Most Exciting Prospects for 2026: AL East

At 6-foot-3 with a smooth, athletic delivery from the left side, King projects as one of the most compelling arms in the Blue Jays system heading into 2026. As an overslot third-round prep pick, he entered pro ball with intrigue—and in his first full season, he backed it up.

King’s fastball plays above its radar-gun reading thanks to a flat vertical attack angle that allows him to live at the top of the zone. He pairs it with a biting slider that especially punishes left-handed hitters. Across the complex and Low-A levels, he struck out a staggering 15.32 batters per nine, showcasing how electric his two-pitch combo already is.

Command is still a work in progress, as his walk rate climbed above five per nine (and even higher after his Low-A promotion), but that’s par for the course for a 19-year-old prep arm. The flashes of swing-and-miss dominance outweigh any early control concerns.

With continued physical growth and potential velocity gains, King could soar up prospect lists in 2026 and position himself as a mid-rotation lefty with real upside.

New York Yankees – Carlos Lagrange, RHP

At 6-foot-7, Carlos Lagrange looks every bit the part of a power-armed right-hander—and the stuff matches the frame. His fastball routinely sits in the upper-90s and has already touched triple digits, overwhelming hitters with pure velocity. A sharp, high-spin slider gives him a second swing-and-miss offering he’ll throw confidently to hitters on either side.

The results have been loud: opponents hit just .189 against him across High-A and Double-A, making contact only 65% of the time. That kind of bat-missing ability makes him one of the most dangerous arms in the system.

As expected for a tall, high-octane arm, command remains the developmental focus. His walk rate spiked to 5.74 BB/9 in Double-A, and finding consistency in the zone will determine whether he sticks as a starter or shifts to a late-inning role.

Turning 23 in May 2026, Lagrange could factor into the Yankees’ big-league plans soon—and regardless of role, his premium fastball-slider combo gives him impact potential.

Boston Red Sox – Henry Godbout, 2B

A 2025 draftee out of Virginia, Henry Godbout hit the ground running in his pro debut. In 13 games at High-A, he walked in 16.4% of his plate appearances while striking out just 10.9%, continuing the elite plate discipline that made him one of the toughest college outs in the country.

Godbout’s plus hit tool and mature approach stand out immediately. His 85% overall contact rate and 31% ground-ball rate reflect advanced bat control and a natural ability to elevate. The open question is how much impact he’ll generate—he may never be a big power threat—but his elite on-base skills and consistent contact give him one of the higher offensive floors in Boston’s system.

Defensively, he profiles best at second base but can handle shortstop if needed. With Boston’s infield hierarchy in flux, Godbout could climb quickly and put himself in the mix by 2027. His polish and reliability make him a potential fast-mover who brings stability to the middle infield.

Tampa Bay Rays – Brody Hopkins, RHP

A former two-way star at Winthrop, Brody Hopkins is still new to full-time pitching—but you wouldn’t know it from the results. His athleticism translates seamlessly to the mound, allowing him to repeat his delivery and create deception that helps his fastball play above its velocity.

Hopkins’ best pitch is a tight, biting slider, complemented by a cutter and changeup that round out a four-pitch mix with both north-south and east-west action. Across 116 Double-A innings, he limited opponents to a .201 average and surrendered just seven home runs, showing a knack for weak contact.

His strike-throwing remains the big developmental hurdle; a 12.2% walk rate in 2025 underscores how often he battles the zone. Still, the Rays’ track record of harnessing athletic, high-spin arms makes Hopkins one of the most intriguing upside plays in their system. He’ll be 24 entering 2026, with a chance to reach the majors if his command takes even a modest step forward.

Baltimore Orioles – Trey Gibson, RHP

Undrafted in 2023, Trey Gibson’s rapid rise has been one of the more impressive stories in the minors. After starting 2025 in High-A and finishing in Triple-A, the right-hander logged 120.1 innings and firmly established himself as Baltimore’s best pitching prospect.

Gibson’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and plays up thanks to his exceptional feel to spin. His curveball—featuring two-plane depth—has become his out pitch, and he complements it with a biting slider, a sinker, and a cutter. That variety gives him multiple ways to attack hitters and generate weak contact.

Across three levels, Gibson struck out 32.3% of batters while walking just 8.6%, an impressive balance for someone with that much movement in his arsenal. He also induced a 47% groundball rate, keeping the ball in the park and limiting extra-base hits. Though he tired late after his promotion, his Double-A performance was dominant.

With Baltimore needing rotation depth after a disappointing 2025, Gibson could force his way into the mix as soon as next season. From undrafted signee to potential rotation mainstay, his ascent highlights how far the Orioles’ pitching development has come.