The Stash Week 19: Top 10 Hitter Prospects to Stash in 2022

It Welcome to The Stash List, Hitter Edition!

The Stash List will highlight the top-10 hitter prospects who are most likely to make an impact this season.

Previous Week’s Stash List (no Stash List in week 18): The Stash List, Hitter Edition: Week 17

 

Ground Rules

 

• The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2022.
• Only current minor league players (<130 at bats) who are expected to make an impact this season are included.
• Upside, proximity, health, and opportunity are all weighed for each player.
• The focus is on 12-team leagues with standard categories.
• Rankings and ownership percentages will be updated weekly.
• Stats shown are through August 13.

 

1. Triston Casas, 1B, BOS – ETA August

 

Casas is back and rolling at Triple-A. He missed a good chuck of the summer with an ankle injury, but since his return, he’s hitting .293/.392/.573 with four home runs, nine runs batted in, and a 20:13 K:BB ratio. Good for a cool 151 wRC+.

Casas is really knocking on Boston’s door all over again. The Red Sox have struggled offensively at first base all season and opted to trade for Eric Hosmer at last week’s trade deadline. Since coming over, Hosmer is hitting .211/.318/368 with zero home runs and solving exactly zero of their first base problems.

The head-scratching Hosmer acquisition only muddied the waters of Casas’ promotion path further, as there is now no clear path to a big league opportunity. Casas may need to force the Red Sox’s hand, but his call-up is far from certain.

Second-ranked @RedSox prospect Triston Casas lofts his ninth long ball for the @WooSox: pic.twitter.com/f0HMkBmSla

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 13, 2022

 

2. CJ Abrams, SS/OF, WAS – ETA August

 

Abrams joined Washington last week as part of the return for Juan Soto. He was assigned to Triple-A Rochester, and since joining his new squad he’s hitting .296/.355/.370 with four stolen bases and has picked up three multi-hit games.

There really won’t be anyone standing in Abrams’ way at the big league level, so it’s probably just a matter of time before getting another shot in the Majors. Abrams is a virtual lock for every day at-bats when he gets promoted, which makes him a solid stash in all redraft leagues.

C.J. Abrams (@RocRedWings) went 2-3 with a BB, a sac fly and a stolen base in yesterday’s win against Norfolk.

In 7 games with Rochester, Abrams has picked up 8 hits and 4 SBs.@CJAbrams01 // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/UHgbNQ6LMc

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) August 13, 2022

 

3. Josh Jung, 3B, TEX – ETA September

 

Jung missed the majority of this season with a shoulder injury as was activated this week and assigned to Triple-A Round Rock. Before his injury, he was a candidate to break camp with the Rangers or, at worst, an early-season promotion.

Jung will probably get some run in Triple-A and some more at-bats under his belt before being considered for a call-up. But once he is ready, he could very well be on his way to the Majors. Third base in Texas is being held down by Ezequiel Duran, but DH has been a revolving door, so Jung is surely an upgrade to their lineup.

He makes an interesting stash as he has a ton of upside as one of baseball’s top prospects but a very uncertain timeline.

Catching up quick!

No. 2 @Rangers prospect Josh Jung connects on his 2nd homer in his 4th game since rejoining the @RRExpress. pic.twitter.com/5j0POltNUa

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 13, 2022

 

4. Esteury Ruiz, OF, MIL – ETA September

 

Ruiz made his MLB debut with the Padres in August and was traded to Milwaukee last week in the deal for Josh Hader. He has one of the most exciting skill sets, including speed, that you can dream on.

Ruiz was assigned to Triple-A Nashville and has hit .267/.389/.367 over the last ten days while picking up his 64th minor league stolen base of the year.

There isn’t a clear opportunity for Ruiz right now at the big league level, though it does feel like he will get another shot down the stretch. Whether he will be a regular contributor or in more of a utility role remains to be seen, but he’s certainly a fantasy difference maker when he’s on the field. He’s probably only worth stashing in the deepest of redraft leagues.

 

5. Miguel Vargas, 3B, LAD – ETA September

Vargas received a cup of coffee with the Dodgers last week but was promptly returned to Triple-A when Justin Turner was activated off the injured list. The anticipation of Vargas’ call-up was pretty high, so it was unfortunate that he didn’t get a longer opportunity.

As long as Turner is healthy, the path to playing time for Vargas should be considered blocked. He’s been getting some experience in the outfield as well which could help, but it doesn’t appear as if the Dodgers are set on bringing Vargas back up anytime soon.

Skill-wise, Vargas is one of the purest hitters in the minors and has a bright future. For fantasy, he might not get enough run in the big leagues to provide a huge return, so he’s only worth stashing in deeper leagues right now. If an opportunity for regular at-bats does pop up and Vargas is recalled, he’s worth an add across all leagues.

 

6. Oswald Peraza, SS, NYY – ETA September

 

Peraza continues to rake. Over the last 30 days, he’s hitting .291/.358/.512 with five home runs, 18 runs batted in, and nine stolen bases. Further, he’s posted a solid 22.1% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate over the same time.

The Yankees are continuing to deploy Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop, who, comically, just hit his first home run of the season this weekend. It’s very uncertain as to whether they may opt to make a change to Peraza this late in the season, but he’s certainly making his case. Stashing Peraza is extremely speculative, but if he is called up he is worth an add across all redraft leagues.

 

First Pitch = Homer for Oswald Peraza 💣#RepBX #OffTheRails #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/odsmHIZCxb

— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) August 13, 2022

 

7. Alec Burleson, OF, STL – ETA August

 

Burleson continues to hit at Triple-A, biding his time until an opportunity in the big leagues arises. Over the last two weeks, Burleson has hit .306/.341/.500 with two home runs and four runs batted in.

The Cardinals’ outfield depth at the Major League level could prevent Burleson from getting promoted this year. He looks ready for the next challenge but is not on the 40-man roster, and there’s not really anywhere for him to play. He’s not worth stashing in any leagues right now.

 

8. Francisco Álvarez, C, NYM, ETA – September

 

Álvarez makes Twitter highlights on the regular with his prodigious home runs, but since joining Triple-A Syracuse on July 4, he’s hitting just .182/.342/.417 with a 29.0% strikeout rate. Although the hits aren’t falling like we’re used to seeing (just a .220 BABIP), he’s still getting on base and has an impressive 16.8% walk rate.

His promotion is highly speculative but it’s trending toward September, if at all. His upside is intriguing to keep on redraft radars, but he’s not worth stashing right now.

Francisco Álvarez has hit a home run.

We assure you, this is not a scheduled tweet. pic.twitter.com/7pHOPAjfHe

— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) August 6, 2022

9. Jonathan Aranda, INF, TBR – ETA August

 

Aranda has frequented The Stash List this season as he makes his round trips between Durham and Tampa. He can flat-out hit, and it’s hard to understand why he is in the minors right now as he has nothing left to prove. This week he hit .474/.545/.526 over 19 at bats including four multi-hit games.

Each move the Rays have made recently makes it seem like they are anti-Aranda. His versatility and hit tool can play just about anywhere, though. If he can get an everyday role he’s worth adding across all formats, but that grows more unlikely by the day.

 

10. Jordan Westburg, 2B/3B, BAL – ETA September

 

Westburg’s production has slowed of late, but he’s still holding his own against advanced pitching, hitting .265/.330/.485 with a 24.1% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate. The latter has taken a nosedive since his promotion from Triple-A, but Westburg still figures to be part of the next wave of Orioles prospects to debut.

Westburg has been moving all around the infield and certainly wouldn’t be a downgrade from Rougned Odor and Ramon Urias. His call-up is highly speculative; he’s more of a name to know down the stretch.

Norfolk starts hot again with Jordan Westburg (@jordan_cw21) blasting his 9th home run with the Tides!#RisingTide #Birdland pic.twitter.com/5yLbslMvil

— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 11, 2022

Because you’ll ask:

These are some big-time prospects putting up some big-time numbers in the minor leagues. All are likely top-10 prospect hitters in baseball but were not included in the top-10 hitters to stash in redraft leagues. Right now, it appears unlikely they will make a significant contribution for fantasy purposes in 2022. This does not mean they will not be called up — it’s quite possible, but it’s most likely in September, if at all, and not for a meaningful amount of time.

If you’re stashing purely based on upside and have the roster depth to speculate on a high-upside name like Carroll, Henderson, and Tovar, then absolutely make the add. As of this week, their ETAs all look more like 2023. But, like anything in this speculative article, this certainly can change at a moment’s notice.

 

Others considered (in no particular order):

Previously debuted, currently in minors: Kyle Stowers (BAL – AAA), Gabriel Moreno (TOR-AAA), Estevan Florial (NYY – AAA)

Yet to make their MLB debut: Moises Gomez (STL – AAA), Gunnar Henderson (BAL – AAA), Ezequiel Tover (COL – AA), Corbin Carroll (ARI – AAA), Shea Langeliers (OAK – AAA), Will Brennan (CLE – AAA), Eguy Rosario (SDP – AAA), Pedro Leon (HOU – AAA), Spencer Steer (CIN – AAA)

 

Photos by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)