Spring Training is going to be packed with top prospects this year -- but who will be able to use it as a springboard to Opening Day rosters?
In all, 72 prospects from MLB Pipeline's overall Top 100 list are taking part in big league camp, including all but 2025 No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits from the top 20. Seventeen of the top 20 have a 2026 ETA for the Majors.
On the latest episode of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo broke down the odds each of them have of breaking camp with their respective teams. Eight players were given better than 50 percent chances of making an Opening Day roster.
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Here's a closer look at their predictions:
Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates (MLB No. 1)
Jonathan Mayo: 50 percent: He's 19. He played one year of pro ball and just barely played above A-ball. However, he had one of the best seasons in Minor League Baseball ever, especially for a teenager. A 20/60 season, making it to Double-A. He's going to get a very long look. There's not a shortstop that's better or blocking him. I would love for the Pirates to break camp with him, but I'm not convinced they will. I will say that he's in competition.
Jim Callis: 40 percent: You look at this history of how they treated Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler the last two years. I know they may be a little more in contention this year. I don't think they're inclined to break camp with him, but he's so talented that I can't rule it out.
Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers (MLB No. 2)
Callis: 60 percent: I think the difference between the Tigers and Pirates is the Tigers are all in it to win. ... They made the playoffs last year. They have a very good team ... but it's an infield that's in flux and people can move around. ... I do think he'll probably get some time there in Triple-A, but ... I do think that if he's that impressive this spring that he will make the team.
Mayo: 65 percent: I'm all in. I think the bat is going to play, and he's going to hit so much this spring that they won't have a choice.
Jesús Made, SS/2B, Brewers (MLB No. 3)
Mayo: 0 percent: He's exceedingly talented and also won't turn 19 until May. He played a grand total of five games in Double-A. He's in big league camp. I bet he plays a good amount. Excited to see him in the Spring Breakout game, and then he goes back to Double-A. I don't think there's any chance he makes the big league team.
Callis: 0 percent: He's supremely talented. I can't envision a scenario where he makes the team. Quick aside, does he make his big league debut this year at 19? I think so.
Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics (MLB No. 4)
Callis: 0 percent: He's played more in Double-A, and he's played an extra couple weeks in Double-A compared to Made. ... There's a scenario where the A's sneak into a wild card, but they have Jacob Wilson at shortstop. I don't think they're going to shift De Vries over to third base on the fly. I don't see any chance he makes the big league roster out of Spring Training ... but I think, just like Made, we see him later in the big leagues this year.
Mayo: 0 percent: I agree with all of that. Same boat.
JJ Wetherholt, INF, Cardinals (MLB No. 5)
Mayo: 100 percent: I was a little surprised that Wetherholt didn't get a taste of the big leagues last year. He had a huge year, .931 OPS, spent a bunch of the year at Triple-A. I think he answered whatever questions he had about his hamstring. The power showed up. The speed was there. He's not going to play shortstop in the big leagues, which is fine. He can play second. He can play third. He's going to make this team.
Callis: 100 percent: How is he not making the team? They're not giving up on this year. I don't know that they're really going to make the playoffs, but they're not totally rebuilding. I'd be shocked if he didn't.
Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (MLB No. 6)
Callis: 100 percent: If you could go over 100 percent, he's the biggest lock of any of these guys. He was the Mets' best starter down the stretch. He's got tremendous stuff. He's the best pitching prospect in baseball. ... I think Nolan McLean is going to be their No. 2 starter. ... On merit, 100 percent he's making the team.
Mayo: 100 percent: No notes.
Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers (MLB No. 7)
Mayo: 0 percent: He turns 20 next month, and we all like him. ... He spent all year in Double-A and did fine. He didn't set the world on fire numbers-wise, but considering his age, I think there are several more gears to get to. I could see him spending the year in the Minors.
Callis: 10 percent: I agree he's kind of blocked, but Corey Seager's their shortstop. He gets hurt a lot. Josh Jung is their third baseman. He gets hurt a lot. That's a team that's trying to win. ... I think there's a very slim chance that, if injuries opened the door for him, that he could storm his way through.
Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Orioles (MLB No. 8)
Callis: 90 percent: On the off chance he struggles in Spring Training, given that he struggled in the big leagues -- and look, he was only 21 last year, so not unexpected that it's taking a little time to adjust -- I don't think it's impossible that he doesn't make the team.
Mayo, 90 percent: They have first base-DH types on the team. They're going to make it work and move guys around. Basallo can catch, he can play first base and he can DH. I think it's pretty certain that he'll make the team, but that window is open a little tiny bit.
Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners (MLB No. 9)
Mayo: 45 percent: Basically what it comes down to is there's Brendan Donovan, Colt Emerson and Cole Young. ... There could be a scenario where all three are on the team and they shuffle the deck as much as possible, but I'm not sure they want to do that with Emerson, who had a really good year. He's 20 years old, doesn't turn 21 until July, such a pure hitter that his bat is ready to be tested. But I don't know if all three of them make it. He's going to get a very long look.
Callis: 30 percent: He really has not played that much above High-A. This is a team that's kind of World Series or bust. Because they have other options, I don't see him making the team unless injuries create an opening.
Max Clark, OF, Tigers (MLB No. 10)
Callis: 10 percent: They haven't slow-played Max, but they've allowed Max to develop at a steady pace rather than rush him. He's only played 43 games at Double-A. Their outfield seems like it's pretty set. ... I don't think he's played enough in the upper Minors, and I don't think there's an obvious path. I think he'll be up, and if you told me he was in their everyday lineup by midseason, I could see that.
Mayo: 15 percent: I could very easily see him making the decision hard. He just comes in and has a great spring, does what he does well, really good numbers, plays great outfield, runs the bases, which allows him to stick around longer than you would think. I do think he starts the year in Triple-A.
Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates (MLB No. 11)
Mayo: 90 percent: I'm not going to say total slam dunk, just because they have a lot of pitching. But I'd be shocked if he's not in the rotation. It's not the same situation as Skenes. He was not ready last year.
Callis: 100 percent: Come on, they can't jerk that guy around anymore. I think he could have made the team earlier in the 2025 season and got worse as he languished in Triple-A.
Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays (MLB No. 12)
Callis: 100 percent: I cannot imagine why he would not make the team.
Mayo: 100 percent: Agreed.
Eli Willits, SS, Nationals (MLB No. 13)
Mayo: 0 percent
Callis: 0 percent
Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins (MLB No. 14)
Callis: 30 percent: This was a tough one because their outfield is not real great. They traded away so many guys ... they're rebuilding. You could make the case on talent, and as much as I like Walker, he's been injured, he's never played more than 84 games in a season. I think they're going to give him more time at Triple-A, and they're not trying to win this year, so there's no reason to expedite him.
Mayo: 30 percent: It's Max Clark-ish in that he could wow them, and he he has more of a path.
Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers (MLB No. 15)
Mayo: 0 percent: There's no chance. I love Josue De Paula. I love the bat. I could see him being ahead of the timeline and being ready by, say, September.
Callis: 0 percent: The Dodgers' lineup is just too loaded.
Carson Benge, OF, Mets (MLB No. 16)
Callis: 70 percent: If there's any team that's hell-bent on making the playoffs, it's the Mets after spending a trillion dollars last year not making the playoffs. They have an opening in left field that appears to be Benge's for the taking. He also hit .178 in 24 games in Triple-A at the end of last season. But he's been kind of penciled in as soon as they traded [Brandon] Nimmo.
Mayo: 65 percent: I'm going to go a little bit below.
Thomas White, LHP, Marlins (MLB No. 17)
Mayo: 30 percent: He had a really good year last year. Missed a ton of bats, made it to Triple-A, but was there for not very long. Command is still a question.
Callis: 10 percent: If they have a rash of injuries, they have a number of arms ticketed for the rotation. ... There's no reason to rush him, they're not going to contend.
Carter Jensen, C, Royals (MLB No. 18)
Callis: 100 percent
Mayo: 100 percent: That's an easy one.
Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox (MLB No. 19)
Mayo: 20 percent: You would think, the guy was on the playoff roster, he would make the team. ... I don't think there's room in that rotation. Could they start with him in the bullpen? Maybe.
Callis: 20 percent: He's an obvious guy, if there's an injury in the rotation, to be a callup. But here's the thing: I don't know if he's the first callup because Connelly Early is in the exact same station, and he outperformed him in the big leagues.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (MLB No. 20)
Callis: 30 percent: Between the oblique [injury] and playing at the very highest levels of the Minors, he didn't put up unbelievable numbers. I still think he's one of the most talented hitters in the Minors. I still think that's a Guardians lineup that could use an influx of offense. ... He probably needs more time.
Mayo: 30 percent: I could see him having a great spring and maybe forcing his way in there, so you want to give him some chase. But I just think they'd like for him to go down to the Minors and get a head of steam before he gets called up. One hundred percent, he's on the team by midseason.