RADIO
Elmer Rodriguez's Control Issues Hindering his Stash Status
New York Yankees pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez struggled with command in his latest outing, walking five batters in just four innings of work, which was the fourth time this season he's walked four or more batters in an appearance. This latest step back followed two back-to-back solid showings from the Yankees' third-ranked prospect, whose ERA stands at 2.85 but with a 4.02 FIP, along with a 1.32 WHIP due in part to a high 12.5 percent walk rate. The right-hander will likely find himself back in New York in the coming weeks after having debuted with the club earlier this year, but after posting a 4.76 ERA (5.14 FIP) and not having pitched more than 4 2/3 innings in any of his four starts with the Yankees, optimism from a fantasy perspective should be tempered. The 22-year-old will make another start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, so any interested fantasy managers should monitor for any positive developments.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ralphy Velazquez a Top Stash After Two-Home Run Effort
Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez endured a 0-for-21 six-game stretch in late July, but since then, the Guardians' top-ranked prospect has been on an otherworldly power binge, blasting nine home runs in his last 12 games at Triple-A Columbus, including two home runs in Wednesday's contest, while batting .319 (15-for-47) over that time. The former first-rounder earned a promotion to Triple-A in mid-May and after scuffling a bit, he appears to be settling in just fine against the stiffer competition. The left-handed hitter is now slashing .258/.338/.485 with 13 home runs in 60 games with the Clippers, while striking out at a slightly-better-than-average rate of 21.5 percent and producing an 88th-percentile barrel rate of 12.4 percent that foretells more home runs to come. The 21-year-old could be the next Guardians prospect to debut this season, and should be considered a top stash option for power production in most 12-team leagues and deeper.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Will Another Productive Stretch Push James Tibbs III to MLB Debut?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has been hitting the ball well after a late-July swoon, hitting safely in 12 of his last 14 games, going 20-for-57 (.351) over that stretch with five doubles, a triple, a home run, three steals, and an impressive 12:13 BB:K. The home run broke a 29-game drought without a round-tripper, and the three steals are nearly half of his season total, which now stands at seven. The recent surge has brought his 2026 slash line to .294/.417/.537 with 22 home runs, and his 84 RBI and 88 runs scored are both top-five totals at Triple-A. It has been a very productive season for the Dodgers' seventh-ranked prospect, but there simply has been no room for him on the major league roster to enable a major league debut, and that remains the case today. With other options who are already on the 40-man roster in Oklahoma City that can play outfield (i.e., Ryan Ward, Alek Thomas, Hyeseong Kim), Tibbs' hopes of a 2026 debut have dimmed considerably. Consider him a speculative stash with upside if he found his way to at-bats in Los Angeles.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Twins Reinstate Byron Buxton From Injured List
The Minnesota Twins announced on Thursday that they reinstated outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) from the 10-day injured list. The Twins have not announced their starting lineup for Thursday's game at home against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola, but we'd think that Buxton would be back in the lineup, potentially as the designated hitter. Buxton is finally back from a right-hip impingement that kept him out since July 28. Now that the 32-year-old three-time All-Star is back in Minnesota, fantasy managers should be ready to reinsert him into their starting lineups. Buxton had a career-high 35 home runs, drove in 83 runs, and stole 24 bags in a resurgent 2025 campaign, and although he hasn't been quite that good in 2026, his power continues to be very valuable for fantasy managers. He is returning to a .263/.320/.544 slash line with an .864 OPS, 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs scored, and seven steals through 82 games played this year. Buxton hit just .207 (6-for-29) with zero home runs in nine games in July before going on the IL, so the Twins are hoping he can get going again as they seek a playoff spot down the stretch.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
Theo Gillen Showing Off All his Tools In the Minor Leagues
The Tampa Bay Rays top outfield prospect Theo Gillen is having a very good age-20 season between two levels of the minors in 2026. Now with Double-A Montgomery, Gillen has hit .320 combined between two teams with 20 homers and 74 RBI to go with 78 runs and 39 stolen bases. The left-handed hitting outfielder is producing in all five categories and offers a very balanced statistical profile for future fantasy leagues. But right now, Gillen may need more nurturing in the minors and could be looking at a few years down the road for a major-league debut. He's a name to remember, however, because of his 60-grade hit tool and 60-grade speed. He could be a very appealing power-speed combination in years to come. Dynasty managers will want to snatch him up for future teams as he looks like a potential stud.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Eric Hartman Slumping in August, But Elite Speed is Intriguing
Atlanta Braves outfield prospect Eric Hartman is slumping to start the month of August at Double-A Columbus, hitting just .152 for the Clingstones with no homers or RBI. Hartman has split time between two minor league levels this season and has generally produced with 24 combined homers and 64 RBI to go with 81 runs scored and 45 stolen bases while hitting .265. The steals jump off the page for the 20-year-old, and his speed could be a weapon at the big-league level and for future fantasy rosters. The No. 2 overall prospect for the Braves has a 70-grade speed tool with a 55-grade hit tool. He looks like a future fantasy contributor because of the stolen base potential, but at Double-A at age 20, he will likely need some more work in the minors before breaking through at the big league level with Atlanta.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Edward Florentino Producing At Very Young Age in Minors
Pittsburgh Pirates first base/outfield prospect Edward Florentino has put up good numbers this season between two minor-league levels this season at age 19. Currently at High-A Greensboro, Florentino has 16 homers and 50 RBI in 73 games for the Grasshoppers while hitting .216 with 58 runs scored. The outfield/first base prospect is likely to make his way up the minor league ladder in the next few years, but is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates' system. He has 60-grade power with a 50-grade hit tool and 55-grade speed. The left-handed hitter out of the Dominican Republic has the future tools to be a star, but at the age of 19 will need a few years to get some reps under his belt. A dynasty league stud, Florentino can be left on the waiver wire for the rest of this season in redraft leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ryan Sloan Has Potential For Future Fantasy Impact
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Ryan Sloan is just 20 years old and has spent all of 2026 in Double-A with the Arkansas Travelers. The right-hander is 2-3 overall with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 91 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. In 17 games started this season, it has been a good sample size for Sloan, the Mariners' second round pick in 2024. The No. 2 overall prospect in the Mariners system behind his Arkansas teammate Kade Anderson, Sloan has a 60-grade fastball and changeup with a 55-grade slider. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Sloan has an elite frame and is a presence on the mound. He will likely need a bit more work in the minors to polish his overall arsenal. Thus he can likely be left on waiver wires in redraft leagues as he works his way towards a major league debut likely in the next few years.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Taylor Ward Out on Thursday With Quad Tightness
Seattle Mariners outfielder Taylor Ward (quadriceps) is out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the hosting New York Yankees due to quad tightness, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. The good news is that Ward's injury is not considered serious, and he could be available off the bench. Catcher Cal Raleigh is serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup, while Jhonny Pereda will do the catching and hit eighth against Yankees left-hander Max Fried in the Bronx. After hitting a career-high 36 home runs and driving in 103 in 157 games in 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels, Ward has been one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy this year, entering action on Thursday with a .240/.370/.337 slash line with a .707 OPS, only seven home runs, 30 RBI, 65 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 119 games and 538 plate appearances. In eight games since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, Ward has gone 5-for-32 (.156) with the M's with zero homers, no walks, and six strikeouts. It sounds like he will have a chance to return to Seattle's starting nine for Friday's series opener in Houston against the division-rival Astros.
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Top Overall Pick Eli Willits Has Speed to Burn in the Minor Leagues
The Washington Nationals drafted Eli Willits as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and the Nationals shortstop prospect has done nothing to disappoint in his professional career. At age 18 at the High-A affiliate of Wilmington, Willits has split time between two minor league levels this season and has produced with a combined 13 homers and 61 RBI in 340 at bats to go with 91 runs scored and 52 stolen bases while hitting .274. The speed of Willits jumps off the page and he has a 60-grade run tool to go with a 60-grade hit tool and 50 grade power. At age 18, Willits is worth monitoring but more so in a dynasty league as it's likely he will need more minor league seasoning in redraft leagues. The young switch hitter looks like a future star but it might be a few more years before he reaches the major leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Leo De Vries Worth Stashing As One of Baseball's Top Prospects
Athletics shortstop prospect Leo De Vries is just 19 years old and has had a stellar season at Double-A Midland with 13 homers and 53 RBI while hitting .292 with 62 runs scored and 33 stolen bases. One of the top young prospects in baseball, De Vries is showing off his five-category potential at Midland this season. The top prospect for the Athletics, De Vries possesses a 60-grade hit tool with 55-grade power and 55-grade speed. In other words, De Vries has all the tools to be successful on the baseball diamond, but he might need a bit of seasoning at Triple-A before the Athletics give him a big-league debut opportunity. He is a name worth monitoring, though, because if the Athletics do give him a chance, he should be ready to produce for fantasy even as early as this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Hunter Greene Undergoes Tommy John Surgery, Expected to Miss All of 2027
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss the rest of 2026 and the entire 2027 season, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Greene missed the start of the 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery to remove bone chips and loose bodies in March. It was announced last week that the 27-year-old would require a second elbow surgery, which it now appears was indeed the second Tommy John procedure of his career. It's a devastating blow for the Reds, as Greene has shown elite upside when healthy. Across 107 2/3 innings (19 starts) in 2025, Greene recorded a 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. Given his extremely uncertain health outlook going forward, Greene's future fantasy value is difficult to project until he gets back onto a mound.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
Christian Yelich Losing Playing Time in Milwaukee Amidst Second-Half Slump
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich has had a down year in 2026, hitting .231/.313/.375 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 362 plate appearances. The oft-injured veteran has also battled injury issues once again this season, missing a month with a groin strain. Since the All-Star break, Yelich's already subpar campaign has taken a turn for the worse. Across his last 86 plate appearances, the 34-year-old is hitting just .195 with two home runs. Yelich's 27.3% strikeout rate is the worst full-season mark of his career, and his hard-hit rate is down to a career-low 41.5%. Given the Brewers' position-player depth and Yelich's health issues, the team seems likely to continue resting him against left-handed starting pitchers. Yelich still carries some deep-league upside because of his balanced production profile, but his fantasy value for 2026 is fading.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mike Trout Heating Up After July Power Outage
Across 456 plate appearances in 2026, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is hitting .240/.386/.447 with 20 home runs, 44 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. The oft-injured slugger has spent time on the injury list once again this year, but he's stayed healthy outside of a hamstring strain that caused him to miss about three weeks right before the All-Star break. Trout may have still been feeling the effects of the hamstring injury immediately after his return, as he hit just one home run in the month of July. However, the 35-year-old has begun to turn it on of late, logging two home runs, five RBI, and two stolen bases across his last 26 plate appearances. Trout's barrel rate is down from his peak but remains elite at 16.7%, and his 18.0% walk rate keeps his production floor extremely high. As long as he can stay on the field the rest of the way, Trout profiles as a high-upside power source for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Colt Emerson is Droppable Amidst Second-Half Slump
Since making his MLB debut on May 17, Seattle Mariners infielder Colt Emerson is hitting .190/.246/.335 with eight home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 241 plate appearances. The 21-year-old got off to a respectable start, hitting .218 with seven home runs and 19 RBI across his first 132 plate appearances. However, Emerson has struggled since the start of July, hitting just .157 with one home run over his last 109 trips to the plate. Emerson is widely viewed as one of the top young prospects in baseball, but his underlying metrics suggest he may not quite be ready for the big leagues. He's struck out in 34.4% of his plate appearances while also logging well below-average barrel (5.0%) and hard-hit (31.2%) rates. Emerson's future outlook remains bright, but redraft managers should feel comfortable dropping him amidst his current struggles.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
