Welcome back, everyone. Hopefully, you were able to heed my advice last week, as my top four recommendations finished the weekend with a stat line of 11 runs, seven homers, 14 RBI and a .413 batting average (13-for-31). Not too shabby for just two days. Shabby. I love that word. I always hear Adam Sandler’s voice when I use it.

Rece Hinds, Colt Keith, Michael Toglia and Eugenio Suarez all made me look good. They all hit the ball over the fence and played better than I could have hoped for. Ideally, this next group will do the same. I’m excited for this week’s pickups so let’s get right to it.

This week, I’ve turned my focus to the many young hitters taking the league by storm. While it’s easy to pass off these rookies as just getting lucky or going through a hot streak, it’s these kinds of performances that can help win your league. One dominant stretch isn’t going to do it, but if you pick up enough of these guys week to week, the numbers are going to accumulate.

Also, there are a number of studs returning from injury so it would behoove you to add them now before your competition does. Often, fantasy managers forget about guys on the injured list (IL) until they’re back performing at a high level and by then it’s usually too late. So add them ASAP.

Ok, that’s enough chit-chat for now. Here are this week’s top waiver wire pickups for all league types. All players listed are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.

• Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
• Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
• Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
• MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Top 9 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 17)

TJ Friedl (OF – CIN): 37%

TJ Friedl should be activated this week, which makes him an immediate must-add. The lefty-swinging outfielder has been an excellent five-category contributor since earning everyday playing time for the Reds. Last season in 138 games, the now 28-year-old hit for a .279 average, scored 73 runs, hit 18 home runs, knocked in 66 RBI and stole 27 bags. He’s the catalyst for the Reds’ lineup and should return to the leadoff spot once he returns. He deserves a roster spot in all leagues.

Xavier Edwards (SS – MIA): 10%

Xavier Edwards has been nothing short of spectacular since earning his promotion earlier this month (he was also called up for three days in early June). Since July 2nd, the switch-hitting shortstop has hit safely in every game but one. Over 49 at-bats, the 24-year-old collected 18 hits, good for a .367 average. His OPS sits at an impressive .854 and he even stole three bases on four attempts.

Edwards’ high average should come as no surprise, as he was a hitting machine on the farm. The former prep-school stand-out hit for a .338 batting average in Triple-A this year while recording a strikeout rate of just 9%. Last year he performed even better, registering a .351 average with a 7% strikeout rate. He also stole 32 bases.

Edwards’ run production hasn’t been great but should improve now that he’s batting second in the lineup, sandwiched between the Marlins’ best hitters. According to FanGraphs, the shortstop was the Marlins’ seventh-ranked prospect last year and now that he’s playing regularly and mashing consistently, he deserves your attention in all leagues.

Xavier Edwards has hits in all 6 games since coming back up to the majors pic.twitter.com/rnKsbkN2od

— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) July 7, 2024

Jacob Wilson (SS – OAK): 15%

Speaking of high batting averages, it’s not a bad idea to take a flier on Jacob Wilson. After being selected sixth overall in last year’s draft, Oakland’s top prospect has been a menace in the minor leagues. The 22-year-old put up some of the most outrageous numbers I ever ever seen in terms of hitting for average. In Triple-A this season Wilson hit for a .398 average and only struck out three times over 90 plate appearances. And in Double-A earlier this year, he hit .455 over 93 plate appearances. He also hit .571 with a 1.504 OPS in five CPX games earlier this year.

Unfortunately, after his line drive single in his first Major League at-bat on Friday, Wilson felt a slight twinge in his hamstring and had to be removed from the game. As of now, the team is calling it a minor strain and he may be able to avoid the injured list. Even if he has to sit out for a week or two, the setback sounds minor. It may still be worth adding the phenom now before it’s too late.

