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Three top fantasy baseball prospects - Payton Tolle, Robby Snelling, Jimmy Crooks - that can make big impacts. These MLB prospects are waiver wire pickups or stashes.
Through the opening weeks of the season, fantasy managers have seen many high-end prospects perform at an elite level in the upper minor leagues and have been making a strong case to earn the call to the majors.
In this piece, we will spotlight three high-impact prospects who are knocking on the MLB door in Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season
Should fantasy managers stash these high-end prospects? Let's dive in!
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Payton Tolle, SP, Boston Red Sox
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 10% rostered
2026 AAA Stats: 15 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 19 SO, 4 BB
We have a new No. 1. After moving up our stash list last week, Boston's Payton Tolle has claimed the No. 1 spot, as he not only possesses the most upside but also has a path to majors that is becoming quite clear. Following the move to Johan Oviedo (Elbow) to the 15-day IL, Boston now has an immediate opening in the rotation.
While rookie Connelly Early has slid in as the No. 5 option, Boston began the campaign carrying six starting pitchers and could very well add another in the near future, especially if they need further depth. Currently, their No. 4 option, Brayan Bello, has stumbled through the early going, allowing eight runs over his first eight innings of work.
While his spot in the rotation is not in imminent danger, Tolle is making a strong case at Triple-A to push the team's hand.
After a modest season debut with Worcester, where he struck out six over four innings of four-run ball, the hard-throwing southpaw looked like his 2025 self on April 5. Facing Saint Paul, Tolle was sharp, striking out seven batters over four innings while allowing two runs (one earned) with just four hits and one walk.
Payton Tolle looked good today in Triple-A.
6 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 7 K
Pitch Breakdown...
Cutter: 20
Sinker: 17
4-Seam: 16
Curveball: 11
Changeup: 10#DirtyWaterpic.twitter.com/eBZ0FsMQYo— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) April 5, 2026
The 23-year-old made his MLB debut last summer but was not overly impressive, holding a 6.06 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. However, Tolle made his professional debut at the start of the 2025 campaign and progressed through the year at an incredible rate. He opened the season at High-A but was able to earn the call to the majors after making just nine total appearances across Double-A and Triple-A.
Over these 42 innings (in the upper minors), Tolle struck out 54 hitters while carrying a 2.36 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. His strikeout upside is truly elite, and managers looking for a difference maker should stash Tolle this weekend.
-Written by Andy Smith
Robby Snelling, SP, Miami Marlins
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2025 AAA Stats: 13 IP, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 22 SO, 8 BB
Snelling was on the verge of making the MLB roster but fell short in the competition as Miami opted to turn to Chris Paddack, Janson Junk, and a healthy Max Meyer to round out the rotation after spring training. Despite this, Snelling remains on the verge of his eventual MLB debut and is a high-end stash candidate.
Over his first two outings of the Triple-A season, Snelling has tossed four innings in each game while allowing four total runs with five hits, four walks, and 10 punchouts.
While his current production is not overly dominant, Snelling is coming off an impressive 2025 campaign and could immediately become a reliable fantasy contributor once he reaches Miami. He began the 2025 season with Double-A, where he posted a solid 3.61 ERA with a 1.7 WHIP over 72 1/3 innings. However, he emerged as a potential late-season stash candidate once he moved up to Triple-A Jacksonville.
During his first look at the top level of the minor leagues, Snelling took a massive step forward, striking out 81 hitters while allowing just 17 walks over a 63 2/3 inning stint. He carried a 1.27 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP.
Given that Paddack has struggled to find his footing this season and Meyer has had his fair share of injuries during his career, Snelling should be in the mix to earn the call in the near future. Like Tolle, he is a priority pitcher to stash ahead of Week 3 in all standard 12-team leagues. He has high-end upside that could make him a must-start option as soon as he makes his debut.
Robby Snelling racked up 12 K in 5.0 IP inning his AAA start today
The dynamic southpaw wields one of the best fastballs in the minors and is knocking on the door to MLB. Expect him to get the call later this summer (maybe sooner!) pic.twitter.com/SuvmJyWbHK
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 11, 2026
- Written by Andy Smith
Jimmy Crooks, C, St. Louis Cardinals
Current Level: AAA
Availability: 5% rostered
2026 AAA Stats: 11 G, .286/.400/.595, 4 HR
Pedro Pages is batting .182 and is one of the worst defensive Catchers in baseball.
