Ranking '26 rookies based on long-term value

Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle entered the 2026 season ranked as baseball's two best prospects, in that order, on MLB Pipeline's Top 100.

Griffin made his big league debut in April at age 19 and starred in May before a pair of injuries sidelined him for most of the next three months. McGonigle likely will be the unanimous choice for American League Rookie of the Year when that award is announced next Monday. ​

In our annual assessment of which of the season's graduated rookies will accrue the most career value, Griffin and McGonigle again rank 1-2. Griffin's upside as a potential 30-30 shortstop with Gold Glove defense gives him a slight edge over McGonigle's higher floor and considerable ceiling.

We've undertaken this exercise since 2015, and this is just the third time the top two spots exactly mirror the preseason Top 100. This happened with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2019, and with Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll in 2023.

Previous rankings: 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025

The rankings below factor in much more than present-year performance. The age at which a player reaches the Majors correlates strongly with his future success. Track record and projection also matter, while the fragile nature of pitchers is another element to consider.

Only players who have graduated from rookie/prospect status by exceeding 130 at-bats, 50 innings or 45 days of active service time during their careers are eligible. Mariners left-hander Kade Anderson (No. 5) and Twins shortstop Kaelen Culpepper (No. 31) are the most prominent members of the current Top 100 to approach those limits without surpassing them.

Our long-term rookie rankings, with seasonal age (as of July 1) in parentheses:

1. Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates (age 20)
Fresh off a 2025 pro debut in which he totaled 21 homers and 65 steals -- a combo that hadn't been seen in the Minors in 43 seasons -- Griffin slashed .306/.361/.459 in his second full month in the Majors before straining his right forearm. He batted .272 with six home runs and 23 steals in 80 games with the Pirates. If he had doubled those numbers over a full season of play, he would have joined Mike Trout (2012) as the only big leaguers age 20 or younger to hit at least .272 with 12 homers and 46 swipes.

2. Kevin McGonigle, SS/3B, Tigers (age 21)
McGonigle led all American Leaguers with 7.1 Wins Above Replacement (Baseball Reference style), making him the second AL/NL rookie to top his circuit -- along with Trout in 2012. McGonigle's WAR total is the sixth-highest ever for a rookie, trailing only Trout, Dick Allen (1964), Aaron Judge (2017), Fred Lynn (1975) and Carlton Fisk (1972). It's also the third-highest for a primary shortstop age 21 or younger, behind Rogers Hornsby (1917) and Alex Rodriguez (1996).

3. JJ Wetherholt, 2B, Cardinals (age 23)
Wetherholt might have been the No. 1 overall pick in 2024 if a hamstring injury hadn't waylaid his junior season at West Virginia, and the Cardinals stole him with the seventh overall pick. He does a little bit of everything, has no glaring weakness and his under-the-hood metrics were better than his .242/.339/.365 slash line.

4. Max Clark, OF, Tigers (age 21)
The Tigers absolutely nailed their first two picks in the 2023 Draft, signing Clark for a below-slot $7,697,500 at No. 3 and using most of the savings to pay McGonigle $2,847,500 at No. 37. He's younger and may have a higher ceiling than Wetherholt, who beats him out here because he offers more impact and Gold Glove-caliber defense in the middle infield.

5. Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants (age 21)
Few big leaguers combine power and patience like Eldridge, who posted an average exit velocity of 92.7 mph (tied for 13th in the Majors) and a 13.2 percent walk rate (which would have ranked 16th if he hadn't fallen just short of qualifying) at age 21. His 17 homers were the most by a Giants rookie his age or younger since Orlando Cepeda's 25 in 1958.

6. George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees (age 21)
Lombard's nine errors in 42 games after he came up in August belie the fact that he has the tools and baseball IQ to be the Yankees' best defensive shortstop since Bucky Dent more than four decades ago. His bat speed and his quickness also give him the potential to become the first 25-25 shortstop in franchise history.

7. Carter Jensen, C, Royals (age 22)
Jensen is just the fifth rookie catcher to combine at least 27 homers and a 120 OPS+, following Rudy York (1937), Earl Williams (1971), Matt Nokes (1987) and Mike Piazza (1993). Jensen is a better defender behind the plate than all of them and younger than all but Williams, who edged him by 11 days.

8. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Orioles (age 21)
Basallo didn't tear up the Majors in his first full season at that level, but his 18 homers were the second-most ever by an AL/NL rookie catcher age 21 or younger, trailing only Francisco Alvarez's 25 in 2023. Alvarez is also the only rookie that age or younger to get more playing time behind the plate than Basallo in the past 50 years.

9. Colt Emerson, SS/3B, Mariners (age 20)
Emerson was the youngest player in the AL this season, and the third-youngest overall behind Ethan Salas (who didn't graduate) and Griffin. He's the fifth-youngest Mariner ever to make his big league debut, after Ed Nunez and three of the greatest players in franchise history: Alex Rodriguez, Félix Hernández and Ken Griffey Jr.

10. Carson Benge, OF, Mets (age 23)
One of two former Oklahoma State two-way players-turned-Mets in the top 12, Benge went in 2024's first round as an outfielder and flashed third-round ability on the mound. He's one of five NL rookies to record a 20-20 season, joining Chris Young (2007), Corbin Carroll (2023), Nolan Jones (2023) and Jackson Chourio (2024).

11. Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (age 24)
Repeated injuries delayed DeLauter's arrival in Cleveland by a couple of years, so his age works against him for the purposes of these rankings, but his combination of physicality and athleticism trumps that of most players on this list. His 131 OPS+ was the best for a Guardians rookie since Al Rosen's 145 in 1950.

12. Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (age 24)
McLean had more success as a slugger than a pitcher at Oklahoma State, but as a rookie, he led the Majors in run value produced with his sinker (27) and highest average curveball spin rate (3,371 rpm). If he can refine his command, he could be a Cy Young Award winner. He already won the Mets' first Gold Glove in 12 years.

13. Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox (age 23)
Another former college two-way player, Tolle's delivery produces elite extension (7.4 feet on average, 0.2 behind overall leader Jacob Misiorowski) that yielded a 36 percent chase rate this year. The only big league starters with more innings and a higher chase percentage were Tarik Skubal and Chris Sale.

14. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates (age 23)
Continuing our two-way theme, Chandler is a former Clemson quarterback recruit who pitched and played shortstop at the outset of his pro career before focusing on the mound. He still needs polish and a better breaking ball, but his fastball and changeup have the makings of well-above-average offerings that could result in a frontline starter.

15. Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers (age 21)
The slick-fielding Pratt is the second-youngest rookie shortstop to start for a World Series champion, 10 months older than Frankie Crosetti of the 1932 Yankees. He easily could have won Fall Classic MVP honors after batting .421 with seven RBIs in five games.

The next 25:
16. Parker Messick, LHP, Guardians (age 25)
17. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (age 23)
18. A.J. Ewing, OF, Mets (age 21)
19. Sal Stewart, 1B/3B, Reds (age 22)
20. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays (age 22)
21. Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox (age 23)
22. Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies (age 23)
23. Didier Fuentes, RHP, Braves (age 21)
24. Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox (age 22)
25. Logan Henderson, RHP, Brewers (age 24)
26. Angel Genao, INF, Guardians (age 22)
27. Owen Caissie, OF, Marlins (age 23)
28. Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox (age 22)
29. Joe Mack, C, Marlins (age 23)
30. Henry Bolte, OF, Athletics (age 22)
31. Pedro Ramírez, 2B/3B, Cubs (age 22)
32. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks (age 23)
33. Esmerlyn Valdez, OF, Pirates (age 22)
34. Luis Lara, OF, Brewers (age 21)
35. Moisés Ballesteros, C/1B, Cubs/Angels (age 22)
36. Connelly Early, LHP, Red Sox/Nationals (age 24)
37. Walbert Ureña, RHP, Angels (age 22)
38. Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees (age 25)
39. Munetaka Murakami, 1B, White Sox (age 26)
40. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds (age 24)