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Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers, C.J. Kayfus - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
As we enter the second half, there are many prospects knocking on the MLB door who could make a significant impact when they get the call. During the first half of the season, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson were among the few who did.
In this piece, we will look at three hitters who are performing at an elite level at Triple-A and determine if they should be held on our benches.
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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Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 15% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 62 G, .264.383/.591, 11 2B, 19 HR, 0 SB
The Orioles are out of it, unless they have a miraculous second half. While Adley Rutschman is set to return over the next several weeks, the Orioles presently have four catchers on their Injured List. Jacob Stallings and Alex Jackson are holding down the fort. Part of me thinks they hold Basallo down until August so he can retain rookie eligibility for 2026, and the Orioles have a shot at a PPI pick.
After dealing with some injuries and missing three weeks early in the season, Basallo is locked in. He is up to 169 home runs in Triple-A with 30 extra base hits in 62 games. Basallo is slashing a smooth .264/.383/.591 with some of the more impressive power numbers in baseball.
Basallo has a 108.5 mph 90th percentile exit velocity with a 116 mph max. His barrel rate is at 20.5 percent thanks to a 53 percent hard-hit rate and the absurd exit velocities he puts up on balls in the air. The average exit velocity of 93.8 mph is one of the best marks in the minors. On balls in the air, Basallo's exit velocities jump to 98 mph.
From a contact standpoint, Basallo’s 71 percent overall contact rate is below average for his league, but age-adjusted is fine. Reminder, Basallo is still 20 years old and won't turn 21 until August 13. Basallo’s 82.7 percent contact rate on swings in the zone is a much better representation of the kind of contact he is capable of making when not chasing out of the zone.
The biggest worry with Basallo is his approach, though it has improved. The zone swing rate of 63 percent has steadily trended in the right direction, and the chase rate has gone down and is now at 31 percent. We would like to see a wider gap between the zone and out-of-zone swing rate. Basallo is doing immense damage when he connects to make up for it.
While the Orioles need a massive jolt into their lineup, they remain committed to developing him as a catcher. That may continue to come in Triple-A. Could he get the call tomorrow? Sure. Maybe we can see Basallo on his birthday in mid-August? It is hard to get a read on what the Orioles are doing.
-Written by Chris Clegg
Dylan Beavers, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA stats: 71 G, .311/.405/.482, 10 2B, 10 HR, 20 SB
All that talk of the Orioles holding their prospects down in the Samuel Basallo section, could we see them call up a near-24-year-old prospect in Dylan Beavers? While I still have questions about the profile in general, Beavers has done nothing but mash this year. Slashing an impressive .311/.405/.482 Beavers has cut his strikeout rate down to 17 percent and has ten home runs to pair with 22 extra base hits. Beavers has even stolen 20 bases.
Under the hood, Beavers won't knock your socks off, but he does have respectable numbers. His average exit velocity of 87.8 mph is below average, but the 104.8 90th percentile exit velocity is solid. Being a selective hitter, Beavers picks his spots well and has great launch angles.
The power plays up thanks to a 38 percent sweet spot rate. He puts a ton of balls in play, running an 80 percent contact rate with an 87 percent in-zone mark. The approach is solid with a 46 percent zone minus out-of-zone swing rate.
Beavers profiles as a potential average regular in the majors, which would be a good outcome. Could we see him in Baltimore soon? Time will tell.
Dylan Beavers is hitting .318 (!) with a .913 OPS in Triple-A this season — and he’s really starting to show some power.
After going 22 straight games without a home run, Beavers has hit seven in his past 20 games (and five in his past 10). pic.twitter.com/Q3Lr6jWcS7
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) July 5, 2025
- Written by Chris Clegg
C.J. Kayfus, 1B, Cleveland Guardians
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 58 G, .290/.374/.547, 11 2B, 12 HR, 2 SB
The final prospect we will look at in this piece is Cleveland first baseman C.J. Kayfus. Kayfus opened the season with Double-A Akron but needed only 18 gams to prove he was ready to move up to Triple-A. During this stretch, Kayfus posted a remarkable .364/475/.591 line with a 14:11 K:BB.
Since moving up to Triple-A Columbus, Kayfus has continued to swing a hot bat and is making a strong case to debut early in the second half. Through his first 58 games at the top level of the minor leagues, Kayfus has held a .290 AVG with a .921 OPS. He has gone deep 12 times and added 11 doubles. However, he does hold a modest 71:29 K:BB.
If Kayfus can continue to lower his strikeout rate, the No. 74-ranked prospect on MLB.com should be in the mix to join Cleveland later in July.
In addition, Kayfus could find a role at first with veteran Carlos Santana on the trade block. Kayfus could also shift to the DH spot, as Kyle Manzardo has not produced consistently and has begun to see time only as a platoon bat.
For the time being, Kayfus is worth stashing in deeper 12+ team formats. If he continues to hit with Columbus, he should make his MLB debut in the next few weeks.
C.J. Kayfus got ALL of this one 😳
The @GuardsInsider No. 4 prospect unloads a 416-foot homer for his 11th Triple-A roundtripper.
He has four home runs in his last eight games 🔥
(🎥@CLBClippers)
pic.twitter.com/y1gGqLCQLj— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 3, 2025
- Written by Andy Smith
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