The Stash List Week 7: Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash in 2024

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

 

Mere hours after last week’s list was posted, it was out of date. Last week’s #4 hitter to stash, Kyle Manzardo was called up on Sunday to the Cleveland Guardians. He hasn’t exactly hit the ground running. He’s struck out five times in seven at-bats at the time of writing this. He’s been operating primarily as the designated hitter so far and is yet to make a true impact. There’s still time for him to turn it around, but a prolonged slump may land him back in AAA.

 

Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash

 

1. James Wood, OF – Washington Nationals

 

Nationals Manager Dave Martinez said that “there is a plan” for Wood. Fans are getting impatient though, as Wood has been awesome so far in Triple-A. On Wednesday night, he hit two more home runs that went a combined 817 feet. The 6’7″ outfielder has nothing left to prove in the minors, and a promotion should be on the cards soon. Martinez said that he wants to ensure that Wood plays regularly when he gets the call. He is forcing the issue and should be a fixture in the Nationals lineup before long.

Wood is a player you can dream of. His sweet swing from the left side is addicting to watch. Once you see one of his homers, you can’t stop watching them. The Nats have an abundance of young, talented outfielders (Robert Hassell & Dylan Crews) but Wood may be the best of them. When he does get the call, he will likely plug into a corner outfield spot. Eddie Rosario and Jesse Winker should be looking over their shoulders because if Wood takes their spot, he’s not giving it back.

 

2. Junior Caminero, 3B – Tampa Bay Rays

 

Caminero could have easily been the No. 1 player on the list this week. He probably would have been if James Wood didn’t go off on Wednesday. I’m honestly surprised that Caminero hasn’t got the call yet. The Rays are in a hyper-competitive division and could use all the help they can get. The AL East is going to be a dogfight this season, and Caminero could be a major factor in the Rays’ pursuit of the division. He’s getting it done at the plate and on the field. On May 7, Caminero dove into the stands behind third base and made a fantastic catch.

The Rays have an exciting team already. Isaac Paredes is blossoming into a true middle-of-the-order threat. Amed Rosario and José Caballero are both posting wRCs above 100. Adding Caminero to that lineup would give the Rays an offense to be reckoned with. His .974 OPS is the best in the organization (min. 80 PAs). Baseball fans should be excited about Caminero’s inevitable return to the Majors.

 

3. Coby Mayo, 3B – Baltimore Orioles

 

Coby Mayo rounds out the unchanged top three to the Stash List this week. Mayo continues to dominate the Triple-A level, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s producing for the O’s. He’s struggled mightily this week though. He hit just .050 in 23 plate appearances and struck out eight times. This dropped his average pretty drastically, yet he’s still registering a 146 wRC+. This puts him in the upper echelon at the Triple-A level. His walk rate continues to rise too, increasing 0.6% this week. The patience at the plate was the major concern I had about Mayo, but he continues to prove me wrong.

As is the case every week, I feel obliged to say that the Orioles may not want to shake up their roster. At the time of writing, they’re 24-12 and are tied with the Yankees for the division lead. The most glaring hole that the Orioles can fill would be a perfect fit for Mayo. Ramón Urías is struggling mightily this season, hitting just .189. Mayo would provide an instant improvement at the hot corner offensively.

 

4. Orelvis Martinez, 3B – Toronto Blue Jays

 

Martinez jumps up one spot into the No. 4 position previously held by Kyle Manzardo. It was far from Martinez’s best week at the plate, as his average dropped 20 points and he only homered once. That said, the Blue Jays are in desperate need of an offensive jolt. The clock is ticking on the current core in Toronto, and they already find themselves 7.5 games out of the division lead. The Jays need to get back on track, and fast. Martinez offers an offensive boost that few on their Major League roster are capable of producing.

The obvious landing spot for Martinez would be at the hot corner. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been fine to start the season, but he doesn’t come close to the upside that Martinez provides. He should be able to keep a roster spot because of his defensive versatility and serviceable bat though. Martinez would slot perfectly behind the power threats in the middle of the order.

To be completely honest, I’m starting to question what to make of Malloy. He’s got all of the tools to impact at the MLB level, but he just hasn’t been given a chance to prove it. The numbers speak for themselves. A walk rate near 20% puts him fifth among qualified batters in Triple-A. His 137 wRC+ is nothing to scoff at, yet the Tigers refuse to promote him. They’ve been off to a solid start but they could be even better if they add a piece or two from the minors.

