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Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Chase Burns, Cade Horton, Colby Thomas - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
As we approach the halfway point of the campaign, fantasy managers have seen several high-end prospects get the call to the major leagues. This past week, both Jacob Misiorowski and Roman Anthony got the call to the big leagues and have already begun to make an impact.
In this piece, we will look at two players who are performing at a high level at Triple-A. In addition, we will analyze a rookie starting pitcher who recently earned the call and has continued to hold his own in the majors.
Should those players be left on the waiver wire, or should fantasy managers add them this weekend? Let's dive in!
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Chase Burns, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Current Level: Triple-A
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 MiLB stats: 59 IP, 1.83 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 82 SO, 13 BB
The Reds selected the flame-throwing right-hander with the second overall pick in last year's MLB Draft out of Wake Forest. During his final season with Wake Forest, Burns broke the school's single-season strikeout record, which was one held by Rhett Lowder.
He has an elite one-two pitch-mix, highlighted by a fastball which touches 102 mph and a high-end slider that sits in the upper-80s.
The Reds opted to keep Burns sidelined after the draft and had him make his professional debut at the start of the 2025 campaign. The 22-year-old opened the season with High-A Dayton and did not need much time to prove he was more than ready to join the upper ranks.
At High-A, Burns logged 11 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.09 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. He struck out 20 batters and allowed just five walks.
He then moved up to Double-A, where he posted a strong 1.29 ERA with a 0.71 WHIP. In this stint, Burns continued to not only showcase high strikeout upside but also elite command. He tallied 55 punchouts and allowed only four free passes.
Chase Burns is a machine. Top pitching prospect in baseball, and I’m not sure it’s that close. #Reds pic.twitter.com/4nEFAzR5jg
— Jacob Tissot (@jacobtissot) June 7, 2025
Last Sunday, the Reds announced they are promoting their top prospect to Triple-A. Burns is progressing through the minor leagues at an impressive rate and is now firmly in the mix to reach the majors this season.
Under the hood, Burns' metrics suggest his performance so far has not been a fluke. During his time in Double-A, Burns generated an elite 1.75 xFIP, in comparison to his 2.12 FIP. He generated groundballs at a 45.0% rate and flyballs at a 36.0% rate.
With Hunter Greene (hamstrung) on the 15-day IL and in danger of missing a significant period, Burns could get the call much sooner than expected. Currently, Wade Miley holds the No. 5 spot in the rotation but has posted an uninspiring 9.00 ERA across his first two starts.
Burns made his Triple-A debut on Thursday evening and tossed 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball with seven punchouts against the potent Iowa Cubs.
He is officially a must-stash and could be a very valuable fantasy asset in the second half.
Reds top prospect Chase Burns has posted a 1.68 ERA over 11 starts across High-A and Double-A this year 👏
He's on his way to Triple-A less than a year after being drafted 🔥 pic.twitter.com/B3E7i5FYDl
— MLB (@MLB) June 9, 2025
-Written by Andy Smith
Cade Horton, SP, Chicago Cubs
Current Level: MLB
Availability: 20% rostered
2025 MLB stats: 36 1/3 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 29 SO, 8 BB
Cade Horton went toe to toe with Paul Skenes on Friday, tossing 5.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts while allowing just three hits and one walk. This outing dropped Horton's ERA to 3.47 through his first 36 1/3 major league innings to go along with a 1.21 WHIP, 5.2% walk rate, and a 19% strikeout rate.
While the strikeout rate is currently below league-average, I'm confident that rate will rise moving forward. After being primarily a two-pitch guy in the minors earlier this season, Horton has been going to his curveball and changeup a combined 24.9% of the time in the Majors so far, with both having good results so far.
Horton's changeup has been especially dominant, registering a .071, .143 SLG, and a 67.7% whiff rate.
Horton also does a nice job of limiting damage done in the air and is walking fewer batters than he did in Triple-A. You could say that the schedule has been fairly easy so far, but Horton is supposed to pitch well against these teams, right?
Cade Horton, Wicked Sweepers. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/sHOSyP2Fw8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 13, 2025
If Horton can continue keeping the ratios in check while increasing the strikeout rate moving forward, he could provide Top-50 SP value over the remainder of the season.
Given his strong play, fantasy managers should expect the Cubs to keep Horton in the rotation, even when Shota Imanaga (hamstring) returns from the 15-day injured list.
- Written by Eric Cross
Colby Thomas, OF, Athletics
Current Level: Triple-A
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA stats: 63 G, .301/.357/.560, 17 2B, 16 HR, 17 BB, 77 SO
The A's continue to lose, and Colby Thomas continues to hit homers in Triple-A. The A's just got swept by the Angels, bringing their record to 26-44. While plays like Denzel Clarke's HR robbery can generate a spark for a team, the A's might need another spark.
Thomas can provide this spark. He just hit his 16th HR and has an over .300 BA.
🚀 #2 A’s Prospect Colby Thomas smashes HR No. 16
Aviators are on top! 🛫#AviatorsUp pic.twitter.com/qyvl1UPEMx
— Las Vegas Aviators (@AviatorsLV) June 13, 2025
While power will be Thomas's calling card, especially in the bandbox in Sacramento, he can also provide some speed. He stole 15 bases to go along with 31 HRs during the 2024 campaign. He will also provide a decent average if he can keep the strikeouts in check.
There isn't an obvious spot for Thomas in the A's lineup, despite their struggles, especially with the value Clarke is providing with his glove in center field. However, they seem open to pulling different levers to try to right the ship this season. Thomas should be one of the next ones pulled if he continues to hit like he is at Triple-A.
This is an excellent sign for Thomas as he posted a lower .272/.344/.559 slash line through his first taste of Triple-A last summer. If Thomas continues to hit for high power at Las Vegas, he will likely replace Clarke's spot in the outfield, even if he continues to provide value as a defender.
- Written by Kevin Luo
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