To go along with this year’s article, we tagged each player with a “tier”. This tier is meant to signify to fantasy managers what the expectations should be once this player is promoted to the major leagues.
- Star – This player will be an impactful fantasy asset for years to come and is worth grabbing as soon as he is promoted. They have a chance to be an elite fantasy asset
- Starter – This player is a solid overall prospect and projects to be fantasy-relevant. They are worth adding in most leagues, but are not a “can’t miss” prospect
- Replacement Level – This player is a fine prospect, could stick around at the major-league level, but is not going to take your fantasy team to the next level. They will have value in deep leagues and in certain situations for standard leagues
- JAG – “Just a Guy”. This prospect provides organizational depth but does not project to be fantasy relevant
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Trey Gibson, RHP, Age: 23, AAA, Starter
Gibson is the most MLB-ready pitcher in the organization, plus he logged over 29 innings in Triple-A last season. The stuff is good, but inconsistent. It’s a power arsenal with five pitches, including two different fastballs, a sinker, a slider, and a curve. Strike-throwing has been an issue at times, but Gibson misses a good amount of bats and gets plenty of called strikes. At 6’5″, he’s an imposing figure on the mound and has the power stuff to match his physical stature. Gibson is the first guy I’d expect to see up in 2026, possibly even breaking camp as the team’s fifth starter.
Trey Gibson is one of the most underrated prospects in the game right now. Whereas late July/early August lists had him in the 200s, I think he's a top 75 guy.
Let's compare him to Jonah Tong and note their MiLB ranks in some key stats (min. 80 IP) 👇
(1/4) pic.twitter.com/Jkk8qz5H6z
— Eddy Almaguer (@EddyAlmaguer) August 18, 2025
Michael Forret, RHP, Age: 21, AA, Starter
It’s been an interesting path for Forret, a late-round pick in 2023 that landed an overslot bonus, making the O’s look smart for taking a chance. There were early concerns over command and control, but the strike-throwing took a step forward this year, and the results showed. He posted a 1.58 ERA across two levels with a 32.3% strikeout rate and a sub-8% walk rate. Forret has the kitchen-sink approach to pitching, using a deep arsenal and advanced pitchability to get hitters out. Forret is a mid-year addition in a multi-inning swing role or a starter if needed.
Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP, Age: 23, Starter
JWB was a mid-season acquisition from Toronto, who saw his strikeouts and command tick up in his time with Baltimore. His secondaries lead the way, specifically his slider and curveball. Using a steady mix of his secondaries and a serviceable fastball, Watts-Brown had an impressive 17% SwStr in 2025, and historically, he’s an above-average bat-misser. His consecutive seasons with 100+ innings pitched in his first two pro seasons also demonstrate durability. The biggest concern with Watts-Brown is a tendency to allow the long ball, but pitching in Camden Yards could be a safety blanket. His arrival is expected late in the second half of 2026.
Tyson Neighbors, RHP, Age:23, AA, Replacement Level
The Orioles added Neighbors from the Padres’ system last season. His history is exclusively in the bullpen, and his stuff matches the role. Neighbors has an elite fastball that reaches 98 and has flashed up to 21 inches of induced vertical break (iVB). In addition, he has two unique breakers, a 12-6 curve and a slider with a sharp bite. Consistency with command has crept up a few times throughout his career, but overall, he’s good at filling up the zone and really good at missing bats. Neighbors is a kid who can easily fill a high-leverage role and may be a future closer.
Jake Bennett, LHP, Age: 25, AAA, Starter
Bennett is the newest Red Sox, literally. The team acquired him earlier this month in a trade with the Nats. Bennett is a high-floor left-hander who features a heavy dose of sinking fastballs and changeups. He was below average at missing bats last season, but he induces a lot of groundballs and limits hard contact. After not pitching in 2024, he threw 75.1 innings with a 2.27 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Early projections say that Bennett may transition to the bullpen with the Red Sox, a team that needs another left-handed arm late in games.
David Sandlin, RHP, Age: 24, AAA, Replacement Level
Sandlin joined the Red Sox in 2023 and came with a lot of hoopla over his stuff and strikeout potential. Early results supported the hype, but a handful of injuries have slowed his development and forced him to the bullpen. Sandlin posted a 23.4% strikeout rate across two levels, down significantly from 2024, but that can be partially attributed to a change in roles. The arsenal consists of a high-octane fastball that sits in the upper 90s with triple-digit potential, along with a slider and a splitter. Sandlin has proven to be much more effective against right-handed hitters, but still has the stuff to carve out a role in the Sox bullpen early in 2026.
Ryan Watson, RHP, Age: 28, AAA
We’ll take the low-hanging fruit with Watson, a Rule 5 draft pick of the A’s who was dealt to the Red Sox immediately after the draft. Watson is a bit older, having just turned 28. He began his career as a starter but moved to the bullpen in 2024, and he has taken off since then. Pitching exclusively at Triple-A last season, he generated a 21% K-BB rate. The pitch-mix is primarily fastball/slider, two pitches he can consistently throw for strikes and get whiffs with. His ERA and WHIP were elevated in the hitter-friendly PCL, but Watson has an intriguing arm that will slot into a middle-relief role with the Sox.
Elmer Rodriguez (Cruz), RHP, Age: 22, AAA, Star
Rodriguez-Cruz had an incredible season in 2025, climbing three different levels and raising his stock more than any pitcher in the minors. ERC had a 2.58 ERA and led MiLB with 176 strikeouts in 150 innings, barely outpacing his organization mate Carlos Lagrange. Rodriguez-Cruz has impressive movement that some have called ‘whiffle ball’ type of stuff. His sinking fastball averaged over 95mph and generated a ground-ball rate of 54.5%. He also has an above-average curve, a cutter, and a changeup. With just five innings recorded in Triple-A, Rodriguez-Cruz will open the season there, but could have a significant impact on the Bronx Bombers in the second part of the season.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (@Yankees No. 6 prospect) was 💡's out as he lowers his @SOMPatriots ERA to 1.73 in 4 starts:
7 IP
2 H
0 R
2 BB
8 K pic.twitter.com/67M5vqebnp— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 5, 2025
Carlos Lagrange, RHP, Age: 21, AA, Star
Lagrange is a big kid, standing 6’7″ with a power arsenal that took a big step forward in 2025. In 120 innings, he tallied a 3.53 ERA with 168 strikeouts, but also issued 68 walks. Lagrange has been a starter his whole career, but with a walk rate of over 12% and a shallow arsenal, his reliever risk is relatively high, and he may be best served as a high-leverage reliever. He is primarily fastball and slider, two plus pitches, while also occasionally flashing a curve and change. Lagrange has never pitched above Double-A, but given his current trajectory, he should move quickly through AAA before joining the Yankee bullpen down the stretch.
Cade Winquest, RHP, Age: 25, AAA, JAG
The Yankees poached Winquest from the Cardinals in the recent Rule 5 draft and will undoubtedly move him to the bullpen for the first time in his career. His overall stuff is average, though he’s had a ton of success with his breaking ball, which is his only real bat-misser. There is a little deception in his delivery, and Winquest does a nice job of throwing strikes consistently. But we’ve seen guys with one dominant pitch have success in a relief role, and that’s what the Yankees are banking on with Winquest.
Santiago Suarez, RHP, Age: 20, Starter, AAA
It seems like Suarez has been around forever, but he’ll turn 21 early in January and is on the cusp of the majors. Suarez has elite command, never reaching a season-long walk rate over 5% or allowing more than 1.7 walks per nine. That outstanding command gives him a very high floor, though his upside is limited, as he’s not a big strikeout producer. He threw just 51.2 innings in an injury-plagued season in 2025, but he was a workhorse the prior season, totaling 111.2 innings. Suarez gives off big-time Sandy Alcantara vibes, which should bode well for his future. Suarez will likely compete for a rotation spot this Spring but will ultimately debut later in the season.
