Prospects are finding success at the MLB level earlier in their careers than ever, so we should pay attention when an organization calls up their top farmhand nowadays. This week, two such players made their way to the bigs. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs each called up a top-five prospect in their organizations. Dalton Rushing, the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, was part of a monster 19-2 blowout victory over the Athletics on Thursday, notching two singles, three runs scored, a walk, and a strikeout. Rushing is a solid all-around catcher and torched Triple-A pitching earlier this year. He hit seventh in his first start. Moises Ballesteros -- Chicago's No. 5 prospect -- is also solid with his bat and picked up his first career hit this week, on Friday in a big win over the White Sox (single, two RBI, two runs). I'm not clamoring for either of these prospects just yet -- particularly because I'm not having issues at catcher. However, if I had to pick one up, I'm going with Rushing, considering his eligibility in the outfield.

As always, we'll take the good with the bad and prepare for another week with our ailing studs. Both Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (concussion) and outfielder Byron Buxton (concussion) were placed into the league's concussion protocol when they collided in shallow center field on Thursday. Consider them day to day. On Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder impingement. Sasaki's fastball velocity has been down for a few starts now, so maybe his shoulder is to blame. We'll know more in a week or so, but don't expect him to be ready to return as soon as he's available. Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (elbow) also found his way to the 15-day IL. Miller is dealing with elbow inflammation, but has already received a cortisone injection and reportedly may return when eligible.

In other pitching news, Boston Red Sox hurler Tanner Houck (elbow) was sent to the 15-day IL with a flexor pronator sprain. No further news has been given regarding his status, but he is expected to be out for a while. Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (hamstring), who has been sidelined since late April, suffered a setback during his rehab. There is currently no timetable for his return. Finally, Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (hamstring) recently came off the injured list, but promptly found his way back there.

As a reminder, this column typically assumes point formats and will only feature athletes at or around 50% ownership on Yahoo!. A player will only appear on this list twice if they continue to perform well from weeks prior. Happy hunting!

Waiver Adds

Kyle Stowers, OF - Miami Marlins (54% Owned)

Last call for Kyle Stowers. I repeat...I'm not going to repeat it, but you catch my drift. He's been nothing short of incredible through 140 at-bats. The Stanford product recently broke out of a mini-slump and has started up another homer binge. After just three hits over seven appearances from May 4-11, he's batting .333 (6-for-18) with a triple and four home runs over his last five.

Stowers has unlocked something in his swing, though it may not be the drastic change you might expect. According to Baseball Savant's new batting stance tracking, we can see that he has moved back in the box roughly three inches. He's also added a new drill to his hitting routine where he stands closer to the ball machine and cranks up the pitch speed. That way, when he stands back in the box, he has more time to adjust and see the ball further into the zone.

The lefty's new approach at the plate is allowing him to utilize his prodigious opposite-field power and helping him hit for average. This feels like the last chance you'll have to get him if he's still available.

Ceddanne Rafaela 2B/SS/OF - Boston Red Sox (50% Owned)

Ceddanne Rafaela was highlighted here in the middle of last season when he started to come on for the Bo Sox. He was an intriguing addition despite batting ninth in Boston's order, as he was getting on base at a decent clip and scoring a good amount of runs. One thing I griped with about Rafaela was that he made a lot of weak contact, but that isn't how it's going in 2025.

The Curacao native has not only drastically increased how often he hits the ball hard, but also how hard he hits the ball. He's up over a 90 MPH average exit velocity (91.4) for the first time in his career, and increased his hard-hit rate by 12 points (48.2%), all while significantly dropping his strikeout percentage (18.0%).

Rafaela is still batting at the bottom of the Red Sox's order, which isn't exactly ideal. Still, he's been on a tear recently, sporting a scorching .359 average (14-for-39) with five multi-hit efforts, five doubles, a triple, and seven runs scored (11 games). 

Trent Grisham, OF - New York Yankees (48% Owned)

Did somebody say scorching? Because Trent Grisham qualifies. I've had my eye on the former first-round pick for years -- ever since 2020 when he hit .251 with ten long balls and ten steals with 42 runs scored in 59 games. After four subpar campaigns, his second with New York has revived the player that had me so excited half a decade ago.

Grisham isn't playing every day yet, but when he does, he bats first or second and has made the most of his recent opportunities. He's blasted four dingers and a triple over the last ten days, with seven runs and seven RBI. His playing time has increased, and after going yard eight times in April, he's on track to do so again in May. The 28-year-old is five away from tying his personal best of 17 HRs.

It's unknown whether he'll garner an everyday role with the Yanks, considering their loaded outfield. It'd be nice if that happened, but it doesn't look necessary for Grisham to be a productive fantasy player.

Ivan Herrera, C - St. Louis Cardinals (48 % Owned)

I was considering dropping Willson Contreras for his teammate, Ivan Herrera, earlier this year when the former was slumping and the latter was hot at the plate. Then, Herrera suffered a bone bruise in his knee, and Contreras came around, and I forgot about him. Well, he's back now and has picked up where he left off before his stint on the IL.

