The most pleasant prospect surprises so far — one for each team

That’s the time of yr as soon as we like to check out good developments inside the early part of the Minor League schedule. As soon as we did so a yr prior to now, we spotlighted a variety of prospects who’ve been steaming in the direction of MLB Pipeline’s Excessive 100 report: A.J. Ewing, Carlos Lagrange, Joe Mack, Rainiel Rodriguez, Caden Scarborough, Mike Sirota and Jaxon Wiggins.

Roughly two months into the 2026 season, Astros catcher/first baseman Jason Schiavone is your sudden Minor League chief in residence runs (18), slugging (.773) and OPS (1.221). After accidents marred the start of his career, Mariners shortstop Felnin Celesten is tearing up Extreme-A and exhibiting why he was one of many essential coveted avid gamers inside the 2023 worldwide class. Nationals infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald has grown into some vitality and is making a case for being the most effective part of the five-prospect bundle obtained from the Rangers inside the MacKenzie Gore commerce.

Beneath, we highlight these avid gamers and 27 further, one from each farm system who’s making encouraging progress:

Blue Jays: Nolan Perry, RHP (No. 17)A Twelfth-round resolve in 2022, Perry entered this season with solely 84 1/3 career innings as a consequence of early limits and Tommy John surgical process that knocked him out for part of 2024 and all of 2025. He’s not solely healthful now, nonetheless he’s added just some ticks to his fastballs after the rehab course of (now sitting 93-95 mph) and he’s picked up a splitter to help him in the direction of lefties. His slider and curveball have moreover been environment friendly pitches, leading to a 1.45 ERA and 50 strikeouts by way of 31 innings at Single-A and Extreme-A. He shot up the Excessive 30 after Brandon Valenzuela’s graduation and can flip into an attention-grabbing 40-man selection when Rule 5-eligible this offseason.

Orioles: Wehiwa Aloy, SS (No. 5)In the event you’re the Golden Spikes Award winner and SEC Participant of the 12 months, there are going to make sure expectations in terms of effectivity. Nevertheless points about his hit instrument and his tendency to chase breaking stuff out of the zone saved him out of the first-round right remaining July. The Okay price is a bit extreme (27.8 p.c), nonetheless he’s attending to his vitality (10 homers in 32 video video games) whereas slashing .326/.375/.612 with Extreme-A Frederick.

Rays: Cooper Flemming, INF (No. 27)A second-round choose of the California high-school ranks remaining yr, Flemming has shot out of the gate in his first Minor League season, hitting .311/.405/.496 with 4 homers in 35 video video games for Charleston. His 147 wRC+ is tied for second-best amongst children at Single-A alongside first-rounders Xavier Neyens (152) and Tate Southisene (146). Flemming already drew reward for his clear mechanics as a left-handed hitter sooner than together with 25 kilos of energy between the Draft and Spring Teaching, and he’s reaping the rewards quickly in his career.

Pink Sox: Anthony Eyanson, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 72)The Pink Sox had extreme hopes for Eyanson, whom they paid an virtually double-slot $1.75 million bonus as a third-rounder remaining July after he helped Louisiana State win the College World Sequence. Nevertheless they may not have foreseen him dominating to the extent he has in his skilled debut: 0.61 ERA, .108 opponent widespread, 42/7 Okay/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings between Extreme-A and Double-A. He has added 3 mph to his fastball, which now works at 94-96 mph and tops out at 100, making his already-nasty mid-80s slider far more devastating.

Yankees: Jack Cebert, RHP (No. 25)The Yankees excel at turning later-round picks into top quality pitching prospects, and their latest occasion is Cebert, a Fifteenth-round senior sign a yr prior to now out of Texas Tech. Further of a two-seam fastball man with the Pink Raiders, he’s now having further success with a lively 92-96 mph four-seamer and an improved low-80s slider. He needed merely three outings to earn a promotion from Extreme-A to Double-A and sports activities actions a 2.36 ERA, .179 opponent widespread and 37/7 Okay/BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings between the two ranges.

Guardians: Justin Campbell, RHP (No. 22)A two-way star at Oklahoma State sooner than specializing within the mound in 2022 and pitching his technique into the supplemental first spherical, Campbell missed his first three full skilled seasons as a result of two elbow operations (along with Tommy John surgical process in April 2024) and a wrist course of. Not solely is he lastly healthful, he’s displaying further fastball velocity (93-97 mph) than he did in school and efficiently mixing 5 decisions. His long-awaited skilled debut goes successfully, with a 1.66 ERA, .145 opponent widespread and 35 p.c strikeout price between Extreme-A and Double-A.

Royals: Justin Lamkin, LHP (No. 13)Ultimate yr’s 71st whole resolve, Lamkin was the converse of the backfields in Shock this spring, with director of participant progress Mitch Maier saying, “I’m truly excited because of, wow, that’s what it looks as if.” Nevertheless even offered that, the earlier Texas A&M hurler is transferring quicker than anticipated, having already reached Double-A after posting a 1.27 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings for Extreme-A Quad Cities. Lamkin works with a fastball-slider-changeup-curveball mix, and whereas he’s confirmed barely little little bit of a velo bump inside the professionals, it’s the slider significantly that has gotten a ton of whiffs early in 2026.

Tigers: Ben Jacobs, LHP (No. 16)Jacobs was our left-handed pitching resolve for the early All-Breakout Prospect Workforce on this week’s MLB Pipeline e-newsletter. He’s confirmed a 93-95 mph fastball that performs successfully as a result of a flat technique angle and models up a full suite of various pitches in his low-80s slider, upper-70s curveball and low-80s changeup. The Arizona State product has fanned 41 batters in 26 ⅔ innings between Single-A and Extreme-A, and his 38.7 p.c strikeout price is Twelfth-best inside the Minors (min. 25 IP).

Twins: Connor Prielipp, LHP (No. 5)There’s prolonged been a sentiment among the many many Twins brass that if Prielipp could preserve healthful, his stuff would play. This was principally theoretical because of the 2022 draftee tossed merely 30 innings combined in 2023 and 2024 after having Tommy John surgical process in school, then inside brace surgical process as an expert. After topping 80 innings in 2025, though, he obtained right here out throwing very successfully in Triple-A to kick off 2026 (2.30 ERA, .204 BAA, 12.6 Okay/9 over 15 2/3 IP) to earn his first identify to the large leagues. He’s been one in every of many Twins’ best starters since, posting a 2.89 ERA with a WHIP beneath 1.00, 10.4 Okay/9 and a BAA of .169 over his first 5 begins.

White Sox: Jacob Gonzalez, INF (No. 24)After starring in school at Mississippi, serving to the Rebels win the 2022 College World Sequence and going Fifteenth whole inside the 2023 Draft, Gonzalez slashed merely .232/.310/.335 in his first three skilled seasons whereas wanting defensive on the plate. He has been further aggressive in 2026 whereas bettering his exit velocities and top quality of contact. He ranks second inside the Minors with 15 homers, virtually doubling his earlier career extreme of eight merely one-third of the easiest way into the season, and is batting .305/.419/.646 in Triple-A.

Angels: Nate Snead, RHP (No. 19)Snead pitched just about utterly out of the bullpen all through his school career, first at Wichita State after which over two years at Tennessee. Nevertheless his combination of an infinite repertoire and first charge strike-throwing performance had many contemplating he could get a chance to start in skilled ball. The Angels have been amongst that group and after taking him after the tip of the third spherical remaining July, despatched him out to be a part of the Extreme-A Tri-Metropolis rotation to begin his skilled career. He’s responded by posting a 3.39 ERA and 34/6 Okay/BB ratio over his first 29 1/3 IP whereas moreover posting a 55-percent groundball price.

