And there goes Aaron Judge. Although he is no stranger to the injured list, it’s never fun when a first round pick and dynasty cornerstone goes down for an extended period of time. So, we’re going to try and mitigate some of the damage with a list of prospects pickups & waiver adds to plan for the now and for the future.
Prospect Pickups:
Spencer Jones, OF — New York Yankees (8%)
The obvious add after the Arron Judge injury come with a ton of power, a ton of speed, and a ton of strikeouts. Expect all three with the 6’ 7” Spencer Jones. If you dream in a parallel universe, Jones could be Aaron Judge lite with more speed. And with Judge being shelved for 4-6 weeks, Jones will get a chance to make dreams come true. He has elite bat speed (77.8mph) and exit velocities (97.2mph) when he’s able to make contact and should be getting plenty of playing time over the next month or so.
The upside here is worth a stash in most leagues, especially in dynasty on the off chance he isn’t already rostered. The real concern here is the strikeout rate is very high for Triple-A, so he could have a tough time adjusting at the major league level. Snapping back to reality may have him looking more like Giancarlo Stanton than Aaron Judge.
2026 Triple-A: 156 AB | .269/.378/.571 | 13 HR, 9 SB | 13.5 BB% | 32.4 K%
Braden Montgomery, OF — Chicago White Sox (4%)
The White Sox have just called up their top prospect in Braden Montgomery. Potentially a better add than the aforementioned Yankees call up, Montgomery boasts huge power from both sides of the plate. He walks more than Jones, strikes out less than Jones and has a clearer path to long-term everyday at-bats. Aside from the adjustment period most prospects have during their first cup of coffee in the majors, Monty is an add in most formats with four category upside.
2026 Triple-A: 210 AB | .314/.422/.548 | 10 HR, 5 SB | 15.1 BB% | 24.8 K%
Joshua Baez, OF — St. Louis Cardinals (12%)
Another prospect with an arguably better path to consistent long-term playing time than Jones, Joshua Baez has been raking for two years in the minors. With the Cardinals in a rebuild of sorts, the time for Baez to join the big-league club should be coming sooner rather than later. Like the last two players, he has huge raw power and great speed. In 2025, he hit 20 home runs and stole 50+ bases to join Konnor Griffin as the only two players to reach those marks in the minor leagues. Expect an uptick in strikeouts as he moves to the big leagues, but Baez could very easily be a four-category contributor on any fantasy team just like Montgomery.
2026 Triple-A: 225 AB | .276/.349/.587 | 17 HR, 11 SB | 7.5 BB% | 32.1 K%
Edwin Arroyo, 2B/SS — Cincinnati Reds (7%)
Arroyo didn’t seem to have quite the raw power of the previous three as shown in his return from injury last year. Only three home runs in 464 at-bats in Double-A, but he has roared back in 2026 with 11 home runs in under half the amount of ABs. He lowered his groundball rate and started pulling the ball more, which has contributed to the surge in power we are seeing.
On top of that, he strikes out at a much lower rate than some of the other prospects on this list, giving him plenty of room for adjustment at the big-league level. Eventually, Elly De La Cruz will be back in the lineup, but Arroyo could very well carve out his own starting role in Cincinnati given how Matt McLain has been unable to replicate his great rookie year the past couple of seasons.
2026 Triple-A: 217 AB | .323/.383/.562 | 11 HR, 9 SB | 7.2 BB% | 16.8 K%
Colt Emerson, 3B/SS — Seattle Mariners (26%)
Emerson is a plus player across the board. Good hit tool, can hit for power and has good speed to his game as well. The Mariners committed $95 million before his debut, so Emerson is a safe bet to stay in the majors as long as he can continue to improve. The strikeout rate is a bit high in 62 ABs at the major league level but that is to be expected and is obviously a very small sample size.
