The Pitcher Edition of the Stash List highlights the 10 best pitching prospects likely to make an impact during the 2026 season.
With John away this weekend, I am taking a crack at filling in. The list may look a little bit different than John’s, but the same names remain at the top of the list. Kade Anderson and River Ryan are the two difference-making prospects that should be stashed in all redraft leagues.
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:
Quinn Mathews
Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash
1. Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners
Following the trade of Luis Castillo, a Kade Anderson promotion feels imminent. Anderson has been dominant throughout the season in Double-A. He has not allowed more than two earned runs since May 15. The Mariners front office recently stated that if Anderson is promoted, he would be used solely as a starting pitcher. The team does not have any interest in using Anderson out of the bullpen.
This news vaults Anderson’s stash value even higher. This means that if Anderson is promoted, he will be useful for fantasy. Although there is some debate as to how well his fastball shape will play against Major League competition, his results in the Minor Leagues are undeniable. Anderson should be rostered in all 12+ team formats that allow for Minor League stashes.
2. River Ryan, RHP, Detroit Tigers
No matter your opinion on River Ryan’s prospect status, there is no denying that he has plus stuff. Ryan flashed this stuff back in 2024 when he posted a 1.33 ERA across his first four Major League starts. His Triple-A ERA is skewed a bit this season from pitching in the PCL, but his impressive 22.2 K-BB% speaks to his talent level.
The prized piece in the Tarik Skubal trade, Ryan now has a much clearer path to a Major League rotation spot. The Tigers are welcoming back Jackson Jobe this weekend, but still have room in their rotation after moving both Skubal and Casey Mize. Ryan is the most obvious candidate to fill that other open spot. Ryan features a deep six-pitch mix with his fastball and slider being plus-plus offerings. His fastball is generating a whiff rate of 35% in Triple-A this season. Pitching in Detroit raises the floor on his fantasy projection even further. Ryan is a must-add in any leagues where he is still available.
3. George Klassen, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Note: George Klassen was promoted late this week to make his third Major League start on August 7. He was included in this list due to the fact that his promotion came after bi-weekly waiver runs, making him an impactful prospect add this weekend.
Klassen struggled in his first two Major League appearances this season. He gave up six runs in less than five innings. However, Klassen has been excellent as of late in Triple-A. Across his last nine starts, Klassen owns a 2.44 ERA. His strikeout rate is up, and his walk rate is down over that stretch. During his Major League debut, Klassen relied heavily on his changeup, which lacks consistency. Although a plus offering at times, Klassen lacks feel for the pitch. Since going back down to Triple-A, Klassen has shifted his focus to his slider. This is his best pitch according to PLV.
Update: In his third start, Klassen threw his slider 31.3% of the time and generated a whiff 37.5% of the time. He also lowered the usage on his changeup to 21.7%. Both of these adjustments are great to see and should make fantasy managers more confident in his value for the remainder of 2026.
The biggest thing to watch for his how Klassen is able to handle left-handed batters. In Triple-A, lefties slashed .253/.325/.412 off of Klassen, while righties slashed .237/.357/.369. There is plenty of relief risk in Klassen’s profile. However, his fastball sits in the high-90s, and his slider is a plus pitch. He is an intriguing streaming option with upside down the stretch in 2026.
4. Nestor German, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Although the Orioles were sellers at this year’s Trade Deadline, they did not move any of their starting pitchers. This continues to block Nestor German’s path to the Major Leagues. German does not generate the same attention as some other pitching prospects. Despite this, he has been very solid in Triple-A this season. Across 20 starts, German owns a 3.86 ERA and a 3.66 FIP. He has been especially dominant as of late with a 1.85 ERA across his last six starts.
German’s strikeout rate on the season is a modest 24.9%. However, there is a lot to like in his arsenal. All five of German’s pitches generate a whiff rate of at least 20%. His splitter and slider both carry whiff rates north of 35% this season. German’s fastball won’t blow hitters away, but he gets good rise on the pitch, helping it to play up. German is an underrated pitching prospect with good command and strong secondary offerings. He is a strong stash option, even without a clear path to the Major Leagues.
5. Brody Hopkins, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
There have not been many prospects who have disappointed me as much this season as Brody Hopkins has. Hopkins has some of the best stuff in Minor League baseball. His four-seam fastball sits comfortably in the upper-90s. His cutter is generating a whiff rate of 31.5%. That pales in comparison to the 40.7% whiff rate on his curveball, and the 56.6% whiff rate on his changeup. The pure stuff and pure potential are so good and so high. That is why Hopkins still ranks fifth in this week’s stash list.
The issue for Hopkins is simply throwing enough strikes. The stuff, which was good enough to get by in the lower levels of the Minor Leagues, is rendered useless against hitters who will simply lay off pitches outside of the strike zone. Hopkins is walking 21.8% of batters this season. That walk rate jumps up to 25% over his last five starts. Yikes. Could Hopkins be a difference-making fantasy asset? Absolutely. However, he is not giving the Rays any reason to promote him to the Major Leagues.
6. Jonathan Santucci, LHP, New York Mets
Jonathan Santucci pitched well in his Triple-A debut last week, striking out seven across four innings. The only issue with his start was the five walks he surrendered. Since being drafted in the second round back in 2024, walks have been the lone issue for Santucci. While something to monitor, this should not distract from his upside.
Santucci is extremely athletic on the mound. He has a smooth and easily repeated delivery. With deception from the left side, he is an extremely difficult at-bat for same-handed hitters. He mixes in a changeup and sinker to righties to help keep them off-balance. While neither pitch is a primary offering, they are good enough to allow his four-seam and slider to find continued success. With the Mets trading away Freddy Peralta, they have plenty of room in their rotation. Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger have struggled in Triple-A, making Santucci the most likely for a promotion. He is worth stash consideration as we head into the final weeks of the regular season.
7. Luis De Leon, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
Nestor German is the more likely candidate to earn a promotion, but Luis De Leon is not far behind. De Leon spent most of the season in Double-A, but pitched his first game in Triple-A last week. The 23-year-old lefty relies heavily on his mid-90s sinker to keep the ball on the ground and in the park. Although sinker-ball pitchers are not typically known for generating strikeouts, De Leon gets plenty of whiffs on his slider.
The concern for De Leon is handling righties. While his slider gives him an excellent strikeout pitch for lefties, his splitter/curveball lacks the same consistency. De Leon has held lefties to a .158/.262/.211 slash this season. Meanwhile, righties are slashing .262/.359/.431.
8. Owen Murphy, RHP, Atlanta Braves
The Braves never really seemed like they wanted to give Owen Murphy extended runway on the Major League roster. Murphy held his own across his three big-league appearances. In his three starts since returning to Triple-A, Murphy has posted a 2.08 ERA. Of note, Murphy has decreased the usage of his four-seam fastball since returning to Triple-A. In his Major League stint, Murphy threw the fastball 56% of the time. Recently, his four-seam usage has been 40% in Triple-A. He is relying more heavily on his slider, which, even though it was a small sample, did generate a whiff rate of 60% at the Major League level.
The Braves did trade for Tyler Mahle at the Trade Deadline. This makes Murphy’s path to a Major League return a bit more crowded. However, Mahle has dealt with injuries throughout his professional career. The team also has 35-year-old Martin Perez starting every fifth day. Also, both Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes are overdue for some serious regression. Murphy remains an intriguing stash option in deeper formats.
9. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Seattle Mariners
Ryan Sloan joins the stash list based on upside. Yes, the Mariners have a full rotation. Yes, Kade Anderson is ahead of him in the pecking order for a Major League promotion. However, Sloan has been every bit as dominant as Anderson as of late. Since June 13, Sloan owns a 1.44 ERA with a 30.3% strikeout rate. The strikeout rate is supported by Sloan’s elite stuff. Both his fastball and slider are plus (maybe plus-plus) offerings, and his splitter gives him a strong third pitch to attack lefties with. However, what really stands out is Sloan’s command. Sloan has walked only 4.4% of the batters he has faced and only 1.6% over his last six starts. There may not be a pitcher in all of Minor League baseball with better control.
The whole reason you stash prospects is for upside. Sure, the five players listed in the “on the bubble” section have higher odds for a promotion. However, none of them would provide the same fantasy value to your team as Sloan could. Sloan is a difference-making prospect who is worth stash consideration in deep formats.
10. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Chicago Cubs
The Cubs beefed up their starting rotation at this year’s deadline. Not only did they trade for Kevin Gausman, but they also acquired depth in Braxton Garrett and Clay Holmes. The team is also expected to welcome Edward Cabrera back to the Major League rotation shortly. All this to say, the path to the Major Leagues just got a whole lot more congested for Jaxon Wiggins.
To be fair, Wiggins has not pitched well enough to earn consideration for a Major League promotion. In five starts since returning from the IL, Wiggins has posted a 12.21 ERA. ERA is not everything, but his 23.4% walk rate is difficult to overlook. Wiggins’ command has been an issue throughout his career and has only seemed to get worse this season. Until he figures out how to throw more strikes, he is unlikely to find himself pitching in the Major Leagues. Wiggins still lands 10th on this list due to pure upside. He is a fine deep-league stash, but it will take multiple injuries and better performance by Wiggins to earn him a Major League promotion.
On The Bubble
Here are the next several pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list:
Hagen Smith (who was also promoted on Friday night, but is expected to pitch out of relief), Jurrangelo Cjintje, Karson Milbrandt, Jack Wenninger, and Tyson Hardin
Pitcher Stash List
