The 2026 Minor League Baseball season is in full swing, and it's an exciting time for fans to witness the next generation of stars. With the season just over two months old, several prospects are already making waves and living up to the hype that surrounded them. From the American League East to the National League West, players are surprising and delighting fans with their performances. Let's take a closer look at some of the most pleasant prospects so far, one from each team.
The Surprising Stars
American League East
Blue Jays: Nolan Perry (No. 17) - A 12th-round pick in 2022, Perry is healthy and thriving, with a 1.45 ERA and 50 strikeouts through 31 innings at Single-A and High-A. His fastballs are sitting 93-95 mph, and he's added a splitter to his arsenal. Perry could become an interesting 40-man option this offseason.
Orioles: Wehiwa Aloy (No. 5) - The Golden Spikes Award winner and SEC Player of the Year is hitting .326/.375/.612 with High-A Frederick, despite a high K rate. Aloy is getting to his power and showing why he was one of the most coveted players in the 2023 international class.
Rays: Cooper Flemming (No. 27) - A second-round pick out of California high school, Flemming is hitting .311/.405/.496 with four homers in 35 games for Charleston. His 147 wRC+ is tied for second-best among teenagers at Single-A.
Red Sox: Anthony Eyanson (No. 2/MLB No. 72) - The Red Sox had high hopes for Eyanson, who dominated in his pro debut with a 0.61 ERA and .108 opponent average. He's added 3 mph to his fastball, which now works at 94-96 mph and tops out at 100.
Yankees: Jack Cebert (No. 25) - The Yankees have turned later-round picks into quality pitching prospects, and Cebert is the latest example. He's posting a 2.36 ERA, .179 opponent average, and 37/7 K/BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A.
American League Central
Guardians: Justin Campbell (No. 22) - Campbell missed his first three full pro seasons due to injuries, but he's now healthy and thriving with a 1.66 ERA, .145 opponent average, and 35% strikeout rate between High-A and Double-A.
Royals: Justin Lamkin (No. 13) - Lamkin, last year's 71st overall pick, is moving quicker than expected, having already reached Double-A after a 1.27 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings for High-A Quad Cities.
Tigers: Ben Jacobs (No. 16) - Jacobs has shown a 93-95 mph fastball and a full suite of other pitches in his low-80s slider, upper-70s curveball, and low-80s changeup. He has fanned 41 batters in 26 2/3 innings between Single-A and High-A.
Twins: Connor Prielipp (No. 5) - Prielipp, a 2022 draftee, has posted a 2.89 ERA with a WHIP under 1.00, 10.4 K/9, and a BAA of .169 over his first five starts.
White Sox: Jacob Gonzalez (No. 24) - Gonzalez, after starring in college, has been more aggressive in 2026 while improving his exit velocities and quality of contact. He ranks second in the Minors with 15 homers and is batting .305/.419/.646 in Triple-A.
American League West
Angels: Nate Snead (No. 19) - Snead is posting a 3.39 ERA and 34/6 K/BB ratio over his first 29 1/3 IP while also posting a 55% groundball rate.
Astros: Jason Schiavone (unranked) - Schiavone generates some of the highest exit velocities and walk rates, with a .288/.448/.773 line and 18 homers in 36 games, mostly in High-A.
A's: Henry Bolte (No. 5) - Bolte has shown off an exciting speed and raw power combination, stealing 122 bases and hitting 38 homers combined over his first three full seasons of pro ball.
Mariners: Felnin Celesten (No. 7) - Celesten, who signed for $4.7 million in January 2023, is hitting .346/.442/.506 over 35 games with High-A Everett, despite injuries.
Rangers: Malcolm Moore (No. 18) - Moore, after a broken finger, is hitting balls harder and launching them in the air more often, with a .333/.420/.623 line and seven homers in 29 games in High-A.
National League East
Braves: Eric Hartman (No. 20) - Hartman, a 20th-round pick in 2024, is hitting .308/.390/.643 line over his first 36 games, tapping into surprising power with 12 homers.
Marlins: Karson Milbrandt (No. 9) - Milbrandt, a third-round pick in 2022, is leading the Double-A Southern League in ERA, strikeouts, K rate, and WHIP.
Mets: Yovanny Rodriguez (No. 30) - Rodriguez, a 19-year-old catcher, has already gone deep five times in eight games to lead all Rookie-level hitters in the category.
Nationals: Devin Fitz-Gerald (No. 10) - Fitz-Gerald, acquired from the Rangers, is clubbing 11 homers and ranking high in various categories at High-A Wilmington.
Phillies: Bryan Rincon (No. 27) - Rincon, a 22-year-old shortstop, is showing signs of life at the plate with Double-A Reading, with a .932 OPS, seven homers, and 15 steals over his first 36 games.
National League Central
Brewers: Luis Lara (No. 5/MLB No. 95) - Lara, a switch-hitting outfielder, is hitting .337/.449/.503 with seven homers in 44 games for Triple-A Nashville.
Cardinals: Jacob Odle - Odle, a 2023 14th-rounder, has been a revelation with a 1.80 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and 14 walks in 30 frames in the Florida State League.
Cubs: Pedro Ramírez (No. 2/MLB No. 86) - Ramírez, signed for $75,000 in 2021, is slashing .312/.395/.547 with a career-best nine homers in 43 Triple-A games.
Pirates: Easton Carmichael (No. 16) - Carmichael, the Pirates' third-round pick in 2025, has a .307/.358/.526 line over 33 games in High-A Greensboro.
Reds: Edwin Arroyo (No. 3/MLB No. 100) - Arroyo, drafted in 2021, has a .348/.411/.601 line over 44 games with Triple-A Louisville, knocking on the big league door.
National League West
D-backs: Alberto Barriga (No. 27) - Barriga's defense is special, with a 43% caught-stealing rate, and he's hitting .310/.402/.586 over 102 plate appearances in the Northwest League.
Dodgers: Cam Leiter (No. 21) - Leiter, drafted in the second round, is dealing with an upper-90s fastball and upper-80s slider while expertly killing spin on a low-90s changeup.
Giants: Jonah Cox - Cox, the son of former big league catcher Darron Cox, is leading the Minors in hitting and slashing .419/.464/.718 with 21 steals in 35 Double-A contests.
Padres: Jase Bowen (No. 23) - Bowen, after spending seven years in the Pirates system, is hitting .291/.357/.623 with 11 homers and five steals in 38 games at Triple-A El Paso.
Rockies: Sterlin Thompson (No. 15) - Thompson, a 24-year-old corner outfielder, hit .344/.491/.496 over 36 games and was added to the 40-man roster.
