Predicting each club’s top prospect in 2026 after Draft

Back in September 2022, we took swings at guessing who would be the top prospect by the time Opening Day 2024 rolled around.

Some were dead-on hits. We said Jackson Holliday “could be in the conversation for No. 1 overall prospect” and Jackson Chourio was on a “rapid ascent toward Milwaukee.” We called Carson Williams a “candidate to see the top 50 by 2024” and said Jackson Merrill was a “potential star.”

We couldn’t have predicted 2023 Draft picks Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews or Max Clark would have taken over the top spot in their systems because they didn’t have organizations at the time, but there were some misfires (Kevin Parada, Elijah Green, Brandon Barriera) due to either lackluster performances or injuries.

Overall though, there were more hits than misses, so let’s give it another go. Here are the prospects we predict will be at the top of each club’s Top 30 come the start of the 2026 season:

Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala, SS (No. 5)
Toronto went for long-term upside when it selected then-17-year-old Nimmala 20th overall last year, and after some initial struggles in Single-A that led to time on the development list this year, the shortstop is back to showing above-average in-game power (he’s slugging .479) and an improving contact rate. That trajectory could take him into the Top 100 at some point in his second full season in 2025.

Orioles: Vance Honeycutt, OF (No. 3)
Concerns about his overall hit tool aside, Honeycutt has as good an overall toolset as just about any prospect in the O’s system, and perhaps among all Minor Leaguers. The 2024 first-rounder has four at least plus tools, with 70 for his center-field defense, 65 for his speed and 60s for his power and arm. There will always be strikeouts to contend with, but if he can limit them somewhat, he has 30/30 potential.

Rays: Xavier Isaac, 1B (No. 3/MLB No. 20)
There’s a temptation to say a top 25 overall prospect currently in Double-A will have graduated by 2026, but Isaac’s early looks with Montgomery likely point to a Southern League return at least to begin ‘25. The 2022 first-rounder has some of the most promising power in the game (more than a quarter of his flyballs have left the yard this season), and he remains an eventual 40-homer threat in the bigs — great even for a first-base prospect. Isaac may need some time to adjust to the upper Minors, but his strength and patience will push him atop the Tampa Bay list following expected graduations by Junior Caminero and Carson Williams by 2026.

Red Sox: Braden Mongomery, OF (No. 4/MLB No. 58)
There’s a lot of talk these days about how the Big 3 (Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, Kyle Teel) has expanded to the Big 4 (Kristian Campbell), but every member of that quartet is on the Triple-A Worcester roster. Montgomery — Boston’s top pick this year — has still yet to debut as he recovers from a broken right ankle. When he does, he’ll bring plus power as a switch-hitter and arguably the strongest arm in the system to his first full season in 2025 and perhaps put himself on Fenway Park’s doorstep.

Yankees: George Lombard Jr., INF (No. 3)
Lombard’s 2024 numbers may not jump off the page, but it was telling that the Yankees were willing to promote the 19-year-old shortstop from Single-A to High-A in his first full season. The 2023 26th overall pick has a promising floor due to his above-average speed and plus glovework at a premium position, and he’s shown some good raw pop and an unwillingness to expand the zone this season. He could assume the No. 1 mantle once Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones graduate as expected by next summer.

Guardians: Jaison Chourio, OF (No. 4/MLB No. 69)
With the expectation that No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana could reach the bigs as early as next summer, Chourio is Cleveland’s next big name without upper-level experience. The 19-year-old switch-hitter has an astonishing 69/86 K/BB ratio this season at Single-A, cementing his report as a potential plus hitter, and his run, arm and fielding tools all grade out as at least above average. The power will need to come to make him a mega prospect like brother Jackson was, but the other pieces are there.

Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP (No. 1/MLB No. 17)
How long will Caglianone pitch? That could determine just how long he’s a prospect. His plus-plus power and impressive bat-to-ball skills (despite a high chase rate at Florida) would make him a quick mover as a first baseman alone, but if Kansas City remains open to his two-way status, the 2024 sixth overall pick’s four-pitch mix will need more seasoning in the Minors, leading to him remaining No. 1 for the Royals in ‘26.

Tigers: Max Clark, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 6)
Last year’s third overall pick has come as advertised. He’s been a consistent hitter at both Single-A and High-A, showing good bat-to-ball skills for his age at 19, and his plus-plus speed and overall defense in center field continue to be strong weapons in his first full season. There’s been some power (nine homers), but a little more as he enters his 20s would make him a true five-tool talent and maybe even a contender for the No. 1 overall spot.

Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 3)
The No. 5 overall pick in last year’s Draft, Jenkins landed atop the Twins’ Top 30 from the get-go after signing, and there’s no reason to move him from his perch. A hamstring injury cost him two months this year, but he still hit his way from Single-A to High-A, and he’s posted a very respectable combined .858 OPS. Look for him to erupt in 2025 and continue to be near the top of the Top 100, not just the Twins’ list, a year after that.

White Sox: George Wolkow, OF (No. 7)
The good news for White Sox fans: help is around the corner with Noah Schultz, Colson Montgomery, Hagen Smith, Edgar Quero and Jairo Iriarte all likely to be options on the South Side next summer. That leaves a new name to take over at No. 1 by 2026, and Wolkow could be the bat to do just that. Still only 18, the 6-foot-7 outfielder has some of the best power in the system, and his above-average arm strength works well in right field. He really needs to improve his contact rate in his second full season, but there’s no denying his raw ability and high upside.

Angels: Joswa Lugo, SS (No. 6)
We would really like to leave this blank for whoever the Angels’ top pick in the 2025 Draft is, or maybe we should go Trey Gregory-Alford since he is the 2024 version of current No. 1 Angels prospect Caden Dana as the club’s 11th-round pick who signed way over slot. Instead, we’ll use Lugo’s very encouraging start to his career (.301/.370/.466 in the Dominican Summer League) as a harbinger of good things to come. We’re excited to see what Dawel’s younger brother does when he comes stateside in 2025.

Astros: Walker Janek, C (No. 2)
Houston’s top pick this year is coming off a spring at Sam Houston in which he was the Buster Posey Award winner as the top collegiate catcher in the country and the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. He shows plus raw power from the right side and has the arm to slow down runners – a huge advantage in today’s speedier game. The potential is there for him to be an all-around backstop should he continue to improve his framing and cut down on his chase rate.

A’s: Nick Kurtz, 1B (No. 2/MLB No. 44)
This is a bit of a risky pick because Kurtz, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s Draft, is already in Double-A (and hitting there), so there’s the chance he’ll have graduated by the start of the 2026 season. He has batted .368/.520/.763 with more walks than strikeouts over a dozen games so far. It’s not out of the question he’ll be in the big leagues in a hurry, but if he spends enough time in the Minors in 2025 and still has rookie status heading into 2026, the A’s may have the chance to get a PPI pick.

Mariners: Colt Emerson, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 29)
Emerson is currently the M’s top prospect, so there’s no reason to think he’ll relinquish the spot, even if Cole Young and Harry Ford don’t graduate. He could have some competition from Lazaro Montes or Felnin Celesten, but we’re sticking with the 2023 first-rounder, who managed to reach High-A in his first full season despite missing time with both an oblique injury and a foot fracture.

Rangers: Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B (No. 1/MLB No. 37)
Walcott has spent all of the 2024 season as an 18-year old at High-A, more than four years younger than the average hitter at his level. Super athletic at 6-foot-4, he has tremendous ceiling and is finishing off strong, hitting .314/.374/.500 over his last 30 games. It wouldn’t surprise us to see him near the top of the Top 100 at the start of the 2026 season.

Braves: Cam Caminiti, LHP (No. 1)
The highest-ranked high school pitcher in the 2024 Draft class, Caminiti has yet to throw an official professional pitch, but he’s already the top prospect in the system. And with the next four in the system at Triple-A, they’ll all have graduated. We also have faith that the young lefty will be the next in the line of young Braves pitchers to excel as a pro. He’ll land in the Top 100 and work his way up to become one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in the game.

Marlins: Thomas White, LHP (No. 1/MLB No. 45)
White and fellow 2023 draftee Noble Meyer push each other, and both have made it to High-A in their first full season. White, somewhat surprisingly, has shown more polish this year. The lefty has gotten sharper as the season has gone on, with better command up a level, putting together a combined 2.72 ERA and 11.1 K/9. Lowering his walk rate from 3.6/9 in Single-A to 2.9 with Beloit is a very good sign.

Mets: Carson Benge, OF (No. 5)
Brandon Sproat is almost certainly a Major League consideration in 2025, as are Drew Gilbert and Jett Williams (even after a lost year for the latter). Even Ryan Clifford could use his power to push to Queens by then, having spent so much time in Double-A already. That leaves 2024 first-rounder Benge as next up. The former Oklahoma State two-way star will only hit in the pros, and that lines up with his Draft scouting reports as a left-handed slugger with good bat-to-ball skills and promising raw power.

Nationals: Travis Sykora, RHP (No. 3/MLB No. 97)
The 2023 third-rounder entered pro ball with promising size at 6-foot-6 and an interesting mix with a 95-98 mph fastball, plus splitter and above-average slider. Those ingredients have made him one of Single-A’s best pitchers the past few months, and with another full season under his belt in 2025, Sykora could become one of the game’s best pitching prospects period by ‘26.

Phillies: Aidan Miller, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 28)
The current top Phillies prospect is not likely to give up his standing. The 2023 first-round pick and 2024 Futures Gamer quickly earned a promotion from Single-A Clearwater to High-A Jersey Shore, and after struggling a little bit with the new level, he’s posted a very solid .936 OPS over his last 30 games. And he’s just starting to tap into his tremendous raw power, so watch out.

Brewers: Cooper Pratt, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 61)
Milwaukee pulled off one of the steals of the 2023 Draft when it managed to take and sign Pratt as a sixth-rounder. It’s been a solid first full season for the 20-year-old shortstop as he’s climbed to High-A already, and his defensive work at a premium position has helped his stock among scouts. Expect more power to come in his second full season, enabling him to jump into the top 50 overall conversation.

Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B (No. 1/MLB No. 18)
In heavy consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in July, Wetherholt went to the Cards at No. 7, and St. Louis was elated to add arguably the best pure hitter in this class. Hamstring issues limited him last spring and will make his speed worth following in pro ball. If not for Masyn Winn’s presence at the six, Wetherholt could push pretty quickly toward the Majors, but he’ll likely hang onto prospect status by 2026.

Cubs: Jefferson Rojas, SS (No. 7)
All six of the Cubs’ current Top 100 prospects are in Triple-A at present, and something will have gone wrong if any of them are still on a prospect list in 2026. Rojas isn’t far off from being a Top 100 guy himself, holding his own despite aggressive assignments up the ladder. He rarely strikes out, and while his overall numbers don’t jump off the page, keep in mind he’s spent the year in High-A at age 19.

Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 54)
While many thought the Pirates would “play it safe” in the first round of this year’s Draft and take a college hitter, they went all in on ceiling by taking Griffin, who arguably has the best all-around toolset of anyone in the class. Four of the tools are at least plus, and he was showing off an 80-grade arm on the back fields in Florida after signing. He has the chance to be a plus defender at short or center field, with 30/30 upside offensively.

Reds: Chase Burns, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 23)
Burns is the second straight Wake Forest pitcher the Reds took in the first round, going No. 2 overall a year after Cincinnati selected Rhett Lowder, who is making his big league debut on Friday. Burns has more electric stuff than Lowder with a bit less polish, but even if he follows a similarly quick path to The Show, he’ll still be prospect-eligible to start the 2026 season.

D-backs: Druw Jones, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 89)
The 2025 season should be a big one for Jones. If this summer was about getting the 2022 No. 2 overall pick back on track after an injury-riddled first full campaign, next year will be about getting him to take off. Jones remains a plus-plus defender in center, giving him a good floor, and there is still above-average raw power in his 6-foot-4 frame. He’ll need to start elevating more on contact, and if that happens, he’ll be closer to reaching his immense ceiling as a five-tool talent.

Dodgers: Josue De Paula, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 48)
Signed for just under $400,000 in January 2022, De Paula was a “pick to click” for many in 2024, and while he hasn’t set the world on fire statistically, he has risen up the Top 100 and reached High-A at age 19 while notching double digits in homers and stolen bases. Sometimes predictions of a prospect breakout are a year off, so keep De Paula circled for a coming-out party in 2025.

Giants: Bryce Eldridge, 1B (No. 1/MLB No. 53)
A legit two-way prospect heading into the 2023 Draft, Eldridge is focusing on hitting only in his first pro season, with excellent results. The 2024 Futures Gamer has fared better at the plate since moving up to High-A at age 19, and has a combined .882 OPS with 19 homers. There should be a lot more of that to come as the 6-foot-7 left-handed hitter continues to learn to tap into his considerable raw power.

Padres: Ethan Salas, C (No. 1/MLB No. 19)
Given Leodalis De Vries had more success as a hitter this season before his shoulder injury, it’s a reasonable take that he’ll leapfrog over the uneven Salas by 2026. But let us not forget that Salas remains the youngest regular at High-A this season, and he’s shown his best results yet in August, a good sign he just needed time to adjust to his advanced assignment. He remains one of the best defensive catching prospects in baseball, and with another year for his bat to catch up to his glove, he could be a top-10 overall talent again.

Rockies: Charlie Condon, OF/3B (No. 1/MLB No. 11)
We’re not overly concerned by Condon’s pedestrian start at High-A Spokane. He still has every chance to be a plus hitter with top-of-the-scale power, one who is sure to make adjustments based on the small sample of adversity he’s faced during his summer debut. Even if he starts the year back in the Northwest League, he’ll make it to at least Double-A in 2025 and be considered one of the most dangerous hitters in the Minors by the start of his second full season.