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
Hayden Birdsong put up a stinker after the Giants cleared room in the rotation by dealing Alex Cobb at the deadline. The 22-year-old righty was destroyed for seven runs in two innings by the Nationals on Tuesday, giving up two homers and three walks. He entered the start with a 2.97 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 30.1 innings for San Francisco, so he could still be a major asset down the stretch.
Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller doesn’t qualify for this list since he is no longer a prospect, but it’s worth noting that the 25-year-old can be stashed after the Dodgers sent him down to Triple-A on July 10. Miller was scratched from his scheduled start for Oklahoma City on Aug. 2 with adductor tightness and has yet to take the mound since then. The 25-year-old righty struggled in his last start, allowing six runs (five earned) with three walks in 3.2 innings. There’s still a chance that Miller can get healthy and turn things around in Triple-A in time to rejoin the Dodgers rotation in September.
Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash
1. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Previous Ranking: 1
2024 MiLB (AA) stat line: 47.2 IP | 2.27 ERA | 28.6 K% | 14.3 BB%
2024 MiLB (A+) stat line: 9 IP | 2.00 ERA | 24.2 K% | 6.1 BB%
It was looking like Jackson Jobe would bully his way to Detroit when he came out of the All-Star break with six hitless innings in Double-A to lower his ERA to 1.38 for Erie. Things have hit a snag over his past three starts as the 22-year-old has struggled with his control, walking 12 batters in 15 innings. Meanwhile, the Tigers have fallen further out of playoff contention, so there’s no urgency to get their top prospect up to the majors.
One thing working for those stashing Jobe is that he’s only at 56.2 innings, so the Tigers will likely want to keep building up his workload through September. Jobe tossed 64 innings in the minors last season and added on 15.2 frames in the Arizona Fall League, so the target for this year is likely in the 100-120 range. Jobe needs to iron out the control problems and reach Triple-A in the next week or two so that we can dream of the No. 1 pitching prospect giving us a full month in the majors to finish the season. There’s Paul Skenes-type upside here, so Jobe is still worth stashing as a possible difference-maker down the stretch.
2. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Previous Ranking: 4
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 7 IP | 0.00 ERA | 25.0 K% | 4.2 BB%
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 80.1 IP | 3.70 ERA | 29.4 K% | 8.1 BB%
Bubba Chandler sparkled in his Triple-A debut on Friday, allowing just two hits in seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts and one walk. The 21-year-old righty dominated with his four-seam fastball, generating 11 whiffs in 36 pitches and averaging 97.2 mph. Chandler used his slider to get called strikes – 14 of them on 34 pitches to be exact.
Chandler is at 87.1 innings this season after 111 frames last year, so there could be about 45 innings left in his arm this season. If the Pirates hope to stay in contention for a wild-card spot, it may be time to give themselves a shot in the arm with a Chandler call-up. At the very least, the Pirates could give their fans something to spend the offseason getting excited about if they could see Chandler, Paul Skenes and Jared Jones fronting their rotation down the stretch.
3. Brandon Sproat, RHP, New York Mets
Previous Ranking: 5
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 4.2 IP | 11.57 ERA | 16.7 K% | 12.5 BB%
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 62.1 IP | 2.45 ERA | 35.6 K% | 5.3 BB%
2024 MiLB (A+) Stat line: 25.1 IP | 1.07 ERA | 32.4 K% | 15.7 BB%
Brandon Sproat got the bump to Triple-A coming off recording 13 strikeouts in five scoreless innings in Double-A. The 23-year-old started out with two scoreless innings in his debut on Thursday, but it was all downhill from there. Sproat was hammered for six runs in the third inning, powered by two homers and a walk. He allowed seven hits, six runs and three walks in 4.2 innings.
If Sproat can bounce back over his next few starts, there’s still a decent chance he can reach New York by September. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder hits triple-digits with his fastball and has the kind of top-of-the-rotation stuff that the Mets could use at the front of their rotation. Having issued just 15 walks in 62.1 innings in Double-A, Sproat looks like he’s fixed the control issues that made him last until the second round in last year’s draft. Sproat tossed 106.1 innings in college last year, so he could still have around 40 frames left in his powerful right arm this season. That’s just enough to dream of Sproat becoming a September difference-maker.
4. Zebby Matthews, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Previous Ranking: 6
2024 MiLB (AAA) stat line: 19 IP | 5.68 ERA | 28.4 K% | 1.2 BB%
2024 MiLB (AA) stat line: 55.1 IP | 1.95 ERA | 30.1 K% | 2.9 BB%
2024 MiLB (A+) stat line: 22.2 IP | 1.59 ERA | 33.3 K% | 0.0 BB%
Zebby Matthews finally walked a batter in Triple-A! The 24-year-old control artist put up an 18-0 K-BB in 14 innings over his first three starts for St. Paul, but he had been touched for 22 hits, three homers and 11 runs. He allowed one walk on Thursday but gave up just two hits and one run in five innings. Maybe he needs to work out of the zone a bit more.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder has compiled an amazing 114-7 K-BB in 97 innings across three levels this season. As Matthews continues refining his approach to Triple-A hitters, he could be an option to join the Twins if David Festa struggles at the back of the rotation or if an injury occurs. It’s a crapshoot whether Matthews can reach Minnesota in time to help fantasy managers, but he could be a WHIP weapon with a good chance for wins on a contender down the stretch.
5. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Previous Ranking: 3
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 3 IP | 6.00 ERA | 21.4 K% | 21.4 BB%
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 79.2 IP | 3.50 ERA | 30.3 K% | 14.4 BB%
Jacob Misiorowski finally reached Triple-A last week, but the Brewers may be transitioning the 6-foot-7 flamethrower to the bullpen. The 22-year-old lasted just one inning in his first start for Nashville last Saturday, allowing three walks and two runs while throwing just 18 strikes on 39 pitches. Misiowowski came back on just three days’ rest on Friday and went just two innings, but at least he didn’t walk anybody.
There’s been no announcement that Misiorowski’s moving to the bullpen yet, so let’s see what he does next time out. The Brewers could be pulling back a bit on the workload to save some of his innings to give the staff a boost in September.
6. AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Previous Ranking: 8
2024 MLB Stat line: 4.1 IP | 0.00 ERA | 22.2 K% | 11.1 BB%
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 46.2 IP | 5.40 ERA | 27.5 K% | 12.3 BB%
2024 MiLB (A+) Stat line: 2 IP | 4.50 ERA | 57.1 K% | 0.0 BB%
AJ Smith-Shawver is working his way back into form after having his season interrupted by a strained left oblique on May 23. AJSS lasted 79 pitches in his last start on Sunday coming off 84 pitches in his previous outing. The 21-year-old has yet to get through five innings in five starts since returning to action in July, so he needs to get more efficient to get a call to Atlanta.
The Braves are patching it together in their injury-ravaged rotation with 28-year-old rookie Grant Holmes filling the fifth spot for now. The door is open for AJSS to get starts for the Braves as they try to chase down the Phillies in the NL East in the final two months.
7. Cade Povich, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MLB Stat line: 37.1 IP | 6.27 ERA | 14.3 K% | 13.1 BB%
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 70.2 IP | 3.31 ERA | 30.2 % | 8.4 BB%
Cade Povich struggled mightily in eight starts for Baltimore this summer, posting a 6.27 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with a 25-23 K-BB in 37.1 innings. The 24-year-old southpaw was sent back to Triple-A after the Orioles fortified their rotation at the trade deadline by acquiring Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers. Povich picked up where he left off for Norfolk, tossing seven innings with three hits and two runs allowed on Sunday.
The Orioles really want to have a solid left-hander in their rotation to take advantage of the spacious left-field at Camden Yards, but John Means was lost to Tommy John surgery and Cole Irvin cleared waivers on his way down to Norfolk. If Rogers continues to struggle (6.75 ERA in first two starts for O’s), Povich could get another shot by the end of August.
8. Ian Seymour, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 15 IP | 2.40 ERA | 25.8 K% | 4.5 BB%
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 91.1 IP | 2.36 ERA | 28.3 K% | 6.3 BB%
Ian Seymour has to be one of the most unsung pitching prospects around, combining for a 2.37 ERA and 0.89 between Double- and Triple-A this season. The 25-year-old southpaw hasn’t skipped a beat since coming up to Durham, posting a 2.40 ERA with a 17-3 K-BB in 15 innings over three starts. There is room in the Rays rotation for Seymour to get an audition down the stretch for 2025.
Seymour gets by with a lot of funk and deception, so he could wind up one of those classic Rays swingmen, a la Ryan Yarbrough. But Jeffrey Springs was one of those funky lefties too, and he looked like he was breaking out last year before succumbing to Tommy John surgery. At this point in the list, we’re starting to get into long shots to have an impact in ’24, but it could be worth a roll of the dice if you have room to stash.
9. Tink Hence, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 62.2 IP | 3.16 ERA | 33.9 K% | 7.9 BB%
Tink Hence missed a month while dealing with shoulder and chest tightness, but he’s back and building up his pitch count. The 22-year-old righty was up to 54 pitches on Thursday, striking out five with one hit allowed in 3.2 innings for Double-A Springfield. Hence is at 62.2 innings after reaching 96 IP last year, so the Cardinals are going to want to pile some innings up on him down the stretch if he’s fully healthy.
Considering that he’s still building up in Double-A, it could be just a few starts in St. Louis to finish the season by the time he’s ready for a call-up. Hence’s stellar 86-20 K-BB in 62.2 IP shows the type of ceiling that we want to be stashing for a shot at big rewards to close out the season.
10. Caden Dana, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Previous Ranking: 9
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 118 IP | 2.75 ERA | 27.3 K% | 7.3 BB%
Caden Dana may just be the hottest pitcher in the minors, coming off 6.2 scoreless innings on Thursday in Double-A. The 20-year-old right-hander has a 39-4 K-BB with a 1.90 ERA in 33.2 innings over his past five starts for the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder bears an uncanny resemblance to Noah Syndergaard with his flowing blonde locks, although he doesn’t have the same 100-mph velocity that Thor had before Tommy John surgery sapped his stuff.
Dana is up to 118 innings after reaching just 68.1 last season, so we may be coming up on a shutdown for the Angels’ top pitching prospect. But the Angels are known for being aggressive with their prospects and may want to give their fans something to be excited for as the season winds down. It could be worth a quick stash to see if the Angels bring him up to L.A. to finish off whatever his innings cap is in the majors.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list: Cade Horton, CHC; Landon Knack, LAD; Justin Wrobleski, LAD; Will Warren, NYY; Doug Nikhazy, CLE