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Brian's top-5 fantasy baseball hitting prospects in MLB that can be stashed on your bench for Week 16 in fantasy redraft leagues as of July 4, 2024.
It was a busy week in fantasy baseball prospect land with Washington's James Wood and Minnesota's Brooks Lee getting the call-up for their major league debuts. Wood and Lee headlined the stash list last week, but since both are now bringing their talents to the big leagues, the top five this week will have a bit of a fresh new feel.
Here's hoping fantasy managers paid close attention to last week's list and took the opportunity to roster Wood and/or Lee. As the All-Star break approaches and trade season begins to come into focus, the stash list could continue to see a makeover.
There are still plenty of high-upside bats currently plying their trade in the minors just waiting for an opportunity to make a big league impact. Let's take a look at the high-priority stashes that can help forward-thinking managers at some point this season.
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Top Fantasy Baseball Hitting Prospect Stashes
Coby Mayo - 3B/1B, Baltimore Orioles
Mayo is the premium power-hitting prospect currently in the minor leagues. He has 21 homers and 59 RBI in the minors this season, which includes a rehab stint at High-A and most of the season at Triple-A Norfolk.
The Orioles' No. 3 prospect is hitting .305 with 18 homers and 53 RBI for Norfolk this season despite missing time with a broken rib. At Triple-A, Mayo boasts a 1.004 OPS. For fantasy managers looking to boost their power numbers, there is no better current stash than Mayo.
MLB's No. 15 prospect Coby Mayo slugs his fifth homer for the Triple-A @NorfolkTides since returning from injury last month.@Orioles | @OsPlayerDev pic.twitter.com/B8gamiQWQU
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 2, 2024
Since last week, Mayo added a home run and six RBI to continue his surge since returning from the rib injury. Mayo continues to make his case for promotion and the timing could be relatively soon. It's a bit tricky where Mayo would fit in if there are no injuries for the Orioles. One option would be to try Jordan Westburg at second base and let Mayo man the hot corner.
The other potential option would be finding first-base reps for Mayo while letting him fill in at designated hitter. Sometimes teams need to get creative to fit an explosive bat in the lineup and this would seem to be one of those cases.
Dylan Crews - OF, Washington Nationals
Now that Wood is up with the Nationals, his Triple-A Rochester outfield buddy Dylan Crews could be next. Nationals fans got a taste of the future with the duo manning the outfield together in Rochester and calls could be coming for the same in Washington.
One half of the equation is there, so could Crews be soon to follow? Baseball's No. 4 overall prospect is hitting .254 with two homers and nine RBI for Rochester since his promotion from Double-A. The numbers aren't screaming for promotion like Mayo, but Crews is a high-end prospect with a mature approach at the plate.
DYLAN CREWS NUKE 😳💣 pic.twitter.com/NygSFnGmwG
— Rochester Red Wings (@RocRedWings) June 21, 2024
The 22-year-old LSU product is primed to make an impact when he does get the call. With Washington currently sitting in fourth in the NL East with a record below .500, a post-All-Star break call-up could be in the cards. It could be worth getting a jump on his potential promotion.
Jacob Wilson - SS, Oakland Athletics
One of the best stories in the minor leagues right now is Wilson, the pure-hitting A's prospect who is hitting well above .400, albeit in limited action after missing some time this season with a knee issue. Wilson's fantasy profile is not one of a prototypical five-category stud. However, what he does well, he does extremely well and that is hit.
Jacob Wilson (@Athletics) hits his third dinger in his last four games 💫
MLB’s No. 50 prospect is slashing .436/.483/.691 at Triple-A for @AviatorsLV. pic.twitter.com/eVWhJn7mxH
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 4, 2024
He has been given a rare 70-grade hit tool. While his power is limited, he could be a major contributor in batting average and runs scored with the ability to sprinkle in some stolen base and RBI production. In 13 games at Triple-A this season, Wilson is hitting .436 with three homers and eight RBI. In his last 10 games, which includes a rehab assignment, he is hitting .505. While a small sample size, Wilson's hitting ability should not be taken lightly.
With Oakland in rebuild mode, the time could be soon for Wilson, making him an intriguing name to add to fantasy benches before the stretch run.
Jackson Holliday - SS/2B, Baltimore Orioles
Holliday returned from an elbow injury on June 25 and hit a home run during the week. MLB's top prospect had a well-publicized failed call-up early in the season but could still get back to the bigs and make an impact this season.
He is probably the most high-risk, high-reward player on this list, but if he's given another opportunity, he could reward patient fantasy managers who kept him stashed. On the other hand, risk-taking managers may want to add him now in redraft leagues to reap the potential rewards.
MLB's top prospect Jackson Holliday belts his first homer since coming off the injured list on June 25 for the Triple-A @NorfolkTides!@Orioles | @OsPlayerDev pic.twitter.com/px6dXo0mXj
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 2, 2024
The baseball world saw what could happen to a young player thrust onto the big stage. But baseball is a game of failure and if Holliday returns more confident and with his skills more refined, he has the pedigree to make a successful return. Again, the big league situation is a bit tricky in Baltimore, but he could be an eventual upgrade over the platoon of Ramon Urias and Jorge Mateo at second base.
Junior Caminero - 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
Caminero remains on the injured list with his potential return date creeping closer and closer. He has battled separate quadriceps injuries this season, stalling his progress. He is hitting .261 with eight homers and 24 RBI in 34 games this season for Triple-A Durham.
MLB's No. 3 prospect is still worth stashing due to his immense potential. Caminero may require a rehab assignment before he even returns to Durham, so his timeline is potentially further down the line than others on the list. But even that is no guarantee. If the Rays become desperate for offense at any point this season, a healthy Caminero is a quick and logical solution.
Once Caminero returns from injury, it could be action time as far as stashing him (if he hasn't been stashed already). This is a premium prospect with the ability to be a difference-maker in head-to-head and roto leagues down the fantasy stretch run.
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