We now know that Wyatt Langford, Jackson Chourio and Jackson Merrill can be within the huge leagues on opening day (and even earlier, in Merrill’s case).
However not each prospect who’s big-league prepared made the minimize. Some can be wanted as reinforcements over the lengthy season forward. Would not it’s nice if you happen to may anticipate which of them are subsequent? It might prevent some FAB {dollars}, that is for certain.
And that is the considering behind this column — particularly, which prospects are most value stashing forward of time? It isn’t strictly a matter of proximity, but in addition affect. By that, I imply that ready longer is likely to be value it for a greater prospect.
Naturally, not each league is conducive for stashing prospects. There must be ample bench area and few attractive choices on the waiver wire. The league must be of a sure depth, in different phrases, and I might say that solely the highest two names on this listing meet the edge in shallower leagues.
However even when stashing is not a factor in your league, it would not damage to know who lies in wait as a way to react rapidly if and when he will get the decision.
Notice that this text was initially revealed with Colton Cowser and Max Meyer being among the many 12, however they surprisingly made the group. They have been changed by Jackson Holliday and Victor Scott, who, additionally surprisingly, did not make the group.
2023 minors: .324 BA (460 AB), 31 HR, .976 OPS, 42 BB, 100 Okay
2023 majors: .235 BA (34 AB), 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 BB, 8 Okay
Calling up Caminero final September appeared like a precursor to placing him on the opening day roster. That is been customary working process for high prospects because the newest CBA launched new incentives to curb service time manipulation. Nevertheless it grew to become clear from the Rays’ offseason maneuvering that they merely would not have room for Caminero at the beginning of 2024. Isaac Paredes stayed put. So did Brandon Lowe. The DH spot was one chance, however Jonathan Aranda and Curtis Mead completely deserve these possibilities as nicely. There’s merely a bottleneck of expertise in Tampa proper now. Accidents to 2 outfielders, Joshua Lowe and Jonny DeLuca, did not change the maths, however accidents to any infielder may. Or perhaps somebody like Paredes falters whereas Caminero continues to hit laser beams at Triple-A, prompting a swap.
2) Jackson Holliday, SS, Orioles
2023 minors: .323 BA (477 AB), 12 HR, 24 SB, .941 OPS, 101 BB, 118 Okay
GM Mike Elias led everybody on the Orioles beat to consider Jackson Holliday had the within monitor on the beginning second base job so long as he carried out nicely this spring, and since he was performing nicely mainly from the get-go, most had his ticket punched for the majors already. However guess what? He is within the minors to start the yr, with Elias providing the standard excuses about him being solely 20 years previous, having little expertise within the higher minors and nonetheless studying the ropes at second base — all of which was additionally true at the beginning of spring coaching. Seeing as Ramon Urias is at the moment occupying a spot on the Orioles infield, the broad assumption is that Holliday can be up throughout the first six weeks. The most important concern can be if Coby Mayo, No. 9 on this listing, will get there first.
3) Ricky Tiedemann, SP, Blue Jays
2023 minors: 0-5, 3.68 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 44 IP, 23 BB, 82 Okay
Accidents to Alek Manoah and Yariel Rodriguez have whittled away the Blue Jays’ pitching depth this spring, and significantly in Manoah’s case, it is onerous to say if they’re going to have the ability to rely on him at any level. It is left meant starter Bowden Francis because the final viable obstacle for the group’s high pitching prospect, Tiedemann. The left-hander spent a lot of final yr sidelined by shoulder and biceps points, however his 16.8 Okay/9 price throughout his 44 innings of labor exhibits the extent of his upside. It does elevate the query of what number of innings the Blue Jays will enable him to tackle this yr, however given their lack of pitching depth, they’re going to most likely want Tiedemann earlier than the innings conversations even start.
