Selecting MLB's 2026 All-Rookie Team Through the 1st Half

The 2026 MLB rookie class is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory, with several of baseball's top prospects arriving on the scene and making an immediate impact.

Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle has not only put together a standout rookie season, but he has quickly emerged as one of baseball's best pure hitters, and he should be a shoo-in for a spot on the AL All-Star team.

He is penciled in at shortstop on Bleacher Report's midseason All-Rookie team, but who joins him in a deep field of talented newcomers?

Catcher: Carter Jensen, Kansas City Royals

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Stats: 300 PA, 111 OPS+, .251/.317/.438, 28 XBH (11 HR), 1 SB
WAR: 1.1

After hitting .300/.391/.550 for a 162 OPS+ in 69 plate appearances as a September call-up last year, Carter Jensen has emerged as one of the most promising young pieces on the Royals roster this year.

The 22-year-old is currently riding a 19-game hitting streak, with a .351/.388/.610 line, four home runs and 17 RBI in 85 plate appearances during that hot streak while hitting primarily leadoff.

Honorable Mention: Samuel Basallo (BAL), Brandon Valenzuela (TOR), Joe Mack (MIA)

First Baseman: Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox

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Stats: 246 PA, 158 OPS+, .240/.378/.560, 24 XBH (20 HR), 1 SB
WAR: 2.0

Despite a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since May 29, slugger Munetaka Murakami still ranks fifth on the AL leaderboard with 20 home runs thanks to his torrid start to the year.

He is expected to return to action sometime in mid-July, and any further setback would open the door for TJ Rumfield to seize this spot. The Rockies first baseman is hitting .294/.372/.491 for a 128 OPS+ with 12 home runs and 45 RBI.

Honorable Mentions: TJ Rumfield (COL), Sal Stewart (CIN), Bryce Eldridge (SF)

Second Baseman: JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals

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Stats: 350 PA, 120 OPS+, .265/.360/.411, 20 XBH (12 HR), 9 SB
WAR: 3.7

The starting second baseman and leadoff hitter on Opening Day, JJ Wetherholt is a big reason why the St. Louis Cardinals have exceeded expectations in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

Aside from his strong offensive production setting the table atop the lineup, he has also been an elite defender, leading all second basemen in Defensive Runs Saved (12) and Outs Above Average (14).

Honorable Mentions: Travis Bazzana (CLE)

Third Baseman: Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays

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Stats: 336 PA, 111 OPS+, .238/.318/.466, 30 XBH (19 HR), 0 SB
WAR: 1.9

The Blue Jays signed Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal in January following an 11-year run in the Japanese League where he posted an .856 OPS and slugged 277 home runs.

The 29-year-old has found his groove in June, hitting .295/.357/.580 with seven home runs in 98 plate appearances. His 53 RBI are tied for seventh in the American League, and he has settled into the cleanup spot in the Toronto lineup.

Honorable Mentions: None

Shortstop: Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers

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Stats: 358 PA, 126 OPS+, .281/.394/.421, 27 XBH (6 HR), 11 SB
WAR: 4.1

Not only does Kevin McGonigle lead all rookies with 4.1 WAR, but that total ranks sixth among all players, behind only Shohei Ohtani (5.4), Cristopher Sánchez (5.2), Pete Crow-Armstrong (5.0), Jacob Misiorowski (4.5) and Bobby Witt Jr. (4.3).

His advanced approach and elite bat-to-ball skills have been on full display with his .394 on-base percentage and more walks (54) than strikeouts (48), and he has also provided valuable versatility while splitting his time between shortstop and third base.

Honorable Mentions: Konnor Griffin (PIT), Colt Emerson (SEA)

Outfielder: Tristan Peters, Chicago White Sox

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Stats: 233 PA, 119 OPS+, .284/.345/.442, 23 XBH (4 HR), 5 SB
WAR: 2.1

A seventh-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021, Tristan Peters was traded twice before making his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays last year, and the White Sox acquired him for cash considerations in December.

That has proven to be one of the best under-the-radar moves of the offseason, as his 2.1 WAR is tied for third on the White Sox roster. The 26-year-old has been a standout defender in center field (4 DRS, 6 OAA) and he is outperforming Luis Robert Jr., who he effectively replaced.

Outfielder: Carson Benge, New York Mets

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Stats: 330 PA, 100 OPS+, .257/.318/.393, 21 XBH (9 HR), 11 SB
WAR: 1.4

The surface-level numbers don't tell the full story with Carson Benge, as he looked completely overmatched in April before settling in nicely as the everyday right fielder and leadoff hitter.

Since May 1, he is hitting .286/.348/.441 with 17 extra-base hits and 35 runs scored in 233 plate appearances, making him one of the few bright spots outside of Juan Soto in an underperforming Mets lineup.

Outfielder: Sam Antonacci, Chicago White Sox

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Stats: 258 PA, 125 OPS+, .292/.391/.411, 16 XBH (4 HR), 11 SB
WAR: 1.6

With 64 hits, 20 walks and 16 hit by pitches in 64 games, Sam Antonacci has been an on-base machine for the White Sox while essentially learning to play the outfield on the fly.

The 23-year-old had lined up exclusively on the infield prior to this season when he made 11 starts in left field at Triple-A Charlotte before he was called up to the majors on April 15. Now he is the everyday left fielder and leadoff hitter for a surprise contender.

Honorable Mentions: Henry Bolte (ATH), Chase DeLauter (CLE), Wade Meckler (LAA), A.J. Ewing (NYM), Nathan Church (STL)

Right-Handed Starting Pitcher: Nolan McLean, New York Mets

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Stats: 16 GS, 4.03 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 34 BB, 106 K, 89.1 IP
WAR: 0.6

His ERA might not jump off the page, but Nolan McLean ranks among the MLB leaders in strikeout rate (28.5%, 8th) and opponents' batting average (.202, 7th), and he has been every bit as overpowering as he was down the stretch last year.

The overall numbers looked better before he allowed seven hits and six earned runs in six innings against the Chicago Cubs last week, and he still looks the part of a future staff ace for the Mets.

Honorable Mentions: Walbert Ureña (LAA), Trey Yesavage (TOR), Bubba Chandler (PIT), Rhett Lowder (CIN)

Left-Handed Starting Pitcher: Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians

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Stats: 16 GS, 2.67 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 29 BB, 101 K, 94.1 IP
WAR: 2.9

With a fastball that averages 93.9 mph and a changeup-heavy approach with his secondary stuff, Parker Messick fit the prototypical high-floor college left-hander mold coming out of Florida State in 2022.

However, those are exactly the type of pitchers the Guardians have found a way to squeeze a little extra out of time and again. Right now, he is the biggest competition to Kevin McGonigle for AL Rookie of the Year honors.

Honorable Mentions: Payton Tolle (BOS), Foster Griffin (WAS), Connelly Early (BOS), Gage Jump (ATH)

Relief Pitcher: Didier Fuentes, Atlanta Braves

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Stats: 25 G, 1 SV, 6 HLD, 2.59 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 31.1 IP
WAR: 0.9

After turning heads during spring training with a triple-digit fastball and electric secondary stuff, Didier Fuentes has settled into a key role in the Atlanta bullpen setting up the lethal trio of Dylan Lee, Robert Suárez and Raisel Iglesias.

One of the youngest players in the majors, he just turned 21 years old on June 17, and he has a bright future ahead of him as a potential rotation piece. For now, he is a major weapon out of baseball's best bullpen.

Honorable Mentions: Bradgley Rodríguez (SD), Shane Drohan (MIL), Spencer Miles (TOR), AJ Blubaugh (HOU), Caleb Kilian (SF)