Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) has yet to progress beyond bullpen sessions as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-June. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged the bullpen sessions over a week ago, but there hasn't been any update on his status since then. Hinch mentioned that Ryan's velocity looked "great" and the 28-year-old is recovering well, but he's yet to face live hitters. Once he does, a clearer picture should emerge as to when the right-hander will return, but whether that is this season or next remains a mystery. If the 6-foot-2 hurler can take the next step in the progression soon, there is still time for him to make it back this season, though it may be too late to help fantasy managers hoping to get to the playoffs. The Tigers' top-ranked pitching prospect boasted a 22.2 percent K-BB% at Triple-A in his eight starts before the injury and has the stuff to be successful at the major league level, but at this point, he's a speculative stash (preferably in an NA spot) in hopes he returns this season.

Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno has yet to find his footing since being promoted to Triple-A Toledo, now 7-for-41 (.171) with zero home runs and a 31.3 percent strikeout rate through his first 12 games for the Mud Hens. The Tigers' fifth-ranked prospect had a delayed start to the 2026 campaign due to wrist surgery he underwent before the season got underway, but hit .297 with eight home runs in 17 games for Double-A Erie before earning the promotion to the minors' highest level. The 2024 Arizona Fall League MVP looks like a long shot to crack the majors in 2026, but with a patient approach (career walk rate of 12.8 percent), along with highly rated hit (50) and power tools (60), there is a good chance he'll have an impact in 2027.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has put his best foot forward in 2026, batting .302 with 27 home runs (third-most at Triple-A), 94 RBI (second-most), and 94 runs scored (second-most). His 16.8 percent walk rate has buoyed a phenomenal .423 on-base percentage, and his OPS of .982 is second-highest among qualified hitters, yet the Dodgers' seventh-ranked prospect hasn't been able to break through to the major league level thus far. When Andy Pages (hand) was recently placed on the injured list, it was Alek Thomas who was recalled from Oklahoma City, not Tibbs, as Thomas was already on the 40-man roster, as is fellow OKC Comet Ryan Ward, who has been recalled to L.A. twice already this season, so it is a crowded talent pool. Even so, Tibbs may still get his opportunity when rosters expand in September, and were he to find himself getting regular playing time, the 23-year-old would become very fantasy relevant in that offense, but for now he's just a speculative stash in deeper 14+ team leagues.

Detroit Tigers infield prospect Max Anderson is heating up again following a short slump at Triple-A Toledo, now 9-for-23 (.391) over his last six games with a pair of doubles and a 3:3 BB:K. The performance has pushed his season-long slash line to .305/.388/.494with13 home runs through 87 games for the Mud Hens. The Tigers' 11th-ranked prospectshowed well in limited time at Triple-A last season (.267/.327/.422) and was coming off a fantastic showing in the 2025 Arizona Fall League (.447/.609/.809), so this year's success isn't exactly a surprise. A low 11.6 percent strikeout rate (93rd percentile) shows he can put the bat on the ball extremely well, and there's enough power to make him interesting for fantasy; the problem is that he isn't on the 40-man roster and there is currently no place to put him on the major league infield. The former second-rounder deserves a shot in the big leagues -- and may get his opportunity in September -- but without a clear path to regular at-bats, there is little reason to stash the 24-year-old in redraft leagues.