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Zach analyzes three top fantasy baseball prospects - Roman Anthony, Coby Mayo, Jordan Lawlar- who could make big impacts this season. These MLB prospects are potential waiver wire pickups or stashes.
The MLB regular season is off to a great start, with some exciting young rookies already making a significant impact. Whether you already have some of those rookies on your fantasy baseball roster or are looking to add an infusion of youth by grabbing the next rookie sensation, keeping an eye on the top prospects who aren't yet in the majors is critical, so you know the right move to make with the right timing.
One of the most exciting parts of spring training each year is catching a glimpse of some exciting young players and deciding if you want to add them to your fantasy roster. Every year, many rookies start the season in the majors and on fantasy rosters, but some top prospects don't break camp with their team and head to Triple-A to keep growing and progressing. In this post, we'll look at three options who didn't quite make the Opening Day roster but could still have a significant impact and make meaningful contributions when they arrive.
Let's check on three top position-player prospects who didn't make their teams' Opening Day rosters and see how they're doing at Triple-A. We'll evaluate if they're worth stashing on your roster at this point. Here are the latest updates on Roman Anthony of the Red Sox, Coby Mayo of the Orioles, and Jordan Lawlar of the Diamondbacks.
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Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox
Current Level: Worcester Red Sox (AAA)
Availability: 28% rostered
2025 AAA stats: 6 G, .200/.429/.600, 2 HRs, 3B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 8 BB, 8 SO
Anthony is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He hit four homers in spring training with a .206 batting average and a .344 wOBA in 17 games. Despite his dynamic upside, the team still optioned him to Triple-A to start the year in Worcester.
Last year, he spent most of the year in Double-A with a .269 batting average, 15 home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a .385 wOBA in 84 games. He got called up to Triple-A for his final 35 games of 2024, hitting .344 with three homers, five stolen bases, and a .439 wOBA.
In his first six games back in Worcester this year, Anthony has already smashed two home runs. He's only hitting .200 but has a 58.3 percent hard-hit rate, according to StatCast. He also has a stolen base in his only attempt and a formidable 174 wRC+.
Roman Anthony's first home run of the Minor League season was a TANK! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/BQc52Hk6I0
— MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2025
The Red Sox have a crowded outfield situation right now with Wilyer Abreu starting the season hot, although he was scratched for undisclosed reasons during Saturday's rain delay--definitely a situation to keep an eye on. Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela are firmly entrenched in the other two starting spots, with Kristian Campbell and Rob Refsnyder available to fill in as depth options.
Masataka Yoshida is still on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder labral injury and has not been cleared to throw from the outfield, but his return will make the situation even more complex. With Rafael Devers ensconced as the everyday DH in Boston, there aren't regular at-bats in Boston for Anthony at this point, which is why the team will likely leave him in Triple-A in the short term.
Anthony is only hitting .200 despite his power potential, and he has a 28.5 percent strikeout rate. Since there are still things for him to work on in the minors, he could continue to grow in Worcester as the Red Sox stay patient and let him develop. He's still just 20 years old, so giving him time could end up helping him in the long run.
At this point, the power-hitting lefty only needs to be stashed in deep leagues with long benches. If the situation changes, be ready to add him as a top priority if you need power.
Coby Mayo, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
Current Level: Norfolk Tides (AAA)
Availability: 7% rostered
2025 minor league stats: 8 G, .143/.286/.286, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 6 BB, 9 SO
2024 minor league stats: 93 G, .293/.372/.592, 25 HRs, 73 RBI, 65 R, 4 SB, 42 BB, 102 SO
Mayo is in a similar situation to Anthony in that there isn't much room for him in the major leagues at this point due to how well-stocked his team's MLB roster is. Mayo was with the O's early in spring training but only hit .190 with no home runs and three doubles.
He showed his upside with good exit velocity and some strong at-bats, but he also looked like he needed more time to improve his consistency and reduce his strikeouts.
Last year, he spent most of the year in Triple-A and started this year ranked as the No. 13 prospect this season by MLB Pipeline. He hit 25 home runs while hitting .293 with a .413 wOBA in 93 minor-league games. Despite his struggles in spring training, Mayo was upset about being sent down and made some ill-advised comments saying, "It obviously sucks because you feel like you’ve proven everything you’ve needed to."
He apologized for his remarks the following day but said that being sent down would light a fire under him and help him be the best version of himself.
So far, that hasn't really been the case for Mayo in Norfolk, though. He's hitting just .143 through his first eight games but does have one home run.
Coby Mayo crushes his first long ball of the year 😎 pic.twitter.com/qAkMVGu7zB
— Orioles Player Development (@OsPlayerDev) March 30, 2025
Mayo has improved his walk rate in the minors from 10.3 percent to 17.1 percent this year, but his strikeout rate has also increased slightly from 25.1 percent to 25.7 percent. He's not exactly beating down the door, though, going just 4-for-28 in his first eight games with a .278 wOBA after posting a .413 wOBA in 2024.
The Orioles have Jordan Westburg at 3B, but rumors have swirled around Ryan Mountcastle being traded to open playing time for Mayo at first base. Until that happens, though, or Mayo starts hitting much more effectively at Triple-A, he only needs to be held in deeper than standard leagues.
The upside is undeniable, but there's no clear path to playing time until something changes.
Jordan Lawlar, INF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Level: Reno Aces (AAA)
Availability: 8% rostered
2025 AAA stats: 8 G, .276/.417/.379, 0 HR, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 8 R, 4 SB
2024 minor league stats: 23 G, .318/.417/.482, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 13 R, 6 SB
Of the three prospects in this post, Lawlar has the best batting average at Triple-A but is also the only prospect without a minor league home run yet this season. He started the season ranked as the No. 10 prospect in all of baseball, but the Diamondbacks opted to start him at Triple-A since he needs consistent playing time the most.
Over the last few seasons, Lawlar has looked ready to have the breakout the team has been waiting for and step up as Arizona's "shortstop of the future." The one huge problem has been that he can't stay healthy. He only played 23 games last season due to lingering thumb and hamstring issues. He made it to the majors at the end of 2023, but 2024 was mostly a lost season.
In spring training, Lawlar played 13 games with the Diamondbacks and hit an impressive .294 with three doubles, a triple, a home run, two stolen bases, and a .389 wOBA. He looked healthy and ready to make an impact, but the team started him at Triple-A to get the playing time he needed to keep developing.
In Reno this year, he looks healthy and ready to contribute so far this season.
Jordan Lawlar is inevitable 😤
He follows up Jorge Barrosa's 2️⃣B with a double of his own and later comes in to score ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/rGdNKRxJih
— Reno Aces (@Aces) April 5, 2025
Even with Ketel Marte (hamstring) landing on the IL, the Diamondbacks opted to leave Lawlar at Triple-A instead of calling up Tim Tawa. It does look, however, like they are preparing Lawlar for a versatile role later in the season since he has already started games at 2B, SS, and 3B this season for Reno.
Like Anthony and Mayo, Lawlar is currently blocked by established, everyday major league players. The Diamondbacks have Geraldo Perdomo at SS and Eugenio Suarez locked in on the left side of the infield for now, with Pavin Smith and Randal Grichuk rotating at DH. Lawlar's potential is extremely high, though, and based on his spring training and Triple-A success, he seems like the closest of these three prospects.
Lawlar doesn't have the raw power potential of Mayo or Anthony, but he brings much more speed potential and has a much better batting average so far this year. His combination of power and speed gives him a high floor for his fantasy value once he arrives in the majors.
If he gets called up, he'll be an immediate add, and if your league roster structure allows you to stash him, it definitely could be a move that pays off.
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