Top 25 Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash (Redraft): Eric Cross' Rookie Rankings for Week 6

May 6, 2025

Eric Cross' top 25 fantasy baseball prospects to stash in redraft for Week 6 (2025). His updated MLB rookie rankings for prospect call-ups to make 2025 impacts.

The calendar has flipped over to May and the prospect promotions have continued to be consistent. Over the last week, we had Coby Mayo get recalled by Baltimore, and the Dodgers called up Hyeseong Kim with Tommy Edman landing on the IL.

We should also receive plenty of additional prospect promotions in the coming weeks, especially with the Super-2 deadline approaching.

These prospect rankings are for 2025 redraft value only. These are MLB prospects who could potentially make a fantasy baseball impact in 2025 redraft leagues. You can also see our top fantasy baseball dynasty prospects rankings for longer-term outlooks and our 2025 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard for all other league formats.

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Top 25 Prospects to Stash in Redraft Leagues

My prospect write-ups are below the rankings. These rankings are for 2025 redraft value only, not dynasty. These are MLB prospects who could potentially make a fantasy baseball impact in 2025.

Promoted Last Week: Coby Mayo (BAL), Hyeseong Kim (LAD), Blade Tidwell (NYM)

Honorable Mentions (Hitters): Chase DeLauter (CLE), Emmanuel Rodriguez (MIN), Alex Freeland (SS), Bryce Eldridge (SFG), Jett Williams (NYM), Kevin Alcantara (CHC), Owen Caissie (CHC), Tyler Black (MIL), Shay Whitcomb (HOU), Jacob Melton (HOU), Spencer Jones (NYY), Carson Williams (TBR), Tyler Locklear (SEA), Justin Foscue (TEX), Justin Crawford (PHI).

Honorable Mentions (Pitchers): Noah Schultz (CHW), Ian Seymour (TBR), Thomas Harrington (PIT), Quinn Mathews (STL), Logan Henderson (MIL), Mick Abel (PHI), Parker Messick (CLE)

Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings Analysis

Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs

With Shota Imanaga set to miss time with a strained hamstring suffered on Sunday, Cade Horton has a decent shot to take that spot in the rotation. It certainly helps that Horton is pitching very well right now, and his schedule lines up perfectly with Imanaga's next scheduled start.

Through his first six starts of the season in Triple-A, Horton has posted a stellar 1.24 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 32% strikeout rate in 29 innings. The walk rate has been a bit on the higher end at 12%, but 10 of Horton's 13 walks came in his first three outings, and he's only walked 5% of the batters he's faced over his last three outings. There's plenty of upside here with Horton, but also a smaller margin for error as primarily a two-pitch guy.

Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs

Another Cubs prospect who could be up with the big team soon is Matt Shaw. Yes, his first Major League stint didn't go well after Shaw was a popular draft day target this spring. However, it's not like the Cubs have gotten much production from that spot since they optioned Shaw back down two weeks ago, and he has hit fairly well since returning to Triple-A Iowa.

In 13 Triple-A games, Shaw is slashing .277/.424/.404 with four extra-base hits, a home run, two steals, and over twice as many walks (11) as strikeouts (five) in 59 plate appearances. Shaw has been running a 77.6% overall and 84.1% in zone contact rate, but the quality of contact has been a tad underwhelming with a 31% hard-hit rate and 4.8% barrel rate. Still, Shaw can provide value in various ways and should get another shot fairly soon.

Jonathon Long, Chicago Cubs

If Shaw doesn't get the call to take over at third base this month, it's likely because that call got redirected to Jonathon Long, who has been flourishing through the first five weeks of the Triple-A season. In his first 28 games, Long is slashing .353/.431/.471 with six doubles, two home runs, and has been walking at a 12% clip while only striking out 24% of the time.

The two home runs and .118 ISO don't exactly stand out, but Long has been impacting the ball incredibly well so far with a 93.8 mph AVG EV, 60.8% hard-hit rate, and a 13.5% barrel rate to go along with an 84.6% zone and 75.7% overall contact rate. Long is one of the most underrated hitters in the minors and could provide sneaky fantasy value if given the chance to play regularly for the Cubs at some point this season.

Otto Kemp, Philadelphia Phillies

That sound you hear is Otto Kemp loudly banging on the door to the Majors. Alec Bohm is on the other side of that door, trying to barricade large objects in front of it, but frankly, his .228/.267/.283 slash line isn't going to keep that door shut for long. Meanwhile, Kemp has been red hot in Triple-A all season with a .344/.433/.703 slash line, 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and five steals in his first 32 games.

Otto Kemp just hit his 10th HR of the season and is now slashing .350/.441/.715 in his first 31 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Knocking loudly on the door to Philly.#RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/bbOSZHzS7P

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) May 4, 2025

Kemp has been impacting the ball incredibly well this season with a 93.4 mph AVG EV, 51.7% hard-hit rate, and a 20.2% barrel rate. The contact skills haven't been as rosy with a 64.1% overall and 79.7% zone contact rate, but Kemp has kept the strikeout rate in check at 24.7%. If Bohm continues to struggle, we could see Kemp get a chance in the upcoming weeks, and he'd be an interesting target in 12-team leagues or deeper.

Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates

At this point, keeping Bubba Chandler in Triple-A is unfair to Triple-A hitters. He's too good for the level and is ready to make an impact with the Pittsburgh Pirates, so it should just be a matter of time before he receives the call.

After another impressive late last week, Chandler now has a 1.42 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 7.7% walk rate, and a 39.6% strikeout rate in his first six starts for Triple-A Indianapolis. Chandler struck out nine in five innings against Omaha last Thursday with 15 whiffs and 16 called strikes. That translates to a 48% whiff rate and a 44% CSW, both of which are elite marks.

You can argue that Chandler is the best pitching prospect in the minors and that, with his impending debut, he needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues.

Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals

The last player I wanted to mention this week is big, bad Jac Caglianone. Why? Well, Caglianone has started in right field in two of his last three games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, which is notable as that would present a much easier path to playing time for the former University of Florida star.

Yes, it's still standing!

Jac Caglianone (@jac_caglianone) CRUSHES a 115 MPH, line-drive homer off a building in right!

It's his sixth of the season! #GoNats pic.twitter.com/NcwHC2hAxr

— Northwest Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) May 4, 2025

Through 35 games, the Royals are 19-16 and should be postseason contenders once again. However, Kansas City's offense has been sputtering for most of the season, ranking 29th in wRC+, 29th in wOBA, 28th in SLG, 27th in OBP, and dead last with only 18 home runs as a team. You know what could help that? Calling up one of the best power-hitting prospects in the game this summer, who hits plenty of "big boy" home runs.

In his first 27 games this season, Caglianone is slashing .314/.395/.543 with six doubles, six home runs, a 12.1% walk rate, and a 23.4% strikeout rate. I'd have to check the math, but I'm sure those six home runs have an average distance of 846 feet. I'm not saying his debut is imminent, but how long do we expect a contending team to roll out an outfield of Jonathan India, Kyle Isbel, and Drew Waters?

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