MLB's 25 Best Players Under 25 Years Old in 2026
It's time for the annual celebration of baseball's up-and-coming talent with Bleacher Report's list of the 25 best players under 25 years old in 2026.
Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Corbin Carroll, Riley Greene and Zach Neto are among the notable graduates from last year's list, but several high-profile newcomers have taken their place, including 2025 Rookie of the Year winners Nick Kurtz and Drake Baldwin.
Players were ranked based on a combination of production to date and future outlook, so this is less about long-term projection and more about who is best positioned to make an impact in 2026.
The age cutoff for inclusion is March 25, 2026, which is leaguewide Opening Day, and only players with MLB experience were considered for a spot in the rankings.
Honorable Mentions
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These players were the toughest cuts from our final list, and all have the potential to be one of the best under-25 players in the sport in 2026:
OF Evan Carter, Texas Rangers (Age: 23)
2B Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles (Age: 22)
3B Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers (Age: 24)
OF Jakob Marsee, Miami Marlins (Age: 24)
SP Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 24)
1B Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 24)
SS Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies (Age: 24)
SS Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees (Age: 24)
Nos. 25-21
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25. SP Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds
Age: 23
Stats: 13 G, 8 GS, 4.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 16 BB, 67 K, 43.1 IP
Burns displayed elite swing-and-miss stuff in his 43.1-inning debut, posting a 35.6 percent strikeout rate. To put that into context, Tarik Skubal (32.2%) and Garrett Crochet (31.3%) were the only qualified starters to even crack 30 percent last year. He still needs to win a spot in the rotation, but one way or another he'll see plenty of innings in 2026 with the potential to make a major impact.
24. C Kyle Teel, Chicago White Sox
Age: 24
Stats: 297 PA, 121 OPS+, .273/.375/.411, 19 XBH (8 HR), 35 RBI
Teel joined the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet blockbuster last offseason, and he made his MLB debut on June 6. After a slow start, he hit .288/.376/.457 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 210 plate appearances after the All-Star break, and he now looks like a core piece of the South Siders' rebuilding efforts.
23. 2B Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins
Age: 23
Stats: 207 PA, 128 OPS+, .302/.382/.445, 18 XBH (4 HR), 28 RBI
Despite some significant red flags in his batted-ball profile, Keaschall has a lot of room to regress and still be a top-tier offensive second baseman after his loud debut. The 23-year-old also had to navigate a fractured forearm and a torn thumb ligament during his rookie season, so a clean bill of health could go a long way.
22. SS Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox
Age: 24
Stats: 284 PA, 130 OPS+, .239/.311/.529, 31 XBH (21 HR), 55 RBI
Only Kyle Schwarber (26), Shohei Ohtani (23), Cal Raleigh (22) and Junior Caminero (22) hit more home runs during the second half last season than the 21 that Montgomery slugged to close out his rookie campaign. The power is real and his glove was better than expected (7 DRS, 6 OAA), but a strikeout rate hovering near 30 percent will need to improve.
21. OF Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics
Age: 24
Stats: 624 PA, 126 OPS+, .276/.346/.474, 60 XBH (25 HR), 93 RBI
The Athletics locked Soderstrom up with a seven-year, $86 million extension in January. Lauded for his elite hit tool throughout his pro career, he has been asked to do a lot of shuffling defensively, starting his career as a catcher before shifting to first base and then moving to the outfield after Nick Kurtz arrived. He proved to be an excellent left fielder (10 DRS, 5 OAA), and should finally get a chance to settle in.
Nos. 20-16
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20. SP Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers
Age: 23
Stats: 15 G, 14 GS, 4.36 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 31 BB, 87 K, 66.0 IP
It was an up-and-down first big league season for Misiorowski, highlighted by a surprise All-Star selection and a stellar run as a multi-inning reliever (3 G, 2-0, 1.50 ERA, 16 K, 12.0 IP) in October. The towering 6'7" right-hander now looks like the clear No. 2 on the Milwaukee staff following the Freddy Peralta trade, and he is more than capable of answering the bell.
19. SP Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 22
Stats: 3 GS, 3.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 7 BB, 16 K, 14.0 IP
That three-game audition in September is just a fraction of the story for Yesavage, who put together a postseason run for the ages. Brilliant starts against the Yankees in the ALWC (5.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 11 K) and the Dodgers in the World Series (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 12 K) showed no stage is too big for him, and now he enters 2026 as a lock for the Toronto rotation and one of the AL Rookie of the Year favorites.
18. SP Nolan McLean, New York Mets
Age: 24
Stats: 8 GS, 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 BB, 57 K, 48.0 IP
The Mets promoted McLean into the middle of a tight playoff race last season, and while their season ended in disappointment, he immediately provided a stabilizing presence to the rotation. A 2.97 FIP backs up his strong early performance, and he should slot in alongside Freddy Peralta and David Peterson as one of the leaders of the 2026 rotation.
17. SS Jacob Wilson, Athletics
Age: 23
Stats: 523 PA, 121 OPS+, .311/.355/.444, 39 XBH (13 HR), 63 RBI
Wilson hit .329/.373/.459 during the first half to earn the starting nod in the All-Star Game as a rookie, and while his numbers dipped during an injury-plagued second half, his elite contact skills are the real deal. He was one of only five qualified hitters with a strikeout rate and walk rate both below 10 percent. However, his defensive work (-10 DRS, -2 OAA) will need to improve.
16. SP Eury Pérez, Miami Marlins
Age: 22
Stats: 20 GS, 4.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 32 BB, 105 K, 95.1 IP
Pérez was the second-youngest player to appear in the majors in 2023 when he logged a 3.19 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. His 2024 was lost to Tommy John surgery and there was some rust to shake off in his return, but he finished the year once again looking the part of a future ace and should be full go in 2026.
Nos. 15-11
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15. C Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets
Age: 24
Stats: 277 PA, 122 OPS+, .256/.339/.447, 24 XBH (11 HR), 32 RBI
Alvarez was a consensus top-10 prospect in baseball prior to the 2023 season, and while he has flashed the offensive upside that made him a potential future star, he has yet to put all the pieces in place for a full season. After posting a .921 OPS with 18 extra-base hits in 139 plate appearances after the All-Star break last year, things are trending toward a 2026 breakout.
14. SS Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 24
Stats: 537 PA, 90 OPS+, .253/.310/.363, 36 XBH (9 HR), 51 RBI
It's rare that a player is good enough defensively that anything he does in the batter's box is icing on the cake, but Winn fits the mold, and he could end up being this generation's Andrelton Simmons. At the same time, it's worth mentioning that Winn had a solid 104 OPS+ and 52 extra-base hits in 2024, so he's capable of making a legitimate offensive impact.
13. SP Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs
Age: 24
Stats: 23 G, 22 GS, 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 33 BB, 97 K, 118.0 IP
With a 1.03 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 61.1 innings, Cade Horton threw the ball as well as any pitcher in baseball after the All-Star break last year. Unfortunately, his season came to a premature end when he suffered a fractured rib in September and he was unavailable for the Cubs playoff run. Now he is poised to solidify his status as the ace of the staff in 2026.
12. C Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves
Age: 24
Stats: 446 PA, 126 OPS+, .274/.341/.469, 39 XBH (19 HR), 80 RBI
Baldwin turns 25 years old three days after Opening Day, so he just barely makes the cut, but on the heels of 2025 NL Rookie of the Year honors he is a no-brainer addition to this list. The batted-ball metrics back up his stellar offensive debut, and he will be counted on to lead a pitching staff in flux with Sean Murphy sidelined to start the year.
11. OF James Wood, Washington Nationals
Age: 23
Stats: 689 PA, 132 OPS+, .256/.350/.475, 69 XBH (31 HR), 94 RBI
With an imposing 6'7", 234-pound frame and top-of-the-scale power, Wood figures to be a perennial 30-homer slugger for the Nationals in the coming years. His approach at the plate still needs refinement after he struck out a staggering 221 times last season, but it speaks to his impact that he was still able to post a 132 OPS+, and a strong 12.3 percent walk rate helped offset the whiffs.
Nos. 10-6
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10. OF Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox
Age: 21
Stats: 303 PA, 140 OPS+, .292/.396/.463, 27 XBH (8 HR), 32 RBI
The youngest player on this list, Anthony began last season widely regarded as the best prospect in baseball, and he did nothing to dispel that hype during an injury-shortened debut. The Red Sox went 44-27 in the games he played, and their lineup completely transformed when he moved into the leadoff spot. Superstardom is on the horizon. It's just a question of how long it takes him to get there.
9. OF Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres
Age: 22
Stats: 483 PA, 112 OPS+, .264/.317/.457, 47 XBH (16 HR), 67 RBI
Merrill finished runner-up to Paul Skenes in 2024 NL Rookie of the Year voting and also checked in ninth in NL MVP balloting, all in his age-21 season. His follow-up campaign was cut short by three separate trips to the injured list and he never truly had a chance to hit his stride, but he still managed a 112 OPS+ and 2.7 WAR in 115 games.
8. 3B Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 22
Stats: 653 PA, 131 OPS+, .264/.311/.535, 73 XBH (45 HR), 110 RBI
Caminero went from promising young hitter to face of the franchise last season with a 45-homer, 110-RBI campaign in the middle of the Rays lineup. While he had some drastic home (.954 OPS) and road (.743 OPS) splits, his power played everywhere. The move back to Tropicana Field from Steinbrenner Field could lead to some regression, but the 40-homer power is real.
7. OF Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers
Age: 24
Stats: 573 PA, 127 OPS+, .241/.344/.431, 48 XBH (22 HR), 62 RBI
With power (22 HR), speed (22 SB) and defense (16 DRS, 10 OAA), Langford is a legitimate five-tool talent and one of the most underrated players in baseball. The 24-year-old has been learning on the fly after spending just 44 games in the minors, and a healthy spike in his walk rate (9.2 to 12.9 percent) showed his growth as a hitter.
6. SS Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
Age: 24
Stats: 699 PA, 109 OPS+, .264/.336/.440, 60 XBH (22 HR), 86 RBI
No player in baseball boasts a collection of pure tools that stack up to De La Cruz, who ranked near the top of the leaderboard in bat speed (84th percentile), sprint speed (91st percentile) and arm strength (93rd percentile). His production cratered during the second half of the season last year, but it was later revealed he was playing through a quad injury. The 24-year-old is still raw, but the 30/30, 5-WAR upside is well within reach.
5. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
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Age: 24
Stats: 647 PA, 118 OPS+, .247/.287/.481, 72 XBH (31 HR), 95 RBI
Pete Crow-Armstrong has wasted no time firmly establishing himself as one of baseball's premier defensive players, and that serves as a strong foundation for an impressive but volatile offensive game.
Despite a second-half slump and a sub-.300 on-base percentage, he still became the first Cubs player since Sammy Sosa to record a 30/30 season, swiping 35 bases in 43 attempts to go along with his 31 long balls.
The fact that he was a 6.0-WAR player even with a .634 OPS during the second half and a paltry 4.5 percent walk rate speaks to just how high his ceiling could be with further refinement.
In the worst-case scenario, he's a perennial Gold Glove winner and 20/20 threat, and that's a fantastic floor for a player who will turn 24 on Opening Day.
4. OF Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers
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Age: 22
Stats: 589 PA, 112 OPS+, .270/.308/.463, 60 XBH (21 HR), 78 RBI
Here is a full list of every player in MLB history with multiple 20/20 seasons prior to his age-22 campaign:
Jackson Chourio (2024-25)
Vada Pinson (1959-60)
Mike Trout (2012-13)
That's exclusive company for a face of the franchise on the rise in Milwaukee, and with an eight-year, $82 million extension on the books that could keep him around through 2033, Chourio is on track to be the club's most impactful homegrown player since Ryan Braun.
The question now is how much better he can get with so much experience already under his belt at an age when most players are still rising through the ranks in the minors.
3. 1B Nick Kurtz, Athletics
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Age: 23
Stats: 489 PA, 173 OPS+, .290/.383/.619, 64 XBH (36 HR), 86 RBI
Nick Kurtz was not just the runaway 2025 AL Rookie of the Year with an all-time offensive season for a newcomer. He was legitimately one of the best all-around hitters in the sport.
He fell short of logging enough at-bats to qualify for leaderboards, but among players with at least 450 plate appearances, he shared some elite company:
Aaron Judge: 215 OPS+
Shohei Ohtani: 179 OPS+
Nick Kurtz: 173 OPS+
Cal Raleigh: 169 OPS+
With elite marks in barrel rate (98th percentile), hard-hit rate (92nd percentile) and bat speed (98th percentile), all signs point to his top-tier production being sustainable, and he looks like a franchise cornerstone for the Athletics.
2. SS Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
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Age: 24
Stats: 651 PA, 121 OPS+, .274/.349/.438, 56 XBH (17 HR), 68 RBI
With an impressive 20.5 WAR over the past three seasons, Gunnar Henderson has exploded onto the scene as one of baseball's most impactful players since taking home 2023 AL Rookie of the Year honors.
During that three-year span, only Shohei Ohtani (26.9), Aaron Judge (25.1) and Bobby Witt Jr. (20.8) compiled a higher WAR total, and even in a down year by his own lofty standards, Henderson was still a 5.3-WAR player in 2025.
A career-low 21.0 percent strikeout rate and a career-high 30 steals last season showed he is still growing as a player. It also helped earn him a hefty raise to $8.5 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility.
He has already established himself as the best homegrown Orioles player since Cal Ripken Jr., and a long-term extension could be on the horizon.
1. SP Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Age: 23
Stats: 32 GS, 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 42 BB, 216 K, 187.2 IP
Simply put, Paul Skenes is the definition of a generational talent.
The 2025 NL Cy Young winner led the majors with a 1.97 ERA, allowing fewer than two earned runs in 20 of his 32 starts thanks to an utterly dominant arsenal of pitches and stellar command.
He eclipsed 100 pitches in only 25 percent of his starts, down from 39.1 percent as a rookie, working more efficiently without sacrificing dominance.
Through his first 55 outings in the majors, Skenes has a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 386 strikeouts in 320.2 innings, and he belongs right alongside Tarik Skubal in the "best pitcher in baseball" conversation.
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