Unless you play in a dynasty league, you're most interested in the prospects who can help you right now
Mar 5, 2026 at 5:31 pm ET • 1 min read
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a banner one for rookies.
Normally when I put together the All-Rookie team for an upcoming season, it's populated in large part by players who are more likely to arrive midseason than on opening day, making it questionable whether or not they're deserving of your time in redraft leagues. But every single first-team player on the All-Rookie team this year -- and most of their alternates -- has a legitimate chance of making the cut. Most I would even say are favorites to do so.
Granted, I had to cheat a little. The usual cutoff for rookie eligibility is 130 major league at-bats for hitters and 50 major league innings for pitchers, and all of these players fall short of those thresholds. Some have technically lost their rookie eligibility, though, by spending too many days on the active roster. I've noted such cases below (and in doing so, probably used the word "technically" too much).
The focus here, just to reiterate, is redraft leagues. So much prospect coverage is geared toward dynasty play that even if you're read up on prospects, you may be at loss for which ones can help you right now. Well, here they are, and most of them, at least to this point, are being undervalued in drafts.
That's less true for the pitchers than the hitters.
BAL Baltimore • #29 • Age: 21
His Kyle Schwarber exit velocities at Triple-A last year point to Samuel Basallo having 40-homer upside, and he's expected to get the majority of his at-bats at DH, reducing the wear and tear that inherently comes with catching.
KC Kansas City • #22 • Age: 22
Though he doesn't have quite the catchet of Basallo, Carter Jensen's exit velocities rank right up there with his and some of the best sluggers in the game. He and Salvador Perez are expected to trade off between catcher and DH.
CIN Cincinnati • #27 • Age: 22
The natural third baseman is expected to spend more time at the cold corner for the Reds, where he should be able to carve out everyday duty with the superior hitter instincts that have been on display since the lower minors. His five homers in 18 games after reaching the majors last year showed the power will play as well.
CHW Chi. White Sox • #5 • Age: 26
Munetaka Murakami's 80 grade power made him a two-time MVP in Japan, but his swing-and-miss issues are just as pronounced and perhaps a deal-breaker against major league pitchers, particularly since he's most impacted by velocity.
STL St. Louis • #77 • Age: 23
With his disciplined approach and well-rounded skill set, JJ Wetherholt handled the upper minors so effortlessly that the Cardinals probably should have integrated him into their lineup last September, but they shed enough infielders this offseason to ensure he'll be there now. He's shortstop-eligible at the moment but is expected to play second base.
Perhaps the least heralded signing 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'll play and the impact he'll have. His extreme lift-and-pull tendencies may allow him to eke out enough power to factor in deeper leagues, but likely at the expense of batting average.
TOR Toronto • #7 • Age: 29
Kazuma Okamoto was the oldest of three stars coming over from Japan this offseason, and yet he got the longest deal at four years, $60 million, which speaks to how translatable his skill set is to the majors. His contact skills are on the other end of the spectrum from Murakami's, and his exit velocities (reportedly 92.4 mph average and 112.2 mph max last year) are better than he gets credit for.
ARI Arizona • #10 • Age: 23
Jordan Lawlar technically isn't a rookie anymore, but since he falls short of the usual at-bat threshold, I'm counting him here. His ascension has been a long time coming but seems more likely than ever with him mostly playing the outfield this spring, where he's hitting well so far.
PIT Pittsburgh • #75 • Age: 19
Like Mike Trout in the way he marries natural baseball instincts with NFL linebacker athleticism, Konnor Griffin is pushing to be the first 19-year-old on an opening day roster since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989.
Overshadowed by the Griffin hype is Kevin McGonigle, the No. 2 prospect in baseball, who may not be as physical but is a hitting savant with perhaps an even easier path to the majors.
PHI Philadelphia • #80 • Age: 22
The Phillies have left themselves with no real alternatives in center field to Justin Crawford, who has the look of a two-category specialist in Fantasy but impacts the ball well enough to grow into some power, as his father, Carl Crawford, eventually did.
Part of the Mets' rationale for trading Brandon Nimmo this offseason is that they had Carson Benge, a similar player with an even higher ceiling, waiting in the wings. He hit a wall late in the year at Triple-A, though, making it all the more imperative he has a big spring.
CLE Cleveland • #24 • Age: 24
After three minor league seasons in which he sat more than he played (mostly because of a troublesome left foot), Chase DeLauter debuted during the postseason and now has a clear path to playing time in Cleveland. His hitting instincts are reportedly off the charts, but you mostly have to take that on faith.
MIA Miami • #17 • Age: 23
Owen Caissie finally grew into the full extent of his power projection last year, and the Cubs did him the courtesy of shipping him to Miami, where he should have a much clearer path to playing time. He fits the three-true-outcomes mold.
BAL Baltimore • #12 • Age: 24
Dylan Beavers' on-base skills have stood out from the beginning and carried over to the majors, where he reached at a .375 clip in 35 games last year. He'll have to beat out a well-compensated Tyler O'Neill for playing time, though.
HOU Houston • #16 • Age: 25
Though the power/speed combo is an enticing one, the contact difficulties that led to a 35 percent strikeout rate in the minors last year could prove to be too onerous. Zach Cole did, however, make a strong enough impression in a late-season trial last year to have a leg up this spring.
SF San Francisco • #78 • Age: 21
Bryce Eldridge leverages his 6-foot-7 frame for massive power and, despite some strikeout concerns, is thought to be a shoo-in at age 21. He'd look a lot better for Fantasy if he was eligible at first base, and he likely will be soon enough.
CHC Chi. Cubs • #25 • Age: 22
By forfeiting Owen Caissie in the Edward Cabrera deal, the Cubs were also planting their flag in Moises Ballesteros, a natural hitting talent whose roly-poly build gives him a difficult path defensively. There's a decent chance he regains catcher ability at some point, though, which would only elevate his stature.
