The Stash List Week 9: Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash in 2024

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

 

A.J. Smith Shawver showed up this spring pumping gas up to 99 mph, but had been struggling in Triple-A learning to harness his increased velocity. That is, until he got the call to join the Braves rotation on Thursday, when he tossed 4.1 scoreless innings against the Cubs. AJSS needs to get more efficient as he threw 87 pitches but didn’t last long enough to qualify for the win. AJSS flashed the upside that had kept him on the Stash List all season and it could be worth the patience if he can stick in the Atlanta rotation.

Two other prospects got promotions to make their third MLB starts, but things didn’t go well for either Mason Black of the Giants or Nick Nastrini of the White Sox. Black surrendered four runs in 2.2 innings at Pittsburgh on Thursday, raising his ERA to 8.79 with a 1.95 WHIP for San Francisco after posting a 1.01 ERA in Triple-A. Nastrini was a disaster at Toronto, handing out six walks and getting hammered for eight runs and seven hits. Black left himself vulnerable to be passed up by fellow prospect Carson Whisenhunt in the near future for an opportunity in San Francisco. Nastrini is 0-3 with an 11.91 ERA for the White Sox after going 0-4 with a 5.83 ERA in Triple-A, so he should be headed back to the minors any day now, which could open the door for Jonathan Cannon to get another shot with Chicago.

 

Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash

 

1. Shane Baz, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

 

Previous Ranking: N/R

2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 12 IP | 6.00 ERA | 13.1 K% | 18.0 BB%

Shane Baz hadn’t been eligible for this list due to the fact that the Rays had him on the IL as he was completing the final stages of recovery from his July 2022 Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old right-hander had been slowed by oblique injuries suffered during the spring before returning to the mound on May 4 for Triple-A Durham. Baz has struggled with control issues as is often the case in returning from TJ, walking 11 in 12 innings.

The Rays activated Baz and optioned him to Durham, allowing him to continue to ramp up for a return to Tampa Bay as well as jump onto the Stash List. I’m giving Baz the benefit of the doubt that he’s been in spring training mode, just trying to shake off the rust and build up his pitch count. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder built up to 76 pitches in his last start on Wednesday, so he’s getting very close once he can dial in his control.

Before his elbow surgery, Baz featured an explosive upper-90s fastball that he complemented with a high-80s bullet slider. His fastball has averaged 96 mph over his four rehab starts, maxing out at 97.9 mph in his second start and reaching 97.5 mph in his last start. What lifts Baz to the top of this list is that he looked like a burgeoning ace before he got hurt, dominating Triple-A with a 1.76 ERA in 2021 before making three starts for Tampa Bay with a 2.03 ERA.

Baz even made a postseason start in ’21, but he needed surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow at the start of the 2022 season. Upon returning, he again dominated Triple-A to the tune of a 1.38 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 13.1 innings and had a 2.92 ERA after his first five MLB starts of the season. Then came a seven-run beating in which the elbow pain returned, sending him to the IL before eventually having TJ surgery in September.

We’ll be watching his next start for Durham closely to see if the control improves or if the velocity ticks up. If either happens, his next start could come for Tampa Bay. If both happen, then those of us stashing Baz will be dancing a jig.

 

2. Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs

 

Previous Ranking: 1

2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 16.1 IP | 1.10 ERA | 29.0 K% | 3.2 BB%

2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 17 IP | 6.88 ERA | 26.3% | 13.2 BB%

Cade Horton is settling in for Triple-A Iowa, making incremental progress in his last two starts after struggling in his first two starts following a promotion from Double-A. The 22-year-old right-hander has given up just one walk in each of his last two starts after handing out eight free passes over his first two outings for Iowa.

On Wednesday, Horton struck out six while allowing two runs in five innings. His fastball again sat mostly 94-96 mph and he got three whiffs on the four-seamer after getting just one in his previous start.

As expected, Kyle Hendricks was moved out of the rotation and continued to get smoked in relief, so the 34-year-old veteran is no longer a roadblock for Horton to reach Chicago. Ben Brown is now manning the fifth spot in the rotation while Jordan Wicks works his way back from a forearm strain. Since Brown and Hayden Wesneski have fared so well in swingmen roles, Horton could be the one to soon emerge in the Cubs rotation if he can continue to make improvements in Triple-A.

 

3. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers

 

Previous Ranking: 4

2024 MiLB (AA) stat line: 16.2 IP | 2.16 ERA | 35.3 K% | 14.7 BB%

Jackson Jobe is making progress in his recovery from a left hamstring strain suffered on May 1 with Double-A Erie as the 21-year-old right-hander is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder didn’t allow a hit over his last two starts and has retired 32 of the last 34 batters he’s faced going back to his April 13 outing against Akron. Jobe could be back to game action in the coming week, then he should soon after get a promotion to Triple-A Toledo before pushing for a spot in the Tigers rotation by the end of June.

 

4. Cade Povich, LHP, Baltimore Orioles

 

Previous Ranking: 6

2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 47.2 IP | 2.08 ERA | 34.2 K% | 8.9 BB%

Just after Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hinted that he would be going to a six-man rotation, both John Means and Dean Kremer landed on the IL. The rotation now consists of Corbin Burnes, Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, and Cole Irvin. Albert Suarez and Bruce Zimmerman have been mentioned as candidates to get starts, but this could also be the chance to get Cade Povich his MLB debut.