The Tigers could do with an extra bat, whether it’s Malloy or the player behind him on the list. Parker Meadows was demoted to Triple-A after hitting under .100 to start the season. Wenceel Pérez has been a welcome surprise, but he’s not enough to make up for the lack of production in the infield. Getting new blood onto the roster may cause some casualties, but if the Tigers want to take the next step in their rebuild, it will be necessary.

6. Jace Jung, 2B – Detroit Tigers

 

7. Matt Shaw, INF – Chicago Cubs

I think I jinxed Matt Shaw. Since putting him on the list on April 21, he’s hitting .114. That’s a far cry from the .293 pace he was on up until that point. Despite his struggles, I still think his promotion to the Majors comes this season. The Cubs are sorely lacking a consistent presence at third base, and they’re still preparing Shaw to take on this role. Christopher Morel has plenty of pop, but a .210 average and a questionable glove might dissuade the Cubs from keeping him there. Nick Madrigal would likely be more effective as a utility player rather than an everyday starter. Shaw is the clear choice going forward for the Cubs.

The slump he’s in does worry me slightly though. I was hoping that Shaw would have reached Triple-A by this point in the season. The Cubs aren’t going to promote a hitter amid the worst slump in their professional career. Therefore, his timeline towards an MLB audition has been delayed slightly. I’m still holding out hope that he’s up in the show before the All-Star break. However, as things stand we’re looking at a promotion in August.

Caissie is clipping on Shaw’s heels for the title of best-hitting prospect in the Cubs organization. On Wednesday, Caissie showcased the power stroke that has made him one of the most exciting prospects in the Cubs system. He hit a home run of 424 feet that left the ballpark at 107 mph. Despite being more than five years younger than the average Triple-A player, he’s thriving. His walk rate is very solid, and he’s hitting the ball hard. I don’t think the Cubs were expecting to promote Caissie until much later this season, but he’s forcing the issue.

The Cubs don’t necessarily need to promote Caissie, but it wouldn’t hurt. Cody Bellinger continues to be the No. 3 hitter they desperately needed, and Mike Tauchman has been a pleasant surprise. Ian Happ is off to a cold start, but he’s not going anywhere in the middle of the order. The Northsiders are lacking depth in the outfield as things stand. Seiya Suzuki remains on the injured list, and Pete Crow-Armstrong still hasn’t clicked at the Major League level. Miles Mastrobuoni and Patrick Wisdom could step into a corner outfield spot. For a team aiming to compete though, they should look for other options.

9. Jacob Wilson, SS – Oakland Athletics

On Wednesday, Jacob Wilson was promoted to Triple-A after hitting over .450 to start 2024. Yes, you read that right. In just under 100 plate appearances, Jacob Wilson was hitting .455 at Double-A. That is extremely impressive for any player. Then take into account that he’s been playing professional baseball for less than a year, and it’s nothing short of amazing. Like many other top prospects, Jacob’s father Jack enjoyed a lengthy MLB career. The elder Wilson had a career batting average of .265, and Jacob has the hit tool to eclipse that figure.

At the start of the season, Wilson was a long shot to reach the majors in 2024. Now, it looks increasingly likely that the A’s will give him a run in the team. Oakland’s infield has been wrecked by injury. Zack Gelof, Miguel Andujar, Darell Hernaiz, and Aledmys Díaz are all on the injured list. Max Schuemann is currently holding down the shortstop role, but he is more of a placeholder than anything else. Nick Allen is also waiting in Triple-A, but he’s a career .210 hitter in the Majors. The A’s have nothing to lose this season, so why not give their top-hitting prospect a chance to earn an everyday role?

 

10. Jackson Holliday, SS – Baltimore Orioles

 

Fantasy managers may have some concerns about Holliday after a pretty dreadful first run in the Major Leagues. He’s doing everything in his power to earn a return to the show. Since his demotion to Triple-A, he’s hitting .297 with 12 walks. He hit his first home run since returning to Norfolk on Thursday, a line shot that got out in a hurry. The Orioles will understandably be cautious with Holliday after a rough first impression, but he still has the talent to be special.

I wouldn’t expect to see Holliday back in the Majors until later this summer unless there’s injury trouble in Baltimore. That said, he’s still worth a stash in deeper leagues if you have the roster space. His 168 wRC+ is still among the elite in Triple-A. The Orioles remain loaded in the infield, with Mayo and Connor Norby yet to debut. Holliday may have lost his initial roster spot, but if he continues to dominate in Triple-A, he may get another shot.

 

On The Bubble

 

Here are the next five hitters that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list in no particular order:

Chase Meidroth

Colson Montgomery

Graham Pauley

Carson Williams

Emmanuel Rodriguez

 

Stash List