Jimmy Crooks is hitting .375 with 4 home runs. pic.twitter.com/8jIZWnZFTE
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) April 8, 2026
Jimmy Crooks is absolutely mashing in Triple-A so far, slashing .321/.457/.786 with four home runs in 35 plate appearances. Last season, Crooks had a respectable 105 wRC+ at Triple-A following 154 wRC+ at Double-A earlier that year, so it's clear that he's showing some improvement.
The Cardinals are a rebuilding team looking to give their young players opportunities, making it likely that we see Crooks in the big leagues at some point this season. Veteran Ivan Herrera is a good offensive catcher, but the Cardinals can move him to DH or trade him to a contender.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Why would you stash a catcher? That's because this recommendation is for two-catcher leagues where you have NA spots. It's worth keeping Crooks on your watch list in these formats, since he can provide some upside as your second catcher, especially in 15-team leagues.
It's not easy to find a worthwhile second catcher if you waited on the position in these deeper formats, so Crooks has some appeal. Those in deeper two-catcher formats lacking production in their No. 2 catcher spot should get ahead of the curve and attempt to stash Crooks before his eventual call-up to St. Louis.
- Written by Frank Ammirante
2026 Prospect Fantasy Baseball Redraft Stash Rankings
Who are the top fantasy baseball prospects to know? Check out our latest 2026 prospect fantasy baseball rankings which are updated regularly by Eric Cross:
Promoted This Week: Noah Schultz (CHW)
Honorable Mentions (Hitters): Lazaro Montes (SEA), Harry Ford (WAS), Ryan Clifford (NYM), Kemp Alderman (MIA), Kevin Alcantara (CHC), Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT), Gabriel Gonzalez (MIN), Zac Veen (COL), Deyvison De Los Santos (MIA), Hector Rodriguez (CIN), Michael Arroyo (SEA), Pedro Ramirez (CHC), Blaze Jordan (STL), Ryan Ward (LAD), Luis Lara (MIL), Jacob Melton (TBR)
Honorable Mentions (Pitchers): Gage Jump (ATH), Carlos Lagrange (NYY), Elmer Rodriguez (NYY), Hagen Smith (CHW), Jaxon Wiggins (CHC), Trey Gibson (BAL), Brody Hopkins (TBR)
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | ETA |
| 1 | Noah Schultz | SP | CHW | April |
| 2 | Sam Antonacci | 2B/3B/OF | CHW | May |
| 3 | Didier Fuentes | SP | ATL | April |
| 4 | Ryan Waldschmidt | OF | ARI | May |
| 5 | Robby Snelling | SP | MIA | May |
| 6 | Colt Emerson | SS | SEA | May |
| 7 | Payton Tolle | SP | BOS | May |
| 8 | Travis Bazzana | 2B | CLE | June |
| 9 | Charlie Condon | 1B | COL | May |
| 10 | Bryce Eldridge | 1B | SFG | May |
| 11 | Joshua Baez | OF | STL | June |
| 12 | Jett Williams | SS/OF | MIL | May |
| 13 | Max Clark | OF | DET | July |
| 14 | Kaelen Culpepper | SS | MIN | May |
| 15 | Walker Jenkins | OF | MIN | June |
| 16 | River Ryan | SP | LAD | May |
| 17 | Jhostynxon Garcia | OF | PIT | June |
| 18 | Jonah Tong | SP | NYM | June |
| 19 | Aidan Miller | SS | PHI | July |
| 20 | Carson Williams | SS | TBR | May |
| 21 | James Tibbs III | OF | LAD | June |
| 22 | Thomas White | SP | MIA | July |
| 23 | Emmanuel Rodriguez | OF | MIN | July |
| 24 | Jonathon Long | 1B | CHC | June |
| 25 | Spencer Jones | OF | NYY | July |
Who Should I Pickup Fantasy Baseball Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
2026 Player Decisions. Looking to pick up someone else instead? Today's focus is on specific players like Payton Tolle, Noah Schultz, Parker Messick, Connelly Early, Carter Jensen. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four MLB players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2026. You'll see MLB player tiles with stats, projections, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Looking to pick up someone else instead? Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2026 for players like Payton Tolle, Noah Schultz, Parker Messick, Connelly Early, Carter Jensen:
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