Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Logan Henderson, Tanner McDougal, Aidan Miller - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
Even though the 2026 MLB season is just getting started, managers have seen many prospects emerge and make a massive impact, like Noah Schultz and Payton Tolle.
In this piece, we will look at three under-the-radar prospects who could be on the verge of earning a call to the big leagues.
Should fantasy managers stash these emerging prospects? Let's dive in!
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Logan Henderson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 10% rostered
2026 AAA Stats: 17 2/3 IP, 1.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 26 SO, 9 BB
Sitting in the next spot on our list will be the only pitcher on our list that has had MLB experience, Logan Henderson. Henderson made his MLB debut last summer and did much more than hold his own during his first stint. Over his first 25 1/3 innings in Milwaukee (five starts), the right-hander posted an elite 1.78 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP.
In this short stint, Henderson struck out an impressive 33 hitters (33.3% K%) while walking only 8.1% of the batters he faced. He also generated a strong 32.8% hard-hit rate with a solid 3.69 xERA, which suggested he may have gotten a bit of luck, but was still an above-average pitcher. However, after a few lingering injuries (including a season-ending flexor strain) and the team monitoring his workload, Henderson would spend the rest of the campaign in the minor leagues.
In spring training, Henderson was in serious consideration of breaking camp with the MLB roster, especially as Quinn Priester (elbow) was set to open the season on the IL and there were concerns about Brandon Woodruff's early-season availability. While Priester has yet to take the bump, Woodruff was cleared to begin the season in the rotation, which sent Henderson to Triple-A Nashville.
However, the former 116th overall selection did not have to wait long to return to Milwaukee as he got the call for a spot-start on April 4. In this lone outing, Henderson stumbled a bit, allowing three hits and two runs over two innings against the Royals. He was then optioned back to Nashville, where he currently resides.
Similar to last summer, Henderson has looked just as dominant at Triple-A and should see far better results in his next stint with the MLB club. Since returning to Triple-A (three outings), Henderson has posted a 0.93 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and a 12:7 K:BB over 9 2/3 innings. While the command is a bit of a weak point, Henderson is flashing high-end strikeout upside while limiting the damage.
Similar to Snelling, the Brewers' rotation is full, and given Brandon Sproat's recent turnaround, he may have to wait for an injury to find a role. However, unlike Snelling, Henderson is the clear next option in the pecking order, making him a strong stash candidate in all formats. His previous success in the majors should also give him the highest "floor" among the names on our list.
-Written by Andy Smith
Tanner McDougal, SP, Chicago White Sox
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2026 AAA Stats: 23 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 26 SO, 13 BB
While I considered putting Hagen Smith here, McDougal appears to be slightly closer to his MLB debut, giving him the slight edge on our list. The White Sox recently called up Noah Schultz, and it appears another one of their budding pitchers is on the verge of a debut. McDougal joined the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft and has spent the past two summers in the upper minors.
In 2025, McDougal opened the campaign with High-A and needed just 57 2/3 innings before being promoted to Double-A Birmingham. With Double-A, McDougal posted a 3.23 ERA, 1.19 WHIP with a 63:17 K:BB, over 55 2/3 innings. This strong showing earned him a direct ticket to Triple-A to open the 2026 campaign.
Through his first five starts at Triple-A, McDougal has held his own, posting a 3.13 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. The 23-year-old has struck out 26 hitters over 23 innings while walking 13. However, much of his improvement came in his first two outings, when he walked four batters in each start.
Since then (his last three games), McDougal has logged 14 innings with a much-improved 15:5 K:BB. If McDougal can continue to limit the walks like Ullola, he should face minimal trouble carrying out a role in this weak White Sox rotation.
His teammate Smith has fared better in the short-term at Triple-A (1.76 ERA, 23 K in 15 1/3 innings), but given McDougal's longer track record in the minor leagues, he should be first in line.
3U/3D 1st inning for Tanner McDougal. #Knights pic.twitter.com/8Zg5p5Zaiq
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 23, 2026
- Written by Andy Smith
Aidan Miller, INF, Philadelphia Phillies
Current Level: AAA (on the injured list)
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 8 G, .333/.514/.519, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 SB
Now, here we have an interesting one who can make a meaningful impact this season. Miller slashed .264/.392/.433 with 14 home runs and 59 stolen bases in 526 plate appearances in the minors last season. That's the kind of stolen base upside that gives him tantalizing upside in redraft leagues.
