The lengthy offseason offers gamers loads of time to heal up and put together for the next season. That is particularly vital for gamers who have been damage for big chunks of the earlier marketing campaign.
Sidelined prospects can lose invaluable time to develop and show themselves. Typically there are lingering points, however usually the brand new yr is usually a new begin — and an opportunity to rise within the rankings.
With that in thoughts, here’s a take a look at 15 prospects — 9 from MLB Pipeline’s total Prime 100 listing — who may very well be in for a breakout season after lacking vital time in 2025 because of harm.
Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers (DET No. 4/MLB No. 35)Rainer was off to a robust begin in his first professional season, slashing .288/.383/.448 in 35 Single-A video games earlier than dislocating his proper shoulder sliding again into first base, which required season-ending surgical procedure. The eleventh total choose in 2024 is thought for his double-plus arm power, so how that returns this season bears watching. Rainer has large upside on the plate as effectively and can possible shoot up the rankings if his burgeoning energy holds up over a bigger pattern at Excessive-A.
Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (CLE No. 2/MLB No. 46)Accidents have restricted DeLauter to only 138 regular-season video games for the reason that Guardians drafted him sixteenth total in 2022 — a number of left foot accidents, a sprained huge proper toe, a proper hamstring pressure, a sports activities hernia and a hamate fracture amongst them. The excellent news is that almost all of his accidents have been freak accidents that should not be at elevated threat of recurring (though the frequency is head-scratching). The Guardians clearly have huge religion in his bat — he is one among 4 ranked total prospects with 60-grade hit and energy instruments — having began him twice within the playoffs for his first huge league motion.
Mike Sirota, OF, Dodgers (LAD No. 5/MLB No. 60)As soon as seen as a possible first-round choose, Sirota started fulfilling his potential final season — slashing .333/.452/.616 throughout two ranges of A-ball — earlier than a proper knee harm sliding into second base ended his season in July. The Northeastern star has plus pace when wholesome, in order that can be key to look at when he returns. He has an opportunity to stay in heart subject, which might be a giant boon to his worth, and the Dodgers’ farm system is loaded with speedy outfielders who may supplant him if he regresses.
Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins (MIN No. 4/MLB No. 74)After lacking vital time the earlier three seasons with knee, belly and thumb accidents, Rodriguez was sidelined once more in 2025, this time because of thumb, hip and indirect accidents. When wholesome, although, he managed a sturdy .852 OPS with elite underlying numbers (max EV of 113.6 mph, within the ninety fifth percentile at Triple-A). With the Twins doubtlessly within the AL Central race — and dealing with quite a few accidents to outfielders within the huge leagues final yr — they might profit from calling up the soon-to-be-23-year-old and maximizing his time on the sphere.
Blake Mitchell, C, Royals (KC No. 2/MLB No. 75)A damaged proper hamate bone in Spring Coaching paused Mitchell’s season, and he suffered a setback after 4 rehab video games that additional delayed his return to Excessive-A till July. The 2023 first-rounder hit a disappointing .218/.390/.320 with Quad Cities, though he did stroll at a career-best 20.8 % clip. Hamate accidents are infamous for sapping energy, so 2026 can be a clean slate of types. And with prime Royals prospect Carter Jensen set to separate catching duties within the huge leagues with franchise icon Salvador Perez, Kansas Metropolis needs to be in no rush.
Theo Gillen, OF, Rays (TB No. 2/MLB No. 76)Gillen handled shoulder surgical procedure and wrist and knee accidents in highschool, and in addition confronted a number of hiccups in his first full professional season after going 18th total within the 2024 Draft. A calf harm sidelined him for 3 weeks in April, and his season resulted in mid-August when he broke the center finger on his left hand whereas trying to steal a base. Gillen has untapped energy potential — he went deep simply 5 occasions with a .119 ISO in 73 Single-A video games final yr — and the additional he’s from his accidents, the better it will likely be so as to add practical power.
Jonny Farmelo, OF, Mariners (SEA No. 6/MLB No. 78)The twenty ninth total choose within the 2023 Draft returned lower than 11 months after a torn ACL, though a rib cage stress response landed him again on the injured listing and held him to 29 regular-season video games. Farmelo confirmed off his tantalizing instruments within the Arizona Fall League, the place he hit .234/.406/.442 with 12 steals in 14 makes an attempt. His 65-grade pace is his carrying software, so it will likely be essential to look at in 2026 as a result of it will possibly take greater than a yr to completely regain such dynamic athleticism after ACL accidents.
Jarlin Susana, RHP, Nationals (WSH No. 4/MLB No. 80)The 2025 marketing campaign was principally a wash for Susana, who missed three months with a sprained elbow and suffered a season-ending proper lat harm in September. The 6-foot-6 righty has monumental upside with a 70-grade fastball and slider, however he faces main questions on his sturdiness and management that might push him to a back-end bullpen position. Though Susana is anticipated to overlook the beginning of the season recovering from harm, he may have an opportunity to deal with these questions in 2026 upon his return.
Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds (CIN No. 5/MLB No. 86)Lowder has traditionally been fairly sturdy however was held to only six Minor League begins and a short AFL look in 2025 due to a forearm pressure and indirect harm. The 2023 first-rounder was prepared to carry down a giant league rotation spot final yr and figures to be squarely within the combine in ’26. The excellent news is that if the Reds wish to restrict his workload, they’ve uncommon rotation depth with Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo and Chase Burns, plus Brandon Williamson and fellow prospects Chase Petty and Julian Aguiar.
Ethan Salas, C, Padres (SD No. 1)Salas hoped for a giant season after hitting simply .206/.288/.311 in 2024, however a stress fracture in his again meant he may solely play 10 video games in ’25. Not a world top-five prospect, Salas has an opportunity to re-establish his worth together with his conventional sturdy protection and higher manufacturing on the plate towards secondary pitches.
Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Blue Jays (TOR No. 4)Not too long ago the highest left-handed pitching prospect within the sport, Tiedemann didn’t pitch competitively in 2025 after present process Tommy John surgical procedure in July 2024. The Blue Jays plan to ease him again into motion, though it will likely be fascinating to see whether or not they pitch him out of the bullpen to allow him to contribute to a different potential playoff run.
Demetrio Crisantes, 2B/3B, D-backs (AZ No. 4)Crisantes was on the verge of cracking the Prime 100 Prospects listing earlier than struggling a posterior labral tear in his left shoulder that required season-ending surgical procedure in Might. Well being can be key to look at — he additionally had a pair of elbow surgical procedures in highschool — as a result of he has the hit software to maneuver shortly if he can keep on the sphere.
Jake Bloss, RHP, Blue Jays (TOR No. 8)Tommy John surgical procedure in Might 2025 will push again Bloss’ huge league debut with the Blue Jays till after his twenty fifth birthday, though he ought to return within the second half of 2026. The 6-foot-3 righty nonetheless tasks as a long-term starter with higher management than Tiedemann and a wider however much less dynamic pitch combine.
River Ryan, RHP, Dodgers (LAD No. 9)Ryan went down with an elbow harm 4 begins into his huge league profession in August 2024 and missed all of final season recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. Even at 27, he has No. 2 starter potential with a deep five-pitch combine, and the Dodgers have the rotation depth to ease him into motion.
Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays (TB No. 9)It is onerous to know what to anticipate from Isaac in 2026 after he disclosed that he underwent “life-saving” mind surgical procedure in July that ended his season after earlier coping with elbow and wrist accidents. The left-handed slugger has among the greatest uncooked energy within the Minors and is raring to reply questions on his swing-and-miss.
