Here are the best potential prospect matchups at 2026 Spring Breakout
The first two years of Spring Breakout have provided several memorable matchups. Baseball's best hitting prospect (Jackson Holliday) faced baseball's best pitching prospect (Paul Skenes) in 2024, resulting in a 102-mph fastball and a strikeout on a 92-mph slider. Four of the game's dozen top-rated prospects faced off in a Red Sox-Rays game last March -- and Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Carson Williams and Marcelo Mayer all homered.
More fun is on the way this spring with 16 Spring Breakout games scheduled from March 19-22. Every team will play at least one game spotlighting its best prospects in a Spring Training ballpark, while the Brewers and Phillies will play two apiece because of the odd number of teams (15 each) in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. Here are some of the highlights:
Individual matchups
(Top 100 Prospects rankings in parentheses)
Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates (No. 1) vs. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers (No. 2), March 20
Baseball's top two prospects could match up against each other in a Spring Breakout game for the first time (Holliday was No. 1 and Skenes was No. 3 in 2024). MLB Pipeline's 2025 Hitting Prospect of the Year, Griffin has the best all-around tools in the Minors, while McGonigle is the best pure hitter at that level.
Jesús Made, SS, Brewers (No. 3) vs. Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics (No. 4), March 22
We not only could get the No. 1 prospect facing off against No. 2, but also No. 3 taking on No. 4. Both De Vries (part of the Mason Miller blockbuster trade with the Padres in July) and Made are advanced teenage shortstops with five-tool upside.
JJ Wetherholt, SS, Cardinals (No. 5) vs. Eli Willits, SS, Nationals (No. 13), March 19
Another possible battle of offensive-minded shortstops. Wetherholt might have been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft had he not suffered a hamstring injury during his junior season at West Virginia, and Willits did go No. 1 in 2025.
Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins (No. 14) vs. Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies (No. 28), March 19
This could be the best hitter vs. pitcher matchup in Spring Breakout. Both of these guys have longer injury histories than they'd like -- or they might already be in the Majors -- but Jenkins has 30/30 center fielder upside and Painter has a rare combination of stuff and polish.
This browser does not support the video element.
Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers (No. 15) vs. Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox (No. 49), March 21
These two already squared off in a prospect showcase, and De Paula got the better of Schultz with a 416-foot homer at the Futures Game last July. De Paula is the Dodgers' most advanced young hitter since Corey Seager, while Schultz's 6-foot-10 frame and wicked slider prompt comparisons to Randy Johnson.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (No. 20) vs. Tyler Bremner, RHP, Angels (No. 81), March 19
The No. 1 overall choice in the 2024 Draft (Bazzana) could dig in against the No. 2 selection last July (Bremner). Bazzana is the complete package offensively and Bremner might own the best changeup in the Minors.
Alfredo Duno, C, Reds (No. 38) vs. Josuar Gonzalez, SS, Giants (No. 44), March 19
Made vs. De Vries isn't the only battle of precocious international stalwarts. Duno won Florida State League Most Valuable Player and top prospect accolades after leading the Single-A circuit in homers (18), on-base percentage (.430), slugging (.518) and OPS (.948) at age 19. Gonzalez was the best position player in the 2025 international class and could have solid or better tools across the board.
Team matchups
(Farm system rankings from August in parentheses)
Mariners (3rd) at Brewers (4th), March 20
This game could feature another tantalizing hitter/pitcher battle, with lefty Kade Anderson (the No. 3 overall choice in last year's Draft) opposing Made. The Mariners are tied for the MLB lead with six Top 100 Prospects, led by shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 9), Anderson (No. 21), right-hander Ryan Sloan (No. 33) and outfielder Lazaro Montes (No. 43). The Brewers counter with five, four of them shortstops: Made (No. 3), Luis Peña (No. 26), Jett Williams (No. 51) and Cooper Pratt (No. 64).
Tigers (6th) at Pirates (9th), March 20
There's a lot more to this matchup than just Griffin vs. McGonigle. The Tigers have a stockpile of Top 100 position prospects that also includes outfielder Max Clark (No. 10), shortstop Bryce Rainer (No. 35) and catcher/first baseman Josue Briceño (No. 40). The Pirates can counter with a trio of Top 100 arms: right-handers Bubba Chandler (No. 11, a Spring Breakout star in 2025) and Seth Hernandez (No. 29), plus left-hander Hunter Barco (No. 96).
Rays (10th) at Mets (7th), March 19
It's possible that many of the best prospects from these teams -- Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 63), Mets right-handers Nolan McLean (No. 6) and Jonah Tong (No. 48) and outfielder Carson Benge (No. 16) -- will be competing for big league jobs. But there still should be plenty of talent, including outfielder Theo Gillen (No. 76) and righty Brody Hopkins (No. 85) for Tampa Bay going against outfielder/second baseman A.J. Ewing (No. 97).
Nationals (23rd) at Cardinals (12th), March 19
Besides sporting elite shortstop prospects, both of these organizations have been busy this offseason trading for young talent and will move up in our next system rankings in March. The Nationals acquired catcher Harry Ford (No. 71), shortstop Gavin Fien (the 12th overall pick in 2025) and hard-throwing right-hander Luis Perales, among others. Cardinals additions include righties Jurrangelo Cijntje (No. 91) and Yhoiker Fajardo, plus left-hander Brandon Clarke.