Fantasy baseball managers have enough of a challenge keeping up with the performances of each Major League player. That task grows larger once they need to start accounting for the performance of Minor League players. This article sets out to make the lives of fantasy managers easier by detailing each of the pitching prospects that could debut from the National League in 2026. If you are looking for the hitter version, check out these articles released earlier in December: National League, American League.
To go along with each ranking, a “tier” was included to detail what kind of prospect fantasy baseball managers should expect this player to turn into. The tier list is as follows:
- 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.
2026 Pitching Prospects to Debut: National League
Andrew Painter– RHP, 22 YO, AAA, Star
Andrew Painter was on the fast track to the Major Leagues before Tommy John Surgery forced him to miss the entirety of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Painter returned to the mound in 2025. He finished the year with 118 innings and a 5.28 ERA. Although the results were not what dynasty managers were used to, Painter still maintained high-90s fastball velocity and generated a 29.6% or greater whiff rate on four different pitches. Most importantly, Painter emerged from 2025 healthy. He is going to be a key part of Phlly’s rotation plans in 2026 and has an extremely high ceiling for fantasy managers.
Jean Cabrera– RHP, 24 YO, AA, Replacement Level
Jean Cabrera’s spot on the 40-man roster makes it more than possible that he makes his Major League debut next season. Cabrera has been part of the Phillies’ organization since signing back in 2019 and has worked his way slowly through the Minor Leagues. Cabrera’s strikeout rates have never been anything special, but he has proven the ability to eat innings throughout his career. His stuff is nothing special. He has an unorthodox windup in which he always looks off-balance when he lands. His fastball sits 92-94 most nights and gets good arm-side run. He has a plus slider but lacks a true out pitch to attack lefties. He is a fine player, but not one who is going to be a difference maker for fantasy managers.
Moisés Chace– RHP, 22 YO, AA, Starter
Moises Chace entered 2025 with significant buzz. Following his trade to Philadelphia in 2024, Chace showed dramatic improvements to his command, which many thought could signal a breakout. Unfortunately, Chace’s command struggles returned in his first 16.2 innings before he was forced to undergo Tommy John Surgery. At this point, it is fair to wonder if Philadelphia will consider moving Chace into a bullpen role. He has a huge fastball with movement and velocity. His slider is equally filthy and plays well off of the fastball. His changeup is a distant third pitch, and its inconsistencies could cause issues against lefties. Chace sticks in the starter tier, but there is significant relief risk, especially coming back from a major injury.
Jack Wenninger– RHP, 23 YO, AA, Starter
Jack Wenninger gets overshadowed in the long list of current Mets’ pitching prospects. The team’s sixth-round pick from 2022 has shown consistent improvements in each of his first three professional seasons. He pitched the entirety of the year at Double-A and finished with a 12-6 record and a 2.92 ERA. Coming straight over the top, Wenninger gets good extension on his delivery. His fastball sits 95-97 and has excellent late movement. His slider is his go-to strikeout pitch against righties, but he also mixes in a curveball and splitter to keep batters off balance. Despite only striking out 26.4% of batters last year, Wenninger has plus stuff, which could turn him into a breakout prospect in 2026.
Jonathan Santucci– LHP, 22 YO, AA, Starter
The Mets selected Jonathan Santucci in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Duke University. The former Blue Devil pitched well in his first professional season, splitting time between High and Double-A, and finishing the year with a 3.06 ERA. Santucci has a great fastball and is a very difficult at-bat for lefties. He is comfortable throwing his two-plane slider to both righties and lefties and has developed a strong feel for his changeup to keep righties off balance. The biggest concern coming out of Duke was Santucci’s control, but he limited his walk rate to 8.5% last season and has a bright future ahead of him. There are a lot of young arms ahead of Santucci in the Mets’ system, but he could make his debut at some point next season.
Robby Snelling– LHP, 22 YO, AAA, Star
Robby Snelling is a GUY. Not a JAG, but a guy! Snelling has been filthy since being acquired by Miami in the Luis Arraz trade a couple of seasons ago. He took his game to the next level last season. He made 25 starts between Double and Triple-A. In those starts, Snelling posted a 30.3% strikeout rate, a 7.1% walk rate, and a 2.51 ERA. His velocity has ticked up into the mid-90s on his fastball with great life. His curveball is a plus-plus offering, and he also mixes in a changeup and slider. Snelling finished the year with a 1.15 ERA and a 36.9% strikeout rate over his last nine starts. He is arguably the best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball and will make his debut next season.
