Jacob Misiorowski, Junior Caminero and Every MLB Team's Best Player Under 25

All 30 MLB teams have at least one promising building block for the future, and with a wealth of young, rising talent across baseball, the future of the sport is in good hands.

Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers), Junior Caminero (Rays), Chase DeLauter (Guardians) and Edgardo Henriquez (Dodgers) are all still in action and hoping to help their teams reach the World Series.

With that in mind, we set out to identify the best under-25 player on every MLB roster during the 2026 season. Ages reflect how old a player was on June 30, which is the standard for how season ages are presented on Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and other sites.

The focus was solely on this year's production, so long-term potential was not part of the equation, and only major league contributions were considered.

AL East

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Junior Caminero

Baltimore Orioles: 1B/3B Coby Mayo

Age: 24
Stats: 132 G, 112 OPS+, .228/.297/.461, 45 XBH (24 HR), 1.1 WAR

Terrific batted-ball metrics make it easy to believe in Mayo's ability to make an above-average offensive impact, even with a middling on-base percentage and strikeout rate above 30 percent. He is stretched defensively at third base (568.2 INN, -9 DRS) and blocked by Pete Alonso at first base, so primary designated hitter could be his role in 2027.

Boston Red Sox: SP Payton Tolle

Age: 23
Stats: 26 GS, 9-6, 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 171 K, 148.2 IP, 2.9 WAR

Most would have expected Roman Anthony to be the guy here going into the season, but injuries limited him to 55 games. Meanwhile, Tolle emerged as a frontline-caliber starter in his first full season in the majors. Over his final 10 starts, he had a 2.59 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 75 strikeouts in 59 innings.

New York Yankees: SS George Lombard Jr.

Age: 21
Stats: 42 G, 92 OPS+, .237/.285/.414, 12 XBH (7 HR), 1.1 WAR

Lombard made his MLB debut on Aug. 4, just a few months after his 21st birthday. He homered in his MLB debut and logged a .953 OPS over his first seven games before leveling off at the plate, but he provided strong defense (373.2 INN, 5 DRS) and some occasional pop. By season's end, he had pushed Anthony Volpe to a utility role.

Tampa Bay Rays: 3B Junior Caminero

Age: 22
Stats: 162 G, 144 OPS+, .276/.360/.524, 68 XBH (42 HR), 5.7 WAR

After a 45-homer, 110-RBI season in 2025, Caminero was a more well-rounded hitter in 2026. He raised his walk rate (6.3 to 11.3 percent) and on-base percentage (.311 to .360) while maintaining elite power production, and a top-five finish in AL MVP balloting is likely on the horizon.

Toronto Blue Jays: SP Trey Yesavage

Age: 22
Stats: 20 GS, 5-6, 3.69 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 97 K, 97.2 IP, 2.0 WAR

After an impressive run in the 2025 postseason, Yesavage put together a strong rookie season while navigating injury issues. He started the season on the injured list with a shoulder impingement and underwent meniscus surgery in August, but when he did take the mound he looked the part of a long-term piece of Toronto's rotation puzzle.

AL Central

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Jac Caglianone

Chicago White Sox: 2B Chase Meidroth

Age: 24
Stats: 154 G, 115 OPS+, .276/.350/.415, 47 XBH (16 HR), 4.5 WAR

The future is bright for the White Sox thanks to a young core that includes Chase Meidroth (25), Sam Antonacci (23), Kyle Teel (24), Braden Montgomery (23), Grant Taylor (24), Hagen Smith (22) and Noah Schultz (22). Meidroth raised his OPS by 116 points in his second MLB season, and a .286/.364/.473 line after the All-Star break suggests there is more to come.