One thing to note, Emerson is currently day-to-day with a back injury, so unless this is a long-term hold, managers may want to exercise caution when looking to add him to the roster. As a long-term stash, Emerson could display three or four category appeal. Early Carlos Correa has been thrown around as a potential comp for Emerson, which seems to be well within the range of possibilities. I’d point to 2016 Correa as a potential peak, maybe with more steals. If he is able to replicate that once fully healthy again, we should see his ownership percentage jump past 50% in a relatively short amount of time.
2026 Triple-A: 145 AB | .255/.347/.469 | 7 HR, 10 SB | 10.1 BB%| 27.2 K%
2026 MLB: 62 AB | .242/.319/.548 | 4 HR, 0 SB | 7.2 BB% | 30.4 K%
Max Clark, OF — Detroit Tigers (8%)
The thesis on Clark is pretty simple: He’s the top centerfield prospect in baseball. He slowed down a bit in May compared to his April numbers but overall has posted a very respectable line thus far in 2026 for the Toledo Mud Hens . A toolsy do-it-all type of player, it’s only a matter of time before he gets the call to join the Tigers roster. The Tigers currently have Wenceel Perez manning centerfield for the time being and he is struggling to this point with a .178/.242/.336 batting line. Granted his .176 BABIP is hinting that there could be some unluckiness here but the underlying metrics for both his bat and his glove are well below league average.
Clark is going to be taken in 99% of dynasty leagues, but if you find yourself in a deeper redraft or keeper league, check to see if he is available and add him immediately if you have an extra bench or minors spot open. He’s only 21 but like Bryce Eldridge of the Giants, will probably be making an impact at the major league level sooner rather than later.
2026 Triple-A: 218 AB | .257/.341/.390 | 4 HR, 12 SB | 10.8 BB% | 16.1 K%
Bryce Eldridge, 1B — San Francisco Giants (19%)
Speaking of Eldridge, talk about a needed spark to a Giants offense that was performing so far below expectations their manager refused to go out into his new city for fear fans would ostracize him. Eldridge may have changed that for him. After a bit of a sluggish start, Eldridge has been absolutely electric in 87 at-bats. He has increasingly gained control with each plate appearance and is using the whole field.
With potentially the highest power upside of this list, the power has yet to really present itself at the major league level but I wouldn’t expect that to continue. Like Jones, Eldridge is 6’ 7” and already has the hardest hit ball of the year for the Giants. Over his short stint thus far, every batted ball stat by Statcast shows Edridge is sitting in the upper 90s percentile. Add on that he is currently striking out less than he was in Triple-A and you have a recipe for success. Small sample size alert, of course, but the Giants may have finally developed a real impact bat through their farm system.
First base is not the thinnest position but there is not a lot of guys with the upside of Eldridge, especially if your in need of some power.
2026 Triple-A: 114 AB | .333/.445/.518 | 5 HR, 0 SB | 14.6 BB% | 29.9 K%
2026 MLB: 87 AB | .287/.364/.448 | 2 HR, 0 SB | 11.1 BB% | 23.2 K%
River Ryan, P — Los Angeles Dodgers (13%)
Ryan was a good prospect in 2024 before Tommy John surgery put an end to any hype that may have been growing. Since then, he has been on the back burner. Now, he’s back to being a burner. Ryan’s fastball thus far in Triple-A has consistently hit triple digits and regularly sits at 98 mph. That is at least a couple of mph faster than he was throwing in 2024.
This is a bit of a stash due to the Dodgers having such a deep roster, but they have consistently had health issues with their starting rotation over the last couple of years and Ryan could finally have his chance to make an impact at the big-league level at some point during 2026. He is already 27, so he will have to carve his own path and force the Dodgers to make a decision, but he is well on his way to doing so after 28 innings of great pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma.
2026 Triple-A: 28 IP | 2.89 ERA | 2.52 FIP | 3.70 xERA | 10.61 K/9 | 1.93 BB/9
Hagen Smith, SP — Chicago White Sox (2%)
Smith is a fun prospect because you can tell just by looking at his numbers he has some nasty stuff but can struggle with keeping it in the zone. He has a fastball with a wide range of outcomes but can hit 99, a slider with a similar range but frisbee like movement at it’s peak, and a splitter that has been questioned as a reliable third pitch.
As of now, it would be a little tough for Smith to really lock down a rotation role as he is sitting at almost 19 pitches per inning. This is supported by the fact he has only completed five innings of work once this season. On the other hand, if he can find some command improvements, he’s a great stash in deeper leagues as well as some keeper/dynasty formats where he has been overlooked. Another potential outcome is a high caliber reliever, but we’ll see how he develops and how the White Sox decide to deploy him.
2026 Triple-A: 47.2 IP | 3.78 ERA | 3.45 xERA | 3.90 FIP | 13.59 K/9 | 6.23 BB/9
Jonathan Santucci, SP — New York Mets (0%)
With nowhere near the prospect hype that a few of the top pitching prospects have, Santucci and Wenninger provide some sleeper value to this list. Not unlike Smith, Santucci has a solid fastball, I’ll admit without quite as much juice, a slider that can be used against both righties and lefties. Where he is differentiated — although said to be somewhat average — is a changeup and curve he can mix in from time to time as well. He has also shown some improvement in his command since his injuries a few years back and with the Mets pitching issues, could potentially be on the shortlist for a quick call up if necessary.
2026 Double-A: 52.2 IP | 3.93 ERA | 3.46 xERA | 3.46 FIP | 10.77 K/9 | 4.10 BB/9
Prospects to Keep an Eye On:
James Tibbs, OF — Los Angeles Dodgers (4%)
Tibbs has been traded twice in the last year or so but in the face of all that adversity, continues to just mash the baseball in an effort to prove the Giants and Red Sox wrong for moving on from him. He currently leads the Pacific Coast League in home runs and is third in RBIs. Tibbs currently has an average exit velocity of 93mph and a hard hit rate of 57.7%, so the power should be real, but his .379 BABIP and .266 xBA say there may be some regression on the way.
Even so, the real thorn in his side is, not unlike River Ryan, the Dodgers depth chart does not leave a lot of holes to fill, especially in the outfield. So, while Tibbs is proving his previous teams wrong, he is still a few injuries shy of being considered for a call up but keep an eye on him.
2026 Triple-A: 233 AB | .313/.421/.631 | 18 HR, 3 SB | 15.1 BB% | 25.5 K%
Kade Anderson, SP — Seattle Mariners (10%)
Ryan Sloan, Kade Anderson and Seth Hernandez are in a battle for who is the best pitching prospect in baseball right now. All three have the potential to be elite starters in the big leagues but Anderson has been basically unhittable so far in Double-A. He has similar strikeout rates to Smith but Smith is walking batters five times as much as Anderson.
With that said, being third overall in last years draft puts him on everyone’s radar, so grabbing him in dynasty will be tough to impossible at this point. Not to mention, Seattle already has one of the best rotations in MLB, so they will most likely be averse to rushing either Anderson or Sloan to the big leagues, barring injuries. Both are worth keeping an eye on though.
2026 Double-A: 49 IP | 1.29 ERA | 1.57 FIP | 2.21 xFIP | 13.96 K/9 | 1.29 BB/9
Waivers Adds:
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B/DH — New York Yankees (12%)
While Spencer Jones is the fancy new prospect everyone want a piece of, Paul Goldschmidt is going to rack up plenty of playing time with Aaron Judge out. The 38-year-old former MVP is proving he can still hit the ball. Sure, his hard-hit rate and barrel percentage are down a bit from four years ago, but his xBA is still sitting pretty at .276, better than 88% of the league. Not to mention he also has 8 home runs on the year.
Let’s not forget he is still playing half of his games in Yankee Stadium. If you need a solid contributor at first base or utility while waiting for Judge to return, Goldschmidt, as boring as it may be, it’s the move inexperienced managers will overlook.
