MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Marco Gonzales #32 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a Spring Training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on February 24, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Marco Gonzales - Getty Images
Athletics at San Diego Padres, March 2, 2026, 12:10 p.m. PST
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SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Pitcher Jimmy Herget starts game three of the 2026 Colorado Rockies spring training at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona on February 22, 2026. The Colorado Rockies took on the Texas Rangers. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Looking to snap a two-game losing streak in spring training, the Rockies (6-4) will host the Dodgers (7-3) today.
The 2025 standout reliever who’s now making a play for the starting rotation, Jimmy Herget (0-0, 0.00 ERA), will be in action for the third time this spring (one start and one relief appearance) for the Rockies. Herget has thrown two scoreless, hitless innings with no walks and two strikeouts so far in Cactus League play.
The Dodgers will send Ryder Ryan (0-1, 3.00 ERA) to the mound for the game. The 30-year-old RHP was drafted in 2016 and made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2023. He signed a Minor League deal with the Pirates prior to the 2024 seasonwent back and forth from the Pirates roster and farm system. He spent all of 2025 in Triple-A before signing another Minor League deal with the Dodgers in January.
The Rockies lost 8-3 to Cleveland on Sunday and 16-3 to Kansas City on Saturday with Colorado pitchers combining to walk 19 batters and give up 23 hits in the two games.
The Rockies began making roster moves on Monday, announcing that catchers Bryant Betancourt and Cole Messina, right-handed pitcher Brayan Castillo and outfielder Jared Thomas have been reassigned to Minor League camp. Colorado has 56 active players remaining in Major League camp, including 16 non-roster invitees.
In other news, the Rockies also handed named their 2025 Minor League award winners on Monday.
Davis Martin is all smiles knowing exactly what you’re thinking about his .274 BABIP. | (Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images)
The South Side swagger is alive and well, rolling into Camelback Ranch with a vengeance. Yesterday’s 5-1 beatdown of the Cubs was just what Sox fans needed with four bombs, a little catharsis, and a reminder that the Good Guys can still mash when the mood strikes. Now, Chicago gets to take their swings against San Francisco, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m. CST.
Davis Martin gets the ball for start number two this spring, looking to solidify his spot in the 2026 rotation. Last year, he proved he could handle the workload, tossing 142 2/3 frames with a 4.10 ERA. How did he do in his first Cactus League go-round? One hit, one run, and nothing wild over two frames. Today is all about sharpening the command and continuing to shake off the rust.
On the other side, it’s Landen Roupp for the Giants — a 27-year-old righty trying to forget 2025 ever happened after a comebacker to the knee cut his season short. Before that, he was steady if unspectacular with 22 starts and a 3.80 ERA. Roupp isn’t blowing doors off with velocity, but his curveball spins like a top, and his sinker turns grounders into an art form. He punched out two in his only spring inning so far, so the Sox hitters better keep their wits and not go digging for junk in the dirt.
As for the bats, Edgar Quero finally gets a breather as he’s been putting up PlayStation numbers, slashing .529/.556/.824 after another two hits yesterday. With Quero on ice and Kyle Teel headed off for Team Italy, it’s Korey Lee time. The backstop’s hitting .273/.500/.273 with a .773 OPS in 16 plate appearances so far this spring.
However, the hottest bat in the lineup today belongs to Miguel Vargas. He’s still waiting for his first Cactus League dinger, but the guy’s been locked in with a .429 average, 1.038 OPS, and two doubles in five games. That will play, Miggy.
Here’s how the offense will back up Martin: Meidroth at second and leading off, Luisangel Acuña in center, Vargas at third. LaMonte Wade Jr. gets first base, and Lenyn Sosa, fresh off yesterday’s bomb, slides in at DH. The rest: Tanner Murray at short, Jarred Kelenic in left, Derek Hill in right, and Lee at the dish.
Unfotunately there’s no TV broadcast today, but if you’re not lucky enough to be baking in the Glendale sun, you can tune in to WMVP 1000 AM or stream the audio on MLB+ at 2:05 p.m. CST.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora (2) pitches during the game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. | Matt Bush/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We have finished the first three weeks of the 2026 college baseball season as we sit here on March 2nd and considering the Atlanta Braves have three very high picks in the 2026 MLB Draft, now is a good time to check in on the stock of some of the college players that are going to be candidates for the picks.
This isn’t meant to be a scouting report for these players, as much as it is to see where their stock is at in this current point in time. There is still plenty of time for these players to move themselves up or down, but this should give you a better idea of who may or may not be available when the Braves make their picks.
Note all stats are through Saturday, February 28th.
Myles Bailey, 1B, Florida State
FSU’s slugging sophomore first baseman had a monster freshman year with 19 HR, and through the end of February is on pace to potentially eclipse that. More importantly he has been walking more and striking out less. It’s a little early to make the call until he consistently faces better competition, but he could end up making himself a candidate for the Braves second round pick.
Ballinger came into the year as a candidate to go with the #26 pick, but he hasn’t yet shown the power that made him a 16 homer guy with a 1.164 OPS. Through Saturday he is hitting just .326/.392/.395 – all down from a year ago, with three doubles as his only extra base hits, and a slightly elevated strikeout percentage.
Hawks have the lead!
An RBI double from @brady_ballinger has the Jayhawks ahead by a run.
Becker came into the season as a candidate to go Top 10, and through his first nine games he has been putting up numbers similar to what we saw from him last year. He hasn’t really moved the needle much in either direction to date.
Becker didn't waste any time getting the party🎉started at the DISH yesterday!!
Eric's leadoff Home run is the furthest hit by a Cavalier this season! (441.5ft)
— UVA Baseball Analytics, Data & Biomechanics (@UVAAnalytics) February 27, 2026
Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
Bell also came in as a potential Top 10 pick as a sophomore-eligible player, but unfortunately he injured himself in the first game of the season. He is presently out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, and while he hasn’t done anything directly to knock himself down the boards, his injury clouds his draft status a bit at the moment.
Day 1 Draft candidate Tyler Bell (‘26, Elig) flashing elite bat speed on the base knock for @UKBaseball, super athletic middle infielder primed for a big season pic.twitter.com/0WZUvrxT7Y
One of the bigger stars of the first month of the season, Brown was a candidate to go in the Top 100 picks coming into the season. However he is hitting .408/.473/.735 with four homers and just five strikeouts to open the year for the defending champs. He will need to continue producing at a high level, but he could potentially push himself into the mix for the later part of the first round.
After hitting 44 homers in his first two seasons, Burress came in as a candidate to go Top 5-10 despite being a bit undersized. He hasn’t done anything to change that opinion, as he is off to an excellent start to his season, posting a 1.263 OPS – however the most notable part of his stat line may be that he has struck out just four times through his first 56 plate appearances.
Drew Burress through his first 8 games of 2026:
34 AB .353/.463/.706 1.169 OPS 2 HR 4 2B 8 RBI 8 R 6/3 BB/K
He's helped the Yellow Jackets to an 8-0 start to the season. A T-10 prospect in this upcoming draft continues to heat up at the plate! pic.twitter.com/YKSTLzIp6d
Carlon came into the year in the mix for the top college lefty in this class – a class lacking an elite prospect, but has only helped his case through his first three starts. Carlon is currently pitching to a 2.87 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 19 strikeouts to five walks over 15.2 innings. It is worth noting that he left his most recent start early with a lower body injury, which will be something to monitor going forward. He could push his way into the conversation for the 26th pick as his four pitch mix has a fastball up to 98, a swing and miss slider, and two other solid pitches.
The best arm of the first game was Arizona State's Alex Overbay, who struck out six across three stellar frames.
FB: 94-97, carry with late tail CT: 89-92, firm shape with bite SL: 84-86, sharper depth with sweep
The #1 prospect in the draft has had an absurd start to his season and has further locked himself into that #1 spot. He came into Sunday with six homers and a 1.452 OPS, and hit a game tying seventh homer in the ninth against Mississippi State.
Curiel had a big freshman season last year slashing .345/.470/.519 with seven homers, making him a candidate to go in the Top 10 this season as a sophomore with a strong year. Unfortunately he hasn’t lived up to his 2025 campaign, as he is hitting just .318/.400/.386, as he hasn’t really shown much power this year to date. He still has time to turn things around, but right now he is looking more like a candidate for #26 than he is for #9.
Cuvet is a bit of a polarizing prospect due to questions about his defensive home and amount of swing and miss, though he is posting what would be his third straight 1.000+ OPS season for the Canes. Despite his already six homers, he hasn’t seen his stock move much, as the same questions remain. He could end up being a candidate in the second round.
DeCaro has been a strong starter for the past three years for the Heels, but seems to be enjoying a potential breakout season in 2026. Not only are his ERA and WHIP both set to be new career best’s, but his 9.5 K/9 is nearly two better than his previous high of 7.8. If DeCaro keeps missing bats in ACC play, he could lock himself into the first round, after being a borderline first rounder coming into the season.
Jason DeCaro generated 12 whiffs against Indiana on Friday, including a career-high 11 with his fastball.
Six of the @DiamondHeels righty's seven strikeouts came with the pitch, which he threw 67 times (74.4%). Hoosier hitters went 1-for-12 against it. pic.twitter.com/wthFi52HrL
Jackson Flora came into the season as a candidate to be picked ninth, but through two starts he has looked like someone who may not even be there when the Braves get on the clock. Not only have Flora’s numbers been dominant, but his stuff also looks the part of a Top 10 selection.
Flukey came in as a candidate for the #9 pick and turned in a strong first start. Unfortunately he went down with injury and is expected to be sidelined for at least the next eight weeks. The injury and layoff will cloud his present draft status a bit, and in a class as strong as this one could potentially help push him down to the mid to later part of the first round if he doesn’t quite look the same when he returns.
Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas
Gaeckle came into this season as a candidate for the #26 pick, but also as a guy needing to answer questions as he is an undersized righty who has never spent a full season as a starter. After a dominant effort in the opener he looked like he could push his way to somewhere above the Braves second selection. However he has merely looked good since then. If he can continue to hold up in his starting role, the stuff which earned comps to Spencer Strider and Gage Wood, could get him drafted around #26 – but his stock is volatile as he could move up or down quite a bit in the next couple of months.
After two quality years with Texas, Gasparino came to UCLA for this year and has been out of his mind. He is hitting .382/.512/1.265, and on Sunday he hit his 10th homer of the season – in just 11 games. While expecting anyone to keep hitting at that rate is unrealistic, he is moving himself up draft boards significantly. Gasparino came in as a guy who could go between rounds 3-5, but could push himself into the first or second rounds – depending on where he settles in after this hot streak.
AJ Gracia came into the year as a candidate for #9, that was if he was even still available at that point. Unfortunately for the Braves Gracia seems to have taken the next step after transferring to Virginia. So far he is hitting .412/.571/.941 with five homers and 11 walks to just three strikeouts over 49 plate appearances. At this point it would be fair to assume he figures to be gone before the Braves even pick.
Grahovac went into last year expecting to be a high pick this year, but his season was limited to just six games because of injury. He seems to be on track to be a first rounder again this year, as he is hitting .316/.426/.500 with one homer – though that isn’t quite the power he showed as a freshman, when he hit 23 homers. Most importantly his strikeout rate is down in a big way, dropping from 29% as a freshman to 10.6% in his first 47 plate appearances. Grahovac could be a candidate at #26, but watching his power and strikeout totals will really help determine where he ends up going.
Hacopian came into the year as a candidate to be taken #9, but he has struggled to stay on the field so far in his first year as an Aggie. A back injury kept him out for two weeks, only to flare up again this weekend in his first game back. Back injuries are injuries that give teams reason for concern, and with his lingering his status is very much in question at the moment until teams get a chance to look closer.
Kramkowski came into the year as a candidate to go somewhere between #26 and the Braves second round pick. However the disaster season that the Wildcats are having has affected Kramkowski too, and he is currently pitching to a 8.49 ERA and 2.06 WHIP through his first three starts. He will still have time to right the ship, but he doesn’t look like a guy who belongs with any of the Braves top few picks.
Catching up from Friday, @ArizonaBaseball RHP Owen Kramkowski didn't have his best outing vs. Stanford but it was easy to see the intrigue, ultra lean & lanky 6-3/173 frame, fast arm produced 92-93 fastballs, 84-87 cutter, low-80s SL + a CB and CH, here are his 2 Ks in 3.1 IP ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/tIzQPSNNgA
I wrote about Tennessee sophomore Kuhns being a candidate for the #26 pick leading up to the season, and he has more than backed that up. Kuhns has a 2.45 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in 18.1 innings, but also his stuff has been electric. Kuhns only threw 36 innings last year, so we will need to see how he holds up with a full season workload – but he could be pitching himself towards a spot where he wouldn’t be around for #26.
Stating off Saturday with Tegan Kuhns report from Globe Life last night. Kuhns was dominate for @Vol_Baseball running the Fastball up to 98. Averaging 20 carry from a 5.4’ release height makes his fastball truly special, grading at 112 Stuff+. Throws his off speeds really well,… pic.twitter.com/sYI1YqSyOU
Coming into the season Lackey was in the mix for the top catcher in the draft and a potential first round pick. With his performance so far (.514/.647/.892, four homers), Lackey has locked up that top catcher spot, and could be pushing himself into that Top 10, as this once glove-first catcher is starting to see the bat and power catch up to the rest of his game.
Vahn Lackey crushes another homer during a 4-RBI performance, giving him 19 RBIs in 10 games to open the year ⚡️
MLB's top-ranked catching prospect in the 2026 Draft class is slashing .529/.652/.941 for the Top 5-ranked Yellow Jackets.
Tommy LaPour came in as a candidate for the Braves second round pick, but after one solid start has been out with elbow soreness. LaPour’s stock is on hold at the moment as any pitcher with an elbow problem would be.
Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Lebron came in as a favorite to go in the Top 3 and has backed that up by hitting .325/.491/825 through Sunday with his six homers matching his six strikeouts. Similar to Cholowsky, Braves fans can forget about seeing Lebron in Atlanta in July.
Justin Lebron Draft Surge
⚾️ .326 AVG ⚾️ 7 HR ⚾️ 16 RBI ⚾️ 10.5% K
Lebron is forcing his way into the No. 2 pick convo and looks like a fast-rising fantasy gem.
Norby is the other lefty competing with Carlon for the top college lefty in the class. His overall numbers have just been decent thus far, but his stuff has looked great and he is striking out 13.5 per nine. Norby would likely be a candidate for the Braves second round pick right now.
Liam Peterson has been an interesting pitcher his entire career. He’s always had the pure stuff to be the first pitcher off the board in this draft, but the results have never quite been what you’d want to see for that type of arm. However this year the results have started to match up to the stuff a little better, as he has career best totals in ERA (3.77), WHIP (1.26), and K/9 (14.4). Peterson came in as a guy who the Braves would need to take at #9 to even have a chance at, and while that remains true for him, there seems to be a bit more room for a Flora to overtake him and actually have him available at #9.
More Liam Peterson Stuff+ anomalies. Peterson shoved on Friday for @GatorsBB , striking out 8 on the day. Peterson averaged over 21” of IVB on the Fasball at 95-99 mph, grading at 121 Stuff+, making it one of the best heaters in the country. Couple that with a slide that graded… pic.twitter.com/QBpdCqfSL2
— Developing Baseball (@developbaseball) March 2, 2026
Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn
Rembert is another sophomore eligible player in this draft. Unfortunately injuries have limited him to just four games thus far, and a very small sample size. Right now his stock is pretty even from where it came in at – which would be a potential candidate for #26.
INF Chris Rembert (@AuburnBaseball) back this weekend & is all over the FB, ripping a laser into LF. + bat spd & coming off huge fr year. Pot 1st rounder in July. Soph./'26 elig. @PG_Draftpic.twitter.com/RtrmSCNBCM
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) March 2, 2026
Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
Ace Reese came into the year as a guy fairly locked in on the first round, but seeming to be ticketed to somewhere between the Braves two first round picks as a player who isn’t likely to stick at third base. This season though, he’s seen his stock rise with a hot start, and he could even be a candidate for #9. Right now he is hitting .444/.490/.889 with eight doubles and four homers, hitting well for both contact and average.
Sorrell has a similar story to his teammate Grahovac, a strong freshman year that had him looking like a first rounder this year, a huge chunk of his sophomore year lost due to injury, and a good start to 2026. Right now Sorrell is hitting .412/.459/.882 with five homers, though with three walks and 12 strikeouts in just 37 plate appearances. He will be a first rounder it seems like, but the elevated strikeout totals could push him down a bit. He feels a little too risky for the #9 pick because of the strikeouts, but probably not around for the #26 pick either.
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) March 2, 2026
Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
Strosnider is another sophomore eligible player, though one who has some differing opinions thanks to his swing and miss. On the optimistic side he could be a candidate for #9 coming into the year, but others would see him more as a candidate for #26. So far this year his slash line is slightly better than last year, with a fairly similar strikeout rate- though he has seen his walk rate spike. After walking every 8.0% of his plate appearances last year, he is at 31.1% this year, with his 14 total walks just six behind last season’s total in just 45 plate appearances so far. With this added element to his game, the Braves could need to draft him at #9, as he doesn’t seem likely to be there for #26.
Sawyer Strosnider through his first 4 games of 2026:
16 PA .273/.500/.545 1.045 OPS 1 HR 1 RBI 6 R 5/5 BB/K .489 wOBA 133 wRC+
One of the top outfield prospects in the 2026 draft had a solid opening week, and faces a big test with top-ranked UCLA this weekend. pic.twitter.com/zJIMOZgh5e
After two years at Stanford with first round stuff but late round pick results, Volchko transferred into Georgia for this year. So far so good as he has a 3.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 18 strikeouts to five walks in his first 15 innings. The stuff remains high end and his command has improved dramatically, which is only helping his stock. SEC play will help determine where he goes, but the first round is a real possibility if he keeps this up.
Mason Barnett will get the start today for the A’s in Peoria, Arizona. | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
Spring Training enters week two as the Athletics take on the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, AZ today. The A’s have started the spring with an unattractive 2-6 start, but the Friars are not much better coming into today’s matchup with a 4-6 record.
Both teams will be starting many of their regulars, a sight that will increase the further we get into spring training games and once any World Baseball Classic (WBC) players finish their national commitments. WBC games start later this week at various stadiums across the globe.
Right-hander Mason Barnett will get the start for the A’s today. He made five starts for the Athletics in 2025 logging 22+ innings. Righty Miachael King will get the nod for the Padres this afternoon. After an injury-plagued season he went 5-3 in fifteen starts for San Diego last year, finishing up with a 3.44 ERA.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Bryce Eldridge #78 of the San Francisco Giants at bat against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on September 28, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well folks, we did it. And well ahead of schedule, I might add! With the election last week of left-handed hitting infielder Jean Carlos Sio, we have once again completed the annual Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List. As a community, we came together to jointly decide on the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization.
