The Stash Week 17: Top 10 Hitter Prospects to Stash in 2022

It 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.

Previous Week’s Stash List (no Stash List in week 16): The Stash List, Hitter Edition: Week 15

 

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 July 30.

 

 

1. Miguel Vargas, 3B, LAD – ETA August

 

Did Miguel Vargas get called up today? No.

Miguel Vargas gets the party started with a two-run double!

He's now up to 7️⃣0️⃣ RBI this season! pic.twitter.com/tZl2UzTUoP

— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) July 29, 2022

 

2. Triston Casas, 1B, BOS – ETA August

 

Casas is finally back with Triple-A Worcester after a lengthy absence and rehab from an ankle injury. He was one of the top prospect hitters to stash entering this season and, unfortunately, still hasn’t made his MLB debut.

Though, the Red Sox are poised to make some moves ahead of the trade deadline which could open up a spot for Casas sooner than later. He’s worth a stash now due to his proximity and upside.

Second-ranked @RedSox prospect Triston Casas goes deep to open scoring for the @WooSox: pic.twitter.com/u5r3yMfwOs

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 29, 2022

3. Jonathan Aranda, INF, TBR – ETA August

 

Aranda has frequented The Stash List this season as he makes his round trips between Durham and Tampa. He can flat out hit and it’s hard to understand why he is in the minors right now as he has nothing left to prove.

Each move the Rays have made recently look like they are anti-Aranda. His versatility and hit tool can play just about anywhere, though. If he can get an every day role he’s worth adding across all formats, but that grows more unlikely by the day.

 

4. Alec Burleson, OF, STL – ETA August

 

Burleson continues to hit at Triple-A, biding his time until an opportunity in the big leagues arises. His name has been thrown around in speculative trade offers, as it’s well known the Cardinals are in search of starting pitcher help.

It remains to been seen what happens with Burleson, but considering the roadblocks in front of him, a trade could accelerate his promotion. He’s worth stashing due to his proximity and it’s worth monitoring trade talks in the coming days.

 

5. Francisco Álvarez, C, NYM, ETA – August

 

Álvarez was recently named the #1 overall prospect in baseball by MLB.com, adding to his growing list of accolades this season. He’s starting to get his footing in Triple-A, doing most of his damage on a couple of towering home runs this week, but a call-up is still highly speculative.

Álvarez is still only 20 years old, but as the Mets continue to push for a spot in the playoffs, they could probably use him down the stretch. A MLB promotion would be a fairy tale ending for his 2021 season.

"There's your magic moment in Triple-A for Francisco Álvarez!"

The @Mets' — and baseball's — top prospect ends the game with a long walk-off homer for the @SyracuseMets. pic.twitter.com/NiZwuqExzY

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 29, 2022

 

6. Oswald Peraza, SS, NYY – ETA August 

 

Peraza continues to swing a hot stick. Since July 1, he’s hitting .323/.400/.597 with four home runs, 12 runs batted in, and eight stolen bases. During this time he’s posted a 28.6% strikeout rate and 10.0% walk rate, good enough for a 163 wRC+.

Peraza’s immediate future is highly uncertain. A week from now we could be talking about how he was traded, promoted, or still in the minors, and all seem like reasonable possibilities.

He’s someone to monitor over the coming days leading into the trade deadline and is definitely worth an a speculative add if he is gets his hands on a big league opportunity, wherever that may be.

 

7. Eguy Rosario, INF, SDP – ETA August

 

Rosario has been hot for a while now and just keeps hitting. Over the last two weeks, he’s hitting .324/.359/.459 including six multi-hit games. On the year he has a 20.9% strikeout rate and 10.9% walk rate. He continues to get playing time all around the infield this season; second base (42), third base (18), and shortstop (30), so a utility role is likely in his future.

Rosario’s name has been thrown around quite often in speculative trade offers, which is reasonable considering blocks at the major league level. What comes next is uncertain, but his power/speed combination is intriguing if he can get a full-time big league role.

 

8. Jordan Westburg, 2B/3B, BAL – ETA August

 

Westburg’s production has slowed of late, but he’s still holding his own against advanced pitching, hitting .279/.320/.503 with a 24.7% strikeout rate and 4.7% walk rate. The latter has taken a nosedive since his promotion from Triple-A, but Westburg still figures to be part of the next wave of Orioles prospects to debut.

Westburg has been moving all around the infield and certainly wouldn’t be a downgrade from Roughned Odor and Ramon Urias. His call up is highly speculative; he’s more of a name to know down the stretch.

 

9. Spencer Steer, SS, MIN – ETA August

 

Steer is finally emerging from his recent slump, and is in the midst of a 12 game on-base streak where he’s hit .267/.361/.488 with an 8:9 K:BB ratio. Though, he’s only homered once and driven in three during this time, so there’s a bit of a power outage still.

If Steer is called up during the second half, it will likely be in a versatile role as he’s started games at second base (15), third base (24), and shortstop (3). Steer is not worth stashing yet, as he’s not on the 40-man roster and still needs some time in Triple-A. However, he’s a name to know for the second half.

 

10. Pedro Leon, OF, HOU – ETA September

 

Leon has been on a hot streak recently and could be positioning himself for his MLB debut. Over the last 30 days, he’s hit .284/.442/.527 with four home runs, 14 runs batted in, 12 stolen bases, and a 16:17 K:BB ratio. He’s significantly cut down on his strikeouts, which has been his Achilles Heel.

The Astros will likely be active in the trade market over the coming days, so keep an eye on Leon and whether he is moved or a spot at the big league level opens up. He has high upside tools that we look for in fantasy, so if he does get a big league opportunity he could be worth a speculative add.

Pedro Leon makes a grand slam grander:
106.6 mph
458 ft

The @astros' No. 3 prospect has 12 long balls for the @SLSpaceCowboys. pic.twitter.com/oRvrx5zWPR

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 23, 2022

11. Will Benson, OF, CLE – ETA September

 

Bonus coverage, Benson has been going bananas lately. Over the last three weeks he’s hitting .368/.422/.737 with four home runs, 10 runs batted in, and two stolen bases. He’s a former (and returning?) top prospect that could be knocking on the big league door.

Benson has spent all season in the outfield, but interestingly, he made his first career appearances at first base this week. Defensive changes like this could single he is getting groomed for a versatile role upon his promotion. The Guardians are always testing the trade market waters, but a move of someone like Franmil Reyes could allow Josh Naylor to spend more time at DH with Benson possibly getting some time at first.

He has an interesting blend of power and speed, and if promoted due to a trade it’s uncertain as to whether he can carve out regular playing time. He’s not worth stashing in any leagues, but is someone to watch in the coming weeks.

Will Benson laces a triple to the gap!#MiLBesDivertido | #CopaDeLaDiversión pic.twitter.com/mjAuVbFgGO

— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) July 29, 2022

 

Because you’ll ask:

These are some big-time prospects putting up some big-time numbers in the minor leagues. All are likely top-10 prospects in baseball but were not included in the top-10 hitters to stash in redraft leagues. Right now, it appears unlikely they will make a significant contribution for fantasy purposes in 2022. This does not mean they will not be called up — it’s quite possible, but it’s most likely in September, if at all, and not for a meaningful amount of time.

If you’re stashing purely based on upside and have the roster depth to speculate on a high-upside name like Carroll, Henderson, and Tovar, then absolutely make the add. As of this week, their ETAs all look more like 2023. But, like anything in this speculative article, this certainly can change at a moment’s notice.

 

Others considered (in no particular order):

Previously debuted, currently in minors: Kyle Stowers (BAL – AAA), Ezequiel Duran (TEX – AAA), Lenyn Sosa (CWS – AAA), Gabriel Moreno (TOR-AAA)

Yet to make their MLB debut: Moises Gomez (STL – AAA), Gunnar Henderson (BAL – AAA), Ezequiel Tover (COL – AA), Corbin Carroll (ARI – AAA), Shea Langeliers (OAK – AAA), Curtis Mead (TBR – AAA), Estevan Florial (NYY – AAA)

 

Photos by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)