Ranking the top 15 MLB prospects who will make an impact in 2026

My list of this year’s top MLB rookies includes a few imports from the Far East, and for the purposes of this list, these players are ranked solely based on how well I think they will do this coming baseball season. All these players have retained their rookie status and will likely make it to the majors this season. So, let’s dig in and see what shiny new toys we’ll get to watch this season. Remember, these aren’t the top overall prospects necessarily; it’s the players who will have the biggest impact in 2026.

MORE: MLB Power Rankings as 2026 Spring Training begins

1) Nolan McLean-P, Mets

He still retains his rookie status for this coming year and will be a fixture in the Mets rotation after dazzling everybody with 8 starts last year in the majors after dominating both AA and AAA. He’s being drafted as high as the 5th or 6th round, which is a bit insane. His ADP currently sits at 105, which has him ranked right below Eury Perez and Framber Valdez and above Spencer Strider and Kevin Gausman. It’s a bit rich for my blood, but he does profile as a top of the rotation talent, and I really like him as a SP3.

2) Trey Yesavage-P, Blue Jays

Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning for game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

He’s going about 4 rounds after McLean, and he has every bit as much upside potential. He does come with a little more risk as he’s 2 years younger and hasn’t had as much experience at the high levels of the minors that McLean does. He also comes with some ratio risk, as his walk rate was higher than we would like to see in his brief taste of the Show last year. He’s going right after the likes of Zach Wheeler and Gavin Williams but before Nate Eovaldi and Luis Castillo. I like his price much more, as all young players come with risk.

3) Carter Jensen-C, Royals

He came up last year and impressed the Royals enough as a 21-year-old that they have him penciled in to split duties behind the plate as well as DH with aging veteran Salvador Perez. He’s a powerful lefty hitter who can also steal a few bases. He makes a solid upside pick to fill one of your catcher spots if you can get him around his current ADP of pick #200.

4) Konnor Griffin-SS, Pirates

He’s the best prospect in the game, and his draft stock is going to skyrocket even further if he keeps hitting missiles in Spring training. He should be #1 on this list and any other list that is ranking prospects, but I have to hold him back a little because I just don’t trust the Pirates. If he makes the team out of camp, you can move him right to the top and take him as high as the 10th-12th round over guys like Ceddane Rafaella and Jacob Wilson. The problem with the Pirates is that as soon as a player’s clock starts, so does the countdown to when they will lose him.

Skipper, Don Kelly, has already laid the groundwork for his demotion by saying it will be a “tough ask” for him to make the squad out of camp, so I expect him to get sent down unless he absolutely blows it up this March. This is a kid who, as a 19-year-old, hit 21 homers and stole 65 bases across three levels of the minors last year. He’s a stud right out of the same mold as Trout, A-Rod, and Griffey. He can spend a month or two in AAA and still come up to finish in the top 3 in the ROY voting, so he’s worth taking; it just comes down to cost. Right now, I’m more than OK with his ADP in the 17th-18th round (pick #227), but in some drafts, he has gone as high as the top of the 7th round, and I just can’t pull the trigger that early, no matter how badly I want him.

5) Sal Stewart-1B, Reds

He’s a power-hitting prospect who came up last year and impressed in limited action. Terry Francona told him to work on being more athletic during the offseason, and he responded by losing 20 lbs. He’s the type of big bat that Cincy needs, and he should be able to get 400+ at-bats this year between DH and 1st, and in that ballpark, I think that could equate to 25+ homers. He has even been taking reps at 2B to improve his versatility, so there’s a chance he will qualify at multiple positions this year. I like him at his current ADP of pick #211

6) Samuel Basallo-C, Orioles

Sep 26, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Samuel Basallo (29) loses his helmet while swinging at a pitch during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Orioles believe in him so much that they have already locked him up to a long-term contract. He’s a pure power hitter, and he displayed that last year as one of the youngest players in AAA with 23 bombs in just 270 at-bats. Swing and miss are part of the package with him, but the Orioles have him slated to split catcher and DH with Adley Ruschman to begin this season. He’ll cost you a little more than the previous two bats at around pick #170, so I’ve been a bit more cautious with him in drafts. If he falls to the same range of about pick #200, I’m interested.

7) J.J. Wetherholt-SS/2B, Cardinals

He’s another rookie who seems locked into a starting role for the 2026 season after the Cardinals cleared room on their infield this offseason by parting ways with both Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan. Wetherholt should get 2B duties and bring an offense-first profile with him to the Show. Between AA and AAA last season, he batted well over .300 with 17 homers and 23 steals with just about the same number of walks as strikeouts. He’s one of my favorite late-round picks, where he’s going with an ADP of 294. Depending on your league setup, he may only qualify at shortstop, as he played 60+ games there while playing 20 at 2nd in the minors last season.

8) Bubba Chandler-P, Pirates

Chandler was supposed to be entering his second season after getting his rookie season out of the way in 2025. He was ready for the call in May, but it didn’t come, and he fell apart for a couple of months. He got it back together and ended up getting a call in September, and he showed he belongs. His fastball sits in the triple-digits, and if he can keep it around the strike zone, he’s going to pile up Ks. Everybody knows his name, and he’s going right around where Yesavage is in drafts right now. That’s a bit much for me, but if he lasts another round or two, I’ll be more than happy to take a chance on him. Target him around the 15th round in 12-team drafts, and he won’t hurt you as your SP4 or 5.

9) Tatsuya Imai-P, Astros

Imai isn’t like the others on this list as he’s a 27-year-old import from the NPB. He is also going around the same range in drafts as Yesavage and Chandler (pick #175), and I’m generally letting him go to another team at that price. He’s locked into a spot in Houston’s rotation, and he doesn’t quite have the downside of the young guns, so he won’t hurt you if you grab him as your 3rd or 4th starting pitcher. I just don’t trust the stats from any Japanese pitchers right now, as the entire league pitched to a 3.01 era. While his 1.92 era from 2025 is impressive, it’s the same as a pitcher in AAA pitching to a 2.92.

10) Carson Benge-OF, Mets

The latest player to be “The Next Darryl Strawberry” for the Mets. Benge has the tools and the talent, and he has an inside track for the playing time. If he wins the job in camp, his upside makes him a very interesting add in mixed leagues, and he’s certainly going to draw interest in NL-only formats. Currently, he’s going very late with an ADP north of pick 450, so I am very interested in him as a reserve in my mixed league drafts. He has 20/20 potential for this year, and there’s more power coming as he develops.

11) Kevin McGonigle-SS, Tigers

Feb 25, 2026; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (85) during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

The Tigers really could use him sooner rather than later, as they have a hole at Shortstop, and they could really use some help at the top of their batting order. He’s the #2 overall prospect according to MLB.com, and he profiles as a potential future batting champion. That’s always great to read, but I typically translate that into “he doesn’t have a ton of power or speed”. The truth is, he does have projectable pop, and he can steal a handful of bases; he just might need to do it in AAA to start this season. The bright side is the aforementioned lack of obstacles keeping him in the minors, so as soon as he’s ready, he should get the call. Watch his progress during camp and draft him as a reserve in deeper leagues around pick #300.

12) Munetaka Murakami-1B/3B, White Sox

If only he posted back in 2023, then we would have him much higher on the list. When he played in the WBC back then, he was the best hitter in the NBP. He won their triple crown, and at just 22 years old, he was coming off a 56-homer run season. He missed a bunch of time with injuries last year, and now he comes to America with slightly less fanfare than he would have a few years ago. The White Sox have him slated to cover 1B, but he may also play some 3rd as he did in Japan. He still should be a 20+ home run guy, but it remains to be seen how his other stats will translate to playing in America. He’s going right around where Konnor Griffin is in drafts, and while he will be in Chicago’s roster to begin the season, I would rather shoot for the upside of the Pirate rookie.

13) Justin Crawford-OF, Phillies

Crawford is the son of former Tampa star Carl Crawford, and he’s penciled in to be the Phillies everyday centerfielder in 2026. He’s still not on their 40-man roster, so that could change if he struggles in camp, but his profile is one that I really like to target in rookies. His best tool is his speed, along with his ability to get on base. While he’s not completely devoid of power like Chandler Simpson, he’s not going to hit more than a handful of homers. He likely won’t begin the season in the leadoff spot, but if he shows he can handle it, that lineup will be pretty tough with Crawford and Turner setting things up in front of Harper and Schwarber. For now, he will bat 9th and will get plenty of chances to run when he gets on base. He’s going well after pick 300, and he makes for a great late pick as your 5th OF in mixed leagues as a source of steals.

14) Dylan Beavers-OF, Orioles

He’s a big left-handed outfielder who barely managed to retain his rookie status after logging over 100 at-bats for the O’s at the end of last season. He added 4 homers in the majors to the 18 he hit in AAA, and he’s penciled in to fill the larger half of a platoon in one of the corner outfield spots in Baltimore this year. The Orioles have a ton of bodies in camp, and it remains to be seen what they are going to do with Tyler O’Neill and Leodis Taveras, and if Heston Kjerstad can reinsert himself into their future plans. Beavers should get the bulk of at-bats down in the lineup and very well could hit 20+ homers this season. He’s a nice late-round pick in mixed leagues and will carry value in AL-only settings. Right now, his ADP is pick #375 in NFBC drafts.

15) Kazuma Okamoto-3B, Blue Jays

Feb 25, 2026; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) doubles during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

He came to the plate in a recent Spring game, and I perked up because I am really curious to see how a “power hitter” from Japan will be able to translate in the MLB. As he dug in, my first thought was “OK, he has the same Japanese batting stance that we’ve all seen before,” as he looks very similar to Seiya Suzuki in his hitting approach. Then he hit the first pitch he saw over the left centerfield fence. Small sample size, case closed. He’s going to be a star! In all seriousness, he very well may be another Seiya Suzuki, and that’s worth a spot on your fantasy roster. His current ADP is pick #284, so we’re talking about well after the 20th round in 12-team leagues. He won’t hurt you on your bench, and unless Toronto moves Addison Barger to 3B full-time, he should play almost every day.