3 Impact Fantasy Baseball Prospects To Stash - Bubba Chandler, Cade Horton, Roman Anthony

May 20, 2025

Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Bubba Chandler, Cade Horton, Roman Anthony - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.

Fantasy managers have already seen several prospects make a strong impact in the majors this season. Hyeseong Kim is becoming a reliable bat at the bottom of the Dodgers' lineup, Dalton Rushing has four hits in his first 10 major league at-bats with Los Angeles, and Logan Henderson has allowed just three runs across 11 innings pitched (2.45 ERA) with the Brewers in 2025.

In this article, we will look at three prospects fantasy managers should be stashing in most leagues in Week 8 of the fantasy baseball season. These prospects include Bubba Chandler, Cade Horton, and Roman Anthony.

So, should fantasy managers stash Chandler, Horton, or Anthony? Let's dive in and see if these three prospects should be stashed and grabbed off the waiver wire before it's too late.

Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Current Level: Triple-A Indianapolis
Availability: 32% rostered
2025 AAA stats: 9 GS, 2.17 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 56 K, 37 1/3 IP 

It has been fascinating to watch Chandler's ascension over the past few years. After finishing with a 4.54 ERA between High-A and Double-A in 2023, the right-hander broke out in a big way last season. He had a 3.08 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 26 games (23 starts) and was almost untouchable once he was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis in August.

In seven starts for Indianapolis in 2024, Chandler had a 1.83 ERA and 54 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .183 batting average. Therefore, it's not a surprise to see the 22-year-old off to a strong start at that level this season. He currently owns a 2.17 ERA and 56 strikeouts across 37 1/3 innings pitched.

Top #Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler ranks eighth in the Minors with 56 strikeouts through his first nine starts this season.@USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/IuTAIMXu5e

— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) May 20, 2025

It is important to note that Chandler has struggled a bit with command in recent outings. He has issued nine walks over his last three starts, which has resulted in him giving up five earned runs across 12 innings during this span. In his most recent start, MLB Pipeline's No. 2 overall prospect allowed two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings.

Although it hasn't been smooth sailing for the right-hander in some of his recent starts, it's only a matter of time until the Pirates call up their top prospect. He continues to show his potential down in Triple-A, and there's not much left that he has to prove.

The 6-foot-3 pitcher has a dominant fastball that has reached triple digits this season. As a result, Chandler should be stashed in every fantasy league in Week 8.

There's a strong chance that he's called up in the next few weeks, and his fastball/slider/changeup combo should help him find success on the mound right away. That means fantasy managers should be running to the waiver wire to pick up one of the best prospects in baseball.

Cade Horton, SP, Chicago Cubs

Current Level: Chicago Cubs
Availability: 22% rostered
2025 AAA stats: 6 G, 1.24 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 33 K, 29 IP 
2025 MLB stats: 2 G, 6.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 7 K, 9 IP 

When the Chicago Cubs selected Horton with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the franchise saw his potential on the mound. That potential was on display in his first minor league season in 2023. He finished with a 2.65 ERA and 117 strikeouts across 21 starts between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A.

Unfortunately, Horton wasn't able to build on that campaign in 2024. He had a 4.46 ERA in nine starts and missed most of that season due to a shoulder injury. More importantly, the right-hander struggled in his first taste at Triple-A, allowing 15 runs across his first 18 innings pitched with Iowa (7.50 ERA).

The good news, though, is that Horton's 2024 campaign didn't seem to affect him too much. He had a 1.24 ERA and 33 strikeouts in his first six starts at Triple-A Iowa and logged back-to-back quality starts on April 29 and May 4. In both of those outings, he threw six innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts.

Cade Horton is having a stellar season 🌟

The righty sports a 1.24 ERA and an .129 opponent average -- both the second-best in the International League.

Horton has allowed one of fewer runs in each of his six stats this year. https://t.co/6H1RheoCMz pic.twitter.com/jBJxu0vOVr

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 5, 2025

Even though Horton was shoving in the minors, we were likely a few months away from a potential promotion. However, that changed when Shota Imanaga (hamstring) went down with a hamstring strain at the beginning of May. That paved the way for the Cubs to call up their top pitching prospect.

Since being called up, Horton has made two appearances in the majors. He allowed three runs with five strikeouts across four innings against the New York Mets in a relief appearance on May 10 and gave up three runs across five innings against the Chicago White Sox in his first career start on May 16.

Following those two starts, there is a lot to take away from the right-hander. He has yet to allow a walk in nine innings, and his 29.7% whiff rate is a great sign for him moving forward. As a result, Horton is someone fantasy managers should be looking to add in most 12-plus team leagues.

He'll get more comfortable on the mound, and his schedule is on the lighter side over the next few weeks. Horton will face the Marlins (Wednesday), Rockies (Week 9), and Nationals (Week 10) in his next three starts. That makes him a solid add in most formats, especially since he could stay in Chicago's rotation for the rest of the season.

Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

Level: Triple-A Worcester 
Availability: 29% rostered
2024 MiLB stats: 119 G, .291/.396/.498, 18 HRs, 65 RBI, 93 R, 21 SB
2025 AAA stats: 41 G, .322/.446/.503, 5 HRs, 17 RBI, 31 R, 3 SB

It's not shocking to see Anthony off to a blistering start at Triple-A Worcester this season. He has had a very successful minor league career, and his time in the majors should be coming very soon. Boston's top prospect is currently hitting .322 with five home runs, 17 RBI, 31 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 41 games in 2025.

Anthony has really been on another level at the plate this season. He continues to hit the ball hard and has shown for quite some time now that he is MLB-ready. The 21-year-old hit .291 with 18 home runs, 65 RBI, 93 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases in 119 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

So, there is a strong chance that the outfielder will be promoted sometime in June. Anthony has a current nine-game hitting streak and has tallied five multi-hit games over his last seven contests. This recent stretch is further proof that it might not be much longer until we see the best prospect in baseball get promoted.

Top #RedSox prospect Roman Anthony is batting .412 with four extra-base hits and seven runs scored during a nine-game hitting streak.@USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/QpI5FDvklD

— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) May 20, 2025

The only problem is that there isn't anywhere for him to play right now. With Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu occupying the three outfield spots, Anthony wouldn't have a consistent role. However, MLB Pipeline's No. 1 overall prospect could eventually take over Rafaela's spot in the outfield.

Although Rafaela is batting .296 over his last 15 games, Anthony could provide more for this Boston offense. Therefore, he should be stashed in every fantasy league in Week 8.

The 21-year-old has the chance to make an immediate impact in the majors, and fantasy managers shouldn't leave the top prospect sitting on waivers when he is expected to make his debut at some point in 2025.

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