It is, in my opinion, the strongest and most exciting CPL in the six years that I’ve been at the reins. And perhaps relatedly, it’s the most turnover I can recall having year-over-year in the CPL.
So with that said, let’s take a look at the final rankings. The number in parenthesis after each prospect is where they ranked on the list a year ago. Players with a “UN” next to their name were unranked last year, while players with a “N/A” were not yet in the system.
Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.
I hopefully speak for everyone when I say that list is pretty fun to look at, and that it’s missing a few key names as well! Let’s dive a little deeper into it.
Who is off the list, and where did they go?
We came oh-so-close to having a full half of the list be new names. As it is, it’s still a huge number: 21 of the 44 prospects on the CPL weren’t on last year’s list. That’s more turnover than usual: last year it was 19, and the year before it was 17.
Those with a degree in mathematics might know that 21 new names on the list means 21 players on last year’s list are no longer on this one. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword: having 21 prospects either elevate their play or enter the system is exciting, but seeing 21 players disappear is less fun. So where did those players go?
Interestingly, only two of those 21 players left the list due to graduation. That’s a very low number, especially given how much turnover there is this year. Last year, for instance, when there were 19 new players on the CPL, they replaced a whopping 10 graduates. But it’s just a pair this year, and even that undersells it: the only player who it really feels like graduated from last year’s CPL is right-handed pitcher Carson Seymour, who was No. 21 a year ago. The other graduate is righty Mason Black (No. 7), who only made one appearance for the Giants (but that was enough to get him to the threshold) and, even if he hadn’t, wouldn’t have been eligible this year because he was designated for assignment and traded early in the offseason.
In addition to Black, seven more of the players on last year’s list have not only departed the CPL, but departed the organization entirely. The highest profile is outfielder James Tibbs III (No. 3) who, along with right-handed pitcher Jose Bello (No. 44), was traded during the season to the Boston Red Sox as part of the Rafael Devers deal (Tibbs has since been sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers). Outfielder Wade Meckler (No. 13), who had a disappointing year, was designated for assignment during the offseason, while righty Carson Ragsdale (No. 19) was DFA’d during the year (he caught on with two MLB teams, and is now playing in Japan).
Righty reliever Cole Waites (No. 32) and outfielder Hunter Bishop (No. 34) elected Minor League free agency at the end of the year. Waites has since signed with the Detroit Tigers, while Bishop remains unsigned. And finally, outfielder Jairo Pomares (No. 41) was waived during the Minor League season.
That leaves a very sizable group: a dozen prospects who simply fell off of the list for one reason or another. The good news is, most of those players occupied the back half of the 2025 CPL.
Lefty reliever Reggie Crawford (No. 10) is the third first-round pick to fall off the list (joining Tibbs and Bishop), and that was entirely due to the fact that he lost all of 2025 to a shoulder injury, then suffered a setback that required another surgery that will likely keep him out for all of 2026, too. Shortstop Aeverson Arteaga (No. 12) returned from an injury of his own and had arguably the worst offensive season in the system, while Walker Martin (No. 14) made only modest improvements to his struggling offense, while also getting moved off of shortstop (and not looking great at third base).
Outfielder Jose Ortiz (No. 22) spent most of the year injured, while third baseman Robert Hipwell (No. 25) spent his entire age-22 season in Low-A with a high strikeout rate. Outfielder Jonah Cox (No. 26) was unable to take notable strides on offense, while utility player Ryan Reckley (No. 35) did little to reverse the downward trajectory of his prospectdom. Catchers Onil Perez (No. 37) and Adrián Sugastey (No. 38) had fine but fairly nondescript seasons, while other catchers rose (and appeared) around and ahead of them. Outfielder Oliver Tejada (No. 39) and catcher Yohendry Sanchez (No. 40) had fairly mediocre offensive years, while third baseman Charlie Szykowny (No. 43) was squeezed off the list by younger players at more advanced levels.
How were the players acquired?
Buster Posey has certainly put his fingerprints on the farm system. Despite being president of baseball operations for less than a year and a half — and only overseeing one draft during that time — a full 15 of the 44 players were acquired during Posey’s tenure. That said, the two highest-ranking prospects from that pool — shortstops Josuar González (No. 2) and Luis Hernández (No. 6) — were international free agents who reached agreements with the organization before Posey took over.
Thanks to the inclusion of outfielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35) and lefty Juan Sánchez (No. 41), the prospect list spans three regimes. Those two were acquired when Bobby Evans was at the helm, with the remaining 27 prospects coming to the organization under the oversight of Farhan Zaidi.
The Giants have used all sorts of different ways to acquire talent. They have a nearly even split between drafted players and prospects who were signed in international free agency: 17 of the former and 15 of the latter. What’s perhaps most surprising — relative to recent years — is that eight of prospects on the list are players the Giants traded for. That number is even more notable when you account for the fact that just one of those eight — lefty Jacob Bresnahan (No. 11) — was on last year’s CPL. Turnover abounds!
