New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe has held off Jose Caballero at the 6 in the Bronx, but it's primarily due to injuries to New York's outfield and third baseman Ryan McMahon (illness). Volpe didn't make his 2026 season debut with the Yanks until May 13 while rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. The 25-year-old former 30th overall pick in 2019 has hit a middling .246/.343/.336 with a .679 OPS, just one home run, 13 RBI, 18 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 38 games across 140 plate appearances. Volpe wasn't a whole lot better in 24 games (84 plate appearances) in June, going 18-for-75 (.240) with zero home runs, three doubles, a triple, five RBI, nine runs scored, and three stolen bases. If anything, Volpe carries some weight for fantasy managers in deeper leagues for his speed while he's playing regularly for the Yankees. However, when the team gets healthier in the outfield, Volpe could lose out on playing time at the 6 to Jose Caballero. Volpe was a 20-20 man in his rookie season in 2023, but he has a career .224 average and appears to have lost his power stroke as he works his way back from shoulder surgery.

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel has limited power at the first base position, but he has become attractive off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues with improved production at the plate since he returned from the injured list in early June. In 20 games since rejoining the Halos on June 6, Schanuel has gone 17-for-65 (.262) with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, and 11 runs scored across 78 plate appearances. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger came into Thursday's game against the division-rival Seattle Mariners with 14 hits in his last 47 at-bats (.298) with two homers in his last 12 games since June 16. Overall, the former 11th overall pick in 2023 out of Florida Atlantic University has a pretty uninspiring .262/.332/.387 slash line, .719 OPS, six home runs, 31 RBI, and 29 runs scored across his 256 at-bats. Schanuel makes decent contact at the plate, but a .373 xSLG just doesn't really move the needle in terms of power. Fantasy managers can ride his recent hot streak, but if you're looking for game-changing power off the waiver wire, you've come to the wrong place.

New York Yankees infielder George Lombard Jr. (fingers) is the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he could push for a big-league promotion in 2026. The 21-year-old landed on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with two sprained fingers on his left hand in the middle of June, but even though he's currently injured, fantasy managers in deeper leagues may want to consider stashing him now. In 20 games with Double-A Somerset before his promotion, Lombard hit .312 (24-for-77) with four home runs, 10 RBI, 18 runs scored, and four stolen bases. In 42 games with the RailRiders after his promotion, he's slashed .231/.381/.385 with a .765 OPS, four home runs, 15 RBI, 30 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 197 plate appearances. It's unclear exactly how much longer he'll be out at Triple-A, but Lombard's above-average raw power and speed from the right side make him a very intriguing prospect to stash. He's the clear shortstop of the future in the Bronx and has 25-25 potential. Lombard is rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt was touted as one of the best up-and-coming position players to stash in fantasy baseball in the first half of the 2026 season. The team's top overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, eventually got the call from the Snakes in early May, but his first taste of major-league pitching didn't go as planned. The 23-year-old former first-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Kentucky went 29-for-112 (.259) with zero home runs, eight RBI, 11 runs scored, five stolen bases, eight walks, and 40 strikeouts for an elevated 32.8% strikeout rate. The D-backs sent Waldschmidt down to work on his plate discipline and his approach against offspeed pitches. Since going back down to Triple-A Reno, Waldschmidt has gone 14-for-44 (.318) with three home runs, four doubles, five RBI, 10 runs scored, and zero stolen bases in 11 games played. It's unclear exactly when Arizona might consider recalling Waldschmidt to the majors, but it probably won't come until sometime after the All-Star break. For his power/speed upside alone, the 6-foot, 205-pounder should definitely already be stashed in dynasty/keeper and NL-only leagues. He's currently rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues.