The 2026 Minor League season was one for the record books … literally.
Across the Minors, dozens of exclusive statistical clubs were infiltrated by this year's crop of young stars. The Brewers' Andrew Fischer mashed 48 regular-season homers, the most in MiLB since 1982, (and two in the postseason). A whopping 59 prospects had 20-20 seasons, just one fewer than the past three seasons combined. Mariners southpaw Kade Anderson posted a 1.06 ERA, one of the best of any Minor League hurler with 90 or more innings since 1963. Down at the Rookie level, 17-year-old Angels prospect Juan Cespedes swiped a record-setting eight bases in one contest -- and he only had one hit!
More on the 2026 MiLB Awards Show:
• All Award winners
• Hitting Prospect of the Year
• Pitching Prospect of the Year
• Prospect Team of the Year
• Best New Alternate Identity
There were plenty more historic campaigns beyond that sampling, and what better way to highlight those talents than by assembling a squad of the top players from 2026?
Here at MLB Pipeline, we have done just that. Taking into account a prospect's age, level and overall performance, our staff voted on two teams to honor the best players at each position, with an extra standout bat slotted in at designated hitter, one left-handed starter, one right-handed starter and one reliever.
In total, 15 MLB organizations were represented across the All-MiLB Prospect First and Second Teams. The Dodgers led the group with four representatives, followed by the Cardinals with three and the Guardians, Marlins, Orioles and Rays with two apiece.
First Team
C: Rainiel Rodriguez, Cardinals (No. 1/MLB No. 16)
A+/AA: .324/.413/.574, 115 G, 27 HR, 87 RBI, 97 R, 60 BB, 101 K, 11 SB, 150 wRC+
Over a dozen teenagers took the field at Double-A this season, but none dominated the level quite like Rodriguez. The 19-year-old backstop joined budding MLB stars Jackson Chourio and Junior Caminero as just the third player to hit 20+ Double-A homers in their age-19 season since 2005. His .999 Double-A OPS was tops among all hitters at the level -- where the average age is over 22 years old. Among Minor League catchers, Rodriguez was the only player with a .300+ batting average and 20+ big flies.
1B: Sean Keys, Blue Jays (Graduated)
AA/AAA: .294/.417/.602, 100 G, 28 HR, 80 RBI, 76 R, 60 BB, 97 K, 7 SB, 165 wRC+
After spending his entire first full season at High-A in 2025, Keys began his campaign at Double-A this year and delivered eye-popping results. The 2024 fourth-rounder mashed nine homers in his first 16 games, earning a promotion to Triple-A in early June and eventually debuting in the bigs a few weeks later. Keys' top attribute is his effortless pop, which he tapped into routinely in 2026. He finished the year atop the system in homers (28) and OPS (1.019) among other categories.
2B: Wilder Dalis, Rockies (No. 26)
ROK/A/A+: .308/.400/.551, 93 G, 19 HR, 80 RBI, 75 R, 51 BB, 97 K, 27 SB, 137 wRC+
Dalis belted nine homers across the first 170 games of his career. He blew that total out of the water this year. The athletic switch-hitting infielder hammered 19 homers en route to a .951 OPS -- the best among Minor League second basemen. Signed internationally in 2023, Dalis showcased his impressive bat-to-ball skills in 2026 by turning in his third consecutive campaign with a .300+ average. He netted All-Star honors in the Single-A California League and was one of just six qualified second basemen with 15+ homers and 25+ steals in the Minors.
3B: Andrew Fischer, Brewers (No. 5)
A+/AA: .273/.413/.654, 126 G, 48 HR, 114 RBI, 107 R, 102 BB, 185 K, 9 SB, 162 wRC+
The 2025 first-rounder had a campaign unlike any other this century with 50 home runs, including a pair in postseason play. That's the most roundtrippers in a single season since Ron Kittle in 1982. The lefty slugger had his fair share of walks and strikeouts as well as he led qualified full-season Minor Leaguers with a 1.066 OPS. Playing both infield corners defensively, he tore through the Midwest League and Southern League at the plate by consistently hitting the ball hard, in the air and to the pull side.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
Since 2005, just two Red Sox prospects have tallied 25 homers in a season at 20 years old or younger: Arias and three-time MLB All-Star Anthony Rizzo. That's pretty good company. Reaching Triple-A in his fourth pro season, Arias led all Minor League shortstops with a .323 average and ranked second with a .957 OPS. The Venezuela native tapped into newfound thump without sacrificing his elite hit tool, striking out just 14.2 percent of the time, which would be a top-25 mark in the Majors.
OF: Theo Gillen, Rays (No. 2/MLB No. 12)
A+/AA: .315/.419/.546, 116 G, 22 HR, 91 RBI, 96 R, 74 BB, 116 K, 44 SB, 151 wRC+
There were a historic number of 20-20 seasons in the Minors this year, and Gillen was part of that group, but he also headed up another elite cohort -- the 20-40 club. The 21-year-old was one of five speed-power standouts to reach those thresholds in 2026 and the first Rays prospect to do so since at least 2005. Gillen, who was named as Tampa Bay's Minor League Co-Player of the Year, has always had a mature plate presence and top-notch speed, but this season he proved he could leave the yard -- in bunches. The 2024 first-rounder registered three multihomer performances, two of which were in back-to-back games.
The 21-year-old led the Texas League in hits (152) and RBIs (104) -- en route to winning Most Valuable Player honors -- while hitting nearly as many homers (27) as he launched in his first four pro seasons combined (29). De Paula showed he was one of the most well-rounded hitters at any level as he rarely chased or whiffed and nearly walked (81) as much as he struck out (87). The left-handed slugger was one of six qualified full-season Minor Leaguers to hit at least .300/.400/.500 and the only one to also have a 25-25 season.
OF: Mike Sirota, Dodgers (No. 2/MLB No. 14)
A+/AA/AAA: .307/.461/.526, 108 G, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 100 R, 100 BB, 114 K, 13 SB, 162 wRC+
Sirota was an on-base machine as he reached safely in 72 consecutive contests after going 0-for-4 in the second game of the season. Not only is the 23-year-old extremely tooled up -- he's one of seven prospects with above-average tools across the board -- but he has a disciplined approach that enabled him to become one of four Minor Leaguers with at least 100 hits, runs and walks this season. The 2023 fourth-rounder played solid defense in center and right field to boot.
DH: Brandon Compton, Marlins (No. 13)
A+/AA/AAA: .270/.411/.576, 125 G, 36 HR, 103 RBI, 93 R, 104 BB, 191 K, 27 SB, 156 wRC+
Compton turned heads as a Draft prospect for his prodigious exit velocities and translated that into a massive power show in his first full season. The 2025 second-rounder finished seventh in the Minors with 36 homers and posted a .978 OPS that ranked third among Minor Leaguers with at least 500 plate appearances. His three-true-outcomes profile was extreme -- he homered, walked or struck out 58.4 percent of the time -- but he made it work as he worked his way up to Triple-A.
Anderson toed the rubber for 18 starts in his debut campaign for Double-A Arkansas … he allowed more than two runs in just one of them. The former Louisiana State standout delivered one of the top Minor League campaigns in recent history, logging a whopping 13 scoreless starts -- and two hitless. At the time of his MLB callup on Aug. 22, Anderson bested all Minor League hurlers with at least 90 innings in ERA (1.06), WHIP (0.64), strikeouts (135), average-against (.146) and walks (13), among other categories.
RHP: Anthony Eyanson, Orioles (No. 2/MLB No. 46)
A+/AA: 6-1, 1.54 ERA, 99 1/3 IP, 141 K, 35 BB, .175 BAA, 0.96 WHIP
Seen as an exciting right-handed prospect when the Red Sox selected him in the third round of the 2025 Draft, Eyanson immediately made an impact in pro ball with increased velocity. It only took him five starts to earn a promotion to Double-A, where he went to win Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors between his time with Portland and Chesapeake (following his inclusion in the Adley Rutschman trade). The 6-foot-2 right-hander posted a 27.9 percent K/BB rate that ranked third among Minor Leaguers with at least 90 innings.
RP: Sandro Santana, Cardinals (No. 24)
A+/AA/AAA: 5-2, 6 SV, 1.97 ERA, 64 IP, 101 K, 31 BB, .153 BAA, 1.02 WHIP
The 5-foot-10 southpaw gets a ton of deception on his low three-quarters delivery, and that has paid off with a ton of strikeouts. Essentially just leaning on a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and devastating sweeping slider, he racked up 101 strikeouts, which was fourth-most in the Minors among players who did not make a start. The 21-year-old didn't allow a run in 35 of his 46 outings and threw hitless ball in 25 of them.
Second Team
C: Caden Bodine, Rays (No. 3/MLB No. 48)
A/A+/AA/AAA: .342/.410/.517, 117 G, 17 HR, 99 RBI, 83 R, 52 BB, 34 K, 10 SB, 144 wRC+
The other Minor League Co-Player of the Year for the Rays, Bodine made stops at all four full-season levels in his debut campaign. A switch-hitting backstop with a strong feel for the barrel, he put up stellar numbers at each stop, finishing second among full-season players with a .342 average and first with a 6.3 percent strikeout rate.
1B: Josiah Hartshorn, Cubs (No. 1/MLB No. 36)
A/A+/AA: .284/.407/.518, 125 G, 23 HR, 112 RBI, 90 R, 91 BB, 109 K, 17 SB, 140 wRC+
Hartshorn moved quickly in his debut season and became the first high school hitter from the 2025 Draft to reach High-A. The switch-hitter closed his season with a cameo at Double-A and tied for fifth among teenage Minor Leaguers with 23 home runs while ranking third among all hitters with 112 RBIs.
2B: Angel Genao, Guardians (Graduated)
AA/AAA: .300/.401/.474, 96 G, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 65 R, 60 BB, 68 K, 11 SB, 134 wRC+
The switch-hitter spent the entire season on the Top 100 Prospects list until he graduated as the No. 27 overall prospect -- and lived up to his billing as a strong defender with a disciplined approach. The 22-year-old showed almost no platoon split as he posted a .788 OPS from the left side and a .812 OPS from the right side.
3B: Caleb Bonemer, White Sox (No. 2/MLB No. 27)
A+/AA: .251/.380/.550, 132 G, 37 HR, 92 RBI, 100 R, 84 BB, 161 K, 17 SB, 139 wRC+
After earning Single-A Carolina League MVP honors last season, the 2024 second-rounder more than tripled his homer output in 2026 to 37. That was tied for fifth in the Minors, and everyone with more roundtrippers was older than Bonemer, who turns 21 in October.
SS: Emil Morales, Dodgers (No. 4/MLB No. 22)
A/A+: .295/.382/.546, 117 G, 26 HR, 119 RBI, 80 R, 63 BB, 140 K, 9 SB, 133 wRC+
It's not often that the top run producer in the Minors is a shortstop; it's even less common that it's a teenage shortstop. But that's exactly what Morales was. The 6-foot-3, 191-pounder -- who recently turned 20 years old -- topped all prospects with 119 RBIs and ranked third among teens with 26 roundtrippers this season.
OF: Cam Cannarella, Marlins (No. 6/MLB No. 82)
A+/AA/AAA: .324/.422/.512, 98 G, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 73 R, 60 BB, 79 K, 21 SB, 149 wRC+
Always known for his sterling center-field defense, Cannarella had a breakout season at the plate as he ranked 14th among qualified full-season Minor Leaguers with a .422 on-base percentage. After not going deep in a 22-game cameo after signing last season, the 2025 43rd overall pick went deep 15 times across three levels.
OF: Josiah Ragsdale, Cardinals (No. 11)
A+/AA: .295/.418/.536, 116 G, 24 HR, 65 RBI, 110 R, 86 BB, 135 K, 37 SB, 145 wRC+
Another member of this season's extensive 20-20 club, Ragsdale established himself as one of the best power-speed outfield prospects in the Minors this season by boosting his flyball rate significantly. The 2025 seventh-rounder -- dealt to St. Louis at the Deadline -- sports elite 70-grade speed and slugged 12 homers in 26 games for Double-A Biloxi prior to the trade.
OF: Eric Hartman, Braves (No. 1/MLB No. 39)
A+/AA: .249/.350/.456, 128 G, 26 HR, 74 RBI, 95 R, 69 BB, 146 K, 56 SB, 115 wRC+
When it comes to power-speed prospects, Hartman is the poster child. It took the Alberta, Canada native just 71 games to reach 20 homers and 30 steals this season, becoming the second-fastest to do so since 2005. Hartman's power output stalled once he reached Double-A, but he still finished the season as the lone member of the 20-50 club.
DH: Ralphy Velazquez, Guardians (No. 1/MLB No. 29)
AA/AAA: .290/.379/.548, 121 G, 29 HR, 93 RBI, 78 R, 61 BB, 107 K, 2 SB, 142 wRC+
Velazquez produced solid numbers over the first few months of the year, but his campaign reached new heights at the end of July. Starting on July 28, the 21-year-old slugger ripped off 16 homers in a 20-game stretch, showcasing his plus pop.
LHP: Joseph Dzierwa, Orioles (No. 3/MLB No. 86)
A+/AA: 9-2, 2.27 ERA, 131 IP, 149 K, 30 BB, .186 BAA, 0.90 WHIP
The highest-drafted hurler since president of baseball operations Mike Elias took over in 2018, Dzierwa validated the club's decision in his debut campaign. The 6-foot-8 southpaw -- who throws from a deceptive three-quarters arm slot and creates elite extension -- finished the season with the second-best ERA (2.27), best WHIP (0.90) and best BAA (.186) among all qualified pitchers.
The 2025 sixth overall pick was nothing short of electric, routinely touching triple digits and earning a promotion after six dominant High-A starts. Among pitchers with at least 70 innings, he ranked fourth in K/BB rate (29.8 percent), ninth in ERA (2.43) and 14th in average-against (.181).
RP: Jacob Kmatz, Dodgers (No. 24)
A+/AA: 5-2, 8 SV, 2.76 ERA, 71 2/3 IP, 99 K, 13 BB, .211 BAA, 0.96 WHIP
The 6-foot-3 righty dominated in his first season as a reliever with an uptick in stuff and command. Kmatz had the best K/BB rate (30.5 percent) among Minor League relievers with at least 50 innings and ranked seventh in WHIP (0.96).