These are the best tools on the new Top 100 Prospects list

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MLB Pipeline released its new 2026 Top 100 Prospects rankings last Friday, headlined by Pirates shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin. If history is any indication, several of the players with the best individual tools will make an immediate impact in the big leagues.

In 2023, Francisco Alvarez (best power) became just the sixth catcher to loft 25 homers as a rookie. Corbin Carroll (fastest runner) was the first rookie ever to combine 25 homers and 50 steals, finishing second in the National League with 54 swipes.

After the Pirates called him up in mid-May 2024, Paul Skenes (best fastball, best slider) almost immediately became the best pitcher in the Majors. Pete Crow-Armstrong (best defender) established himself as one of the best center fielders -- and best defenders at any position -- just as quickly.

Last season, Jacob Wilson (best hitter) finished tied for second in the American League batting race (.311) as a rookie. Jacob Misiorowski (best fastball, best curveball) overwhelmed big leaguers with his wipeout stuff and made the All-Star Game after just five starts.

Below are the superlatives from the 2026 Top 100. Interestingly, Griffin is the obvious choice as baseball's best prospect but didn't win any individual category. He did earn honorable mention for three tools (power, speed, defense) and could have been included with the other two (hitting, arm).

Tools are graded on the standard 20-80 scouting scale, with 50 representing big league average.

Best Hitter: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers (70)

McGonigle's sweet left-handed swing and advanced approach have prompted comparisons to Chase Utley and a right-handed-hitting Alex Bregman. They've translated into a .308 average with more walks (123) than strikeouts (84) in 183 pro games, and he led the Minors in wRC+ (182) last season before winning MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League.

Also in the running: Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners; JJ Wetherholt, INF, Cardinals; Eli Willits, SS, Nationals

Best Power: Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants (70)

Eldridge has all the ingredients to produce top-of-the-scale raw power: a quick left-handed swing designed to launch balls in the air, plus huge strength and leverage in his massive 6-foot-7 frame. He homered 54 times in 249 Minor League games before arriving in San Francisco at age 20 last September, and he produced elite exit velocities (average: 95.6 mph) in his short big league stint.

Also in the running: Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Orioles; Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates; Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers

Fastest Runner: Justin Crawford, OF, Phillies (75)

The son of four-time AL stolen base champ Carl Crawford, Justin has dazzled scouts with his speed since recording sub-6.2-second times in the 60-yard dash on the high school showcase circuit. He uses his quickness to beat out hits (Triple-A International League-best .334 average last year, .322 as a pro) and wreak havoc on the bases (145 swipes in 177 attempts in 325 career games).

Also in the running: Nate George, OF, Orioles; Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates; Luis Peña, INF, Brewers

Best Arm: Billy Carlson, SS, White Sox (70)

Carlson went 10th overall in the 2025 Draft as a shortstop but also could have gone in the early rounds as a right-handed pitcher who could reach 97 mph with his fastball and spin an impressive curveball. He has the arm strength and instincts to make any throw from any angle needed at short.

Also in the running: Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox; Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers; Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers

Best Defender: Billy Carlson, SS, White Sox (70)

The consensus among veteran scouts is that Carlson is the best defensive shortstop they've ever seen on the high school level. Besides his arm, he has fluid actions, range to both side, reliable hands and a finely calibrated internal clock.

Also in the running: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates; Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers; Carson Williams, SS, Rays

Best Fastball: Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox (70)

The Red Sox helped Tolle add strength and athleticism after taking him in 2024's second round, and his fastball jumped 5 mph to sit at 96 and touch 101 in his pro debut last year. But that's not what makes his heater special. He averaged 7 1/2 feet of extension with Boston, an inch behind big league leader Alexis Díaz, and posted a 39 percent whiff rate with his fastball between the Majors and Minors.

Also in the running: Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates; Liam Doyle, LHP, Cardinals; Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Cubs

Best Curveball: Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (60)

The game's best pitching prospect can miss bats with a wide variety of pitches, including a 79-81 mph curveball that had the highest average spin rate (3,248 rpm) and average sweep (18.7 inches) of any big league bender. McLean's curve generated a 50 percent swing-and-miss rate while he was fashioning a 2.06 ERA in eight late-season starts with New York, though it moves so much that he sometimes struggles to land it for strikes.

Also in the running: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pirates; Brody Hopkins, RHP, Rays; Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Red Sox

Best Slider: Jarlin Susana, RHP, Nationals (70)

Susana has the ability to throw his wicked 85-88 mph slider with either significant horizontal action or quality depth. Hitters can't sit on his slide piece because he also can push his heater to 101 mph, which is why his breaker created a 59 percent swing-and-miss rate and contributed heavily to an overall 38 percent strikeout rate at Double-A.

Also in the running: Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets; Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox; Thomas White, LHP, Marlins

Best Changeup: Parker Messick, LHP, Guardians (65)

Messick's changeup has been his signature pitch since his days at Florida State, a mid-80s offering with fade and tumble that locks up lefties and righties and helps the rest of his ordinary repertoire play up. Between Triple-A and the Majors, opponents batted .176/.233/.209 with 59 strikeouts in 148 at-bats against his cambio.

Also in the running: Tyler Bremner, RHP, Angels; Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pirates; Thomas White, LHP, Marlins

Best Other Pitch: Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays (70 splitter)

Toronto won each of Yesavage's three regular-season starts, without which it wouldn't have been AL East champions, and four of his five playoff starts. He set rookie records for strikeouts in a World Series game (12) and total whiffs in a postseason (39), thanks largely to a devastating 82-85 mph splitter coming out of an exceptionally high release point.

Also in the running: Carlos Lagrange, RHP, Yankees (cutter); Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals (splitter); Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Red Sox (cutter)

Best Control: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds (65)

Lowder missed almost the entire 2025 season with forearm and oblique strains, but his history of throwing strikes is undeniable. He walked just 6 percent of the hitters he faced while winning consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year awards at Wake Forest, then just 7 percent while rocketing from High-A to the big leagues in his 2024 pro debut.

Also in the running: Kade Anderson, LHP, Mariners; Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners; Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox