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 Stash List has been ravaged this week with four of the top five getting the call to make starts in the bigs. By the time you read this, No. 1 Paul Skenes could be making his MLB debut after Christian Scott, Mason Black, and Robert Gasser made theirs. Randy Vasquez is filling in for an injured Joe Musgrove in the Padres rotation, and Jack Leiter came up briefly before bombing in his second MLB start and getting sent back down.
Scott dazzled in his maiden outing, allowing one run in 6.2 innings at Tampa Bay. The 24-year-old Mets right-hander posted a characteristically stellar 6-1 K-BB, matching the 36-6 K-BB rate he had for Triple-A Syracuse.
Black was solid through his first four innings at Philadelphia, allowing one run with four strikeouts. Then the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Giant ran into a buzzsaw, giving up five hits in the fifth, including a three-run blast to Bryce Harper. The 24-year-old right-hander gets a chance to stick in the Giants rotation with his second start coming against the Reds in San Francisco on Saturday.
Gasser debuted on Friday with six outstanding innings against the Cardinals in Milwaukee, allowing just two hits and no walks with four strikeouts. The 24-year-old Brewers southpaw had built up to 78 pitches for Triple-A Nashville in his third start returning after being shut down late in spring training with a bone spur in his left elbow. This was why we were stashing him – he’s got plenty of stuff to stick in the Brewers rotation and should be an asset at least in strikeouts.
Vasquez needed 83 pitches to get through just 4.1 innings at Wrigley Field, but he held the Cubs to just one run with six strikeouts and no walks. If Musgrove returns from elbow inflammation when first eligible on May 17, then Vasquez may have just one more start coming against Rocky Road on Tuesday. But it’s unclear how long Musgrove may be out for, so Vasquez is worth grabbing now in case he gets an extended stay in the San Diego rotation.
Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash
1. Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Previous Ranking: 1
2024 MiLB (AAA) stat line: 27.1 IP | 0.99 ERA | 42.9 K% | 7.6 BB%
It’s Paul Skenes Day in Pittsburgh on Saturday! The highly-anticipated MLB debut of last year’s No. 1 pick is happening on the date predicted in this space last week. The 21-year-old flamethrower was finally touched in his last Triple-A start, giving up two runs including a solo homer to Will Robertson in the fifth inning. Skenes struck out four but was pulled after 66 pitches as his velocity lagged from his usual 100+ mph to “just” 97-99 in his final inning. The 21-year-old leaves Indianapolis behind with a 0.99 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. Today is like Christmas for those of us who have been stashing Skenes as we get to unwrap the present to see if we have an immediate ace on our hands.
2. Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs
Previous Ranking: 3
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 16.1 IP | 1.10 ERA | 29.0 K% | 3.2 BB%
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 7 IP | 10.29 ERA | 30.6K% | 22.2 BB%
Cade Horton debuted for Triple-A Iowa last Saturday, striking out six in four innings but handing out four free passes and giving up two runs. The 22-year-old right-hander struggled in his second start for Iowa on Friday, walking four and giving up six runs in three innings. Horton had compiled a 1.10 ERA with 18-2 K-BB in 16.1 innings for Double-A Tennessee, so this is likely just a hiccup as he adjusts to a new level. Veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks is making a rehab start for Iowa on Sunday, hoping to return to Chicago in the coming week. With Hayden Wesneski pitching well in the Cubs rotation, it’s to be seen if Hendricks regains his spot or becomes a $16 million long reliever. If Hendricks goes back in the rotation and struggles like he was before hitting the IL, that could be the opening for Horton to make his MLB debut. There will be plenty of competition for that spot as, besides Wesneski, there’s also recently-demoted Ben Brown and soon-to-be-rehabbing Jordan Wicks as options for the Cubs. If Horton gets things turned around soon at Triple-A, we could see the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft up in Chicago by the start of June.
3. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Previous Ranking: 6
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 23.1 IP | 2.70 ERA | 37.5 K% | 17.7 BB%
After walking just two in his previous eight innings over two starts, Jacob Misiorowski walked four in five innings on Sunday for Double-A Biloxi. That being said, the 6-foot-7 flamethrower was effectively wild with eight strikeouts and kept a loaded Tennessee lineup (featuring top-100 prospects Kevin Alcántara and Matt Shaw) off the scoreboard. After handing out 11 free passes in his first 10.1 innings this season, Misiorowski has allowed just three hits and one run in 13 innings with 21 strikeouts. By bringing up Gasser, the Brewers are going with a six-man rotation in the middle of a stretch of 19 games in 20 days. In order to get Gasse and possibly soon Misiorowski in the rotation, there are plenty of options for who could come out from Colin Rea, Joe Ross, Bryse Wilson, and Tobias Myers behind ace Freddy Peralta. It seems to be a good time to test Misiorowski’s knockout stuff – an 80-grade fastball that often hits triple-digits and a 70-grade high-RPM power slider – against Triple-A hitters. The best sign from his last start is that he was bumped all the way up to 87 pitches from just 47 in his previous outing. Misiorowski could be knocking on the door for a call-up to Milwaukee by the end of May or more likely early-June.
4. AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Previous Ranking: 9
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 22 IP | 5.32 ERA | 24.7 K% | 12.4 BB%
AJ Smith-Shawver hit another speed bump in his last start on Tuesday, giving up two homers and three walks for the second time in his last three outings for Triple-A Gwinnett. The 21-year-old right-hander has a 5.32 ERA with a 24-12 K-BB in 22 innings. but the encouraging part is that he’s been holding his velocity gains from the spring, sitting in the upper 90s and touching 99 mph. With Bryce Elder getting hammered for seven runs, three homers, and four walks in his last start, the fifth spot in the Braves rotation is shaky at best. That’s where AJSS could come in if he can just go out and dominate for a start or two in Triple-A.
5. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Previous Ranking: 8
2024 MiLB (AA) stat line: 16.2 IP | 2.16 ERA | 35.3 K% | 14.7 BB%
Jackson Jobe landed on the IL with a strained hamstring last week and likely won’t return to the mound until late May. The 21-year-old right-hander didn’t allow a hit over his last two starts, covering seven innings with 11 strikeouts. After a slow start for Double-A Erie, Jobe has a 2.16 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. Once he returns to action, it shouldn’t take Jobe long to earn a promotion to Triple-A Toledo and push for a spot in the Tigers rotation by the end of June.
6. Max Meyer, RHP, Miami Marlins
Previous Ranking: 10
2024 MLB Stat line: 17 IP | 2.12 ERA | 21.5 K% | 4.6 BB%
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 10 IP | 9.90 ERA | 23.5 K% | 10.3 BB%
The Marlins rotation has been in shambles all season, decimated by injuries and poor performances. The latest hit came when Edward Cabrera went on the IL with a right shoulder impingement on Tuesday. Miami is getting back Jesús Luzardo and Braxton Garrett off the IL, leaving them with four lefties and an open spot in the rotation. We’ll see if this is finally when Max Meyer is brought back to Miami after the 25-year-old has spent four weeks toiling for Triple-A Jacksonville. The problem is that Meyer has struggled badly to a 9.24 ERA in four starts for Jacksonville after posting a 2.12 ERA in three starts for Miami to open the season. It got worse in his last start on Friday, when Meyer walked four in 2.2 innings. The Marlins could just as easily go with Sixto Sánchez or Roddery Muñoz to provide a right-hander at the back of the rotation, so watch closely to see if it’s Meyer who gets the call.
7. Cade Povich, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
Previous Ranking: 7
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 37.1 IP | 1.69 ERA | 34.5 K% | 11.0 BB%
Cade Povich gave up three runs in five innings on Tuesday, the first time he’s allowed more than one run in a start all season. The 24-year-old left-hander has a sparkling 1.69 ERA along with a 0.99 WHIP and a 50-16 K-BB in 37.1 innings for Triple-A Norfolk. After two four-walk outings in his previous three starts, Povich limited a loaded Memphis lineup (featuring Victor Scott II, Thomas Saggese, and Jordan Walker) to two free passes. Povich gave up just his second homer of the season, a two-run shot to 38-year-old Matt Carpenter . That’s really the main thing holding back the 24-year-old southpaw at this point. With veterans John Means and Kyle Bradish back off the IL and Grayson Rodriguez working his way back from a bout of shoulder inflammation, the Orioles rotation could soon be at full strength. Cole Irvin may have to idle as a long reliever, providing another hurdle for Povich. With the way pitchers have been falling like flies this season and with so many health risks in the Baltimore rotation, Povich could still find himself in Baltimore before summer.
