MLB Prospect Debuts: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Rookie Stashes (Week 5)

Mike's fantasy baseball prospect stashes, sleepers and rookie waiver wire pickups for Week 5 of 2025 - recent MLB prospect debuts and potential call-ups to monitor.

We’re over a month into the season, and tons of prospects across the Majors are getting their chance to compete at the highest level. Some have taken the league by storm (hello, Agustin Ramirez!) while others are trying to keep their heads above water well enough to avoid being sent back to Triple-A.

With rookies, it's important to remember there will be highs and lows as scouts, coaches, and MLB veterans decipher how to combat the skill set of young players.

The eternal cat-and-mouse game of pitchers vs. hitters means the best rookies will need to readjust to the adjustments the league makes against them. Still, these players offer intriguing upside for the fantasy manager willing to show patience with rostering a young player.

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Fantasy Baseball Hitter Prospects To Target

Agustin Ramirez, C, Miami Marlins

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 80 PA, .254/.313/.479, 13 R, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 5 SB, 3.8 BB%, 23.8 K%, 112 wRC+

Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez has taken the league by storm, and it’s now or never to pick up the 23-year-old if you want to acquire his services. Yes, he had a rough series in Los Angeles, but what Ramirez accomplished in his first week in the Majors is still the stuff of legend. Ramirez logged four doubles in his first three games, then catapulted himself into the stratosphere among waiver wire adds with a two-homer game on Sunday.

Ramirez is the rare catcher who offers both power and speed, as he had 25 homers and 22 stolen bases last season in the minors. It’s not usually advisable to carry two catchers in fantasy, but there’s an exception to every rule, and Ramirez is that exception, even if you like your starting catcher. He’s the most added player in fantasy and possesses sky-high upside that is too good to leave on waivers.

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 97 PA, .321/.385/.655, 18 R, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 0 SB, 10.3 BB%, 26.8 K%, 143 wRC+

The Athletics recently called up top prospect Nick Kurtz, and in doing so, the organization spoke volumes about how they value the lefty slugger. Specifically, they told the world that outfield defense is less important than getting Kurtz MLB experience right now. The A’s have been playing first baseman Tyler Soderstrom in left field and have also used their primary DH, Brent Rooker, in the outfield to clear playing time for Kurtz; that’s high praise from an organizational perspective.

The 2024 first-round pick made quick work of minor league pitching, as he mashed to the tune of a .368/.520/.763 slash line last year in High-A and Double-A, albeit in only 20 games. A step up in competition this year didn’t faze Kurtz, as he whacked seven homers and slugged .655 in Triple-A this season before getting the call to the Majors. 1B is a deep position for fantasy, but Kurtz offers high power potential and could immediately fill a starting slot in fantasy leagues that utilize a corner infielder.

"Nick Kurtz, welcome to Major League Baseball!"

The @Athletics top prospect gets his first hit and RBI in his first MLB at-bat. pic.twitter.com/zidF3WlBnD

— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2025

Chandler Simpson, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 78 PA, .301/.325/.379, 13 R, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 8 SB, 3.8 BB%, 9.0 K%, 76 wRC+

If your fantasy team is lacking in stolen bases, then the Rays have a solution for you. Tampa Bay recently called up Chandler Simpson, who had… 104 stolen bases last season! No, that’s not a typo, and yes, MLB catchers are better than the High-A and Double-A catchers he terrorized on the basepaths last season.

This year, Simpson had eight steals in Triple-A before his promotion and is three-for-four on steal attempts since getting the call to the Big Leagues. He’s got 93^rd percentile sprint speed and has already brought him a chance to bat leadoff for the Rays and should also help him score plenty of runs (he crossed home 90 times in 110 games last year).

The downside with Simpson is a lack of power. He’s the epitome of a slap hitter, and his 84.9 mph average exit velocity would be among the worst in the Majors over a full season. Can Simpson get on base enough to take full advantage of his speed? That’s yet to be decided. But he’s worth a flyer in roto or category leagues, especially in head-to-head formats where Simpson may single-handedly win the SB category in any given week.

Caleb Durbin, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 58 PA, .278/.316/.481, 12 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 SB, 5.2 BB%, 8.6 K%, 115 wRC+

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin isn’t as exciting as some other names on this list, but the 25-year-old is getting his chance to play every day, albeit batting ninth in the Milwaukee order. Durbin was one of the prospects sent to the Brewers from the Yankees in the Devin Williams trade, so it’s clear Milwaukee values Durbin.

Durbin’s calling card is plate discipline, as he posted double-digit walk rates at every level of the minors and last season had a nearly 1:1 K:BB ratio. So far, that’s carried over to the Majors as he has only two strikeouts in 45 PA thus far while doing a little bit of everything offensively as he’s got one home run, eight RBI, six runs, and a stolen base thus far while getting on base at a .356 clip. He’s worth a speculative add in deeper leagues and could have more fantasy appeal if he keeps hitting and moves up in the Brewers’ order.

Edgar Quero, C, Chicago White Sox

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 63 PA, .333/.444/.412, 9 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 17.5 BB%, 22.2 K%, 135 wRC+

Those who missed out on Ramirez could look to the South Side of Chicago for another exciting catcher prospect in Edgar Quero. The 22-year-old was called up on April 16 and reached base at a .442 clip through his first 11 games. Thus far in the Majors, Quero has walked more than he’s struck out, which is an extension of his elite plate-discipline metrics in the upper-minors, where he never posted a K-rate over 20 percent.

Thus far, Quero has mostly done his damage via walks and singles, but he swatted 16 homers and slugged .463 in Triple-A last season, so there’s potential here for solid power production from the catcher position. He’s strictly a name for two-catcher fantasy leagues right now, but Quero is a name to know as he’ll get plenty of playing time for the rebuilding White Sox.

Will Wilson, 2B/SS, Cleveland Guardians

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 79 PA, .324/.418/.647, 16 R, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 1 SB, 12.7 BB%, 19.0 K%, 184 wRC+

Guardians rookie Will Wilson hasn’t gotten the playing time at the Big League level as some other names here, but he’s still a higher-end prospect who was off to a scorching-hot start in Triple-A this season before getting the call to Cleveland. In only 18 Triple-A games, Wilson had six homers, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored, and slashed an incredible .324/.418/.647, which earned him a spot on the MLB roster.

Right now, Wilson is occupying an infield utility role, but if he starts getting everyday at-bats, Wilson could have fantasy appeal in deeper leagues thanks to a great hit tool. Toss him on the watch list for now and check back if there’s an injury in the Guardians’ infield.

Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Prospects To Target

Logan Evans, SP, Seattle Mariners

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 25.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 21.1 K%, 3.7 BB%, 2.78 FIP

Mariners prospect Logan Evans had a solid debut last Sunday as he limited the Marlins to two runs across five innings and picked up his first Big League win. Now, we’ll need to see how he fares against better competition, but Evans pitched well in Double-A last year as he posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 107 innings.

To be a true fantasy asset, Evans will need more strikeouts, as he had just a 21 percent K-rate in the minors last year and whiffed just three Marlins in his debut despite pitching well overall. Still, the Mariners have a great track record of developing pitchers, and T-Mobile Park is one of the most pitcher-friendly venues in the league.

Evans should have a rotation spot locked down for a while, as George Kirby (shoulder) and Logan Gilbert (elbow) are on the injured list. If nothing else, Evans should be a solid streamer in the right matchup, especially at home in Seattle.

Craig Yoho, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

Status: Called Up
2025 stats: 9.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 23.7 K%, 7.9 BB%, 3.15 FIP

The term “Closer of the Future” is often applied to hard-throwing RP prospects. Still, given the inherent volatility of relievers, it’s rare that a rookie reliever assumes the closer role. Craig Yoho, however, may be the exception to the rule as his skill set is perfectly tailored to close games.

Milwaukee has had trouble closing games as three different relievers share the team’s four saves on the season. Yoho does have experience closing games, as he collected 10 saves across three levels of the minors last season. More importantly, he posted massive strikeout numbers that imply he could thrive in high-leverage relief in the Majors.

Yoho’s minor league numbers are comical. He racked up 101 Ks across only 57.2 innings pitched, which works out to 15.8 K/9. His 42.4 percent K-rate and 16.8 percent swinging-strike rate proved he was far too talented for minor league hitters, and the Brewers agreed as Yoho was called up in mid-April.

Trevor Megill is the closer on the roster for now, but Yoho’s strikeout upside could provide fantasy value in deeper leagues, much like Brewers of yesteryear; Devin Williams and Josh Hader were both fantasy assets as middle relievers before assuming the closer role in Milwaukee. Yoho may not have to wait as long to be named the closer; any slippage from Megill could open the door for Yoho to post huge fantasy numbers.

More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies