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Ranking Kevin McGonigle, Chase DeLauter and Top 25 MLB Rookies for 2026 Season
The 2025 MLB rookie class gave us a pair of budding superstars in Nick Kurtz and Roman Anthony, along with Drake Baldwin, Cade Horton, Jacob Wilson, Cam Schlittler, Jacob Misiorowski and others.
This year's rookie crop has a chance to be even better.
Elite prospects Kevin McGonigle (DET) and JJ Wetherholt (STL) were part of a huge contingent of rookies on Opening Day rosters, and there is plenty more rising talent knocking on the door.
For now, we've ranked the top 25 rookies at the start of 2026, focusing on their full-season outlook and not simply what they've done through the first few games of the new season.
Only players who were included on Opening Day rosters were eligible for this first round of rankings, which notably excluded Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage, since he is currently sidelined with a shoulder issue.
Nos. 25-23
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25. LHP Hunter Barco, Pittsburgh Pirates
Barco cemented his status as a top-tier pitching prospect last season with a 2.81 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 99.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Used primarily as a starter in the minors, he is being eased into the big leagues as a reliever, similar to how the Pirates deployed Braxton Ashcraft in 2025.
24. RHP AJ Blubaugh, Houston Astros
The Astros do a great job developing under-the-radar pitching talent. Blubaugh fits the mold as a seventh-round pick in 2022. The 25-year-old had a 1.69 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 32 innings last season. He has looked the part of a useful multi-inning weapon in the early going with an uptick in his fastball velocity from 94.6 to 96.5 mph.
23. RHP Didier Fuentes, Atlanta Braves
Fuentes was the youngest player to appear in an MLB game last season, with his MLB debut on June 20 coming just three days after his 20th birthday. He had a terrific spring, logging a 0.66 ERA and an 18-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 13.2 innings. He is working in relief to start the year, but could be the next man up when the Braves need another starter.
Nos. 22-20
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22. IF Alex Freeland, Los Angeles Dodgers
With Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernández both sidelined, Freeland has an opportunity to see some starting action at second base to start the year. The 24-year-old hit .263/.384/.451 with 46 extra-base hits in 106 games at Triple-A last season. His defensive versatility could be his ticket to holding onto a roster spot once everyone is healthy.
21. RHP Ryan Johnson, Los Angeles Angels
A second-round pick in 2024, Johnson opened last season in the Angels' bullpen before he was optioned to High-A to move onto a more traditional developmental path as a starter. He logged a 1.88 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 57.1 innings over 12 starts. Now, he's back in the big leagues after winning the No. 5 starter job. Suffice to say, draft pick to MLB to High-A to MLB is not generally how players move through an organization.
20. OF Nathan Church, St. Louis Cardinals
An injury to Lars Nootbaar has given Church a path to playing time early in the season by being the starting left fielder on Opening Day. An 11th-round pick in 2022, he broke out last season with a .329/.386/.524 line in 384 plate appearances across three minor league levels. Now he offers a high floor and intriguing upside for a rebuilding Cardinals team.
Nos. 19-17
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19. OF Dylan Beavers, Baltimore Orioles
Beavers turned heads when he posted a 120 OPS+ with 10 extra-base hits in 137 plate appearances during the second half last season. With Colton Cowser, Taylor Ward and Tyler O'Neill also vying for playing time in the outfield, he needs to make the most of his chances early on, but he offers a middle-of-the-order ceiling.
18. SS Carson Williams, Tampa Bay Rays
Williams was slated to start the season at Triple-A and was actually optioned to the minors before an injury to Taylor Walls led to him being called back to serve as Tampa Bay's starting shortstop. He hit .172 with 44 strikeouts in 106 plate appearances in his debut last season, but his elite glove will keep him in the lineup. There is 30-homer upside in his bat.
17. RHP Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers acquired Sproat in the deal that sent Freddy Peralta to the Mets. He won a spot in a young Milwaukee rotation with a strong spring. At this time last year, he was the top young arm in the Mets system before breakout performances of Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. He had a 2.80 FIP in 20.2 innings as a September call-up a year ago.
Nos. 16-14
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16. LHP Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians
With an undersized 6'0" frame and a command-over-stuff profile, Messick is exactly the type of pitcher the Guardians have done a great job developing in recent years. The 25-year-old went 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 39.2 innings while making seven starts down the stretch last season. He edged out Logan Allen for the No. 5 starter job this spring.
15. RHP Rhett Lowder, Cincinnati Reds
Lowder was the second pitcher off the board in the 2023 draft when Paul Skenes went No. 1 overall. He similarly flew through the minors. After posting a 1.17 ERA in 30.2 innings over six starts down the stretch in 2024, last season ended up being a lost year as an oblique injury limited him to 18.1 total innings in the minors and the Arizona Fall League. Now, he's back healthy and poised to cement his spot in the Cincinnati rotation.
14. LHP Connelly Early, Boston Red Sox
Early pitched well enough down the stretch last season to earn a playoff start, posting a 2.33 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 19.1 innings before taking the ball in Game 3 of the ALWC. He edged out offseason pickup Johan Oviedo for a spot in the rotation this spring, while outperforming the more highly regarded Payton Tolle to this point among top pitching prospects in the Boston system.
Nos. 13-11
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13. OF Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies
Despite some concerns about his high groundball rate, Crawford has nothing left to prove in the minors after hitting .334/.411/.452 with 34 extra-base hits and 46 steals in 112 games at Triple-A last year. With Johan Rojas serving a PED suspension, he should get a long runway to establish himself as the everyday center fielder.
12. OF Owen Caissie, Miami Marlins
The Cubs sent Caissie to the Marlins as the prospect centerpiece in the deal to acquire Edward Cabrera during the offseason. Following a run with Team Canada in the WBC, he is now Miami's starting right fielder. After hitting .281/.380/.507 with 41 home runs in 226 games at Triple-A the last two seasons, he looks like a dark horse NL Rookie of the Year contender.
11. RHP Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies
Painter was arguably the top pitching prospect in all of baseball before missing the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned with a 5.40 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 106.2 innings at Triple-A last season, and with Zack Wheeler sidelined, he earned the No. 5 starter job out of camp. Now, he has a month or so to prove he deserves to stick in the rotation over Taijuan Walker before Wheeler returns.
10. DH Moisés Ballesteros, Chicago Cubs
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The departure of Kyle Tucker in free agency cleared a path for Moisés Ballesteros to break camp with a starting spot in the Chicago Cubs lineup, serving as the team's primary designated hitter.
The 22-year-old has a 60-grade hit tool and has produced every step of the way in the minors. After struggling in his first MLB action early last season, he returned to post a .333/.435/.564 line in 46 plate appearances as a September call-up.
His value is exclusively tied to what he does in the batter's box, but he has raked throughout his pro career.
9. RHP Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates
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The Pittsburgh Pirates used some of the money they saved by reaching for Henry Davis at No. 1 overall in the 2021 draft to sign Bubba Chandler to an above-slot deal in the third round.
A 4-star quarterback recruit in high school who was committed to Clemson, his game has taken off since he turned his full attention to baseball. He racked up 457 strikeouts over 372 innings in the minors, including 121 punchouts in 100 innings at Triple-A last year.
The 23-year-old made his MLB debut last August, logging a 4.02 ERA and a 31-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 31.1 innings. With an athletic 6'3" frame, four quality pitches and plus command, he could quickly join Paul Skenes at the top of the Pittsburgh rotation.
8. DH/C Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles
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Just five days after making his MLB debut last August, Samuel Basallo inked an eight-year, $67 million extension with the Baltimore Orioles.
The 21-year-old will serve as the team's primary designated hitter and backup catcher this season, filling a role similar to how Drake Baldwin was used alongside Sean Murphy en route to NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2025.
Basallo hit .270/.377/.589 with 23 home runs in 76 games at Triple-A last season. His raw power stacks up to any rookie in baseball. The O's have used him in the No. 5 spot in the batting order to open the year, which should mean plenty of RBI chances.
7. DH/C Carter Jensen, Kansas City Royals
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Carter Jensen forced his way into the Kansas City Royals' immediate plans when he hit .300/.391/.550 with six doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in 69 plate appearances as a September call-up.
Similar to Samuel Basallo, he will be used as the primary DH and the backup to established catcher Salvador Perez, which should mean a clear path to 500-plus plate appearances for a Royals team in need of an offensive boost.
After hitting .290/.377/.501 with 20 doubles, 20 home runs and 76 RBI in 111 games in the upper minors last season, he is capable of providing immediate middle-of-the-order production in 2026.
6. OF Carson Benge, New York Mets
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Despite playing just 131 games in the minors, including only 56 total at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, Carson Benge won the starting right field job this spring for a New York Mets team with title aspirations.
A two-way player at Oklahoma State, Benge has taken off since turning his full focus to hitting, and a .281/.385/.472 line with 47 extra-base hits and 22 steals in 116 games last year vaulted him up top prospect lists.
The Mets don't need him to be anything more than a viable everyday option as the No. 8 hitter in a loaded lineup, which should help alleviate some pressure as he settles into life in the big leagues.
5. 1B Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds
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Sal Stewart has bounced around defensively in the minors, seeing time at second base and third base before settling in primarily as a first baseman, but his hit tool and on-base ability have consistently made him a top-tier prospect.
The 22-year-old made his MLB debut last year as a September call-up. He posted a 121 OPS+ with five home runs in 58 plate appearances down the stretch, paving the way for an everyday job in 2026.
He will be the team's primary first baseman to open the year. After going 7-for-10 with three doubles and one home run in three games against the Red Sox to open the year, it looks like he's up for good.
4. OF Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians
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If these rankings were based solely on opening weekend production, Chase DeLauter would be the clear No. 1 rookie after he went 6-for-17 with four home runs in four games against the Mariners' terrific pitching staff.
However, the focus in this first round of rankings is on the 2026 season outlook. DeLauter still needs to prove he can stay on the field for an extended period of time before he can make a run at the top spot.
The 24-year-old played just 138 games in four years after going No. 16 overall in the 2022 draft while navigating a variety of injuries, but he finally made his MLB debut during the postseason last year and now looks like a potential difference-maker in the Cleveland lineup.
3. 2B JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals
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After displaying an elite hit tool throughout his time at West Virginia, infielder JJ Wetherholt crushed upper-minors pitching last year in his first full professional season.
The 23-year-old logged a .306/.421/.510 line with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, 59 RBI and 23 steals in 109 games. With the Cardinals clearly in rebuilding mode, he entered camp as the favorite to win the second base job.
He homered in his MLB debut and delivered the walk-off hit in his second game. It's not out of the question to think he could be the most productive hitter in St. Louis' lineup in 2026.
2. RHP Nolan McLean, New York Mets
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The New York Mets promoted Nolan McLean into the thick of a playoff race last season. He was the team's best starter down the stretch, going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings.
If they avoided the September collapse and made the playoffs, he likely would have been their Game 1 starter.
That stellar debut was rewarded with a spot on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. He opened the 2026 campaign as a co-ace of sorts alongside newcomer Freddy Peralta in the starting rotation.
Armed with a mid-90s fastball, three quality offspeed pitches and poise beyond his years, he looks the part of a frontline starter right now. He has the upside to be a perennial Cy Young candidate.
1. SS/3B Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers
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Kevin McGonigle began the 2026 season as the No. 1 prospect on the B/R Top 100 prospect list, with his elite 70-grade hit tool giving him a superstar ceiling and a slightly higher floor than Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin.
Despite playing just 46 games at the Double-A level and none in Triple-A, he won a starting job this spring, using a fantastic run in the Arizona Fall League that ended in MVP honors as a springboard.
The Tigers have already given him starts at both shortstop and third base through the first three games. He has the tools to fit at either spot, but it's his bat that will make him a star.
After a four-hit game in his MLB debut, it would not be surprising in the least to see him contend for a batting title right out of the gates.
