The Hitter Edition of the Stash List is back for the 2025 season.
This Stash List highlights the 10 best hitting prospects likely to make an impact during the 2025 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 2025 ETA, and getting ahead of the curve on rostering these prospects is a key part of roster management. 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 2025.
- 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 (and Injuries)
With the rosters expanding tomorrow, most teams have slowed down their prospect promotions in order to save them for September. This article was posted on 8/31, so all September call-ups and roster moves will be addressed in this section next week.
There was one major promotion, though, as Jordan Lawlar was recalled to join the Arizona Diamondbacks. In ten games since returning to action after injury, Lawlar’s posting an .832 OPS with 12 hits (one homer) to ten strikeouts in 43 at-bats. If he’s able to stay healthy, that’s a good baseline of what to expect once he’s on the MLB roster. Lawlar is one of those prospects who may not have a standout tool, but he does everything well. He’s able to hit the ball for average (86% Z-Con, 41.4% Hard Hit in AAA in 2025), as well as showcase the 20+ homer power he possesses (113.3 max. EV, 33.7% fly ball). The speed won’t win him any stolen base titles, but he has 62 steals in 191 minor league games between 2023 and now. That’s 48 steals over the course of 150 games. He could slot right into third base, a position he’s played 20 times this year in Reno. If he does take over the hot corner, an infield of him, Geraldo Perdomo, and Ketel Marte could grow into one of the best in the National League.
Carson Benge will not feature on the list this week. As of 8/27, he’s yet to return to the lineup after getting caught in the hand with a pitch on August 15th. If he returns to the lineup sometime this week or early next week, he could return to the top ten. However, it makes more sense for the Mets to hold their top hitting prospect out of action and make sure he’s 100% ready to make a run at the Opening Day roster next spring.
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. Spencer Jones, OF – New York Yankees
It’s a nervous time to be a Yankees fan. A 3-1 series loss to the Red Sox drastically affected their Wildcard standing, but they recovered with a three-game sweep of the Nationals at home to get back within 0.5 games of their arch-rivals. They sit 4.5 games ahead of the Royals, who would be the first team out if the season ended today, but October baseball is far from secured with just under 30 games to play. In an end-of-season dogfight like this, every run matters. Luckily for the Yankees, they’re pretty good at doing that. They’re fourth in wRC+ (125) and fifth in wOBA (.349), but not everyone is pulling their weight. Rookie outfielder Jasson Domínguez has been struggling all month (79 wRC+, 282 wOBA), and he’s fallen out of the starting lineup in favor of Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham.
To be fair to Dominguez, that’s a hard group to break into anyway. However, when you have the track record Spencer Jones has this season, it at least warrants a conversation regarding how to get him onto the roster. The 24-year-old has put together one of the best minor league seasons in recent memory. Jones is the only player in the minors this year with at least 30 homers and 20 steals (min. 300 PA’s), and is in the top ten among MiLB players with a 162 wRC+. His 94 mph average exit velocity, in tandem with a 52.8% Hard Hit rate and near 40% fly ball rate showcases just how dangerous his bat can be. Critics will continue to point at the 61.4% contact rate and 31.2% CSW% as reasons to be wary, but Jones has legitimate 40+ home run upside. Will he be able to show it in the Bronx this year? It’s still unclear, but if he is called up, he immediately becomes the most intriguing waiver wire option available.
2. Sal Stewart, 3B – Cincinnati Reds
If you had told me a player who finished last season in High-A would be in the top five in the Stash List the following season, I would have predicted it would have been Jac Caglianone or Charlie Condon. Instead, the Reds’ 2022 first-round pick flew through the minors this year and could be rewarded with an MLB debut in September. Since arriving in AAA in early August, he’s been one of the best players at the level. His 173 wRC+ ranks 2nd among AAA players with at least 140 plate appearances, behind only Baltimore’s Jeremiah Jackson, and he’s in the top five in wOBA (.453), OPS (1.071), and ISO (.346). Some other names in that range include JJ Wetherholt, Saumel Basallo, Spencer Jones, and Carter Jensen. That’s pretty good company to keep for a player that hadn’t even reached AA by this point last season.
There have been so many occasions this season where a player has the talent to reach the Majors, but is blocked by solid production in his position on the MLB roster. That is not the case with Stewart. Reds players, while playing third, have the 4th worst WAR in the league (0.4). Ke’Bryan Hayes has been good since joining (0.5 WAR, 102 wRC+), but while his glove has been excellent (13 FRV), his bat leaves a lot to be desired (.290 xwOBA, 9th percentile in MLB). On the other hand, Stewart’s been crushing the ball (92.7 AVG EV, 49.5% Hard Hit) and is showing no signs of slowing down. He’s on a six-game hit streak, with five hits in his last three contests. Sitting at 68-65, the Reds need their offense to shift into high gear. Cincinnati’s hitters have been dormant this month (75 team wRC+, 29th in MLB). I won’t go as far as to say that Stewart’s promotion would get them closer to the playoffs, but promoting a hot-hitting prospect to a lineup in need of a spark can’t hurt.
3. JJ Wetherholt, SS – St. Louis Cardinals
Wetherholt’s promotion chances took a major hit this week after current decision-maker John Mozeliak informed the media that future-decision-maker Chaim Bloom was in charge of the promotion decision. While that statement didn’t offer any clarity or certainty to the situation, there seems to be a hidden message when you read between the lines. Cardinals fans have dealt with a frustrating year, and Mozeliak has long been a lightning rod for criticism. This quote felt like he was saying, “Don’t get mad at me this time, the other guy is the reason he’s not getting called up.” There’s no doubt that Wetherholt is ready; his 1,000+ OPS in AAA confirms it. However, there are always other issues at play with prospect promotions.
There are still question marks about where he will play (although third base remains wide open), and how he would get consistent playing time in this lineup. It would also start his service time clock, which is a financial factor for a smaller-market team. On the other hand, Mozeliak and Bloom know that Wetherholt is going to be a key piece for 2026 and beyond. He’s dominated AAA (170 wRC+, 9 HR in 31 games), and the statcast data is in his favor (91.1 AVG EV, 48.5% Hard Hit). Why not test him against big league competition? Then, he can walk into Spring Training with the necessary exposure and experience to make a serious run at breaking camp with the team. There’s still a chance Wetherholt is a part of the Cardinals’ roster in September, but Mozeliak’s comments lowered my confidence in that reality occurring significantly.
4. Travis Bazzana, 2B – Cleveland Guardians
To say “this season hasn’t gone to plan for the Guardians” would be a dramatic understatement. At the beginning of the year, they had hopes to be in the mix for the lead in a relatively weak AL Central, or at least in the Wildcard hunt. As of August 26th, they sit 12.5 games behind the Tigers, and well off the pace for the final playoff spot. The disappointment is evident on the field, too. Players are openly arguing with skipper Stephen Vogt in the dugout in the midst of a six-game losing streak. All around, the vibes are not good in Cleveland, and nobody from the team to the fans seems to be happy with the on-field product. While promoting a top prospect for a late-season MLB debut serves as more of a distraction than a solution, at least it would be a positive story for a team that’s been lacking them over the last few months.
The Guardians’ offense has been putrid this month. Cleveland’s hitters are combining for a 63 wRC+ over the last 23 games, by far the worst in baseball. Their .258 wOBA and -0.7 fWAR also serve as the doormat for the MLB. Meanwhile, their top prospect has a near 30% walk rate in AAA, a wOBA over .400, and a 141 wRC+. Bazzana’s production, while solid, may not immediately jump off the page, but the Guardians don’t need it to. His hit tool (81.1% contact in MiLB), ability to draw walks (54 in 70 games), and solid power (108.1 Max. EV, 46.2% Hard Hit) make him an intriguing offensive piece that the Guardians should integrate into their roster. The club’s future at second base is far from secure. Bryan Rocchio is playing there for now, but his 74 wRC+ and .299 wOBA shouldn’t be seen as a barrier for Bazzana. Expect MLB’s #15 prospect to make his debut next month before making a run at the starting job going into 2026.
5. Bryce Eldridge, 1B – San Francisco Giants
2025 hasn’t been easy for the Giants. After making moves to acquire Willy Adames and Justin Verlander, then trading for Rafael Devers, they’ve fallen into mediocrity and will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The good news is that the core in the Bay Area is under contract, and there’s more help en route to the roster soon. While Bryce Eldridge has been fantastic this season, his organization seems hesitant to call him up, which is why he remains outside the top five. Buster Posey said that he will “most likely not”reach the big leagues in 2025 because they want to keep him getting consistent playing time and ensure that he can “hit the ground running.” It’s a fair reason, and a route that many other organizations have taken with their top prospects. However, Eldridge’s upside warrants keeping an eye on him down the stretch, even if his proximity is more of a risk than some of the other names on this list.
