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In recent weeks, we have seen skilled prospects such as Max Clark, Kaelen Culpepper and George Lombard Jr. create a buzz in fantasy baseball circles upon being promoted to the majors. And the late-season flow of talent to MLB won't stop there, as some clubs cleared a path for their top prospects through decisions that were made at last week's MLB trade deadline.
Fantasy managers who are battling for a playoff spot need to keep their eye out for these players, as they should be added from the waiver wire as soon as they are promoted. And those who are sitting in the top spot in their league may decide to stash a couple of these players now, given that their August matchups are less important.
The prospects listed below are ordered by the likelihood that we see them in the majors by September.
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Kade Anderson, SP, Mariners: Anderson is the biggest potential difference-maker who is currently in the minors, and it's not even close. The left-hander has absolutely obliterated Double-A competition this season, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 128:12 K:BB ratio. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft has nothing left to prove in the minors, and he is part of a Seattle organization that often allows their top hurlers to skip Triple-A. Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto recently confirmed that the team will not use Anderson as a reliever down the stretch, meaning that whether due to an injury or shift to a six-man rotation, Anderson should be part of Seattle's postseason push by the end of August at the latest.
River Ryan, SP, Tigers: Now freed from a rotation logjam in Los Angeles, Ryan only needs to get healthy in order to be a major league starter. The 28-year-old has struggled to stay off the injured list in recent years, as he threw 44.2 innings between the majors and minors in 2024, missed all of 2025 and has been limited by a hamstring injury to 36.1 frames this season. Ryan has obvious talent – he can touch 100 mph on the radar gun and has logged a lifetime 3.43 ERA and 10.8 K/9 rate in the minors. He should join Detroit's rotation in September.
Joshua Báez, OF, Cardinals: Báez is clobbering Triple-A pitchers in his first season at that level, leading the International League in homers (33), RBI (87) and runs scored (76). There is also a speed component to the outfielder's game, as he has swiped 18 bases this season after stealing 54 bags in 2025. Báez has more swing-and-miss in his game this season (29.3%) than we would prefer, but the list of major league strikeout leaders is full of excellent fantasy assets. The trade of Lars Nootbaar to Arizona should lead to Báez making his major league debut in August.
Franklin Arias, SS, Red Sox: Could the hottest team in baseball get another shot in the arm down the stretch? The promotion of Arias, although an aggressive move, would certainly add another dynamic presence to a lineup that still has some holes, especially since Curtis Mead lasted just one game before heading to the IL with a long-term injury.
Although career backup Andruw Monasterio has hit well lately, his resume suggests that he will eventually return to the bench. Trevor Story is working his way back from a sports hernia and cannot be counted on. Arias, who can play second base or shortstop, has posted an eye-popping .975 OPS during a 2026 season that was primarily spent in Double-A but now includes 12 games at the Triple-A level. Just 20 years old, Arias has homered 22 times in 87 games and would be a sensational September storyline for a surging team with a passionate fanbase.
Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins: The Twins, who have surprisingly hung around in the postseason race, dipped into their prospect pool last week by adding shortstop Kaelen Culpepper. The next member of their youth movement will be Jenkins, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 14 prospect in baseball and has had a productive minor league season (.888 OPS), primarily spent in Triple-A. The 21-year-old lacks a dominant skill but can hit for average while chipping in the occasional homer or steal. Although I would prefer to add Báez or Arias, Jenkins could beat either one of them to the majors.
Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Rockies: One of the most disappointing developments of the trade deadline was the failure of the Rockies to clear space for Condon. With TJ Rumfield having a solid season at first base and Mickey Moniak working primarily as a DH, there is not an obvious path for Condon, who is clearly ready for the next challenge. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft has hit 22 homers in 96 Triple-A games this season, while also reaching base often (.397 OBP). He may need an injury to open a role, or the Rockies may decide to create a logjam in order to get Condon some MLB exposure down the stretch.
Zac Veen, OF, Rockies: Veen is in a similar situation to Condon, with the Rockies failure to make deadline deals seemingly blocking his path to 2026 fantasy relevance. The 24-year-old had a cup of coffee in the majors last year (34 AB) but has spent the entirety of 2026 in the Pacific Coast League, where he ranks first in OPS (1.037), second in homers (24), second in RBI (87) and fourth in runs (82). He has also chipped in 18 steals. Given his five-category skill set and the hitter-friendly nature of Coors Field, Veen would have immense upside if given a full-time role. But he will need at least one Rockies outfielder to suffer an injury for that to happen.
Jesús Made, 2B/3B/SS, Brewers: Still a teenager (19), Made may be the least likely player in this article to enjoy a 2026 debut. But the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball must be accounted for, as players with this level of skill sometimes create their own path. Made has been stellar against Double-A pitching this season, reaching base often (.358 OBP) and creating havoc on the basepaths (32 steals).
With Cooper Pratt, David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz sharing time on the left side of the infield, the Brewers have some useful pieces but no one who can match Made's ceiling. The organization protected their prospect pool at the deadline rather than trading for Tarik Skubal and may decide that it's time to use those prospects to take a run at upending the Dodgers.
Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics: De Vries is in a similar situation as Made, as he is succeeding at the Double-A level (.841 OPS) but is likely too young (19) to skip Triple-A and come straight to the majors. And there is a second factor working against De Vries, as the Athletics are not pressing to win games down the stretch. Still, De Vries may already have the skills to outperform Max Muncy, Alika Williams, Donovan Walton and Tommy White, who are all getting playing time in the Athletics infield. De Vries is someone for fantasy managers to monitor, while they remain aware that his debut will most likely come next summer.
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Fantasy managers who are battling for a playoff spot need to keep their eye out for these players, as they should be added from the waiver wire as soon as they are promoted. And those who are sitting in the top spot in their league may decide to stash a couple of these players now, given that their August matchups are less important.
The prospects listed below are ordered by the likelihood that we see them in the majors by September.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
Kade Anderson, SP, Mariners: Anderson is the biggest potential difference-maker who is currently in the minors, and it's not even close. The left-hander has absolutely obliterated Double-A competition this season, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 128:12 K:BB ratio. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft has nothing left to prove in the minors, and he is part of a Seattle organization that often allows their top hurlers to skip Triple-A. Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto recently confirmed that the team will not use Anderson as a reliever down the stretch, meaning that whether due to an injury or shift to a six-man rotation, Anderson should be part of Seattle's postseason push by the end of August at the latest.
River Ryan, SP, Tigers: Now freed from a rotation logjam in Los Angeles, Ryan only needs to get healthy in order to be a major league starter. The 28-year-old has struggled to stay off the injured list in recent years, as he threw 44.2 innings between the majors and minors in 2024, missed all of 2025 and has been limited by a hamstring injury to 36.1 frames this season. Ryan has obvious talent – he can touch 100 mph on the radar gun and has logged a lifetime 3.43 ERA and 10.8 K/9 rate in the minors. He should join Detroit's rotation in September.
Joshua Báez, OF, Cardinals: Báez is clobbering Triple-A pitchers in his first season at that level, leading the International League in homers (33), RBI (87) and runs scored (76). There is also a speed component to the outfielder's game, as he has swiped 18 bases this season after stealing 54 bags in 2025. Báez has more swing-and-miss in his game this season (29.3%) than we would prefer, but the list of major league strikeout leaders is full of excellent fantasy assets. The trade of Lars Nootbaar to Arizona should lead to Báez making his major league debut in August.
Franklin Arias, SS, Red Sox: Could the hottest team in baseball get another shot in the arm down the stretch? The promotion of Arias, although an aggressive move, would certainly add another dynamic presence to a lineup that still has some holes, especially since Curtis Mead lasted just one game before heading to the IL with a long-term injury.
Although career backup Andruw Monasterio has hit well lately, his resume suggests that he will eventually return to the bench. Trevor Story is working his way back from a sports hernia and cannot be counted on. Arias, who can play second base or shortstop, has posted an eye-popping .975 OPS during a 2026 season that was primarily spent in Double-A but now includes 12 games at the Triple-A level. Just 20 years old, Arias has homered 22 times in 87 games and would be a sensational September storyline for a surging team with a passionate fanbase.
Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins: The Twins, who have surprisingly hung around in the postseason race, dipped into their prospect pool last week by adding shortstop Kaelen Culpepper. The next member of their youth movement will be Jenkins, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 14 prospect in baseball and has had a productive minor league season (.888 OPS), primarily spent in Triple-A. The 21-year-old lacks a dominant skill but can hit for average while chipping in the occasional homer or steal. Although I would prefer to add Báez or Arias, Jenkins could beat either one of them to the majors.
Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Rockies: One of the most disappointing developments of the trade deadline was the failure of the Rockies to clear space for Condon. With TJ Rumfield having a solid season at first base and Mickey Moniak working primarily as a DH, there is not an obvious path for Condon, who is clearly ready for the next challenge. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft has hit 22 homers in 96 Triple-A games this season, while also reaching base often (.397 OBP). He may need an injury to open a role, or the Rockies may decide to create a logjam in order to get Condon some MLB exposure down the stretch.
Zac Veen, OF, Rockies: Veen is in a similar situation to Condon, with the Rockies failure to make deadline deals seemingly blocking his path to 2026 fantasy relevance. The 24-year-old had a cup of coffee in the majors last year (34 AB) but has spent the entirety of 2026 in the Pacific Coast League, where he ranks first in OPS (1.037), second in homers (24), second in RBI (87) and fourth in runs (82). He has also chipped in 18 steals. Given his five-category skill set and the hitter-friendly nature of Coors Field, Veen would have immense upside if given a full-time role. But he will need at least one Rockies outfielder to suffer an injury for that to happen.
Jesús Made, 2B/3B/SS, Brewers: Still a teenager (19), Made may be the least likely player in this article to enjoy a 2026 debut. But the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball must be accounted for, as players with this level of skill sometimes create their own path. Made has been stellar against Double-A pitching this season, reaching base often (.358 OBP) and creating havoc on the basepaths (32 steals).
With Cooper Pratt, David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz sharing time on the left side of the infield, the Brewers have some useful pieces but no one who can match Made's ceiling. The organization protected their prospect pool at the deadline rather than trading for Tarik Skubal and may decide that it's time to use those prospects to take a run at upending the Dodgers.
Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics: De Vries is in a similar situation as Made, as he is succeeding at the Double-A level (.841 OPS) but is likely too young (19) to skip Triple-A and come straight to the majors. And there is a second factor working against De Vries, as the Athletics are not pressing to win games down the stretch. Still, De Vries may already have the skills to outperform Max Muncy, Alika Williams, Donovan Walton and Tommy White, who are all getting playing time in the Athletics infield. De Vries is someone for fantasy managers to monitor, while they remain aware that his debut will most likely come next summer.
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