The 24-year-old left-hander bounced back from two subpar starts with eight strikeouts in six innings last Saturday in Triple-A, allowing just one unearned run and no walks. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has a 1.05 WHIP and 65-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 47.2 innings for Norfolk. I expect to hear that Povich is coming to Baltimore any day now.

 

5. Chayce McDermott, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

 

Previous Ranking: 7

2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 43 IP | 3.77 ERA | 34.9 K% | 14.1 BB%

Chayce McDermott may not be far behind Povich as the 25-year-old right-hander struck out 10 in five innings on Wednesday, so he would be lined up to jump in the Baltimore rotation early next week. The 6-foot-3, 197-pounder entered May with 23 walks in 21.1 innings, but this month he’s got a 37-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 21.2 frames. With their two best pitching prospects both in fine form in May, the Orioles may take this opportunity with their rotation decimated by injuries to give them a shot in Baltimore.

 

6. Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Atlanta Braves

 

Previous Ranking: 10

2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 44.1 IP | 2.84 ERA | 21.5 K% | 7.9 BB%

Hurston Waldrep kept on rolling for Double-A Mississippi with 6.1 scoreless innings on Tuesday to lower his ERA to 2.84 on the season. Over his last six starts, the Braves’ first-round selection in the 2023 draft has a 0.96 ERA with a 34-10 K-BB over 37.1 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander should be headed to Triple-A Gwinnett any day now and could soon give the Braves an alternative in the rotation should Smith-Shawver stumble.

 

7. David Festa, RHP, Minnesota Twins

 

Previous Ranking: 3

2024 MiLB (AAA) stat line: 34 IP | 3.18 ERA | 36.8 K% | 13.3 BB%

The Twins seemed to be taking the kid gloves off David Festa by letting the 6-foot-6 right-hander average 82 pitches over his previous three starts before rain cut short his last outing at 63 pitches in four innings. The 24-year-old then got a full seven days of rest before his scheduled start this Saturday.

With 32 strikeouts over his last 18.1 innings, Festa could be a big strikeout weapon once he gets the call to the Twins. The Minnesota rotation is full at the moment, but either Chris Paddack or Simeon Woods Richardson could be vulnerable if they tail off.

 

8. Logan Evans, RHP, Seatle Mariners

 

Previous Ranking: N/R

2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 45.1 IP | 1.39 ERA | 22.4 K% | 7.7 BB%

Logan Evans burst upon the prospect scene during spring training when he started touching 99 mph on the back fields. Just a 13th-round pick out of Pittsburgh in the 2023 draft, Evans jumped over High-A to start the season in Double-A.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander has picked up steam in May, including six scoreless innings with eight strikeout and no walks in his last start on Thursday. After notching just 14 strikeouts in 22.2 innings in April, Evans has a 27-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22.2 innings with a 0.79 ERA in May.

With how the Mariners like to promote their top pitching prospects straight from Double-A to Seattle, Evans could make the jump the next time there’s an opening in the rotation. Evans is a six-pitch pitcher, featuring a new plus sweeper and a big curveball to go with two different fastballs, a cutter and a changeup. There have been some George Kirby comps thrown at Evans, in part because both made big leaps once in the Seattle system, but also because they’re both tall right-handers with big fastballs and plus command.

 

9. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

 

Previous Ranking: 2

2024 MiLB (AA) Stat line: 35.1 IP | 2.55 ERA | 29.9 K% | 17.8 BB%

Jacob Misiorowski may have “only” walked three on Friday for Double-A Biloxi, but he was the most hittable he’s been all season. The 6-foot-7 flamethrower gave out three free passes in 4.1 innings on Friday after having walked 12 in his previous 12.2 frames.

The 22-year-old gave up as many hits on Friday (eight) as he had over his last six starts combined. Misiorowski could still dial in his control and race to Milwaukee on the strength of his knockout stuff, but it’s just as likely that he gets moved to the bullpen by the end of the summer. There is still plenty of room in the Brewers rotation, as Tobias Myers was just called up with Joe Ross hitting the IL with a strained lower back.

 

10. Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, San Francisco Giants

 

Previous Ranking: 5

2024 MiLB (AAA) Stat line: 35.1 IP | 6.37 ERA | 34.0 K% | 13.6 BB%

It’s hard to gauge how a pitcher is doing in the hitter-friendly PCL. Carson Whisenhunt racked up eight strikeouts in 4.2 innings on Tuesday in Triple-A, but the 23-year-old lefty gave up four runs, two walks, and a homer at hitter-friendly El Paso. The 6-foot-3, 209 pounder reached 84 pitches, so the Giants could rescue him from the PCL any day now. With Mason Black struggling in his three starts for San Francisco, the Giants could soon turn to Whisenhunt to fill in the rotation until Alex Cobb and Keaton Winn return from the IL.

 

On The Bubble

 

Here are the next five pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list: Jairo Iriarte, CHW; Max Meyer, MIA; Sem Robberse, STL; Tink Hence, STL; Adam Mazur, SD

 

Photos by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire