Here is a potential impact callup for each team

Not every star rookie makes an Opening Day roster. Take last year, for example.

The most devastating rookie in baseball, Nick Kurtz, didn't join the Athletics until April 23 and slashed .290/.383/.619 with 36 homers in 117 games. Cade Horton arrived in May for the Cubs and posted a 2.67 ERA in 118 innings. Roman Anthony came up in June and batted .292/.396/.463 for the Red Sox, while Colson Montgomery debuted for the White Sox in July and went deep 21 times in 71 contests.

The Pirates didn't break camp this March with the best prospect in baseball, then decided to promote Konnor Griffin eight days into the season. He doubled in his first big league at-bat and already has signed a nine-year, $140 million contract.

Who's next? Below, we identify a potential impact callup for every organization:

Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: RJ Schreck, OF (No. 9)
We aren’t counting Trey Yesavage as a callup since he’s rehabbing from his right shoulder impingement in the Minors. Instead, we’ll turn to a bat in Schreck. Anthony Santander’s shoulder surgery already had the Jays down an outfielder, and while Toronto is hopeful Addison Barger’s IL stay with a left ankle sprain will be a short one, it does highlight the need for depth on the grass. Enter Schreck, who has 67 games of Triple-A experience dating back to 2025. It’s been a slow start in Buffalo (3-for-28), but he has walked seven times against three strikeouts in the small sample with strong discipline analytics under the hood to back it up.

Orioles: Trey Gibson, RHP (No. 3)
The Orioles have a stable of arms at the ready with Triple-A Norfolk, with Gibson the headliner along with Nestor German and Levi Wells, all coming from the 2023 Draft class. As a non-drafted free agent that summer, Gibson has exceeded expectations in many ways already. He carried a 31.5 percent strikeout rate over the last two years into the 2026 season, and though it’s been a rough start to the season with the Tides, he has a full arsenal of offerings and has shown enough control/command to be a starting pitcher addition once he’s fully stretched out and the need arises in Baltimore.

Rays: Brody Hopkins, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 80)
Tampa Bay’s rotation is off to a fine start in the Majors, but starting depth is always called upon eventually in the bigs. No arm in the system has a higher ceiling than Hopkins does, and the 24-year-old righty has already touched triple-digits and generated a 36.2 percent whiff rate on his four-seam fastball. He’s moved toward a cutter and curveball as his top two secondaries to keep himself more over the plate, and control will still be a focus in his push toward the Trop.

Red Sox: Payton Tolle, LHP (No. 1/MLB No. 16)
Tolle rocketed from High-A to Boston in his 2025 pro debut and even made the Red Sox's playoff roster, but he got squeezed off the Opening Day roster after the club added Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez and Johan Oviedo during the offseason. The 2024 second-rounder from Texas Christian pitches off an unhittable fastball that sits at 95-97 mph and touches 101, and it plays up thanks to the elite extension (7 1/2 feet) in his delivery. He mixes in three average secondary offerings and has 13 strikeouts in 10 Triple-A innings.

Yankees: Carlos Lagrange, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 74)
After a season in which he finished third in the Minors in strikeouts (168 in 120 innings) and strikeout rate (33 percent), Lagrange raised his profile even further by fanning Aaron Judge with a 103-mph fastball during live batting practice this spring. Signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, he also operates with a sweeping mid-80s slider, upper-80s cutter and low-90s changeup.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B (No. 1/MLB No. 17)
The Guardians aren't getting much offense out of their middle infield, a shortcoming that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft could address. Few prospects can combine hitting ability, raw power and plate discipline like Bazzana can, even if his Triple-A numbers (.227/.396/.422 in 35 games over two seasons) are more modest than expected.

Royals: Shane Panzini, RHP (No. 21)
The 24-year-old right-hander was passed over for a 40-man spot and Rule 5 pick when eligible last offseason, but now working as a multi-inning option in the Omaha bullpen, he could be pushing for that elusive MLB look. Panzini has shown 18-20 inches of ride on his low-90s fastball in the early going this season and has played off that with a mid-70s curveball that’s averaged five feet of drop. If he can keep his K rate around its current level of 30 percent over a larger sample, a spot with the Royals won’t be far off.

Tigers: Max Clark, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 8)
So much for a slow spring. The 21-year-old outfielder has come roaring out of the gate with Triple-A Toledo, going 13-for-34 (.382) with six doubles, seven walks and only two strikeouts through nine games. He’s stolen four bags without being caught too. While other young players might come out aggressive to push for The Show, Clark has proven to be controlled with his swing decisions, fueling the hot start. If there is a small nit to pick, he might have to improve his angles off the bat – 50 percent of his batted balls are on the ground – but even so, he’s checking every other box to get to Detroit before the All-Star break.

Twins: Kaelen Culpepper, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 49)
The Triple-A St. Paul Saints roster is absolutely stacked, so it was hard to pick just one name here, as Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez could also play their way to the other Twin City. But given the time and reps missed by those outfielders because of various injuries, they could get more time in Triple-A. Culpepper, the club’s first-round pick in 2024, is on a fast track, performing well across High-A and Double-A in his first full season and making the jump to the highest level this year. He’s also seeing time at three infield positions, increasing options for the big league staff.

White Sox: Noah Schultz, LHP (No. 2/MLB No. 46)
Few pitching prospects can match the ceiling of Schultz, a 6-foot-10 southpaw with a wipeout low-80s slider with huge sweep and a mid-90s fastball that reaches 99 mph. A 2022 first-rounder from a suburban Chicago high school, he's fully healthy again after dealing with tendinitis in his right knee last season. He has permitted just three baserunners while striking out 10 of the 29 Triple-A hitters he has faced.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Angels: Tyler Bremner, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 76)
He’s the only player in this week’s story who is still in A ball, but he shouldn’t be for long. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 Draft made his first start last Saturday with High-A Tri-City, allowing just one hit and striking out six in three innings. His combination of stuff and command should put him on the fast track in an organization that has no qualms with pushing guys up the ladder. It might not be until the second half of the season, but he’s going to impact that big league staff in some fashion.

Astros: Ethan Pecko, RHP (No. 7)
Thoracic outlet syndrome delayed the start of Pecko's season, but he made a rehab start in Single-A on Saturday after finishing last season with a 3.09 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 35 Triple-A innings. The 2023 sixth-rounder from Towson utilizes a five-pitch mix highlighted by a fastball that ranges from 93-98 mph with good shape, and he creates deception with a low three-quarters arm slot and good extension. Hunter Brown's shoulder strain could create an opportunity for Pecko sooner rather than later.

A’s: Gage Jump, LHP (No. 3/MLB No. 54)
The A’s selection in the Competitive Balance Round B of the 2024 Draft, Jump pitched his way from High-A to Double-A last year and is now considered one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in the game. Now in Triple-A – he’s allowed one earned run over his first six innings with Salt Lake – it shouldn’t take long for him to show that his four-pitch mix (three above-average or better) and above-average control is ready for the big leagues. It’s early yet, but the A’s slow start certainly hasn’t been helped by having the worst team ERA in the American League. Jump can help.

Mariners: Colt Emerson, SS/3B (No. 1/MLB No. 7)
We knew it would be a matter of when, not if, Emerson would get called up after competing for a job in Spring Training, then getting sent down to start the year in Triple-A. That sentiment was cemented when he signed a long contract extension before he’d played a big league inning. While waiting for that inevitable call, he’s done exactly what arguably the best pure hitter still in the Minors has always done: Hit. Emerson has a .310/.355/.483 line over his first eight games with Tacoma while seeing most of his time at short.

