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It’s time for a collective exhale among the fantasy baseball community. The trade deadline has come and gone with the customary whirlwind of deals. None of the deals, remarkably, included a top 100 prospect. However, as always, there are fantasy implications when it comes to which prospects to stash in redraft leagues as a result of the controlled chaos.
We saw one deadline domino on Wednesday when MLB’s top prospect, Jackson Holliday, was called back up to Baltimore for another shot after a failed early season cameo with the Orioles. Holliday got his second chance largely because of the vacated everyday second-base role after the Orioles shipped another highly regarded prospect, Connor Norby, to the Miami Marlins.
With Holliday in the majors, there is a fresh look to this week’s top-5 list along with a few familiar faces who continue to inch closer to a major league debut. As the screams grow for the top prospects to get their opportunity, let’s try to make sense of the best hitters we are willing to let take up one of our valuable bench spots.
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Top Fantasy Baseball Hitting Prospect Stashes
Junior Caminero - 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
All aboard the Caminero train. If anything, it’s a bit surprising that the talented 21-year-old wasn’t immediately called up following the trade deadline. Tampa Bay fans and the fantasy community are left eagerly awaiting a call-up for maximum usage of the man nicknamed "La Maxima."
With Isaac Paredes traded to the Cubs, there seems to be a glaring opening for everyday at-bats at third base for Caminero. In 42 games at Triple-A Durham, Caminero is hitting .264 with 10 homers and 27 RBI with a .808 OPS. He has battled separate quadriceps injuries this year but is back healthy and crushing baseballs right now.
Top #Rays prospect Junior Caminero recorded eight hits in 24 at-bats in the series against Gwinnett, including his 13th homer of the season.@USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/xhq2jNQkOu
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) July 30, 2024
It appears as if the timing makes sense; it’s just a matter of time before we see Caminero with the Rays. Of course, MLB organizations don’t always think like fans and fantasy managers. When Caminero gets the call, he should reward patient managers. He is likely already scooped up, but if not, he is the top name to stash.
Coby Mayo - 3B/1B, Baltimore Orioles
Update: Coby Mayo was called up by the Orioles on Friday August 2nd.
With Norby shipped off and Jorge Mateo and most recently Jordan Westburg injured, it made sense for Mayo to be called up to Baltimore following the Orioles' game against Toronto on Wednesday…Not so fast. The Orioles brass opted to promote recently acquired Livan Soto instead.
Mayo honestly has little left to prove in the minor leagues. He has crushed at every level, including Triple-A this season. The 22-year-old has racked up 20 homers and 59 RBI in 75 games at Norfolk with a .293 batting average and .944 OPS.
Coby Mayo (@Orioles) muscles his 23rd homer of the season, 20th at Triple-A 💪
MLB's No. 15 prospect raises his OPS to .972 for the @NorfolkTides. pic.twitter.com/1infkgBF2g
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 26, 2024
The raw power of Mayo is off the charts, and when he does get the call, it should translate to the big leagues. In the talented Orioles lineup, it’s hard not to get excited about the possibility of Mayo connecting on moonshots at Camden Yards. If he gets an extended run this season, he should make a difference.
Jasson Dominguez - OF, New York Yankees
Prodigious power might be the theme of this week’s list and Dominguez is no exception. The man nicknamed “The Martian” for his other-worldly skills is back at Triple-A after missing time with an oblique injury.
The 21-year-old needs to prove he has returned to full health, but once he does, he could provide another lift to a lineup that was boosted by the addition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the trade deadline. Chisholm has been playing some third base, so there could be a spot for Dominguez in the outfield if the Yankees decide to pivot from Alex Verdugo, who has struggled a bit lately.
Jasson Domínguez is so back 👀
The @Yankees' top prospect (MLB No. 25) delivers an RBI single in his first game back for the Triple-A @swbrailriders since June 15. pic.twitter.com/zzyIBZppQt
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 27, 2024
The lefty-swinging Dominguez has been limited to 13 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, but in that limited sample size, he is hitting .340 with two homers, five RBI, and three stolen bases. For all the power Dominguez possesses, he can run as well, having combined for 40 stolen bases across three levels of the minors last year. This is a can’t-miss prospect who might be the most exciting player to stash.
Deyvison De Los Santos - 3B/1B, Miami Marlins
De Los Santos, although not a top 100 overall prospect, was one of the bigger prospect names to be moved at the deadline. If anything, his move to Miami might accelerate his big league timeline and probably doesn’t change his overall fantasy outlook a ton.
In three games with Triple-A Jacksonville, De Los Santos already has two homers. So much for a transition period to his new organization. For those keeping track, that’s 30 homers and 88 RBI this season in the minors for De Los Santos to continue the theme of prodigious power.
The MiLB home run leader isn't slowing down!
Deyvison De Los Santos clubs his 30th long ball of the season, second for the @JaxShrimp after being acquired by the @Marlins last week. pic.twitter.com/xUDiBiw7wC
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 30, 2024
Whether at third base or first base, De Los Santos appears poised for a shot in Miami soon. The Marlins reloaded their prospect pool at the deadline in a big way and De Los Santos is among those gems. He is primed and ready for his big league close-up.
Dylan Crews - OF, Washington Nationals
Crews does not have the overall power of the four players above him on this list and it remains to be seen whether the Nationals will give him a shot this season. He is so polished at the plate and has five-category potential that should make him a fantasy star.
Since being called up to Triple-A Rochester, Crews is hitting .252 with four homers and 16 RBI in 31 games and has added five stolen bases. At 22 years old, the LSU product is continuing his ascension through the minors and has Nationals fans dreaming of an outfield featuring Crews and James Wood.
Dylan Crews (@Nationals) brings the three-hit performances to Triple-A!
MLB's No. 4 prospect logs his ninth multihit game for the @RocRedWings. pic.twitter.com/pxItPSuOUK
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 31, 2024
The other factor is the trade of Lane Thomas to the Guardians at the trade deadline, thinning out the current outfield depth chart in Washington. The Nationals may not want to rush their prized prospect, the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball. But if they do decide to get a sneak peek toward the future, Crews would be a must-add. That very possibility has him on this list and makes him a valuable stash candidate. It’s never easy to predict opportunity, so sometimes it’s best to bet on skill and potential.
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