Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: The 20-Year-Old You Need to Grab Now

The Marlins have called up their top pitching prospect, which could be big news for fantasy managers who act fast.

It’s Friday, and that means it’s time to start planning your waiver wire bids. I’ve got five players you should add right now for your fantasy baseball team.

Top pitching prospect Eury Perez gets the callup for the Marlins tonight! If you don’t have to wait until Sunday for waivers, consider adding him today. He has the potential to carve up the Reds tonight in Miami.

Also, we have a clear closer for Texas!

As the weather warms, we will continue to see players get into a groove and offensive numbers will also likely improve. Players such as Juan Soto, Alex Bregman, and yes, even Jose Abreu should wake up soon. I advise exercising patience with your studs. This is a marathon and not a sprint. However, the two hitters listed on today’s list are worth adding while they are hot right now and could help in the short run if not for the rest of the year.

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Eury Perez, SP (MIA)

The Marlins are calling up top prospect Eury Perez to face the Reds Friday night. The 20-year-old flame-throwing righty stands 6’8” tall and has struck out 42 batters across 32 innings of work at the minor-league level this season. His 2.42 ERA and 0.81 WHIP are impressive, and his 21% swinging strikeout rate matches Jacob deGrom’s this year. Can he maintain success at the major-league level? When a team calls up a player this young, they certainly are betting on it, and you should, too.

Bailey Ober, SP (MIN)

Tyler Mahle is done for the season and Kenta Maeda continues to be out with a triceps injury. Ober should keep a regular spot in the rotation after allowing only five across his last 26-1/3 innings pitched. Ober has struck out six batters in each of his last three starts, and his season ERA is 1.85 with a 0.90 WHIP. 

Will Smith, RP (TEX)

Smith has won the closer job for the Rangers, who lead the AL West. The lefty has the confidence of Bruce Bochy and he should have plenty of save opportunities. He should be a priority in any roto league or league that values saves. 

Harrison Bader, OF (NYY)

Bader has been hot since rejoining the Yankees, going 11-for-30 with three home runs and a 1.271 OPS in his first nine games. With an everyday playing role, Bader has power and speed upside (Bader stole 17 bases last year), assuming he can stay healthy. 

Jorge Soler, DH (MIA)

You know what you’re getting with Jorge Soler -- tremendous upside with the chance he could tank your batting average. This week, however, Soler has been on a roll. He’s mashed four home runs with 10 RBIs and also achieved a .400 OBP. Soler’s power is elite with a max exit velocity and barrel rate in the 96th percentile of the league. Grab Soler while he is hot.