Jesús Cano’s 25 MLB Prospect ‘Picks To Click’ In 2026
Image credit: Roldy Brito (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
It’s unbelievable how much you don’t know about a game you’ve followed your entire life.
When I joined Baseball America, MLB.com’s vice president of content—and a former BA writer himself—Matt Meyers told me I was going to learn far more about baseball than I thought I already knew. Sitting here now on my last day, I can say he was absolutely right. I’ll forever be grateful for this journey.
My time at BA has come to an end—and what a ride it’s been.
When I arrived in January 2025, I brought nearly a decade of experience covering just about every level of the sport you can imagine—high school, junior college and NCAA. I even had the chance to cover the Diamondbacks’ World Series run with MLB.com just a year out of college.
But none of that compares to the magic of the backfields.
That’s where you truly understand the game. It’s where you see the countless hours poured into scouting and player development, all chasing the same goal: helping an organization win the final game of the season. It’s where baseball becomes more than a result.
It becomes a process, a grind, a belief.
And it’s not just the players. It’s everyone around them. The scouts logging endless hours. The coaches grinding under the unforgiving Arizona heat. The staff setting up cameras and logging Trackman data. Everyone is chasing something bigger, working to move forward. And that shared hunger is what makes the environment so special. It’s also what makes it so hard to leave.
While I won’t reveal what’s next just yet, I will say this: It’s my dream job. Something I’ve envisioned since I was a kid. And none of it would’ve been possible without the people who’ve been part of this journey—my colleagues at BA, the readers who followed my coverage and everyone who’s crossed paths with me along the way. I’m a product of my environment, and I’m endlessly thankful for it.
Baseball is a special sport.
The casual fan might show up to the stadium, grab a hot dog and a beer and spend the night catching up with friends. Meanwhile, the game unfolding in front of them—whether they’re fully locked in or not—is the product of countless hours of work, sacrifice, failure and growth. Every pitch, every swing carries a story.
It doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter what you look like. It doesn’t matter what path you took. All that matters is that you got here.
How can you not be romantic about baseball?
With that, here’s my final story for Baseball America: 25 prospects from my time covering teams out in Arizona who I believe are ready to take the next step—just like me.
Roldy Brito, 2B/OF, Rockies
I asked a complex league pitcher what made Brito a difficult hitter. In Spanish, he responded, “Eso loco de verdad es muy, muy, bueno.”
That translates to “That crazy dude is really, really good.”
“Loco” is a term of endearment for someone with great talent. And Brito was certainly going loco in both the ACL and Low-A Fresno. If he can cut down his chase rate, he’ll be Top 100-bound sooner rather than later.
Wilder Dalis, 3B, Rockies
Hot take: Dalis will be a Top 5 Rockies prospect by the end of the year, and, along with Brito, he’ll be a Top 100 Prospect in 2027. He has shown an impressive contact rate and doesn’t chase as much while posting high exit velocities for his age group. He’ll have enough to stick at third base and will develop into 60-grade power.
Sebastian Blanco, SS, Rockies
Blanco’s glove has been in the U.S. for less than a year, but it’s already proving to be one of the best so far with the 2026 Arizona Complex League season looming. He’s also an effective switch-hitter who has made contact and grown more into his body, with plenty of room to still add. That should help build his exit velocities, with his 90th percentile EV at 92.3 mph last season.
Christian Zazueta, RHP, Dodgers
Zazueta has built on the projection teams saw in him as an amateur, adding about 17 pounds since signing and sharpening his arsenal in the process. His fastball, sitting around 93 mph and touching 98, plays up thanks to a low release and strong extension, while his changeup already misses bats with strong fade. He’s continuing to refine his breaking ball, but his strike-throwing ability and developing command point to a starter trajectory as he advances.
Landyn Vidourek, OF, Dodgers
Vidourek’s spring work against the KBO’s NC Dinos on the backfields of Camelback Ranch showed he can hold his own against experienced professional pitching. His profile is built on premium raw power, which stood out since his college days at Cincinnati, where he consistently posted loud exit velocities. The swing-and-miss remains the key hurdle, though recent adjustments, including a shorter stride, have helped him better handle inner-half velocity and show improved bat control.
