Most Exciting Prospects for 2026: AL Central

What’s changed—and what’s pushed him into elite territory—is the power. McGonigle flashed a 112 mph max EV, exceptional for his age, and paired it with a career-best 35% groundball rate that unlocked more in-game impact. Add that to his advanced feel for the barrel, and you’re looking at a hitter capable of spraying liners or punishing mistakes for damage.

Defensively, he’s shown enough range and instincts to remain at shortstop, which only amplifies his WAR projection. As our Aram Leighton noted, McGonigle already looks like someone who could have held his own in Detroit this year—and if he carries his momentum into 2026, a call-up by the All-Star break feels well within reach.

Cooper Ingle | C | Cleveland Guardians

A 2023 fourth-round pick out of Clemson, Ingle has rapidly climbed Cleveland’s system on the strength of his advanced approach and ability to remain behind the plate. Splitting 2025 between Double- and Triple-A, he continued to prove that elite strike-zone control and bat-to-ball skill can carry a profile. In 92 Double-A games, Ingle posted a 147 wRC+ with 29 doubles and 9 home runs before a late-season promotion to Columbus.

At both levels, his command of the zone stood out. Ingle walked at a 16% clip in Double-A and an incredible 19.6% in Triple-A, while keeping strikeouts to just 17% and 14%, respectively. His 36% swing rate ranks among the most selective in the minors—borderline passive—but his precision contact skills neutralize that concern. He posted a 90% zone contact rate and an overall contact rate above 86%, elite territory for a catcher.

The open question is impact. With a 105.6 mph max EV and 41% hard-hit rate, the power projects more fringy than average, but his consistent lift (37% ground-ball rate) suggests doubles and 10–15 homers are realistic outcomes. Pair that with his plate discipline and improving defense, and Ingle looks every bit the quintessential Guardians high-floor, OBP-driven catcher—one who could soon push Bo Naylor for playing time in 2026.

Kendry Chourio | RHP | Kansas City Royals

A 2025 international signing, Chourio made a rare and remarkable climb in his first professional season—starting in the Dominican Summer League and finishing in Low-A, all before his 18th birthday. For a pitcher who spent the entire year at just 17, his performance was one of the most impressive in the minors.

Chourio attacks hitters with a polished three-pitch mix headlined by a mid-90s fastball that he commands with surprising precision. He complements it with a two-plane curveball he can land for strikes and a fading changeup that neutralizes left-handed bats. What truly separates him, though, is his elite command. While most teenage power arms battle the zone, Chourio walked only 2.4% of hitters and struck out 29.9% across 51.1 innings. He limited opponents to just two home runs and generated a 52% ground-ball rate, showing maturity well beyond his years.

A fluid, springy athlete, Chourio already flashes upper-90s velocity and projects for more as he fills out. The command allowed him to rocket through three levels, but it’s the combination of stuff, athleticism, and projection that has scouts dreaming on a potential frontline profile. With continued physical development and refinement, Chourio could soon emerge as one of baseball’s premier young pitching prospects.

Walker Jenkins | OF | Minnesota Twins

The fifth overall pick in 2023 has battled early-career injuries, but when healthy, Jenkins continues to look every bit the franchise cornerstone Minnesota envisioned. After a delayed start to 2025, the 20-year-old exploded at Double-A, posting a 154 wRC+ while reaffirming his ability to handle center field. His combination of approach and polish stands out—Jenkins rarely looks rushed, working counts and punishing mistakes with a fluid, leveraged swing.

A midseason promotion to Triple-A tested him, and while his 89 wRC+ in 52 games doesn’t leap off the page, context matters. Jenkins’ walk rate dipped from 14.5% to 8.6%, and his chase rate jumped to 32%, natural adjustments for a 20-year-old facing more advanced sequencing. Even so, he maintained a solid 76% contact rate, and more importantly, the power began to show. His 110 mph max exit velocity and 37.5% groundball rate marked career bests, evidence that his plus raw power is translating more consistently in games.

Still just 21 entering 2026, Jenkins should open the year at Triple-A St. Paul, where continued health and refinement could fast-track him to Target Field by midseason. For a Twins organization searching for star power and stability, Jenkins represents both—and could soon be the face of their next core.

Caleb Bonemer | SS/3B | Chicago White Sox

A 2024 overslot second-round pick known more for his power than polish, Bonemer entered his first professional season with modest expectations—and shattered them. Across 107 games between Low-A and High-A, he combined an advanced approach with emerging contact skills to become one of the most exciting infield prospects in the system. Bonemer walked at a 15.8% clip while striking out at a manageable rate and making contact on 78.3% of his swings.

What really turned heads was the quality of that contact. Bonemer consistently elevated the baseball, running a 32% groundball rate that unlocked his plus raw power. The result: 12 home runs and a 146 wRC+ at Low-A before posting a ridiculous 192 wRC+ in a brief High-A cameo. His operation at the plate is simple and repeatable—minimal pre-swing movement with a sweeping path that produces natural loft to the pull side.

While he’s likely to slide from shortstop to third base as he matures, Bonemer projects as a plus defender with a strong arm and the athleticism to stay mobile at the hot corner. He also brings sneaky athleticism, swiping 29 bases across two levels. For his age, the combination of approach, emerging power, and defensive projection gives the White Sox a foundational piece to dream on—a potential middle-of-the-order bat at a premium corner spot.