Prospects to Watch in 2026 Southern League

Jesús Made ended 2025 in Double-A Biloxi — and that’s where he started to begin the 2026 campaign. Made hit well everywhere he played last season, and now he’ll get a chance to truly prove what he can do at an elite Minor League level. He’ll also spend all of his 2026 campaign as a teenager.

Aside from Made, former first-rounder Blake Burke is in Biloxi, where he spent 2025. Burke hit fine in Double-A last season but it’s awfully crowded in Triple-A right now, as far as corner infielders are concerned. On-base machine Dylan O’Rae is also with the Shuckers.

The Shuckers’ pitching staff is highlighted by high-end talent Bishop Letson, plus soft-tossing lefty Anthony Flores. Ryan Birchard, one of the best swing-and-miss men in High-A, is also with Biloxi.

Birmingham Barons

Shane Murphy and Jake Palisch were two of the best pitchers in the Southern League last season. But thanks to a deep rotation up in Triple-A Charlotte, the two are back with Birminghan Barons.

Braden Montgomery is the best bat on the Barons. Montgomery had his swing-and-miss troubles last season but is a very toolsy player and could wind up being a future option in right field for the White Sox soon.

Jeral Perez hit 22 home runs last season in High-A Winston-Salem.

Chattanooga Lookouts

The Lookouts’ roster is an older one, although the two big prospects are both familiar names down in Tennessee.

Former first-round pick Cam Collier was a line-drive machine in Double-A last season but couldn’t get to that home run power that we saw from him down in A-ball. He returned to Chattanooga to begin the 2026 campaign.

Leo Balcazar, who spent over 50 games with the Lookouts after he came up from High-A, is also back in Double-A.

Columbus Clingstones

Owen Murphy, despite injuries, remains one of the best prospects in the Braves’ system. He proved that in his first Double-A start of 2026. The former first-round pick has the chance to be one of the next big arms to head to Atlanta in the near future.

Aside from Murphy, the Braves have some interesting names at Double-A. Garrett Baumann and Drue Hackenburg were both high draft picks for the organization. Jhancarlos Lara, one of the most mercurial prospects in the Atlanta system, is also back in Double-A.

Pat Clohisy is one of the best stolen base men in the Minors.

Knoxville Smokies

Jefferson Rojas showcased in High-A ball that he could be a potential 20-home run hitter at the big league level. However, his swing-and-miss rate jumped when he moved to Double-A, where he started the 2026 campaign.

Another name to warch is Jake Knapp, the former North Carolina pitcher who was picked in the eighth round last year after a fantastic 2025 with the Tar Heels. The 25-year-old bypassed A-ball.

Luis Martinez-Gomez picked up a lot of strikeouts over the years in the Minors.

Montgomery Biscuits

Now that Xavier Isaac‘s recovery from the removal of a brain tumor is done, the first baseman can now return back to basball. However, now the next step in his journey from Minor League to MLB hopeful now begins.

Isaac cut his swing-and-miss rate slightly in 2025. However, it was still one of the highest in the Southern League and a major question mark with respect to whether we’ll see that mammoth power come up more.

Aside from Isaac, Jadher Areinamo, Austin Overn, and former first-rounder Brayden Taylor are with the Biscuits.

The pitching staff is headlined by Michael Forret, one of the pieces acquired from the Orioles as part of the Shane Baz trade.

Pensacola Blue Wahoos

While Karson Milbrandt may not get the same kind of attention as Thomas White or Robby Snelling have, the right-hander has the potential to an effective Major League starter.

Mid-90s fastball, good slider, and a lot of swing-and-miss in A-ball last season.

Pensacola’s hitting troupe includes three interesting outfielders. Fenwick Trimble projects to be a toolsy, high-OBP outfielder with speed. Brendan Jones and Dillon Lewis, the latter of whom showed above-average pop in A-ball, came over alongside Dylan Jasso in the Ryan Weathers trade.

Rocket City Trash Pandas

Fresh off a strong run with Team Great Britain in the 2026 WBC, Najer Victor will now look to take the next step in his road to the Majors. If there’s one thing that Victor proved this past March, it’s that his fastball/slider combo can get Major Leaguers out.

Raudi Rodriguez, who stormed through Low-A and the Arizona Fall League, jumped to Double-A.