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Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Troy Melton, Carter Jensen, Owen Caissie - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
As we enter the second half of the fantasy baseball season, it will be critical to monitor top prospects who have either just gotten the call to the major leagues or are on the brink of a promotion. Last season, several high-end prospects earned the call to the big leagues in the second half, such as Junior Caminero and Dylan Crews.
In this piece, we will examine a pitching prospect in Detroit who recently got the call to the big leagues. Additionally, we will look at two of the top-performing hitters in the minor leagues this season who are knocking on the MLB door.
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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Troy Melton, SP, Detroit Tigers
Current Level: MLB
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 MiLB Stats: 75 1/3 IP, 2.99 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 101 SO, 20 BB
Troy Melton was an unheralded prospect out of San Diego State who landed in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. Pitching just five innings that season after the draft, Melton came into 2023 without much hype, but that began to change as he pitched at a high level in Low-A before improving even more in High-A. The 2024 season saw a significant drop-off, but Melton looks back on it now in 2025.
Melton got the call by the Tigers and will make his MLB debut this week. After his most recent start, Melton has a 2.99 ERA with a 26 percent K-BB%, one of the best marks in the minors.
The fastball sits around 97 mph, touching 100 with 16+ inches of IVB and seven inches of horizontal movement. Melton locates it well up in the zone and throws it for strikes at a high rate while throwing from a lower 5-foot-5 release height. He also mixes in a two-seamer in the low 90s and a cutter around 90 mph.
Melton’s slider sits in the mid-80s with nearly eight inches of sweeping action and good depth. The curveball generates more sweeping action, sitting in the upper-70s with a true two-plane break. Melton’s changeup shows nice fading action with low spin, diving off late, and generating whiffs.
A heavy strike thrower, Melton pounds the zone with each of his pitches, which led to a 67 percent strike rate, showing plus control. While he has been underrated in fantasy prospect circles, Melton has the traits of a top 100 prospect. Buy in.
Even though Melton stumbled in his MLB debut, allowing seven hits and six earned runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates, he is a fast-rising asset in dynasty leagues, even though his redraft value may have taken a hit.
Troy Melton DEALT today! 🃏
4.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nUlAVVvahM
— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) July 19, 2025
-Written by Chris Clegg
Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 MiLB stats: 84 G, .289/.361/.467, 13 2B, 13 HR, 8 SB
Jensen got off to a slow start to the season, but kicked it into gear as the calendar turned to May. He struck out 31 percent of the time in April with a .222/.300/.311. Since then, Jensen has hit 11 home runs with 27 extra base hits and a .317/.385/.531 slash in 275 plate appearances. Over the span, he has struck out in just 23 percent of plate appearances and is a perfect eight of eight on the base paths.
The contact rates have steadily risen throughout the season, with the overall rate now at 5 percent, and the in-zone rate exceeding 87 percent for the season. The approach is sound with Jensen, as well, and he rarely expands the zone, running a chase rate below 20 percent. The zone-swing rate could improve, but Jensen has picked his spots well and excelled.
The exit velocities are in the plus range at this point. Jensen put on the best batting practice display in the Futures Game of any hitter and has topped out at 115 mph in a game. This year, his 90th percentile exit velocity has jumped to 108 mph.
Jensen is also solid behind the plate, throwing out 25 percent of attempted base stealers this season. I would expect to see Jensen up in mid-August.
Through his first 16 games at the Triple-A level, the backstop has continued to perform well, holding a .274/.366/.677 slash line with four doubles and seven long balls. In fact, he hit just six home runs through his first 68 games with Double-A Northwest Arkansas during the first half of the campaign.
Even with Salvador Perez as the primary backup in Kansas City, Jensen could push their hand, especially if he continues to find success at the top level of the minor leagues.
- Written by Chris Clegg
Owen Caissie, OF, Chicago Cubs
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 78 G, .281/.341/.576, 23 2B, 20 HR, 3 SB
The final player we will look at is Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Owen Caissie. Caissie has made headlines this season and has been one of the most dominant hitters at the Triple-A level. Through 78 games with Iowa, the top-ranked prospect on the North Side has posted a remarkable .960 OPS with 23 doubles and 20 long balls.
Over his last 12 games, he has been especially dominant, launching eight home runs and holding a .392/.456/.961 line. However, despite his impressive start, there is no spot on the MLB roster for Caissie. Currently, the Cubs have solidified their outfield even with Seiya Suzuki serving as the everyday DH.
If Caissie were to get the call, he would likely find himself on the bench, which is not conducive to his development. Instead, the Cubs could opt to trade Caissie for a top assistant at the deadline to improve their team for the postseason. This would open the door for Caissie to make his MLB debut as soon as a deal is finalized.
Leading up to the deadline, Caissie is worth stashing in all 12+ team five-outfielder formats. However, if Caissie is not traded, he would be safe to cut from your roster, as he would need several injuries to find everyday at-bats on the Cubs.
Owen Caissie tonight:
5-5
1 HR
2 Doubles
2 RBIs
2 RunsHe should be untouchable at the deadline. He is the Cubs Left Fielder of the future. pic.twitter.com/qfkIkE1HdZ
— Pete Crow-Armstrong Fan Club (@PCA4FC) July 23, 2025
- Written by Andy Smith
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