The Stash List is a list of prospects who are unlikely to reach the major leagues for two full seasons (i.e., not until 2017) but have some of the highest upsides in the minor leagues. All have the potential to be perennial All-Stars for any fantasy owner who is willing to embark on a long-term plan in a keeper/dynasty league. Of course, lists like these are littered with players who, for a variety of reasons, never reached their once-seemingly-assured All-Star futures such as http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/MLB/1393/Brandon-WoodBrandon Wood, Joba Chamberlain, Jeremy Hermida, or Lastings Milledge.
This list is in alphabetical order:
1. Rafael Devers, Third Baseman, Boston Red Sox
Potential: Devers tore up the rookie-level GCL as a 17-year old, and has the potential to hit .300 with 20 home runs at his peak.
Risk Factors: Yet to play in full season ball and still needs plenty of development. As he fills out, he may need to move to first base or a corner outfield position. Blocked at third base and first base in Boston.
ETA: July 2017.
2. Clint Frazier, Outfielder, Cleveland Indians
Potential: Quick-twitch athlete with the potential to hit .280 with 20 home runs who had a successful, albeit uneven, full-season debut in 2014.
Risk Factors: 161 strikeouts show a lack of selectivity and work to be done; serious questions as to whether he will stay in center field, which will put additional pressure on his bat.
ETA: September 2017
3. Nick Gordon, Shortstop, Minnesota Twins
Potential: The second son of Tom Gordon to be drafted, Nick Gordon has the potential to be a slick-fielding shortstop who hits .290 with 15 home runs on an annual basis.
Risk Factors: Listed at 6’0” and 160 pounds, Gordon will need to add weight to reach anything resembling his power potential. Has only played in rookie ball, and will need much time to refine his game.
ETA: September 2018
4. Hunter Harvey, Right-Handed Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
Potential: Harvey has the potential to put up 200 strikeout seasons on an annual basis, forming what could be an unstoppable rotation with Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy.
Risk Factors: Harvey was shut down a month early with a strained flexor mass in his right (throwing) elbow. Lacks an above-average third pitch and command may never be above average; both will limit his effectiveness.
ETA: Mid-2017
5. Alex Jackson, Outfielder, Seattle Mariners
Potential: Viewed as the best prep hitter in the 2014 draft, Jackson has the .300 hitter with 20-plus home runs. Could be moved quickly due to organizational needs and raw talent.
Risk Factors: Jackson comes with the caveats for any teenage hitter, striking out 24 times in 94 plate appearances in his professional debut. Safeco Park is tough on right-handed power.
ETA: September 2017.
6. Reynaldo Lopez, Right-Handed Pitcher, Washington Nationals
Potential: Armed with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a curveball that shows the potential to become a nasty offering, Lopez has the potential to strike out 160-plus batters with an ERA in the low-3 range.
Risk Factors: Lopez is the only player on this list who is not highlighted on his positional rankings list, which underscores how far Lopez has to go. He tends to wear down in later innings and his changeup needs substantial work.
ETA: September 2017.
7. Dawel Lugo, Shortstop, Toronto Blue Jays
Potential: Potential Lugo held his own in full-season ball as a 19-year old, and has the potential to hit .300 with 20-plus home runs.
Risk Factors: Seems to swing at everything but makes contact due to exceptional hand-eye coordination. Wore down in August and September; pitchers adjusted and Lugo was unable to adjust back. Also may fit better at third base, which will only put more pressure on his bat.
ETA: Late 2017.
8. Manuel Margot, Outfielder, Boston Red Sox
Potential: Margot could play center field in the major leagues right now and has the potential to be a great leadoff hitter, hitting .300 with 10 home runs and 30-plus stolen bases. Saw a performance spike after his promotion to High-A.
Risk Factors: Still 20, Margot’s high-contact approach at the plate could be exploited by pitchers with better secondary pitches. Red Sox are loaded in the outfield.
ETA: July 2017.
9. Francisco Mejia, Catcher, Cleveland Indians
Potential: A switch-hitting catcher in the Indians’ organization with the potential to hit .280 with 15-plus home runs. Still needs a lot of work on the defensive side, but has the athleticism and strong arm to control the game from behind the plate.
Risk Factors: Nowhere near good enough behind the plate to have a chance at the major leagues yet, and is unlikely to hit enough to play first base on a full time basis. Much of his value is in staying behind the plate.
ETA: September 2018.
10. Chance Sisco, Catcher, Baltimore Orioles
Potential: Sisco has the potential to be a catcher who hits .280 with 10-15 home runs, and shows a knack for making solid contact on a consistent basis.
Risk Factors: Defense needs work; questions about power potential; struggles against same-side pitching could force him into a platoon.
ETA: Late 2017.
11. Dominic Smith, First Baseman, New York Mets
Potential: Smith has the potential to be a gold glove-winning first baseman who hits .300 with the potential to hit 20 home runs on an annual basis.
Risk Factors: He has yet to show power, hitting 26 doubles, one triple and one home run in 2014. Smith is a short first baseman (6’ tall) and currently locked in at first base due to being left-handed and his lack of speed.
ETA: Late 2017.
12. Kohl Stewart, Right-Handed Pitcher, Minnesota Twins
Potential: Prototypical size for a pitcher (6’3”, 195 pounds), Stewart has the raw stuff to be a frontline starter with a sub-3 ERA and 170-plus strikeouts on an annual basis.
Risk Factors: He’s 20 and he only struck out 62 batters in 87 innings in 2014. Still needs improvement from his changeup and curveball to be more than a backend starter or reliever.
ETA: Mid 2017.
13. Rowdy Tellez, First Baseman, Toronto Blue Jays
Potential: Tellez has the potential to be a .280 hitter with 25 home runs, and showed it by dominating the Appalachian League and then the Midwest League after a slow start.
Risk Factors: First base-only profile due to below-average athleticism and being left-handed. Serious concerns about his ability to make enough contact to let power shine through, plus power has yet to translate from BP to in-game.
ETA: September 2017.
14. Lewis Thorpe, Left-Handed Pitcher, Minnesota Twins
Potential: After a late start, Thorpe more than held his own as an 18-year old in a full season league. He has the potential to be another frontline starter for the Twins.
Risk Factors: Needs improvements in all of his secondary offerings and tends to lose velocity at times in starts, showing a need to become stronger.
ETA: September 2017.
15. Luis Torrens, Catcher, New York Yankees
Potential: Torrens is a very good athlete who has the potential to hit .290 with 15-plus home runs. He has the talent to be an above-average defensive catcher.
Risk Factors: Needs much improvement in defensive game; may be blocked if Gary Sanchez ever puts it all together.
ETA: Early 2018.