8. Chayce McDermott, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 33 IP | 3.00 ERA | 32.9 K% | 17.4 BB%
Chayce McDermott has the same problems that Povich has – a packed rotation in Baltimore and too many walks. McDermott and Povich entered the season “a phone call away” from the big leagues, according to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. McDermott had a strong spring training with a 2.53 ERA and 15-4 K-BB in 10.2 innings. Then his control deserted him over his first three starts for Triple-A Norfolk, walking 15 in 12 innings, while Povich moved ahead in the pecking order with a dominant April. Something has clicked for McDermott since the calendar turned to May, as the 25-year-old right-hander has piled up 19 strikeouts in 11.2 innings with just three walks. Acquired from the Astros in the three-team Trey Mancini trade in 2022, McDermott was thought to have more of a future as a reliever thanks to his spotty control. Then he cut his walk rate to 11.7% in 50.2 innings for Norfolk last season, renewing hope that the 6-foot-3, 197-pounder could make it as a starter. McDermott misses a lot of bats with his mid-90s fastball, especially up in the zone, and features a sweeping slider that also grades out as plus. The chance to earn a spot in the Orioles rotation with a pitcher’s park and winning team behind him makes McDermott worth stashing.
9. Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 25.2 IP | 7.01 ERA | 33.6 K% | 15.6 BB%
With Black filling in for injured Blake Snell, it’s time to start eyeballing Carson Whisenhunt for a chance to get in the Giants rotation. Snell is expected to be returning soon, so Black could wind up back with Whisenhunt in Triple-A unless suddenly-struggling Keaton Winn is moved to the bullpen. Another possible opening could come when the Giants decide to ease up on the workload for converted reliever Jordan Hicks, who has cooled off after a hot start to the season. A second-round pick out of East Carolina in 2022, Whisenhunt features what is possibly the best changeup in the minors to go with a mid-90s fastball. The 6-foot-3 lefty has been doing a Jekyll and Hyde act for Sacramento depending on his control on any given day. Whisenhunt has a 18.00 ERA with 12 walks in 10 innings in his four bad starts. In his four good outings, Whisenhunt has a 0.00 ERA with a 24-7 K-BB in 15.2 innings. Whisenhunt had tossed three straight scoreless starts before getting blown up in one of the PCL’s many hitter’s parks on Thursday, giving up six runs in 2.1 innings at Salt Lake. Most organizations don’t like to leave their top pitching prospects in the PCL for too long, so expect the Giants to get Whisenhunt up to San Francisco once he shows some sustained improvement of his control.
10. Tink Hence, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Previous Ranking: N/R
2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 30 IP | 3.60 ERA | 30.8 K% | 6.8 BB%
Tink Hence entered this season having never gone more than five innings in a start as a pro. That combined with how he struggled in 12 starts for Double-A Springfield last season (5.47 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) had the 21-year-old right-hander sinking in prospect rankings amid growing concerns that he wouldn’t be able to hold up to a starter’s workload. This season saw Hence inch across the five-inning threshold to 5.1 IP in a start on April 18, but he took a quantum leap on April 30 with a 10-strikeout gem where he went seven innings. He followed up his breakout start with a stinker – six runs in 4.1 innings, so there’s still questions to be answered. Hence’s mid-90s fastball is a bat-misser when he keeps it up in the zone and he features a plus changup that gets a lot of chases. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder has the highest upside of any pitcher in the Cardinals organization, so if he continues to show that his stuff holds up a third time through the lineup then he could force his way to St. Louis by early summer.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list: Sem Robberse, STL; Hurston Waldrep, ATL; David Festa, MIN; Jack Leiter, TEX; Will Warren, NYY