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The Stash Week 9: Top 10 Hitter Prospects to Stash in 2022

Top 10 hitter prospects to stash in your redraft league.

Greg Gibbons
Hitters To Stash 6/5/2022

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.

Effective in-season management will propel your team into contention, and understanding the outlook and ETA for some of baseball’s top prospects will give you an advantage over your league mates. As managers, we are looking forward to reaping the rewards of our offseason research and draft strategies, but for most of us, the fun is only just beginning.

Previous Week’s Stash List: The Stash List, Hitter Edition: Week 8

 

GROUND RULES

 

  • The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2022.
  • Only current minor league players 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 June 4.

 

GRADUATES AND NOTABLE CALL UPS

Luis Garcia, 2B/SS, WAS

Garcia is finally back with the Nationals. After hitting .314/.368/.531 with eight home runs and 32 runs batted in over 42 games in Triple-A (and some seemingly successful service time manipulation), Garica was deservingly promoted this week. Though he was technically not a prospect, he was a hot hitter to keep an eye on while finishing up his time in the minors.

Garcia will slide in as the everyday shortstop and should see regular at-bats for the foreseeable future. He has the hit-tool and growing power to be an impact bat in deeper redraft leagues, though he will not be a threat on the base paths. He’s only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a speculative add if you need a middle infielder.

TOP 10 HITTER PROSPECTS TO STASH

1. Riley Greene, OF, DET – ETA July

Greene is back! He was primed to start the season on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster before a Spring Training foul ball fractured his foot and cost him the first two months of the 2022 season. Over two levels in 2021, Greene hit .301 with 24 home runs, 84 runs batted in, and 16 stolen bases. He’s the complete package and a unanimous top-3 prospect across the industry.

Greene was activated off of the injured list and has been playing regularly for Triple-A Toledo. He hit his first home run of the campaign this week and added a stolen base on Saturday. He looks fully healthy and will continue to ramp up before being called up by the Tigers. Greene has the upside to be a difference maker in the second half for your fantasy team, and is only rostered in 23% of Yahoo leagues; check your waiver wire and if he’s available stash him now.

2. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, KCR – ETA June

For some reason, the Royals continue to deploy Hunter Dozier and Carlos Santana at first base while Pasquantino pads his stats in Triple-A. Hits didn’t fall as easily for Vinnie this past week, somehow has only a .111 BABIP since 5/28, though he did add three dingers and still registered a 3:2 K:BB ratio.

On the year, the lefty has a 14.6% strikeout rate, 12.3% walk rate, and 83.1% contact rate. His splits vs. left handed pitching are respectable to0: .255 average, five home runs, and an 9:9 K:BB ratio.

He’s not on the 40-man roster, and this is his first year in Triple-A, but he’s already 24-years-old and quite bluntly the Royals current first base options stink. Stash Vinnie now and be thankful later.

3. Oneil Cruz, SS, PIT – ETA June

Cruz missed a few days this week with an ankle injury, but it was deemed to be minor and he’s since returned to the lineup. Since May 15, Cruz is hitting .298/.403/.579 with five home runs, two stolen bases, and a 14:8 K:BB ratio. He’s registered a hit in 12 of 14 games during this times and has a 160 wRC+. That’ll play.

On the year, his strikeout rate continues to dip, now at 25.0%, with a walk rate of 12.5%, and a contact rate at 70.9%. His defensive adventure continues as well, now up to cringe worthy 15 errors between shortstop and leftfield.

The Pirates have been actively promoting some of their top prospects, including Roansy Contreras, Cal Mitchell, and Travis Swaggerty (debuting Sunday). Cruz figures to be one of the next in line and is worth a stash in all redraft leagues.

4. C.J. Abrams, MI/OF, SDP – ETA July

Abrams is a top prospect in baseball and broke camp with the Padres despite being only 21 years old and still pretty raw in terms of his development. He spent most of his time at shortstop but also received some playing time in the outfield. He ultimately struggled at the plate and started to get irregular at-bats, so he was demoted to Triple-A El Paso.

Abrams is starting to heat back up. Over the two weeks in Triple-A, he’s hit .333/.407/.458 with one home run, 10 runs batted in and three stolen bases. He’s also had a 5:4 K:BB ratio during this time. Expect Abrams to get an extended run in the minors, but his upside is immense, so with sustained success, he could be a big fantasy contributor down the stretch.

5. Triston Casas, 1B, BOS – ETA July

In the midst of a recent cold stretch, Casas hasn’t had a multi-hit game or home run since May 1, and now hasn’t played since May 17. He is currently on the minor league injured list with an ankle injury and no has timetable yet for a return.

Before the injury, Casas’ splits against lefties were called out by Chaim Bloom recently as one of the reasons he’s still in Triple-A; over 36 at-bats, he has eight hits, zero home runs, and a 33.3% strikeout rate.

Casas will almost certainly need some time to ramp back up once he gets healthy, which could push any potential call up to the second half. He is still worth stash due to his upside and proximity, we just may have to wait a little long than anticipated.

6. Miguel Vargas, 3B, LAD – ETA July

Vargas burst onto the fantasy scene in 2021 after hitting .319 with 23 home runs and a 16.4% strikeout rate over two levels. Now considered a top prospect, his encore is currently in progress, and now he’s knocking on the big league door. On the year, he’s hitting .290 with a 16.8% strikeout rate, 13.4% walk rate, and 80.5% contact rate.

If Vargas were on any other team, he’d either be at the top of this list or already in the Majors. The problem for Vargas is the lack of opportunity with the Dodgers; his last hurdle to a promotion, but a big one. He is worth a stash based on his upside, but right now, there are too many mouths to feed in Los Angeles, so he’s ticketed for regular at-bats in Oklahoma City. He’s an injury away from being a significant contributor for your fantasy team.

7. Gabriel Moreno, C, TOR – ETA July

Moreno has cooled slightly over the past couple of weeks, though, that term is relative as he’s still hitting .318/.373/.403 on the year and has reached based in eight of his last ten games. On the year, he has an excellent 17.5% strikeout rate and 7.3% walk rate.

Moreno is worth a stash in deeper redraft leagues only right now due to his lack of experience and road blocks at the Major League level. For now, he’ll continue to receives regular at-bats in Triple-A while Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk hold down catcher in Toronto.

8. Kyle Stowers, OF, BAL – ETA June

Since May 15, Stowers is hitting .356/.441/.797 with seven home runs and 17 runs batted in. He has made big strides this year to cut strikeouts (down to 24.0% strikeout rate) which have been the Achilles heel to his big power.

The Orioles are starting to promote some of their next generation talent and Stowers should be on this list. He lacks the pedigree of some others here but could take over an outfield spot in Camden Yards very soon. Stash him only in the deepest leagues due to his proximity.

9. Jonathan Aranda, MI, TBR – ETA July

Aranda is a hitting machine, and has been for the better part of the last two seasons. This year he’s up to .323/.403/.524 with eight homers, 2 stolen bases, a 19.8% strikeout rate, and 10.6% walk rate.

Vidal Brujan and Taylor Walls are close to being on the hot seat in Tampa as they continue to struggle. Aranda is already on the 40-man roster and looks like the next one up; he may force the issue if he continues to hit. He’s worth keeping an eye on due to his proximity.

10. Alec Burleson, OF, STL – ETA July

Burleson is about as hot as they come right now. Since May 15, the slugger is hitting .416/.430/.714 with six home runs, 22 runs batted in, and a 9.8% strikeout rate. He’s had 10 multi-hit performances over this time, including two four-hit games over the last week. Didn’t we just do this with Juan Yepez and Nolan Gorman?

The Cardinals have another big time bat in the pipeline, though considering their recent promotions and the play of some of their veterans there is absolutely no space on the big league club for another hitter. Expect Burleson to get regular at-bats in Triple-A for now, but keep an eye on him in the second half.

Others considered (in no particular order): Nick Pratto, Josh Lowe, Mason Martin, Pedro Leon, Oswald Peraza, Francisco Álvarez, Ryan Fitzgerald, Tyler Freeman

 

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

Greg Gibbons

Pitcher List Dynasty Team, Member FSWA, Vice President of the Cleveland Baseball Federation, Founder of Cleveland Rocks Dynasty (the greatest dynasty league in the Midwest)

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