Astros: Jason Schiavone, C/1B (unranked on Astros Excessive 30)An Eleventh-round choose of James Madison in 2024, Schiavone generates among the many highest exit velocities (a max of 116 mph this yr) and stroll fees (23 p.c). He moreover whiffs tons (30 p.c Okay price) because of he takes quite a lot of strikes and swings and misses at in-zone decisions. It’s a unstable profile nonetheless working to the tune of a .288/.448/.773 line with 18 homers, 9 steals and 39 walks in 36 video video games, principally in Extreme-A.

A’s: Henry Bolte, OF (No. 5)Ever since going over slot to sign Bolte inside the second spherical of the 2022 Draft, Bolte has confirmed off an thrilling velocity and raw vitality combination, stealing 122 bases and hitting 38 homers combined over his first three full seasons {of professional} ball. With that obtained right here quite a lot of swing-and-miss, recording a 32.4 p.c strikeout price in that exact same time span. He decrease that down considerably with Triple-A Las Vegas to start the yr, posting a 1.076 OPS to go along with 12 homers and 17 steals in merely 37 video video games to earn a reputation as a lot as the large leagues, the place he’s started out 6-for-17 (.353) over his first 5 contests.

Mariners: Felnin Celesten, SS (No. 7)The Mariners believed ample in Celesten’s ceiling to current him $4.7 million to examine in January 2023. Accidents have been a stumbling block out of the gate, with a Grade 2 hamstring stress ruining his skilled debut after signing and left hamate surgical process chopping his 2024 season transient. He carried out 104 video video games in 2025 and held his private in full-season ball, albeit with out quite a bit impression and the one-time Excessive 100 prospect tumbled off that report. He’s making noise like he belongs once more on thus far this yr. Nonetheless solely 20, he’s hitting .346/.442/.506 over 35 video video games with Extreme-A Everett.

Rangers: Malcolm Moore, C (No. 18)Moore went from the thirtieth whole choice inside the 2024 Draft to batting merely .199/.300/.304 in his first two years as skilled after which struggling inside the Arizona Fall League. A broken finger after a foul tip struck his correct hand remaining April contributed to his woes, nonetheless the Stanford product has regarded quite a bit higher on the plate now that he’s completely healthful. He’s hitting balls harder and launching them inside the air further normally, which has translated proper right into a .333/.420/.623 line with seven homers in 29 video video games in Extreme-A.

Braves: Eric Hartman, OF (No. 20)When a youthful, under-the-radar participant locations up truly good numbers over the first month of his second full skilled season, you make an observation. When he retains it going into Might, you pay even nearer consideration. The Braves purchased Hartman inside the twentieth and supreme spherical of the 2024 Draft from the Alberta, Canada highschool ranks and he fared successfully whereas dealing with hamstring factors in an aggressive push to full-season ball. He purchased nudged as a lot as Extreme-A Rome this yr, nonetheless solely 19, and has responded with a .308/.390/.643 line over his first 36 video video games, tapping into beautiful vitality with 12 homers and using his double-plus velocity to swipe 15 baggage.

Marlins: Karson Milbrandt, RHP (No. 9)The Marlins have had extreme hopes for Milbrandt since signing him to an over-slot $1,497,500 bonus as a third-round choose of a Missouri highschool in 2022. Inconsistent administration and command have led to slower progress than anticipated, nonetheless he’s discovering his pitches quite a bit higher this yr, fundamental the Double-A Southern League in ERA (1.24), strikeouts (51), Okay price (37 p.c) and WHIP (0.91). He’s leaning carefully into his upper-80s cutter and likewise missing bats alongside together with his mid-90s fastball and mid-80s sweeper.

