February 24, 2026

Outfield prospect Jacob Melton was included in the three-team trade this offseason that shipped him from Houston to Tampa Bay. Last season, Melton, a former second-round pick, made his MLB debut with the Astros (the team that drafted him) but was unable to find his footing. Through his first 32 games in the majors, Melton held a .157/.234/.186 line with a low .420 SLG. During this stint, Melton generated a low .240 xwOBA but did showcase his speed upside, swiping seven bags. However, at Triple-A, Melton was far more productive, posting a .286/.389/.555 line with 16 doubles, six home runs, and 12 stolen bases. During this 35-game stint, he posted a stellar .945 OPS while holding a 30:22 K:BB. While he would spend most of the season on the shelf with an ankle injury, his strong play in Triple-A should keep him in consideration to return to the majors early in 2026. Currently, Tampa Bay has a crowded outfield, with Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins II, Jonny DeLuca, and Jake Fraley all likely to see at-bats before Melton. While a strong showing in camp could push Tampa Bay's hand, he is expected to begin the season with Triple-A Durham. However, given his five-category profile, Melton is worth viewing as a late-round stash target in deeper 15-team, five-outfielder formats, as he could be in the mix for an early promotion. He is a great use of your final pick in deeper leagues at his current 600.5 ADP on NFBC drafts. If he enjoys a host start at Triple-A, he will quickly carry stash upside in 12-team leagues.--Andy Smith