The Stash List Week 2: Best 10 Hitting Prospects to Hold for 2025

The Hitter Edition of the Stash List returns for the 2025 season.

This Stash List showcases the 10 top hitting prospects poised to make an impact in the 2025 season.

Prospects are often perceived as valuable primarily in dynasty formats. However, identifying which prospects can contribute in the current season may give you an edge in redraft leagues. Several have a projected 2025 ETA, and proactively adding these players is crucial for successful roster management. Read on to learn about the top 10 hitters to stash in your redraft leagues.

Ground Rules

• The Stash List focuses specifically on your redraft leagues and does not take into account impacts beyond 2025.
• Only current minor league players expected to contribute this season are included.
• Each player is evaluated based on upside, proximity, health, and opportunity.
• The emphasis is on 12-team leagues with standard categories.
• Rankings will be updated on a weekly basis.
• All player statistics will be refreshed weekly through Thursday’s games.

The Stash List

Graduates/Call Ups

No players from last week’s Stash List were promoted to the major leagues this week. Thomas Saggese is the only notable hitting prospect promotion, stepping in for Nolan Gorman, who was placed on the IL.

Top 10 Hitting Prospects to Stash

1. Roman Anthony, OF – Boston Red Sox

Baseball’s leading prospect who has yet to debut has had a modest start to the year, yet his tools remain evident. His standout game occurred on March 30th, where he hit two home runs and walked twice against the Syracuse Mets. However, he has struggled since, going 1-13 with six strikeouts over his last three games, although he did manage a triple and a stolen base during that stretch.

Simply put, Anthony’s talent is too great to remain in the minors for long, regardless of the slump. Given the competitiveness of the AL East this year, the Red Sox must have their best players on the field daily. Anthony undeniably belongs among those 26 players, but his role is still uncertain. Wilyer Abreu (326 wRC+) has been exceptional, and Jarren Duran is not going anywhere soon. A likely solution is moving Duran to center field—where he posted a 17 DRS last season—and promoting Anthony to serve as the everyday left fielder.

2. Marcelo Mayer, SS – Boston Red Sox

MLB’s premier shortstop prospect retains his #2 position on the Stash List after a solid first week of the season. Mayer had a slow start with just two singles and a stolen base in the first two games but rebounded impressively, belting home runs on consecutive days and driving in five runs. His batting average and walk rate (4.5%) are significantly lower than expected, yet he’s still making an impact.

Data suggests improvement is ahead. 50% of Mayer’s batted balls have been hard hits, and his contact rate has increased by 6% from last season (79.5%). His ability to connect in the zone (88.9% Z-Con) and produce hard hits (93.2 AVG EV) indicates continued production in the minors. The only obstacle to Mayer’s imminent major league debut is the current state of Boston’s infield. Kristian Campbell is among baseball’s top hitters right now (276 wRC+), and Alex Bregman isn’t going anywhere soon. Trevor Story has started slow (68 wRC+, 37.5 K%), making his return the most plausible avenue for Mayer, although that too seems a long shot. Mayer’s debut is anticipated this season, but it may not be as imminent as Anthony’s.

3. Nick Kurtz, 1B – Athletics

If there were any doubts about whether last year’s #4 overall pick could adapt to AAA quickly, they have certainly been dispelled. Kurtz has homered in three of his first five games, boasting a 307 wRC+, ranking second among all minor league hitters to date. He has displayed significant power, with an average exit velocity of 97.1 mph and a hard-hit rate of 76.1%, both of which would lead major league hitters currently.

While his start has been impressive, it hasn’t been flawless. His contact rate (68.8%) has dipped significantly from his 2024 figure (82.5%), and his whiff rate is around 34%. However, his 90% zone-contact rate is promising, and the strikeout rate isn’t alarming, so this drop in contact shouldn’t hinder a promotion. The path to playing time at the major league level remains unclear, as Tyler Soderstrom (190 wRC+) and Brent Rooker are secured in the first base and DH roles. If Kurtz continues to produce at this level, the A’s will need to find a way to integrate him into the lineup.

4. Coby Mayo, 3B – Baltimore Orioles

The statistics tell a stark story. 2025 has not been kind to Coby Mayo. The 23-year-old has been hitless in five of his six games this season, striking out at least once in each appearance. His sole productive game occurred on March 30th, where he went 3-5 with a home run. Since then, he’s gone 0-13. Mayo’s 20 wRC+ places him 136th out of 153 minor league hitters with a minimum of 20 plate appearances this season.

It is a small sample size, yet concerning numbers warrant attention. Mayo’s BABIP (.133) is alarmingly low compared to his 2024 mark (.343), and his average exit velocity has dipped three miles per hour (2024: 90.7, 2025: 87.7). Furthermore, his strikeout rate of 30% significantly exceeds the previous year’s (25.1%), despite his contact rate (72.9%) remaining stable. Mayo is still likely to contribute to the Orioles in 2025, but his early struggles have likely pushed back his major league timeline.

5. Zac Veen, OF – Colorado Rockies

Zac Veen’s outstanding spring performance has seamlessly transitioned into the regular season as 2025 begins. His 155 wRC+ places him among the top 20 marks in Minor League Baseball early this season. Veen has already notched two multi-hit games and leads his team in doubles (2) and RBI (4). Although it’s early, his strikeout rate has decreased by 2% compared to last season, and his average exit velocity is up nearly five miles per hour.

The Rockies are projected to struggle in 2025, there’s no question about it. Yet, the excitement for Colorado will revolve around their young core’s performance. The team has shown a willingness to promote top prospects swiftly. Chase Dollander received his call to the majors this week and aims to secure a spot in the Rockies’ rotation. If Veen continues this production level, he shouldn’t be far behind.

