Welcome to our fantasy baseball prospects to stash for Week 16 of the 2024 MLB season. In the last edition, we hit on David Festa and Shane Baz getting the call and unfortunately Jasson Dominguez went down with injury. But, it's time for three new names this week.
Winning in a fantasy baseball redraft league requires a nice blend of high-floor players and upside shots. While prospects do present more risk in a one-year setting like a redraft league, if they hit, they pay big dividends. The reward could be huge if these players get adequate playing time and perform.
Throughout the season, there will be plenty of prospects who will get promoted and make an impact on their respective MLB teams and fantasy teams. Getting ahead of the curve on these players can pay huge dividends when it comes to FAAB bids. You can save money and have your league mates question how you are already in on that player so far in advance. This biweekly article will dive deep into three players who could make an impact sooner rather than later. Let's dive in.
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Coby Mayo, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
Coby Mayo is probably the most obvious stash candidate at this point. He has been arguably the best hitter in the minors to this point, and all the underlying data supports it. In 278 plate appearances, Mayo has 19 home runs with a .299/.381/.611 slash.
He is striking out nearly 25 percent of the time but the contact skills are solid at 73 percent overall and 85 percent in-zone. Mayo chases at a low 25 percent clip, which helps him play up in an OBP format.
The power is undeniable as Mayo has a 107 mph, 90th-percentile exit velocity, which is 65-grade power, and Mayo has an impressive 91.6 mph average exit velocity. He lifts the ball with ease, having a solid 22 percent line drive rate and a 46 percent fly-ball rate. He pulls the ball at a 46 percent clip, which is much higher than league average.
He could step in immediately and have a huge power impact on fantasy teams and the Orioles.
Coby Mayo (@Orioles) to the bushes!
MLB's No. 15 prospect sends his 19th homer 438 ft. for the Triple-A @NorfolkTides. pic.twitter.com/CYGXz23XzX
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 11, 2024
Jacob Wilson, SS, Oakland Athletics
Jacob Wilson was selected sixth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics and now stands poised to make his MLB debut just one year later. A call-up shortly after the All-Star break would not be shocking at all after he has shown the best hit tool in the minors.
The 22-year-old is slashing an impressive .461/.494/.731 on the year with just a 7.2 percent strikeout rate. In Triple-A, his contact rate sits at an absurd 96.6 percent, with an in-zone contact rate of 98.6 percent. It is safe to say Wilson has the best hit tool in the minors at this point, and he is quickly pushing his way to becoming Oakland's starting shortstop.
The power on the surface does look solid, as Wilson has seven home runs in 180 plate appearances. But if you look beneath the surface, the exit velocities are below average. Wilson has an average exit velocity of 86 mph and a 90th percentile of 100.4, which are both well-below-average marks.
The good news is you don't need Wilson to hit for a wild amount of power to have success. He plays a plus shortstop and with his hit tool, he should be a huge plus for batting averages. Wilson will play best in a points league format.
Jacob Wilson just connected on his 4th Triple-A HR: pic.twitter.com/5HuMNF8A10
— Karl Buscheck (@KarlBuscheck) July 6, 2024
If you want a pitcher to stash, Max Meyer is one of the few left that I feel good about getting the call pretty soon after the All-Star break. Meyer received a weird demotion after a strong start to MLB season in which he posted a 2.12 ERA in his first three starts of the year with 14 strikeouts and three walks in 17 innings.
I honestly believe the demotion messed with Meyer's confidence because things were not great in Triple-A early on. Meyer allowed 11 earned runs in his first 10 innings back but has settled in nicely. The Marlins said they wanted to manage his innings and have done just that.
The important thing to note is Meyer's last time out, as he fired six innings of one-run ball without allowing a walk. Over his last five starts, he has a 2.74 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 23 innings and eight walks allowed.
The fact he has consistently been building up his innings bodes well for him to be up shortly after the All-Star break. The Marlins can also gain another year of team control on Meyer soon, which is one reason they possibly kept him down for so long.
If you want an arm that can help contribute soon, Meyer should be your add.
A beautiful sight 👁️👁️
As Max Meyer nears his return to the majors, he pitched into the 6th(!) inning for the first time since going down to Triple-A.
6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (72 pitches/55 strikes) pic.twitter.com/1hCEgc6TFd
— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) July 10, 2024
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