"Kiley McDanielJan 27, 2026, 07:00 AM ET Close ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency. Has worked for three MLB teams. Co-author of Author of 'Future Value' With spring training just a few weeks away, it's time to rank the top prospects in Major League Baseball for the 2026 season, with some who will be in the majors to begin the year and others primed to rise through the minors in the years ahead."
"This year's top prospect, Konnor Griffin, is the best we've seen in a number of years, and he is one of many prospects projected to have a chance to make a real impact in the big leagues this year. The top 11 players on the list are position players, and all have played in Double-A already, while the next three players behind them are pitchers who made their big league debuts last season. The top 17 on the list is littered with potential 2026 Rookies of the Year, many for likely playoff contenders."
"Players who meet MLB rookie eligibility requirements (fewer than 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster) going into the season are eligible for this list. For a quick overview of the tool grades on the 20-80 scale that are used heavily throughout this list -- and are the industry standard across baseball -- along with other key terms used in the ranking, click here."
Major League Baseball's top 100 prospects for the 2026 season are ranked, including players expected to start the year in the majors and prospects primed to rise through the minors. Konnor Griffin is identified as the top prospect and is described as the strongest prospect seen in several years. The top 11 players are all position players who have reached Double-A, while the next three are pitchers who made big-league debuts last season. The top 17 contains numerous candidates for 2026 Rookie of the Year honors, many projected to join likely playoff teams. Eligible players meet MLB rookie thresholds; 20-80 tool grades are used.
Read at ESPN.com
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