What if a roster-changing star was just sitting in your league’s free-agent pool right now? That’s the upside of a big prospect. The downside is the unknown of when they will arrive on the MLB stage and if their decimation of the minor leagues will translate into immediate big league success.
Let’s look at some of the most tantalizing names who haven’t made their debut yet, with an eye toward who will help you this year.
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Go Get Them
Roman Anthony, OF, BOS
- Triple-A Worcester: 131 AB, .298 BA, .416 OBP, 26 R, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 3 SB
Anthony has hit at least 40% better than league average at every level since reaching High-A in 2023. He has power, speed and contact ability. It’s easy to see him as this year’s Jackson Chourio or Jackson Merrill. The only real impediment is that the Red Sox are solid in the outfield, and things will get more clogged when Masataka Yoshida returns from the IL. Injuries happen, and even if they don’t, the Sox might call him up at some point anyway and just figure it out (can we somehow make room by benching Trevor Story?).
Anthony is good enough to be a game-changer this year, and he’s worth stashing if you still can. If they can convince Rafael Devers to play first base, that might create the wiggle room they need.
Bubba Chandler, SP, PIT
- Triple-A Indianapolis: 33 IP, 2-1, 1.91 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 14 BB, 49 K
The Pirates could add an ace for the second year in a row. Through 33 innings this season, Chandler has had a closer-esque 37% strikeout rate with a WHIP of 1.00. And unlike the Red Sox outfield, finding room in the Pirates rotation is easy. Carmen Mlodzinski and Bailey Falter are not guys who need to be blocking a franchise cornerstone.
It would help if the Pirates were definitely trying to win now, but given their dreadful start (and decades of underinvestment!), they might not be. I can’t say whether that impacts Chandler’s timeline, but he would improve the team right now and ought to be up soon.
Dalton Rushing, C, LAD
- Triple-A Oklahoma City: 107 AB, .308 BA, .424 OBP, 23 R, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 1 SB
Rushing was just promoted on Wednesday, giving the Dodgers two backstops with excellent power, patience and contact skills. How he fits into the roster long-term remains to be seen, because LA already has a catcher in Will Smith who fits that description. Rushing has experience in the outfield and at first base, so he may be able to find playing time with Smith in the lineup. As a catcher-eligible player with the potential to be very productive, he’s worth grabbing if you still can.
Power Surge Coming … Eventually
Jac Caglianone, OF, KC
- Double-A NW Arkansas: 133 AB, .323 BA, .396 OBP, 28 R, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 2 SB
Caglianone checks the massive power box. He has 50-homer power and enough of a hit tool to get there in a good season. The Royals are contenders despite the fourth-worst wRC+ in baseball. Their outfield is among the worst in baseball.
So Caglianone should have a place on the team, but you may want to hit the brakes because he’s only just reached the Double-A level, and the Royals might choose to let him marinate a bit longer. They don’t have to bring him up this year; if they do, they might wait until August.
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Still, he might be their best outfielder right now, and he’s worth tracking, especially if the team keeps winning.
Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, MIN
- Triple-A St. Paul: 89 AB, .225 BA, .373 OBP, 11 R, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 4 SB
While we’re on AL Central outfielders with immense power, Rodriguez started this year at Triple A, but he hasn’t shown results there yet. When he does arrive, he will be one of the most Three True Outcomes players in the league — last year, nearly 60% of his plate appearances ended in a walk, strikeout or homer. He will be far more useful in OBP leagues.
Bryce Eldridge, 1B, SF
- Double-A Richmond: 62 AB, .258 BA, .352 OBP, 8 R, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB
Eldridge is similar to Caglianone — big power on a team that could use it, but strikes out a lot and hasn’t seen Triple A yet. He’s worth a stash as soon as we get some indication he’s getting close, but the Giants may let him develop over time, and he might not reach the bigs until late this season or early next.
Marcelo Mayer, SS, BOS
- Triple-A Worcester: 138 AB, .275 BA, .342 OBP, 24 R, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 1 SB
Mayer isn’t quite the stud Anthony is, but he’s really good and, as a shortstop, he has a clearer path to playing time on the Red Sox. Injuries have taken out close to half of his past two seasons, but he’s been stellar in Triple A so far, with good contact, patience and power.
With Story and David Hamilton having rough starts, it’s easy enough to find a regular spot for Mayer, but the Devers drama could be a factor here. Story is signed through 2027, and they would really like to get him going. Creating a second grouchy veteran could erode what looks like a promising season for Boston.
That said, the guess here is that sometime this summer, Mayer gets his shot, and Story becomes an overpaid utility player.
Samuel Basallo, C, BAL
- Triple-A Norfolk: 73 AB, .260 BA, .337 OBP, 11 R, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB
With Basallo, the Orioles have the same problem as the Dodgers — a catcher with serious power, knocking on the door while they also employ another top young catcher (and solid buy-low) in Adley Rutschman. Unlike the Dodgers, the Orioles do not have Superman at DH, so it’s easier to see this one working out. Eventually, they will just have to call up Basallo and figure it out because the bat absolutely plays.
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Big Arms, Uncertain Timelines
Andrew Painter, SP, PHI
- Triple-A Clearwater: 11.1 IP, 0-2, 3.97 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 1 BB, 12 K
Painter is back from Tommy John surgery and still has monster stuff. He will be up this year; the only questions are when and in what role.
The Phillies will likely let him settle in at Triple A and make sure his arm is physically where it needs to be before bringing him up. When that happens, the greater need might be in the bullpen, which could dovetail with a desire to manage Painter’s innings.
An injury could quickly change the plan, but for now, he’s a high-risk, high-reward guy to keep on your roster. The risk is that he only gets about 20 MLB innings this year.
Jacob Misiorowski, SP, MIL
- Triple-A Nashville: 42.1 IP, 3-0, 1.49 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 18 BB, 54 K
Speaking of starters with incredible stuff who may come up as relievers, Misiorowski can hit 100 mph with his fastball and complements that with some great secondaries. He has control issues, which have been a bit better this year. He should get a shot as a starter at some point, and the Brewers could use some help in the rotation, but it seems equally likely he eventually settles in as the next unhittable closer in Milwaukee. I wouldn’t stash him just yet in a 12-teamer, but you could think about it in deeper leagues.
Quinn Mathews, SP, STL
- Triple-A Memphis: 10.1 IP, 0-2, 6.10 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 15 BB, 7 K
Mathews hasn’t looked good yet in Triple A, but he’s only had a handful of starts (plus an injury). He has No. 2-3 starter stuff, and he could be a nifty pickup if he gets the call in the second half.
Brandon Sproat, SP, NYM
- Triple-A Syracuse: 28 IP, 1-3, 4.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 13 BB, 22 K
It’s essentially the same story for Sproat, who could fill a gap in the Mets’ rotation this summer if he can get better results out of his strong arsenal this year.
Chase Burns, SP, CIN
- High-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga (combined): 25.2 IP, 2-2, 2.45 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 7 BB, 41 K
Burns is the Caglianone of pitchers — huge stuff that hasn’t left Double A yet. He needs more time, but a cup of coffee in the second half of the year isn’t out of the question. Get him whenever he shows up – he has ace potential.
(Top photo of Roman Anthony: Julio Cesar Aguilar / AFP via Getty Images)
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