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Happy holiday season! Before we wrap up MLB Pipeline newsletters for the 2025 calendar year, we’re looking ahead to 2026 and predicting who will be the top prospect in each farm system 12 months from now:
Angels
Now: Tyler Bremner, RHP
Next Year: Joswa Lugo, SS
No. 2 overall selection Bremner likely won’t be an exception to the Halos’ history of quick-moving arms. Instead, Lugo -- a 6-foot-3 shortstop with above-average power potential -- could leap into No. 1 with a strong first showing in full-season ball.
Astros
Now: Brice Matthews, 2B
Next Year: Anderson Brito, RHP
Brito was an Arizona Fall League pitching standout, with a four-seam fastball up to 100.1 mph, an upper-80s sweeper and an improving splitter. Without the shoulder issues of 2025, he moves atop Houston’s list.
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Athletics
Now: Leo De Vries, SS
Next Year: De Vries
The guess here is that De Vries spends much of next summer in Double-A and Triple-A before earning a late-season callup, setting the stage for an AL Rookie of the Year Award run in 2027.
Blue Jays
Now: Trey Yesavage, RHP
Next Year: JoJo Parker, SS
The 2025 eighth overall pick has an intriguing mix of hit and power tools from the left side at a premium position, keeping him above Arjun Nimmala and Johnny King.
Braves
Now: Cam Caminiti, LHP
Next Year: Caminiti
The 2024 first-rounder caught fire late at Single-A Augusta. He has the potential for at least three above-average pitches and could enter the upper echelon of southpaw prospects.
Brewers
Now: Jesús Made, SS/2B
Next Year: Made
The 18-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder might move faster than Jackson Chourio did and reach Milwaukee in his age-19 season, but with minimal upper-level experience right now, he’s still likely to retain prospect eligibility in 2026.
Cardinals
Now: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B/3B
Next Year: Rainiel Rodriguez, C
After moving stateside in 2025, Rodriguez could be a 30-homer threat before he reaches his 20s, and that’s incredibly valuable for someone who makes a living behind the plate.
Cubs
Now: Owen Caissie, OF
Next Year: Ethan Conrad, OF
Left shoulder surgery cut Conrad’s one season at Wake Forest short, but his mix of bat-to-ball skills and bat speed could help him hit the ground running.
Diamondbacks
Now: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF
Next Year: Kayson Cunningham, SS
The D-backs certainly have a type -- undersized, lefty-hitting talent up the middle, and the 2025 18th overall pick fits well. The former USA Baseball Player of the Year has the barrel control and approach to succeed at the plate.
Dodgers
Now: Josue De Paula, OF
Next Year: Eduardo Quintero, OF
Los Angeles is undoubtedly deep on the grass, but Quintero could easily be a 20-20 threat in ‘26 and become more well-rounded than De Paula or Zyhir Hope.
Giants
Now: Bryce Eldridge, 1B
Next Year: Josuar Gonzalez, SS
Already considered a gifted defender at short, the switch-hitting Gonzalez is just getting going offensively as he works on improving his strength and timing. He’ll head stateside as an 18-year-old.
Guardians
Now: Travis Bazzana, 2B
Next Year: Angel Genao, SS
Now on the 40-man roster, Genao was limited by a right shoulder strain in 2025. A healthier year could make him more productive as a switch-hitter and send him higher up prospect lists.
Mariners
Now: Colt Emerson, SS/3B
Next Year: Kade Anderson, LHP
As polished a pitcher as any arm in the 2025 Draft class, Anderson won’t need to be rushed in the Minors due to Seattle’s admirable rotation depth, allowing the LSU star to dominate the upper Minors with four above-average pitches.
Marlins
Now: Thomas White, LHP
Next Year: Aiva Arquette, SS
The Marlins have had four different Opening Day shortstops in the last four years. Arquette -- the Oregon State star with plus power and arm strength -- will set himself up to lock down that role by 2027 but will need to improve his contact rate against pro arms.