Cleveland Guardians: OF Chase DeLauter

Age: 24
Stats: 133 G, 131 OPS+, .287/.363/.457, 49 XBH (16 HR), 3.5 WAR

Injuries limited Chase DeLauter to 138 games over three full seasons in the minors, but he made his MLB debut during the 2025 postseason and broke camp with a spot on Cleveland's Opening Day roster. His 3.5 WAR trailed only Parker Messick (6.3) and Steven Kwan (5.3) for a Guardians team that is playing in the ALCS.

Detroit Tigers: SS/3B Kevin McGonigle

Age: 21
Stats: 156 G, 126 OPS+, .278/.376/.430, 51 XBH (18 HR), 7.1 WAR

McGonigle burst onto the scene and led the AL with 7.1 WAR, emerging as an immediate offensive star and a standout defender at both shortstop and third base. He had almost as many walks (95) as strikeouts (100), and found more in-game power as the season unfolded with 10 home runs in 63 games after the All-Star break.

Kansas City Royals: OF Jac Caglianone

Age: 23
Stats: 143 G, 132 OPS+, .289/.340/.494, 57 XBH (23 HR), 3.2 WAR

Caglianone had a 47 OPS+ and negative-1.3 WAR over 62 games in his MLB debut, but he broke through as a legitimate middle-of-the-order run producer in his first full season. He hit .337/.373/.549 with 25 extra-base hits in 53 games after the All-Star break, earning the nod here over Carter Jensen (120 OPS+, 27 HR, 64 XBH, 3.3 WAR).

Minnesota Twins: IF/OF Luke Keaschall

Age: 23
Stats: 152 G, 120 OPS+, .282/.374/.407, 42 XBH (10 HR), 2.2 WAR

Keaschall started the year at second base and saw some sporadic action in center field before settling in as Minnesota's primary right fielder. He had an .897 OPS and 23 extra-base hits with a .411 on-base percentage after the All-Star break, and looks like a legitimate long-term building block on a retooling Minnesota roster.

AL West

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Cole Young

Athletics: 1B Nick Kurtz

Age: 23

Stats: 99 G, 141 OPS+, .256/.396/.483, 37 XBH (21 HR), 3.7 WAR

Kurtz saw his season end prematurely on July 31 with a thumb injury, and he was one of several key offensive pieces to miss significant time for the Athletics in 2026. Despite playing just 99 games, he was still a 3.7-WAR player, and his 141 OPS+ helped further legitimize his terrific rookie production.

Houston Astros: OF Cam Smith

Age: 23

Stats: 157 G, 87 OPS+, .210/.279/.390, 44 XBH (21 HR), 1.0 WAR

With 139 starts in right field, Smith was the one constant in an otherwise unstable Houston outfield. His 88 OPS+ in 1,061 plate appearances over the last two seasons raises questions about whether he was rushed to the majors, but he took a meaningful step forward this year with more playable power (21 HR) and an improved strikeout rate (27.8 to 26.1 percent).

Los Angeles Angels: SP Walbert Ureña

Age: 22

Stats: 27 GS, 9-11, 2.97 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 142 K, 148.1 IP, 3.8 WAR

Ureña began the year as a surprise member of the Opening Day roster and pitching in a relief role, but he joined the starting rotation in mid-April and ended up putting together a fantastic rookie campaign. His 3.62 FIP and .210 opponents' batting average speak to the quality of his stuff, and he could be the team's Opening Day starter next year if Reid Detmers is traded.

Seattle Mariners: 2B Cole Young

Age: 22

Stats: 160 G, 99 OPS+, .246/.312/.381, 40 XBH (17 HR), 4.4 WAR

With 16 Defensive Runs Saved, Young trailed only Brice Turang (23) among all second basemen, and that helped make him a 4.4-WAR player in his first full season in the majors. A .279/.388/.432 hitter in the minors often lauded for his advanced hit tool, he is capable of another step forward at the plate in 2027.

Texas Rangers: OF Wyatt Langford

Age: 24

Stats: 110 G, 118 OPS+, .238/.333/.421, 39 XBH (17 HR), 3.5 WAR

Langford has quietly tallied 13.3 WAR in 378 games over the past three seasons, good for the eighth-highest total among outfielders during that stretch. Even with multiple trips to the injured list and only 110 games played this year, his 3.5 WAR was the second-highest mark on the Rangers' roster.

NL East

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James Wood

Atlanta Braves: RHP Didier Fuentes

Age: 21
Stats: 58 G, 3 SV, 18 HLD, 2.45 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 11.3 K/9, 2.3 WAR

The fourth-youngest player to appear in a big league game in 2026, Fuentes emerged as a high-leverage arm at the back of the Atlanta bullpen alongside veterans Robert Suárez and Raisel Iglesias. With a fastball that regularly touches triple-digits and a slider that generated a 37.9 percent whiff rate, he could be the closer of the future if he doesn't return to a starting role.

Miami Marlins: IF/OF Javier Sanoja

Age: 23
Stats: 144 G, 122 OPS+, .295/.333/.458, 48 XBH (11 HR), 3.3 WAR

Sanoja saw the bulk of his action at third base, but also made a handful of starts at second base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots. He won the utility player Gold Glove a year ago, and more than doubled his WAR this season thanks to a 108-point increase in his OPS.

New York Mets: RHP Nolan McLean

Age: 24
Stats: 31 GS, 12-10, 3.16 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 194 K, 179.2 IP, 3.0 WAR

The Mets have a solid young core taking shape. Nolan McLean (24) and Carson Benge (23) are both NL Rookie of the Year candidates, while A.J. Ewing (21) and Zac Thornton (24) emerged as surprise MLB contributors. McLean was one of only seven pitchers with 20 quality starts, anchoring the Mets rotation after his run with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Andrew Painter

Age: 23
Stats: 23 GS, 3-10, 5.40 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 115 K, 126.2 IP, 1.3 WAR

Painter and center fielder Justin Crawford (149 G, 78 OPS+, .264/.309/.353, 27 XBH, 17 SB, -0.2 WAR) both won Opening Day roster spots and filled primary roles on a playoff-bound Phillies roster. Painter was the more productive player, and things started to click down the stretch when he logged a 3.27 ERA in 41.1 innings while tallying four quality starts in his last seven outings.

Washington Nationals: OF James Wood

Age: 23
Stats: 135 G, 144 OPS+, .265/.388/.503, 61 XBH (30 HR), 3.7 WAR

CJ Abrams just wrapped up his age-25 season, making Wood the easy choice as the co-star of the Nationals' surprisingly potent offense. The towering 6'6" slugger also had 21 steals in 25 attempts, tallied 102 walks and made a modest improvement to his strikeout rate (32.1 to 28.7 percent) while recording his second straight 30-homer campaign.

NL Central

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Pete Crow-Armstrong

Chicago Cubs: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong

Age: 24
Stats: 162 G, 156 OPS+, .280/.372/.570, 84 XBH (45 HR), 9.8 WAR

After a sluggish second half to a breakout 2025 season, PCA looked like a potential regression candidate. Instead, he is the presumptive NL MVP winner, and could take home the honor unanimously after a 9.8-WAR season where he had 45 home runs, 41 steals and played Platinum Glove-caliber defense in center field. He is now a bona fide superstar and the face of the franchise on the North Side.

Cincinnati Reds: SS Elly De La Cruz

Age: 24
Stats: 143 G, 142 OPS+, .283/.365/.515, 65 XBH (30 HR), 5.6 WAR

Chase Burns (23) and Sal Stewart (22) both put together breakout seasons to give the Reds two excellent young building blocks, but De La Cruz was the team's best all-around player by a comfortable margin. Aside from his established power/speed combination, he took a major step forward in his approach at the plate while also providing more reliable defense at shortstop.

Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Jacob Misiorowski

Age: 24
Stats: 30 GS, 16-5, 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 252 K, 174.2 IP, 6.5 WAR

The hardest-throwing starting pitcher perhaps ever, Misiorowski went from young pitcher prone to inconsistency to the NL Cy Young favorite and unquestioned ace of the Milwaukee staff in the wake of the Freddy Peralta trade. Outfielder Jackson Chourio (22) would be an easy choice for almost any other team, while Logan Henderson (24) and Cooper Pratt (21) also deserve a mention.

Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Paul Skenes

Age: 24
Stats: 32 GS, 10-11, 3.82 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 200 K, 174.1 IP, 3.3 WAR

It speaks volumes that the above numbers represent a clear down year for Skenes, as they would be a career year for most pitchers. The Pirates will be banking on a return to Cy Young form next year, as he anchors a roster that also features Konnor Griffin (20), Bubba Chandler (23) and Esmerlyn Valdez (22) as impact players on the rise.

St. Louis Cardinals: OF Jordan Walker

Age: 24
Stats: 158 G, 124 OPS+, .269/.327/.466, 62 XBH (29 HR), 3.3 WAR

After struggling to a 69 OPS+ and negative-2.5 WAR in exactly 162 games during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, this was likely a make-or-break season for Walker to maintain his hold on an everyday job. He responded with 29 home runs, 102 RBI and 22 steals while raising his OPS more than 200 points. The young double-play combination of JJ Wetherholt (23) and Masyn Winn (24) also deserves a mention.

NL West

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Jackson Merrill

Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Ryan Waldschmidt

Age: 23
Stats: 82 G, 94 OPS+, .256/.325/.368, 20 XBH (3 HR), 0.8 WAR

One of the oldest teams in baseball, the only notable contributors for the D-backs from the under-25 group were Waldschmidt and fellow former top prospect Jordan Lawlar. Waldschmidt played more games (82 to 44), while Lawlar was more productive when he did play (115 OPS+ to 94 OPS+). Both could be starters in the 2027 outfield.

Colorado Rockies: SS/OF Cole Carrigg

Age: 24
Stats: 93 G, 112 OPS+, .279/.341/.477, 38 XBH (12 HR), 1.2 WAR

Carrigg was the starting shortstop for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic but settled in as the primary center fielder in Colorado after making his MLB debut on June 9. He hit .327/.340/.571 with 11 extra-base hits in 101 plate appearances in September, and he should join Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak in a quietly productive Colorado outfield.

Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Edgardo Henriquez

Age: 24
Stats: 61 G, 2 SV, 11 HLD, 2.85 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 10.7 K/9, 0.8 WAR

A high-octane relief arm who averages 100.7 mph with his fastball and backs it with a wipeout slider that generated a 43.2 percent whiff rate, Henriquez steadily pitched his way into a key role at the back of the Dodgers bullpen. He allowed just 37 hits in 60 innings of work, limiting opposing hitters to a .177 batting average. He has the stuff to be the closer of the future.

San Diego Padres: OF Jackson Merrill

Age: 23
Stats: 158 G, 105 OPS+, .254/.303/.440, 57 XBH (26 HR), 3.4 WAR

After an ugly start to the season, Merrill hit .304/.339/.569 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI in 65 games after the All-Star break, and he was instrumental in the team's late-season surge to a wild-card berth. He does not turn 24 years old until the first month of the 2027 season, but already has 10.6 WAR across three full MLB seasons.

San Francisco Giants: DH Bryce Eldridge

Age: 21
Stats: 107 G, 133 OPS+, .269/.364/.461, 40 XBH (17 HR), 2.1 WAR

Eldridge went 3-for-28 with 13 strikeouts in his first taste of the big leagues as a September call-up in 2025, and he started the year back at Triple-A Sacramento. Once he was recalled in early May, it was clear he had made the necessary adjustments, and by season's end he was hitting No. 3 in the batting order. The 6'7" slugger has some of the best raw power in baseball, and his 17 home runs in 107 games are just the tip of the iceberg.