If you needed any more proof that Eldridge possesses elite power, look no further than his performance on Thursday night. The 20-year-old took an inside changeup 470 feet over the right field wall for his 23rd blast of the season. While that homer was his longest of the season, it wasn’t his hardest hit ball. Eldridge registered a 115 mile per hour exit velocity at the end of June. That mark puts him in the same range as some of the biggest stars in our game, such as Julio Rodríguez and Mike Trout. While the power is elite, and will put him among the upper echelons of big leaguers when he arrives, there are issues to address. His strikeout rate is still a concern, and his 83% Z-Con rate is slightly below average. When you have the power upside that Eldridge has, you can afford to take the risks that come with a high-whiff bat, but that could be the difference between a late-2025 audition and a 2026 debut.
6. Kristian Campbell, 2B – Boston Red Sox
Spoiler alert: It’s the same old story with Kristian Campbell. The production in AAA has improved, and Boston has space on their roster to get him involved. However, the underlying data tells a different story, and the Red Sox will be as cautious as possible with Campbell to avoid another confidence-hindering demotion in the future. On paper, a .279 AVG and a .824 OPS would be things to celebrate, especially after Campbell’s rough first stint in the Majors. However, his average exit velocity (83.8 mph) and Hard Hit Rate (28.1%) are both towards the bottom in the AAA rankings. Those numbers are part of the reason that there’s a massive disparity between Campbell’s expected and actual production.
That difference likely weighs heavily on the Red Sox’s internal timeline for Campbell’s return to the lineup. The spot is there for him. David Hamilton’s 58 wRC+ at second base isn’t going to keep Campbell off the roster. However, Boston will not want to rush Campbell into a situation that he’s not ready for. MLB pitchers (obviously) possess elite stuff, and Campbell hasn’t shown the ability to deal with it this season. He’s managing to keep his production at an acceptable level against breaking balls in AAA (.421 SLG, .361 wOBA), but the expected numbers tell a different story (.188 xBA, .259 xSLG). He’s not hitting the ball hard (28.9% Hard Hit, 2.6% Barrel), which will be more damaging to him against better competition in the Majors. Campbell is undoubtedly still part of Boston’s plans for the future, but his 2025 outlook is getting less valuable by the second.
7. Justin Crawford, OF – Philadelphia Phillies
Fantasy managers, it might be time to move on from Justin Crawford. He’ll likely be on the September roster, but if the Phillies haven’t found a way to use a player like him by now, I doubt they’ll rework their roster to get him consistent at-bats in the last month of the season. Philadelphia seems content to stick with its current outfield four: Castellanos, Bader, Marsh, and Kepler. Weston Wilson and Edmundo Sosa could also see time in the outfield, but they shouldn’t be seen as barriers to Crawford. To his credit, Crawford is doing everything he can to force the Phillies’ hands. In his last three games, he’s gone 7-15 with two home runs and striking out just twice. Those two home runs came in back-to-back games, the first time Crawford’s ever done that in his professional career. While he didn’t showcase his speed on the basepaths, his 84 combined steals between 2024 and 2025 is enough evidence that he’ll be able to impact the game with his legs at the next level.
Crawford may not be able to match his recent power output in the Majors, but he does plenty of other things well at the plate. His zone contact rate (92.0%) and SwStr% (7.3) are both outstanding. While his Hard Hit rate isn’t elite, it isn’t too bad either (40.6%), especially for a prospect more known for his speed than his power. While Crawford does chase 33% of the time, he makes contact with more than 70% of those pitches. While that quality of contact may not be as good, his legs ensure that every ball in play requires the utmost attention from the fielding team. The Phillies will want him to cut down on his near 60% ground ball rate and start to elevate the ball more, which could make Crawford an even more valuable asset. For now, there are options with higher upside than Crawford for the rest of 2025, but he could provide some OBP and steal value if he gets consistent playing time in September.
8. Carter Jensen, C – Kansas City Royals
Kansas City isn’t out of the playoff picture yet, but a lot has to go right for there to be October baseball at Kauffman Stadium. As of 8/30, the Royals are three games behind the Mariners for the final Wildcard spot with series against the Angels and Twins on the horizon. Simply put, those are must-win games for Kansas City. The good news for the Royals is that their offense is on fire. Since the start of the month, Kansas City’s 115 wRC+ is 5th best in baseball, and they have a team OPS just under .800. The bad news? The worst of the qualified batters in that stretch is their franchise icon. Salvador Perez is managing just a 78 wRC+ in August, which is a far cry from his season mark (97). The 35-year-old backstop does have 23 homers, reaching that number for the fourth straight season, but his lackluster defense and slumping bat have made him a liability in the Royals’ lineup.
