RADIO
The All-Star break has come and gone. The trade deadline is quickly approaching. High-profile prospects are currently lighting up the minor leagues and chomping at the bit to make an impact at the big league level with fans thinking there is no time like the present to get a glimpse of the future.
This might be the most interesting time of year when it comes to deciding which prospects to stash for the big second-half push for fantasy managers. Evaluating which prospects deserve roster spots comes down to a few important factors -- talent, of course, but also opportunity. Who not only has the pedigree but will be called up in time to make an impact over an extended period this season?
There are currently three hitting prospects who have separated themselves through a mix of performance and potential and two more who through sheer production are beginning to ask questions of how the big league clubs can make room for their services. Here is a look at this week’s top-5 hitting prospects to stash in redraft fantasy leagues.
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Top Fantasy Baseball Hitting Prospect Stashes
Junior Caminero - 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
Caminero currently has the perfect storm of prospect promotion buzz. He is arguably the most talented player in the minor leagues with the most fantasy potential. He is back on the fantasy radar after returning from a quadriceps injury and raked during his rehab assignment and first few games back at Triple-A. His major league position counterpart at third base, Isaac Paredes, is the subject of intense trade rumors.
In other words, it’s all lining up for the man nicknamed “La Maxima” to make his major league debut soon. When he does, there might not be a player more well-suited to immediately help fantasy managers. With 70-grade power and a 60-grade hit tool, there is little he cannot do offensively.
Junior Caminero (@RaysBaseball) continues to roll 🔥
MLB's No. 3 prospect goes deep for the Triple-A @DurhamBulls -- it's his fourth homer in his past eight games since returning from injury. pic.twitter.com/ZFtth6X8nQ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 21, 2024
If there were any doubts of how he would respond to his latest injury, he quickly erased those with three homers during a rehab assignment and one more in his three games since returning to Triple-A Durham. The 21-year-old Dominican Republic native should realistically already be scooped up in most leagues. If he isn’t, it might be wise to run to the waiver wire and add him.
Coby Mayo - 3B/1B, Baltimore Orioles
A close second in call-up buzz to Caminero, Mayo has been knocking on the big league door lately with a torrid stretch in June in which he was also coming back from injury and combined to hit seven homers with 16 RBI between his rehab assignment and his return to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Orioles are in a bit of a different situation than the Rays in that they are loaded with talent at the big league level and are currently atop the American League East standings. A recent injury to Jorge Mateo has created some speculation that a Baltimore prospect could be called up, but between Mayo, Jackson Holliday, and Connor Norby, there are plenty of ways the organization could go if Mateo’s injury turns out to be serious. Holliday and Norby offer the most seamless position fits as replacements for Mateo and Norby was reportedly in Miami on the taxi squad before the Orioles game against the Marlins on Wednesday night.
Another day, another Coby Mayo NUKE!
This one goes 438 feet as our 8th-ranked prospect clobbered his 22nd blast. pic.twitter.com/dO97mNue29
— The Call Up | An MLB Prospect Podcast (@The_CallUpPod) July 11, 2024
Mayo, meanwhile, played first base in Norfolk on Wednesday, a sign that the Orioles could be searching for ways to get him in the lineup at the big league level. The bottom line is Mayo is ready. He has 22 total homers this year with a 1.003 OPS. He is ready to mash, he just needs the opportunity.
Jackson Holliday - 2B/SS, Baltimore Orioles
Fantasy managers have seen Holliday in the major leagues and it wasn’t pretty as baseball’s top-ranked prospect went just 2-for-34 in his brief cameo with the Orioles. Since returning to the minors, Holliday has been working his way back from an injury as well.
An elbow injury left him serving as only a designated hitter initially, but he recently returned to the field, which is a promising sign. Also promising is his July production with a .333/.492/.689 slash line with three homers and nine RBI. He is slowly regaining his confidence and might be ready for another shot.
After his 2 HR day yesterday, here’s what Jackson Holliday is doing in the month of July:
14 games
.324 BA/1.191 OPS
3 HR/6 2B
13 BB/9 K
Healthy again and back to playing in the field.— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) July 20, 2024
This is the top prospect in baseball after all and a rough initial stretch shouldn’t serve to dampen expectations in a significant way. Holliday can still make an impact if he is given another opportunity. He doesn’t have the power upside of Caminero and Mayo, but he might be a better pure hitter and has plus speed. He would be an intriguing addition to Baltimore’s lineup in the second half.
Deyvison De Los Santos - 3B/1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
De Los Santos, the Diamondbacks' No. 14 prospect, may not have the pedigree of the top three on this list, but he is currently a one-man wrecking crew at Triple-A Reno. The 21-year-old Dominican Republic native is hitting .325 with 28 homers and 84 RBI with a 1.011 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A this season. Yes, some of that is in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but those are some video-game-type numbers.
De Los Santos has 60-grade power, so it’s not like his power surge at Triple-A is completely out of the blue. He is currently blocked at third base by Eugenio Suarez, who has largely underachieved this season. After a monster June with 10 homers and 28 RBI, De Los Santos has slowed down a bit in July, hitting just .214 with three homers and 10 RBI.
Over the shrubbery!
Deyvison De Los Santos just LAUNCHED his 2️⃣8️⃣th HR of the year with 1️⃣4️⃣ in Triple-A and 1️⃣4️⃣ in Double-A 💣 pic.twitter.com/IQyG5EfCu5
— Reno Aces (@Aces) July 20, 2024
Should Santos get the call, he would immediately be a boost in the homer and RBI categories with the ability to hit for a serviceable batting average in the major leagues. If he rebounds a bit from his July dip, he could force his way into Arizona’s plans.
Shay Whitcomb - SS, Houston Astros
With no clear-cut fifth name for this list, Whitcomb is someone who has impressed enough for the Astros to consider finding a way to make room for him. A natural shortstop, Whitcomb is blocked by Jeremy Pena, a solid major league shortstop for the Astros. But the reality is Houston could use a bit of an offensive boost with Kyle Tucker slow to recover from a shin injury.
That’s where Whitcomb enters the conversation. Even more than De Los Santos, he lacks the dominant prospect pedigree. He is the No. 29 prospect for the Astros. But his power and speed combination is enticing for the big league club and fantasy managers. In his first two pro seasons, he combined to hit 42 homers and swipe 50 bases.
Shay Whitcomb. We're speechless.
GRAND SALAMIIIIII! #SetTheCourse pic.twitter.com/tT4pHBXiX2
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) July 24, 2024
At Triple-A Sugar Land this season, Whitcomb has 20 homers and 24 stolen bases while hitting .294. Largely thought of as an all-or-nothing type swinger, the 25-year-old has improved his all-around hitting ability this season and his .382 on-base percentage is well above his career minor league mark of .327. At 25 years old, Whitcomb is ready for his major league look and the Astros should get creative in finding a way to get him everyday at-bats. This is a power-speed prospect fantasy managers should be alert to stash.
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