Five Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 12

June 9, 2024

Jarod highlights the top-five fantasy baseball hitters and pitchers that can be stashed in your IL spots in redraft leagues as of June 7, 2024 (Week 12).

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another weekly edition of the Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball series! Heading into Week 12, this article highlights five injured players worth stashing. If you're new to the series, be sure to check out previous articles for even more options.

Lots of productive players are gearing up for a return to big-league action. If you stash them on your IL spots, their production could pay off in dividends once they're healthy. Whether you need pitching, offense, or both, the players on this list are bound to help.

As always, only those rostered in less than 60% of Yahoo leagues are eligible for inclusion. The goal is to put a spotlight on far-too-overlooked players. Without further ado, let's get into this week's list.

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Jasson Dominguez, OF, New York Yankees

Rostered: 37%
Estimated Return: TBD

Jasson Dominguez is currently rehabbing at Triple-A, but his IL time is expiring. It was expected that he'd remain in Triple-A even after coming off the IL as the Yankees were all set in the outfield. That is, they were set until news broke Thursday that Juan Soto was dealing with forearm tightness and has been for at least a week. Uh-oh. Things sure happen fast in sports. Soto went for imaging on Friday that came back clean, other than some inflammation, which is a positive development in this situation. For now he is considered day-to-day.

Dominguez was already a potential stash candidate, though, even without the Soto injury. "The Martian" debuted with the Yankees in 2023 and in eight games the then-20-year-old swatted four home runs and a double in 31 major league at-bats. Since the start of his rehab this season, the Dominican is 21-for-62 (.339) with four home runs and a stolen base. He certainly doesn't look rusty and should be stashed in most formats where possible, or at the very least he's a must-handcuff for Soto managers in case things take a turn for the worse.

The Martian collects three hits 🛸

MLB's No. 30 prospect Jasson Domínguez (@Yankees) bumps his slash line to .339/.397/.581 with a.978 OPS during his rehab assignment: pic.twitter.com/nPrG22Ia3t

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 7, 2024

Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox

Rostered: 31%
Estimated Return: late June

I know, I know, you've had enough of Eloy Jimenez and his injuries. So have I, but hear me out. There is still reason to put his best foot forward when he does come off the IL. Had he stayed healthy and productive, he could have been a trade candidate, but that hasn't happened. He remains a likely free agent at the end of the season, however, so if he wants to get paid then he'll do his best to stay on the field and put up some numbers. He has struggled when in the lineup this season, but we know the potential is there. He hit 31 home runs in 2019 as a rookie and has always had strong barrel rates.

Even in this disappointing 2024 season, the 27-year-old has a 12.8% barrel% (85th percentile) and a 92.4 average exit velocity (91st percentile). Perhaps this somewhat explains the difference between his BA (.231) and xBA (.261). Also, he does have an unusually low BABIP of .250 so far versus a career BABIP of .309, so maybe he's been a little unlucky as well, and there is room for the batting average to rise when he comes back.

One last thing that could be nothing, but could also be something that says he's trying to boost his performance: he's got three stolen bases on the season. Maybe not a big deal for some, but considering he had a total of ZERO stolen bases in the 436 career games played before this season, that's a big deal. Now, maybe as a result of two IL stints already this season, he won't be running much when he returns, but if he does then fantasy managers will be getting under-the-radar production in that category as a cherry on top of a potentially productive second half -- IF his body allows him to stay on the field.

Brandon Marsh, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Rostered: 27%
Estimated Return: mid-June

Brandon Marsh is coming off a season in which he posted a .277-12-60-58-10 line with a .358 wOBA and 125 wRC+ in 133 games (472 PA). He did that with a 75.4% contact rate, 28.2% chase rate, and 48.7% hard-hit rate. So far in 2024, the 26-year-old has a .265-6-26-21-8 line with a .338 wOBA and 120 wRC+ over 52 games (186 PA). That puts him on pace to set a new career high in home runs and obliterate his career high in stolen bases.

But is it sustainable? Can he improve even further on his 2024 numbers? Well, he's improved upon all of those stats mentioned above, specifically contact rate (79.8%), chase rate (25.3%), and hard-hit rate (51.8%). The former second-round draft pick even has a 99th percentile LA sweet spot% this season (45.5%), an obvious improvement on his 85th percentile rate from a season ago.

The left-handed hitter hits for a team that has scored the second-most runs in all of baseball, so it's a great environment for him. He does not hit LHP well, so managers need to be mindful of whether or not he's playing, which could be the reason for the depressed ownership. However, his current numbers rank him higher for fantasy right now than the likes of Michael Harris II, Cody Bellinger, and Ian Happ -- all of whom are much higher-owned outfielders. Even Kerry Carpenter and Davis Schneider are rostered in more than 50% of leagues but rank lower stats-wise. Managers should give Marsh a second look.

Lucas Erceg, RP, Oakland Athletics

Rostered: 3%
Estimated Return: mid-June

Lucas Erceg was dealing before he hit the IL, and if not for an absolutely dominant Mason Miller, Erceg could have had his name in the conversation for the Oakland closer role. The 29-year-old had a 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 21.8% K-BB% (11.05 K/9) over 21 appearances (22 IP). He does have a somewhat elevated 9.2% BB% (career 13.0%) and has allowed seven home runs this season, but based on the ERA he's been able to limit the damage.

The righty has tallied eight holds so managers in leagues that reward that could find him appealing. Also, with two saves on the season, if something were to happen to Miller, Erceg would stand to benefit. Fellow reliever and injured-lister A.J. Minter is rostered in 25% of leagues, yet has similar (and not as good in most cases) numbers to Erceg. The Oakland reliever's rostership should be higher, and even in leagues that don't reward holds, he can help lower ERA and WHIP while contributing Ks. He may even be pitching for a contender by the time the trade deadline passes.

Lucas Erceg, K'ing the Side. ⛽️
Part of 6 consecutive Ks for the A's Bullpen. pic.twitter.com/pOTriX3W5l

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2024

Jon Gray, SP, Texas Rangers

Rostered: 51%
Estimated Return: mid-June

When Jon Gray hit the IL on May 23, he was not expected to miss much time. Gray's return now sounds imminent, as manager Bruce Bochy indicated that he could return as early as this Sunday. Gray has been good so far this season, and as good as he's been it is a bit of a surprise that his rostership is at just 51%. With all the injuries to starting pitchers, you'd think fantasy managers could use a pitcher that is 2-2 with a 2.21 ERA (2.52 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, 16.5% K-BB%, and a stingy two home runs allowed (3.3% HR/FB%) over 11 appearances (10 starts, 57 IP).

There might be some apprehension due to his career 4.34 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 13.7% HR/FB%, so regression could be coming, but even those numbers can be palatable if you've got a career K% of 23.7% (9.08 K/9). Gray should be rostered in most leagues until the numbers prove otherwise.

Jon Gray's 4Ks in 1.2 innings. pic.twitter.com/FPI8ZoNdxc

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 21, 2024

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