2023 minors: .237 BA (351 AB), 17 HR, .802 OPS, 55 BB, 80 Okay
At first of spring coaching, all indicators pointed to Manzardo and Josh Naylor alternating between first base and DH to start the season, however the Guardians apparently had different plans. That is hardly the fault of Manzardo, who hit .381 (8 for 21) with two doubles earlier than the Guardians despatched him down. His stat line at Triple-A final yr might not impress you, however he made top quality contact and saved his strikeouts in verify. He banged at each degree earlier than then, too, batting .327 with 22 homers, a 1.043 OPS in 2022. Estevan Florial is anticipated to get the primary crack at DH, however there is a cause he by no means latched on with the Yankees. He was buried in strikeouts this spring and can most likely cede the job to Manzardo earlier than the season is even 1 / 4 executed.
2023 minors: 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 10 Okay
Each Skenes look this spring was appointment viewing, so far as Twitter was involved, his triple-digit velocity readings being precisely as marketed. You possibly can argue that except the Pirates are shock contenders, there is not a lot incentive for them to name up Skenes previous to late August, thereby preserving his rookie eligibility for a possible opening day project (and attainable draft choose rewards) subsequent yr. However some on the Pirates beat no less than gave lip service to Skenes probably profitable a job this spring earlier than GM Ben Cherington shot it down in early March. Seeing as Skenes was the highest choose within the draft final yr, all eyes are on him, and if he is as dominant within the higher minors as we anticipate him to be, the stress for a midseason call-up could also be too nice for the Pirates to withstand, contenders or not.
2023 minors: .265 BA (456 AB), 15 HR, 40 SB, .802 OPS, 83 BB, 133 Okay
2023 majors: .258 BA (31 AB), 4 HR, 1 2B, 1 SB, 2 BB, 8 Okay
Dominguez’s state of affairs is somewhat completely different from these others’ as a result of his timetable is outdoors of anybody’s management. He most likely will not be up till some level in July due to Tommy John surgical procedure, however he’ll virtually actually be up sooner or later in July, having already proved he belongs with a scintillating first week on the job final September. It is a longer wait than preferrred — and with the opportunity of setbacks alongside the best way — however you must have the posh of stashing him on the IL within the meantime. You may as well really feel extra assured that he’ll have been definitely worth the wait, significantly since he has the makings of a prolific base-stealer along with the ability. Perhaps the Yankees’ outfield will nonetheless be full by that time, but it surely’s so distant that one thing is more likely to have gone flawed by then.
2023 minors: .278 BA (417 AB), 20 HR, 36 SB, .874 OPS, 56 BB, 101 Okay
2023 majors: 4 for 31 (.129 BA), 1 SB, 2 BB, 11 Okay
Lawlar’s late-season audition final yr went so poorly that he by no means had a severe probability of unseating Geraldo Perdomo for the beginning job this spring, however relaxation assured, Perdomo isn’t any nice shakes. He made the All-Star group totally on the deserves of an unsustainable batting common, and naturally, he did not maintain that batting common, hitting simply .214 within the second half. A few of Lawlar’s shine is gone, to make certain, however between his disciplined method and pull-side energy, there’s nonetheless a Marcus Semien-like consequence in there, probably with much more stolen bases. The Diamondbacks might start introducing him to different positions simply so he is able to go when a gap presents itself, however shortstop stays the more than likely one.
2023 minors: .355 BA (214 AB), 5 HR, 6 SB, .945 OPS, 23 BB, 30 Okay
The finest prospect nobody is speaking about got here again from a foot harm to hit .355 in what was his professional debut final yr, after which he upped the ante by going 13 for 25 (.520) with 4 homers and extra walks (5) than strikeouts (4) this spring. It is comprehensible that the Guardians would need to ship the 22-year-old down with solely 57 minor-league video games beneath his belt, however he has the look of a hitting savant who’s going to steamroll his solution to the majors if he can keep wholesome. The group’s outfield issues date again years at this level, and so they’re anticipated to roll out retreads like Ramon Laureano and Estevan Florial for opening day. It might be nearer to July earlier than they concede a type of jobs to DeLauter, but it surely is probably not.
9) Coby Mayo, 3B, Orioles
2023 minors: .290 BA (504 AB), 29 HR, 45 2B, .974 OPS, 93 BB, 148 Okay
Mayo was regarded as somewhat additional away than Holliday, Cowser and Heston Kjerstad, however he made himself right into a fringe candidate for a roster spot with some spectacular hitting this spring. And a fringe candidate in spring coaching is a large candidate in-season. Talking of big, Mayo stands 6-feet-5 and impacts the ball prefer it, but it surely was his improved plate self-discipline that despatched his prospect inventory into the stratosphere final yr. In some other group, he is likely to be within the high three right here, but it surely’s onerous to make all of the items match for the Orioles. Given how versatile Holliday, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg are, although, an harm to anybody is likely to be sufficient to clear the best way.
10) Victor Scott, OF, Cardinals
2023 minors: .303 BA (548 AB), 9 HR, 94 SB, .794 OPS, 46 BB, 97 Okay
Scott impressed in camp, displaying good hitting instincts for a prospect most famed for his pace, and seeing because the Cardinals can be with out two projected starters within the outfield (Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbaar) for the beginning of the season, he appeared like he might need positioned himself for a type of two openings. However one was already promised to Alec Burleson, and Dylan Carlson got here on late in spring coaching, securing the opposite. Scott’s stolen base prowess is of explicit curiosity in Rotisserie leagues, and he is virtually actually subsequent in line ought to one thing else befall the Cardinals outfield. However due to his restricted energy ceiling, some would possibly desire to stash one of many extra rounded hitters forward of him on this listing.
2022 minors: .283 BA (438 AB), 20 HR, 37 SB, .876 OPS, 46 BB, 129 Okay
2023 majors: 0 for 19, 2 SB, 3 BB, 7 Okay
This rating could appear low for a prospect regarded as within the working for the beginning heart area job proper up till the Cubs elected to carry again Cody Bellinger. Is it simply that Crow-Armstrong is blocked now? Not completely. His protection is sufficient to pressure most any heart fielder off the place, and Bellinger has some versatility, as you most likely know. The larger situation is that I do not assume Crow-Armstrong is sort of the offensive participant his minor-league stat line makes him out to be. His exit velocity readings are extremely suspect, and between final September and this spring, about the one factor he is executed in opposition to major-league pitchers is strike out. Nonetheless, his premium athleticism might shut the talents hole faster than I am anticipating, and the stolen base contributions must be beneficial both approach.
2023 minors: .275 BA (501 AB), 16 HR, 39 2B, .808 OPS, 56 BB, 91 Okay
The Twins saved Lee on the big-league aspect of spring coaching longer than you’d usually see for a prospect with no real looking opening, which suggests to me that they view him as the following in line, presumably at a number of positions. His arrival throughout the first two months of 2024 appears inevitable, then, however the greater query for Lee than timetable is affect potential. The 23-year-old is somewhat gentle on over-the-fence energy, and the remainder of his instruments grade out as nearer to a B-minus than an A. If the outcomes vary from Brendan Donovan to Alex Bregman, I might guess he comes nearer to the previous finish of that spectrum, which might nonetheless make him value stashing, however solely in deeper leagues. The ground in all fairness excessive, no less than.
What about James Wooden?
Few prospects have captured the creativeness of Fantasy Baseballers the best way Wooden has this spring, displaying off his energy and pace with a extra disciplined method than his 31.5 p.c strikeout price final yr might need advised. Little doubt, he is put himself within the dialogue for a promotion in 2024 … however doubtless not till late August.
The Nationals aren’t in any place to contend, and as I’ve famous with a number of of the gamers on this listing, essentially the most advantageous time to advertise a prospect now could be opening day. If he locations excessive sufficient in awards voting for the primary few years of his profession, he can rating his group additional draft picks, however that solely applies if he spends his complete rookie season on the energetic roster. Wooden will not be on the opening day roster this yr, and because the Nationals will not want him to contend at any level, they’re going to doubtless need to protect his rookie eligibility for opening day subsequent yr. A late-August promotion would accomplish that.
Apart from, he’ll be 21 for mainly the whole season and has but to play a recreation above Double-A, the place he struggled final yr. Somewhat extra improvement time would possibly do him some good, really.