The Giants also have two prospects on the CPL who they signed as undrafted free agents — center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4) and righty reliever Trent Harris (No. 29). A third prospect, third baseman/outfielder Parks Harber (No. 17) also went undrafted, though he was signed by the New York Yankees and sent to the Giants in the Camilo Doval trade.
And finally, the Giants have one prospect on the list who was signed in Minor League free agency, as well as one prospect who was a Rule 5 selection: righty reliever Joel Peguero (No. 27) and catcher Daniel Susac (No. 20), respectively.
Who will we see this year?
Much of the excitement in the Giants farm system comes at the lowest levels. Between Josuar González (No. 2), Jhonny Level (No. 3), Luis Hernández (No. 6), and Gavin Kilen (No. 7), you could make a very compelling case that the Giants have the strongest collection of lower-Minors shortstops in all of baseball.
But there’s excitement at the upper levels, too. And if your favorite brand of prospect watching is “watch the prospects once they make the Majors,” then there are a lot of names on our list of 44 that should excite you.
The man at the very top of the list, first baseman Bryce Eldridge, ended the 2025 season in the Majors, and is currently in camp with an opportunity to earn an Opening Day role as the everyday designated hitter. Right-handers Blade Tidwell (No. 9) and Trevor McDonald (No. 12) have been among the most impressive players in camp for the Giants, and if the season were to start today, they might both be in the bullpen, while also serving as rotational depth.
Lefty Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8) has a less straightforward path to the Opening Day roster, but he made his MLB debut last year and will certainly be a factor in the Majors this season. Righty reliever Joel Peguero (No. 27) would have pole position for a spot in the bullpen were it not for an injury setback he’s currently dealing with.
Catcher Daniel Susac (No. 20) seems the betting favorite to win the Opening Day backup catcher role, but Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16) is also on the 40-man roster and battling for that role (Rodríguez has also been playing a bit of second base in Spring Training, so he may have multiple avenues to the bigs, and we’ll surely see him this year).
As for players that aren’t on the 40-man roster, relievers Will Bednar (No. 24), Trent Harris (No. 29), and Juan Sánchez (No. 41) are all in camp as non-roster invitees, and they’ve all shown some great signs. Bednar and Harris are almost certainly ticketed to start the year in AAA, while Sánchez probably is as well (but he has a better chance of making the Opening Day roster). Either way, I’d expect that we see at least two of those three at some point this year.
Outfielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35) has been the most impressive NRI in camp, and could absolutely work his way onto the roster over the summer. Center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4), third baseman/outfielder Parks Harber (No. 17), and second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39) are also in Scottsdale as NRIs. They’re all a little further away (Davidson has played just 42 games in AA, Furman just 22, and Harber none), but each could find themselves in the big leagues late in the year if they have a very strong season.
And that’s our 2026 Community Prospect List! A huge thanks to everyone who voted, discussed, and argued, and a special shoutout to all the McCovey Chronicles writers of the past who have led this delightful time-honored tradition.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - MARCH 20, 2025: Émilien Pitre #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays warms up prior to a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on March 20, 2025 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Previous Winner
Dom Keegan, C 25 | R/R | 6’0” | 210 AAA | .241/.306/.429 (89 wRC+) 297 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, 8.1% BB, 30.6% K
Keegan is at an inflection point in his minor league career, having joined the 40-man roster as the third catcher, and overall the jury is still out. Trusted more at first base than backstop at Vanderbilt, the Rays have kept him behind the dish but reports still have his defense below average, and 2025 was a wash after an elbow injury in the Spring sank his season, in particular his bat speed. While the lack of progress on the edges of his game has some evaluators calling into question his once-sure major league projection, he’ll get a long look in Spring Training, where his ability to punish mistakes in the zone may flourish.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
Keegan will pick up MLB reps this year, in all likelihood, so now was the time for him to get some love on the list. We had lots of testers this poll, don’t hesitate to make your vote known there too, the biggest vote getter was the Canadian so we add him next.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Gary Gill Hill, RHP 21 | 6’2” | 160 A+ | 3.82 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 136.2 IP (25 GS), 18.8% K, 5.3% BB
A groundballer, Gill Hill was a feather in the cap for the Rays scouting department when snagged in the sixth round in 2022. He raised his armslot in 2024 to great success, but got off to a rocky start in 2025, which muddies the water on his statline. On the whole, GGH has the body and the look to be a major league starter, particularly thanks to a plus fastball in the upper 90’s and plus control, but needs to find a longterm solution for opposite handed hitting as he climbs the ladder. Accordingly, he projects as a reliever until his arsenal finds a plus third pitch.
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
PHOENIX — Even with longstanding traditions, it’s not a bad idea to change things up a little every so often.
This year’s League of Alternative Baseball Reality drafts were unique in that they were held in conjunction with the annual Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics Conference at Arizona State University.
