Top Prospects to Stash Down the Stretch

As the season winds down, clubs are juggling late-season promotions, from contenders looking for a spark to rebuilding teams eyeing 2026. Here are 10 prospects who are worth monitoring as stash options in redraft leagues. 

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Stats updated through the morning of Sept. 9. For more prospect coverage, check out our Top 400 MLB Prospects as well as our Top 20 prospects for each team.

Robby Snelling, SP, Marlins (#48, #8 P, #2 MIA)

Snelling continues to dominate, holding firm at the top of the stash list with yet another standout performance. In his latest start Wednesday, the 21-year-old spun seven innings of one-run ball while racking up a season-high 13 strikeouts. Through nine outings and 52.2 innings with Triple-A Jacksonville, the lefty owns a sparkling 1.37 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, backed by an impressive 11.6 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9. At this point, he has little left to prove in the International League.

Miami has yet to call up Snelling, and it's not because the rotation is overflowing with trusted arms. Ryan Weathers (lat) is expected back Thursday, but the back end currently features Valente Bellozo and Adam Mazur, who are young but not especially well regarded. With time still left in the season, the Marlins could easily give Snelling a shot to prove himself against big-league hitters before 2025 winds down.

Quinn Mathews, SP, Cardinals (#120, #40 P, #5 STL)

Mathews' most recent start Friday was a little bumpy with five earned runs, but that lone outing shouldn't overshadow the progress he's made lately. Even with that rough game factored in, the 2023 fourth-round pick owns a 2.98 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 48.1 innings in his past 10 starts with Triple-A Memphis. Accuracy and command will continue to be the key for the big left-hander, as he's tough to square up in the zone but can get himself into trouble when his control slips.

The Cardinals' rotation has been defined by mediocrity for much of the year, with inconsistent results and the natural wear of a long season taking hold. The situation at hand could make space for a fresh arm to get a look, and Mathews' pedigree and recent run puts him squarely in the conversation, though it's worth noting that he isn't currently on the 40-man roster.

JR Ritchie, SP, Braves (#67, #18 P, #2 ATL)

Ritchie has been on a roll, stringing together 17 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three outings. After starting the year in High-A Rome, the 22-year-old has settled in nicely at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he owns a 2.79 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through nine starts spanning 48.1 innings. He's not the classic strikeout-heavy arm, but his knack for generating weak contact has fueled his success and should remain valuable as he moves closer to facing big-league hitters.

Atlanta doesn't need to rush Ritchie to the majors in 2025, but with the team out of playoff contention and known for being aggressive with young talent, a late-season look isn't out of the question. The back end of the current rotation has been rough, with Bryce Elder and Joey Wentz both carrying ERAs north of 5.00, leaving little in the way of effective resistance to a promotion.

Nelson Rada, OF, Angels (#184, #44 OF, #5 LAA)

Rada has cooled off a bit in September, posting a .644 OPS over his last 10 games. Still, the 20-year-old has been one of the most impressive young hitters in the Pacific Coast League, slashing .322/.443/.426 with an .869 OPS, three doubles, three triples, a homer, 14 RBI and 17 steals across 30 games with Triple-A Salt Lake. He won't offer much in terms of long-ball power at 5-foot-9, but his growing ability to pull the ball is encouraging. Add that to his speed, defense and advanced plate discipline, and any power gains feel like a bonus.

In Anaheim, Taylor Ward avoided the injured list after his scary wall collision, but Jo Adell may be headed there due to vertigo. Depth pieces like Matthew Lugo, Bryce Teodosio and Chris Taylor are on hand to cover, though none bring the ceiling Rada does. A promotion at age 20 would be aggressive, but the Angels have shown a willingness to push prospects, and this could be the kind of opening that fast-tracks him and gives him a taste of the big leagues before the 2025 season concludes.

JJ Wetherholt, SS, Cardinals (#7, #6 SS, #1 STL)

Wetherholt continues to overwhelm minor-league pitching with little left to prove. He's hit safely in 29 of 38 games at Triple-A Memphis, slashing .322/.418/.597 with a 1.015 OPS, 12 doubles, a triple, nine homers, 21 RBI and seven stolen bases. About to turn 23, he's posting better numbers at the highest level of the minors than he did at lower stops, consistently showcasing the complete skill set that makes him a potential franchise cornerstone.

Even with obvious paths to at-bats, the Cardinals appear content to keep him in the minors to finish out 2025. Thomas Saggese has "handled" second base despite carrying an OPS under .600, while Brendan Donovan (groin) and Nolan Arenado (shoulder) are both nearing returns from rehab assignments. If St. Louis intended to promote Wetherholt, it likely would have already happened, and his chances now look slimmer with those regulars working back. For all his upside, the front office seems set on holding him back, leaving his big-league debut on hold until at least 2026.

Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants (#9, #1 1B, #1 SF)

At just 20 years old, Eldridge continues to hold his own at Triple-A. Through 60 games with Sacramento, the first baseman is slashing .236/.312/.498 with an .810 OPS, nine doubles, 17 homers and 57 RBI. Making more consistent contact remains the biggest area for growth, but few hitters in the minors can match his raw strength and steady hard-hit profile when he connects.

The Giants remain on the fringes of the playoff picture, and the current plan appears to lean on veterans Dominic Smith and Wilmer Flores at first base and designated hitter alongside star Rafael Devers. Rather than giving Eldridge sporadic major-league at-bats, the organization prefers to keep him playing every day in Sacramento. The power potential makes him an intriguing stash if he does get the call, but expectations should be tempered with the odds pointing to his debut coming next season rather than in 2025.

Forrest Whitley, SP, Rays (NR) 

Whitley continues to impress in his extended run as a starter at Triple-A, tossing six scoreless frames in his latest outing Friday. Across 11 appearances and 51.1 innings with Durham, the right-hander has posted a 2.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. He leans on a fastball and cutter as his primary weapons, but all six pitches in his arsenal have graded out above average this year.

With the Rays fading from postseason contention and several starters such as Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz approaching career-high workloads, Whitley's ability to provide multi-inning length could be useful. At 27 years old, he's not a long-term stash prospect, but for redraft formats down the stretch in 2025, the 2016 first-round pick has the tools to be a sneaky fantasy asset for managers needing pitching depth.

Trey Yesavage, SP, Blue Jays (#58, #11 P, #3 TOR)

Yesavage is likely a long-term starter, but the Blue Jays have been using him out of the bullpen in Triple-A, a move that could boost his chances of a late-season call-up. Since his promotion to Buffalo on Aug. 11, the right-hander has logged five outings (three in relief), posting a 4.40 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 14.1 innings. The strikeouts have been eye-catching (14.0 K/9) and the underlying metrics encouraging (2.32 FIP), though his walk rate has spiked to 7.0 BB/9 in the small sample. His over-the-top delivery adds life to his fastball and helps disguise his splitter, making him tough for hitters to track.

Toronto's rotation is currently intact, but the club may want to ease workloads as the regular season winds down ahead of a potential playoff run. A call-up for the 2024 first-round pick would be aggressive, but the Blue Jays have already fast-tracked him through the system, and his ability to contribute as a multi-inning reliever could provide real value down the stretch.

Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (#15, #3 2B, #1 CLE)

Bazzana has bounced on and off this list since his Aug. 10 promotion to Triple-A Columbus, and he returns thanks to a scorching start to September. Across six games this month, the second baseman is hitting .391/.481/1.000 with a 1.481 OPS, adding a triple, four home runs and eight RBI. That kind of power surge isn't typical of his profile, but if he can flash it periodically to complement his advanced contact skills and strike-zone discipline, it adds another layer to his game. Overall, in 23 contests at the level, he owns a .247/.435/.481 line with a .916 OPS, three doubles, two triples, four homers and 14 RBI.

Cleveland remains in the thick of the wild-card hunt, and with offensive struggles at second base, there's a case for injecting Bazzana's bat into the lineup. Brayan Rocchio has managed just a .636 OPS in regular work at the keystone, while utilityman Daniel Schneeman hasn't been much better at .682. Still, the more likely scenario is the Guardians letting Bazzana keep sharpening his game in Columbus for the rest of 2025. Even so, his stock as one of the organization's top young players makes him worth monitoring as the season winds down.

Juaron Watts-Brown, SP, Orioles (#383, #147 P, #20 BAL)

Watts-Brown wraps up this week's list as a lesser-hyped arm who could still make his way to the majors before year's end. The righty posted a 3.48 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with Double-A New Hampshire before being shipped from Toronto to Baltimore at the trade deadline in exchange for Seranthony Dominguez. After a rocky debut with Double-A Chesapeake in which he gave up five earned runs Aug. 3, he's settled in nicely, putting up a 3.29 ERA and 0.73 WHIP across five starts and 27.1 innings. His fastball sits around 93 mph, but the pitch is complemented by a sharp slider and an underrated curveball that generates plenty of whiffs when he leans on it.

The Orioles' rotation has been hit hard by injuries all season, with Dean Kremer (forearm) and Tomoyuki Sugano (foot) both considered day-to-day and potential IL candidates. Trey Gibson is more highly-touted and has already climbed to Triple-A Norfolk but has struggled at that level. Nestor German, another 23-year-old option still in Double-A, has shown promise but, in my opinion, doesn't bring the same intrigue. While he's not a mainstream fantasy option, Watts-Brown is someone to monitor in deep leagues if you're looking to roll the dice on late-season pitching opportunities.