Juan Yepez (1B, OF – WAS): 5%

Do you remember Juan Yepez? He was a mid-season standout who clubbed nine home runs and hit nearly .300 for the Cardinals over two months in 2022. Albert Pujols took him under his wing and said he reminded him a lot of himself at that age. Well, now he’s back and is hitting cleanup for the Nationals. After maintaining nearly a one-to-one ratio of walks to strikeouts in Triple-A, Washington brought him up hoping to get some production out of first base. And produce he has.

After hitting a three-run jack yesterday, Yepez’s hitting streak is up to 11 games and his average now sits at .390. He’s hit in every game since his call-up and seven of those hits have gone for extra bases. He’s earned six walks while only striking out seven times and is playing like a man who deserves a spot on all fantasy teams.

Lawrence Butler (OF – OAK): 23%

This dude’s been mashing. Lawrence Butler’s up to seven home runs on the month with 19 RBI. He sits versus lefties but in daily leagues, that shouldn’t be a problem. The Atlanta native has been leading off recently and has pushed his barrel percentage up to an impressive 11.6%. His average exit velo is also eye-catching at 91.9 miles per hour. He’s been leading off for Oakland lately and while that could hurt his RBI total he should make up for it in runs scored. Nearly half of his balls in play are fly balls and around 16% of them leave the park, meaning the home runs should continue to come.

He’s a great addition while he’s hot and should be added in leagues that allow for daily transactions. Don’t look now, but the baby A’s are starting to show some life and could be a decent club by the time they move to Vegas.

Lawrence Butler over his last 13 games:

.326 AVG
7 HR
17 RBI
10 Runs
3 SBpic.twitter.com/oDSvO23WxZ

— Kirk Snyder (@dynastyinfo411) July 14, 2024

Max Schuemann (2B, SS, OF – OAK): 16%

In deeper leagues, it’s not a bad idea to check in on Max Schuemann. Who is Max Schuemann? He’s the A’s shortstop who’s been doing a little bit of everything lately, that’s who. Schuemann is 16-for-41 (.390) in July with 13 runs, nine RBIs three homers and four steals. The defense wizard is a late bloomer having toiled in the minors since 2018. Nowadays, six years in the Minors feels like an eternity, but it paid off for Schuemann who has now become a steady contributor on a team full of guys you’ve never heard of. He can add to all of the major categories and he qualifies for multiple positions. If you play in a league with the top 300 rostered, give Schuemann a strong look.

Robbie Ray (SP – SF): 41%

Robbie Ray is nearing his long-awaited return after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 2021 Cy Young Award winner looked sharp in his latest rehab appearance striking out nine over five one-hit innings. It was his ninth rehab appearance to date and it appears his arm is ready to go. The Giants have played it slow with Ray but the word on the street is he’ll return this week. It may take him a while to last longer than five innings but he’s got an excellent ceiling and could be a fine contributor down the stretch.

Jeffrey Springs (SP – TB): 33%

I have Jeffrey Springs slightly higher on my list than Ray, simply because he’s been pitching deeper into games and has been facing better competition (the Giants have kept Ray at Single-A). Springs hasn’t been lights out by any means but he’s only surrendered one home run and three walks over 24 rehab innings. The 31-year-old lefty was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in 2022 when he registered a 2.46 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP. He was also dominant in the prior year when he struck out an impressive 35.2% of the batters he faced as a reliever. Springs could be activated as early as this week, so now is the time to add him to your roster. The Rays may just turn to a six-man rotation when he returns.

A.J. Puk (SP, RP – MIA): 13%

I recently read an article on MLB Trade Rumors that opened my eyes to what A.J. Puk has accomplished. Since the failed experiment as a starter, Puk has been putting up nothing but zeros (mostly) since rejoining the bullpen. Over his last 11 appearances (12 innings) the lanky southpaw has surrendered just two hits and three walks while not allowing a run. Over that span, he struck out 17 batters and now has 20 strikeouts over his last 13.2 innings. With Marlins’ current closer Tanner Scott likely on the move, it could very well be Puk who stays and becomes the everyday closer. Puk could be traded as well, but with the numbers he’s currently putting up, he’s worth the risk.

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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.