Welcome to the final edition of the 2025 Hitter Stash List. 24 weeks and dozens of promotions later, it’s time to take a look at the last ten prospects who could break out in the last three weeks of the regular 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)
The Reds did it! They finally called up Sal Stewart after a dominant season between AA and AAA. The 21-year-old only has two games under his belt at the time of writing, but he’s recorded a hit in both of those contests and scored the winning run against the Blue Jays on Monday. The power hasn’t materialized yet (0 XBH, .221 wOBA), but his average exit velocity (91.6 mph) indicates it’s coming. Stewart’s a valuable stash for any fantasy manager. Once he gets settled into the Majors, the offensive production he showcased in the minors will reappear.
The Royals also called up one of their top hitting prospects in Carter Jensen. As discussed when he featured on this list, his path to playing time is more unclear than other names. So far, since his call-up last weekend, he’s only recorded one at bat (as of 9/3). For obvious reasons, that sample size is way too small to draw any meaningful conclusions about what the rest of the season may hold for him. Jensen’s catcher eligibility and 50-grade power make him a worthy stash, but his playing time concerns keep him out of the “can’t miss” tier of waiver adds.
Similar to Jensen, Harry Ford’s arrival in Seattle could spell value for fantasy purposes. The 23-year-old catcher mashed 16 home runs in 97 games before getting the call to join the Mariners. He’s also one of three catchers above AA to have a walk rate higher than 15% and a strikeout rate below 20%. That, in tandem with an 85.4% Z-Con rate and 25.3% CSW, represents a safe offensive floor. The problem will be finding consistent playing time. The guy playing catcher in Seattle is pretty good. Ford will likely mix in on Cal Raleigh’s off days and spend time at DH.
The Guardians called up George Valera after a 28-game stint in AAA following a long recovery from a torn patellar tendon last season. The 24-year-old lit up the Complex League with a 193 wRC+ in 16 games, then continued to show offensive potential in Columbus. He posted an .803 OPS and .358 wOBA with the Clippers, which aren’t elite marks, but they’re far from the worst-case scenario. Considering Cleveland’s offensive struggles and lack of production in the outfield, Valera should get plenty of opportunities down the stretch this season. He’s an underrated waiver add, but is likely nothing more than a rotational option for fantasy managers.
The Pirates recalled Nick Yorke to their active roster for his second stint in the Majors. He joins the team after an underwhelming season in AAA (7 HR, 17 SB, 103 wRC+), but has a track record of hitting for average with the ability to add a homer every once in a while. Yorke’s defensive versatility will also be an asset to a Pirates roster that has holes in both the infield and the outfield. Yorke’s ceiling is dramatically lower than any other name on this list, but he’s a safe floor that can play a ton of positions. Fantasy managers in need of a player like that should consider adding Yorke to their bench for the end of the year.
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. JJ Wetherholt, SS – St. Louis Cardinals
Wetherholt finds himself in a similar predicament to SpencerJones. There’s no question that Wetherholt has the talent to contribute at the MLB level, and he’s shown the ability to handle a jump in competition level over the course of 2025. However, St. Louis is not in dire need of help in the infield and could hold the opinion that a full spring training with the MLB club could better prepare Wetherholt for the 2026 season. Taking away that factor, the offensive floor that the 23-year-old possesses makes him one of the safest stashes of the season. Wetherholt will hit in the .260-.280 range with plus pop and the ability to snag extra bases via steals. That profile, with the track record of success this year, would get him to the Majors with many other organizations. However, due to the turmoil at the top of the organization and the crowded infield, he may be resigned to a 2026 debut.
That’s a real shame, because Wetherholt has been nothing short of outstanding this year. He’s dominated both AA and AAA this year and should be rewarded with a shot against the best of the best. Despite only being with the Memphis Redbirds for 38 games, he ranks fifth on the team in home runs and eighth in steals. His 163 wRC+ sits in third, behind two Major Leaguers in Yohel Pozo and Iván Herrera. The batted ball data (91.2 AVG EV, 50% Hard Hit) and plate approach numbers (22.2% chase, 80.5% contact) are excellent as well. Wetherholt is one of the rare cases in which it’s tough to find a flaw in his game in terms of fantasy production. His defensive home is still up in the air, but he has the versatility to play anywhere across the infield. With Masyn Winn at short, Brendan Donovan at second, and the uncertainty around Nolan Arenado’s future lingering, third base will likely be Wetherholt’s spot going forward.
2. Spencer Jones, OF – New York Yankees
Keeping Jones in a top-three spot this week felt almost paradoxical. The 24-year-old has been bad in August. Jones is hitting .175 since the start of last month, and has struck out in over 40% of his at-bats during that 31-game period. That’s simply not good enough to make it to the Majors. However, over half of his 13 hits in that span were for extra bases, including three home runs. Jones is a dangerous bat whenever he’s in the lineup, but he also has the tendency to go cold for periods, and the strikeout issues take over. That issue is not impossible to overcome. Even with a high strikeout rate, his power poses a threat to opposing pitchers, which is valuable to have in the lineup. There’s no question, Jones has not been good as of late. That said, when you look at the rest of the list in terms of 2025 impact, there aren’t many that pose as much upside as Jones does.
Whether or not Jones will find consistent playing time in the outfield remains the biggest question mark regarding his 2025 value. However, if he does find a way to get into the Yankees’ lineup every day, he immediately becomes an incredibly valuable waiver wire add. Over a full season, Jones can conceivably get to 35-40 home runs. Over the span of a couple of weeks, that number may only be four or five, but that could be the difference in the business end of fantasy seasons. Keep a close eye on Jones and snap him up the moment he’s added to the MLB roster, if he ever is.
3. Travis Bazzana, 2B – Cleveland Guardians
On paper, a .776 OPS and .367 wOBA are a clear tier below the production of some of the other names on this list. Travis Bazzana has been solid, but he hasn’t set the world on fire during his first full professional season. Part of that could be due to a mid-season injury, as he missed all of June with an oblique strain. Since returning, he’s hit just one home run and posted a 124 wRC+ in 43 games. Much of that second number is due to the incredible patience and discipline Bazzana showcases at the plate. In those 43 games, he walked 40 times (20.9%) and registered just 41 strikeouts. His 7.5% SwStr, in tandem with a chase rate under 12%, are both excellent numbers for a first-year pro to possess. When Bazzana decides to swing, it’s usually solid contact (13.5% barrel, 90th percentile), even if he doesn’t possess elite power like some others on this list (89.3 AVG EV, 40.5% Hard Hit).
Bazzana’s fantasy value falls a tier below the elite prospects that have featured on this list (Basallo, Anthony), but he can still be an asset to managers due to his OBP upside and above-average power. In terms of 2025 impact, that comes down to the aggressiveness of the Guardians. Cleveland hasn’t fast-tracked any of their top hitting prospects this year. C.J. Kayfus was on this list for months before he got the call, and Chase DeLauter was struck with the injury bug before he had a chance to make his debut. Considering Bazzana has the pedigree and name recognition of a former #1 overall pick, there may be more fan pressure to promote him than there was for Kayfus or DeLauter (and there was plenty for both of them). I’d be surprised if Cleveland didn’t give their top prospect at least some time in the Majors before the end of 2025.
4. Bryce Eldridge, 1B – San Francisco Giants
Fantasy managers in need of power should be very intrigued by Eldridge despite Posey’s comments last week indicating he likely will not be promoted. His power potential cannot be understated, and the risk of not being able to see it in 2025 is worth the possible reward that comes with his promotion (in my opinion). Eldridge’s swing is a thing of beauty, and his frame ensures that when he gets hold of one, they go a long way. There’s a legitimate reason to believe that he could exceed the 40-homer mark in the Majors, albeit with a fair amount of risk. Like many other prospects/players with elite power, he can often sell out for that power, which leads to swing and miss issues. Eldridge’s strikeout rate in AAA still sits above 31%, and his 14.3% SwStr is much higher than the AAA average.
Eldridge will likely begin 2026 in the top five on this list due to that power and despite the swing-and-miss issues. San Francisco’s depth at first base has been a question mark this season, and Eldridge seems primed to step into that role next year. A lineup featuring Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, and Eldridge in the middle of the order gives the Giants something to build on for the next few years. If I were in Posey’s shoes, I’d lean towards giving Eldridge a chance to face MLB competition be be better prepared to truly take over a roster spot next season. That may be biased, though, as I’ve watched Eldridge all year and written about him almost every week. I am also never going to claim that I’m smarter than a 7x MLB All-Star. Still, Eldridge has little more to prove in the minors and should be rewarded with a late-season run with the team.