Mets
Now: Nolan McLean, RHP
Next Year: A.J. Ewing, OF/2B
New York’s current top five could all graduate by December 2026, and trading top talent can’t be ruled out either. The 134th overall pick in 2023, Ewing has put himself in potential No. 1 position down the line with his plus speed, improving contact and impressive range in center.
Nationals
Now: Eli Willits, SS
Next Year: Willits
This year’s No. 1 overall pick will still only be 18 years old for the duration of his first full season. If the Nats can get Willits to show a little more pop in ‘26, it would go a long way toward cementing his place as a future face of the franchise.
Orioles
Now: Samuel Basallo, C/1B
Next Year: Ike Irish, C/OF
Like Basallo before him, Irish could be an absolute masher in the O’s system, albeit with questions about his future place on the diamond.
Padres
Now: Ethan Salas, C
Next Year: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP
A potential two-way player in the 2025 Draft, the 6-foot-8 Schoolcraft could take off with his tighter focus on the mound in his first full season.
Phillies
Now: Andrew Painter, RHP
Next Year: Gage Wood, RHP
Painter, Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford are all graduate candidates. Wood will look to carry some of his College World Series no-hit magic into pro ball, and his plus-plus riding heater will help.
Pirates
Now: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF
Next Year: Seth Hernandez, RHP
Though his arrival date is up in the air, Griffin will become Pittsburgh’s shortstop of the present in ‘26. Sixth overall pick Hernandez plugs himself into the pipeline that has made starting pitching a strength in Steel City.
Rangers
Now: Sebastian Walcott, SS
Next Year: Walcott
Walcott will still only be 20 for the entire 2026 season and could still use marinating in the upper levels after a more solid than spectacular Double-A Frisco campaign. His power and arm remain special.
Rays
Now: Carson Williams, SS
Next Year: Grady Emerson, SS
Tampa Bay will pick second overall in the Draft next July, its highest selection since 2008. Getting the top high school shortstop in the class is a great way to capstone a typically deep group.
Reds
Now: Sal Stewart, 3B/1B/2B
Next Year: Alfredo Duno, C
After back-to-back seasons in Single-A, Duno climbs the ladder and shows why his big right-handed pop and surprising athleticism for his size can play anywhere.
Red Sox
Now: Franklin Arias, SS
Next Year: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP
Boston’s pitching group got breakouts from Payton Tolle and Connelly Early in 2025 and can plug 15th overall pick Witherspoon into the pipeline. His deep arsenal should give them plenty with which to work.
Rockies
Now: Ethan Holliday, SS
Next Year: Holliday
Holliday’s swing-and-miss issues at Single-A Fresno are causes for pause, but the fourth overall pick’s upside is still tremendous.
Royals
Now: Carter Jensen, C
Next Year: Kendry Chourio, RHP
Chourio’s rise from the Dominican Summer League to Single-A at 17 years old was the talk of the system. If he comes close to replicating the stuff and results over a larger sample, he’ll be one of the most promising arms in the sport.
Tigers
Now: Kevin McGonigle, SS
Next Year: Bryce Rainer, SS
Top 10 overall prospects McGonigle and Max Clark seem like safe bets to graduate. With his left-handed pop and rocket arm, Rainer could slide into that tier assuming he fully recovers from 2025’s right shoulder surgery.
Twins
Now: Walker Jenkins, OF
Next Year: Justin Lebron, SS
Minnesota has the No. 3 pick in July, and if Jenkins graduates as expected, no one else left in the system has the upside of Alabama shortstop Lebron, who earns 60 grades for four of his five tools.
White Sox
Now: Braden Montgomery, OF
Next Year: Roch Cholowsky, SS
Chicago won the Draft Lottery and sits in pole position to select the UCLA star, perhaps the clearest No. 1 Draft prospect in years and the most well-rounded collegian shortstop since Troy Tulowitzki.
Yankees
Now: George Lombard Jr., SS
Next Year: Dax Kilby, SS
Last year’s top Yankees pick generated interesting momentum at Single-A Tampa by rarely chasing and posting above-average exit velocities (especially for an 18-year-old). If that carries into ‘26, he’ll be a more-well-known name, even if his defense at short remains fringy.