The 2026 season is shaping up to be a banner one for prospects. Already, Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Carson Benge, Justin Crawford, Chase DeLauter and Andrew Painter have been confirmed for the opening day roster, and that is not even counting those that already debuted on the finish of final yr.
But what concerning the ones that did not make the reduce? Are any price stashing in anticipation of their midseason arrival?
The quick reply is sure, however with a caveat. Not each league is reduce out for stashing. If you play in a typical Head-to-Head factors format the place stuffing your bench with pitchers is sensible from a streaming standpoint or a day by day lineup league the place you want a secure of substitutes from in the future to the subsequent, your bench house is simply too worthwhile to dedicate to a hypothetical. Even in a typical Rotisserie league, with its extra stagnant lineups, I’d solely be totally dedicated to stashing the highest two from this listing. For a prospect stash to make sense, significantly this early within the sport, your league wants to be of some depth and your bench house of some superfluity.
But I’ll supply up 10 names regardless, if just for argument’s sake. You’ll need to make be aware of them so that you could act shortly because the situations for his or her promotion grow to be nearer to being met.
Note that solely precise prospects had been thought-about right here and never anybody ticketed for the minors. Jasson Dominguez and Dylan Crews would rank third and fourth, respectively, in the event that they certified.
1) Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates
2025 minors: .291 BA (454 AB), 18 HR, 21 SB, .894 OPS, 79 BB, 127 Okay
Baseball followers, fantasy or in any other case, held their collective breath this spring to see if Griffin would grow to be the primary 19-year-old since Ken Griffey Jr. to make a gap day roster, all of the whereas realizing it might take an impressive spring for him to achieve this. When he homered thrice in his first six video games, it appeared prefer it may simply occur, however then he went 4 for 27 (.148) with one dwelling run and 11 strikeouts the remainder of the best way, making the Pirates‘ resolution to ship him down utterly defensible. There’s nonetheless solely Nick Gonzales (or maybe Jared Triolo) blocking his path, so Griffin is setting his personal timeline, and seeing as he had no letup throughout his three-level surge final yr, which ended with a .337/.418/.542 slash line at Double-A, I’d anticipate him to throttle Triple-An instantaneous. My guess is that April does not finish with him nonetheless there.
2) Bryce Eldridge, DH, Giants
2025 minors: .260 BA (384 AB), 25 HR, .843 OPS, 42 BB, 127 Okay
2025 majors: 3 for 28 (.107), 2 2B, 7 BB, 13 Okay
Eldridge’s place on the Giants roster appeared like a foregone conclusion (simply try who’s in line to play DH for them now when you do not consider me), however whereas the facility that introduced him to the majors as a 20-year-old final September was nonetheless evident this spring, the decision-makers in the end determined he was nonetheless too tough across the edges, with supervisor Tony Vitello citing protection and baserunning as areas for enchancment. Eldridge hasn’t taken the information mendacity down, although, hitting a 444-foot dwelling run in opposition to the large membership whereas sporting a Triple-A Sacramento uniform Sunday and following it up with an opposite-field blast Monday. He’s one other who would appear to management his personal timeline, and since he already satisfied the Giants he was worthy of a promotion as soon as (final September), it would not take a lot for him to achieve this once more.
3) Payton Tolle, RP, Red Sox
2025 minors: 3-5, 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 91.2 IP, 23 BB, 133 Okay
2025 majors: 0-1, 6.06 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 8 BB, 19 Okay
Connelly Early was one of many largest standouts of the spring and easily beat out Tolle for a rotation spot, however not by as a lot as you might assume. Tolle’s closing two begins noticed him throw a mixed seven shutout innings, putting out 12 and strolling only one. His fastball is among the many better of its variety and a bat-misser in its personal proper, however he started working in a sinker and a curveball to some impact this spring. He could also be second in line for the subsequent rotation opening, behind Johan Oviedo, however with as frequent as pitching accidents are, his probability will probably come inside a matter of weeks. He has top-of-the-rotation upside, and his RP eligibility makes for an additional incentive in Head-to-Head factors leagues.
4) Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks
2025 minors: .289 BA (484 AB), 18 HR, 29 SB, .892 OPS, 96 BB, 106 Okay
Waldschmidt did what he might to preserve himself within the operating for the beginning left area job, not solely batting .302 (13 for 43) with a homer, 5 doubles and one stolen base but additionally hitting six balls tougher than 110 mph, with a max exit velocity of 115.6, however he was despatched down fairly early regardless. I knew his plate self-discipline was one thing to behold, however seeing him ship such high-quality contact went a great distance towards relieving my concern that his energy final yr was partly a product of him spending half the season at hitter-friendly Double-A Amarillo. Jordan Lawlar continues to be hardly a positive factor, and I dare say the Diamondbacks have seen sufficient of Alek Thomas by now. Even with Lourdes Gurriel on the mend from a torn ACL, it would not take a lot to get Waldschmidt to the large leagues.
5) Charlie Condon, 1B, Rockies
2025 minors: .268 BA (365 AB), 14 HR, .820 OPS, 52 BB, 112 Okay
The model of Condon that confirmed up this spring was one of the best we have seen because the Rockies took him third total within the 2024 draft. It’s not simply that he hit .385 (15 for 39) with three homers and a 1.174 OPS. It’s that he stored his strikeout fee underneath 20 p.c whereas displaying the facility upside that made him such a excessive draft decide, impacting two balls as arduous as 115 mph. The efficiency might need been sufficient to earn the 22-year-old the beginning first base job, one thing the Rockies stated he was within the operating for, if not for the truth that TJ Rumfield had an excellent higher spring. Rumfield, who the Rockies acquired from the Yankees within the offseason, is already 25, giving him much less time to reveal if he deserves to be a part of the group’s long-term plans. He’s a disciplined hitter, however his exit velocities as not too long ago as final yr had been extremely suspect. If he proves to be a Quadruple-A sort, the Rockies might shortly pivot to Condon.
6) Logan Henderson, SP, Brewers
2025 minors: 10-4, 3.59 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 77.2 IP, 24 BB, 87 Okay
2025 majors: 3-0, 1.78 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 25.1 IP, 8 BB, 33 Okay
The Brewers have signaled at each flip that they do not regard Henderson as a very massive deal, first by being fast to ship him down after every banger begin he delivered final season after which by unceremoniously reducing him from camp even because the pitcher accidents started to pile up. Those who bear in mind his 5 wonderful begins final yr can not help however surprise what Kyle Harrison has on him, however there’ll come a degree before later when the Brewers have to flip to Henderson once more. And if previous is precedent, we’ll just like the consequence. He depends on simply two pitches, mainly — a changeup and a not-so-fast fastball — which often is the Brewers’ motive for pause, however he is made it work at each cease as knowledgeable, majors included.
7) Robby Snelling, SP, Marlins
2025 minors: 9-7, 2.51 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 136 IP, 39 BB, 166 Okay
If you had requested me to rank Snelling right here with out displaying me his spring outcomes, I’d have in all probability positioned him third. The again of the Marlins rotation is fairly gnarly, and the left-hander closed out final season by embarrassing his Triple-A contest with a 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 11.5 Okay/9 in 11 begins. He had a official probability to declare a spot if he introduced his A-game this spring, however as a substitute, he pitched to a 7.56 ERA and 1.92 WHIP. Even extra regarding was his 9 p.c swinging-strike fee, which was a far cry from the 15 p.c fee he put collectively throughout that 11-start stretch.
So why embody him in any respect right here? Well, his velocity appeared effective, which is notable as a result of throughout his final tough stretch whereas nonetheless within the Padres group, it dropped a pair ticks. Ultimately, 13 dangerous spring coaching innings should not rewrite the ebook on a pitcher who appeared like he was overdue for a promotion final September. If he is legitimately as he appeared then, although, it is simply bizarre that he’d flounder so badly in what appeared like an actual probability to compete for a task.
8) Harry Ford, C, Nationals
2025 minors: .283 BA (374 AB), 16 HR, 7 SB, .868 OPS, 74 BB, 88 Okay
2025 majors: 1 for six, 1 RBI, 3 Okay
In retrospect, leaving Nationals camp to symbolize Great Britain within the World Baseball Classic might have eradicated no matter probability Ford had of cracking the opening day roster. It wasn’t merely a matter of him beating out Keibert Ruiz for the beginning function, in spite of everything, but additionally studying a completely new pitching workers after coming over from the Mariners within the offseason.
The reality he even locations on this listing exhibits how deep a Fantasy league wants to be to ensure that stashing any of those prospects to be a viable technique. Ford has one thing to supply, after all, boasting superlative on-base abilities and a few uncommon base-stealing capability for a catcher, however the place is so deep proper now that almost all drafts finish earlier than all of the fascinating choices are taken. Stashing Ford makes extra sense, although, in 15-team leagues that use conventional Rotisserie lineups with two catcher spots to fill. Catcher is deep, nevertheless it’s not 30 deep. If your second one is a scrubby Liam Hicks or Freddy Fermin kind, Ford represents your greatest probability at an improve.
9) Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners
2025 minors: .285 BA (506 AB), 16 HR, 14 SB, .842 OPS, 71 BB, 105 Okay
Emerson was floated as a gap day chance from the beginning and hardly made a idiot of himself this spring, slashing .268/.340/.488 with two homers and a steal. The reality he was despatched down, although, whilst J.P. Crawford continues to cope with a shoulder damage that is sidelined him for many of camp, tells me he was by no means a critical contender. He’s solely 20, which makes the choice a smart one, however since he is set to start the yr at Triple-A, there’s just one extra place for him to go as soon as he realizes his potential there. He’s gotten some publicity to second and third base and will even substitute Crawford outright on condition that the latter is within the closing yr of a five-year deal.
10) JR Ritchie, SP, Braves
2025 minors: 8-6, 2.64 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 140 IP, 54 BB, 140 Okay
The Braves rotation was filled with query marks even earlier than shedding Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and now Spencer Strider (hopefully for a shorter time period) to damage. Its No. 2 at this level might be Grant Holmes. Bryce Elder is the definition of organizational depth, and Reynaldo Lopez has come again from shoulder surgical procedure throwing 3 mph much less. Quite merely, the Braves are going to want extra. You might argue Didier Fuentes is subsequent in line after his terrific spring, nevertheless it looks as if they need to slow-play him, having him start the yr within the bullpen. Ritchie may really be the selection to meet their subsequent rotation want, and his influence might be even past what Waldrep’s was final yr. He’s harking back to Nolan McLean in his willingness to juggle six pitches and knack for producing weak contact on the bottom. Maybe he will not be as massive of a bat-misser, however I believe there’s extra potential there than he confirmed final yr.
Five others to think about
Joshua Baez, OF, Cardinals
2025 minors: .287 BA (418 AB), 20 HR, 54 SB, .884 OPS, 59 BB, 103 Okay
Baez is the elite prospect not everybody is aware of about but, and the Cardinals do not have a single fixture of their outfield, except you are still keen to name Jordan Walker that.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians
2025 minors: .245 BA (302 AB), 9 HR, 12 SB, .813 OPS, 66 BB, 91 Okay
Bazzana had a powerful sufficient spring to counsel he might push for both Brayan Rocchio’s or Gabriel Arias‘ job before later, hitting three dwelling runs and delivering a lot increased exit velocities than he confirmed throughout his temporary time at Triple-A final yr.
Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees
2025 minors: .274 BA (438 AB), 35 HR, 29 SB, .932 OPS, 58 BB, 179 Okay
Jones put his upside on full show this spring with six dwelling runs and 4 stolen bases whereas managing to preserve his strikeout fee underneath management. Unfortunately, the Yankees already do not have room for Jasson Dominguez of their outfield.
Jonah Tong, SP, Mets
2025 minors: 10-5, 1.43 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 113.2 IP, 47 BB, 179 Okay
2025 majors: 2-3, 7.71 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 18.2 IP, 9 BB, 22 Okay
Tong’s fastball was the important thing to his success within the minors, however main leaguers aren’t whiffing at it at almost the identical fee, whether or not down the stretch final yr or in spring coaching this yr. He’ll get a search for the Mets in some unspecified time in the future once more quickly, however I’m turning into frightened of a Quadruple-A consequence right here.
Thomas White, SP, Marlins
2025 minors: 4-3, 2.31 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 89.2 IP, 51 BB, 145 Okay
Could White really beat Robby Snelling to the majors? He’s the extra gifted of the 2, however he is additionally much less constructed up and has a management hurdle to overcome first.
