There was stiff competitors at virtually each place for MLB Community’s 2026 Prime 10 Proper Now lists, however that meant quite a lot of proficient gamers didn’t make the reduce.
From high prospects and younger gamers on the rise to stars in want of a rebound to flat-out snubs, loads of huge names weren’t among the many high 10 at their positions getting into the 2026 marketing campaign. However so much can change in a 12 months: How completely different would possibly these lists look come 2027?
Right here is one participant per place who was not featured on this 12 months’s Prime 10 Proper Now lists who may make the reduce subsequent season.
Primarily based on FanGraphs WAR, Dingler wasn’t only a borderline top-10 catcher in 2025 however among the finest within the Main Leagues. His 4.1 fWAR for 2025 was tied with the Dodgers’ Will Smith for third at his place, behind solely Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (9.1) and Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk (4.7). If Dingler can sustain his stellar protection and faucet into somewhat extra energy, he may very well be extensively thought of one in all MLB’s high backstops.
Rice underperformed his anticipated metrics a bit in 2025, however he nonetheless slugged 26 house runs and put up a .255/.337/.499 slash line. His offensive firepower is significantly much less precious as an on a regular basis first baseman than as a full-time catcher, however Rice nonetheless put up 3.0 fWAR in 2025, tied for tenth amongst first basemen. His Statcast efficiency suggests he may very well be even higher in 2026 and will be part of a bunch of elite gamers at his place.
2B: Travis Bazzana, GuardiansThis decide is contingent on a 2026 debut for Bazzana, the highest general decide of the 2024 Draft, who was invited to Spring Coaching and has an opportunity to compete for a spot on Cleveland’s Opening Day roster. Because of an elite hit device, the previous Oregon State standout may crack the highest 10 at a comparatively weak place if he can produce as a rookie in ’26.
Bazzana hung out at Excessive-A, Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, batting .245 with 9 house runs, 12 steals and an .813 OPS in 84 video games. His finest numbers, in actual fact, got here on the highest of these ranges: Bazzana had an .858 OPS in 26 video games for Triple-A Columbus. If he can meet the second on the MLB degree — no simple process for a participant getting used to the large leagues — he may instantly be among the finest hitters at his place.
One other season of that caliber would elevate Garcia towards the highest of subsequent 12 months’s third-base rankings, not to mention merely within the high 10. That is perhaps so much to ask from a participant with only a .645 OPS previous to 2025, however Statcast metrics (comparable to elite squared-up, chase and whiff charges) point out Garcia’s offensive enchancment is for actual. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have any hassle cracking this record come 2027.
SS: Willy Adames, GiantsEntering his ninth MLB season in 2026, Adames has been a constant producer 12 months in and 12 months out. He has accrued at the very least 3.0 fWAR in every of the previous 5 seasons, together with 4.0 in 2025 (tied for eighth amongst major shortstops). In his first 12 months with San Francisco, Adames turned the primary Giants participant with a 30-homer season since Barry Bonds in 2004. In 2024, he turned in a 32-homer, 112-RBI marketing campaign for the Brewers.
With energy, eye on the plate and a stable glove (he was tied for tenth amongst 37 major shortstops with +5 Outs Above Common in 2025), Adames is as regular a participant as any. He doesn’t have actually elite energy or pace nor a lot flash to his sport, however he’s pretty much as good a guess as any shortstop at present ranked outdoors the highest 10 to make the listcome 2027.
LF: Tyler Soderstrom, AthleticsSoderstrom cooled off after a scorching begin to 2025 by which he hit 9 house runs within the season’s first 19 video games, however he nonetheless put collectively a formidable breakout season for the A’s. After a powerful second half of 2024, the lefty slugger completed ’25 with a .276/.346/.474 batting line, 25 homers and 93 RBIs. A part of a proficient younger core together with first baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson, Soderstrom — solely 24 — is already among the finest hitters amongst MLB left fielders.
Moved to left from first base upon Kurtz’s callup in Could, Soderstrom additionally graded out as a plus defender regardless of no prior skilled expertise on the place. He accounted for +5 Outs Above Common and was an AL Gold Glove finalist in left subject, acclimating properly to the change. Soderstrom completed fifth amongst major left fielders in 2025 with 3.4 fWAR, a quantity that would solely develop if he could make strides in 2026.
CF: Michael Harris II, BravesAfter a disappointing 2025 on the plate, It can take a substantial rebound from Harris to achieve the highest 10 on the 2027 record. The 2022 NL Rookie of the Yr posted profession lows in batting common (.249), on-base share (.268, worst amongst qualifying hitters) and slugging share (.409) regardless of reaching 20 homers and 20 steals for the primary time in his profession.
Harris’ pace and defensive worth (+8 OAA) nonetheless netted him 1.4 fWAR in 2025, however he’ll should be significantly better with the bat to regain a spot among the many league’s finest middle fielders. The huge enchancment he confirmed from the primary to the second half of final season (.551 OPS earlier than the All-Star break, .845 after) is an effective signal Harris is poised to bounce again in ’26. The scale of that bounce may decide whether or not he finally ends up on the backside finish of the highest 10 or, maybe, towards the highest.
Lile’s youth, relative inexperience and defensive deficiencies (-8 OAA and a poor throwing arm) have him understandably outdoors the highest 10 at his place, however his offensive expertise can’t be denied. Proper subject is a fully stacked place across the league — Aaron Decide, Ronald Acuña Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Corbin Carroll are among the superstars who man that spot — however Lile may nonetheless discover his method onto the record if issues go proper in 2026.
SP: Bryan Woo, MarinersStaying wholesome has been Woo’s greatest concern since his June 2023 debut for Seattle. The fitting-hander landed on the injured record as soon as in his debut marketing campaign and twice in 2024 earlier than being sidelined by pectoral tightness late in 2025, protecting him to 2 reduction outings through the Mariners’ postseason run. Nonetheless, he was wholesome sufficient to make 30 begins in 2025, pitching to a formidable 2.94 ERA in 186 2/3 innings and fanning 198.
In 2025, Woo held opposing hitters to a .153 common in at-bats ending on his four-seam fastball. His sinker was additionally wonderful: The truth is, no hurler had the next pitcher run worth towards fastballs in 2025 than Woo’s +30 mark. Solely 26 years previous heading into the 2026 marketing campaign, Woo is already one in all MLB’s finest starters, and he ought to crack the highest 10 with one other wholesome season — though that’s by no means a given for Woo.
RP: Jhoan Duran, PhilliesDuran’s arsenal is downright nasty: He throws a four-seam fastball that averages a scorching 100.6 mph and has elite horizontal break. He has a knuckle curve with sharp downward chew and a sweeper he makes use of towards right-handed hitters. And he throws his “splinker” — a splitter averaging 97.8 mph — greater than another providing. In 2025, hitters slugged no higher than .300 towards any of Duran’s pitches.
Dealt to the Phillies on the 2025 Commerce Deadline, Duran not solely has elite stuff however possesses a better’s mentality and the flexibility to overlook barrels and roll floor balls at a excessive fee. He’s been one in all MLB’s finest relievers ever since his 2022 debut for the Twins, and there’s no purpose he ought to discover himself out of the highest 10 getting into 2027. For a Phillies staff with championship hopes, having a full season of Duran within the nearer position ought to be a deal with.
