Welcome to The Stash List, Pitcher Edition!
The Stash List will highlight the top-10 starting pitcher prospects who are most likely to make an impact this season.
Previous Week’s Stash List (no Stash List week 16): The Stash List, Pitcher 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 28 (generally, the most recent three appearances and season total)
Top 10 SP Prospects to Stash
1. DL Hall, LHP, BAL – ETA August
Hall looked poised to be called up after his July 17 outing against Worcester, picking up 10 strikeouts over five innings with only one walk. Since emerging from the All-Star break, Hall had a planned shortened outing (July 22) and hit a road bump this week against Memphis, allowing six earned runs and failing to finish an inning. He struggled right out of the gate with command and allowed a lot of hard contact, including two quick home runs to Paul DeJong and Moises Gomez before exiting.
Despite the tough outing Hall remains the top arm to stash in redraft leagues. His proximity and upside is unmatched by others on this list. However, the jury is still out as to what Hall’s role will be with the Orioles when he does get called up. His inconsistency week-to-week might be hard for fantasy managers to stomach, but his upside is too high to ignore. He’s worth stashing across all redraft leagues in anticipation of his call up.
2. Ryan Pepiot, RHP, LAD – ETA August
Pepiot has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Oklahoma City and Los Angeles this season, but he’s one to watch as we get down the stretch. The Dodgers, as per usual, are involved heavily in trade rumors heading into Tuesday’s deadline which could change circumstances here quickly.
Pepiot is coming off his longest start of the season, working seven innings and picking up six strikeouts. In his minor league appearances since June 1, Pepiot has a 2.68 ERA, with 47 strikeouts over 37.0 innings pitched. He’s been impressive, though his command week-to-week is a complete wild card.
Considering how thin the waiver wire likely is in your redraft leagues, Pepiot is one worth stashing due to his MLB experience and proximity. There’s currently no opening in the Dodgers rotation but as we get closer to playoff baseball, rest assured they will look to get their regulars some additional rest which could open the door for him again. It’s quite possible he dons another uniform in the near future as well and may slide right into the rotation.
3. Cade Cavalli, RHP, WAS – ETA September
Cavalli left his July 12 start when he developed developed a blister and he had his subsequent start skipped out of precaution. Just another week of keeping track of his injuries. However, he made a strong return this week, working five scoreless innings against a tough Scranton/WB lineup. Over his last six starts, Cavalli has a 1.52 ERA in 23.2 innings pitched with 25 strikeouts and only six walks.
The Nationals rotation could certainly use the help, so once the organization feels Cavalli is ready there is no one standing in his way. Though, their plans are very uncertain and there is no reason to rush him considering their fifth place spot in the NL East. Stashing Cavalli is highly speculative based on his upside.
Cade Cavalli returns in style. 🕺
In his first start since July 12, the @Nationals' top prospect tosses five scoreless innings for the @RocRedWings: https://t.co/KWezZUhElL pic.twitter.com/hMOiGC5EyB
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 28, 2022
4. Kyle Muller, LHP, ATL – ETA September
Muller has been one of the hottest pitchers in the minors over the last few months and looked poised to join the Braves rotation here in the second half. Unfortunately, he’s dealing with a broken bone in his non-throwing hand, sustained from a comebacker that hit him during practice.
Muller remains one to stash for now, but it looks likely he’ll be missing some time and the added uncertainty around his health could drop him off fantasy radars for the rest of the season. Stay tuned on Muller, but don’t expect him to be called up anytime soon.
5. Hunter Brown, RHP, HOU – ETA August
Brown made his first appearance of the second half this week, working three plus innings in relief. He continues to mix in relief appearances as the Astros appears to be preparing him for a hybrid role upon his call-up. He’s a name to know right now, but he’s not on the 40-man roster, and there is no clear path to a rotation opportunity. Either way, it’s very likely we see Brown in Houston in the second half, just with a highly uncertain role and impact for fantasy.
6. Ken Waldichuk, LHP, NYY – ETA September
The Yankees are heavily rumored to be in the market for starting pitching help down the stretch which could result in a major change in circumstances for Waldichuk. He’s been included in a lot of hypothetical trades, and it’s appearing less likely that Waldichuk will get much more than a cup of coffee this season, if anything.
Still, Waldichuk has a promising upside and is rising up prospect lists. He’s looking more like a name to know down the stretch but he’s not worth stashing outside of the deepest redraft leagues right now.
7. Gavin Stone, RHP, LAD – ETA September
Stone continues to pile up strikeouts in Double-A, now having a 33.2% strikeout rate over 59.0 innings with a 1.50 ERA. Not quite sure why he hasn’t been promoted to Triple-A yet. He’s also making a strong case to be the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect.
The Dodgers have a lot of options on the 40-man roster that are ahead of Stone in the pecking order so he’s only worth stashing in the deepest of redraft formats due to his upside. If and when Stone does get called up, he’s definitely worth a speculative add across most redraft leagues.
8. Tommy Henry, LHP, ARI – ETA August
Henry is rolling over his past three starts, working a 2.50 ERA over combined 18.0 innings with 19 strikeouts and only one walk. He looks poised to be called up sometime in the near future. On the year, Henry has a 3.64 ERA, 22.0% strikeout rate, and 9.4% walk rate.
His upside is relatively limited but the Diamondbacks could do much worse and they could at least see what they have with Henry by allowing him a chance. They are in fourth place in the NL West and playoff hopes are all but out the window at this point. Henry is not worth stashing in redraft leagues and even if he is promoted a wait-and-see approach might be best.
9. Cody Morris, RHP, CLE – ETA September
Morris hasn’t pitched at all in the upper minors this season as he’s been out due to a shoulder injury. However, he’s currently on rehab assignment in Arizona and is expected to rejoin the Triple-A Columbus rotation once he is cleared.
Morris is one of the Guardians top pitching prospects, and at 25 years old, he may vault to the top of the pecking order when a big league opportunity arises. The Guardians are rumored to be shopping a handful of starting pitchers so once we are through the trade deadline we’ll have a better idea what a path to promotion may look like for Morris.
His promotion is highly speculative and a lot of things will need to go fall into place for it to happen.
10. Taj Bradley, RHP, TBR – ETA September
Bradley is so darn impressive. He was promoted to Triple-A right after the All-Star break and picked up right where he left off. In his first start against Norfolk, he’s earned his first win working five scoreless innings and striking out eight.
Bradley is only 21 years old and not on the 40-man roster, but he has huge upside and could earn an opportunity down the stretch. The Rays will have a handful of workloads to manage in the latter part of the season, so it’s possible Bradley will receive an opportunity. He’s not worth stashing in any redraft leagues right now.
Want to watch all 8 of Taj Bradley's strikeouts from his Triple-A debut tonight?
Of course you do pic.twitter.com/t4DgPCZ9n7
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) July 24, 2022
Because you’ll ask:
Roansy Contreras, RHP, PIT – He was demoted to Triple-A following his start last week. This move feels very much like its workload management considering the upcoming All-Star Break, not performance-based. He’s already up to 70.1 innings between two levels this year so to have him at full strength down the stretch the Pirates are likely opting to give him a breather now. Strongly recommend holding Contreras during this time.
Others considered (in no particular order):
Previously debuted, currently in minors: Caleb Kilian (CHC – AAA), Roansy Contreras (PIT-AAA), Ethan Small (MIL -AAA), Chase Silseth (LAA – AA)
Yet to make their MLB debut: Mike Burrows (PIT – AAA), Hayden Wesneski (NYY – AAA), Ryne Nelson (ARI – AAA), Brandon Williamson (CIN – AAA), Cole Ragans (TEX – AAA), Logan T. Allen (CLE – AAA), Bobby Miller (LAD – AA), Gordon Graceffo (STL – AA), Jay Groome (BOS – AAA), Peyton Battenfield (CLE – AAA)
Photos by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)