Athletics

Shotaro Morii plans to continue two-way approach in 2026

The A’s are planning to continue the two-way experiment with Shotaro Morii in 2026 once he reaches full-season ball. He could rotate between infield duties, DH and a weekly mound appearance to round out the week in Low-A Stockton. 

Getting in better shape fueled Montero’s breakout

DSL repeaters require skepticism, but Edgar Montero made tangible changes that helped unlock a new level of performance. After evaluators questioned whether he had already gotten too big to remain at shortstop in 2024, he returned in better shape, which helped drive a 3 mph spike in exit velocities and renewed optimism he can stay on the left side of the infield. 

Other takeaways

• The A’s attributed Mason Barnett’s 2025 struggles to a change in arm slot.
• Henry Bolte’s lengthy wrist woes likely suppressed his power numbers.
• The team may explore adding a sweeper for breakout lefty Wei-En Lin.

See the Athletics’ Top 30 Prospects

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Atlanta Braves 

Caminiti made meaningful changes in 2025

It’s always notable when pitchers make meaningful changes to their arsenal or delivery. In Cam Caminiti’s case, he did both. His preseason scouting report outlined a series of 2025 changes for the 19-year-old, including:

• A lower arm slot
• Additional extension
• Improved four-seam fastball performance
• Began throwing a kick changeup
• The Braves hope he can add a harder, shorter breaking ball in 2026

Tate Southisene’s debut raises red flags 

The Braves’ system is starved for hitting and they used five of their first six draft picks on hitters in 2025. The team’s first-rounder, Tate Southisene, struggled out of the gates, striking out 27 times in 15 games with Low-A Augusta and tumbling to No. 13 on the list. He’ll need to prove his hyperaggressive approach, chase and contact issues were a short-sample blip

Other takeaways

• Owen Murphy plans to deploy his kick changeup more in 2026
• Drafted as a two-way prospect, the Braves believe Conor Essenburg’s highest upside is at the plate.

See the Braves Top 30 Prospects

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Baltimore Orioles

Detailing Dylan Beavers’ mechanical tweaks

Dylan Beavers was a breakout star in 2025 and could find himself in the mix for the American League Rookie of the Year. His preseason scouting report details the swing changes that helped unlock better performance. He eliminated a sway backward in his swing, which allowed him to be on time with fastballs and stay back on secondaries and take advantage of an elite approach, raising his overall offensive profile in the process.

Trey Gibson’s overhauled arsenal has him in Top 100 territory

Trey Gibson struck out 32% of hitters in 2025, ranks third in Baltimore’s system and is squarely in our Top 100 conversation. The 23-year-old righty added a sinker “with unique angles” in 2025 as well as a deathball slider to an already deep assortment of secondaries. He even mixed in a cutter late in the year. 

Other takeaways

• Esteban Mejia’s fastball shape has scouts’ attention entering 2026.
• Thomas Sosa’s 106.7 mph 90th percentile exit velocity was among the organization’s leaders.
• Griff O’Ferrall’s 19.7% hard-hit rate was among the system’s lowest.

See the Orioles Top 30 Prospects

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Boston Red Sox

Payton Tolle’s new cutter reshaped his profile

Payton Tolle’s 2025 breakout and late-season big league look came after a meaningful pitch mix shift. With more pitching depth in 2026, Boston can be more deliberate with his role while he refines the secondaries that changed over the last year. 

Alex Speier detailed those changes in Tolle’s preseason report: “Tolle reshaped his secondary mix throughout the season, most notably with the introduction of an 88-90 mph cutter in August that immediately surpassed his gyro slider, kick changeup and curveball in usage. In the minors, he proved capable of missing bats in the zone with that entire mix, and his pitch shapes graded as average or better across the board. In the big leagues, he lacked command of his secondaries and struggled while leaning hard on a fastball he threw 64% of the time, too often down the middle. If Tolle can harness his secondaries—likely with a more balanced fastball/cutter/slider combination with occasional changeups and curveballs to righthanded hitters—in a way comparable to what he showed in the minors, he has the makings of a rotation workhorse.”

The Red Sox have their next bat-speed training target

We tabbed Henry Godbout as a 2026 sleeper because the Red Sox believe they can coax a bit more bat speed out of the Virginia product in pro ball, and that may turn his natural ability to pull the ball in the air into extra bases and homers, especially at Fenway.

Other takeaways

• Franklin Arias’ contact surged in 2025 thanks to a flattened bat path.
• Justin Gonzales appears to be a candidate for bat path alterations in 2026 in search of more loft.
• The Red Sox are hoping to get more out of Marcus Phillips’ four-seamer and will explore whether a cutter or sinker will enhance his pitch mix. 

See the Red Sox Top 30 Prospects

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Chicago Cubs

Jefferson Rojas made an important swing tweak

With the Cubs’ farm system thinning, Jefferson Rojas is one of the few remaining high-end talents. His game power improved in 2025 as he optimized his swing to pull more contact in the air, and evaluators now see a path to fringe-average big league power.

Keep an eye on Jostin Florentino’s release traits

Jostin Florentino’s fastball sits just 89-91 mph with around 12 inches of induced vertical break and 11 inches of armside run. On its face, the shape of the pitch is below-average, but his above-average extension and his 6-foot height drop his release to a staggeringly low 4-foot-8. This unique release characteristic allows the pitch to set up the rest of his repertoire. 

Other takeaways

• Jaxon Wiggins’ fastball has “some of the highest upside” of any offering from a pitcher yet to make his big league debut. 
• James Triantos chased at the highest rate of his career in 2025. 

See the Cubs Top 30 Prospects

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Chicago White Sox

Braden Montgomery: Safe bet to debut in 2026?

The White Sox aren’t ruling out a big league debut for Braden Montgomery in 2026.

From his preseason scouting report: “One of the safer bets in the White Sox’s system to have a major league career, Montgomery likely will occupy one of the three outfield positions within the next couple of years. He spent 34 games at Double-A in his first pro season and is poised to make his MLB debut in 2026.”

Carlson viewed as ‘shortstop of the future’ in Chicago

Billy Carlson’s slick defense might not look out of place in a big league infield right now. While his bat needs plenty of seasoning, the early returns on Carlson’s glovework led some to believe it will help him become the long-term answer at shortstop for the White Sox.

From his preseason scouting report: “Carlson appears to be the shortstop of the future for the White Sox. He could team up with 2024 second-rounder Caleb Bonemer on the left side of the Chicago infield one day.”

Other takeaways

• Christian Oppor now has the best changeup in the system after it took a huge step forward in his breakout 2025 season.
• Javier Mogollon’s contact rate jumped from 56% in the complex in 2024 to 70% in 2025.

See the White Sox Top 30 Prospects

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Cincinnati Reds

Rhett Lowder returned with a more refined delivery

Rhett Lowder’s injury-played 2025 limited him to just 18 innings between the regular season and the Arizona Fall League, but he returned to the mound with some subtle delivery tweaks. 

From his preseason scouting report: “When he returned from his injuries, Lowder did so with a slightly modified delivery. He removed a modest hand pump he used before bringing his hands back down to his waist prior to hand break. He’s also more direct to the plate. Before the change, Lowder had a tendency to get a bit crossfire toward first base with his lower half as he got down the mound. His stuff showed no degradation in the AFL.”

Adolfo Sanchez’s simplified setup leads to better results

Adolfo Sanchez is another DSL repeater who needs to sustain his gains when he comes stateside after upping his OPS by 277 points. But the 19-year-old, who ranks No. 14 entering the season, made some significant mechanical tweaks from 2024 to 2025. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Pro ball quickly taught Sanchez that some of his pre-swing movements had to be cleaned up. In his first season, he laid his bat on his shoulder to start his setup, and then brought his hands down with an extended waggle. He cleaned that up for 2025, beginning with a much simpler setup and more conventional load with quieter hands. That allowed him to be more direct and quicker to the ball.”

Other takeaways

• Tyson Lewis had the highest 90th percentile exit velocity among all minor league teenagers with at least 100 plate appearances in 2025.
• The Reds think RHP Aaron Watson has room to add 20-30 pounds to his frame. 

See the Reds Top 30 Prospects

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Cleveland Guardians

Angel Genao’s next step is getting the ball in the air

Health is a priority for Angel Genao, who has missed significant time in 2023 and 2025 sandwiched around a breakout 2024 season. After that, evaluators would love to see more consistent contact in the air. 

From his preseason scouting report: “He added more strength to his frame in 2025, though his home run power will depend on whether he’s able to elevate the ball more consistently. Genao has been a groundball and low line-drive hitter for multiple years, and that low launch profile is more extreme from the right side of the plate. His best contact might always be middle-of-the-field line drives, and even with above-average raw power he might never hit more than 18-20 home runs a season.”

More pitch shapes on the way for Braylon Doughty? 

Braylon Doughty mostly worked with his fastball/curveball combination in his first full pro season, but has thrown both a slider and a changeup in the past to great effect and both pieces could become bigger pieces of his arsenal in 2026. The Guardians also rave about his general aptitude for adding pitch shapes, so if he dropped a new pitch out of the blue that also wouldn’t be a surprise.

Other takeaways

• Ralphy Velazquez was one of just eight minor league hitters with 20 or more homers at age 20 or younger in 2025. 
• The Guardians view RHP Yorman Gómez “as one of the better workers in the system.” 

See the Guardians Top 30 Prospects

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Colorado Rockies

Ethan Holliday’s whiff woes are a concern

Paul DePodesta’s biggest priority on the farm is getting Ethan Holliday on track. The Rockies signed him for $9 million, a bonus record for a high school player, but his swing-and-miss issues in his first taste of Low-A were alarming. His 39% strikeout rate was the third-worst strikeout rate by a first-round pick in his draft year in the past decade—minimum 50 plate appearances—bettering only Elijah Green and Vance Honeycutt. Age, power and pedigree are all still on Holliday’s side entering 2026. 

Charlie Condon must handle spin better

If getting Holliday on track is priority 1A, unlocking the best version of Charlie Condon is 1B after the No. 3 pick in 2024 has struggled with injuries, as well as finding the right balance between contact and power. Evaluators have some concerns about his ability to decipher breaking balls.

From his preseason scouting report: “While his exceptional raw power is undeniable, Condon has struggled against breaking balls and changeups in pro ball, with elevated whiff rates pointing to issues with recognition and timing. There were encouraging signs of progress in 2025.”

Other takeaways

• McCade Brown’s jump in effectiveness came in part because he moved to the third base side of the rubber, adding more deception. 
• LHP Carson Palmquist’s 7.4 feet of extension ranks in the 97th percentile among MLB pitchers

See the Rockies Top 30 Prospects

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Detroit Tigers

Can Max Clark find more lift in 2026? 

The Tigers’ No. 2 prospect is one of the best pure hitters in the minors, but the handbook notes there’s a conscious effort to get more of Max Clark’s good contact in the air.

From his preseason scouting report: “Clark’s groundball tendencies limit his power. His exit velocities are among the best in the Tigers’ system, but they often are scorched grounders. He’s working to try to more regularly catch the ball out front to fix this issue.”

Andrew Sears makes a smart move

LHP Andrew Sears moved across the rubber in mid 2024 and has since unlocked much better control. His walk rate went from 17.6% to 7.6% after he made the change. While working from the first base side made his angle extremely difficult for lefties, it also gave him a very narrow target to hit. Moving to the third base side, combined with his release point means he has a much more direct path to the plate.

Other takeaways

• Bryce Rainer’s 90th percentile exit velocity of 108 mph was best among Tigers minor leaguers and ranked among the best for a teenager in pro ball.

See the Tigers Top 30 Prospects

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Houston Astros

Ethan Frey makes a massive rise

Ethan Frey ranked No. 317 in Baseball America’s 2025 MLB Draft rankings and went 95th overall. Those types of picks hardly ever rank No. 2 in their team’s farm system just six months later. But Frey’s impressive debut and Houston’s thin top of the system led to a huge jump up the list. 

From his preseason scouting report: “During his outstanding pro debut, Frey showed average hitting ability and the potential for above-average power. He is a future everyday regular in the corner outfield.”

Lucas Spence finds a more comfortable setup

An undrafted free agent in 2024, Lucas Spence now sits just outside the Astros’ Top 10, thanks in large part to a change in his setup and swing path to add more loft in 2025 that cut his groundball rate.

From his preseason scouting report: “A flatter swing path leads to lots of line drives and hard, top-spun ground balls. Spence did add more lift as the season progressed, slashing his groundball rate as he climbed to Double-A. With solid exit velocity data there’s a chance that improved angles lead to average power.”

Other takeaways

• Xavier Neyens is already viewed as a likely third baseman with 30+ homer potential.

See the Astros Top 30 Prospects

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Kansas City Royals 

Early returns suggest Sean Gamble’s best fit is CF

The Royals drafted Sean Gamble 23rd overall in 2025. He spent time at both second base and the outfield in unofficial games, and evaluators seem to prefer his outfield work so far.

From his preseason scouting report: “He’s an easy plus runner who gets out of the box quickly and should be a consistent basestealing threat. Gamble spent time at both second base and outfield during his time at the complex. His easy plus speed and above-average arm are a better fit for center field, though the Royals haven’t made a decision on his long-term defensive home.”

Frank Mozzicato’s velocity gains didn’t stick

After engendering some optimism when he touched 94 mph in spring training, Frank Mozzicato’s fastball averaged just 90 mph in 2025 and he was left off the 40-man roster. The Royals continue to focus on cleaning up his delivery. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Ongoing delivery issues continue to haunt the slender southpaw. His long arm stroke and slow tempo make it difficult to sync up his delivery. The Royals worked with Mozzicato to speed up his delivery in the hopes of finding more repeatable mechanics.”

Other takeaways

• Kendry Chourio’s strike-throwing and ascension last year were remarkable for his age.
• The Royals believe Josh Hammond’s elite feel for the game could help him move quickly for a high schooler
• Asbel Gonzalez is the fastest runner in the Royals’ system

See the Royals Top 30 Prospects

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Los Angeles Angels

Surprise, surprise: Tyler Bremner could move quickly

Given the Angels’ history, evaluators expect Tyler Bremner to climb the ladder efficiently. Some also believe his fastball could find another gear in pro ball. 

From his preseason scouting report: “His heater can sink to his arm side at the bottom of the zone and ride when elevated, but it was hit hard by amateur hitters who ambushed it early in counts. There are metric qualities—such as 17 inches of induced vertical break—that indicate it should improve with professional pitch design and not see it be purely a velocity-driven plus pitch.”

Expect more defensive versatility from Gabriel Davalillo

Gabriel Davalillo signed for $2 million in 2025 and has quickly become the Angels’ best lower-level hitting prospect, but some evaluators question whether his body will allow him to stick at catcher long-term. The club is already building in optionality.

From his preseason scouting report: “Behind the plate, Davalillo needs plenty of work on blocking and receiving. He has plus arm strength, but the length in his transfer makes his arm fringy at best. Despite his weight gains, he remains a fair athlete who tried third base during instructional league and showed good footwork and promising initial returns. He will split time between catching and third base in 2026.”

Other takeaways

• Nelson Rada is on track to reach the majors at 20 years old.
• Joswa Lugo will need to answer pitch selection questions in 2026.
• Trey Gregory-Alford needs to unlock a third pitch to beat back bullpen risk. 

See the Angels Top 30 Prospects

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Los Angeles Dodgers

Odds ‘seem low’ Zyhir Hope sticks in center field

Zyhir Hope needs to clean up some swing-and-miss concerns in 2026, but he also has some work to do to convince scouts he’s a center fielder. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Hope’s chances of cashing in on his value will hinge on whether he can stick in center field. To this point, the odds of that happening seem low. Scouts both inside and outside the organization believe he’s likely to wind up as a left fielder, where there will be more pressure on the offensive aspects of his game. He has an average arm and above-average speed, though he needs to improve his first step and make his routes more efficient.”

Zach Root will consider adding a four-seamer

The Dodgers drafted Zach Root 40th overall out of Arkansas, where he excelled thanks to deception, a solid four-pitch mix and an ability to avoid hard contact. His sinking mid-90s fastball avoided barrels but not necessarily bats in college, and Root’s preseason report notes that the Dodgers will explore adding a four-seamer in 2026 to help chase more empty swings at the top of the zone. 

Other takeaways

• No. 1 prospect Eduardo Quintero’s breakout keyed off a swing plane adjustment that helped him add loft in 2025.
• Scouts are “near-universal” in their belief Emil Morales will not stick at shortstop.
• Inspired by changes they made with Dustin May, the Dodgers helped Marlon Nieves reshape his pitch mix to ditch his four-seamer in exchange for a two-seamer and he found better results. 

See the Dodgers Top 30 Prospects

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Miami Marlins

Kemp Alderman: Proof of concept?

Kemp Alderman broke out in 2025. Whether those changes stick in 2026—and hold up against big league pitching—could cement his status as the poster child for the Marlins’ overhauled hitter development model. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Alderman was one of the most visible successes under the Marlins’ revamped player development efforts, which emphasized simplified communication to help hitters focus on three key pillars: swing decisions, contact rate and quality of contact.”

Karson Milbrandt adds good weight, cutter emerges as legitimate weapon

Karson Milbrandt added 20 pounds before the season, which allowed him to throw significantly more strikes and rocket into the Marlins’ Top 10. Evaluators were also quite intrigued by his cutter, which ran a 40% whiff rate in 2025 and earned a future 60-grade in the Prospect Handbook. 

Other takeaways

• Keep an eye on Thomas White’s mechanics in 2026 after he said he plans a delivery “overhaul” in search of more consistent strikes. 

See the Marlins Top 30 Prospects

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Milwaukee Brewers 

Evaluators love Cooper Pratt’s shortstop defense

File this under the nice problems to have category. While Brewers shortstop Jesús Made is one of baseball’s best prospects, fellow shortstop Cooper Pratt might have the inside track on the position in the long run. 

From his preseason scouting report: “While fellow shortstop Jesús Made is a potential star in Milwaukee’s farm system, Pratt’s edge on defense gives him the inside track to become the Brewers’ shortstop of the future. He should open 2026 in Triple-A and should make his major league debut either by the end of the year or in 2027.”

Blake Burke makes adjustments during the season

Blake Burke was the No. 34 overall pick in 2024 and his home run totals surged in 2025 once he reached Double-A Biloxi. 

Baseball America’s Ben Badler explained why: “Burke also made a swing and approach change at the end of the season to generate more loft and catch the ball out front more. The result was his groundball rate dropped from 54% in High-A to 44% in Double-A with better ability to pull balls in the air and higher overall production.”

Other takeaways

• Bishop Letson has the most upside of any Brewers pitching prospect.
• Evaluators believe Luis Lara has Gold Glove potential in center field.
• Brock Wilken seems more likely to end up at first base.

See the Brewers Top 30 Prospects

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Minnesota Twins

Kaelen Culpepper isn’t a slam dunk to stick at shortstop

Kaelen Culpepper enjoyed an excellent 2025 season and now ranks third in Minnesota’s system. The Twins intend to keep running him out at shortstop. But there’s some skepticism he can stick there. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Culpepper has a plus arm but is not a lock to stick at shortstop due to his lack of range. He projects as fringe-average there but profiles better at second or third base, where he could be average or better.”

Eduardo Tait has questions to answer 

There’s no denying Eduardo Tait’s impact potential. But he’ll need to answer questions external evaluators have about his body, hit tool and defensive limitations in 2026. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Tait’s frame is close to maxed out, even though he is just 19. His bat speed and contact skills are impressive but mask a raw approach. He makes poor swing decisions and his chase rate is the highest in the system. He also struggles against good velocity. Improving in those areas is key for his offensive development. He gets more leeway with his hit tool because of his ability to impact the baseball.

“Tait produces exit velocities that are impressive for an established major leaguer, let alone a teenager, and his batted-ball angles are good. He elevates the ball to his pull side with ease and has power to the opposite field as well. Defensively, it’s uncertain whether Tait can stay at catcher. He lacks athleticism and struggles blocking balls in the dirt, especially when he has to move laterally. His receiving is improving, and his arm is plus, consistently producing pop times around 1.9 seconds on throws to second base.”

Other takeaways

• Marco Raya’s move to the bullpen is cemented for 2026. 
• Riley Quick’s fastball usage is a point of emphasis after it underperformed its velocity in college and he may throw his sinker less in 2026. 
• Walker Jenkins has never hit a home run against a lefthander as a professional.
• Santiago Castellanos‘ feel for pitching is so advanced that the Twins had him experiment with both a slider and cutter while still on the DSL

See the Twins Top 30 Prospects

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New York Mets

Ryan Clifford curbed strikeout rate without sacrificing power

Despite facing tougher competition, Ryan Clifford cut his strikeout rate to a career-best 25.6% in 2025. 

From his preseason scouting report: “The biggest improvement the lefthanded-hitting Clifford made in 2025 was improving against high fastballs and dramatically improving his overall zone-contact rate. He also upped his aggressiveness to swing at more pitches and put more early-count offerings in play. The strategy reduced his strikeout rate by four percentage points without sacrificing power.”

Randy Guzman has major bat speed

Randy Guzman’s 90th percentile exit velocity in 2025 trailed only Clifford within New York’s system, and the Mets point to high-end bat speed as a separator. The Mets say that Guzman already has a mid-70s mph average swing speed, which is where high-end MLB sluggers live.

Other takeaways

• Brandon Sproat finally found an answer for Triple-A hitters by throwing his breaking stuff more often.
• A.J. Ewing leaned into a line-drive hitting approach, trading some power for average, OBP and a high line-drive rate. 
• LHP Franklin Gomez added 3 mph of fastball velocity. 

See the Mets Top 30 Prospects

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New York Yankees

Carlos Lagrange ticketed for a big league bullpen? 

Yankees RHP Carlos Lagrange lights up stuff models and ranks fourth in their system entering 2026. Yet most scouts still see him as a future reliever once he settles into the majors. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Lagrange is a big-bodied, slow-twitch athlete who needs everything to sync up perfectly to find the zone with regularity. His long limbs also make it hard to repeat his delivery and release point often enough to project average control or command … He’s likely to continue being developed as a starter, but scouts nearly universally believe his home is in the bullpen.”

Yankees work with Kaeden Kent to clean up bat path

The Yankees drafted Kaeden Kent, the son of Hall of Famer Jeff Kent, with their third-round pick in 2025, but his initial debut was quite shaky, leading the Yankees to work on cleaning up his bat path in instructs after the season.

From his preseason scouting report: “Once he got to pro ball, things went a bit haywire. He looked jumpy in the box and he was increasingly willing to wave at pitches out of the zone. His chase rate in his pro sample was 36.4%, and his swing decisions and quality of contact plummeted. His bat path also went awry, and the Yankees worked with him in instructional league to smooth it out while trying to add bat speed.”

Other takeaways

• If you’re a Baseball America subscriber, you’re already aware that Dax Kilby is on the rise, and he could finish as the team’s No. 1 prospect by the end of 2026. 
• Bryce Cunningham is in the process of adding a sweeper for 2026.
• After injury struggles, Henry Lalane’s fastball lost 5 mph compared to 2024.

See the Yankees Top 30 Prospects

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Philadelphia Phillies

Nuance in the Justin Crawford defense discussion

Whether Justin Crawford can stick in center field seems to be a debate both inside and outside the Phillies’ organization entering 2026, especially after the club opted not to give Crawford a look ahead of the postseason last year despite lackluster outfield production. Yet it’s worth noting that Crawford’s uninspiring advanced defensive metrics were impacted by intention positioning decisions. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Scouts see a player whose elite speed can help him make up for late jumps and rough routes, while analysts rate him as one of the worst defensive center fielders in the minor leagues. Part of the reason for the disparity is because the Phillies have had Crawford play a more shallow center field in order to amplify his excellent ability to come in on shallow flies. The strategy downgrades his chances of reaching deeper drives, thus dinging his ratings.”

Andrew Painter’s fastball regression was a red flag

Andrew Painter once again ranks as one of the better pitching prospects in baseball entering 2026, but he has some work to do to recapture the same fastball effectiveness he showed prior to Tommy John surgery.

From his preseason scouting report: “The biggest area of concern during Painter’s 2025 season was about the downgrade in fastball quality. The pitch retained its premium velocity but began showing more cut than carry and became more hittable as result. The Phillies attribute some of that backslide to Painter’s arm slot dropping as the season wore on. If he can raise his arm slot, the team believes the pitch will return to its previous form.”

Other takeaways

• The Phillies are considering adding a shorter breaking ball to Cade Obermueller’s arsenal.
• Matthew Fisher’s $1.25 million bonus was the highest seventh-round figure in draft history.

See the Phillies Top 30 Prospects

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Pittsburgh Pirates

Termarr Johnson has to cover more of the plate

The 2026 season marks Termarr Johnson’s last before a 40-man roster decision arrives next December. The 21-year-old is still trying to marry the right blend of impact and contact, and he didn’t do much damage on pitches on the outer third of the plate in 2025. The Pirates worked with him to slowly move his stance closer to the plate, and he needs to do a better job turning mistake pitches into impactful production in 2026. 

Darell Morel is intriguing, but refinement is needed

After Konnor Griffin and Edward Florentino took massive steps forward in 2025, all eyes are on the Pirates’ hitting development program to see who emerges in 2026. Darell Morel, who once had an agreement with the Dodgers until they pivoted to signing Roki Sasaki in 2025, is one such candidate after impressing evaluators with his powerful frame and athleticism. For a breakout to happen, however, his hit tool and plate coverage will need to take a big step forward.

From his preseason scouting report: “At 6-foot-5 with long levers, Morel’s size, athleticism and impact potential stand out immediately. He’s a lefthanded hitter with smooth, natural leverage and plus raw power potential, though it didn’t always materialize in DSL games. That’s because pitchers identified a hole on the inside of his swing, especially against hard stuff, and he struggled to turn on those pitches. He’s still learning how to consistently access his best bat speed, and he can get a bit pull happy, and the Pirates are working with him on a more consistent barrel path.”

Other takeaways

• Seth Hernandez has begun refining his breaking balls with Pirates’ pitching development, who were impressed by his tightened slider.
• Omar Alfonzo’s 108.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity through mid-September ranked third among minor league catchers with at least 200 plate appearances. 
• After shelving his cutter late in the year, Antwone Kelly is expected to prioritize slider development in 2026.

See the Pirates Top 30 Prospects

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San Diego Padres

Jorge Quintana: Big step forward, but clear issues against secondaries

Jorge Quintana joined the Padres at the trade deadline via the Brewers in the Nestor Cortes Jr. deal and made a strong first impression. But he’ll need to clean up some concerns against spin in 2026.

From his preseason scouting report: “His power should only continue to tick up as he matures physically, though there are hit tool questions. Quintana did a nice job of staying within the strike zone and chased at a respectable 25% clip. But there are clear pitch recognition issues, and his contact skills were below-average in 2025. He struggled mightily against secondary pitches.”

Healthy Kale Fountain has massive raw power if the hit tool comes 

Kale Fountain has the most impressive raw power of any Padres minor leaguer. His key, much like Quintana’s, will be shoring up his contact ability against spin. 

From his report: “For Fountain to be able to tap into said power, he will need to shore up his hit tool and pitch recognition skills. In his brief 65-game debut, secondary pitch types vexed the physical corner infielder. He posted contact rates of 57% and 71% against sliders and changeups, respectively.”

Other takeaways

• Kruz Schoolcraft’s fastball was up to 99 mph in bridge league action.
• Bradgley Rodriguez has a chance to break spring training in the Padres’ bullpen.

See the Padres Top 30 Prospects

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San Francisco Giants

Keyner Martinez builds on the foundation

Giants righthander Keyner Martinez has surged to sixth in their system. The 21-year-old righty is the second-ranked pitcher behind only Jacob Bresnahan. Martinez’s preseason scouting report is a great explainer of how a lower-level pitching prospect can build out his repertoire during a season. Martinez tweaked the grip on his sweeping slider, then added a changeup.

From his preseason scouting report: “Martinez backs it with a sweeping slider that went through a dramatic transformation from the version he used in 2024. The Giants suggested a grip switch during a bullpen session, and Martinez took to the change immediately. Now, the breaking ball is an out pitch and an easy plus offering. He introduced his changeup in the middle of the 2025 season and scouts universally said that he showed improved feel for the pitch as the year went along.”

Blade Tidwell’s became ‘slider monster’ after joining Giants

The Giants’ endeavor to turn into Knoxville West included acquiring former Tennessee righty Blade Tidwell alongside Drew Gilbert from the Mets at the deadline. Once Tidwell arrived in San Francisco’s system, the club took a hard look at his pitch usage. 

Here are the details: “When he was with the Mets, Tidwell’s arsenal was led by a mid-90s four-seam fastball and backed up by a mix of sliders, sinkers and sweepers. After moving to the Giants, his usage pattern shifted. The Giants used Tidwell’s first months in their organization to take stock of his mix, and with Triple-A Sacramento he became a slider monster of the highest order. In the Pacific Coast League, Tidwell’s sweeper and slider were his most-used pitches, with his trio of fastballs coming next and his changeup sprinkled in as well. The sweeper is the gem of his arsenal, grading as a potential double-plus pitch and one of the best of its type in the minor leagues.”

Other takeaways

• Bryce Eldridge continues to face persistent issues with left-on-left spin
• All of Parks Harber’s pull-side homers came on hanging breaking balls
• In 60 Low-A games, just three of Carlos Gutierrez’s hits came on pitches that would’ve been called balls, and he hit .410 against fastballs, according to Synergy Sports. 

See the Giants Top 30 Prospects

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Seattle Mariners 

Michael Arroyo moving to the outfield in 2026

After the season, the Mariners decided to give Michael Arroyo time in the outfield to reduce his defensive demands, take advantage of his average speed and create a clearer path to playing time in a crowded infield picture. He’s expected to return to Double-A to open 2026.

Colt Emerson’s power takes a step forward

Colt Emerson has long demonstrated consistent bat-to-ball skills. His power, however, has taken significant steps forward. In 2025, Emerson slugged a career-high 16 home runs—quadrupling his previous season’s total—and saw his 90th percentile exit velocity improve by 2 mph from 2024 as he continues to physically develop. He could hit upward of 15-20 homers annually in the big leagues. He has added noticeable strength since signing and has begun tapping into power without compromising his elite plate discipline.

Other takeaways

• Lazaro Montes’ 32 homers were third-most in the minors.
• Seattle believes there’s room to shape multiple breaking balls off the look of Mason Peters’ curveball.

See the Mariners Top 30 Prospects

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St. Louis Cardinals

Tanner Franklin will develop as a starter in 2026

Tanner Franklin was almost exclusively a reliever in college, but the Cardinals intend to deploy their 2025 second-rounder out of Tennessee as a starter. He added velocity last spring and attacks hitters with a double-plus fastball and an above-average slider. He has the toolkit to make a successful jump to the rotation if he throws enough strikes. 

Yairo Padilla needs to get more aggressive 

There’s plenty to like with Yairo Padilla, though his Florida Complex League debut in 2025 revealed some areas of refinement and he now ranks 12th in St. Louis’ system. One of those areas is simply learning to pull the trigger on mistakes.

From his preseason scouting report: “Padilla shows plus bat-to-ball skills and rarely swings outside the zone. He’s often far too passive on pitches over the heart of the plate, and that’s an area that could likely be exploited by more advanced pitchers.”

Other takeaways

• Joshua Baez’s transformation in 2025 yielded one of the sport’s biggest breakout prospects and Top 100 consideration this offseason. 
• Tink Hence’s injury-filled year led to a loss of 2 mph in fastball velocity and diminished effectiveness. 
• Many scouts are expecting Ryan Mitchell to move to the outfield.

See the Cardinals’ Top 30 Prospects

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Tampa Bay Rays

T.J. Nichols’ strike-throwing takes massive leap

T.J. Nichols had a 10.4% walk rate in his final year of college. Yet that figure has plummeted with the Rays, and in 2025 he was one of the minors’ best strike-throwers. 

A great nugget from his preseason report: “The Rays are consistently the best organization in baseball in helping pitchers improve their strike-throwing. Nichols is one of the prime beneficiaries. His delivery and arm action were already relatively clean, but the Rays’ combination of middle-middle catcher setups and emphasis on pitchers trusting their stuff has led to significant control strides. After walking 10% of batters he faced in college, Nichols slashed that to 6% across High-A and Double-A in 2025. His 68% strike percentage ranked 10th best among all minor league pitchers with 100 innings.”

Alex Cook’s best fit is in the bullpen

The Rays tried to see if RHP Alex Cook could start, but he almost immediately had shoulder issues. The taste of starting did help in his return to the pen. He has excellent control and command–he worked to 0-2 counts five times as often as 2-0 in 2025. That’s a big reason he was added to the 40-man roster.

Other takeaways

• Carson Williams’ struggles at the plate exposed a severe vulnerability to offspeed pitches low in the strike zone.
• It may not be long before Jacob Melton is positioned as the Rays’ everyday center fielder in 2026.
• Nathan Flewelling caught 75 games in 2025. That topped Ethan Salas’ 2024 season as the most games caught by an 18-year-old in pro ball this decade.

See the Rays Top 30 Prospects

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Texas Rangers

Scouts are enamored with Josh Owens on the mound

Josh Owens’ preseason scouting report should have your attention. Tabbed as the best overall athlete in the Rangers’ system, scouts seem to have taken a particular liking to the two-way talent on the mound, setting up a fascinating 2026 season. 

From his preseason scouting report: “Entering the draft, Owens’ future seemed to be veering toward a future as a position player with the potential for average or better tools across the board. After his first taste of pro ball, that’s no longer the case. Scouts who saw Owens pitch came away impressed with his blend of athleticism and potentially overwhelming stuff. In instructional league, he showed a 93-96 mph fastball with nasty two-seam life and a well-commanded slider that rode the line between plus and double-plus and was an effective weapon to backfoot against lefthanders. His changeup was an intriguing offering as an amateur but was seldom-used as a pro. Owens’ deceptive lower slot and repertoire could help him vault quickly into the top tier of the system’s pitchers.”

Alejandro Rosario will miss 2026

Alejandro Rosario vaulted up the Rangers’ system in 2024 and onto Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects, but a torn elbow ligament before spring training ended his 2025 season. Rosario’s operation was delayed until 2026, meaning he will miss all of the upcoming season as well. 

Other takeaways

• Sebastian Walcott and the Pirates’ Konnor Griffin were the only teenagers to finish the year with 15 or more doubles, 10 or more home runs and 30 or more stolen bases and spend any time at Double-A.
• Malcolm Moore was described as a “slow-twitch athlete” who struggled against premium velocity, and also graded as a fringy receiver behind the plate. 

See the Rangers Top 30 Prospects

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Toronto Blue Jays

Ricky Tiedemann ticketed for plenty of relief work in 2026

Ricky Tiedemann is on the mend after a lengthy recovery from 2024 Tommy John surgery and the Blue Jays plan to approach with caution in 2026 by slowly easing him into game action. 

From his preseason report: “Tiedemann will likely see a heavy dose of relief work in 2026 as he builds up his workload, but his midrotation upside remains.”

Fernando Perez fills up the strike zone

Fernando Perez ranks 18th in the Blue Jays’ system entering 2026 and his plus-plus control stands out. Perez’s 70.5% strike rate was the third-highest in the minors among pitchers who threw 1,000 or more pitches in 2025. Despite a lack of above-average offerings, Perez finds success due to his advanced control and command.

Other takeaways

• JoJo Parker seems destined to slide to third base defensively.
• Sean Keys’ underlying data painted a much more optimistic picture than his surface-level .217/.365/.408 line with High-A Vancouver.

See the Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects

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Washington Nationals

Andrew Pinckney is an unusual tool shed 

The Nationals’ No. 14 prospect, Andrew Pinckney has an assortment of eye-popping tool grades, including an 80-grade arm, 70-grade speed and above-average future power and outfield defense. Hit tool and contact questions help explain why he isn’t higher on the list, but it’s unusual for a player outside the Top 10 to have such a deep array of high grades. Keep an eye on him as a late-bloomer in 2026. 

Jorgelys Mota’s raw power is worth monitoring

Jorgelys Mota has a lot of work to do to access his raw power consistently in games, but this nugget stood out from his scouting report: 

He has as much raw power as any Nationals prospect and has the exit velocity data to prove it. Mota’s 90th EV of 109 mph was one of the highest in the minor leagues in 2025. But he needs to be more selective to access even average power production, because his 2025 miss rate (39%) and chase rate (34%) are both prohibitive. Those factors contributed to a high groundball rate of 53%.

Other takeaways

• Jarlin Susana added a power changeup/splinker that is worth watching once he’s healthy.
• Luke Dickerson played through most of 2025 with a wrist injury.
• The Nationals are getting good initial results from Sam Petersen.

See the Nationals Top 30 Prospects