Prospect News: Stash List #7: Can Clark Be Our Superman?

Graduated from Stash List #6: Cauley Circles The Field: Luis Lara, Cameron Cauley

1. Yankees SS George Lombard Jr. (21, AAA) 

Jose Caballero has been cromulent as a short-term option at the six replacing Anthony Volpe, but Fangraphs lists him as a WAR negative on both offense and defense. His best position on a first-division roster is as a utility player. You could say the same about Ryan McMahon and his .278 on base percentage, although I might argue you could find a more versatile bench player with that roster spot. Lombard Jr. has adapted to Triple-A after a slow start at the level, slashing .308/.429/.617 with seven home runs, five stolen bases and a 23.3 percent strikeout rate over his last 30 games.

2. Twins OF Walker Jenkins (21, AAA) 

I’ve said stuff like this before about injury-prone guys, but it’s a deep-seeded belief of mine that it’s easier to stay healthy in the majors than the minors largely because of the improvements in travel, lodging and training staff. Jenkins has gotten hurt enough throughout his journey that he calls Alex Kirilloff to mind as a gifted left-handed hitter who just never hit his ceiling. Since his return from a shoulder injury that cost him the season until a few weeks ago, Jenkins has slashed .309/.356/.564 with two home runs, two stolen bases and a 15.3 percent strikeout rate in 14 games. Minnesota is a .500 team that has been playing Luke Keaschall in center field. They’re just three games out of the division lead and have made two trades for relief pitching in July, acquiring Woo-Suk Go on July 5 and Tommy Nance on July 10. Props to this organization for a quick turnaround and for placing a light bet on the 2026 club to remain in contention. Another easy way to make a bet on the present is to promote Walker Jenkins and see if he can Leroy his way to a strong finish.

Here’s what I had to say about the matter last year on August 3 2025 in Prospect News: Electric Padres or This Deadline Is Alive! 

“The Minnesota Twins sold a lot of players that added up to moving a bullpen and a contract. Despite some reporting to the contrary, I’m not sure how upset Twins fans really are to see Carlos Correa go. It’s more a built-up feeling about how the owners suck, I think, because that contract was way underwater. They overpaid him in the first place and really only landed him because he was all they could get. The club has a talented wave of infielders on the rise and now has a spot for just about everyone who matters. Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Luke Keaschall and Kaelen Culpepper should add up to a solid infield with upside on valuable contracts. An outfield of Buxton, Walker Jenkins, and Trevor Larnach is similarly interesting over the next few years. Alan Roden, James Outman, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Matt Wallner factor in here somewhere. And Jose Miranda is still on the 40-man as an infield option. For years, this team has struggled to sort and prioritize. Moving Correa off the roster makes a pretty big difference as it allows them to enhance their infield defense and open up third base for Lee if Keaschall can play second base.

I really thought they were going to hold Louis Varland and let him close for a while to boost his value, but former Blue Jays LHP Kendry Rojas is an interesting return. While it’s a down beat moment in Minnesota, the Twins added some interesting arms that can join the rotation today in Taj Bradley, Mick Abel along with guys like Rojas who should help soon. They bet on themselves to build another bullpen, which is aspirational and intriguing to watch.”

3. Cardinals OF Joshua Baez (22, AAA) 

Baez is rostered at a remarkable 60 percent in Fantrax leagues as the fantasy baseball world awaits his arrival with bated breath. He’s got 29 homers and 14 steals in 83 Triple-A games. Is that something you might be interested in? One potential hiccup here: the club likes carrying three catchers because Ivan Herrera plays a lot of designated hitter.

4. Rockies 1B/OF Charlie Condon (23, AAA) 

I’m surprised we haven’t seen Condon promoted. He’s got 20 home runs and a 23.8 percent strikeout rate in 80 Triple-A games, slashing .288/.412/.579. I was probably a little low on him in my latest update in part because his continued stay in the minor leagues puzzles me.

5. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson (21, AA) 

Still don’t know how this guy gets to Seattle, but I know he’d be out there for me. I wouldn’t want to declare that they’re wasting his innings because I’m sure he’s learning something, but keeping him at that pitcher-friendly park for 72.2 innings with a 1.36 ERA and 0.69 WHIP strikes me as strange.

6. Cardinals LHP Quinn Mathews (25, AAA) 

The mighty Quinn’s season-long odyssey to find the strike zone has come to a resting point in Memphis as he awaits that final call home to St. Louis. Over his last seven starts, Mathews has a tidy 0.79 WHIP and 1.83 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. This guy should be in the majors.

7. Guardians 1B Ralphy Velazquez (21, AAA)

Cleveland could make room for Ralphy by moving DeLauter back to the outfield, although his injury history makes that a risky maneuver. They’re currently playing Petey Halpin in center field and Kahlil Watson in right. I like Watson, but Halpin is not a major league ready offensive contributor (18 wRC+). Angel Martinez is on the way back, and Cleveland doesn’t tend to bring premium prospects up until they’re likely to thrive, but Velazquez is slashing .313/.411/.542 with three home runs and a seven-to-seven walk-to-strikeout ratio over his last 12 games after taking a month or so to get situated at the Triple-A level.

8. Tigers 2B Max Anderson (24, AAA) 

I’ve said this about a couple guys already, but Anderson struggled to get going in Triple-A before turning it up with the weather. Over his last 32 games, he’s slashing .321/.380/.555 with a 10.7 percent strikeout rate. Skubal talk rightly dominates deadline conversations centered on Detroit, but if they are going to sell, they’d probably like to move 2B Gleyber Torres and his expiring 22 million dollar contract if he can return from a strained oblique in time to make sense for a contender.

9. Blue Jays SS Jay Harry (24, AAA) 

Starting shortstop Andres Gimenez can play the position, but that might be the extent of his value these days. He’s drawing walks just 3.5 percent of the time and serving as more or less an automatic out at the bottom of that lineup with a 77 wRC+. Harry is playing all over the field in Triple-A (2B, SS, CF, RF) as the organization looks for a place to put his breakout-season bat. In 26 Triple-A games, he’s slashing .309/.372/.545 with five home runs and an 18.2 percent strikeout rate. Could he handle the six on a big league diamond? Can’t really say from here, but it can’t hurt a last-place team to take a look.

10. Tigers OF Max Clark (21, AAA) 

A mainstay atop these lists in the early going, Clark fell out of the top ten for a while as I realized Detroit was just not going to push that button in the first half. Well, we’re not in the first half anymore, and Clark has been hot, slashing .303/.389/.475 with four home runs, eight stolen bases and more walks (11.5%) than strikeouts (10.6%) over his last 24 games. He’s only tenth here (when he should probably be higher) because Detroit’s roster management has confused me all season. 

Thanks for reading!