Welcome to The Stash List, Hitter Edition!
The Stash List will highlight the top-10 hitter prospects who are most likely to make an impact this season.
Effective in-season management will propel your team into contention, and understanding the outlook and ETA for some of baseball’s top prospects will give you an advantage over your league mates. As managers, we are looking forward to reaping the rewards of our offseason research and draft strategies, but for most of us, the fun is only just beginning.
Previous Week’s Stash List: The Stash List, Hitter Edition: Week 9
GROUND RULES
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2022.
- 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 ownership percentages will be updated weekly.
- Stats shown are through June 11.
GRADUATES AND NOTABLE CALL UPS
Gabriel Moreno, C, TOR
Moreno received a call up this week and made his Major League Debut on Saturday. An injury to Danny Jansen opened the door for Moreno to earn his first taste of the big leagues. His hit tool will play, as Moreno was hitting .324/.380/.404 with one home run, and outstanding plate discipline; 17.3% strikeout rate and an 8.0% walk rate.
Considering the state of catcher, Moreno is absolutely worth an add across standard redraft leagues, especially if you are not rostering one of the top catchers or play in two-catcher leagues. He may not offer a ton of power yet but his ability to hit and get on base is an upgrade over most catchers out there.
The kid can hit 🔥
There's Gabriel Moreno's FIRST as a Major Leaguer 👏 pic.twitter.com/jAt1Fx798P
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 11, 2022
1. Riley Greene, OF, DET – ETA July
Greene is starting to heat up in Triple-A. Over the last seven days he’s hit .304 and he’s been on base in 12 straight games. The power and speed hasn’t quite come around yet, but he’s trending in the right direction.
He looks fully healthy and will continue to ramp up before being called up by the Tigers. Greene has the upside to be a difference maker in the second half for your fantasy team, and is only rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues; check your waiver wire and if he’s available stash him now.
The on base streak continues for Riley Greene!! 11 games in a row now for @Greene21Riley!! 😃
Got to get something rolling here… Baddoo and Greene know what to do! 💪#LetsGoHens | #DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/aD7LrvjF45
— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) June 11, 2022
2. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, KCR – ETA June
Vinnie keeps doing Vinnie things. Since last week, he’s added two more home runs while hitting .353/.455/.765 over this same time, with a ridiculous 1:4 K:BB ratio.
On the year, the lefty has a 13.7% strikeout rate, 12.8% walk rate, and 84.0% contact rate. His splits vs. left handed pitching are respectable to0: .238 average, five home runs, with 12 walks to only 10 strikeouts.
He’s not on the 40-man roster, and this is his first year in Triple-A, but he’s already 24-years-old and quite bluntly the Royals current first base options stink. Stash Vinnie now and be thankful later.
3. Oneil Cruz, SS, PIT – ETA June
Since May 15, Cruz is hitting .310/.412/.620 with seven home runs, three stolen bases, and a 16:11 K:BB ratio. He’s registered a hit in 16 of 18 games during this times and has a 169 wRC+. Wonder what he’s still working on?
On the year, his strikeout rate continues to dip, now at 23.9%, with a walk rate of 12.8%, and a contact rate at 72.1%. His plate discipline has trending hard in the right direction over the last couple weeks. His defensive adventure continues though, with 15 errors between shortstop and leftfield, but zero errors this week!
The Pirates have been actively promoting some of their top prospects, including Roansy Contreras, Cal Mitchell, and Travis Swaggerty, among others. Cruz figures to be one of the next in line and is worth a stash in all redraft leagues.
Oneil Cruz drives it to the deepest part of the park for a 3-run triple.
The @Pirates' No. 3 prospect also singled in the @indyindians' 9-run inning. pic.twitter.com/eVg9pwknSW
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 12, 2022
4. C.J. Abrams, MI/OF, SDP – ETA July
Abrams has been on a tear the last couple weeks, including a five hit night on Saturday. Over this stretch he’s hit .326/.370/.465 wit one home run, one stolen base, and a 3:2 K:BB ratio.
During his time this season at Triple-A he has a 16.5% strikeout rate, 6.1% walk rate, and 82.9% contact rate.
Expect Abrams to get an extended run in the minors, but his upside is immense, so with sustained success, he could be a big fantasy contributor down the stretch.
5. Triston Casas, 1B, BOS – ETA July
Casas still hasn’t played since May 17. He is currently on the minor league injured list with an ankle injury and no has timetable yet for a return.
Casas will almost certainly need some time to ramp back up once he gets healthy, which could push any potential call up to the second half. He is still worth stash due to his upside and proximity, we just may have to wait a little long than anticipated.
6. Miguel Vargas, 3B, LAD – ETA July
Vargas has cooled off a bit as we’ve gotten into June. After a fire May, he’s hit just .270/.324/.514 two home runs and nine strikeouts to only three walks. Cooled is relative for a hitter like Vargas. On the year, he’s hitting .286 with a 17.4% strikeout rate, 12.8% walk rate, and 80.0% contact rate.
If Vargas were on any other team, he’d either be at the top of this list or already in the Majors. The problem for Vargas is the lack of opportunity with the Dodgers; his last hurdle to a promotion, but a big one.
He is worth a stash based on his upside, but right now, there are too many mouths to feed in Los Angeles, so he’s ticketed for regular at-bats in Oklahoma City. He’s an injury away from being a significant contributor for your fantasy team.
7. Kyle Stowers, OF, BAL – ETA June
This week, the slugger added a couple more home runs to his 2022 resume and chipped in a stolen base as well. On the year, Stowers is hitting .253/.356/.545 with a 25.4% strikeout rate and 10.7% walk rate.
Rumors have been circulating of Stowers impending call-up, though nothing has been confirmed yet. He lacks the pedigree of some others here but could take over an outfield spot in Camden Yards very soon. Stash him only in the deepest leagues due to his proximity.
The Tides put up 6️⃣ runs in the 3rd, including this RBI double by @KyleStowers!#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/PIIGwcR035
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) June 9, 2022
8. Jonathan Aranda, MI, TBR – ETA July
Aranda is a hitting machine, and has been for the better part of the last two seasons. This year he’s up to .324/.403/.521 with nine homers, three stolen bases, a 18.9% strikeout rate, and 10.7% walk rate.
Aranda is already on the 40-man roster and looks like the next one up; he may force the issue if he continues to hit. He’s worth keeping an eye on due to his proximity.
9. Alec Burleson, OF, STL – ETA July
Over the last two weeks, Burleson has hit .319/.314/.447 with two home runs, 10 runs batted in, a 3:1 K:BB ratio. On the year, the lefty slugger has a 17.7% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate.
The Cardinals have another big time bat in the pipeline, though considering their recent promotions and the play of some of their veterans there is absolutely no space on the big league club for another hitter. Expect Burleson to get regular at-bats in Triple-A for now, but keep an eye on him in the second half.
10. Nick Pratto, 1B, Royas – ETA July
Prepare to have your heart broken by stashing another Royals hitter. Kidding, but we should be monitoring Nick Pratto. He started the year in a deep slump but has been heating back up and should see an opportunity in Kansas City at some point this season.
He offers tremendous power upside though he still has plenty of things to iron out in Triple-A, namely to cut down on strikeouts (31.3% strikeout rate.
It’s worth noting that Pratto is actually on the 40-man roster (where as Vinnie Pasquantino is not). For this reason, it’s entirely possible Pratto gets an opportunity first, but the ensuing riot by Royals fans might not be worth the risk.
Others considered (in no particular order): Josh Lowe, Mason Martin, Pedro Leon, Oswald Peraza, Francisco Álvarez, Ryan Fitzgerald, Tyler Freeman, Moises Gomez
Photos by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)
Greg … Really enjoy these hitter and pitcher lists each week. Thank you. There might not be a hotter hitter in the minors than Esteury Ruiz of the Padres, who was promoted to Triple A this past week. Given the state of the Padres outfield one would think there’s opportunity in 2022 should he continue raking (and stealing bases) as he has. At only 23 years old, is there something about him prospect evaluators don’t like? I’m guessing there must be because he’s rarely mentioned despite posting video game numbers.
Hey Friar – Thanks for the kind words and your comments. You’re right, Ruiz is playing out of his mind right now – his stats this week (and season) are crazy good. He’s certainly improved his stock a ton. and could probably push for a promotion in the second half. He’s at least a name that should be considered – I’ll spend some additional time on him this week. Appreciate it!
A little surprised not to see Corbin Carroll on this list? Is the general feeling his only potential call-up is the late season roster expansion cup of coffee?
Hey Justin – Thanks for reading and your thoughts. This is a fair comment, Carroll should at minimum be listed as another name considered since he’s playing out of this world. He probably should be called up, but Arizona has little motivation to start his service time clock this season since they are unlikely to be in the playoff hunt. Hopefully they reward him with a late season cup of coffee as you suggest, but if that’s the case his impact in redraft leagues is very minimal, if anything.