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Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Jordan Lawlar, J.J. Wetherholt, Bubba Chandler - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
Fantasy baseball managers have seen several high-end prospects make their MLB debuts this season and make an immediate impact. For example, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is running away with the AL ROY Award while Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski is flashing immense strikeout upside.
In this piece, we will look at two top infield prospects at the Triple-A level and a budding ace and determine if they are worth stashing on our bench in Week 18 of the fantasy baseball season.
Should those players be left on the waiver wire, or should fantasy managers add them before their breakout? Let's dive in!
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Jordan Lawlar, INF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 53 G, .319/.410/.583, 19 2B, 10 HR, 18 SB
The Diamondbacks made the first big trade of the deadline period by trading away Josh Naylor. They are also expected to move Eugenio Suarez at some point in the next week, as many contenders would love to add his monster power to their lineup, and he's an impending free agent.
With Suarez out of the picture, Lawlar will finally have a real opportunity to get solid playing time at the major league level. It would be a big win for the Diamondbacks in an otherwise disappointing year if Lawlar can show that he is part of their future.
It's been a disappointing start to Lawlar's big league career as he's posted a negative WRC+ in each of his first two short stints. However, he's producing at Triple-A and is still incredibly young. He has a 135 WRC+ on the season with 10 HRs and 18 SBs.
We'll likely need to wait a bit longer for Lawlar, even after Suarez is traded, as he's currently recovering from a hamstring injury. However, when he comes back, he still has five-category upside and should be able to be a contributor at either corner or middle infield slots.
If the Diamondbacks were to trade Suarez later this week, Lawlar would be viewed as a priority stash candidate, as he would have a clear path to see everyday at-bats for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. He is worth stashing in all 12+ team leagues for the time being.
-Written by Kevin Luo
J.J. Wetherholt, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 MiLB stats: 72 G, .307/.423/.517, 18 2B, 11 HR, 14 SB
With so many top 2024 draftees already up in the big leagues, J.J. Wetherholt has fallen under the radar a little bit, but he's been excellent so far in his first full pro season.
He has a 162 WRC+ across Double-A and Triple-A with more walks than strikeouts. Coming out of West Virginia, he was known for his hit tool, which he has displayed in the minors. However, he's also showing some exciting fantasy tools, especially since he got the call to Triple-A.
He has four of his 11 HRs on the season in only eight Triple-A games.
JJ Wetherholt is mashing Triple-A pitching 🔥
MLB's No. 17 prospect (@Cardinals) drills two long balls in three innings, raising his @MemphisRedbirds OPS to 1.521: pic.twitter.com/3LVPWGbwqR
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 24, 2025
While the Cardinals are still in the race, there has been speculation that they could deal one of their veterans to open up an opportunity to add Wetherholt to their major league lineup, most notably Nolan Arenado or Brendan Donovan.
I think it's less likely they'll part with Donovan, but Arenado has been in trade rumors for what seems like the last year. If the Cardinals can find a taker for him and he waives his no-trade clause, Wetherholt would likely take his place.
Wetherholt's advanced hit tool should make his transition to the majors easier than that of some other top prospects, but don't discount his solid power and speed upside. For now, Wetherholt is worth closely monitoring in deeper formats in Week 18. If the Cardinals were to move either Donovan or Arenado in the coming days, Wetherholt could enter must-stash territory.
- Written by Kevin Luo
Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 82 2/3 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 104 SO, 41 BB
Bubba Chandler has been on the verge of a promotion throughout the entire first half but has taken several step-backs over the course of the Triple-A regular season, which has pushed back his debut. However, like Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, Chandler is coming off a dominant outing and may have proven that his development is complete.
On Thursday evening, Chandler tossed 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball en route to picking up the victory over Triple-A Toledo. In this outing, Chandler struck out seven hitters while allowing just four hits and two walks. This was a great sign for Chandler as he allowed five runs and eight hits in his previous start on July 18.
However, he was able to open the month of July, logging 12 straight shutout innings with a 1.17 WHIP.
Despite his inconsistencies this season, Chandler has flashed elite strikeout potential and has been able to bounce back following a rough skid. Before June, Chandler appeared to be the next budding ace in the sport, logging 48 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 69:21 K:BB.
With several Pittsburgh starters on the trade block, such as Mitch Keller and Andrew Heaney, Chandler should be given an extended look in early August.
Given his elite strikeout upside, fantasy managers should view the budding ace as a must-stash in all formats heading into Week 18 of the fantasy baseball season. When he gets the call, he will be viewed as a must-start option in all standard formats.
Looks like Bubba Chandler may have made his last start in the minor leauges... https://t.co/z3msFk2nn2
— Andy Smith (@A_Smith_FS) July 26, 2025
- Written by Andy Smith
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