Mar 06, 2026
3 min read
If you are not playing in a dynasty league, there is a dire need for prospects who can help you right now.
His speedy version of Kyle Schwarber in Triple-A last year suggests Samuel Basallo has 40 homer upside, and is expected to get most of his at-bats at DH, minimizing the wear and tear that comes with catching.
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep: All New Teams Highlight Top Prospects for Redraft Leagues
Unless you're playing in a state league, you better be interested in opportunities that can help you now.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a banner one for the Cubs.
Typically, when I make an all-rookie team for next season, it's made up of players who are more likely to play midseason than opening day, making it questionable whether they'll waste time in a draft league again.But every player on this year's All-Rookie first team and most of their backups have legitimate chances to make the cut.Most will say that they like to do it.
Admittedly, I had to cheat a little.The benchmarks for rookie eligibility are 130 major league hits and 50 major league innings, and all of these players failed to meet those criteria. However, some of them technically lost their rookie eligibility.This is because too many days were spent on the active roster.I have noted one such case below.(and in doing soI might use the word(Too "technically")
The focus here, just to reiterate, is the league's redraft.There is so much prospect coverage in the dynasty game that even if you read about the prospects, you may be at a loss as to what you can help with right now.Well, here they are, and most of them, at least so far, have been undervalued in drafts.
This is less true for pitchers than hitters.
He doesn't have Basall's catch, but Carter Jensen's exit rates are first with him and some of the best sluggers in the game.He and Salvador Perez are expected to alternate between catcher and DH.
The natural third baseman is expected to spend more time at the cold corner for the Reds, where he should be able to handle everyday duties with the superior hitting instincts he's shown since his junior year.His five homers in 18 games after reaching the majors last year showed the power will play, too.
Munetaka Murakami's 80-degree power made him a two-time MVP in Japan, but his swing and miss issues are just as obvious and can be a problem against major league pitchers, especially since he's most affected by velocity.
Honorable Mention: Charlie Condon, Colonel
With his disciplined approach and all-around ability, JJ Weatherholt handled the top minors so easily that the Cardinals probably should have included him in their lineup last September, but they got rid of enough infielders this offseason to ensure he would be there now.He is currently eligible at shortstop but is expected to play second base.
Perhaps the youngest signing announced in a banner year for players migrating from East Asia, Sung-Mun Song is a bit of a wild card for the Padres, both in terms of the role he will play and the impact he will have.His extreme pull-and-pull tendencies may allow him to gain enough power to be considered in deeper leagues, but likely at the expense of his batting average.
Kazuma Okamoto was the oldest of the three stars who came from Japan this season, and yet he got the longest contract at four years, $60 million, which speaks to how well his skill set translates to the bigs.His contact skills are on the other side of the spectrum from Murakami, and his exit velocity (reported at 92.4 mph last year and 112.2 mph max last year) is better than he gives himself credit for.
Jordan Lawler isn't technically a rookie right now, but since he's just below the normal match threshold, I'm counting him in here.His ascension has been a long time coming, but he looks to play mostly in the outfield this spring, where he has hit well so far.
Like Mike Trout, he marries natural baseball instincts with NFL linebacker athleticism, Connor Griffin is aiming to become the first 19-year-old since Ken Griffey Jr.in 1989.
The number one person overwhelmed by the Griffin hype is Kevin McGonigle.
The Phillies have left no real options in center field for Justin Crawford, who looks like a two-zone fantasy specialist but hits the ball so well that he seems to develop into power, as his father Carl Crawford eventually did.
Part of the Mets' rationale for trading Brandon Nimmo this offseason was that they had Carson Benge, with an even higher ceiling, waiting in the wings.He hit a wall late in the year in Triple-A. He still needs a big spring.
After three minor league seasons in which he sat more than he played (mainly due to a sore left foot), Chase DeLaughter made his postseason debut and now has a clear path to play in Cleveland.His batting instincts are off the charts, but you have to take it on faith.
Owen Caissie finally fully developed his power pitch last year, and the Cubs allowed him to be sent to Miami, where he should have a clearer path to playing time.It hits a pattern through real results.
Dylan Beavers' ability on base stood out early on and carried over to the majors, where he hit at a .375 clip in 35 games last year.However, he will have to beat out the well-paid Tyler O'Neal for playing time.
While the power/speed combination is appealing, the contact issues that led to a 35 percent strikeout rate in the minors last year proved to be too much.However, Zach Cole made a strong enough impression at last year's offseason tryouts that he could bounce back this spring.
Bryce Eldridge uses his 6-foot-8 frame to generate massive power and, despite some concerns about his hitting, is considered a solid tool prospect at 21. He would look much better in Fantasy if he was eligible to play first base, and that likely will be soon.
By parting with Owen Caissie in the Edward Cabrera deal, the Cubs also planted their banner in Moises Ballesteros, a natural hitting talent whose versatile structure gives him a tough path to defend.However, there is a good chance that he will regain the ability to catch at some point, which would only raise his stature.
Nolan MacLean has already proven his power with a 2.06 ERA in eight major league starts last year and has plenty of margin for error thanks to a deep six-pitch arsenal.
Chase Burns pitched fewer innings in the majors than McClain last year, but he technically wasn't eligible as a rookie due to a few days on the active roster.He's arguably the more talented of the two, though, having recorded double-digit strikeouts in four of eight starts so far, which is more than Paul Skenes has done in his entire career.
Although he's still a rookie, Trey Yesavage is already a familiar face thanks to his postseason progress, including 5 1/3 strikeouts against the Yankees and 12 against the Dodgers in the World Series.
Bubba Chandler's frustration boiled over last year in Triple-A, contributing to his control issues there, but he's walked just four in his 31 1/3 innings in the majors and has three different pitches capable of generating excitement.
The hardest hitter in Japan last year stood out all the more for his division and scrapping, but he's had management issues of late and had to settle for a contract (three years, $54 million) that fell short of expectations.
It's surprising that Andrew Painter didn't make the first team despite being a consensus top 40 prospect and starting rotation player, but that's how this year's rookie class has turned out.His performance last year was more of a concern than his ranking, but he has reportedly repaired the arm angle that affected him while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Connelly Early isn't getting as much love as expected and will bide his time in 2026, but his six-game hitting streak has played out in the minors and majors, as he had a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13.5 K/9 in four starts last year.
Another outsider, Parker Messick has shown that he can get good velocity on his fastball despite a perfect season debut, but he may be more impressive than his 2.72 ERA in seven major league starts.
Robby Snelling, who first rose to prominence in the Padres' system, had a 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 in his 11 starts at Triple-A last year, but has struggled so far this spring and is likely locked up anyway after the Chris Paddack acquisition.
Although Mick Abel was well short of the standard 50-inning threshold to remain eligible as a rookie, he was ineligible due to the amount of time he spent on the active roster.The Source had his eyes, especially with his superior height, he could break into the starting five for the Twins.
Luann Oinigh: Logan Henderson, MIL; Jonas Tong, NYM; Thomas White, MI; JR Ritchie, ATL.
Technically, Clayton Beeter is not a rookie because he has spent too many days on the job, but he is still new to the job and only started working in the workplace last September.The Nationals have remained tight-lipped about their closer plans, but Beeter's ability to pass balls would make him a logical candidate.
Peyton Tolle's incredible fastball gives him a high ceiling, but he doesn't seem ready for prime time with a 6.06 ERA last year and is expected to start the year in Triple-A.He is eligible as a relief pitcher in Fantasy, but his future is in the rotation.
Honorable Mentions: Foster Griffin, Dublin; Jack Perkins, Dublin;Ryan Weiss, HOU
