25 MLB prospects who will make an impact in 2026

There are questions about Ballesteros' defense, but he made an impression with his bat as a fill-in at DH in September when Kyle Tucker was sidelined. He hit .298/.394/.474 in 66 plate appearances after hitting .316 at Triple-A Iowa. With Tucker headed toward free agency, the Cubs are likely to find a spot for Ballesteros in the everyday lineup.

There might not be a better power prospect in the game than Basallo. He hit four homers in 118 plate appearances down the stretch with Baltimore after hitting 23 homers in only 76 games at Triple-A Norfolk. The power is even more impressive considering that he only turned 21 in August.

The first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Bazzana played only 84 games last season due to injury. Still, he produced a .389 on-base percentage, showing off the exemplary skills that made him a top college prospect at Oregon State. He could emerge as a regular out of Spring Training.

The 6-foot-5 Beavers is coming off a great season, hitting .304-18-51 with 23 steals in 94 games at Triple-A before a long look in Baltimore down the stretch. He continued to find his way on base and hit for power with the O's, and should be penciled into a starting spot on Opening Day.

If the Cubs are looking for a Kyle Tucker replacement, they don't need to look any further than Caissie. He had another productive and powerful season in the minors, hitting .286-22-55 in 433 plate appearances at Triple-A Iowa.

The Pirates frustrated many fans with their hesitancy to promote Chandler until September. The top prospect made up for lost time, posting a 4.02 ERA and 7.75 K/BB ratio in 31.1 innings during his MLB debut. The hard-throwing right hander could make an impressive one-two punch for Pittsburgh behind Paul Skenes.

The son of former MLB star Carl Crawford, Justin has a very similar skillset to his father. The former first-rounder shows off high batting average ability, speed, and defense, and hit .334-7-47 with 46 steals in only 112 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season. He could break camp as a regular, depending on how the Phillies' offseason plays out.

DeLauter had a rare feat, making his MLB debut with Cleveland in the playoffs after an injury-plagued 2025 season. Cleveland sees him as a gifted center fielder, and he's shown polish at the plate with as many walks as strikeouts last season while also hitting seven home runs in 42 games. DeLauter could make the Opening Day roster, and hopes for better health than he's had so far as a pro.

Boston trusted Early with a playoff start after he posted a 2.33 ERA in four starts during the regular season. The lefty emerged as an elite-level arm this season, posting 132 strikeouts in 100.1 innings between Double- and Triple-A.

Eldridge got a cup of coffee with San Francisco, appearing in 10 games after an injury-shortened season. The power potential is undeniable, hitting 25 home runs in only 102 games at age 20 last season, and he could play himself into a first base-designated hitter timeshare with Rafael Devers in 2026.

Emerson could be Seattle's best position prospect since Julio Rodriguez. He's played only six games at Triple-A, so the Mariners have no reason to rush him, but Emerson could force their hand with his great plate discipline, defense, and 20/20 upside.

The ninth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Griffin had a whirlwind first professional season. He hit .333-21-94 with 65 stolen bases between three minor league levels, and could challenge for a roster spot early in 2026 if the Pirates push him.

Jenkins could be Minnesota's next star as a young and dynamic center fielder with excellent plate patience. He played only 84 games in 2025, but hit .286-10-34 with 17 steals.

Jensen made quite an impression in 20 games for the Royals in September, hitting .300-3-13. That capped off a strong minor league season in which he hit .290-20-76 in 111 games between Double- and Triple-A. He could split time between catcher and DH next season alongside Salvador Perez.

Jones draws natural comparisons to Aaron Judge as a 6-foot-7 outfielder with tape-measure power. He took his game to the next level in 2025, hitting .274-35-80 with 29 stolen bases between Double- and Triple-A. With the possible departure of Trent Grisham, there could be a spot for Jones on the Opening Day roster.

Detroit's biggest void heading into the offseason is arguably shortstop, and McGonigle might be ready to fill it. The former first-round pick is one of the game's elite prospects, combining plus power and defense with incredible knowledge of the strike zone. He finished last season with 59 walks vs. only 46 strikeouts in 397 plate appearances, and could skip Triple-A if he impresses in Spring Training.

McLean made a great impression in eight starts for the Mets, but he maintains rookie eligibility in 2026. He combines a devastating curveball with an excellent groundball rate, which helped him post a 2.06 ERA for New York. The right-hander has a chance to lead the team's rotation next season.

Miller is blocked in Philadelphia by Trea Turner, but the team might entertain using him at a different position. He posted a .392 on-base percentage and 59 steals, mostly at Double-A, last season.

Pitching was already a strength in Miami, and Snelling has a chance to make the team's starting rotation even better. The former first-round pick had a rebound season in 2025, with a 2.51 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 136 innings between Double- and Triple-A.

Cincinnati was resistant to promoting Stewart until September, but he made up for lost time in 18 regular-season games and the playoffs. The versatile infielder hit .255-5-8 in only 58 appearances during the regular season, after hitting .309-20-80 in 118 minor league games. The team was especially impressed with his approach at the plate.

While slightly overshadowed by Connelly Early in his debut, Tolle could end up being a more impactful pitcher next season. The lefty has both elite stuff and outstanding control, as he showed in the minors with a 5.78 K/BB ratio and 3.04 ERA in 91.2 innings.

Tong's MLB debut could have gone better with an ERA above 7.00 in five starts, but he still showed signs of life. He has plus stuff and a deceptive delivery that makes him difficult for hitters to time. Tong posted a 1.59 ERA in 20 starts at Double-A Binghamton and should compete for a spot in the Mets' starting rotation to open the season.

As the Cardinals undergo a rebuild, Wetherholt could become the new face of the franchise. He's continued to get on base at a .400-plus clip, as he did in college at West Virginia, and showed power and speed with 17 home runs and 23 steals in 109 games last season. He could open the season either at second or third base for the Cardinals.

The toolsy Williams got some run down the stretch for Tampa Bay, hitting five home runs in 33 games. His raw approach was also on display, unfortunately, with 44 strikeouts in only 106 plate appearances. Williams has 30/30 upside, but the Rays might have to live with the blemishes in his game over the short term.

Yesavage flashed for the Jays in late September as well as the playoffs, only one year after being drafted. The East Carolina alum has an elite fastball-splitter combo, and fanned nearly 15 batters per nine innings with it in the minors. He should open on the betting markets as one of the AL Rookie of the Year favorites in 2026.