Tidwell SFG (Bullpen).

Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash

 

1. Didier Fuentes, RHP, Atlanta Braves

2025 MiLB Stat line: 57 IP | 4.58 ERA | 29.8% K% | 6.7 BB%

2026 MLB Stat line: 4 IP | 2.25 ERA | 36.7 K% | 6.7 BB%

 

After initially making the Major League roster, Didier Fuentes was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to be “stretched out” as a starter. The reasoning is a bit questionable, considering he already logged four innings in relief—similar to how many starters are eased into the season. A more plausible explanation is that the organization wants him to rebuild confidence in his secondary pitches before his next opportunity in the majors.

Fuentes’ 2026 debut was impressive: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB, with a fastball that touched 97.7 mph and averaged 95.8. During spring training and his lone regular-season outing, he leaned heavily on his fastball and slider. The 6’0″ right-hander posted a 40% strikeout rate on his 97 mph four-seamer and an eye-opening 50% strikeout rate on a near-gyro slider that averages 87 mph. Across 17.2 innings, he recorded 22 strikeouts to just two walks—mirroring the dominance he showed over 57 Minor League innings in 2025. His above-average extension and low arm angle create a low release height, helping his pitches tunnel effectively and generate weak ground-ball contact.

With fastball usage north of 60%, continued command will be critical. His 73% strike rate is strong, but at times the pitch can leak too far into the zone. The fastball’s effectiveness is helped by its low release height and average vertical break. He’s also introduced a split-finger fastball, though the slider remains his go-to secondary. It’s a true weapon—one he’s comfortable throwing both behind in the count and as a putaway pitch with two strikes. The key question now is whether Fuentes can carry his spring success into April.

Looking ahead, the Braves’ April schedule includes enough off days to limit the need for a traditional fifth starter. There’s no immediate scheduling pressure to force a call-up unless performance or injuries dictate it. Still, with Fuentes already on the 40-man roster, his return to Atlanta feels like a matter of when, not if. By the end of April, he should be built up to 80+ pitches, giving him a realistic chance to work into the fifth or sixth inning at the Major League level.

Track his results on Friday when the recently added MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect starts for Triple-A Gwinnett.

 

2. Robby Snelling, LHP, Miami Marlins

2026 AAA Stat line: 4 IP | 2.25 ERA | 20.0 K% | 13.3 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 136 IP | 2.51 ERA | 30.3 K% | 7.1 BB%

 

Even the strongest stallion needs to build up its gallop before breaking into a full sprint. Robby Snelling is off to a slow start after a mild opener for 2026. He managed to throw 66 pitches over four innings in an uneventful start. Unsurprisingly, the three strikeouts were on the fastball and curveball combination, despite a tick down in velocity.

Snelling really controlled the bottom of the strike zone with his four-pitch mix, which led to a lot of chases by hitters on the curveball, slider, and changeup. With a return to the higher velocity on the four-seamer in subsequent starts, we would expect to see Snelling raise the eye level of hitters by landing that pitch on the upper regions of the plate. The 44% zone rate and 61% strike rate are lows but should bubble up with better fastball command.

Snelling earned his way to the top of this list by demonstrating the potential to go at least six innings in every start with a strong K%-BB% rate. He will have to demonstrate that skill again to remain at this peak.

 

3. Payton Tolle, LHP, Boston Red Sox

2026 AAA Stat line: 4 IP | 9.00 ERA | 30.0 K% | 10.0 BB%

2025 MLB Stat line: 16.1 IP | 6.06 ERA | 25.7 K% | 10.8 BB%

 

If you only scout the stat line for Payton Tolle’s initial 2026 start, you would be aghast at the final line. He allowed six runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. Tolle chalked up six strikeouts on eleven whiffs with a strong 66% strike rate. The burly left-handed pitcher was squeezed out of the Major League rotation, and this outcome would seem to support that roster move.

In support of his future success, Tolle was the unlucky victim of two 2-RBI hits with two outs, poor defensive play, and a few ill-timed walks. In addition, his top four pitches generated multiple whiffs while pounding the zone for a 55% zone rate. The extension is still elite at over 7.3 feet, the velocity and movement are similar, and he finished his outing strong after the really poor third inning. It was a 1-2-3 fourth inning for Tolle, who also started strong with four strikeouts through the first two innings.

Nothing to be overly concerned about as we wait for Johan Oviedo to implode and create an opening for Tolle to grab. Note: Oviedo has been added to the IL with an elbow strain since the time of writing this.

 

4. Logan Henderson, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

2026 AAA Stat line: 3 IP | 0.00 ERA | 45.5 K% | 9.1 BB%

2025 MLB Stat line: 25.1 IP | 1.78 ERA | 33.3 K% | 8.1 BB%

 

Logan Henderson made his 2026 Minor League debut in relief work for the Nashville Sounds on Wednesday. This appearance reveals the likely plan to slow-play his innings, as he only had 103 regular-season innings in 2025. The 6’0″ righty did big things in his 45 pitches, dominating Charlotte with his four-seamer for eleven whiffs, 14 whiffs overall.

The velocity and movement were up a tick, and did so much damage that he barely even threw the changeup. It will be interesting to see if he gets a natural start in his next appearance, but expect the Brewers to build him up slowly.

Henderson will have to continue carving opposing lineups in the Minor Leagues if he wants to sniff a rotation spot. There are no schedule quirks that necessitate a call-up, and the Brewers continue to thrive with their pitching development.

 

5. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Chicago Cubs

2026 AAA Stat line: 4 IP | 2.25 ERA | 37.5 K% | 12.5 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 78 IP | 2.19 ERA | 31.0 K% | 11.5 BB%

 

Jaxon Wiggins is inching closer to starter material for the Cubs to consider after making his 2026 debut for Triple-A Iowa this past weekend. In this game, he had a more balanced approach, which signals a strategic decision to make his mix more starter-friendly. Wiggins was over 60% usage on the four-seamer in his short stint last season with Iowa last fall, but down to 50% against Columbus. This meant that his changeup and curveball saw more action, with the breaker not being effective in this game at all. The cutter is his second most-used pitch as he attempted to steal first-pitch strikes with it here. The main caveat to his pitch usage in this game was that he faced a lefty-heavy lineup, so let’s compare notes after his next game.

In terms of underlying measurements, Wiggins looks similar to where he was at the end of the 2025 season. He utilizes a tall, athletic delivery with a high release point. His mechanics are smooth through his throws with above-average extension. The main area to fix before his next appearance is making the curveball a competitive pitch that he can throw consistently. It was often buried in the dirt for an easy take.

Wiggins is not on the 40-man roster, so he will need to really shine to be considered for a call-up in the near term. However, as mentioned last week, the Cubs have only two relievers with a fastball over 94 mph. Wiggins would represent a significant upgrade to the staff and help preserve victories if they chose to use him out of the bullpen.

 

6.  Carlos Lagrange, RHP, New York Yankees

2026 AAA Stat line: 4 IP | 2.25 ERA | 20.0 K% | 0.0 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 120.0 IP | 3.53 ERA | 33.4 K% | 12.3 BB%

 

Here is the detective assignment we are tasked with early in this season: Can Carlos Lagrange repeat his delivery successfully enough to debut as a starting pitcher?

He uses a short stride, posting only 6 feet of extension. The knee lift is casual, allowing him to stay fairly balanced as he falls down the mound. The arm slot is fairly high, and given the minimal extension, leads to a high release point. This gives him a high downward angle on most pitches. And despite hitting triple digits on the fastball, he is not overexerting himself to achieve those marks. With 120 innings under his belt in 2025, reasonable expectations could see him add six more starts and push closer to 150 innings.

On Sunday, Lagrange battled through a challenging outing. He allowed plenty of hard contact and posted a below-average 57% strike rate. While the swing-and-miss was there at times, he generated just seven whiffs on the day. The encouraging takeaway: he didn’t issue a walk—a key stat fantasy managers will be watching closely all season.

