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Brian analyzes three top fantasy baseball prospects - Hurston Waldrep, Jordan Lawlar, and Jackson Jobe - who could make big impacts this season. These MLB prospects are potential waiver wire pick-ups or stashes.
Forward-thinking fantasy baseball managers can always look for an edge by stashing prospects who are currently in the minor leagues.
At this time of year, however, it can be a risk in redraft leagues because of the uncertainty of a call-up and the limited time a prospect would be able to help out in fantasy.
Here is a look at three prospects, currently in the minor leagues, who are somewhat risky stashes but could all pay off in a big way.
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Hurston Waldrep - P, Atlanta Braves
Level: Triple-A Gwinnett
Availability: 13% rostered
2024 Minor league stats: 14 GS, 3-6 record, 66 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 73 Ks
2024 MLB stats: 2 GS, 0-1 record, 7 IP, 16.71 ERA, 2.73 WHIP, 3 Ks
Waldrep had a brief trial run in Atlanta this season and it didn’t quite go according to plan. He’s returned to Triple-A with better results. He has flashed his high strikeout upside with more than a strikeout per inning.
He was shut down for a bit with elbow inflammation and after a rehab assignment has returned to Gwinnett for two August starts with mixed results. He gave up four runs in 2 ⅔ innings in his first outing. On Saturday, he was more effective giving up just one run in four innings.
Hurston Waldrep, 96mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/Es9eazYjIL
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 16, 2024
Fantasy managers will need to see more results from Waldrep at Triple-A as he ramps back up his workload. He’s an interesting stash, but the injury setback may have put his return to the Braves on the back burner.
Jordan Lawlar - SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Level: Triple-A Reno (on 7-day IL)
Availability: 24% rostered
2024 Minor league stats: 13 G, .327/.414/.531, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 11 R, 5 SB
Lawlar has battled injuries all season long and his most recent ailment, a hamstring setback put a 6-8 week timetable on his return back in early-to-mid July. That puts him on track to return in late August.
That gives him enough time to make a fantasy impact but he will likely need a rehab assignment and then be activated back at Triple-A. So that makes Lawlar a risky stash in redraft leagues because of the limited time he will have in the majors even if he is to get the call.
Jordan Lawlar is officially back!
In his return from a rehab assignment, MLB's No. 8 prospect (@Dbacks) launches an absolute moonshot of a homer (38 degree launch angle) for the Triple-A @Aces: pic.twitter.com/Arv6Bnwc4h
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 12, 2024
The skill is undeniable though. Lawlar, MLB’s No. 7 prospect, would likely be in the big leagues getting full-time at-bats at shortstop if not for his lengthy recent injury history. He can hit for average, has plus power, and well above-average speed. It is worth watching how he progresses from his latest injury.
Jackson Jobe - P, Detroit Tigers
Level: Double-A Erie
Availability: 31% rostered
2024Minor league stats: 14 GS, 2-2 record, 56 ⅔ IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 64 Ks
Jobe is the top pitching prospect currently in the minor leagues. The 22-year-old right-hander has an electric pitch mix with a 65-grade fastball, 70-grade slider, and a 60-grade changeup. He also mixes in a 55-grade cutter. The fastball-slider combo is devastating and has helped him strike out more than a batter per inning.
Jobe is in Double-A right now, so there it would be a big jump for him to skip Triple-A and get to the majors this season, but it is not out of the question. His stuff appears MLB-ready but at 22 years old the Tigers could opt to keep him at Double-A the rest of the season with eyes on making the team out of spring training next year.
New Top 10 Pitching Prospects for #FantasyBaseball.
1. Jackson Jobe 🎥
2. Noah Schultz
3. Andrew Painter
4. Cade Horton
5. Zebby Matthews
6. Chase Burns
7. Noble Meyer
8. Hurston Waldrep
9. Bubba Chandler
10. Tink Hencepic.twitter.com/eyC1CUZ7wj— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) July 25, 2024
He has also battled injury this season and he hasn’t pitched too deep into games this year, with just one outing of six innings. But the talent here is undeniable. Again the opportunity in redraft leagues this year might not be great but risk-taking managers could do worse than taking a flier on Jobe.
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