It was another outstanding year in Minor League Baseball, and with a work stoppage looming at the MLB level, MiLB may be all we have at the start of the 2027 season. Now on to more positive news. We saw some incredible performances across the board this season, including Carson Roccaforte going 30-35 for the first time in Royals history. Home run records were shattered at every level, while we saw dominant pitching performances and even wacky moments like Kendall George injuring his knee on the bat dog. Only in the Minor Leagues! All of this makes MiLB life so special, but only these 10 players deserve to be the 2026 Prospects of the Year!
2026 Prospect of the Year: Theo Gillen, OF, TBR
My 2026 Prospect of the Year is Theo Gillen of the Rays. Gillen had an impressive age-19 season, slashing .315/.419/.546,546, adding 22 homers, 44 steals, and 187 combined runs and RBI, splitting his year between High-A and Double-A. Gillen has all of the physical tools, making him a true five-category contributor in fantasy. His plate approach is simple, with little wasted movement, a compact swing, and excellent decisions. Gillen can hit for power and average, is a plus runner on the bases, and has the defensive chops to stick in center field, although he may end up on a corner with the Rays. If you can find one potential pitfall in the profile, he still hits the ball on the ground quite a bit, and yet he hit over 20 homers and added 29 additional extra-base hits. Gillen is my #2 overall prospect and has entered the top 40 in my Dynasty 400 rankings.
Catcher: Rainiel Rodriguez, STL
As I sat down to write this piece, one name was a slam dunk: Cardinals prospect Rainiel Rodriguez, easily the top catching prospect in baseball and the top performer in 2026. Rodriguez played 115 games across two levels this season, ultimately reaching Double-A and dominating there despite being one of the younger prospects. He slashed .324/.413/.574 with 27 homers and 11 steals, while also walking over 11% of the time. His 150 wRC+ is actually a bit worse than 2025 (162), but he still finished in the top 10 among hitters with at least 300 plate appearances. Beyond a lack of foot speed, Rodriguez has very few flaws in his profile. He makes a lot of contact, has no problem getting to his pull-side power, and can also hit for a high average. For me, he’s the best offensive catching prospect in the last decade, including Samuel Basallo. Rodriguez has a legitimate chance to compete for an Opening Day roster spot in 2027.
First Base: Josiah Hartshorn, CHC
Although he has split time between multiple positions (OF), Josiah Hartshorn is my first-base choice. A sixth-round pick from 2025, Hartshorn broke out and became a top-50 prospect with a monster 2026. The 19-year-old from California obliterated pitching at three different levels, mashing 23 homers with 26 doubles, 5 triples, and 17 steals en route to a .927 OPS in his debut. Hartshorn is an advanced bat, drawing walks over 16% of the time, with overall and in-zone contact rates at or above 80%, and very little chase. Without real Statcast data, we have to lean on reports, which suggest his EVs are well above average, and his power projects as plus or better. Hartshorn had a handful of at-bats in Double-A to end the season, and he should report back there to open 2027.
Second Base: Eli Willits, WSH
This is where the positional flexibility of this exercise gets fun. A half dozen shortstops had elite seasons, so picking just one becomes extremely difficult. Willits is a perfect example. As an 18-year-old in his pro debut, the #1 pick in 2025 climbed three levels, finishing the year in Double-A. In 114 games, he hit .265 with 14 homers, 62 steals, 102 runs scored, and drew 95 walks while striking out 113. Willits performed steadily at each level despite facing competition that averaged two years older. His profile centers on 70-grade speed while also showcasing at least average skills across the board. The biggest question entering his debut was how his power would develop, but reaching double-digit homers is encouraging. However, I can’t project anything more than a 15- to 20-homer guy in the majors.
Shortstop: Tate Southisene, ATL
Atlanta’s system had two of the top breakout performers of 2026, including 19-year-old Tate Southisene. Southisene had a horrific debut following the 2025 draft, striking out over 40% of the time and running contact rates well below 60%. This season was completely different. He played 89 games across two levels of A-ball, slashing .278/.408/.467 with 35 extra-base hits (12 HR), a 15.5% walk rate, and 45 stolen bases. His plate skills were very strong, cutting back the chase and aggression he showed at the end of last season and focusing on making quality swing decisions and getting bat-to-ball. The hit tool grades out slightly above average with at least average power, but the combination of speed, athleticism, and his plate skills makes Southisene a no-doubt top-30 prospect.
Third Base: Andrew Fischer, MIL
The MiLB home run leader in 2026 is an easy choice as Brewers’ prospect Andrew Fischer takes the top spot. In his first full season after a collegiate career at Tennessee, Fischer launched 48 homers in 126 games, driving in 114 runs in the process. Fischer, along with Dodgers’ prospect James Tibbs III, was one of only two minor leaguers with at least 30 homers, 100 runs, and 100 RBI this season. The 6’0″ slugger has a violent swing focused on hitting the ball as hard as possible. He rarely gets cheated, getting off his A-swing nearly every time. That aggression has also led to high strikeout rates. He struck out over 33% of the time this season, posting 185 strikeouts in just 126 games. At the same time, Fischer walked 18% of the time, earning 102 walks, one of 15 players to walk at least 100 times this season. All in all, it was a very successful season for Fischer, who should figure into the Brewers’ plans in 2027.
Outfield: Josue de Paula, LAD
De Paula is one of two players on the list who made their MLB debut in 2026, alongside Mariners outfielder Kade Anderson. De Paula was dominant at Double-A Tulsa, mashing 27 homers and stealing 31 bases in 124 games for the Drillers. In a quick cup of coffee in the Show, the 21-year-old collected five extra-base hits in 31 at-bats and walked over 26% of the time in that small sample. Few prospects can match De Paula’s raw power. At 6’3″, he uses long levers and above-average bat speed to launch the ball to all fields. His contact rates were well above average at Double-A, something he’s sustained throughout his career. If the hit tool remains even league average, De Paula has 30+ homer upside in the majors. The biggest question is where he’ll play, as he’s a below-average defender with no clear path to regular playing time in LA.
UTIL: Franklin Arias, BOS
Arias entered 2026 as a fringe top-50 prospect with one consistent offensive tool and more questions than answers elsewhere (power & speed). Armed with a plus hit tool, the 20-year-old found his power stroke, mashing 25 homers across two levels, including six in just under 200 at-bats in a season-ending stint with Triple-A Worcester. We still have no reason to believe Arias will contribute much on the bases, but he’s checked every box at the plate. Arias now hits for power and average, gets on base at a very high rate, and doesn’t strike out much. He projects as a future 2-through-4 hitter and should be the Red Sox Opening Day shortstop in 2027.
Starting Pitcher: Kade Anderson, SEA
Throughout the season, I jokingly referred to the pitcher of the month as the “Kade Anderson Award winner” and for good reason. In his first pro season, Anderson shoved at Double-A, posting a 1.06 ERA and averaging more than 13 Ks per nine innings thanks to a whiff rate of nearly 38%. Anderson completely skipped both levels of A-ball, aced his aggressive assignment at Double-A, and then promptly bypassed Triple-A before making his MLB debut on August 22nd. In seven starts for the Mariners, he’s 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA over 35.2 innings. Anderson’s combination of outstanding command, a deep arsenal, pitchability, and durability gives him such a high floor as a starting pitcher, even if he’s not elite metrically. The 21-year-old will be a fixture in the Mariners’ rotation for the next decade.
Starting Pitcher: Joseph Dzierwa, BAL
I’d be doing my native NW Ohio a disservice if I didn’t include the pride of Tontogany, OH, Mr. Joseph Dzierwa, in this piece. The former MSU Spartan had a dominant pro debut, logging 131 innings with a 2.27 ERA and a 23.2% K-BB rate. Dzierwa showed outstanding command with a quality four-pitch mix, pounding the zone and challenging hitters every time out. His fastball velocity gained a few ticks versus his collegiate days, which played up even more with his low three-quarters arm slot and cross-body delivery. He pairs that with a plus changeup and an above-average slider. I really liked what I saw from Dzierwa in year one and fully expect him to make his MLB debut next season!
