RADIO
Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Samuel Basallo, Brandon Sproat, Spencer Jones - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
Fantasy managers have seen many high-end prospects get the call to the big leagues this season and make an immediate impact. For example, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz has emerged as one of the sport's top power hitters, while Chandler Simpson is flashing immense speed upside.
In this piece, we will look at three of the top performers at the Triple-A level and determine if fantasy managers should grab them off the waiver wire before their eventual MLB debut later this season.
Should those players be left on the waiver wire, or should fantasy managers add them before their breakout? Let's dive in!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:- Fantasy baseball draft kit
- Fantasy baseball rankings
- Team Sync platform and Draft Assistant
- Fantasy baseball mock draft simulator
- Fantasy baseball draft cheat sheets
- Fantasy baseball closer depth charts
- Fantasy baseball prospects
Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 15% rostered
2025 MiLB Stats: 63 G, .282/.395/.624, 13 2B, 20 HR, 55 SO, 39 BB
So the Orioles have made it pretty clear by their actions that they don't want Samuel Basallo to play catcher for them, at least this season. They've had many catcher injuries at the major league level, but that didn't motivate them to call Basallo up.
However, with the deadline looming and the Orioles selling off their impending expiring deals, one hitter that is likely to be moved is Ryan O'Hearn. If he gets moved, will that motivate the Orioles to call up Basallo to play some at DH and first base?
Basallo is one of the top prospects in baseball, and he's been crushing Triple-A pitching all season. Coming into tonight, he had a 152 WRC+ with 19 HRs. Tonight, he hit his 20th HR and went 4-4.
What do we even say? That's #20 for the Big Dog!
He's 4-for-4, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI https://t.co/ARhSiK068e pic.twitter.com/gCeBgQg2tN
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 26, 2025
If Basallo gets the call, he should be viewed as a starting-caliber catcher in almost all fantasy leagues, even if he's not playing catcher. Fantasy managers should view Basallo as a must-stash in two-catcher leagues and a top option in deeper 12+ team formats. He will be viewed as a must-start backstop as soon as he earns the call.
-Written by Kevin Luo
Brandon Sproat, SP, New York Mets
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 MiLB stats: 90 IP, 4.20 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 73 SO, 40 BB
After a massive ascent up prospect rankings in 2024, as Sproat was one of the biggest pitching prospect breakouts in the game, 2025 has been rough, at least until now. Sproat turned in a masterful performance last Saturday, striking out nine batters across five scoreless innings. In doing so, he extended his scoreless streak to 23 innings.
Over that span, Sproat has struck out 27 batters and walked just six, but that number drops to just three total walks over his last three starts.
There have been some changes in the profile that led to the jump. Sproat has seen an uptick in velocity and a pitch mix change. Sproat has also moved a few inches toward the first base side of the rubber. Little changes can make all the difference.
Through games before 6/22:
| Pitch | Usage | Velo | IVB | hMov | Release Ht | Horizontal Rel |
| 4-Seam | 28.60% | 95.8 | 12.6 | 10.2 | 5.78 | -2.34 |
| Sinker | 21.30% | 95.3 | 6.7 | 16.9 | 5.72 | -2.43 |
| Sweeper | 18.20% | 83.8 | 4.9 | 13 | 5.76 | -2.53 |
| Slider | 16.20% | 86.9 | 2.1 | 4.9 | 5.78 | -2.48 |
| Changeup | 11.70% | 90.4 | 3.3 | 15.4 | 5.7 | -2.53 |
| Curve | 4.00% | 78.9 | -10.3 | 13.4 | 6.05 | -2.18 |
After 6/22:
| Pitch | Usage | Velo | IVB | hMov | Release Ht | Horizontal Rel |
| 4-Seam | 32.60% | 97.4 | 12.4 | 9.8 | 5.82 | -2.16 |
| Curve | 17.60% | 81 | -10 | 12.4 | 5.99 | -2.17 |
| Changeup | 17.20% | 90.6 | 2.7 | 15.1 | 5.76 | -2.33 |
| Sinker | 14.70% | 96.2 | 5.9 | 16.4 | 5.68 | -2.23 |
| Sweeper | 10.70% | 85 | 4.6 | 13.9 | 5.71 | -2.38 |
| Slider | 7.20% | 88.1 | 2.1 | 4.5 | 5.79 | -2.27 |
In his last four starts, Sproat has sat at 97.4 mph on his fastball, which is up from 95.8 previously. The curveball usage has also increased from four percentage points to 17.6 percent and has been his second most used pitch behind the four-seam.
Sproat has also used his changeup more often, and both it and the curveball have missed bats at highly impressive rates. The curbed sinker usage could be a good sign moving forward, as it has been a pitch that was hit hard this year.
Will the velocity stick? Will the move toward the first base side of the rubber continue to lead to dominance? These small-sample-size questions need to be answered. For now, things look good, and Sproat could find himself pitching with the Mets by mid-August if the trends continue.
In his most recent outing on Friday evening, Sproat took a light step back but was still strong, as he picked up the victory, allowing just two runs across five innings of work. With Clay Holmes showing signs of wearing down, the Mets will likely call Sproat's name to provide some much-needed depth to the rotation.
Right-hander Brandon Sproat tonight for Triple-A Syracuse:
5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Threw 86 pitches (60 strikes) and topped out at 99.9 mph on the radar gun
— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) July 26, 2025
- Written by Chris Clegg
Spencer Jones, OF, New York Yankees
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 15% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 19 G, .400/.457/.950, 13 HR, 6 SB
Ok- Spencer Jones is on a heater right now that I've never seen at the minor league level. On the season, he has a 206 WRC+ across Double-A and Triple-A with 29 HRs and 16 SBs. Since getting the bump to Triple-A, he has 13 HRs in only 19 games with a 247 WRC+.
Spencer Jones has THREE homers in 5 innings today. He's got 13 in 19 Triple-A games 😳 pic.twitter.com/ThGIsV0HsG
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2025
The Yankees outfield and DH spots are both currently full, but could the Yankees trade Ben Rice to open up an opportunity for Jones? There have been rumors that the young slugging C/1B could be the centerpiece in a deal to bolster the pitching staff. If Rice were traded, Cody Bellinger would play more first base, which would open up playing time for Jones in the Yankee outfield.
Spencer Jones has one of the most polarizing prospect profiles in all of baseball. He has a massive strikeout problem, but when he makes contact, he seems to hit a homer almost every time. He has dramatically improved his K-rate since moving up to Triple-A, as it's only 25.5 percent.
If Jones gets the call, he has a ton of HR upside. Whether he provides enough average will depend on whether he can keep that K-rate in check. For now, he is worth sasthing in deeper 12+ team outfielder formats.
- Written by Kevin Luo
More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