The trade-off for that improved control was more balls in play. His 98 mph fastball, in particular, was hit hard, accounting for four hard-hit balls. There appears to be enough separation in his release point compared to his other pitches that hitters may be picking it up early. Combined with a relatively average movement profile, the fastball could become a pitch opponents look to attack despite its velocity. That puts added importance on his sweeper and changeup, which help stretch hitters east-to-west and keep them off balance.

All things considered, it was still a solid outing. Lagrange allowed just one run on four hits over four innings, throwing 68 pitches. That workload sets him up to handle four to five innings in the coming weeks, with a gradual build toward a heavier workload as the season progresses.

 

7.  Tanner McDougal, RHP, Chicago White Sox

2026 AAA Stat line: 4 IP | 2.25 ERA | 44.4 K% | 22.2 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 113.1 IP | 3.26 ERA | 28.3 K% | 10.2 BB%

 

I don’t really mean to pick one player over another, but I feel myself rooting for Tanner McDougal to be better first over Brody Hopkins. It’s partially due to my interest in seeing the Chicago White Sox succeed, but it’s also due to McDougal’s skills and easy velocity.

Matched up once again with Brody Hopkins, Tanner McDougal turned in the stronger box score in their Triple-A debuts. He racked up eight strikeouts on 16 whiffs, allowing just one earned run on two hits and four walks. The walks are the clear blemish, but they can largely be traced to an overreliance on his four-seamer as he struggled to command his breaking pitches. That approach nearly caught up to him in the third inning, when he put two runners in scoring position after surrendering two hits and two walks—but he escaped by dialing in the fastball at the right moment.

Command was inconsistent throughout. At times, he missed high, only to miss low in the very next at-bat. His delivery features a quick, snappy motion—likely a timing mechanism—but it also leaves him prone to misfires. He generates power with noticeable effort and tends to fall off the mound after release. To his credit, that finish is consistent across all pitch types, which helps with deception. Still, early on, a smoother, more controlled delivery—and more consistent zone rates—would go a long way toward unlocking his full potential.

 

8. Brody Hopkins, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

2026 AAA Stat line: 4 IP | 2.25 ERA | 33.3 K% | 20.0 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 116 IP | 2.72 ERA | 28.7 K% | 12.2 BB%

 

Brody Hopkins and Tanner McDougal look like natural comparisons—and they may be for a while. Hopkins stands 6’4″, McDougal 6’5″, and both feature similar pitch mixes, with Hopkins adding a changeup. Hopkins leans on a 90 mph cutter, while McDougal counters with an 89 mph slider. Each has shown the ability to miss bats at a high rate, though both can run into stretches of elevated walk totals. Stylistically, Hopkins profiles more as a finesse arm, while McDougal brings a power-oriented approach. That’s what makes Hopkins’ recent jump into the high-90s with his fastball so intriguing—it’s a potential separator that could push him to another level.

In another duel against McDougal, the 24-year-old righty gave Durham a solid four one-run innings on 63 pitches. Hopkins struck five batters on eight whiffs, primarily on a fastball and curveball combination. He was up to 99 mph on the fastball at times, but averaged 96 for the game with 19 inches of induced vertical break. His curveball doesn’t have the same drop as McDougal’s breaker, and it got tagged by the rapidly rising Sam Antonacci for a home run to start the fourth inning. Hopkins gave up all three walks in that same inning, and only a double play saved him from a much worse outcome.

Hopkins is more athletic and springier than McDougal. Pitcher truists would probably pick Hopkins as the more likely of the two to improve command. His delivery is much smoother, but he seems to still be learning the art of pitching instead of just throwing. His pitch chart reveals a scatter shot of pitches all over the place.

 

9.  JR Ritchie, RHP, Atlanta Braves

2026 AAA Stat line: 8.2 IP | 2.08 ERA | 20.5 K% | 15.4 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 113.2 IP | 1.43 ERA | 40.5 K% | 10.6 BB%

 

JR Ritchie profiles as a groundball-oriented starter, armed with a deep six-pitch mix in an organization that could use more rotation depth. The 23-year-old right-hander has generated over a 50% groundball rate through his first 8.2 innings as the primary starter for Triple-A Gwinnett. Groundball pitchers typically allow higher batting averages on balls in play, and there’s some concern that his stuff could be more vulnerable against Major League hitters following a promotion to Atlanta.

Ritchie throws from a low 22-degree arm angle, but doesn’t feature standout extension or velocity. His 93 mph four-seam fastball benefits from a low release height that enhances its vertical break, though it leaves little margin for error. Encouragingly, the pitch also shows 10 inches of horizontal break, and he commands it well. In his most recent outing, he posted a 73% strike rate despite being in the zone only 46% of the time. Generating a 36% chase rate with a 93 mph fastball suggests he’s sequencing effectively, and that his velocity may not limit him at higher levels.

Because his arsenal is designed to induce contact, Ritchie doesn’t project for high strikeout totals. He’s also issued three walks in back-to-back outings, with both the curveball and changeup flashing inconsistency within games. Most successful starters carry a defining trait; for Ritchie, it’s durability and the ability to handle a heavy workload. He has the tools to compile innings and counting stats by keeping hitters off balance, though his WHIP could trend higher as a result.

 

10. Noah Schultz, LHP, Chicago White Sox

2026 AAA Stat line: 9 IP | 1.00 ERA | 34.5 K% | 6.9 BB%

2025 MiLB Stat line: 140 IP | 2.64 ERA | 24.8 K% | 9.6 BB%

 

After ending 2025 on the injured list, Schultz is back with Triple-A Charlotte and already off to the promising start we expected last year. Even if the results come a year later, the 6’8″ lefty is amping up his skills as he sits on the cusp of his Major League debut.

Make it two brilliantly efficient outings for Noah Schultz to start the 2026 season. A healthy knee is helping him to repeat consistent mechanics. Over these first two games, he has thrown at least 70% strikes and created matching pitch charts that have a diagonal array of dots. Furthermore, Schultz is bringing the heat, pumping 98 mph in the fifth inning of his latest game. With three fastballs, two breakers, and an offspeed changeup, he has developed a formidable 6-pitch arsenal to take down both sets of hitters. With pinpoint command across 93 pitches so far, he is demonstrating that he has enough savvy to make tough at-bats for all hitters.

Time will tell if his strike-throwing ways benefit his ERA and WHIP. Being in the zone has its downsides, as he has allowed a lot of balls in play with solid defensive play supporting him. It will also need to be seen if he can continue posting a 34% strikeout rate and 15% swinging strike rate. Schultz is up to ten strikeouts over nine innings with only two walks and two hits allowed. Chicago is not in a position to rush their prospects for playoff reasons, but they did secure enough free agent assets that should motivate them to remain competitive in their division. Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Tanner McDougal represent upgrades at the starter position and would conceivably give them a better chance at competing.

 

11. River Ryan, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2026 MiLB Stat line: none

2026 Spring Training Stat line: 9.2 IP | 1.86 ERA | 33.3 K% | 11.1 BB%

 

With a quality clickbait headline that began “River Ryan Missing“, an outpouring of concern was expected. Yet, it turns out River Ryan was simply absent from the Triple-A roster to start the season. This report of the organization’s choice to keep him in extended spring training pushes out his debut to May or June, therefore making Ryan someone to track when he generates a game log, but a difficult stash.

An update later in the week announced that he will report to Triple-A Oklahoma on Saturday. Don’t believe it until you see it with your own eyes.

 

On The Bubble

Here are the next several pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list: Daniel Eagen ARI, Robert Gasser MIL (Had an impressive 11 K, but will wait for a repeat performance before stronger consideration), Quinn Mathews STL, Chase Petty CIN (Was absolutely shredded in more recent outing, he needs a full month of consistency before being a strong consideration), Connor Prielipp MIN, Elmer Rodríguez NYY, Kendry Rojas MIN, Hagen Smith CHW, Jonah Tong NYM (Really bad start on April 2 forced him off the top 10), Miguel Ullola HOU, Jack Wenninger NYM, and Thomas White MIA (Threw 44 pitches over 2.1 innings in a Single-A rehab start on April 2 after missing time with an oblique injury).

 

Pitcher Stash List

 

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Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire | Featured Image by Justin Redler (@reldernitsuj on Bsky/Twitter)

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