3 Impact Fantasy Baseball Prospects To Stash - Graham Pauley, Alan Roden, Luisangel Acuna

With the MLB season in full swing, it's time to start thinking about certain prospects to stash. Assuming you drafted players like George Kirby, Sean Manaea, Zach Neto, and Gunnar Henderson, you should have at least one open spot on your roster. As a result, use that open roster spot to your advantage and pick up a prospect.

In this article, we will determine if fantasy managers should use that open roster spot for Graham Pauley, Alan Roden, or Luisangel Acuna. All three prospects started on Opening Day and could be sneaky pickups this early in the year.

So, let's dive in and see if these three prospects should be stashed or grabbed off the waiver wire before it's too late.

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Graham Pauley, INF, Miami Marlins

Current Level: Miami Marlins
Availability: 0% rostered
2024 MLB stats: 13 G, .125/.125/.313, 2 HRs, 5 RBI, 4 R, 15 SO

Third baseman Graham Pauley was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Miami Marlins in the Tanner Scott deal at the deadline. The 24-year-old then spent the remainder of the season in Miami's minor league system. However, Pauley really struggled to make an impact at both Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville. He hit a combined .230 with six home runs, 21 RBI, and five stolen bases across 43 games.

However, Pauley showed some nice things offensively in spring training. He hit .286 with one home run, five RBI, and two stolen bases in 31 plate appearances. He was not expected to make the Marlins' Opening Day roster, but that changed once Connor Norby suffered a Grade 1 oblique strain just a few days ago.

That led to the 24-year-old drawing the third base start against the Pirates to open the season.

I’ll share a more detailed interview with Graham Pauley soon, but for now, here’s his reaction to the sudden roster change after Connor Norby landed on the IL. Pauley is now expected to take Norby’s spot. He also discusses the adjustments he made this offseason and how they… https://t.co/Sr6SanZiIV pic.twitter.com/Jjs1beu0U2

— Tyler Boronski (@TylerBoronski) March 25, 2025

For now, though, Pauley is not worth a stash in most fantasy leagues. He really struggled in his first go-around in the majors last season and will likely split playing time with Eric Wagaman and Jonah Bride at third base until Norby returns. Miami's No. 25 overall prospect is better left on waivers right now. He went 1-for-4 with one strikeout on Opening Day.

Alan Roden, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Current Level: Toronto Blue Jays
Availability: 3% rostered
2024 AA stats: 55 G, .267/.373/.432, 7 HRs, 27 RBI, 31 R, 6 SB
2024 AAA stats: 71 G, .314/.406/.510, 9 HRs, 48 RBI, 41 R, 8 SB

Toronto Blue Jays prospect Alan Roden made his major league debut on Opening Day against the Baltimore Orioles. Roden batted ninth and went 1-for-2 with one walk in his first three career plate appearances. On a day when the Blue Jays struggled offensively, their No. 5 overall prospect showed some encouraging signs at the plate.

As a result, Roden is certainly someone to keep an eye on on your waiver wire. He posted strong numbers across 71 games at Triple-A last season and followed that up by having an impressive spring. The 25-year-old hit .407 (11-for-27) with two home runs, six RBI, six walks, and four strikeouts in 20 spring training games.

That left Toronto no choice but to put him on the Opening Day roster.

Alan Roden on his MLB debut with the #BlueJays:

“I’ve been prepared. I’ve been ready to go for this game for a long time. I’ve been excited for the past week, so when [Schneider] told me, it was just an affirmation of what I wanted to do. I was just trying my best out there.”

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 27, 2025

Roden has put together some strong seasons in the minors in recent years. He hit a combined .317 with 10 home runs, 29 doubles, 68 RBI, and 24 stolen bases across 115 games at High-A and Double-A in 2023. Then, the outfielder slashed .293/.391/.475 with 16 home runs, 26 doubles, 75 RBI, and 14 stolen bases last year at Double-A and Triple-A.

If Roden continues to make the most of his opportunities in the majors, he can be a sneaky pickup in AL-only or deeper leagues. It will be interesting to see what happens to him once Daulton Varsho (shoulder) returns from the 10-day injured list. Nevertheless, the Blue Jays are excited about their young prospect, and he should be on everyone's radar.

Luisangel Acuna, INF, New York Mets

Level: New York Mets
Availability: 7% rostered
2024 AAA stats: 131 G, .258/.299/.355, 7 HRs, 50 RBI, 90 R, 40 SB
2024 MLB stats: 14 G, .308/.325/.641, 3 HRs, 6 RBI, 6 R

New York Mets' No. 7 prospect Luisangel Acuna made a strong impression with the major league club in 14 games last season. He hit .308 at the plate with three home runs, six RBI, and six runs scored. That came after Acuna put together a solid season at Triple-A Syracuse. He stole 40 bases and finished with a .258 batting average.

Although Acuna hit just .250 at the plate in spring training, he made the Mets' Opening Day roster. With Jeff McNeil (oblique) starting the year on the 10-day IL, the 23-year-old gave the team another infielder on the diamond. That came into play in New York's season opener, as he batted eighth and started at second base.

"That's what you want to see, especially out of a young player. He's 0-3, makes an error, and then he's facing one of the best closers in the game, and for him to have an at-bat like that says a lot."

- Carlos Mendoza on Luisangel Acuña pic.twitter.com/BDsBxPOz7b

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 27, 2025

Now, Acuna will split playing time with infielder Brett Baty, but should see most of the starts against left-handed pitching. That was certainly the case on Opening Day with lefty Framber Valdez on the mound. Keep in mind, though, that Baty will likely start most games when a right-handed pitcher is on the mound.

Therefore, Acuna is probably best left on your waivers right now. He went 0-for-3 with one strikeout and one walk against the Astros to open the season and won't contribute much in most categories. If you are looking for some steals on your waiver wire, then the Mets infielder could be a potential add in deeper leagues. He ranked in the 95th percentile in sprint speed (29.5 ft/sec) in 2024.

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