Top Five MLB Prospects To Stash for Fantasy Baseball Redraft Leagues (Week 3)

April 14, 2023

Josh highlights the top five hitting and pitching prospects in baseball that can be stashed on your bench in fantasy baseball redraft leagues.

This list will highlight the top five hitting and pitching prospect stashes for fantasy baseball redraft leagues. As more teams are incentivized to push their top prospects up the pecking order, the excitement of the game grows as these young players get on the field more often.

These five fantasy baseball prospects are most worth rostering right now as we continue to see the rise in young talent receiving promotions to the big leagues. 

Check back next week to see risers and fallers as teams continue to give promotions or more playing time to their young and talented prospects! 

Top Fantasy Baseball Prospect Stashes

Brett Baty - 3B, New York Mets

Brett Baty has continued to impress after being sent to Syracuse after Spring training with limited plate appearances. His slash line sits at .333/.455/.722 through five games as he battles through a thumb injury that caused him to have surgery last year. Baty returned to action on Sunday and will look to build on his two home runs and two stolen bases to start the season.

The case for Baty's promotion is also being built by Eduardo Escobar's struggle to make contact so far in 2023. He's currently hitting .118 with a 27.8% strikeout rate through the first 10 games of the season. With four left-handed pitchers on the schedule this week for the Mets, Escobar has to prove he can still do damage against plus matchups (career .273 vs. LHP, .244 vs. RHP).

New York will continue to add youth to their lineup as they've called up top catching prospect Francisco Alvarez while they prepare for a deep postseason run. The Mets will most likely give Eduardo Escobar until the end of April to get things right at the plate.

Vaughn Grissom - SS, Atlanta Braves

Much to the surprise of the fantasy baseball community, Vaughn Grissom was sent down to the minors in favor of Orlando Arcia, who has shown defensive flashes in the past. Arcia has surprisingly held his own so far to the tune of .341 with two home runs. Grissom can help out the Atlanta lineup from the designated hitter spot that has been clogged by Marcell Ozuna to start the season.

Grissom is off to a hot start at Triple-A Gwinnett, slashing .351/.442/.595 through nine games with five extra-base hits and two stolen bases. With his versatility in the field along with Arcia’s ability to play outfield, Grissom’s offensive potential outweighs any offensive output the Braves are currently getting from the bottom of their lineup. 

 Brandon Pfaadt - SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Brandon Pfaadt was sent down to Triple-A Reno following an impressive Spring training with a 15:4 K: BB in 12.0 innings pitched. Although he outpitched his counterparts, Ryne Nelson and Drey Jameson, he was the man left out. Pfaadt dominated the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League last year with a 2.63 ERA and led the minors with 218 strikeouts between Triple-A and Double-A.

So far in 2023, Pfaadt has struggled to the tune of a 6.48 ERA through two starts, giving up five home runs in just 8.1 IP. His 12:2 K: BB looks steady through limited work and will continue to build off it as he waits for his turn to prove himself in the show. Look for Pfaadt to be the next man up for the struggling Arizona rotation by the end of May. 

Sal Frelick - OF, Milwaukee Brewers

The former first-round pick cruised through the Brewers' minor league system last year, hitting .331 across three stops. Sal Frelick provides elite contact skills with plus speed that was on full display last year with 24 stolen bases.

Throughout the World Baseball Classic with Team Italy, Frelick came up clutch, hitting .304 with four RBIs and one stolen base in five games. Frelick has three stolen bases through eight games at Triple-A Nashville and will be ready to go if Joey Wiemer or Garrett Mitchell starts to struggle as April rolls on. 

Elly De La Cruz - SS, Cincinnati Reds 

The Reds' top prospect flashed elite upside last year across High-A and Double-A, putting out a .304 average, 28 home runs, and 47 stolen bases. The 6’5” shortstop is a generational talent who is not blocked by any big-name stars on the major league roster.

Elly De La Cruz has unfortunately been limited by a hamstring injury to start the minor league system but is expected to join the Triple-A Louisville lineup by the end of April. As Cincinnati continues to let its young crop of talent grow at the major league level, it makes sense for management to give De La Cruz a shot in the second half of the season. 

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