Rangers: David Davalillo, RHP (No. 7)
A $10,000 bargain out of Venezuela in 2022, Davalillo is part of an extensive baseball family that includes a grandfather (Vic) and great-uncle (Pompeyo) who played in the Majors, a father (David) who reached Double-A before becoming a manager and scout, and a younger brother (Gabriel) who signed with the Angels for $2 million in 2025. He's also a legitimate prospect who led the Minors with a 1.88 ERA in 2024, won Rangers Minor League pitcher of the year honors last season and spun 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his first Double-A start of 2026. His out pitch is a low-80s splitter and he also stands out with his ability to mix six offerings, pound the strike zone and compete.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: JR Ritchie, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 84)
Four of the five starters in the big leagues are off to strong starts, but we should keep an eye on that last one, especially with Spencer Strider still a ways away from returning. Ritchie might battle it out with fellow Top 100 hurler Didier Fuentes for the next shot, and Fuentes has already seen the big leagues last year and this. But we still like Ritchie, the 2025 Futures Game starter, and his chances to make a lasting impact on the big league rotation, with at least 15 starts with Atlanta as he settles in as a mid-rotation starter for a long time.

Marlins: Joe Mack, C (No. 5/MLB No. 59)
Agustín Ramírez is one of the worst defensive catchers in the Majors and Liam Hicks isn't much better, a situation the Marlins could rectify by turning to Mack. Not only does the 2021 supplemental first-rounder from a New York high school have impressive receiving, framing and blocking skills to go with plus arm strength, but he also offers plus raw power that translated into 45 homers in the previous two seasons.

Mets: Ryan Lambert, RHP (No. 17)
The Mets bullpen has been among the best in baseball to start 2026, but there’s always room for even more explosive stuff, especially like Lambert’s. The 23-year-old right-hander is up in Triple-A for the first time and is generating elite ride on his four-seamer with Syracuse. He touched 99.3 mph in Spring Training but has been below that in the northern cold early in the regular season. No matter, Triple-A batters have yet to touch his mid-80s slider either. Finding even slightly below-average control consistently could be all Lambert needs before reaching Queens.

Nationals: Luis Perales, RHP (No. 6)
With a collective 5.73 ERA through 11 games, the Nationals rotation is an obvious weak spot for the rebuilding club. Yes, Perales, who came over from the Red Sox in the offseason, is being carefully managed at Triple-A as he’s almost two years removed from Tommy John surgery, and he’s had control issues early (five walks in 4 1/3 innings). But there’s little doubt the 22-year-old would inject some electricity into the starting corps with his 98-100 mph fastball (featuring 18-20 inches of ride) and 91-94 mph cutter. This is likely a callup that takes some time, but it’d be one worth the wait.

Phillies: Aidan Miller, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 20)
This one might be a little wishful thinking at this point because Miller’s back injury kept him sidelined all spring. He has recently started swinging the bat again and if he can get going and find the stroke that made him one of the Minors’ hottest hitters at the end of last year, he could provide an option for the Phillies later in the year on the left side of the infield.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Logan Henderson, RHP (No. 7)
We’re cheating a little here since Henderson joined the Brewers last Saturday as the 27th man on the roster for a doubleheader and made an abbreviated two-inning start before being sent back to Triple-A Nashville. That said, you can bet the 24-year-old righty will still get at least a few more cracks in Milwaukee’s rotation, especially as he gets built more up following elbow soreness this spring. Henderson’s four-seamer plays above-average with a flat approach angle, and his changeup looks like a plus pitch with major armside movement.

Cardinals: Jimmy Crooks, C (No. 8)
This only feels like a matter of time. Crooks appeared in 15 MLB games last season, but the Cardinals went with Iván Herrera, Pedro Pagés and Yohel Pozo as their three catchers out of camp this spring. The 24-year-old backstop has responded by hitting .375/.516/.917 with four homers and six walks through his first seven games back with Triple-A Memphis, and he’s thrown out two of four attempted basestealers to boot. Considered a gifted framer, Crooks would be a defensive asset at the least for St. Louis whenever his return call comes.