Will Gagnon, RHP, Dodgers
Yes, he’s an unranked relief pitcher making his professional debut after losing his first season to Tommy John surgery. But once you dig into Gagnon’s arsenal, it’s hard not to take notice. The Dodgers certainly did. Entering the 2024 draft, they knew Gagnon, then at Reedley (JC) College, would require Tommy John surgery, and they selected him anyway, betting on the upside. That confidence is already starting to look justified. In his debut, Gagnon has shown the velocity, command and poise to project as a legitimate high-leverage arm out of the bullpen.
Brailyn Antunez, OF, Brewers
Antunez has generated buzz in Arizona since arriving at the complex, and the Brewers’ track record with Latin American hitters adds intrigue. He offers a mature, athletic frame and a well-rounded skill set at a premium position in center field. His quick, forceful swing produces hard contact with power projection. Despite prior DSL struggles, he shows advanced instincts, plate discipline and speed, giving him a real chance to stick in center and break out.
Juneiker Caceres, OF, Guardians
Caceres projects as a bat-first outfielder with a stronger frame than listed and the potential for plus raw power from the left side. His mature approach, strike-zone control and contact skills give him a steady offensive foundation. The breakout case centers on his improving strength and ability to start lifting the ball more consistently, which should turn his hard contact into over-the-fence production rather than doubles. If that lift gains traction, the power surge could arrive quickly.
Jack Wheeler, 3B, Rangers
Wheeler is one of the most athletic players in the complex right now, and if everything clicks, the Rangers have a fascinating talent on their hands. For Wheeler to fully capitalize, he’ll need to address two key issues: defense and hit tool. He currently plays third base, but some scouts see a shift to the outfield as viable, given how well he runs. He has 60-grade power, but hitting, especially against spin, can be a challenge at times for him.
Josh Owens, RHP/SS, Rangers
Owens looks poised for a true breakout after emerging as one of the bridge league’s most dynamic players in 2025. With a full-season assignment on the horizon, he projects to handle Low-A Hickory with more polish and physicality. His athleticism and two-way ability give him multiple paths to impact, and if the offensive gains hold, he could quickly establish himself as one of the more intriguing rising talents in the Rangers’ system.
Breyson Guedez, OF, Athletics
Perhaps no prospect making their stateside debut made a stronger first impression than Guedez, who was aggressively assigned straight to Low-A and wasted no time validating the jump. Despite the challenge of skipping the typical adjustment period, he looked composed from the start, showing both poise and competitiveness against more advanced competition. The early returns suggested a player well beyond his experience level, with tools and confidence that translated immediately in game action.
Johenssy Colome, SS, Athletics
The A’s heavily considered bringing Colome stateside for the Spring Breakout game, and in doing so, playing his first year in the Arizona Complex League. The power and hit tool have really advanced, and I expect him to be a standout on the island. Another hot take: I think he’ll be the best player from the 2026 signing class, even over Luis Hernandez.
Edgar Montero, SS, Athletics
Montero returned to the DSL in noticeably improved shape, with added strength and twitch translating into a clear jump in impact. The 18-year-old switch-hitter now shows plus raw power potential, especially from the left side, along with a patient approach and strong spin recognition. Swing-and-miss remains part of his game, but he can do damage when on time.
Jaden Fauske, OF, White Sox
Fauske has carried his early pro looks into his first stateside action, following the White Sox’s success with prep bats like Caleb Bonemer. The 6-foot-3 frame has handled pro pitching well, with a smooth swing that plays to all fields. His approach is more gap-oriented, and added aggression could unlock more power as he matures. He adds value on the bases with strong instincts and jumps, while the White Sox deploy him full-time in the outfield to maximize his athleticism.
Mathias LaCombe, RHP, White Sox
LaCombe became just the second French-born player drafted when the White Sox selected him out of Cochise Junior College near the Mexican border. Injuries, including a shoulder impingement and lat strain, delayed his pro debut. He reached Low-A Kannapolis in 2025, sitting 93–94 mph and touching 98, with a sweeper that generated frequent swings and misses. Now healthy, he’s focused on building innings and durability after logging just 53.1 innings last year at age 23.
Hayden Alvarez, OF, Angels
Alvarez has continued to develop physically since his time with the Angels’ championship-winning Arizona Complex League team, carrying that momentum into a strong spring in which he drew steady buzz on the backfields. The added strength is already noticeable in his batted-ball impact, hinting at a hitter who is beginning to tap into more of his natural power. He remains a contact-driven player with advanced swing decisions and a consistent ability to work within the strike zone. While his approach and feel for hitting give him a stable offensive foundation, the next step is translating his strength gains into more consistent lift and impact in the air. If that adjustment comes, there’s a path for his offensive profile to take a meaningful leap forward.
Johnny Slawinski, OF, Angels
While the Angels are known for aggressively promoting top picks, they’ve also targeted high-upside high school arms. Slawinski, ranked No. 7 in the Angels system, looks like the next to emerge. The athletic lefthander showed promise in extended spring training, sitting 94–95 mph with a fastball that missed bats. His slider has improved, the changeup is developing and with added strength and refinement, he projects for greater consistency and durability as a starter.
Luis De La Torre, LHP, Giants
De La Torre put himself in a position to go from being some dude throwing heat in a Sunday league to becoming a Top 20 prospect in a balanced system. The fastball comes at hitters with a lot of deception, and his slider elicits whiffs. He’s tinkering with a splitter as a potential third pitch, and if he can nail it down, he’ll have more of a starter profile.
Argenis Cayama, RHP, Giants
Cayama has recently tweaked the grip on his fastball, a change that’s already translating to more ride and a noticeable bump in velocity as he heads into his first full season of affiliated ball. Having seen plenty of him in the complex league, the raw stuff was never in question, but his stamina started to fade late in the year, both in the ACL and at Low-A San Jose. He’s added strength since then, which should help him hold his stuff deeper into outings. While he may never profile as a true strikeout artist, there’s a path here to sustained success that is more in line with a pitchability-driven arm like Logan Webb, relying on movement, command and efficiency rather than overpowering hitters.
Rayner Arias, OF, Giants
Seeing Arias make strides in extended spring training has been impressive. Giants farm director Kyle Haines also points out the increase in contact and higher exit velocities now that Arias has had a full, healthy offseason. I’m not saying he’s going to be a Top 100 Prospect, but his profile should put him in the Giants’ Top 30 eventually.
Yassel Soler, 3B, Diamondbacks
Soler’s breakout hinges on one key adjustment: tightening his approach to better match his naturally powerful swing. When he’s in the zone, the bat speed and strength are obvious, and small improvements in pitch selection should immediately reduce the chase and whiff issues that crept up in 2025. There’s also a clearer offensive path if he starts getting the ball in the air more consistently, as his raw strength is already capable of producing impact when contact is on time.
Ivan Luciano, C, Diamondbacks
Luciano’s makeup stands out, with a genuine, day-to-day commitment to improvement that goes beyond the usual clichés. That dedication showed up this offseason, as he made measurable gains, particularly in boosting his exit velocities and refining his bat path. The offensive development is real and beginning to translate in-game, giving him a stronger offensive foundation and hinting at more impact potential as he continues to mature.
Demetrio Crisantes, SS, Diamondbacks
There’s one thing holding Crisantes back from fully claiming his upside: health. Within the organization, some already view him as a No. 1 prospect talent, but until he proves he can stay on the field, it’s difficult to put that label on him with confidence. That said, the bat is real. He has a pure feel for contact and consistently produces above-average exit velocities, all while playing a premium position. If the health cooperates, the profile has all the ingredients to match the internal hype.
Tyson Lewis, SS, Reds
Lewis looked the part of a big leaguer as soon as he stepped onto the field in the complex league last year—a notable impression for a high school draftee out of Nebraska. The physicality stands out immediately, and so does the power. The question is the hit tool. There’s still considerable swing-and-miss in his game, especially against higher velocity, and that will be the key area to refine as he climbs the ladder. If he can make the necessary adjustments, the raw power gives him a chance to develop into a middle-of-the-order threat.
Leandro Romero, SS, Mariners
Romero showed clear progress at the Mariners’ Dominican complex in 2025, improving his approach and cutting his strikeout rate while adding noticeable impact. After initially emphasizing contact, he earned the green light to be more aggressive, and that power showed up at Seattle’s high-performance camp in Peoria. Timing premium velocity remains a challenge, but his bat speed and strength are real. Defensively, he profiles as a steady up-the-middle infielder with fluid actions, a quick release and good arm strength.
And a bonus player for the road: Kendry Chourio, RHP, Royals
Cinema. That’s it.