At the same time, Carter Jensen is thriving in AAA. In 41 games since being promoted from AA, Jensen has 13 home runs, a 1.023 OP,S and a 159 wRC+. That stretch would put him on pace for nearly 50 home runs over a full season, while producing solid contact rates (86.4% Z-Con) and a low chase rate (21.4%). His production is nothing new either. Jensen is the only qualified catcher in the minors with at least 19 homers and 10 steals. In 2024, he was one of 15 catchers with at least 15 homers and steals. After an adjustment period, Jensen could absolutely reach or exceed these marks in the Major Leagues. The only reason he remains outside the top five is the playing time concerns for the rest of 2025. That said, Jensen has the potential to be one of the more valuable catcher assets in fantasy going forward.
9. Jonathon Long, 1B – Chicago Cubs
You could make a compelling case that Jonathon Long would already be in the Majors if he were on one of 12 other teams around the League. Fourty percent of MLB teams have generated less than one win above replacement from their first basemen this season, including seven teams whose players have combined for negative WAR. Long would serve as an upgrade for all of these clubs, but because he’s stuck behind Michael Busch (2.3 WAR) and Matt Shaw (1.035 OPS since ASB), he’s relegated to the minors. Long’s made the most of his time there, though. He set the Iowa Cubs franchise record on August 24th when he reached base for the 35th straight game, and has already set career highs in home runs and RBI’s.
With a 134 wRC+ and .403 wOBA, you’d think those were some of the best numbers of Long’s career, especially considering he’s only recently jumped into the top ten first basemen prospect list (#7). In reality, these numbers are par for the course for Long. His best wRC+ actually came in AA last season, when he posted a 188 in 46 games with Knoxville. That was preceded by a 169 wRC+ in his first 26 games of pro ball after being drafted in the 9th round (!). All Jonathon Long has done since signing with the Cubs is hit, hit for power, and drive in runs. Since being drafted in 2023, Long leads the Cubs’ system with a .403 wOBA, 143 wRC+, and is second in OPS (.886), trailing only Owen Caissie (.902). That track record is deserving of an MLB audition. Long should get a call in September, and could be a valuable part of the Cubs’ roster in 2026 and beyond.
10. Joe Mack, C – Miami Marlins
The youth movement is underway in South Beach. Agustín Ramírez burst onto the scene and looked like he was going to make a run at the Rookie of the Year award. While his performance over the course of the season (.228 AVG, .306 wOBA, 93 wRC+) hasn’t lived up to the hype, 18 home runs and ten steals are nothing to be mad about. Jakob Marsee won’t have a robust enough resumè to receive ROTY votes, but he’s been white-hot since his call-up (190 wRC+, 4 HR). The Marlins are building a young offensive core to complement a pitching staff that’s going to be built around 21-year-old Eury Perez, and Joe Mack should be the next piece of that puzzle. Deyvison De Los Santos‘ power is intriguing, but he’s been underwhelming in 2025 (12 HR, 92 wRC+). Victor Mesa Jr. could also receive the call, and he’s been good in AAA, but he doesn’t have the ceiling Mack does.
Mack projects as a well-rounded catcher with the ability to make an impact on the game with his glove and his bat. He’s thrown out over 30% of would-be base stealers this year, and has just ten errors in over 600 innings behind the plate (0.14 errors per nine innings). Mack’s got sneaky speed as well, adding a career high seven steals this year. His best offensive attribute is his bat, though. Mack has registered 39 home runs in 221 games between 2024 and 2025. Over a 150-game season, that puts him on pace for 26 long balls as a catcher. His average exit velocity (89.1 mph) and hard hit rate (41.9%) aren’t in the “elite” tier, but for a catcher whose glove will keep him in the lineup, it’s good enough to warrant taking a risk on him. The Marlins do have Ramirez and Liam Hicks on the roster, and there’s only so many innings behind the plate to go around. However, moving Ramirez to full-time DH (or first base) and allowing Mack and Hicks to handle catching duties could be a way to get the most dangerous bats into the lineup as frequently as possible.
On The Bubble
Stash List