5. Carson Benge, OF – New York Mets
I said last week that Benge would have to return to the lineup almost immediately after injury caused him to miss almost two weeks. Well, he’s back and celebrated his return with a home run in his second game since being activated. He’s been quiet since (1-7 in two games), but it’s encouraging to see him back on the field. Considering how close we are to the end of the season, the Mets could have kept Benge out of action to ensure he’s 100% healthy next year. The fact that they plugged him back in so soon after being hurt indicates that he could be part of the Mets’ plans for the rest of the season. It’s pretty clear to see why New York would want to fast-track him. Not only are his season stats incredible (163 wRC+, .895 OPS), but he’s equally as impressive when you watch the video. His lefty swing is smooth, and his swing mechanics have enough flexibility where he can catch up to fastballs while being able to adjust and sit back for offspeed stuff.
His AAA production hasn’t been good so far (.188 AVG, 45 wRC+), but once he gets settled there, he’ll be ready for the next test. It’s only been nine games, but there are signs that improvement is on the way. His strikeout rate has climbed significantly, but at 21.6%, that’s pretty good for a player getting his first taste of AAA pitching. He’s also been a victim of bad luck. His xBA (.266), xSLG (.473), and xwOBA (.351) are all way higher than his real marks. Benge’s hitting the ball hard (92.6 AVG EV, 56% Hard Hit), but he’s hitting into loud outs, as showcased by his .208 BABIP. The tools are there, and the results are there, even if they aren’t translating into on-paper production. The Mets remain in a playoff dogfight for Wildcard positioning, and they’ll need all the help they can get in the final push. Adding a player of Benge’s quality would be a welcome addition for a team with an outside chance of winning its division.
6. Kristian Campbell, 2B – Boston Red Sox
It’s been a weird season for Campbell. He started the year as one of the most hyped prospects expected to make an impact this year. Now, he’s close to falling off the redraft radar. The on-paper production has been drastically better in the minors than it was with the Red Sox, but the underlying data doesn’t match up. Campbell’s 30% Hard Hit rate is near the bottom of the AAA rankings, and his 84.3 average exit velocity is far from acceptable. That, in tandem with the 6% jump in strikeout rate between 2024 and 2025, makes his outlook a little more uncertain than it was in Spring Training. At the same time, he’s still putting up numbers on the field. Campbell rebounded from a three-game hitless streak with a 6-16 stretch over his next four games. Half of those hits were for extra bases, and they all came in the same game, as Campbell was just a single away from the cycle on Tuesday.
I feel like a broken record saying it, but the Red Sox still have a roster spot for Campbell when they choose to recall him. The Red Sox have plenty of positional versatility on their roster, so getting Campbell into the lineup without drastically altering the batting order should be possible. With the team currently without three Major pieces of their batting order (Anthony, Mayer, Abreu), Boston could really use a bat with the upside of Campbell’s. That said, the underlying data doesn’t match the production, and Alex Cora stated weeks ago that the 23-year-old still has things to work on before returning to the Majors. For 2026 and beyond, Campbell still has plenty of fantasy value, just not as much as he did this spring. For 2025, he’s a risky addition considering the combination of inconsistent numbers and his managers’ comments.
7. Zac Veen, OF – Colorado Rockies
Veen’s season comes full circle. He started the year on the Stash List, and he’ll end the year on the Stash List. After a scorching hot start to the year (.370 AVG, 148 wRC+ in March and April), he collapsed after his promotion, hitting just .170 in May after returning to Albuquerque. Veen has rebounded nicely, posting a .907 OPS with seven homers in the second half of the season. The batted ball data is also impressive. Veen’s average exit velocity sits just above 90 miles an hour, with a 50% hard hit rate. Again, those numbers aren’t quite elite, but they’re respectable. His 30% chase rate will have to come down, as will his 37% strikeout rate in the Majors, but there’s promise in Veen’s profile. Simply put, the Rockies can’t get much worse, so what do they have to lose by giving Veen another shot?
Spoiler alert: Colorado is bad this year. Despite another historically bad season in the Mile-High City, there seem to be signs of progress. Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar both regressed, but they’re pieces to build around. Hunter Goodman broke out and looks to be a solid catcher, and Warming Bernabel set the baseball world on fire for a few weeks before cooling off. The pitching needs work, but Chase Dollander’s 3.64 ERA on the road is encouraging, while his number at home is not (9.98). The youth movement portion of the rebuild seems to have finally started, and Veen could join fellow 2025 promotion, Jordan Beck, in the outfield before the end of the season. Veen projects to produce 15+ homers and steals in the MLB, and could sneak a couple of those counting stats into his stat line with the Rockies if he’s promoted before the end of the year.
8. Justin Crawford, OF – Philadelphia Phillies
Justin Crawford is doing everything he possibly can to force his way onto the Phillies’ roster. He’s on a seven-game hit streak at the time of writing, with five straight multi-hit games, including two contests with three base knocks. He’s also showcased a power surge, hitting three home runs in that span, almost doubling his season total in a single week. If that sustains, that will completely change his fantasy value going forward. Baseball fans already know about the blazing speed he has (88 steals in two seasons) and the insane bat-to-ball skills (92.1% Z-Con). Now they may have to take into account the power stroke he has. Will he consistently reach 15-20 homers in the Major Leagues? Probably not, but even if he gets to double digits, that adds value to a profile that was already going to provide managers with good OBP numbers and elite stolen base totals.
The Phillies are without a true speed threat on their bench this season, which is a role Crawford could step into immediately. Even if Weston Wilson or Edmundo Sosa had stolen some bases this year (they haven’t; they have 1 in the Majors combined), Crawford’s offensive floor exceeds both of them. While true bench speedsters, like Jarrod Dyson, are rare, they haven’t truly gone away (the Cubs just signed Billy Hamilton in 2025 after all). Crawford is more than that, though, even if that’s the role he’s resigned to in the final months of the season. Crawford’s ability to get on base and change the game with his speed makes him a valuable player both in fantasy and in real life. Crawford will undoubtedly be in the Phillies’ plans next year, and I’m baffled as to why they haven’t given him a chance this season.
9. Walker Jenkins, OF – Minnesota Twins
I want to be very clear before I go into too much detail. Walker Jenkins‘ chances of reaching the Major Leagues this year are slim to none. He’s struggled to adapt to AAA (.160 AVG in seven games) after a year where he’s once again faced injuries. However, we’re a matter of days away from the end of the regular season, and Jenkins possesses insane upside that could make for a cool storyline in the final weeks of the year. His organization, the Twins, needs a cool storyline to give to their fans right now. After the disastrous deadline that saw literally half of their roster depart, and the turmoil that has surrounded the potential sale of the team, Minnesota fans are understandably frustrated. A possible Jenkins promotion is far from the fix for these issues, but it could serve as a nice distraction from another disappointing season.
Jenkins’ AAA numbers indicate he may not be ready for the jump to the Majors just yet, but his AA resumé was outstanding before his promotion. Despite missing two months to open the season, he hit seven homers and stole 11 bases in 52 games. His 155 wRC+, .421 wOBA, and .912 OPS all rank third on the team behind 26-year-old Aaron Sabato and fellow top-ten Twins prospect Gabriel Gonzalez. Since arriving in AAA, his batted ball data hasn’t matched up with the low production. He’s averaging 89 miles an hour on his exit velocity, and has a Hard Hit rate of 50%. Those marks aren’t outstanding on their own, but once you add in Jenkins’ age (20) and the fact that it’s his first time facing this level of pitching, it becomes more impressive. Like I said, a promotion right now is unlikely, but it’s not out of the question. There are safer waiver adds available, but few possess the ceiling and the potential immediate impact that Jenkins does.
10. Hao-Yu Lee, INF – Detroit Tigers
In my opinion, Hao-Yu Lee is one of the most underrated prospects in baseball. The Tigers have built a solid young core with Riley Greene, Colt Keith, and Spencer Torkelson at the forefront, with Kevin McGonigle in the pipeline as well. Lee could very well work his way into that group and become a key contributor to one of the most exciting young teams in the league. The 22-year-old has spent the entirety of 2025 in AAA, and is one of 11 qualified players at the level with 10+ HR’s, 20+ SBs, and a wRC+ over 100. Some other names in that group are Dylan Beavers and Jakob Marsee, who have both seen success at the MLB level. Lee’s situation is a little different. Beavers and Marsee are on teams that aren’t in the playoff hunt (Miami was for a second, but that run is over now). Lee’s team is one of the best in baseball. Not only that, the player blocking him at his preferred position is putting together a solid year.
Gleyber Torres‘ 15-homer, 115 wRC+ season may not be a career best, but in a lineup with so many other weapons, it didn’t need to be. The Tigers have found a winning formula, and Lee’s profile doesn’t necessarily add a new variable to the equation (unlike Crawford in Philadelphia with his speed). Not to discount how good Lee has been this year, but he’s a .250-.270 hitter with double-digit home run power and 15+ steal speed. That’s solid, and he will be a valuable contributor on future Tiger teams. That said, is that enough to displace Torres, Colt Keith (109 wRC+), or Zach McKinstry (119)? It’s unlikely. There are bench spots up for grabs if Detroit wants to shake things up. If they do decide to promote Lee, he’s a high-floor, average-ceiling bat that can provide value over the next few weeks.
On The Bubble
Stash List