The righty backstop returned ahead of last weekend and has continued his hot-hitting -- tallying a knock in four straight appearances with two doubles, a homer, three RBI, and four runs scored (.388). He's up to five home runs thus far, matching his career-high from last season in 190 fewer at-bats (39). That pace is unsustainable, as is his .385 average -- but a .334 xBA shows it isn't that much of a fluke.

Herrera's issue is that he won't play every day, but he may start to see an increase in lineup frequency with fellow catcher Pedro Pages hitting a paltry .238.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B - Milwaukee Brewers (35% Owned)

If I gave out personal accolades, Brewers' first baseman Rhys Hoskins would easily take home the Ciulla Comeback Player of the Year Award. I haven't been this excited about the veteran since 2018 when he jacked 34 bombs and batted .246 in 153 games. Unless he goes on an epic hot streak, that lofty total seems unlikely. Still, he's doing something he hasn't since his time in the minor leagues ten years ago -- hit for average.

2015 was the last time the Sacramento State product bolstered an average higher than .284 (.292). He's also dropped his strikeout rate to a career-low (21.4%), while regaining some of the plate discipline prowess he lost over the prior three seasons. Hoskins has traded some power for contact, but it appears to be benefiting him, and it's not as if he has lost all of his juice. He's ripped five doubles and two long balls over his last 11 appearances.

I almost wrote up the 32-year-old earlier this season, and his continued success means it's time to take action.

Jake Cronenworth, 1B/2B - San Diego Padres (33% Owned)

Jake Cronenworth just returned from a month-long trip to the injured list with a non-displaced rib fracture and has been a boon to the Padres' lineup. He's started each of the last six games, and gone 6-for-19 (.316) with a double, a home run, four RBI, five runs scored, and a steal. Furthermore, he's walked six times to only three strikeouts. Despite a strong .278/.437/.500 triple slash, he's been better since Apr. 1.

The Michigan alum looks good right now, even if his quality of contact metrics hasn't come around yet. He's been an on-base machine, holding a ludicrous 19.7% walk rate, while chasing pitches at one of the lowest percentages in the league. Cronenworth doesn't qualify yet because he hasn't had enough at-bats, but plate discipline usually normalizes pretty quickly, and he has some of the best right now.

I noticed his production started to increase before a pitch hit him in early April, and now that it has continued since his reinstatement, I'm even more pumped for him. Increased patience and a more discerning eye at the plate have been a boon for him, and if he decides to start attempting more steals, Cronenworth could be one of the better pickups in fantasy.

Deep League Options

Trevor Larnach, OF - Minnesota Twins (10% Owned)

Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach has been an extra-base-hit machine over his last seven games, tallying three doubles, three home runs, and seven RBI with a cool .333 average (10-for-30). He hit just four long balls in the entire month of April, so he's in a good spot to surpass that -- and he's been slotted in near the top of the order (second) for eight straight appearances. Let's not forget that he ended 2024 on a high note with back-to-back months of a .286 average or better. Larnach has cut his strikeout rate again (slightly), but hasn't regained the quality of contact metrics he sported last season yet. If he does, he could be even better than he was last year when he blasted 15 HRs in 112 games. He's already halfway there in a third of the time.

Brett Baty, 2B/3B - New York Mets (8% Owned)

I can't recall any player in recent history who's been shuttled back and forth from the minors to the majors more than Brett Baty. Baty crushes minor-league pitching, but has had trouble finding his footing in the bigs. That could be changing now. The 25-year-old was recalled just over a week ago and has gone yard four times with three multi-hit games in six starts. Though he didn't notch a hit in the other three games, his underlying metrics support the success. If that wasn't enticing enough, Baty has struck out just thrice since his return, giving him a 15% strikeout rate over that time -- far more viable than the 28.6% he holds on the season. 

Two-Start Streaming Pitchers

Hunter Dobbins, RHP - Boston Red Sox (8%/12% Yahoo!/CBS)

Walker Buehler was almost the write-up here, but he is just over 50% owned in Yahoo! (84% CBS), and Hunter Dobbins is just as intriguing. The Texas Tech product got the call about a month ago and has been solid for the Bo Sox, registering a 3.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across five starts (27 2/3 innings) with a slick 23:4 K: BB ratio. I'd like to see him limit the hard contact against him a bit more, but the early returns are promising. It's worth noting that Boston called up Cooper Criswell with Tanner Houck (forearm) heading to the injured list, so it's possible Dobbins loses his spot on the roster over the coming weeks.

Admittedly, I'm not too hyped about his first start next week, which comes against the New York Mets in Boston. New York has been one of the best teams in baseball, and their pitchers have been lights out, so it will be a tough spot. If you don't trust Dobbins for that one -- I don't blame you. However, his second time toeing the slab will be much more favorable as the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore has been a head-scratcher this season, scoring the sixth-fewest runs per game in the MLB, presenting as one of the better matchups in the league.

Thanks for reading, and good luck in your matchups next week!