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.
I’m back on the stash list this week after my long-awaited graduation. I want to express a massive thank you to John Villavincencio for taking my place last week and doing an excellent job in the process. For the rest of the season, you’re stuck with me. Three big-name promotions, including Jordan Lawlar and Dalton Rushing, caused a massive shakeup last week, and there’s more movement this week.
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
Matt Shaw returned to the Cubs’ lineup on Monday night, going 2-4 with an RBI ground rule double against Miami. The 23-year-old infielder looked like a completely different hitter during his time in AAA, posting a 150 wRC+ with six homers and five steals in 24 games. Many have pointed to a reduced load-step as a reason for the newfound success, and it has resulted in improved contact numbers across the board. In his absence, the Cubs paraded several lackluster options at the hot corner. Chicago’s top prospect should provide some necessary stability to the position long-term.
The Washington Nationals took some people by surprise on Tuesday night, calling up Robert Hassell III. On paper, a 91 wRC+ in 2025 and a career .233 AAA batting average don’t stand out, but there’s more here. Hassell has made improvements across the board in his contact and power numbers, even almost doubling his AAA BABIP between last year (.170) and now (.331). This is largely due to a 15% increase in hard hit rate and four mile per hour increase in average exit velocity. Hassell did not feature in previous weeks due to playing time and MLB readiness concerns, which I maintain. However, there is a chance that Hassell could carry some value in deeper leagues if all goes well.
The Nationals also added Daylen Lile to their big league roster, rewarding his excellent start to 2025. The 22-year-old is hitting .337 between AA and AAA this season, with three homers and nine steals to go along with it. As is the case with Hassell, the main question is how he will handle the leap to the majors, especially with limited opportunities. Lile’s a player to monitor for now, but he’s not worth a stash as things stand.
Denzel Clarke got the call to join up with the Athletics on Thursday. The 6’4″ 25-year-old outfielder has been solid this season, hitting .286 with seven steals. He’s also got a 50% hard-hit rate on the year and has cut his strikeout rate (21.8%) by over 8% since 2024. These are solid improvements, but his fantasy value is still a question mark. Clarke is a speed over power prospect, and should get plenty of chances to make an impact with JJ Bleday going back to AAA.
Marcelo Mayer will be handed his major league debut in the near future, taking the place of Alex Bregman on Boston’s roster. Read more about Mayer’s outlook in the #4 spot on this list.
Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash
1. Roman Anthony, OF – Boston Red Sox
In a surprise to absolutely no one, Roman Anthony retains the #1 spot on this list for the fourth week in a row. The story remains the same with Anthony: it seems like he’s ready for the majors, but the Red Sox, for whatever reason, are hesitant to make a move. Cedanne Rafaela’s 77 wRC+ makes him the clear candidate for replacement, but his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate have both jumped forward noticeably this year. Additionally, Statcast has him as the second-best defensive center fielder (7 fielding run value), only behind Pete Crow-Armstrong. Yes, his bat isn’t generating insane production, but the defense and potential offensive breakout are probably the last barrier for Anthony to get through.
He’s trying his best to do just that. On Tuesday night, Anthony spit on a 96-mile-an-hour fastball and deposited it past the left field fence for his sixth homer of the season. The ball traveled at 104 miles per hour and ended up 370 feet from home plate. While it’s just one event, it’s a testament to the maturity and poise that he’s shown so far. Plenty of other 21-year-old prospects would struggle to catch up to 96. Anthony simply stayed on it and showed serious pop to the opposite field. The contact rate remains slightly down from his 2024 mark, but the rest of his numbers indicate that Anthony has the chance to be a superstar in the Major Leagues.
2. Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF – Kansas City Royals
Sunday marked another important milestone in the meteoric rise of the former #6 overall pick. The Royals announced that their top prospect was making the jump to AAA after just 67 professional games since being drafted. Caglianone has been nothing short of incredible so far in 2025, and it’s no surprise that the Royals are doing everything in their power to get him into the lineup ASAP. The 22-year-old is one of six players in all of the minor leagues to have a wRC+ of 150, a .320 batting average, and nine home runs. Only one other player is under the age of 24 (Mike Sirota – LAD A+). It’s too early to put any value into his AAA exit velocities (77.9 AVG mph), but a quick social media scour shows he can hit the ball as hard as 120 miles per hour.
If that number is accurate, that would put him in the #1 spot in Major League Baseball. His ability to put the bat on the baseball should also serve him well in his first AAA test. So far his career contact rate is hovering around 75%, and his strikeout rate is yet to climb above 22% at any level. There is a scenario where the helium surrounding Caglianone trickles away if he struggles with AAA pitching, but all the signs are pointing towards him being able to figure it out. The Royals have moved their top prospect to the outfield for six appearances in the past few weeks, which could be an indication that he will take on a corner spot in the grass at Kauffman Stadium sometime this summer.
