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Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, Jakob Marsee - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
Targeting the right prospect on the waiver wire can provide your fantasy baseball team with a much-needed impact. If we're falling behind in the pitching categories, stashing Jacob Misiorowski and Chase Burns likely provided you with a substantial boost.
In this piece, we will look at two of the top pitchers at Triple-A and an outfielder who recently earned the call to the majors and determine if they should hold a spot on our bench.
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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Nolan McLean, SP, New York Mets
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 77 2/3 IP, 3.01 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 83 SO, 32 BB
McLean opened the season at Double-A but quickly moved up to Triple-A Syracuse after tossing 26 1/3 innings to the tune of a 1.37 ERA and a 1,22 WHIP. During this stretch, he struck out 30 hitters while allowing only 12 walks.
Since moving up to the top ranks of the Mets' system, McLean has shown the ability to find success, suggesting his development is near complete. Through his first 60 2/3 innings at Syracuse, McLean posted an impressive 2.67 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 60 2/3 innings. During this stretch, he racked up 65 punchouts.
After allowing a high six runs on July 18, McLean bounced back, tossing 13 1/3 innings over his last two starts with just four earned runs and a stellar 0.75 WHIP. Given the Mets' rotation is currently full, he is only worth stashing in deeper formats for now.
The Mets believe that Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat can help the team this season if the timing is right https://t.co/11wwRO6ldL pic.twitter.com/RwmdXfo0Bz
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 1, 2025
- Written by Andy Smith
Brandon Sproat, SP, New York Mets
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 15% rostered
2025 AAA Stats:95 IP, 4.07 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 82 SO, 43 BB
Sproat had a rough start to the season but has quietly been one of the best pitchers at the Triple-A level over the past month. Since June 28, Sproat has logged an incredible 33 innings to the tune of a near-perfect 0.55 ERA with a 0.82 WHIP. He has struck out 39 hitters over this stretch while allowing only 11 walks.
During his first 63 innings of the season, Sproat posted a hefty 6.29 ERA and was not even viewed as a potential call-up candidate at the time.
Similar to McLean above, the Mets have a full rotation at the moment, which will limit Sproat's short-term upside. However, despite Clay Holmes' recent struggles, the Mets could opt to shift him ot a long relief role, which could open a spot for Sproat. While McLean has had more sustained usage this season, Sproat has made the necessary adjustments to turn the corner.
He is worth stashing in deep leagues for the time being. However, if a Mets starting pitcher were to suffer an injury, both McLean and Sproat would emerge as must-stash candidates like Andrew Painter and Bubba Chandler.
Brandon Sproat in July.
27.0 IP
0.67 ERA
33 KDominant. pic.twitter.com/Dvg3eVt9eG
— MetsMuse (@MetsMuse) August 1, 2025
-Written by Andy Smith
Jakob Marsee, OF, Miami Marlins
Current Level: MLB
Availability: 15% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 98 G, .246/.379/.438, 14 2B, 14 HR, 47 SB
Marsee has five MLB games under his belt, slashing a robust .500/.647/1.167 in 17 plate appearances (PAs) with three doubles and a home run. That's obviously way too small a sample to determine anything, and expectations are low based on his scouting report. However, his MiLB track record suggests he is viable in fantasy.
Let's get the negative out of the way first: Marsee isn't much of a prospect. Here is his FanGraphs scouting report:
Plus wheels are nice, and the hit tool isn't hopeless, but an outfielder who struggles with power, fielding, and throwing isn't exciting. He also struggles to access his limited power in games, further hindering his value. His profile compares him to Jake McCarthy with more loft in his swing.
MiLB.com is more bullish on Marsee than FanGraphs, but he still ranks just 10th in the Miami organization:
This report is higher on Marsee's hit tool and fielding acumen but lower on his speed, which is probably a wash for fantasy purposes. It's easy to see why Marsee is overlooked in fantasy circles based on these reports.
Marsee has something that isn't captured by traditional scouting reports, however: an eagle eye. Marsee is more than willing to work a walk, giving him a consistent path to getting on base and stealing second. He also makes up for his lack of raw power with a fly-heavy approach, so he shouldn't be a complete zero in the power categories.
Unfortunately, things fell apart last year. He hit .176/.336/.318 with two homers and 12 steals in 109 PAs for San Antonio before his inclusion in the Luis Arraez trade. Marsee was caught stealing once for a 92 percent success rate, and his plate discipline remained strong with a 17.4 percent BB% against a 22 percent K%, while his 7.9 percent SwStr% was a slight improvement.
His 55.7 percent FB% was way too high, though, especially when paired with a 17.6 percent IFFB% and 5.9 percent HR/FB. The resulting .217 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) doomed his surface stats and expedited his trade to Miami.
The Marlins assigned Marsee to Double-A (Pensacola), but the change of scenery didn't alter his performance. He hit .188/.342/.303 with seven homers and 32 steals in 401 PAs. His plate discipline remained strong with a 15.2 percent BB% and 22.7 percent K%, with his 7.8 percent SwStr% virtually repeating. He was caught stealing six times for an 84 percent success rate.
The Marlins somehow decided Marsee's performance warranted a promotion to Triple-A (Jacksonville), where he hit .275/.370/.363 with a homer and seven steals over 93 PAs. His BABIP surged to .356 thanks to a 33.9 percent FB%, but the rest of his peripherals were unchanged.
Marsee returned to Jacksonville to begin 2025 and slashed .246/.379/.438 with 14 HR and 47 steals in 429 PAs. He was caught stealing 13 times for a 78 percent success rate, slightly worse than his established baseline but still good enough to maintain the green light. He also improved his HR/FB to 13.1 percent, giving him a reason to maintain a 40.4 percent FB%.
Marsee's plate discipline was again outstanding with a 15.9 percent BB% and 18.9 percent K% backed by a 7.7 percent SwStr% and 18.8 percent chase rate. His 24.3 percent IFFB% was too high and partially to blame for his .282 BABIP.
Overall, Marsee's consistent record on the farm tells us who he is. He's fast and aggressive on the bases, so a 30 SB pace should be expected. His plate discipline is excellent, maintaining double-digit walk rates despite his speed. Marsee debuted hitting ninth for the Fish but was promoted to sixth in his second game, where he's remained since. That suggests the Marlins are willing to let him earn a meaningful lineup spot and bolster his fantasy value.
Marsee has elite SB upside with strong enough plate discipline that he shouldn't be overmatched by MLB hurlers. If you need speed, he is worth picking up.
- Written by Rick Lucks
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