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
Coby Mayo returned to the Major Leagues after being sent back down to AAA following a disappointing stretch with the Orioles. Baltimore’s #1 prospect managed just one hit in 20 plate appearances before returning to Norfolk. He hasn’t lived up to his usual standard in AAA since his return, hitting just .222 with two home runs in ten games. Mayo’s value for the rest of 2024 is limited by his playing time, and given the playoff implications of the O’s remaining games, they may opt for experience in the lineup. Mayo is a high-upside bat who could produce solid returns if he’s given sufficient playing time.
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. Deyvison De Los Santos, 1B/3B – Miami Marlins
Deyvison De Los Santos has gone ice cold this week. In three games since the last Stash List, he’s gone 0-11 with six strikeouts. Over the course of the month, De Los Santos hasn’t played up to his usual standard. His wRC+ of 83 is nearly 40 points below his season number, and his 34% strikeout rate is more than 12% higher than his season rate. Despite the recent struggles, his body of work throughout the entire season has proven that he’s ready for the jump to the major leagues. 35 home runs speak for themselves, and for a team in transition like the Marlins, should be a welcome asset to the big league roster.
Miami lacks a clear power threat. Only Jesus Sanchez and Jake Burger have a higher average exit velocity than De Los Santos’ 90.7 this season. Both of those players are building blocks for a Marlins team that has been ravaged by injury this year. A slugging trio of Sanchez, Burger, and De Los Santos would be something to keep an eye on as the Marlins gear up for 2025, hoping to get back into the playoff positions. There isn’t a clear, everyday, player blocking De Los Santos’ path to the major leagues on the roster right now, so look for the slugger to get a shot at the Show in September.
2. Nick Yorke, 2B – Pittsburgh Pirates
Like De Los Santos, Nick Yorke has proven he’s ready to tackle major league pitching, and there isn’t anyone standing in his path to consistent playing time in Pittsburgh. Nick Gonzales is back from injury, but an 85 wRC+ and five home runs shouldn’t be seen as good enough to warrant displacing Yorke. Yes, Gonzales has dealt with injuries that have limited his ability to find a groove, and he was awesome in AAA, but Yorke deserves a run in the majors.
Since joining to Pirates organization from the Red Sox, Yorke has been a revelation at the plate. He’s hitting .367 with a 139 wRC+ in 25 games with the Indianapolis Indians. It’s not like this kind of performance came out of nowhere either, he had a 137 wRC+ in 38 games with the Red Sox’s AAA affiliate. Yorke is a legitimate contact-first bat, but he has some pop as well. Yorke has ten home runs on the season and has also stolen seventeen bases. He could blossom into being a 20-20 threat in the majors, but he will most likely sit in the 10-15 dinger range in the future. Yorke has emerged as a key part of the Pirates’ future and could find himself in the major leagues when the rosters expand.
3. Dalton Rushing, C/OF – Los Angeles Dodgers
Dalton Rushing has been on fire since being promoted to AAA. The 23-year-old backstop is hitting .324 with five home runs and a wRC+ of 157 in 20 games. Both his walk rate and his strikeout rate have improved since arriving in Oklahoma City, and while his BABIP is nearly sixty points higher than his AA number, his 1.035 OPS is more than good enough to warrant a conversation about a promotion to the majors. Rushing’s defensive versatility will also be an asset in the future. He’s primarily a catcher but has spent time at first base and in left field so far in his professional career. With Will Smith likely behind the plate for the foreseeable future, Rushing will have to find another way to get himself into the lineup.
With the Dodgers in the midst of a dogfight with the Diamondbacks and the Padres for the NL West title, Los Angeles will need all of the reinforcements they can get. Hunter Feduccia has been holding down the backup catcher role for now and has performed admirably in limited appearances (.333 AVG in two games), but Rushing has a higher ceiling than him and has the versatility to fill multiple positions. Especially after the rosters expand, Rushing should be able to lock down a roster spot for the final few weeks of the season.
4. Jasson Domínguez, OF – New York Yankees
Jasson Domínguez hasn’t been as dominant as he was when he first returned to AAA, but he hasn’t been bad by any means. Since August 22nd, he’s hitting .296 with four extra-base hits and four steals. On August 27th he demonstrated two of his best traits. He smacked a triple into the gap at over 110 miles an hour and went from home to third in under 12 seconds. Since returning to AAA, he’s posted an impressive 139 wRC+ and a .909 OPS. The sample size isn’t large, but the Yankees will need all the help they can get down the stretch as they prepare for the playoffs.
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been a revelation in the Bronx this season. The pair of sluggers have combined for 88 home runs to date, and are a big reason why the Yankees have kept pace with the Orioles in the AL East this season. Their spots in the lineup are locked in, and rightfully so. However, the third outfield spot has been a question mark all season. Both Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham have wRC+’s well below league average, and neither have been amazing in the field either. The Yankees need their best players on the field at this point in the season, and Dominguez continues to prove he should be on the roster.
5. Christian Moore, 2B – Los Angeles Angels
Christian Moore’s reign of terror among the minor leagues has seemingly come to an end. He’s come down to earth after an otherworldly start to his professional career. He’s now hitting a mere .330 with a wRC+ above 160 in 18 games at AA. Those stats are still incredibly impressive for a player still finding his feet as a pro. The major red flag with Moore is the near 34% strikeout rate he possesses. In his last five games, he’s struck out 11 times. Every prospect goes through some growing pains, so this isn’t cause for long-term concern, but it could affect his ETA this year.
I remain bullish in my opinion that Moore will be involved in a Major League Baseball game before the season ends. The Angels have consistently rushed their early draft picks to the major leagues. Whether this is an effective strategy remains to be seen, but both Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel have now found their feet despite struggling immediately after their call-ups. Schanuel was called up after just 22 MiLB games. Moore is currently sitting at 20 games so far. If the Angels stay consistent, the former Tennesee Volunteer will be up in the majors to start September.
Note: Christian Moore left Friday’s game with what appeared to be a knee injury. Moore was placed in this spot on the List assuming the injury is not serious and he will return to action in the next few days.
6. Matt Shaw, INF – Chicago Cubs
It’s now or never for the Chicago Cubs. The 2024 season so far has been a massive disappointment. However, entering the home stretch of the season, the Cubs are still only 5.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. It’s a long shot, but if something special happens down the stretch, there could be October baseball at Wrigley Field again. The impending roster expansion should allow Jed Hoyer to add some impact players to the roster. There is no shortage of potential difference-makers in Chicago’s farm system, but arguably the most viable option for both the short and long term is Matt Shaw.
Shaw has been stellar with AAA since his promotion. In 18 games since arriving in Iowa, Shaw has a 122 wRC+, with three home runs and stolen bases. His .254 batting average isn’t eye-catching, but when combined with an .830 OPS, it’s clear to see why he was named the top prospect in the Cubs’ system. Chicago needs to retool their core to prepare to compete for a playoff spot next season after missing out in 2023 and likely again in 2024. Shaw will have to compete with Nico Hoerner (FA in ’27) and Isaac Paredes (’28) for playing time, as his glove isn’t good enough to warrant displacing Dansby Swanson. With September around the corner, Shaw may be given a chance to prove his worth to end this season.
7. Edgar Quero, C – Chicago White Sox
Despite still being on the injured list for a back injury, GM Chris Getz said that Edgar Quero is still “in consideration” for a call-up. The 21-year-old hasn’t seen the field since August 13th, but before the injury, he was making a serious case to be called up before the rosters expanded. Fantasy managers in desperate need of offensive production from the catcher spot could stash Quero in hopes that he takes control of the starting catcher position in Chicago. For now, we will have to wait and see if/when Quero returns to the field. If he returns to full health in a timely manner, he is immediately the most talented catcher in the White Sox organization.
8. Kristian Campbell, INF/OF – Boston Red Sox
I had a heated debate with myself last week when deciding which Red Sox prospect to put in this spot. Roman Anthony won the battle due to the fact that he had more exposure to AAA pitching at the time. However, Kristian Campbell has proven that he’s worthy of a major league opportunity after his meteoric rise through the minor leagues continued upon his promotion to AAA. In his first six games with Worcester, he already has three home runs and has an OPS of 1.104. He’s posted a wRC+ above 170 at every stop in the minor leagues except one, a 14-game stop on High-A ball where he still managed a 132. Campbell has been one of the most electrifying players in minor league baseball this year, and projects as a possible 20-20 threat going forward.
What makes Campbell so interesting for redraft managers is his versatility in the field. He’s played all over the infield and the outfield. That positional flexibility is a massive asset for a team to take advantage of. Campbell’s combination of power and speed means that the Sox will have to find a lineup spot for him every day, and his versatility should make that task much easier. He’s spent most of his time in the middle of the infield, meaning that Campbell could be a part of the Red Sox’s long-term plans as one-half of the double-play tandem. The former Georgia Tech standout is a high upside add for redraft managers in need of some speed and power over the final month of the season.
9. Drake Baldwin, C – Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have arguably been one of the most unlucky teams in the league this season. They’ve dealt with injuries to most of their main core. Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Ronald Acuña Jr. have all missed significant time due to injury. Yet, the Braves remain involved in the playoff race and will likely be playing October baseball. The Mets, Cubs, and Giants are all still in the hunt, but they are all multiple games out of the position. Atlanta won’t rest on their laurels though, and they will need all of their strongest bats on the roster before the playoffs roll around.
Drake Baldwin is making a case to be one of those bats. The 23-year-old has a 137 wRC+ in 54 games with the Gwinnett Stripers. The offensive upside that he provides from the catcher position warrants fantasy managers taking a look at him, especially in two catcher leagues. Sean Murphy and Travis D’Arnaud are both veteran catchers whose experience will be necessary if the Braves make the playoffs, but adding another potential impact bat to a playoff team can’t hurt.
10. Colby Thomas, OF – Oakland Athletics
Colby Thomas returns to the Stash List following the promotions of some of the players ahead of him. The situation remains the same for the 23-year-old slugger. He’s been excellent at both AA and AAA this season and now finds himself in the top ten in home runs among all minor league hitters. Admittedly he’s struggled in August, hitting just .184 with four home runs. Thomas’ strikeout and walk rates have also been much less impressive since joining Las Vegas, but his season as a whole has been impressive. He could provide fantasy managers with some extra power and some sneaky steals during the final weeks of the season.
The A’s are far out of the playoff picture and will have to battle with the Los Angeles Angels to avoid finishing dead last in their division. It’s safe to say that changes are needed for the Athletics if they hope to return to the promised land of October baseball. Lawrence Butler and Mason Miller are two young studs to build around, and Thomas represents the reinforcements that could be coming the A’s way soon. Daz Cameron and Tyler Nevin should not be seen as roadblocks in Thomas’ path to the major leagues, and one of them will likely vacate a roster spot if he gets the call. 25 home run power should set off alarms in the Athletics front office, and promoting Thomas should be on the cards very soon.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five hitters considered for inclusion on this week’s list in no particular order.
Stash List