Mets: Yovanny Rodriguez, C (No. 30)There’s some physicality and raw vitality in Rodriguez’s profile, nonetheless it hadn’t confirmed up quite a bit in video video games over his first two seasons inside the Dominican Summer season League, the place he hit 4 homers over 87 video video games between 2024 and 2025. Now stateside for the first time inside the Florida Difficult League, the 19-year-old catcher has already gone deep 5 events in eight video video games to information all Rookie-level hitters inside the class. He moreover ranks third early on with a .757 slugging proportion.

Nationals: Devin Fitz-Gerald, INF (No. 10)The Nationals acquired Fitz-Gerald from the Rangers inside the offseason MacKenzie Gore deal and confirmed they thought they could push the 20-year-old infielder by assigning him to Extreme-A Wilmington after he carried out solely 10 Single-A video video games remaining yr as a consequence of a left shoulder hurt. The switch-hitter has been as a lot because the responsibility and further, significantly inside the vitality division. He’s clubbed 11 homers – along with eight in a 10-game span between Might 5-16 – to rank fourth amongst all Extreme-A hitters. He moreover ranks second at stage with 92 complete bases, third with 23 extra-base hits, fourth with a .643 slugging proportion and fifth with a 1.067 OPS – all whereas having fun with in a pitcher-friendly residence park.

Phillies: Bryan Rincon, SS (No. 27)As a result of his glorious safety at shortstop, Rincon has on a regular basis had a fairly extreme flooring. He could take care of the premium place inside the large leagues correct now, and the contemplating on a regular basis was that if he could hit the least bit, he’d be an infinite leaguer. Accidents haven’t helped his progress, having fun with merely 119 video video games combined in 2024 and 2025, nonetheless hitting merely .186 over these years didn’t help his prospect stock. Now 22, Rincon is exhibiting indicators of life on the plate with Double-A Learning, with a .932 OPS, seven homers and 15 steals over his first 36 video video games. And it’s not a hitting-friendly Learning mirage: Rincon’s OPS is unquestionably better on the road.

Brewers: Luis Lara, OF (No. 5/MLB No. 95)Lara entered this yr with 10 career homers unfold out all through 4 Minor League seasons. His career extreme for a single advertising and marketing marketing campaign was 4, set in 2024. He’d in no way slugged above .390 in a season each. Coming into Wednesday, the switch-hitting outfielder has gone deep seven events already by way of 44 video video games for Triple-A Nashville and is hitting .337/.449/.503. His exit velocities nonetheless received’t pop, nonetheless there’s ample juice in his bat to make him a attainable frequently coronary heart fielder in Milwaukee, significantly given how good his velocity and safety have on a regular basis been as an expert.

Cardinals: Jacob Odle, (unranked on Cardinals Excessive 30)The 2023 14th-rounder missed all of 2024 as a consequence of Tommy John surgical process and struggled a bit with Single-A Palm Seaside remaining yr (6.28 ERA, 30 walks in 43 innings). Once more inside the Florida State League this spring, Odle has been a revelation with a 1.80 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 14 walks in 30 frames. He’s been holding good velocity with a four-seamer that averages 97.2 mph, and he performs off that with a doubtlessly specific curveball. The 22-year-old should lastly see Extreme-A Peoria sooner than prolonged.

Cubs: Pedro Ramírez, 3B/2B (No. 2/MLB No. 86)Ramírez obtained right here into the season with among the many best bat-to-ball skills amongst Cubs farmhands, and he has taken his sport to a distinct stage by hitting balls harder and rising his launch angle to faucet into some vitality. Signed for merely $75,000 in 2021 — out of the an identical Venezuelan program that spawned Moisés Ballesteros — he’s slashing .312/.395/.547 with a career-best 9 homers in 43 Triple-A video video games.

Pirates: Easton Carmichael, C (No. 16)The Pirates’ third-round resolve in 2025, Carmichael opened eyes with a home run inside the Spring Breakout sport in Florida this earlier March, and he’s saved hitting since. The backstop has a .307/.358/.526 line over 33 video video games, and he’s not merely putting up numbers in Extreme-A Greensboro’s nice confines, all whereas making further strides than anticipated alongside together with his whole defensive sport behind the dish.