So for the first time in its 33-year history, LABR paired with SABR. Pretty cool.
That could also describe the auction room, where – outside of Shohei Ohtani at $47 and Ronald Acuña Jr. at $40 – the bidders seemed intent on conserving their cash.
In contrast to the LABR AL auction the day before, the top NL players at several positions went for what felt like slight bargains.
Through early drafts this season, either the Braves’ Matt Olson or the Phillies’ Bryce Harper lead the way at first base. However, Rafael Devers of the Giants was the most expensive in this one, going for $30, which was $3 more than Harper, $4 more than the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and $5 more than Olson.
On the other corner, third basemen Manny Machado, Eugenio Suarez and Austin Riley barely cleared the $20 mark.
Bidders were a little more willing to spend on outfielders, but after a power trio of Juan Soto ($39), Kyle Tucker ($32) and Fernando Tatis Jr. ($31), just seven other flychasers made it into the $20s.
That reluctance to spend early on the most talented performers had serious repercussions later when demand outpaced supply on middle- and lower-tier players.
One of the first things any fantasy manager should do in preparing for a draft is take a good look at the player pool. When breaking down the NL, one thing that stands out is the exceptional depth in the middle infield.
Coming off an outstanding 2025, Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (22 HR, 107 runs, 37 SB) was the first infielder nominated. Predictably, the talented 24-year-old set the bar at $33, but those who missed out were still able to find capable alternatives.
Eight other shortstop-eligible players fell in the $20 range, with eight more between $11 and $19. Similar depth exists on the other side of the keystone.
As a result, 10 of the 12 LABR NL teams paid double-digit prices for both their primary second baseman and shortstop.
DHs invade the NL
Another wrinkle in the NL player pool is an unusually large number of hitters who are eligible only at the utility spot.
Certainly, Shohei Ohtani is in a class by himself and also able to slot in on the pitching side (but not both at the same time). But managers who drafted Kyle Schwarber ($27), Ivan Herrera ($17), Christian Yelich ($16), Marcell Ozuna ($9) or promising Cubs rookie Moises Ballesteros ($7) had to tie up that utility spot for the rest of the draft.
As a result, those players seemed to come at a decent discount – especially Schwarber, who was the NL’s third-most valuable fantasy hitter last season.
Precarious pitching prices
Defending NL champion Matt Cederholm, Baseball HQ’s injury expert, had the honor of kicking off the auction with the first nomination, calling out the name of … Brandon Woodruff.
The oft-injured Brewers ace, who was part of the title-winning squad last year, returned to his old (Cedar?) home for $17, even though he might not be ready for opening day.
From there, prices on the top starting pitchers – with the exception of $35 for reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes of the Pirates – didn’t really set the auction room ablaze. The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez was the second-most expensive pitcher at $30, but only six others even went in the 20s.
The bidders’ reluctance to spend on the elite arms had serious consequences in the middle and later stages, with prices getting pushed up on far less-talented pitchers. A total of 28 starters (2.3 per team) fell into the $10-19 range. That made it almost impossible for teams to find late bargains to round out their pitching staffs.
With closers, there’s a distinct tier of four elite ones in the NL And you’ll have to pay up to get them.
Jhoan Duran, Edwin Diaz and Mason Miller (nominated in that order) all went for the exact same price of $24. New Mets closer Devin Williams joined them at a slightly discounted $20.
After that quartet, it’s anyone’s guess how the rest will shake out. On this day, the Reds’ Emilio Pagan was next at $16, with Raisel Iglesias of the Braves and Daniel Palencia of the Cubs just a dollar less. Perhaps the most interesting bullpen situation is in Milwaukee, where Trevor Megill cost $14 and Abner Uribe $10.
NL prospect watch
Finally, one of the most exciting things about the NL this season is the wealth of top prospects expected to see big-league action.
Here’s how optimistic LABR managers were about this year’s crop:
BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Yorke (38) tags out Minnesota Twins right fielder Alan Rodeo (18) who tried to stretch a single into a double on February 26, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
And the injuries just keep piling up. While spring training stats and records do not matter, the Twins do have the worst run differential through nine games across the majors this spring. That being said, we did have some good news on the injury front. Royce Lewis’ recent MRI is clean (Bobby Nightengale at the Star Tribune), and he’s expected to return to the team this weekend. Meanwhile, while the team expects to place David Festa on the injured list to start the season, Pablo Lopez did not get full reconstructive surgery on his torn UCL and could return by Opening Day next season (Bobby Nightengale at the Star Tribune). Unfortunately, Walker Jenkins has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. While he was a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, it’s definitely not providing any confidence to Twins fans that the newest star in the making could also just be another injury-prone player.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
With spring training underway, game threads are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we prepare for Opening Day.
James Fillmore recaps the Stratton Story for our Twinkie Town Movie Night. Stop Making Sense is now on deck.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: Johan Oviedo #29 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a picture during the 2026 Boston Red Sox Photo Day at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 17, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is the game on TV?