3. Samuel Basallo, C – Baltimore Orioles
To say that Baltimore’s season has not gone to plan would be putting it kindly. At the time of writing, they sit just two games in front of the Chicago White Sox for last place in the American League. Much of that is due to the third worst pitching staff in baseball (5.45 ERA), but the offense has been underwhelming as well (.686 OPS, 23rd in MLB). After coming into the year expecting to compete with Boston and New York for the AL East title, the O’s now face a harsh reality. Changes need to be made to this roster before their current core cannot be retained.
A change to get Basallo on the roster should be a no-brainer. Adley Rutschman (92 wRC+, .219 AVG) hasn’t played up to his usual standard, and Maverick Handley is 1-17 in limited opportunities. The starting spot is Rutschman’s, but having Basallo as an option should the 27-year-old backstop fall into a slump is a luxury few other teams can boast. Basallo’s a darn good option too. His hard-hit rate (53.2%) and average exit velocity (93.1 mph) would both be the top marks among MLB catchers this season. Those numbers, alongside an 88.3% Z-Contact rate and 75% contact rate make Basallo a very intriguing option for fantasy managers, especially with his catcher eligibility. He’s also spent a considerable amount of time at first this year, which could make Ryan Mountcastle’s (67 wRC+) seat a little hotter over the coming weeks.
4. Marcelo Mayer, SS – Boston Red Sox
By Mayer’s standards, it was a quiet week. He’s hit just .222 since May 11th, with one homer and nine strikeouts. Mayer has two 2-5 outings in the past five days (as of Thursday), and walked three times in one game on Wednesday, but he also struck out in six straight games in that time. However, looking at the full season numbers, the contact rates look fine (77.1% contact, 87.2% Z-Con). Additionally, his 89.7 average exit velocity would rank 9th among MLB shortstops, tied with Xander Bogaerts and ahead of Carlos Correa and Mookie Betts. Mayer’s 47.3% hard-hit rate lands him between Bobby Witt Jr. and Trevor Story in that same group.
A glaring issue remains apparent with Mayer, though. As John pointed out last week, the consensus around Mayer is that he struggles with “secondary stuff”. So far in 2025, he’s done little to buck that trend. Mayer’s hitting just .217 and .227 against the changeup and slider respectively, and the expected averages don’t look much better (.190 and .244). Although he’s only faced 44 sweepers, his .100 AVG and .097 xBA only add fuel to the fire. On the positive side, he’s crushing fastballs (.308 AVG and 53.2% hard hit). Once the Red Sox see some improvements in the approach vs. secondary pitches, they will have to have conversations about how to get him into the lineup.
Author’s Note: Marcelo Mayer was called up by the Boston Red Sox after Alex Bregman went on the IL on Saturday. Mayer’s future on the List is dependent on the severity of Bregman’s injury.
5. Coby Mayo, 3B – Baltimore Orioles
There’s been plenty of discourse about how the Orioles have been run in 2025. Their decision-making has ranged from questionable to puzzling to downright baffling this year. There’s no better example of this than their handling of Coby Mayo. The year started with him being frustrated over being sent back to the minors after spring training. Then, he hit six homers and posted a 128 wRC+ in 28 games, prompting a call-up. After three hitless games, Mayo finally broke the drought and recorded a 1-4 outing against the Twins. His reward? Another demotion. Since then, he’s gone 3-30 with 16 strikeouts and an OPS of just .537. I understand that a 1-12 run with the Orioles isn’t exactly a reason to keep him up, but sending him down after four games seems harsh.
I know I’m not privy to the inner workings of Baltimore’s front office, but this doesn’t feel like a stellar way to develop your #2 prospect. There’s still no doubt in my mind that Mayo has the talent to be a difference maker in the O’s lineup, but giving him just 13 chances to show it is counterintuitive. At some point, Baltimore is going to have to find a way to get him into the lineup consistently, or trade him before his value tanks and they’re fleeced for him (see: Kyle Stowers). Don’t read too much into the rough return to AAA. Mayo maintains the capability to hit for 25-30 home runs, even if his average and on-base numbers may not be as stellar.
6. Kyle Teel, C/DH – Chicago White Sox
I never thought I’d say this, but I envy the Chicago White Sox right now. It’s great to have one young catcher (Edgar Quero) who can be a backbone on defense and in the lineup. Having two? That’s a luxury that few other teams in recent history can boast. All Teel has done since being drafted is hit at a high level (.845 OPS in 2+ minor league seasons), and that proficiency is carrying into 2025. Teel is hitting .340 in May with six extra base hits and a 159 wRC+, which would rank seventh among all minor league catchers right now (min. 100 PA’s). He’s also boosted his hard-hit rate (42.9%) by over 17%, and his average exit velocity has jumped up by three miles per hour.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times. The White Sox are BAD. They rank dead last in batting average and OPS, and have hit the third-lowest amount of homers in the majors this year (40). Teel should help remedy all of those things. Will he solve every problem with the Sox? No (impossible). However, he represents a shift towards Chicago getting their young talent exposure to the major leagues. At some point, the team is going to have to let their young players learn through experience, and Teel should be the next to get his chance. Let’s face it, even if he struggles, he can’t be much worse than Andrew Vaughn (44 wRC+, -1.3 WAR).
7. Shay Whitcomb, UTL – Houston Astros
There were a couple of comments last week asking about Brice Matthews‘ potential impact on the Astros roster, and they raise a good point. Matthews is likely the long-term middle infield option in Houston and has four homers and 16 steals in his first 37 games this year. His average exit velocity has jumped, and the strikeout rate is down 3%. However, Matthews is currently on the injured list for a concussion, and his zone-contact rate is down 16%, so he misses out for now. Despite being three years his senior, Shay Whitcomb is still the best short-term option for the Astros, who could use some extra pop in their lineup (20th in MLB in HR, 18th in OPS).
Whitcomb brings plenty of that. He leads the minor leagues with 13 home runs in his first 44 games, which puts him on pace for 44 in a full AAA season. Of his 43 hits, 30 have gone for extra bases, and he’s swiped five bags as well. This is nothing new. Whitcomb’s stellar start actually puts him four wRC+ points behind his 2024 mark (134), a year in which he hit 25 homers and stole 26 bases. His 20-game audition in the majors wasn’t as productive (.220 AVG / 76 wRC+), but he kept the walk and strikeout rates in good shape. The Astros need some extra power in their lineup while Yordan Alvarez is out. There’s no better option than the MiLB leader in home runs to try and make up some of the difference.
8. Colby Thomas, OF – Oakland Athletics
Until Thursday, Thomas held down the #5 spot on the list. Then, the A’s called up Denzel Clarke, so now the ETA around the organization’s #2 prospect is murky. To put it simply, the A’s are going to have to find a way to get Thomas into the lineup sometime soon, because his level of production this month has been outstanding. So far in May, he has a 1.038 OPS, six home runs, and 17 RBI. From May 10th to the 16th, he hit .435 with three dingers. If he kept his current pace for 150 games, he would hit 35 home runs. At some point, that has to be rewarded with a spot in the major leagues. Additionally, his average exit velocity (89.2) is up by two miles an hour, and his hard-hit rate (42.3%) has jumped by 6% since last season.
It’s not all perfect for Thomas though. The whiff rate (28.9%) and strikeout rate (27.8%) are both higher than ideal, and he’s outperforming his xBA (.235) by a significant margin. On top of that, there currently isn’t room in the outfield for him to play with Clarke’s promotions and the stellar performance of the incumbents in the corners. Tyler Soderstrom has been one of the breakout players of 2025, and Lawrence Butler looks like a key part of the rebuild going forward. Thomas has performed well enough to earn an audition, but his level of production once he gets there is a major question mark.
9. Bryce Eldridge, 1B – San Francisco Giants
In my time doing the stash list, the spots towards the end of the rankings are typically reserved for high upside players with question marks about proximity. Bryce Eldridge fits this mold to a tee. After missing time due to injury, the 6’7″ lefty is back to mashing baseballs and is off to a solid start in AA. Eldridge has a hit in every game this week (4-12) and has five home runs in 24 games. His 2024 Statcast numbers from AAA are a testament to the immense power he could bring to the Giants. Eldridge averaged a 91.0 mph exit velocity with a 55% hard-hit rate. Granted, these figures are from an eight-game sample size, but they showcase a taste of the talent that the 20-year-old possesses.
He’s far from a finished product though. The 28% strikeout rate he possesses tells a story that he still has to make some adjustments before being put up against the elite level of MLB pitching. That said, the batted ball numbers are remarkably balanced, and his ISO is in the top 20 among AA hitters. The Giants have been lackluster on offense this year (19th in OPS, 22nd in AVG) and could use an offensive boost in order to keep pace with the Dodgers and Padres. A call-up may not be imminent for Eldridge, but if he maintains this level, the Giants could call up their slugger sometime this summer.
10. Cole Young, 2B/SS – Seattle Mariners
For the first month of the season, Cole Young was nowhere near this list. The 21-year-old was hitting .190 with a .577 OPS and 63 wRC+. Those numbers put him closer to a demotion than a promotion to the major leagues. However, as the old saying goes: “April showers bring May flowers”, and Young has bloomed this month. In 17 games in May, Young is slashing .338/.423/.676 with four home runs and seven doubles. Perhaps even more impressive is his season-long bat-to-ball numbers. Young’s zone contact rate sits above 90%, and his total contact rate has remained consistent between AA and AAA. An 89.1 mph average exit velocity and 43.2% hard-hit rate both land outside the top 100 in MLB, but land amongst names like Kristian Campbell and Brendan Donovan.
This is very much an upside stash. There is no guarantee that this hot streak will continue, and even if it does, the Mariners may not promote him. Dylan Moore is putting together a career year in his seventh campaign for Seattle (147 wRC+). J.P. Crawford has also been remarkable as the starting shortstop, so there isn’t necessarily a spot for Young right now. That said, Donovan Solano and Miles Mastrobuoni have both been worse than replacement level. If Seattle opts to go for a younger, more productive option, then Young would likely be first in line.
On The Bubble
Here are the next five hitters considered for inclusion on this week’s list in no particular order.
C.J. Kayfus
Stash List