Reds: Edwin Arroyo, SS (No. 3/MLB No. 100)Drafted once more in 2021 out of Puerto Rico by the Mariners and traded to the Reds inside the Luis Castillo deal on the 2022 Commerce Deadline, Arroyo was inside the Excessive 100 before now, missed all of 2024 following a torn left labrum, and didn’t current quite a bit impression on the plate in a full 2025 season. The Reds nonetheless thought he could get once more to the participant he was pre-surgery and added him to their 40-man roster and it sure is wanting like an important selection. The 22-year-old has a .348/.411/.601 line over 44 video video games with Triple-A Louisville, with 22 extra-base hits (9 homers). He’s once more inside the Excessive 100 and loudly knocking on the large league door as a result of the Reds have some infield factors he could help resolve shortly.

D-backs: Alberto Barriga, C (No. 27)Barriga’s safety behind the plate has prolonged been specific; his 43 p.c caught-stealing price this season at Extreme-A Hillsboro matches his career price. Nevertheless standing 5-foot-9, the backstop’s vitality has been further of a question, and he slugged merely .296 with 4 homers in 99 video video games for Single-A Visalia remaining yr. Now up inside the Northwest League, he’s already gone deep six events and owns a .310/.402/.586 slash line over 102 plate appearances.

Dodgers: Cam Leiter, RHP (No. 21)When the Dodgers drafted Leiter inside the second spherical out of Florida State remaining July, he hadn’t pitched since rising shoulder factors in March 2024 and having cleanup surgical process seven months later. They gambled that his premium stuff would come once more and it has in his skilled debut, as he’s dealing with an upper-90s fastball and upper-80s slider whereas expertly killing spin on a low-90s changeup. The newest inside the prolonged line of pitching Leiters — father Kurt reached Double-A while uncles Al and Mark and cousins Jack and Mark Jr. made it to the Majors — has compiled a 2.40 ERA with a 37 p.c strikeout price in 15 innings.

Giants: Jonah Cox, OF (unranked on Giants Excessive 30)The son of former large league catcher Darron Cox, Jonah led NCAA Division I with 114 hits and customary a 47-game hitting streak (third-longest in D-I historic previous) whereas serving to Oral Roberts attain the 2023 College World Sequence. A sixth-round resolve by the Athletics that July and dealt to the Giants for Ross Stripling seven months later, he confirmed off successfully above-average velocity nonetheless middling offensive manufacturing in his first three years as an expert. Now he’s hitting balls harder and inside the air further normally, fundamental the Minors in hitting and slashing .419/.464/.718 with 21 steals in 35 Double-A contests.

Padres: Jase Bowen (No. 23)After spending seven years inside the Pirates system, Bowen signed a Minor League address the Padres remaining offseason and has been a revelation for the farm system at Triple-A El Paso. Coming into Wednesday, he’s hitting .291/.357/.623 with 11 homers and 5 steals in 38 video video games. There are some powerful markers about his potential to make contact in the direction of secondary pitches, nonetheless Bowen has exhibited good vitality and velocity whereas having fun with all three outfield positions. He could very nicely be an selection for the Predominant League membership if/when it needs additional help on the grass.

Rockies: Sterlin Thompson, OF (No. 15)There was hope that Thompson is usually a fast-moving school bat as soon as they took him in 2022, nonetheless he was slowed by an elbow hurt in his first full season, and struggled a yr later in 2024. It regarded like he was figuring it out in 2025 in Triple-A and purchased added to the 40-man roster, and he headed once more to Albuquerque this season to point that remaining yr wasn’t a mirage. The 24-year-old nook outfielder hit .344/.491/.496 over 36 video video games as proof, and that led to his first identify as a lot as the large leagues remaining week.