2026 MLB: 137 AB | .285/.359/.533 | 8 HR, 1 SB | 8.6 BB% | 19.2 K%
Curtis Mead, 1B/3B — Washington Nationals (28%)
Mead is having a secret break out so far this year. On the surface it isn’t spectacular but look under the surface and it shows a different story. Both his hard-hit rate and barrel rate have over doubled since last year. He is whiffing about 5% less and chasing balls out of the zone about 3% less, which has allowed him to cut his strikeout rate down by about 6%. This all adds up to a xBA, xwOBA, xSLG line of .269/.374/.477. All three are good enough to be better than 70% of the league.
While the potential positive regression may not push him into the stratosphere, it looks like Mead is worthy of a roster spot. Think Miguel Vargas type situation here.
2026 MLB: 157 AB | .242/.353/.478 | 9 HRs, 3 SB | 13 BB% | 17.9 K%
Cade Cavalli, SP — Washington Nationals (37%)
Cavalli is quietly putting together an intriguing season. Through 69.2 innings this year he has struck out 76 batters and kept his ERA under 4.00 to this point. Managers are catching on as his ownership percentage has consistently increased over the past few weeks and months, but he is still available in more the 60% of Yahoo leagues. The expected metrics aren’t exactly eye popping but for anyone in need of quick strikeouts, Cavalli is your man.
2026 MLB: 69.2 IP | 3.88 ERA | 4.35 xERA | 3.37 FIP | 9.82 K/9 | 3.23 BB/9
Temperature Check: Highly Owned, Worth a Look
Gleyber Torres, 2B — Detroit Tigers (54%)
Torres was just activated off the injured list not long ago and immediately laid down seven hits in three games. Besides the hot streak, Gleyber has been a solid second baseman for a number of years and deserves a spot on most rosters. Double check to make sure no one gave up on him while he was sidelined, especially if you are light at second base.
2026 MLB: 137 AB | .270/.386/.365 | 3 HR, 0 SB | 15.7 BB% | 17.5 K%
JJ Bleday, OF — Cincinnati Reds (56%)
Bleday has always had good raw power but now he is showing strong signs of a legitimate breakout at 28 years old, even more so than the previously mentioned Curtis Mead. His bat speed has increased from 71.2 to 74.2, his hard hit rate is up almost 11% and his baseball savant page reads like a scene out of Kill Bill. Most managers have caught on, as he sits at 56% rostered but if you are in one of the leagues where he hasn’t been swooped up yet, go ahead and make the move. And if you have Judge on your roster, make the move even quicker.
2026 MLB: 139 AB | .273/.363/.568 | 10 HR, 2 SB| 12.5 BB% | 19.4 K%
Trevor Megill, RP — Milwaukee Brewers (74%)
Injury alert: He was just sidelined with an oblique injury (6/9) so keep an eye out for anyone that is quick to jump ship.
Megill is owned in most leagues but has a few saves in the bag since the last week of May. The ERA isn’t pretty at 4.70 but his 2.70 xERA and 1.63 FIP let us know he has been a bit unlucky, Hwhich isn’t uncommon for relievers. Hopefully, he does not have to miss any time but since saves can be hard to come by it may be a good idea to monitor the situation. Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby should be next in line for saves should Megill be placed on the injured list.
2026 MLB: 23 IP | 4.70 ERA | 2.70 xERA | 1.63 FIP | 11.35 K/9 | 2.74 BB/9
9th Inning
The big thing to remember when looking at prospects is team context. You never want to drop quality players but sometimes it’s worth the risk. Take a guy like Kyle Stowers for example. He had a great 2025, got injured to start the year and is really struggling to put it together in 2026. Moving off of him for a Braden Montgomery is a high upside move that can end up anchoring your roster into playoffs or next year. Literally, as I type this Braden has just hit his first big league home run.
It pays to act when there is talent available in the field, don’t be the manager that’s scared to go for the goods. There’s plenty of way to recreate Aaron in the aggregate, but its up to you to Judge who is best for the job.
*All stats and roster data as of June 9th, 2026*
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