Cubs: Jaxon Wiggins, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 55)
The Cubs will need some rotation reinforcements after losing Cade Horton for the year, and Wiggins could be the man to replace him after some more Triple-A seasoning. A supplemental second-round pick in 2023 despite missing his junior season at Arkansas following Tommy John surgery, he posted a 2.19 ERA, .161 opponent average and 31 percent strikeout rate while advancing from High-A to Triple-A in 2025. He overpowers hitters with a 96-98 mph fastball that peaks at 101 and an upper-80s slider that tops out at 93 with significant depth.

Pirates: Esmerlyn Valdez, OF/1B (No. 11)
Konnor Griffin was the clear impact callup already, but there’s a good pool of talent still in Triple-A Indianapolis. Valdez has very real right-handed power and has shown enough improvement to believe he can play a decent outfield corner. His time at first base could be intriguing, especially when looking at the Pirates’ options there – Spencer Horwitz and Ryan O’Hearn both swinging it from the left side.

Reds: Héctor Rodríguez, OF (No. 5)
Meet Héctor Rodríguez, professional hitter. He makes a ton of contact, though he does swing at pretty much everything, with high chase rates and very low swing-and-miss rates. But it works with as much bat speed as pretty much anyone in the organization, and he’s posted a .952 OPS over his first 10 games in Triple-A this year. His ability to play all three outfield spots could provide options for the Major League staff soon.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 56)
Arizona went with Jordan Lawlar as its Opening Day left fielder, only for the former top prospect to suffer a fractured right wrist that pushed him onto the 60-day IL. Entering Wednesday, Waldschmidt still only has 10 games of Triple-A experience under his belt, but with his above-average power and speed, he has the tools to move quickly through the Pacific Coast League. Worth following: Waldschmidt is taking his walks in Reno but is perhaps being too passive with a 32.9 percent swing rate, and just a little more aggression on driveable pitches could go a long way.

Dodgers: River Ryan, RHP (No. 6)
Ryan was establishing himself in the Dodgers rotation with a 1.33 ERA in his first four big league starts in 2024 before blowing out his elbow that August, requiring Tommy John surgery that cost him all of last season. Acquired from the Padres in a 2022 deal for Matt Beaty, he's fully healthy again and regaining a six-pitch arsenal highlighted by a 95-100 mph four-seam fastball with huge carry and a tight upper-80s slider. He struck out six in four innings in his first Triple-A start back.

Giants: Bryce Eldridge, 1B (No. 1/MLB No. 22)
The Giants are scoring the fewest runs per game (3.00) and have hit the fewest home runs (four in 12 games) in the Majors, so the best power prospect in the Minors may be returning to San Francisco sooner rather than later. The 16th overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Eldridge mashed 25 homers in 100 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year despite wrist and hamstring ailments, and he became the youngest position player in the Majors (age 20) when he made his big league debut in mid-September.

Padres: Jase Bowen, OF (Not ranked among SD Top 30 prospects)
A former Pirates prospect, Bowen signed a Minor League deal with the Padres in November. He slugged .630 with four homers and six doubles in 25 Cactus League games this spring and hasn’t slowed down with a .278/.297/.722 line, three homers and eight total extra-base hits through nine contests with Triple-A El Paso to begin the regular season. Bowen has experience at all three outfield spots, which should help his chances in his second organization, but he must improve his discipline, as his current OBP shows.

Rockies: Charlie Condon, 1B/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 65)
Are we seeing the real Charlie Condon now? We certainly hope so, after a hand injury hampered him after he signed and then a fractured wrist sidelined him in his first Spring Training and he never got to his power, even during a solid Arizona Fall League. But he had a very strong showing in big league camp this spring and is off to a very solid start in Triple-A (1.081 OPS), so you have to think the Rockies will want to see what it looks like in Coors Field soon.