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
The wave of pitcher prospect call-ups continued this week continued again this past week with Mitchell Parker, Simeon Woods Richardson, Tobias Myers and Randy Vasquez all coming up for starts. Parker has been a revelation with gems against the Dodgers and Astros, combining for a 1.50 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and a 12-0 K-BB in 12 innings. Considering his career 4.4 BB/9 in the minors, there’s regression coming, but if he’s made substantive improvements to his command then he could stick as a solid starter for the Nationals. Woods Richardson has replaced Louie Varland in the Twins rotation and has looked good with a 2.45 ERA with an 11-2 K-BB in 11 innings. Myers, previously best known as the Guardians’ return for Junior Caminero in a rip-off deal with the Rays, dazzled in his debut by allowing just one run in five innings with four strikeouts. His last pitch of the night had 22 inches of induced vertical break. There’s plenty of opportunity in the Brewers rotation at the moment with DL Hall, Jakob Junis and Wade Miley all on the IL. Vasquez has gotten two starts with Yu Darvish on the IL, but he was unlucky enough to have a Coors Field outing among them to raise his ERA to 5.87.
Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash
1. Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Previous Ranking: 1
2024 MiLB (AAA) stat line: 17 IP/0.53 ERA/51.5 K%/7.6 BB%
The slow ramp-up of Paul Skenes continued on Wednesday when the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft reached 71 pitches. The 6-foot-6, 235-pounder finally gave up his first runs of the season but still dominated with seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings. It’s now looking pretty clear that the target date for his MLB debut is May 6 at home against the Angels. He’s on track to reach 80 pitches in his final Triple-A tune-up on Tuesday, setting him up to go 90 and hopefully six innings in Pittsburgh. This will be the most-anticipated pitching debut since Stephen Strasburg on June 8, 2010. The idea of a 1-2 punch of Skenes and Jared Jones is enough to make you wanna be a Pirates fan! It will be tough for Skenes to live up to the hype, but he could be an elite fantasy hurler right from the drop.
2. Christian Scott, RHP, New York Mets
Previous Ranking: 2
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 20.2 IP/3.48 ERA/44.2 K%/5.2 BB%
Christian Scott is ready for his call-up any day now after only needing 85 pitches in going 6.1 innings on Tuesday on the heels of making 91 pitches to get through 5.1 innings in his previous start. Scott allowed just one hit on Tuesday, albeit another home run. The 24-year-old right-hander has surrendered six homers in four starts after being taken deep just five times in 19 starts last year. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has a remarkable 34-4 K-BB in 20.2 innings, on pace to better last year’s 107-12 K-BB in a combined 87.2 IP over three levels. If the Mets don’t call up Scott to make his debut by the time you read this, it could still happen during the current homestand that goes through Thursday. If the Mets keep him on a schedule of going every six days, Scott would be in line to make his debut on May 11 at home against the Braves. That would give the Mets time to decide if José Buttó or Adrian Houser would be the starter coming out of the rotation for Scott. As a WHIP and strikeouts weapon, Scott will be a coveted fantasy asset and needs to be picked up in any leagues he’s still available in.
3. Robert Gasser, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 4 IP/2.25 ERA/33.3 K%/6.7 BB%
Robert Gasser was shut down late in spring training with a bone spur in his left elbow, but he made his return to game action with four solid innings on Wednesday for Triple-A Nashville. The 24-year-old southpaw threw 49 pitches, 32 for strikes, and may just need one or two more starts before becoming an option in the injury-riddled Milwaukee rotation. The 6-foot, 192-pounder turned in a full season in Triple-A last year, racking up 166 strikeouts in 135.1 innings, so he should be ready for his MLB debut in short order. Playing the when-will-he-debut game with Gasser, with two more Triple-A starts he would line up to get the call during the Brewers’ seven-game homestand on May 9-15. I’ll predict Star Wars Night on May 11 against the Cardinals. Gasser has been pegged as more of a back-end starter, but he’s got the strikeout upside that should perk up plenty of interest in fantasy circles.
4. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Previous Ranking: 6
2024 MiLB (AA) stat line: 13.2 IP/2.63 ERA/28.3 K%/13.4 BB%
After stumbling out of the gate with an uncharacteristic seven walks in his first 5.2 innings, Jackson Jobe has looked more like himself in his past two starts, accentuated by four hitless innings on Thursday for Double-A Erie. The 21-year-old right-hander has an 11-2 K-BB over his past eight innings. The next step will be building up from the 59 pitches he threw on Thursday and to start going five-plus innings per start. Then Jobe starts to become a possible option for a call-up to Detroit if not just a promotion to Triple-A Toledo. With a pitcher like this with ace upside, we have a much longer leash when it comes to stashing. If he gets to 60-70 pitches in one of his next few starts, then we’ll start playing the when-will-he-debut game with our eyes on late May or early June for the time being.
5. Cade Povich, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
Previous Ranking: 4
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 21.2 IP/0.83 ERA/41.8 K%/11.4 BB%
Cade Povich just keeps rolling for Triple-A Norfolk, finishing his month of April with a 0.83 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and a 40-10 K-BB in 26.1 innings. The 24-year-old southpaw has allowed just 10 hits for an opponents batting average of .116. The obvious weak link in the Orioles rotation is Cole Irvin, but he is expected to soon be replaced by rehabbing John Means. There could still be an opportunity if either Means has a setback with his forearm or if 34-year-old journeyman Albert Suarez turns back into a pumpkin. Kyle Bradish is a step behind Means in rehabbing his way back from a sprained elbow, so Povich may need an injury to get the call. The ceiling is so high for Povich as a lefty strikeout artist for such a tremendous team and potentially pitching half his games in Camden Yards that we will continue to stash for now.
6. Max Meyer, RHP, Miami Marlins
Previous Ranking: 3
2024 MLB Stat line: 17 IP/2.12 ERA/21.5 K%/4.6 BB%
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 3 IP/6.00 ERA/45.9 K%/9.1 BB%
Just after the Marlins came out with their plan to restrict Max Meyer’s workload that would target a potential return to the majors in the second half, the Marlins were dealt another blow to their starting rotation. Jesús Luzardo went on the IL with elbow tightness and he is getting imaging to see what the long-term prognosis is. Reliever Anthony Maldonado made his MLB debut on Friday as an opener, tossing three scoreless innings, but he’s just a band-aid. The Marlins rotation is so decimated by injuries that two relievers made starts in a three-day stretch, with Sixto Sánchez having gone 2.2 innings on Wednesday. Miami could just go ahead and use up more of Meyer’s innings cap in the majors now and slow him down in a month or two. Meyer struck out five in three innings last Saturday in his first start after a surprise demotion to Triple-A Jacksonville. We’ll see if the Marlins keep him in the minors for another start or two, but his next appearance could come in the Miami rotation. Even if his next start comes in the International League, we’d keep stashing him for now to see if the Marlins cave and bring Meyer back to the rotation in early May.
7. Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs
Previous Ranking: 5
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 11.1 IP/1.59 ERA/27.9 K%/4.7 BB%
Cade Horton may have lasted just 3.1 innings in his last start for Double-A Tennessee on Sunday, but it came with a slight bump in his pitch count to 58 from his previous outing’s 47 offerings. The 22-year-old right-hander isn’t being challenged in Double-A, where he has compiled a 1.41 ERA with a 43-13 K-BB in 38.1 IP over nine starts for Tennessee in the past two seasons. The seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Oklahoma, Horton should be headed to Triple-A Iowa soon. With Justin Steele working his way back from a hamstring strain, the Cubs rotation could soon be at full strength. That would still leave fast-starting Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks battling Ben Brown for the final two spots in the rotation, but none of that trio should hinder Horton once he’s ready.
8. AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Previous Ranking: 7
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 12.2 IP/7.11 ERA/27.1 K%/13.6 BB%
AJ Smith-Shawver is rounding into form after struggling in his first two Triple-A starts this season, compiling a 3.72 ERA with a 10-4 K-BB in 9.2 IP over his last two outings. The good news from his last start on Wednesday was that AJSS built up to 80 pitches and had seven strikeouts in five innings. The bad news was that the 21-year-old gave up two homers and was wild with three walks and a hit batter. The fifth spot in the Atlanta rotation has been a game of musical chairs since ace Spencer Strider went down with season-ending elbow surgery. Bryce Elder was solid in his first start for Atlanta this season, but AJSS should soon be breathing down his neck. If AJSS can get his command ironed out over his next couple of starts, he could be up in Atlanta by mid-May.
9. Jack Leiter, RHP, Texas Rangers
Previous Ranking: 9
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 20.1 IP/2.66 ERA/41.3 K%/7.5 BB%
2024 MLB Stat line: 3.2 IP/17.18 ERA/13.6 K%/13.6 BB%
Jack Leiter bounced back from a dud in his MLB debut by dominating in his return to Triple-A Round Rock, allowing just one hit in six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on Thursday. The 24-year-old still walked three, so he’ll continue honing his command in the minors for now. The second overall pick in the 2021 draft, Leiter has a ridiculous 33 strikeouts in 20.1 innings with a 0.89 WHIP for Round Rock. Andre Heaney is currently the weak link in the Rangers rotation with an 0-3 record and a 6.26 ERA, so Leiter could take another start or two for Texas before Max Scherzer finishes rehabbing. Once Scherzer is back, Michael Lorenzen will be the most vulnerable starter until Cody Bradford returns from a stress fracture in his rib. Leiter could just wind up being rotation insurance who spends most of the season in Triple-A, but he’s worth stashing now when there’s more potential for opportunity.
10. Richard Fitts, RHP, Boston Red Sox
Previous Ranking: 8
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 19.1 IP/4.19 ERA/19.8 K%/5.8 BB%
The injuries just keep piling up in the Red Sox rotation with Brayan Bello recently joining Nick Pivetta and Garrett Whitlock on the IL. That leaves Boston with a regular rogue’s gallery currently filling out the rotation behind Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford with journeyman Chase Anderson, 27-year-old rookie Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski moving over from the bullpen. The best pitching prospect that the Red Sox have in Triple-A is Richard Fitts, acquired in the Alex Verdugo deal from the Yankees in December. Fitts took a 2.35 ERA into his start at Toledo on Wednesday looking to make a statement, but he allowed five runs and three walks in four innings. If the 6-foot-3, 230-pound righty can bounce back in his next start for Worcester, he could make a push to take a rotation spot in Boston by his next turn. This is mostly a proximity stash, but there has been something in the water this season in Boston as Red Sox starters have posted an MLB-best 2.05 ERA over their first 26 starts. Considering that Fitts posted a 3.48 ERA with a 163-43 K-BB in 152.2 innings for Double-A Portland last year, he could be more than serviceable if he gets in the Boston rotation until all those injured pitchers start making their way back.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list: Jacob Misiorowski, MIL; Mason Black, SF; Nick Nastrini, CHW; Mick Abel, PHI; David Festa, MIN
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
Design by Jackson Wallace
Really like to read these, help me keep some players on my radar that I wouldn’t otherwise. One comment, there is some contradiction on Povich? Blurb says “ceiling is so high…” while the color code in the table below is white or proximity stash and not and upside stash. Or does it mean that you would stash the other ones below if you were only focused on upside?