Fantasy Baseball Prospect Risers - Rookies to Stash and Top Performers for Week 3

April 12, 2026

Jeremy's top fantasy baseball prospect risers, breakouts with big upside for Week 3 of 2026. He analyzes top MLB rookies and call-ups to stash who are surging.

Welcome to the Week 3 edition of the top prospect performers. In this weekly piece, we'll look at the top-performing prospects who could earn a promotion and contribute in fantasy this season. Now that we are two full weeks into the year, we're starting to see trends develop that could foreshadow long-term success for some young players.

Players mentioned in previous editions, such as Bryce Eldridge, Charlie Condon, and Sam Antonacci, remain great options if you're looking for a prospect to stash. However, this week, we'll look at three new players who are crushing it as of late. These include the hottest hitter in the minors, along with two pitchers who could end up as major league aces in the future.

I'd also like to point out that every player on this list is worth an immediate stash if your league utilizes NA roster spots for the purpose of holding onto prospects. The verdict I give at the end of each player discussion applies to leagues without NA spots, where stashing a player comes at the cost of wasting a bench spot while they are in the minors. Without further ado, let's dive in.

• BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
• PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
• Who should I start? Fantasy baseball comparisons
• Who should I pickup? Fantasy baseball comparisons
• Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
• MLB Props finder tool
• Fantasy baseball closer depth charts

James Tibbs III, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers No. 10, Overall N/A

James Tibbs has been by far the best performing prospect so far in 2026. He is slashing a ridiculous .380/.456/.920 with seven home runs, 13 RBI, and 16 runs through 12 games. After being dealt from the Giants to the Red Sox last season in the Rafael Devers trade, Boston shipped him to the Dodgers for Dustin May at the trade deadline. That looks like a mind-boggling decision in hindsight, and now the Dodgers have one of the most exciting prospects waiting for a chance to join their star-studded roster. 

In 123 games in the minors in 2025 between the three organizations, he slashed .243/.373/.429 with 20 home runs and 10 steals. He also showed off an impressive 16.0% walk rate compared to a 21.4% strikeout rate. While the strikeout rate is up to 28.1% so far in 2026, it’s hard to hold that against him when he is hitting as well as he is. The 23-year-old also hit four home runs in spring training, so I don’t believe this is some fluke of inflated stats due to his recent three-homer game. 

THREE-HOMER GAME FOR JAMES TIBBS III 🚀🚀🚀

Make it 7 homers in the first 8 games of the year for the Triple-A @OKC_comets!@Dodgers | @FSUBaseball pic.twitter.com/LNinowAWqA

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 5, 2026

It’s looking like the Dodgers are doing what the Dodgers do best, as they consistently show they are one of the best teams in the league at player development. They could be turning the former first-round pick into a future superstar, although the last remaining problem is where he would play.

With Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernandez, and Andy Pages manning the outfield and Shohei Ohtani as the designated hitter, there’s seemingly no room to get the youngster consistent at-bats. However, this type of production can only be ignored for so long, so stash him or put him on your watch list as a must-add player once he does get the call. 

Verdict: Stash in five-outfielder leagues

Payton Tolle, SP, Boston Red Sox

Red Sox No. 1, Overall No. 16

Despite Payton Tolle being the one still biding his time in the minor leagues, he is actually regarded as the better prospect than Connelly Early. He dazzled in the minors in 2025 with a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with a remarkable 36.5% strikeout rate and a 6.3% walk rate. His extension measures at 7.5 feet, which would be one of the highest in the majors, and his fastball touches triple digits. It’s easy to see ace upside in the prospect, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets a chance. 

That’s especially true now that Johan Oviedo was placed on the injured list with a flexor strain, as he could have been next in line for a rotation spot had one become available. While it’s not imminent for Tolle to outright replace a member of Boston’s current staff, he would be the clear option as soon as an injury or any other unusual circumstance opens up a spot to start. 

The 23-year-old actually made his debut last August, when he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over 5 ⅔ innings against the Pirates on August 29. He made two more starts after that and a handful of relief appearances that ultimately brought his ERA up to 6.06 over 16 ⅓ innings, but I wouldn’t read too much into that small sample. He had a mediocre first start of the season at Triple-A in 2026, but bounced back in his last outing with six one-run innings while striking out seven. 

7 punchouts for MLB's No. 16 prospect Payton Tolle 🔥

The @RedSox 2024 second-rounder averages 96.3 mph on his four-seamer en route to six strong frames for the Triple-A @WooSox. pic.twitter.com/42DWa1NbKr

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 5, 2026

The lefty’s elite fastball could be a difference-maker in the majors, and he would be a must-add in all leagues once he does get the call. It’s hard to justify stashing him in shallower leagues when that bench spot could be used for someone more useful in the meantime, but be sure to run to your waiver wire as soon as there’s any indication of an opportunity opening up in Boston’s rotation. 

Verdict: Stash in 15+ team leagues

Noah Schultz, SP, Chicago White Sox

White Sox No. 2, Overall No. 46

Note: As reported on Saturday night, after this piece was written, the White Sox are planning to call up Schultz to make his major league debut on Tuesday against the Rays. Consider him a must-add in all leagues. 

Noah Schultz was known as one of the most exciting pitching prospects entering 2025 after posting a 2.24 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 32.1% strikeout rate in the minors in 2024. However, 2025 was not his year, as he put up an unsightly 4.68 ERA 1,67 WHIP, and 23.2% strikeout rate last season between Double-A and Triple-A. However, he was shut down in September last season due to right knee tendinitis, an injury that bothered him throughout most of the year. 

Playing through a knee injury is the most logical explanation for why he fell off so hard last season, making him one of the most interesting prospects to watch entering 2026, now that he’s healthy. At least so far, it looks like he’s leaving 2025 in the dust, once again looking like one of the most dominant pitching prospects in the league. Through three starts in Triple-A, he has a 1.29 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, and 40.4% strikeout rate. 

His most recent outing was his best yet, allowing one run on two hits while striking out nine over five innings against the Memphis RedBirds. The 22-year-old stands at a towering height of 6’10”, with a 60-grade fastball and 70-grade slider that gives him ace upside. With Sean Burke, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, Erick Fedde, and Jonathan Cannon currently set as Chicago’s rotation, Schultz being blocked by other talent is not an issue. 

Noah Schultz on point in his latest outing for Triple-A @KnightsBaseball 🎯

The @whitesox No. 2 prospect strikes out 9 -- his most K's since 2024 -- over five innings to lower his ERA to 1.29. pic.twitter.com/pBz0zXATln

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 9, 2026

Verdict: Must-add with the news of his promotion

LIKE ROTOBALLER?

CLICK HERE, ENTER ROTOBALLER.COM, THEN CHECK THE BOX

More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies