RADIO
Corey Seager Expected to Return This Weekend
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) is expected to return from the 10-day injured list this weekend, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Rangers entered Wednesday ranked 23rd in runs per game and two games below .500, so they desperately need both Seager and outfielder Wyatt Langford (forearm) back in their lineup. The 32-year-old Seager started a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday and should be good to go by the weekend, barring a setback. The five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP has gotten off to a bad start to the 2026 season, slashing just .179/.286/.353 with a .638 OPS, but he did have seven home runs in 156 at-bats before injuring his back. Seager has had trouble staying healthy at various points in his career, but the Rangers need him to stay on the field the rest of the year to have any chance at getting into the postseason. In fantasy, Seager's buy-low window remains open if you're willing to take on the risk that he cannot overcome his slow start.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
With Rehab Assignment on Deck, Will Walker Jenkins Debut in 2026?
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins (shoulder) was gaining momentum for a promotion to the major leagues before suffering a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in early May. The Twins' top-ranked prospect was 9-for-21 (.429) with four doubles, a home run, a 6:4 BB:K, and two steals during a six-game hit streak before hitting the injured list. The oft-injured former first-round draft pick was slashing .256/.396/.389 with a pair of home runs, five steals, and more walks (19) than strikeouts (18) through 25 games before injuring his shoulder. The left-handed slugger is expected to start a rehab assignment next week, per Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll, and should he get rolling again, he will find himself in the mix for a major league debut in the second half of the season. The talented 21-year-old has the skills to be an impactful fantasy player once he gets a shot in the majors, but with a debut likely more than a month away, he's not a must-stash at the moment.
Source: Dan Hayes - The Athletic
Source: Dan Hayes - The Athletic
James Tibbs III Extends Hit Streak to Six Games, Promotion on the Way?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III extended his current hit streak to six games on Wednesday, batting a sizzling .409 (9-for-22) during that stretch, including five home runs and a whopping 14 RBI. For the season, the Dodgers' 10th-ranked prospect is slashing .318/.419/.641 with 17 home runs and a strong 14.2 percent walk rate. The strikeouts remain on the high side at 25.8 percent, but with this type of production, it is tolerable, and he should be ticketed for a major league debut in the coming weeks, though it was Ryan Ward who was called upon to replace the recently shelved Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring). Should Ward falter or another need arises in the outfield, Tibbs could very well be on his way to Los Angeles, and with the type of power and on-base ability he's shown at Triple-A Oklahoma City, the 23-year-old should be considered one of the top bats to stash in most redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Is Brody Hopkins a Stash Candidate After Latest Outing?
Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brody Hopkins' season-long stats for Triple-A Durham don't look so good on the surface (3.56 ERA, 5.00 FIP, 1.54 WHIP), but progress can be seen in his five May outings, where he pitched to a 1.77 ERA (3.89 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP while opponents hit just .143 against him. The main issue has been the walks, which have persisted even throughout May, as the right-hander carries a Triple-A-worst 20.2 percent walk rate (minimum 30 innings pitched), which has almost canceled out a solid 25.8 percent strikeout rate, giving him a paltry 5.6 K-BB% for the year, while he's also delivered the second-most wild pitches (eight) among Triple-A hurlers. A 35.8 percent whiff rate (88th percentile) shows what kind of swing-and-miss stuff the Rays' top pitching prospect has, and if he can get the command under control, there is plenty of strikeout upside there. The 24-year-old walked just one while striking out nine in his latest appearance, and if he can continue that trend, the Rays might find a role for him on the big league club later this season, and with his stuff, Hopkins could end up being a stash target for fantasy.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Hagen Smith Seeing Value Soar as a Top Pitcher to Stash?
Across 43 innings (12 starts) this season at Triple-A, Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Hagen Smith has recorded a 4.19 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts. Smith owns a 16% walk rate this season and walked 17.6% of the batters he faced at Double-A in 2025, so command is obviously a red flag in his profile. However, the 22-year-old's 33.7% strikeout rate hints at an elite ability to miss bats. Smith has also started to lock in over his last two starts at Triple-A, allowing three earned runs and three walks while striking out 16 across 9 1/3 innings of work. Smith has logged just 126 1/3 total innings in the minors since being drafted fifth overall by the White Sox in 2024. Between his lack of experience and his walk issues, Chicago may need to see more from him before giving him an opportunity in the big leagues. Still, Smith's ability to miss bats gives him major fantasy upside and may make him worth stashing off the waiver wire in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Will Karson Milbrandt be the Next Marlins Pitching Prospect to Debut?
Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt has pitched extremely well so far this season, and with a recent promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville, the right-hander has put himself in the stash conversation for fantasy. The former third-rounder has pitched to a 1.34 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through nine starts at Double-A, while striking out 38.3 percent of opponents. His 70 strikeouts are second-most for any pitcher in all the minors, and it will be interesting to see how he fares at the minors' highest level. The Marlins' ninth-ranked prospect will get his first opportunity to face stiffer competition on Saturday when he takes the mound for the first time for the Jumbo Shrimp, and if he continues to perform, a major league debut should be in the cards later in the season. The Marlins' rotation depth has taken multiple hits with Janson Junk (shin) and Eury Perez (thigh) recently hitting the injured list, and with prospect Robby Snelling (elbow) also out for the year after making just one MLB start. Top prospect Thomas White (shoulder) remains on the 7-day IL, so Milbrandt's chance may come out of sheer necessity, though he's not currently on the 40-man roster. Either way, his strikeout upside puts him on the fantasy radar, and if he shows well on Saturday, he could quickly become a top pitching stash in redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jose Ramirez Remains an Elite Third Baseman Despite Underwhelming Production
Across 276 plate appearances entering play on Thursday, Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez had hit .245/.351/.433 with nine home runs, 32 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. While the 33-year-old's .784 OPS this season still represents above-average production, it's well below the .868 OPS he posted across back-to-back top-five finishes in the American League MVP vote in 2024 and 2025. Still, Ramirez's 7% barrel rate is right in line with his career norms, and his 44.8% hard-hit rate is actually the best mark of his career. Ramirez's plate skills also remain elite, as he's drawn 39 walks on the season and struck out just 35 times. Ramirez is already an elite source of speed, and there's plenty of reason to believe that the rest of his fantasy profile will return to elite status over the remainder of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Thomas White Still Worth Stashing Amid Injured List Stint?
Miami Marlins pitching prospect Thomas White (shoulder) was coming off a stellar 2025 campaign where he posted a 2.31 ERA (2.27 FIP), 1.18 WHIP, and a .172 opponent batting average while striking out 145 batters across 89 2/3 innings of work, which was good for a massive 38.6 percent strikeout rate. Walks have always been a concern, even in 2025 when they reached 13.6 percent, but a 17.0 percent swinging-strike rate while allowing two home runs all season helped limit the potential damage. That is why it was a bit of an eye-opener to see him struggle to a 4.34 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and an opponent batting average of .257, which includes four home runs allowed to begin the Triple-A campaign in 2026. The Marlins' top-ranked prospect has been on the 7-day injured list since May 19, but has no clear timetable to return after Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said last week that White is recovering from "a bit of a shoulder thing." If he can return soon and log a couple of good starts at Triple-A, the southpaw could soon get the call to the majors with the big league rotation desperately in need of reinforcements. Fantasy managers should monitor for any updates, as once the 21-year-old starts pitching again, he'll likely be one of the top pitchers to stash in fantasy leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Should Ralphy Velazquez Be Viewed as an Elite Stash Target?
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season in the minor leagues, hitting .298/.389/.521 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 28 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 21-year-old's production has slowed down a bit since being promoted from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus on May 20. Still, Velazquez has progressed rapidly through the Guardians' farm system since opening the 2025 season at High-A and could be on the fast track to the big leagues. Cleveland has gotten decent production from the first base/designated hitter combination of Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins, but neither represents a major impediment for Velazquez if he continues to produce. In deeper leagues, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Velazquez off the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Manny Machado Showing Signs of Age-Related Decline?
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado has struggled mightily so far in 2026, hitting .172/.263/.344 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 28 runs scored, and one stolen base across 241 plate appearances. It's a startling decline for the veteran, who entered 2026 riding a streak of five consecutive seasons with at least a .258 batting average, 27 home runs, and 91 RBI. Machado's issues at the plate have been at least partially fueled by bad luck, as his .177 batting average on balls in play is significantly below his career mark of .296. However, there are some worrying signs in his underlying metrics. Machado's 8.2% barrel rate is his worst since 2019, and his 44.3% hard-hit rate is his lowest since 2020. The 33-year-old's strikeout rate has also slipped to a career-worst 23.2%. Machado's production feels likely to regress to the mean over a larger sample, but he may finally be exhibiting signs of age-related decline.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brent Rooker Remains an Intriguing Buy-Low Candidate Despite Rough Start to 2026
Athletics outfielder/designated hitter Brent Rooker has had a rough go of it so far in 2026, hitting .196/.277/.362 with eight home runs, 26 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 184 plate appearances. The 31-year-old's season got off to a rocky start due to injury, as he missed nearly three weeks in April with an oblique strain. After striking out in 22.2% of his plate appearances in 2025, Rooker's strikeout rate has skyrocketed to 31% in 2026. Even with the increase in swing-and-miss, Rooker's poor batting average may be a symptom of bad luck. His current batting average on balls in play of .240 is well below his career mark of .312. Rooker's power does not appear to have degraded either, as his 14.7% barrel rate is right in line with the marks he posted across three consecutive 30-homer campaigns from 2023 to 2025. If Rooker can cut down on his whiffs even slightly, he could be in line for a major bounce-back over the remainder of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cooper Pratt's On-Base Streak Reaches 22 Games, Nearing MLB Debut?
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt went hitless on Wednesday for Triple-A Nashville, but drew a walk in the contest that extended his on-base streak to 22 games, during which time he's gone 24-for-85 (.282) with eight extra-base hits (four home runs), five steals, and a 14:18 BB:K while also getting hit by a pitch three times in that span. The Brewers' fourth-ranked prospect is slashing .242/.360/.382 through 49 games for the Sounds, with five home runs, 14 steals, and nearly as many walks (32) as strikeouts (34). The former sixth-round draft pick signed an eight-year deal in the offseason for $50.75 million before playing a single game higher than Double-A, and with current shortstop David Hamilton batting .167 (5-for-30) over his last 10 games and .230 on the season, Pratt's opportunity for a big league debut appears to be drawing closer and closer. Look for the 21-year-old to receive a promotion by midseason, and with an advanced approach that could generate a decent average with a little pop, along with the ability to steal bases, the 6-foot-4 slugger should be considered a speculative stash with upside in deeper leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Should Fantasy Managers Be Concerned About Sal Stewart?
Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart got off to a hot start to the 2026 season, hitting .283/.373/.570 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, 20 runs, and seven stolen bases through the end of April. However, the 22-year-old cooled off considerably in May, hitting .240/.336/.375 with three home runs, eight RBI, 14 runs, and three stolen bases across 119 plate appearances. Given Stewart's age, it's not a surprise to see him struggle after the league has some time to gather information on him. Still, Stewart will now need to counter with an adjustment of his own. Even with his relatively rough May baked in, Stewart's 12.5% walk rate and 14.7% barrel rate suggest an elite combination of plate skills and power. The young slugger is also locked into everyday playing time in Cincinnati and should have an extended runway to work his way out of his current slump. Managers may want to slightly downgrade expectations for Stewart, but he remains a high-upside fantasy hitter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Red Sox Move Trevor Story to 60-Day Injured List
The Boston Red Sox transferred shortstop Trevor Story (hernia) to the 60-day injured list on Thursday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Story is going to miss extended time after having surgery two weeks ago to fix a sports hernia. With the move to the 60-day IL, he won't be able to rejoin the big-league roster until after the All-Star break in mid-July. In the meantime, infielder Marcelo Mayer will serve as the primary shortstop in Beantown. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2021 has not taken advantage of regular playing time in his first full season in the majors in 2026, as he's currently slashing a weak .222/.283/.296 with a .580 OPS, only two home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 55 games and 181 plate appearances. Story, who has a lengthy injury history in his 11 years in the majors, rebounded to hit 25 homers, drive in 96, and steal 31 bases in 2025, but it's looking like another injury-plagued campaign in 2026. He is now rostered in less than half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Antonio Senzatela "as Good as Gone" as Trade Candidate This Year
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela is a "no-brainer" trade candidate this year and is "as good as gone" since he'll be a free agent after the 2026 season. Passan adds that the Rockies are still years away from contending, and "nobody on their roster is untouchable." In addition to Senzatela, outfielder Mickey Moniak (ankle) and catcher Hunter Goodman could also be moved by early August, at the right price. Other players that could attract interest at this year's trade deadline include infielders TJ Rumfield, Troy Johnston, and Willi Castro, starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, and relievers Brennan Bernardino and Jaden Hill. Senzatela, in particular, has gone from a terrible starting pitcher to one of the best relievers in the game this season. The 31-year-old Venezuelan hurler and 10-year veteran is currently sporting a 5-0 record, 1.30 ERA (3.30 FIP), 0.89 WHIP, three saves, and a 26:10 K:BB in 34 2/3 innings out of the 'pen. Senzatela has an xwOBA of .283 and an expected ERA of 3.17, so regression is expected the rest of the way.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