Yes, first pitch is at 1:07 PM (what? why?) on NESN. I’m guessing this broadcast be similar to a few days ago, though, when NESN simply streamed the home team’s feed, so don’t expect to get your daily dose of Tom Caron.
What’s the lineup?
What should we watch for?
Man, would you get a look at that dog of a lineup? This is the worst type of Spring Training game. Thankfully, though, Franklin Arias gives us a reason to watch. And it’ll be nice to get a second look at Johan Oviedo.
ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 17: St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) pitches in the first inning during a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals on September 17, 2025, at Busch Stadium, in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals begin their trek through the 2026 Spring Training schedule with a Monday game against the Miami Marlins. According to MLB.com, Andre Pallante gets the start for St. Louis while the Marlins will send Adam Mazur to the mound.
Mar 1, 2026; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) bats during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
FORMER CUBS IN REDS CAMP: P. J. Higgins — who has become the best catcher at getting ABS challenges overturned, per this chart.
CUBS NUMBERS TO DATE: (Minimum 11 AB). Alex Bregman, .455/.571/.909 (5-for-11, two doubles, one HR, three walks. Dylan Carlson, .455/.647/.545 (5-for-11, a double, five walks). Jefferson Rojas, .313/.389/.625 (5-for-16, two doubles, one home run, five RBI, two walks).
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 16: John Gil #97 of the Atlanta Braves singles in the third inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s a road spring training game, folks, so that means the Atlanta Braves are going to be letting their organizational depth shine in this one. With that being said, there’s still plenty of reason to tap in. Bryce Elder is right in the thick of the race for the final spot in the rotation and he’ll be looking to make sure that he can continue to fortify his position in this particular race.
Also, rising prospect John Gil will be leading off for the Braves in this one. Gil has already crushed two homers so far this spring and all eyes will be on him as he sits at the top of the order in this one. Here’s the rest of the lineup for the Braves:
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET and the good news is that it will be televised! Yeah, it’s on ESPN but that’s still TV! If you prefer the radio, then make sure to tune in to 103.7 FM in the Atlanta area.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Amed Rosario #14 of the New York Yankees runs the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Washington Nationals during a Grapefruit League spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 25, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not all ballplayers need to be well-rounded in order to find success. Sometimes, one skill is enough to keep them in demand. That’s the case for Amed Rosario, who’s played for six teams over the last three seasons alone for one simple season: the man hits lefties.
Rosario began his career as a highly regarded Mets farmhand, rising as high as the number-five prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline. After mixed results in parts of four seasons, he was moved to Cleveland as one of the centerpieces of the blockbuster that brought back Francisco Lindor. Rosario was Cleveland’s primary shortstop for two-and-a-half seasons and, while his hit tool consistently played, the defense was not up to par; among 41 qualified shortstops from 2021-2023, his -27 Outs Above Average ranked dead last.
The Dominican Republic native then began what has been a nomadic journey, usually occupying a niche role as designated lefty masher while failing to carve out a starting job or nail down a single defensive position. His 2025 season was typical of this stage of his career. After starting the year with the Nationals, he was traded to the Yankees in a deadline deal, where he would finish out the year.
In total, he faced lefties in nearly two-thirds of his at-bats and posted an .819 OPS against them, more than 200 points higher than his mark against righties. And, while seeing time at second, third, shortstop, and the outfield (as well as DH and pitcher for good measure) he graded out with -7 OAA. With the Yankees facing tough lefties like Garret Crochet in the postseason, he appeared in four of their seven playoff games, going 3-for-10.
This offseason, the Yankees re-signed the 30-year-old to a one-year, $2.5-million deal to fill a similar role for 2026. It’s a low-risk play that does not prevent the team from pursuing other avenues should he fail to repeat his excellence against southpaws. With lefties Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm Jr. slated for regular playing time at third and second, respectively, it’s easy to see Rosario gaining a path to considerable usage as the weak side of a platoon rotation. It’s also plausible he could see time at corner outfield with lefties Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger installed as everyday players, though Randal Grichuk, who the Yankees recently brought to spring camp as a non-roster invitee and has a similar track record against left-handers, could end up occupying that role instead.
ZiPS is anticipating a pretty significant offensive regression for Rosario from his recently established norm — all three elements of his expected slash line would be his lowest since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. If deployed strategically against left-handers as he was last year, there is good reason to expect him to exceed a .255 batting average. Don’t expect much pop or plate discipline, though, and the defense will be weak wherever he plays. Instead of rostering a higher-ceiling all-around talent, like Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones, the Yankees seem likely to enter the season with specialists on their bench while allowing their prospects to see regular playing time at Triple-A. Even if injuries take their toll on the team, expect the front office to look elsewhere for everyday players while allowing Rosario to continue filling his niche.