6. Dalton Rushing, C/OF – Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers’ top prospect yet to debut in the major leagues slips two spots this week due to a subpar start to his AAA campaign. He began with a 3-9 performance in his first two games but went nearly a week without a hit afterward, striking out seven times across three games. On the upside, encouraging underlying data culminated in a breakout outing on Friday night, where he went 4-5 with three runs and an RBI, breaking a 0-12 slump over the past six days. His contact rate (78.8%) aligns with his career numbers, while his whiff rate (34.1%) remains manageable. Rushing’s average exit velocity exceeds 94 miles per hour, signalling bad luck so far this season. While the strikeout rate is concerning, he should return to form in the coming weeks.

As noted last week, Rushing will need to put together a really strong case to break into the Dodgers’ lineup currently. Will Smith (.450 AVG) is on fire and has a 0.7 WAR in his first eight games. Michael Conforto (255 wRC+) is also settling in well with his new team and could secure an everyday role in the Dodgers’ lineup. Teoscar Hernández leads the team with 8 RBI and two home runs, keeping his position safe for now. Regular playing time is far from guaranteed for Rushing should he be promoted, and he must elevate his performance further before that opportunity arises.

7. Jordan Lawlar, SS – Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona’s top prospect has slipped one spot this week, but not due to any fault of his own. The exceptional starts by Kurtz and Veen have pushed them ahead of Lawlar, despite his solid performance to begin 2025. Following an 0-9 start, he bounced back with a 1-3 outing, including two steals and two walks. Lawlar showcased his best game of the young season on Thursday, going 3-5 with three RBI. Although he has yet to record more than one extra-base hit and has only one barreled ball this season, his 90.7 average exit velocity indicates more production is on the way.

The route to consistent playing time for Lawlar remains unclear. Geraldo Perdomo is solid at shortstop for Arizona, currently tied with Eugenio Suárez, who leads all of MLB with five homers, for the team lead in RBI (11). Both players are firmly entrenched in their roles for now. Additionally, the D-Backs opted to promote Tim Tawa (who hit 31 homers in 2024) over Lawlar after Ketel Marte was placed on the injured list. Lawlar is ready for the majors, but as it stands, the current lineup lacks the necessary space for him to get significant playing time.

8. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF – Minnesota Twins

Ranked #36 by MLB, Rodriguez was poised to make the Twins’ major league roster in 2024 before injuries curtailed his season to just 47 games. Now fully fit, he has the potential to earn a promotion early this season. He offers one of the most intriguing skill sets in baseball, with a high walk rate (24.4% in 2024) and impressive power (113.6 max EV, 40% hard-hit rate in ’25), though he also strikes out quite a bit (29.7% in ’24). His combination of power and speed (49 career steals) makes him an exciting player, but his strikeout issues limit his potential ceiling.

While the Twins’ outfield is competent, it would benefit from some offensive boost. Byron Buxton has had a slow start (26.9 K%, 95 wRC+), but his talent is undeniable, and the team will retain him in center as long as he’s healthy. The corner outfielders have their share of uncertainties. Harrison Bader is hitting exceptionally well currently (170 wRC+, 3 HR), but historical data suggests such production isn’t sustainable. Matt Wallner (.143 AVG) has struggled in the leadoff role, and if he doesn’t improve, the Twins may seek other offensive options. Rodriguez has primarily played center field but might transition to a corner position to get playing time soon.

9. Carson Williams, SS – Tampa Bay Rays

Williams’ start to the season illustrates the drawbacks of his game, particularly the strikeout issue. The 22-year-old shortstop has the potential to excel both at the plate and on the base paths, but his ceiling is hindered by an inability to reduce strikeouts. Across ten AAA games, he has struck out 14 times in 40 plate appearances. His contact rate has fallen nearly 20% from 2024, and he’s whiffed on 50% of his swings thus far. These numbers are concerning for a player on the brink of the big leagues.

When he has made contact this season, it hasn’t resulted in the expected damage. His hard-hit rate (23.1%) ranks in the bottom 20 among major league hitters, while his average exit velocity (88.7 mph) would also fall in the bottom third. It’s still early in the year, and there’s plenty of time for Williams to turn things around, but he currently appears unready for promotion. I believe he will play a significant role for the Rays in 2025, but his promotion ETA heavily relies on his performance in the weeks ahead.

10. Kyle Teel, C – Chicago White Sox

This position could have been awarded to two players in the same position on the White Sox’s AAA roster. Both Teel and Edgar Quero have made strong cases for the next catcher role.

The reason I lean toward Teel at this moment is his superior defensive abilities. The 23-year-old has thrown out 2/4 of the runners attempting to steal on him this season. Moreover, he has been outstanding offensively to open 2025, going 6-14 with two homers in his first series, including a standout six-RBI game on March 29th.

Eventually, the White Sox will need to incorporate their young talent into the Major League framework. Players like Brooks Baldwin, Sean Burke, and Jonathan Cannon have solidified their roles on the roster, and more reinforcements are en route. If Teel receives the call to the majors soon, he will have the opportunity to acclimate to MLB pitching. Should he remain behind the plate, he could become an extremely valuable asset as a catcher with the potential for 15-20 homers.

On The Bubble

Here are five additional hitters considered for potentially joining this week’s list in no specific order.

Chase Meidroth

Agustín Ramírez

Edgar Quero

Chandler Simpson

Denzel Clarke

Stash List