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Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Chase DeLauter, Owen Caissie, Jonathon Long - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
Throughout the first half of the fantasy baseball season, we have seen many high-upside prospect hitters make their MLB debut and make an immediate impact with their major league clubs. For example, Nick Kurtz and Chandler Simpson have both provided high value in all formats.
In this piece, we will look at three of the top hitting prospects at Triple-A and determine if they should be stashed on our bench as we approach the second half of the season.
Should those players be left on the waiver wire, or should fantasy managers add them before their breakout? Let's dive in!
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Chase DeLauter, OF, Cleveland Guardians
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 34 G, .278/.383/.476, 8 2B, 5 HR, 22 SO, 23 BB
Like Painter, Cleveland's Chase DeLauter has had his fair share of injuries. After being selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, DeLauter would only appear in 57 minor league games in 2023 and a mere 39 games in 2024.
However, he has already participated in 40 total games this season and was recently given his first extended look at the Triple-A level. In 2024, DeLauter was given a brief six-game taste of the top level of the minor leagues and posted a strong .304/.407/.739 line with four doubles and two home runs.
Through 32 games at Triple-A this season, the No. 2-ranked prospect in Cleveland has been nothing short of impressive, posting a .280/.390/.458 slash line. Through these 32 contests, DeLauter has reached base safely in every single game while holding an overall 22:22 K:BB. He has launched four home runs and knocked seven doubles.
More importantly, DeLauter has a clear path to the big leagues and could join them any day. In right field, Cleveland has typically deployed Nolan Jones, who has struggled mightily, posting a .229/.317/.329 line through 81 games.
DeLauter should be viewed as the top hitting prospect to stash going forward. His elite eye at the plate will make him a must-roster in points leagues.
Cleveland #Guardians 23yr old OF prospect Chase DeLauter collects his 1st hit of the night in the 7th inning for Columbus 103.5 mph off the bat.
Earlier in the game DeLauter walked to extend his on-base streak to 32 games with the Clippers. #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/kI0Y34WPHK
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 9, 2025
-Written by Andy Smith
Owen Caissie, OF, Chicago Cubs
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA stats: 73 G, .278/.386/.575, 20 2B, 19 HR, 42 RBI, 97 SO, 45 BB
Over the last month, Owen Caissie has been red hot at the plate, slashing .333/.457/.803 over the last 30 days with four doubles, nine home runs, and nearly as many walks (14) as strikeouts (16). For someone who has long been hovering around a 30% strikeout rate, Caissie dropping his strikeout rate to just 19.5% over his last 17 games is certainly encouraging.
Even if Caissie is more of a .250-.260 hitter, the power is here to be an annual 30-homer bat at the Major League level. That has been evident throughout his minor league career, including this season in Triple-A, where he has a 92.1 mph AVG EV, 53.8% hard-hit rate, and a 20.2% barrel rate.
Caissie enjoyed nearly identical success with Triple-A Iowa last season, posting a .278/.375/.472 line with 19 home runs through 127 games. It is a great sign to see him show even more power progression during his second season with Iowa.
With all of that said, Caissie needs an injury or a trade to open up playing time as outfield and DH for the Cubs are full with impact bats. There have been rumors of the Cubs looking to add pitching at the deadline, though, which could mean they deal from their surplus of outfielders.
.@jonmorosi doesn't think the Cubs should trade Owen Caissie for one rental player in any scenario, but if they can address multiple needs in a bigger package or get a long-term controllable player, then he'd be willing to deal Caissie away. pic.twitter.com/RYt1g5Jmql
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 14, 2025
- Written by Eric Cross
Jonathon Long, INF, Chicago Cubs
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 88 G, .323/.401/.514, 16 2B, 14 HR, 73 SO, 41 BB
A lot of what I said above about Caissie applies here for Jonathon Long. Like Caissie, Long is a top-100 overall prospect, hitting well in Triple-A, who is blocked at the Major League level. But it wouldn't surprise me to see Long dealt in a deal for pitching at the deadline either. Basically, what I'm trying to say here is that you need to be keeping a close eye on the Cubs and their possible trades, as it could open up playing time for Long or Caissie on a different team.
After a mini-skid in early to mid-June, Long has been on fire over his last 22 games, slashing .357/.439/.607 with six doubles, five home runs, and only striking out in 17.3% of his 98 plate appearances.
Long has been hitting well for the vast majority of the 2025 season in Triple-A, slashing .323/.401/.514 with 14 home runs in 373 plate appearances. His underlying metrics are just as promising with a 51% hard-hit rate, 91.7 mph AVG EV, 11.2% hard-hit rate, 77.3% overall contact rate, and an 85% zone contact rate. If he were to find regular playing time via injury or trade, Long would be an intriguing bat to target in all fantasy leagues.
While he may not have a clear path to earning playing time while in Chicago, if he were to get moved at the deadline, he could be given a quick call to the big leagues with his new club.
Can the #Cubs give Jonathon Long a chance at 3B? He's still hitting after 2 months and over 300 AB, so we know its not a fluke. Swap him for Shaw and give him a month?
Long's numbers.
.313/.391/.494 with 885 OPS
13 HR
56 RBIs pic.twitter.com/oIW1s3YSaX— CUBS LockerRoom (@STCiscoKid) July 10, 2025
- Written by Eric Cross
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