Right now, Miller is dealing with a back injury, which has kept him sidelined for the entire year. The latest report indicates that Miller hasn't resumed swinging a bat just yet, but he's making progress. Once he's ready to return, he'll head to Triple-A, where he put up a 185 wRC+ as a 20-year-old last season. If he performs well there, there's a chance that he can be promoted to the Phillies.
When you look at the Phillies roster, you can make the case that Miller is blocked by Trea Turner at shortstop, Bryson Stott at second base, and Alec Bohm at third base. However, the Phillies tried to trade Bohm in the offseason, so perhaps they can make that move to make room for Miller.
It's also worth noting that this team is off to an abysmal start. If it digs itself too deep a hole, it could be more inclined to see what it has in Miller. I'd bet that he'll be up at some point this year, making him worth a stash. For now, keep him on your watch list.
- Written by Frank Ammirante
2026 Prospect Fantasy Baseball Redraft Stash Rankings
Who are the top fantasy baseball prospects to know? Check out our latest 2026 prospect fantasy baseball rankings which are updated regularly by Eric Cross:
Promoted Last Week: Payton Tolle (BOS)
Promoted This Week: Trey Yesavage (TOR), Travis Bazzana (CLE)
Honorable Mentions (Hitters): Lazaro Montes (SEA), Harry Ford (WAS), Ryan Clifford (NYM), Kemp Alderman (MIA), Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT), Gabriel Gonzalez (MIN), Zac Veen (COL), Deyvison De Los Santos (MIA), Hector Rodriguez (CIN), Michael Arroyo (SEA), Jonathon Long (CHC), Blaze Jordan (STL), Jacob Melton (TBR)
Honorable Mentions (Pitchers): Gage Jump (ATH), Carlos Lagrange (NYY), Elmer Rodriguez (NYY), Hagen Smith (CHW), Jaxon Wiggins (CHC), Trey Gibson (BAL), Brody Hopkins (TBR), Kendry Rojas (MIN), River Ryan (LAD)
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | ETA |
| 1 | Trey Yesavage | SP | TOR | Tuesday |
| 2 | Travis Bazzana | 2B | CLE | Tuesday |
| 3 | Robby Snelling | SP | MIA | May |
| 4 | Ryan Waldschmidt | OF | ARI | May |
| 5 | Max Clark | OF | DET | June |
| 6 | Colt Emerson | SS | SEA | May |
| 7 | Didier Fuentes | SP | ATL | May |
| 8 | Bryce Eldridge | 1B | SFG | May |
| 9 | Charlie Condon | 1B | COL | May |
| 10 | Kaelen Culpepper | SS | MIN | May |
| 11 | Walker Jenkins | OF | MIN | June |
| 12 | Emmanuel Rodriguez | OF | MIN | July |
| 13 | Joshua Baez | OF | STL | July |
| 14 | Luis Lara | OF | MIL | June |
| 15 | Kevin Alcantara | OF | CHC | June |
| 16 | A.J. Ewing | OF | NYM | July |
| 17 | Jonah Tong | SP | NYM | June |
| 18 | Jett Williams | SS/OF | MIL | May |
| 19 | Aidan Miller | SS | PHI | July |
| 20 | Thomas White | SP | MIA | July |
| 21 | Spencer Jones | OF | NYY | July |
| 22 | Carson Williams | SS | TBR | May |
| 23 | Jhostynxon Garcia | OF | PIT | June |
| 24 | Pedro Ramirez | 2B/3B | CHC | July |
| 25 | James Tibbs III | OF | LAD | June |
Who Should I Pickup Fantasy Baseball Tool
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2026 Player Decisions. Looking to pick up someone else instead? Today's focus is on specific players like Logan Henderson, Aidan Miller, Ryan Waldschmidt, Bryce Eldridge, Payton Tolle, Trey Yesavage, Justin Crawford, Owen Caissie. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four MLB players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and more.
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How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Looking to pick up someone else instead? Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2026 for players like Logan Henderson, Aidan Miller, Ryan Waldschmidt, Bryce Eldridge, Payton Tolle, Trey Yesavage, Justin Crawford, Owen Caissie:
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