It’s officially prospect watch season. The trade deadline has come and gone. We’ve recently seen top prospect Jackson Holliday return to the majors, and Coby Mayo finally got his major league opportunity.
There are still plenty of potential impact names in the minor leagues as teams decide when is the right time to add talented youngsters to the big league roster mix. Whether in rebuild mode or looking to fortify the roster for a playoff push, top prospects can provide a lift for major league teams and fantasy managers at this point in the season.
As always, when picking which prospects to stash, it’s important to consider opportunity along with talent and prospect pedigree. With two months left in the season, timing is paramount. A mid-September call-up is nice but may not make a difference in the fantasy landscape. Without further ado, here are the top hitters to stash in redraft leagues.
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Top Fantasy Baseball Hitting Prospect Stashes
Junior Caminero - 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
A path seemed to have been cleared for Caminero to make his way up to Tampa Bay. Fully healthy and mashing at Triple-A Durham, the call-up that seemed inevitable after the trade deadline has yet to take place.
It is through no fault of Caminero, who is hitting .391/.417/.696 in August with two homers and six RBI in five games this month. He has 12 homers and 33 RBI in 49 games with Durham this season.
Junior Caminero just DESTROYED a baseball
La Maxima's 12th homer of the year with the Bulls is an opposite-field 4⃣1⃣4⃣ foot solo shot! pic.twitter.com/Of8Ay0roXk
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) August 4, 2024
With the duo of Jose Caballero and Taylor Walls manning third base in Tampa Bay after the trade of Isaac Paredes to the Cubs, there seems to be little blocking Caminero from the big leagues. But Tampa Bay may opt to manipulate his service time clock, meaning a call-up might wait until late August. Nonetheless, every Caminero home run at Durham that goes viral on social media only acts to increase the pressure on Tampa Bay to call up Caminero.
Jasson Dominguez - OF, New York Yankees
Dominguez is another player, like Caminero, whose timeline was altered due to injury this season. Unlike Caminero, Dominguez made his big league debut late last season. He is knocking on the door for a return.
However, the arrival of Dominguez in New York would force a tough roster decision for the Yankees, with Alex Verdugo likely being the odd man out in the outfield if they want to give Dominguez an everyday outfield spot.
No. 1 @Yankees prospect Jasson Domínguez rips a double to begin the first inning! 🦾 pic.twitter.com/plELSj5QOR
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) August 3, 2024
New York could get creative and mix in starts at designated hitter if they do call up Dominguez. The 21-year-old has a rare combination of power and speed that makes him one of the most exciting prospects in baseball. In the Yankees lineup, he could do major damage at the plate and on the basepaths. The only question is whether he will get another chance in the Bronx this season. The talent, the buzz, and the pedigree are all there; Dominguez just needs an opportunity.
Dylan Crews - OF, Washington Nationals
Crews is an interesting name to watch for the rest of this season. The 22-year-old LSU product is a great all-around hitter with an incredibly high ceiling as well as a high floor because of how polished his game is already at 22 years old.
In 36 games since getting promoted to Triple-A Rochester, Crews is hitting .258/.329/.439 with 10 doubles, three triples, four homers, and 17 RBI to go with six stolen bases. He has the potential to be an immediate five-category contributor upon a potential call-up.
Have a game, Dylan Crews!
MLB's No. 4 overall prospect (@Nationals) goes 3-for-4 with a triple, double and a stolen base for the Triple-A @RocRedWings. pic.twitter.com/vrGsT65OzX
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 7, 2024
James Wood is showing what he can do in Washington now. So do the Nationals want to see what Crews can do in joining his former Rochester teammate in the outfield? Again this is all about opportunity because Crews is one of the top prospects left in the minors.
Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B/1B, Miami Marlins
De Los Santos leads the minor leagues in home runs with 31 between three teams this season. Traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a deal that sent reliever A.J. Puk from Miami to the desert, De Los Santos has continued to mash in Triple-A Jacksonville with his new organization with three homers and six RBI in nine games.
The talented slugger has shown little signs of slowing down all season long, putting on the most impressive power display in the minors this year. With the ability to play third or first base, there would seem to be a good chance he can find his way up to the Marlins soon.
I don't think anyone told Deyvison De Los Santos that he isn't in the PCL anymore...
460 feet at 112 mph for his 31st homer of the year. Third homer in seven games since being traded to the Marlins for AJ Puk. pic.twitter.com/HOMwd4Zk4Q
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) August 3, 2024
When he does get to Miami, he should immediately translate the power he has shown in the minors to the big leagues. Fantasy managers in need of a boost in the home run and RBI categories down the stretch should look to De Los Santos as a priority stash.
Colby Thomas - OF, Oakland Athletics
Between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Thomas is raking with 24 homers and 76 RBI to go with 14 stolen bases and a .293/.357/.589 slash line. The 23-year-old could be next in line to earn a promotion among Oakland’s prospect pool.
The A’s have shown a willingness to look to the future, as shown by their call-up of shortstop Jacob Wilson, who was quickly injured after making his major league debut. The right-handed power bat of Thomas could really play for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Colby Thomas with the long ball 💥
He adds to the lead in Salt Lake #AviatorsLV pic.twitter.com/hFQpyHtL59
— Las Vegas Aviators (@AviatorsLV) August 8, 2024
With 55-grade power and speed, Thomas is an interesting under-the-radar stash. While the other names on the list are probably bigger priority stashes, fantasy managers should not overlook Oakland’s No. 11 prospect.
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