Top 25 Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash (Redraft): Eric Cross' Rookie Rankings for Week 8

May 22, 2025

Eric Cross' top 25 fantasy baseball prospects to stash in redraft for Week 8 (2025). His updated MLB rookie rankings for prospect call-ups to make 2025 impacts.

What a week it was for prospect promotions! In addition to Jordan Lawlar and Zebby Matthews being recalled, we saw the Major League debuts for Moises Ballesteros, Dalton Rushing, and Mick Abel, who tossed six shutout innings with nine strikeouts on Sunday.

It appears that several other big prospect names are getting close, too, so the prospect promotion fun might continue this week.

These prospect rankings are for 2025 redraft value only. These are MLB prospects who could potentially make a fantasy baseball impact in 2025 redraft leagues. You can also see our top fantasy baseball dynasty prospects rankings for longer-term outlooks and our 2025 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard for all other league formats.

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Top 25 Prospects to Stash in Redraft Leagues

My prospect write-ups are below the rankings. These rankings are for 2025 redraft value only, not dynasty. These are MLB prospects who could potentially make a fantasy baseball impact in 2025.

Promoted Last Week: Jordan Lawlar (ARI), Moises Ballesteros (CHC), Dalton Rushing (LAD), Zebby Matthews (MIN), Mick Abel (PHI)

Honorable Mentions (Hitters): Alex Freeland (SS), Bryce Eldridge (SFG), Jett Williams (NYM), Kevin Alcantara (CHC), Owen Caissie (CHC), Tyler Black (MIL), Jacob Melton (HOU), Spencer Jones (NYY), Tyler Locklear (SEA), Justin Foscue (TEX), Cole Young (SEA), Harry Ford (SEA).

Honorable Mentions (Pitchers): Noah Schultz (CHW), Ian Seymour (TBR), Thomas Harrington (PIT), Quinn Mathews (STL), Nolan McLean (NYM), Jonah Tong (NYM), Caden Dana (LAA)

Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings Analysis

Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs

While his 18 games with the Chicago Cubs didn't go according to plan, Matt Shaw was back to his old ways since being optioned back to Triple-A Iowa. In 24 games since being sent back down, Shaw has slashed .286/.409/.560 with five doubles, six home runs, five steals, and more walks (17) than strikeouts (11).

My opinion on Shaw hasn't changed since before the season. He still brings a solid power/speed blend to the table and could push 20/20 annually with a decent AVG and OBP along with it. With him getting recalled this morning, I'd look to add Shaw in non-shallow leagues where available, as this is still a fantasy-friendly profile and one of the top hitting prospects in the game.

Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals

We're one step closer to seeing Jac Caglianone bombs at the Major League level as the Royals promoted their top prospect to Triple-A on Sunday. The 2024 sixth overall pick has made his presence felt this season in Double-A, smashing eight doubles and nine home runs in 38 games with a .322/.394/.533 slash line and a 10.9% walk rate.

Oppo 🌮 for Jac Caglianone!

That's the third straight game with a homer for the @Royals' top prospect 👀 pic.twitter.com/T5vxNTHwgI

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 6, 2025

In addition to his monumental raw power, which is already among the best in baseball at any level, Caglianone has demonstrated a good approach and is making contact at a 75% clip so far this season. He's also played in a corner outfield spot in five of his last 14 games.

Meanwhile, the Royals are getting little to no production out of their starting outfielders, which has been a combination of Kyle Isbel, Drew Waters, Mark Canha, Hunter Renfroe, and Michael Massey. Before the season, I thought Cags wouldn't be up until after the All-Star break. It now appears that he'll be up sooner than that.

Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox

Alright, I haven't written about Roman Anthony in a few weeks, so let's check in on the consensus #1 prospect in baseball. In 186 plate appearances this season, Anthony has 15 extra-base hits, five home runs, and three steals with a .322/.446/.503 slash line and nearly as many walks (35) as strikeouts (37).

Sure, that's not a sexy HR/SB pace, but Anthony is currently running a 94.7 mph AVG EV, 57.7% hard-hit rate, and an 18.9% barrel rate. It's obvious that Anthony is ready for a test in the Major Leagues, but the Red Sox need to make room for him. Unless Rafael Devers moves to first, that will not be at DH, and Boston's outfield is rock solid with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and 2024 Gold Glove Award winner, Wilyer Abreu.

If you've been stashing Anthony, you absolutely need to continue to do so, because that call-up could happen any day now. I highly doubt this turns into a 2024 Coby Mayo situation where he's in Triple-A for the vast majority of the season.

Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles

Speaking of Mayo, he's back down with Triple-A Norfolk after going 1/12 with six strikeouts in four games with Baltimore. It felt like a quick hook for Mayo this time around. Baltimore is struggling mightily this season, so why not give one of your top young players more than four games to get into a rhythm at the Major League level? How does Baltimore benefit by starting Ramón Urías and Emmanuel Rivera at the hot corner?

At this point, it's hard to stash Mayo outside of deeper formats. He's struggled notably at the Major League level, and it's uncertain when he'll get another chance to stick at the hot corner in Baltimore. But long-term, there's still plenty of upside here, and it's far too early to be out on Mayo or to call him a bust or a Quad-A player.

Marcelo Mayer, Boston Red Sox 

With the first base position getting no production in Boston right now, the Red Sox are exploring all options, which apparently includes getting Kristian Campbell some work in at first base. I'm not sure if that will turn into anything, but if it does, that would open up second base for Marcelo Mayer to come up and join this Boston lineup.

In 40 games for Triple-A Worcester this season, Mayer is slashing .264/.335/.459 with eight home runs and a pair of steals. Mayer has shown a solid approach at the plate with a 9.5% walk rate and 19.6% strikeout rate while posting an 89.9 mph AVG EV, 48% hard-hit rate, 10.6% barrel rate, and a 76.6% contact rate (84.3% zone).

Mayer isn't a high-priority stash, but there would definitely be some intrigue and appeal in non-shallow leagues once he gets the call to Boston.

Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers

Nobody can touch Jacob Misiorowski right now. After allowing five runs to Charlotte on 4/16, Misiorowski has been unhittable over his last five starts, posting a 0.59 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, .147 BAA, and a stellar 34.2% strikeout rate. While all of those stats are impressive, the one I'm the most encouraged by right now is the 6.3% walk rate.

1⃣0⃣3⃣ MPH⛽️

Good luck. pic.twitter.com/FmDdewBEQI

— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) May 15, 2025

Misiorowski has long battled control issues and had a 15.6% walk rate though his first four starts this season but has only walked a combined seven batters in his last five starts with zero or one walk allowed in four of those five outings.

The upside for Misiorowski is sky high thanks to an elite fastball and two-plus or better breaking balls. If he can keep the walk rate in check, Misiorowski has the potential to become one of the most dominant arms in baseball.

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