Brody Hopkins, RHP, Age: 23, AA, Star
The Rays hit gold when they acquired Hopkins from the Mariners in the Randy Arozarena trade in 2024. Since arriving to their organization, Hopkins has quickly become their top pitching prospect. In 2025, he eclipsed 115 innings for the second straight season, yielding a 2.72 ERA with a 28.7% strikeout rate. Hopkins has nasty stuff all around and uses a unique delivery to push his arsenal up to an even higher level. His command will need to improve, but he’s got top-of-the-rotation stuff and a body built for durability. His arrival to the Rays will likely come around the All-Star Break, and he should give them 50+ innings down the stretch.
Trevor Martin, RHP, Age: 25, AAA
After pitching exclusively out of the bullpen at Oklahoma State, Martin tried his hand as a starter in the pros. That journey ended ahead of the 2025 season, and Martin pitched well in his return to relief. In 53.1 innings between Double and Triple-A, he had an ERA of 3.21 and a 29.7% CSW. Whiffs have never been a problem for the 25-year-old as he’s consistently posted strikeout rates in the mid-20s while also showing above-average command. Martin does a great job of using his fastball and slider combination to suppress hard contact and limit damage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the Rays bullpen early in the season, possibly on Opening Day.
Gage Stanifer, RHP, Age: 22, AA, Starter
The Jays put together a plan early in 2025 to piggyback Stanifer on Trey Yesavage, and the two rose through the minors together until the majors arrived. Although Stanifer stayed behind, he’s no slouch. The 22-year-old tossed a career-best 110 innings in 2025, pitching to a 2.86 ERA while racking up a career-high 13 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s able to throw both pitches in his arsenal, a sinker and slider, for strikes regularly. Stanifer had a big jump in velocity this season, making both pitches even more effective, as they each recorded swinging-strike rates north of 17%. If the velo holds, Stanifer’s profile just became a lot more interesting and will put him as a leading candidate to contribute to the MLB roster in 2026.
Spencer Miles, RHP, Age: 25, CPX, Replacement Level
Injuries have completely ravaged Miles throughout his career, allowing him just 22 professional innings over the past three seasons. The right-hander did pitch in the Complex and in the AFL last Fall and fared well. There’s not a lot of data on him, but we know he sat in the mid-90s with his fastball and also showed a cutter, curve, and changeup. Scouts rave about his pitch shape and potential to be a mid-rotation type of starting pitcher. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen enough of him to make that assessment. But the Jays grabbed him in the Rule 5 draft, so he’s got to be on their roster in 2026, or go back to his original team. If he makes the roster, he should be a middle relief or a possible bulk-relief option.
Angel Bastardo, RHP, Age: 23, AA, Replacement Level
As a 21-year-old, Bastardo was a highly impressive up-and-comer in the Red Sox organization, but Tommy John surgery put that on hold. The Jays grabbed him in the 2024 Rule 5 draft, and he rehabbed last season with their organization. Bastardo should be a full-go entering spring training. Pre-injury, he tossed over 110 innings, so he’s shown the ability to manage a starter’s workload, but his role in 2026 should be in the bullpen. His arsenal consists of a mid-90s fastball and an above-average changeup. He also features a curve and slider, but neither is overly exciting. It will be interesting to monitor his usage this spring and see how the team discusses him as Opening Day approaches.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Hagen Smith, LHP, Age: 23, AA, Starter
Smith, the fifth overall pick in 2024, had an interesting debut season with the Sox. Pitching exclusively at Double-A, he made 20 starts totaling 75.2 innings and then pitched in the Arizona Fall League. The reports have been mixed on the talented left-hander, as the stuff he flashed collegiately at Arkansas has taken a step back, particularly in velocity. There were also significant command concerns this season, as he posted a walk rate of 17.6%, even higher than the 13% he had in college. Still, the White Sox don’t have a ton of rotation options, and Smith has some of the top arm talent in their organization. He will enter camp with a shot to make their Opening Day roster, but a mid-summer call-up is his most likely ETA.
The @MLBazFallLeague seems to agree with Hagen Smith!
The @whitesox 2024 first-rounder preserves his spotless Fall League ERA, fanning five over three scoreless frames. pic.twitter.com/ix1wBdPsXW
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 17, 2025
Noah Schultz, LHP, Age: 22, AAA, Starter
Depending on the publication, Schultz will appear as high as a Top-20 prospect or as low as a borderline Top-150 guy; that’s how divisive his profile has become. After initially dominating the lower levels, the 6’7″ left-hander has struggled. Injuries and inefficiency have plagued his career of late, including a knee injury that limited him to just 73 innings last season. The main culprit has been walks. Schultz has the stuff to be a star, but his command of the arsenal is very poor. Speaking of the arsenal, it’s fastball-sweeper-changeup, each of which has graded out as well above-average. At this point, the combination of a low workload and inconsistent results has Schultz as a high probability to pitch in the bullpen, possibly even as a closer. If the Sox do try him in the rotation again this season, I’d have concerns about his potential to pitch more than 90 innings regardless of level.
Jedixson Paez, RHP, Age: 21, High-A, Star
Paez was easily the most surprising selection in the Rule 5 draft, especially considering that he’d never pitched above High-A while he was in the Boston organization. His calling card early in his career has been elite command, as he has posted a walk rate below 4% in each of his last two seasons. Unlike most command-first pitchers, Paez misses a ton of bats as well, giving him an exciting combination of high floor and high upside. In 2025, Paez had a 27.7% strikeout rate in a small sample, one year after reaching 29% over 96.2 innings. The young righty is still a bit risky for the White Sox based on his experience, but he’s got the stuff to hold his own at the MLB level. It will be interesting to see how Paez is utilized this spring, but given a lower workload last season, I’m guessing he’ll go to the bullpen.
Alexander Alberto, RHP, Age: 24, High-A, Star
Paez wasn’t the only inexperienced arm to join the White Sox as part of the Rule 5 draft, as they grabbed Alexander Alberto from the Rays. Alberto is a 6’8″ right-hander with a live arm, often reaching the upper-90s with his fastball, even touching triple-digits. He pairs that with a sharp slider, but lacks a third offering. His command has been a concern throughout his career, but there’s no questioning his overall arm talent. If he joins the White Sox to open the season, I’d anticipate him to be featured in a high-leverage role at the back-end of their bullpen.
Khal Stephen, RHP, Age: 24, AA, Starter
The Guardians parlaying a rehabbing Shane Bieber into Stephen was one of the best moves of the 2025 trade deadline. The 2024 second-rounder has been highly impressive throughout his career, showing outstanding command and a strong feel for pitching. At 6’4″, 215 lbs., Stephen has a body built for durability, and he worked 103 innings in his pro debut. He relies heavily on his fastball and slider, but also features an above-average changeup, and his curve is a solid fourth offering. Stephan had just 15.1 innings at Double-A last season, so his estimated ETA would be later in 2026.
Daniel Espino, RHP, Age: 24, A+, Starter
It’s pretty crazy that Espino would ever appear on this report, given the adversity and injury woes he’s overcome in the past three years. Once considered a Top-5 pitching prospect back in 2022, Espino finally resurfaced in 2025. He pitched 2/3 of an inning at AAA and then 4.2 scoreless innings during the AFL. The high-octane fastball averaged over 97 mph in the fall, and his secondary stuff was serviceable, yet unrefined. The amount of arm talent is incredibly high, but it’s been over three years since we’ve seen a full dose of Espino in the minors. Given the injuries and concerns about volume, it’s unlikely he makes the OD roster. But with his stuff and ability to dominate when he’s healthy, Espino could be a very dangerous weapon in the Guardians’ bullpen.
Austin Peterson, RHP, Age: 25, AAA, JAG
Peterson feels very ‘Guardians’ in his approach to pitching. The 6’6″ right-hander doesn’t have exceptional stuff, but relies on deception and extension to generate most of his success. All told, Peterson used six different pitches more than 5% of the time last season, throwing a ton of strikes with varying degrees of bat-missing. He will never be a significant strikeout producer, but for the most part, he limits hard contact and keeps hitters off balance with his varied offerings. Given the depth of his arsenal, he’s still a fringe back-end of the rotation arm, but his long-term role could be in middle relief.
Peyton Pallette, RHP, Age: 25, AAA, JAG
Pallette comes to the Guardians from the division-rival White Sox, having been a Rule 5 selection this winter. The right-hander was a quality college starter at Arkansas before becoming a second-rounder in 2022. His journey with the White Sox began as a starter, but he moved to the bullpen full-time ahead of last season. In much shorter outings as a reliever, his strikeout rate jumped to 32.5%, up six points over his mark in 2024. The strike-throwing has improved as well, although he’s still walking batters at a 10% clip. Pallette uses a traditional four-pitch mix of fastball, curve, slider, and changeup, with the slider a clear frontrunner for his best put-away pitch. So long as the strike-throwing continues, Pallette offers some intriguing upside as a high-leverage reliever in an already loaded Guardians’ bullpen.
Jake Miller, LHP, Age: 24, AA, Starter
Miller is a guy that I really like in the short and long term. The left-hander had a back injury that limited him last season, but he was excellent in 2024. In that 2024 season, he had a 1.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 87.1 innings. Miller has always displayed exceptional control and was averaging over a strikeout per inning in two seasons before the injury. The 24-year-old has primarily worked as a reliever, although he’s got the arsenal to be stretched out. Miller has two pitches that are plus or better: his changeup and slider. The fastball lacks velocity, but he moves it around well and gets a good amount of called strikes with it. I hope Miller plays a role similar to that of Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter for the Tigers over the past few seasons.
Jaden Hamm, RHP, Age: 23, AA, Starter
Following the 2024 season, Hamm was trending up as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization. Hamm missed over two months in 2025 with an undisclosed injury before finally returning in mid-August. Before the IL stint, his velocity was down over two ticks, a clear sign that something was ailing him. In the end, the 23-year-old still managed 88 innings, down 11 from 2024, but was on pace to clear 100 innings for the first time in his career had he not been injured. Hamm had success in 2024 by making mechanical adjustments and locating his fastball higher in the zone. The Tigers also added a slider to his pitch mix, and that helped push his strikeout rate to just over 30%. Assuming he’s healthy entering camp, Hamm will likely report to Triple-A Toledo with an eye on joining the big club sometime later in the summer.
Lael Lockhart, LHP, Age: 27, AAA, JAG
Lockhart is an interesting guy. At age 27, he’s spent five full seasons in the minors, two with the Dodgers and three with Detroit. He’s made 76 career MiLB starts with over 100 appearances, but has almost exclusively been a starter with Detroit. Last season, Lockhart threw 104 innings, mostly at Triple-A, pitching to a 4.41 ERA with a strikeout per inning. The left-hander is crafty, using a high-80s fastball and sinker to set up his curveball, which is a clear outlier in his arsenal. Lockhart has also had success with a splitter, which produced a swinging strike rate of over 18% in 2025. There’s almost no upside in the profile, but he’s a guy who can eat innings and has just enough funk and spin to give hitters fits as a middle reliever type. Don’t forget, Tigers relievers tallied 40 wins as a unit last season, making Lockhart a viable option in AL mono leagues.
Ben Kudrna, RHP, Age: 22, AAA, JAG
Ben Kudrna is a guy who has been around for a while, yet he’s only 22. Kudrna was a second-round pick in 2021 who has slowly climbed his way up through the minors, finally reaching Triple-A to close out 2025. He doesn’t offer much in the way of strikeouts, averaging less than a strikeout per inning, but he has solid command. Kudrna does excel at getting ground balls, consistently inducing them at a 45% clip or higher. With three straight seasons of at least 100 innings, it’s hard to imagine Kudrna as anything but a starter. He projects to be the first MiLB call-up if a rotation spot needs to be filled.
Steven Zobac, RHP, Age: 25, AA, JAG
Tendinitis in his knee limited Zobac to 44 innings in 2025, but like Kudrna, he’s got a track record of a starter’s workload. The key with Zobac has always been the command and his ability to consistently throw strikes, steadily keeping his walk rate below 7%. Strikeouts aren’t necessarily his thing either, although he’s always had an above-average swinging strike rate. Zobac is mostly fastball-slider, unable to find a viable third offering, and giving him a clear path to the majors as a reliever. I don’t expect much from him for fantasy, but he’s on pace to pitch for the Royals this summer.
Connor Prielipp, LHP, Age: 24, AA, Star/Starter
Prielipp is arguably the best pitcher in the Twins organization and is starting to gather steam as we approach 2026. The southpaw missed parts of 2023 and 2024 following Tommy John surgery, but was able to pitch 82.2 innings in his 24 appearances last season. His stuff is excellent, particularly his changeup and slider, which amassed a swinging strike rate of over 16% in a limited Triple-A sample to close out 2025. His command and control finally worked its way back last season, as he finished with an 8.5% walk rate. There is a lot of early buzz that Prielipp could be a featured piece of their bullpen in 2026, although I’d really love to see him remain a starter for next year and beyond.
Kendry Rojas, LHP, Age: 23, AAA, Starter
Rojas joined the Twins last season, coming from Toronto in the Varland-France deal at the deadline. The Cuban-born lefty has flashed dominance at various points in his career, but injuries have limited his workload in each of the previous two seasons. Rojas generally has above-average command and has posted impressive strikeout rates, but both were inconsistent last season. His fastball is mid-90s with a hard slider and changeup, all of which have shown bat-missing potential. Having yet to exceed 100 innings in his career, it’s doubtful that Rojas will compete for the MLB roster in camp. But if he can stay healthy, this is an arm that could get pushed into the mix around the All-Star break.
Andrew Morris, RHP, Age: 24, AAA, Starter
Morris was another one from my pre-2025 list that I was very confident would debut last season. Well, here we are again. Morris had a subpar first half, posting an ERA of 4.41 as hitters made loud contact and his walks ticked up above his usual stellar rate. The second half was much better, albeit in a smaller sample. He walked just four hitters in just over 30 innings and held hitters to a .183 average against. It’s a deep, six-pitch arsenal for Morris, highlighted by a mid-90s fastball and sinker, two distinct bat-missing breakers, along with a changeup and cutter. The depth of his arsenal and his above-average command give Morris a real shot to stick as a mid-rotation starter.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Gage Jump, LHP, Age: 22, AA, Star
Jump had a relatively smooth transition from LSU to the pros and has been one of the top breakouts of 2025. The left-hander tossed 112.2 innings this season, including 81 of those at Double-A. Jump threw a lot of strikes in his debut and missed a lot of bats. His 28.4% strikeout rate ranked in the top 25 in the minors, as did his 21% K-BB rate. He’s a little unorthodox with his deception in his delivery, but that elevates his stuff even further. The fastball can reach the upper 90s, and he pairs that with a slider, curve, and an occasional changeup. Jump has a smaller build at 6’0″, 200 lbs., and already had Tommy John in 2022. For now, he’s not showing any ongoing concerns about his durability, but his size will be a topic of discussion. After a dozen or so starts at Triple-A, I’d expect him to Jump to the majors.
Braden Nett, RHP, Age: 23, AA, JAG
The A’s added Nett in the Mason Miller trade with San Diego, and he performed well following the move. A sore elbow held him under 70 innings in 2024, and Nett has a history of arm-related issues. He did bounce back and logged 105.2 innings between two levels and organizations in 2025. Nett has a live arm as the fastball sits in the upper 90s. He also has an excellent slider, which has been a big bat-misser throughout his career. However, he has not shown good command and has a high reliever risk. Nett is also not a big strikeout guy, which limits his appeal in fantasy. Either way, the A’s rotation is not very deep, and Nett is a guy who can contribute at the MLB level as a back-end starter or reliever.
Henry Baez, RHP, Age: 23, AA, Starter
Baez was also acquired in the Padres trade and was their organization’s Pitcher of the Year in 2024. The 6’3″ right-hander has a slight build, which could pose a concern for his durability. His stuff is legit. The fastball is mid-90s with a sharp breaking curve and a split-change. His strikeout rate has been in the lower 20s, with reasonable walk rates. With consecutive workloads over 100 innings, Baez has produced a starter workload, although I wonder if his future could be in the bullpen, where the velocity could be unleashed even further. I expect him to contribute to the MLB roster late in 2026.
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Age: 23, N/A, Star
Arnold was one of the most accomplished collegiate pitchers during his time at Florida State. The A’s selected him with the 11th pick in 2025, but he did not pitch following his selection. Arnold was highly impressive in college, posting back-to-back seasons with a 2.98 ERA and averaging over 12.5 strikeouts per nine. Collegiately, he operated primarily with a fastball/sweeper, but also has a changeup in his repertoire. The sweeper was one of the most successful single pitches in the NCAA, earning a whiff rate of well over 40%. Given his track record of workload and collegiate experience, Arnold could take the Yesavage route this season, climbing multiple levels before finishing the season in the A’s rotation.
Miguel Ullola, RHP, Age: 23, AAA, Replacement Level
Ullola may have the best pure stuff in the Astros’ system, but his struggles with command and control are well-documented. In 2025, he had a walk rate of 15.9% at Triple-A, which aligns with his career averages. 2025 was also the first season in which his strikeout rate fell below 30%. Ullola can dominate with his five-pitch mix and has had double-digit swinging strike rates with all of them. On the flip side, none of them had a strike percentage above 60%, clearly showing command issues. His profile is best suited for a relief role, where he can utilize his high-octane fastball and mix of secondaries to neutralize hitters in small samples. I expect him to compete for a relief role in spring training and to see meaningful innings with the Astros this summer.
Ethan Pecko, RHP, Age: 23, AAA, Starter
The pitcher most likely to break camp this season in Houston will be Ethan Pecko. Pecko has been very consistent early on in his career, producing mid-3s ERAs with decent WHIPs and averaging well over a strikeout per inning. His best pitch is a mid-90s sinker that has a strong history of getting whiffs. He also shows a cutter, curve, slider, and changeup. With above-average command and his ability to get whiffs, Pecko offers plenty of upside for strikeouts, while also limiting the risk of destroying ratios. He should compete for a rotation spot in camp, and if he does not make it, he would be the first guy summoned from Triple-A.
Jackson Nezuh, RHP, Age: 23, AA, Starter
Nezuh came out red hot in his first pro season following his selection in the 14th round of the 2023 draft. In 120.1 innings between two levels of A-ball, he punched out 151 hitters while maintaining a sub-10% walk rate. That decreased walk rate represented a drastic improvement over his collegiate days, where he struggled with command. Although his strikeout rate dipped in 2025, his gains with control stuck. There are concerns about the depth of his arsenal: he has only a fastball and a serviceable changeup, with no real breaking ball. The Astros organization typically loves to utilize breaking pitches, so, surprisingly, he hasn’t come around. With further development, Nezuh can be a fifth-starter type and should make a handful of starts for the Astros in 2026.
Tyler Bremner, RHP, Age: 22, N/A, Star
Bremner was a surprise #2 pick in this year’s draft, as he entered 2025 as a possible #1, but his stuff took a step back during his final year at UCSB. He was still quite good in 2025, posting an ERA of 3.59 with a 35.8% strikeout rate while averaging over 12 strikeouts per nine. It’s an easy 95-98 for Bremner with the fastball, and his changeup was one of the best in the country. The problem was that his slider was not sharp, causing concerns over the depth of his arsenal. Still, the 22-year-old landed with the always controversial Angels organization, and naturally, is already in consideration for the majors. Bremner didn’t debut following the draft and will likely open the season at either High-A or Double-A. Given their aggressive nature, Bremner could very well enter their rotation by midseason, but realistically, he has a post-trade deadline ETA.
George Klassen, RHP, Age: 22, AAA, Star
Klassen was a rising star in 2024 as a member of the Phillies organization. But a mid-season trade out west led to some struggles closing out an otherwise terrific debut. The 22-year-old got back on track this season, although his results aren’t necessarily reflective of that. The main thing was that Klassen started throwing strikes again, something he wasn’t able to do following the trade. His walk rate was a respectable 10% with his usual high strikeout totals. Klassen has three pitches that are plus-or-better, headlined by his triple-digit fastball. He also throws a hard curve and slider, each of which has produced big whiff rates. So long as the command holds up, Klassen has top-of-the-rotation stuff and projects as a future #2 in the majors. He’s headed for a quick stop in Triple-A before an early-season bump to the Show.
Samy Natera Jr., LHP, Age: 26, AAA, Replacement Level
Natera garnered a ton of attention in the Arizona Fall League last November. The crafty lefty posted a 0.75 ERA with 17 strikeouts in just 12 innings. That success carried over into 2025, as Natera posted strong results, mainly at Double-A. It was a 2.84 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, earning eight saves in 12 chances. He continued to rack up strikeouts, posting a 34.3% strikeout rate, but command remains an ongoing problem, as he allowed over six walks per nine. His mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider from the left side have caused so much trouble for hitters, but can he throw enough strikes to stick in the majors? If so, he’s got the potential to become a high-leverage reliever, or even closer, in the Angels bullpen.
Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Age 22, AA, Star
I don’t know what direction the Mariners will go with Cijntje this season, as the ambidextrous hurler enters his second season as a pro. By now, you know the story, but the 22-year-old was a 2024 first-round pick and has been wowing onlookers by switch-pitching, the first to do so since Pat Venditte. From the right side, Cijntje is a power arm, reaching 98 with his sinking fastball, and pairing with a sharp slider and decent changeup. He’s more crafty from the left side, going with a fastball/sweeper combo that lacks velocity and effectiveness. There is legitimate mid-rotation stuff as a right-hander, but his lefty side is quite gimmicky. Having already reached Double-A, there’s a good chance that Cijntje will reach the majors in 2026.
Switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje throwing 92L/95R is wild. pic.twitter.com/meDoMofai6
— Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) December 17, 2025
Tyler Cleveland, RHP, Age: 26, AA, JAG
Cleveland isn’t all that exciting on the surface, but everyone loves a submariner, right? The 26-year-old comes from ground level with a fastball and slider combination that he commands well and uses to induce soft contact, particularly on the ground. In 2025, he logged 51.2 innings between two levels with an absurd 0.87 ERA. Hitters managed a .125 average against him as he carved his way to a 25% strikeout rate. Everything is about deception and movement with Cleveland, who would serve as a nice change of pace for a bullpen filled with power arms in Seattle.
Charlie Beilenson, RHP, Age: 25, AA, JAG
Beilenson was a fourth-rounder in 2024, coming to the Mariners via Duke. He exclusively works out of the bullpen, only pitching from the stretch. The stuff is average as a whole, but he commands it well and misses plenty of bats. That, plus a little deception with his release, can make things tough on hitters at times. At others, his arsenal is very hittable and opposing batters managed a .748 OPS against him this season. There’s enough here for him to be a middle reliever in the majors.
Emiliano Teodo, RHP, Age: 24, AAA, Starter
Coming out of a dominant 2024 season that saw him post a 1.98 ERA in 86.1 innings, Rangers fans thought Emiliano Teodo was breaking out and was set to become a star. Instead, Teodo’s shoulder landed him on the IL, limiting him to just 30 innings in 2025. The stuff can be incredibly nasty. It’s a triple-digit fastball with one of the best sliders in the minor leagues and a changeup that has the potential to be his third plus-or-better offering. With 80-grade stuff has come 30-grade command. If Teodo can figure it out, he’s a potentially elite option in the back-end of a bullpen.
Leandro Lopez, RHP, Age: 23, AA
With a focus on health and conditioning, Leandro Lopez had a banner year in 2025. A career-high 101 innings pitched and being added to the 40-man roster now have Lopez on the verge of the majors just two years after coming to the US from the Dominican. The right-hander has two outstanding breakers, a slider and a curve, that have elevated his strikeout rate to nearly 30% this season, up over seven points from 2024. His command also took a huge step, lowering his walk rate from 17% to 10%. Those gains put him back into the discussion as a possible mid-rotation starter rather than a bullpen arm. Look for Lopez to impact the Rangers by mid-2026
