New York Mets pitching prospect Brandon Sproat was tagged for six earned runs on Thursday for Triple-A Syracuse, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out just one batter over 2 1/3 innings pitched. That's twice this season that Boston's Triple-A affiliate spoiled an outing after the righty allowed four earned runs in a two-inning start in March. Outside of those two starts, Sproat has performed well, allowing just two earned runs in 14 1/3 innings (1.26 ERA) on seven hits and a 5:9 BB:K. With a 3.8 K-BB% to begin the year, the Mets will surely like the 24-year-old to increase his strikeout rate and improve his walk rate before considering him for the major leagues. The Mets' top prospect is expected to get that shot in 2025, although it may not happen until June at this point. Still, MLB's 43rd-ranked prospect could be a stash candidate for those in deeper leagues in need of pitching help, but only if the bench spot needed to store him is not sacrificed for players who can help your team now.

Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (elbow) will take the next step and start a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday with Single-A Jupiter, where he's expected to throw one inning for the Hammerheads. Perez appears to be ahead of schedule in his rehab from Tommy John surgery in April of last year, but the Marlins are surely going to take things slow with his rehab assignment on the farm. Still, barring setbacks, the 22-year-old Dominican could make his 2025 season debut in late May or early June for the Fish. Perez turned heads in his major-league debut in 2023 when he went 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 108 strikeouts and 31 walks in 91 1/3 innings over his first 19 starts. He'll probably be a much better fantasy investment next year, but he also shouldn't be ignored when he returns this year. However, he might be a little rusty, and the Marlins figure to limit his innings.

Chicago Cubs catching prospect Moises Ballesteros continuesto rake against Triple-A pitching, currently riding an 11-game hit streak, which includes six multi-hit performances. The diminutive backstop now has a staggering .377/.430/.558 slash line over the first 19 games of the season, but it's just the most recentimpressive display of hitting that he's put on at every stop in the minor leagues as he's climbed the ladder. Still only 21 years old, the left-handed slugger has outshone more advanced competition at every turn and has nothing left to prove offensively in the minors. If not for Carson Kelly's renaissance for the Cubs, we may have already seen Ballesteros in the big leagues, but it is just a matter of time now. Managers in deep leagues and two-catcher formats need to keep an eye on any rumblings of a promotion, as the Venezuelan could provide an instant offensive boost upon his debut.

Miami Marlins outfield prospect Victor Mesa Jr. (hamstring) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with the Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads on Saturday night. Mesa is returning from a strained right hamstring that he suffered at the start of spring training. The 23-year-old is listed as the team's No. 26 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, after slashing .255/.318/.423 with a .741 OPS, 13 home runs, 51 RBI, five stolen bases and 48 runs scored in 83 games with Jupiter and Triple-A Jacksonville a year ago. Whenever the Cuban outfielder finishes up his rehab assignment, he'll likely head back to the Jumbo Shrimp to continue his development. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound left-handed hitter has developed into a 20-homer guy but will need to shore up his plate discipline if he's going to have any sustained success once he surfaces in the big leagues.

Miami Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers (forearm) will begin his minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on Sunday, according to a source. Weathers is finally ready to pitch in games after injuring his left flexor muscle in spring training. In a best-case scenario, the 25-year-old southpaw could be ready to come off the injured list to make his 2025 season debut in early May. The former first-rounder of the San Diego Padres in 2018 went 5-6 with a 3.63 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 80 strikeouts and 24 walks in 86 2/3 innings in 16 starts in his first full season with the Fish a year ago. Despite missing time with a finger injury, he displayed career-best walk and strikeout rates, leading many to believe he could be in store for a breakout season in 2025 once he returns from his forearm injury. Weathers is worth stashing now if he's available on your league's waiver wire.