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Identifying priority prospects to stash on a fantasy roster can be difficult this time of year. As teams make moves to the future, which prospects will get that big-league opportunity?
It's important to keep in mind talent and opportunity when making these decisions. The most talented players don't help redraft fantasy managers unless they are in the big leagues. And all call-ups aren't equal.
Here is a look at three prospects to consider stashing in fantasy baseball leagues.
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Moises Ballesteros - C/1B, Chicago Cubs
Level: Triple-A Iowa
Availability: 4% rostered
2024 minor league stats: 94 G, .292/.361/.493, 16 HRs, 62 RBI, 43 R, 1 SB
Since his promotion to Triple-A Ballesteros has done nothing but crush the baseball with seven homers and 19 RBI in 38 games with the Iowa Cubs. The 20-year-old phenom has had an excellent season and was rewarded with that promotion.
Is it too much to ask for one more promotion for the youngster this year? He looks like the catcher of the future for the Cubs but do they want that future to begin at the end of this year or potentially wait until next year to bring Ballesteros into the mix?
Moises Ballesteros goes deep in back-to-back games.
The @Cubs' No. 5 prospect has a hit in 11 of his past 14 games for the Triple-A @IowaCubs and raises his OPS to .816: pic.twitter.com/mRbIRhZtoV
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 10, 2024
Ballesteros is the No. 7 catcher prospect in all of baseball and packs a lot of punch in his left-handed swing.
Matt Shaw - 3B, Chicago Cubs
Level: Triple-A Iowa
Availability: 13% rostered
2024 minor league stats: 92 G, .269/.368/ .447, 14 HRs, 50 RBI, 61 R, 26 SB
Shaw is the No. 2 prospect in the Cubs organization and, like Ballesteros, forced the Cubs’ hand in giving him a promotion with his play at Double-A this season. Shaw offers a sweet swing from the right side with excellent speed to boot.
He has struggled a bit in his transition to Triple-A going 2-for-19 with Iowa so far in six games. But that is to be expected to some extent as he adjusts.
Welcome to Triple-A, Matt Shaw! 👏
The Cubs' No. 2 ranked prospect records his first hit with Iowa! pic.twitter.com/XppM9w8tNr
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 7, 2024
The question with Shaw is does he get the call this season? At 22 years old, he’s a bit more advanced than Ballesteros but the Cubs traded for Isaac Paredes at third base which on the surface could be a roadblock.
Tyler Black - 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
Level: Triple-A Nashville
Availability: 11% rostered
2024 minor league stats: 80 G, .276/.389/.448, 11 HRs, 52 RBI, 47 R, 16 SB
2024 MLB stats: 12 G, .235/.316/.294, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 3 SB
Black got a brief cameo in Milwaukee this year and didn’t do a whole lot with the opportunity. But he has proven this year at Triple-A that he has excellent on-base skills and can be a good base-stealer for a first-base-eligible fantasy player.
Milwaukee’s No. 3 prospect, Black has a unique skill set that makes him intriguing for fantasy purposes. He’s given glimpses of that potential in the big leagues already.
Tyler Black (@Brewers) launches his 10th home run of the season 🚀
MLB's No. 34 prospect is slashing .286/.391/.502 at Triple-A for the @nashvillesounds. pic.twitter.com/MZY219uL5C
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 3, 2024
The Brewers are rolling right now and have a pretty deep roster so it might take an injury for Black to get another chance for regular at-bats in the bigs this season. If he is given that opportunity, however, he could be an impact addition to fantasy teams down the stretch.
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