Thomas White– LHP, 21 YO, AAA, Star
Snelling’s biggest competition for the best lefty prospect is teammate Thomas White. White was the team’s second pick at 35th overall in the 2023 draft. White has struggled with consistency since turning pro, but his stuff is undeniably elite. Standing at 6’5″, White has a commanding presence on the mound. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and generates plenty of whiffs up in the zone. His slider is more of a sweeper with big-time break. Although he lacks a consistent feel for it, his changeup is also a plus offering. White walked 13.6% of batters last season, but he also struck out 38.6%. He will be 21 for the entirety of the 2026 season and has a chance to turn into one of the game’s elite pitchers if he can solve his command issues.
Dax Fulton– LHP, 24 YO, AAA, Replacement Level
Then, the Marlins have Dax Fulton, who is the lefty who gets overlooked by Snelling and White. To dynasty managers, Fulton has been known for his curveball. Standing at 6’7″, Fulton comes down on hitters, and the big breaking two-plane curveball generates plenty of silly swings. The curveball is a great offering, but Fulton lacks much else. His fastball lacks significant movement and does not generate many swings and misses. His numbers are significantly better against lefties than righties, which adds relief risk to his profile. Fulton’s inclusion on the 40-man roster makes his 2026 debut likely. However, he is two tiers below Snelling and White in terms of fantasy expectations.
Karson Milbrandt– RHP, 21 YO, AA, Starter
Karson Milbrandt has the stuff to turn into a fantasy-relevant starting pitcher. Milbrandt has flashed exciting strikeout potential throughout his professional career, and that continued in the AFL. At the AFL, Milbrandt struck out over 40% of the batters he faced while generating elite whiff and chase rates. The issue was that Milbrandt continued to struggle with walks and finished with a 4.72 ERA. That has been the story of Milbrandt’s career. He has an incredible fastball with high velocity, spin, and vertical break. His slider and cutter are also capable of generating whiffs at a high rate. His high-effort delivery and lack of command cause concern over how he will sustain success against Major League batters. He falls into the starter’s category based on upside, but is still a work in progress.
Owen Murphy– RHP, 22 YO, A+, Starter
Owen Murphy was putting together a breakout 2024 season before an elbow injury forced him to undergo Tommy John Surgery. The injury cooled any hype surrounding his name as he was forced to miss a significant amount of time. He returned to the mound last July and looked excellent in his return. He made seven starts, firing 30 innings, and finishing with a 1.19 ERA. His fastball velocity was down a tick from where it stood prior to the injury (91-93), but he still commanded the pitch well with excellent late life up in the zone. His slider looked like a dominant strikeout offering and one he can throw in any count. Although Murphy is yet to advance past High-A, he has significant fantasy upside. The Braves are no strangers to moving prospects quickly through their system, and it could be Murphy’s turn in 2026.
Lucas Braun– RHP, 24 YO, AAA, Replacement Level
Lucas Braun is a perfectly fine prospect. The sixth-round pick from 2023 continued to put up solid Minor League numbers yet again in 2025. He made 27 appearances between Double and Triple-A, finishing with a 3.67 ERA. Braun’s profile is that of a high-floor, low-ceiling fantasy asset. Braun is likely to make a handful of starts for Atlanta next season, but he lacks upside in the strikeout department. He has a low-90s fastball and mixes in five different offerings to keep hitters off balance. His slider is his best strikeout pitch, but is average at best, sitting around 83 mph. Having pitched in Triple-A, Braun should expect to make his Major League debut next season, but is not more than a streaming option for fantasy managers.
J.R. Ritche- RHP- 22 YO, AAA, Starter
An elbow injury in 2023 forced JR Ritchie to miss significant time in 2023 and 2024. The former third-round pick finally put together a full season in 2025, firing 140 innings across three different levels. While Ritchie has routinely caught the eye of dynasty managers thanks to his excellent slider, it is fair to question the upside he truly has. A sinker-ball pitcher, Ritchie pitches to contact more than anything. He commands the pitch well down in the zone and allows his curveball and slider to play off of that. Ritchie keeps the ball in the yard and limits hard contact. He projects as a better real-life pitcher than he does a fantasy asset moving forward.
Blake Burkhalter– RHP, 25 YO, AAA, Replacement Level
The Braves took a risk not adding Blake Burkhalter to their 40-man roster this past season. The Braves limited Burkhalter to only 103 innings last season, having him split time between the bullpen and rotation down the stretch. His stat line and mediocre strikeout rate do not generate much attention, but his fastball has caught the eye of those in the dynasty community. iVB is all the rage now, and Burkhalter’s four-seamer generates plenty of that. The pitch works well up in the zone, playing harder than his 92-94 mph velocity suggests. The issue is that Burkhalter still lacks a true strikeout pitch. He commands the cutter well, but does not generate a lot of whiffs on it. His changeup is a plus offering, but it cannot be relied on to carry fantasy value. He should be viewed as a streaming option once promoted to the Major Leagues.
Jarlin Susana– RHP, 21 YO, AA, Star
There is plenty of risk in Jarlin Susana’s profile. Throughout his professional career, his control has been inconsistent. He has struggled to throw strikes consistently, although moving entirely to the stretch has seemed to solve some of these issues. Susana also dealt with shoulder injuries throughout 2025 and has never topped 103 innings pitched in a season. The relief risk is significant, but if everything clicks, Susana has some of the best stuff in all of Minor League Baseball. His fastball sits consistently in triple-digits, touching 103. His slider is a plus-plus offering that he gets a ton of strikeouts with. Susana also has developed more feel for his changeup, which dives down and away to lefties. Susana has front-end stuff, but could wind up in a high-leverage relief role long term.
Riley Cornelio- RHP, 25 YO, AAA, Replacement Level
Riley Corneilio did enough in 2025 to earn a 40-man roster spot this offseason. The now 25-year-old split the season between Double and Triple-A, and finished with a 3.28 ERA. Cornelio’s track record is nothing that dynasty managers typically get excited about. However, he has a near elite gyro slider, which is sure to catch the attention of plenty on Twitter (X, whatever). This pitch generated a 50% whiff rate during his time at Triple-A. He commands it well and throws it with precision. The rest of his profile is nothing exciting. He relies heavily on a mid-90s sinker but struggles to command it down in the zone. His slider could lead to some spike games in terms of strikeouts, but he is unlikely to become a reliable fantasy asset.
Jake Bennett– LHP, 25 YO, AA, Replacement Level
The Nationals selected Jake Bennett in the second round back in 2022. Tommy John Surgery forced him to miss the entirety of 2024, but he returned healthy in 2025. Bennett stands at a tall 6’6″ with a stockier build. He utilizes a low arm slot and a deep arsenal of pitches to keep batters off balance. Bennett tunnels pitches well and maintains a consistent release point to keep batters guessing. The changeup is his bread and butter pitch and one he is comfortable throwing to both righties and lefties. His four-seamer sits in the low to mid-90s and lacks the movement to make it a plus offering. His best path to the Major Leagues is as a crafty lefty with pinpoint control. He pitched well in the AFL this year and was added to the 40-man roster as a result. He is likely to make his Major League debut next season.
Griff McGarry– RHP, 26 YO, AAA, JAG
Griff McGarry was originally going to find himself in the Phillies’ portion of this article before he was selected by Washington in the Rule-5 Draft. For those in the dynasty community, McGarry’s name has been popping up for years. He has a high velocity slider and a filthy slider. The combination of both has resulted in high strikeout rates throughout his professional career. His inability to limit walks, both in a starter role and a relief role, has been his Achilles heel. He lowered his walk rate down to 13.6% last season, but is still more than likely destined for a relief role. The upside to being more than a JAG is there, but McGarry is too much of a wild card to count on.
Jaxon Wiggins– RHP, 24 YO, AAA, Star(ter)
The tier here is somewhere in between star and starter. Jaxon Wiggins has significant upside and will produce value for fantasy managers. The tall righty was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft despite missing his entire final collegiate season due to a UCL injury. Since returning to the mound in 2024, the Cubs have been careful in building Wiggins up. He is yet to exceed 78 innings pitched in a season. He will need to do that to prove he can handle a starter’s workload. From a stuff perspective, Wiggins has a huge fastball. The pitch sits in the upper 90s and has excellent movement up in the zone. His slider has evolved into a cutter in an attempt to improve his control, but it still generates good movement and plays nicely off the heater. The changeup might be the best pitch of them all. The pitch disappears with two-plane movement down and away to lefties. Wiggins is not a finished product, but he has almost as much upside as any prospect in this article.
Brandon Birdsell– RHP, 25 YO, AAA, JAG
Brandon Birdsell has posted solid ERAs throughout his professional career. He was off to another fast start in 2025 before an arm injury prematurely ended his season. The arm injury will delay his start to 2026 as well, but that does not make a debut impossible. Birdsell has spent parts of each of the last two seasons pitching in Triple-A. For fantasy managers, Birdsell lacks much upside. The strikeout rates throughout his Minor League career have been pedestrian, which correlates back to his pitch arsenal. He has a mid-90s fastball, but his short-arm release lacks much extension. His cutter is a fine pitch, but it does not generate a ton of whiffs either, which is similar to his curveball. Birdsell is a fine pitcher, but coming off major surgery, his appeal for fantasy managers is limited.
Connor Noland- RHP, 26 YO, AAA, JAG
Connor Noland has been with Chicago’s organization since being drafted in the ninth round back in 2022. He quickly made his way to Triple-A, but has yet to show much upside while there. In 2025, Noland finished the season with a 4.07 ERA and a 19.9% strikeout rate. While his arsenal is deep, Noland lacks plus stuff. His fastballs all sit right around 90 mph and lack much in terms of movement. Both his slider and curveball generated whiff rates above 30% last season, but he does not generate enough swing and miss outside of the zone for either of those pitches to be true strikeout offerings. 26 years old and in Triple-A, Noland should be considered likely to make his debut next season. He could find his way into a fantasy lineup or two in the right matchup, but he is not somebody fantasy managers should ever rely on.
Coleman Crow– RHP, 24 YO, AAA, Replacement Level
Drafted by the Angels and then traded to the Mets, Coleman Crow did not throw one pitch with New York’s organization before being traded to Milwaukee. Crow returned to the mound after missing the entire 2024 season and showed no signs of rust. He was limited to only 50 innings, but finished with a 32% strikeout rate and a 3.24 ERA. A bit undersized, Crow’s value is contingent on his secondary offerings. His fastball lacks ideal shape and sits in the low-90s. He has developed a cutter and sinker, which are better alternatives to his four-seamer. His curveball is a plus offering, which he has excellent command of and should generate strikeouts. I went back and forth between putting Crow in the starter or replacement level category. Ultimately, he projects as more of a streaming option than a locked-in fantasy option.
Tate Kuehner– LHP, 24 YO, AAA, JAG
Tate Kuehner was drafted in the seventh round out of Louisville back in 2023. The left-hander has worked his way through the Minor Leagues and finished the season in Triple-A last season. Kuehner has a unique delivery with an almost side-arm-like release point. This makes Kuehner especially tough at-bat for lefties who hit only .161 off of him last season. He has a mid-90s fastball but relies heavily on his changeup and cutter to generate whiffs. Despite a solid changeup, Kuehner struggled against righties last season and could find his long-term role coming out of the bullpen. Kuehner’s command is inconsistent, and his stuff is likely to play better in shorter outings. Kuehner’s funk could earn him a couple of strong starts at the Major League level, but he is not a prospect fantasy managers should expect to rely on.
Kevin Abel- RHP, 26 YO, AA, JAG
A sixth-round pick back in 2021, Kevin Abel put up big strikeout numbers in the lower levels of the Minor Leagues. This initial excitement has since worn off as more advanced competition has had no trouble hitting Abel with consistency. The Reds decided not to place Abel on their 40-man roster this offseason, but with little organizational depth ahead of him, he still could be in line to make his Major League debut. His unique lean-back style delivery creates deception and helps his low-90s fastball play up. His slider is a fine strikeout pitch, but he lacks much upside for fantasy managers if promoted.
Jose Franco– RHP, 25 YO, AAA, JAG
Jose Franco has been a member of the Reds’ organization since signing with them back in 2018. This past off-season, he was finally added to their 40-man roster, opening up the door for a debut in 2026. While his long path to the Major Leagues is easy to root for, Franco does not project to hold much fantasy value. He is primarily a two-pitch pitcher relying heavily on his fastball and curveball. Both offerings are solid pitches, but a neary 90% reliance on four-seamers and curves never translates to success as a starter. Franco seems destined for a bullpen role where he could provide Major League value, but not fantasy value.
Quinn Mathews– LHP, 25 YO, AAA, Starter
Drafted in the fourth round back in 2023, Quinn Mathews appeared to be on the fast track to the Major Leagues following a dominant 2024 season. The hype surrounding Mathews in the dynasty community was significant as Mathews showed off strikeout upside and excellent control. 2025 was a different story. Mathews struggled with injuries, failed to maintain consistent velocity, and saw his walk rate jump to 16.8%. Looking ahead, Mathews’ ultimate fantasy value is contingent on his fastball velocity. He has a good arsenal of secondary pitches, although he does miss arm-side at times. His changeup/slider combination gives him two secondaries that are plus strikeout pitches. If his fastball is sitting 94-95 with consistency, Mathews can get away with his suspect command. If he sits more in the low-90s, the results flip. Monitoring Mathews’ health early in the season will be key to determining his fantasy value once he is eventually promoted.
Tink Hence– RHP, 23 YO, AA, Replacement Level
Tink Hence has seen his dynasty value fluctuate significantly since being drafted in 2020. There are times when Hence has flashed significant fantasy upside. His fastball gets good late movement up in the zone, and he has shown flashes of it, hitting the upper 90s. His gyro slider is his best offering and has the look of a true strikeout pitch. Hence also mixes in a plus changeup with significant arm-side run. Stuff has not been the issue for Hence. The issue is durability. Hence has never topped 96 innings in a season and only threw 21.1 last season. There is a significant chance that the Cardinals decide to move Hence into a relief role. He has the pure stuff to slot into the back end of a bullpen, and this could accelerate his path to the Major Leagues in 2026. The relief risk pushes him into the replacement level tier, but there is more upside here for dynasty managers to be aware of.
Sem Robberse– RHP, 24 YO, AAA, Replacement Level
Sem Robberse is a unique story. He signed with the Blue Jays out of the Netherlands back in 2019 and was later traded to the Cardinals at the deadline in 2023. Robberse dealt with an elbow injury, which sidelined him for the majority of the 2025 season. He is on the 40-man roster and could make his Major League debut in 2026. Since joining the organization, the Cardinals have worked to transform Robberse’s slider into a sweeper, and the results have been fantastic. He uses the pitch routinely and has a good feel for it. His fastball is mediocre, sitting in the low to mid-90s. The pitch gets a good late rise and could be an average offering. Before his injury, Robberse projected as a back-end starter. Having not pitched since last April, his health will be the biggest thing to watch for at the start of 2026.
Tekoah Roby– RHP, 24 YO, AAA, Starter
Tekoah Roby is yet another Cardinals’ pitching prospect with durability concerns. Roby has shown up on highlight reels thanks to an excellent curveball. The high spin pitch generates a significant drop, causing batters to swing over the top of it. On top of his curveball, Roby has a strong fastball and slider, which add additional depth and upside. Roby’s wind-up is a high-effort delivery that lacks complete consistency. Despite a varying release point, Roby commands his stuff well and has not struggled with walks in the Minor Leagues. Where his inconsistencies have shown up are with the long ball, as Roby tends to leave a few too many pitches over the heart of the plate. The inconsistency could be a result of the constant injuries Roby has dealt with over the past few years. He pitched only 58.1 innings in 2023, 38.1 innings in 2024, and 78.1 innings in 2025. If healthy, Roby is an intriguing fantasy asset. His spot on the 40-man roster makes a 2026 debut likely.
Khristian Curtis– RHP, 23 YO, AA, Starter
The Pirates have quietly developed a solid stable of pitching prospects over the past few years. Khristian Curtis could be the next name to break out in 2026. The former 12th-round pick has shown plus stuff throughout his first two professional seasons. The 6’5″ righty has a deep arsenal of pitches at his disposal. Although he does not always command it well, his fastball sits comfortably in the mid-90s and has good arm-side run with late life. He has both a slider and a curveball, which he will throw in any count and mixes in a changeup as well. Curtis does not walk an abundance of batters, but his command can be spotty at times. This leads to lower chase and strikeout rates than his pure stuff would suggest. The Pirates have been patient with Curtis’ promotion path, but turning 24 in May, he could be fast-tracked to the Major Leagues if he starts off strong in 2026.
Anthony Solometo– LHP, 23 YO, AA, JAG
Anthony Solomento has been highly regarded since being selected 37th overall back in 2021. The funk and uniqueness of his windup are what grab the attention. He has a low arm slot and whippy arm motion that fully extends backwards throughout his windup. The closest comparison is Madison Bumgarner, but he does not have nearly the stuff or command that Bumgarner had. Solomento’s fastball sits 89-91. He has a decent slider, but has not shown the ability to control it consistently. Then, there is the shoulder injury that limited him to only 10.1 innings last year. Solomento has the draft pedigree to be fast-tracked through the Minor Leagues if he proves healthy in 2026. However, he lacks much fantasy appeal for this season.
Gabriel Hughes– RHP, 24 YO, AAA, JAG
The Rockies thought highly enough of Gabriel Hughes coming out of Gonzaga to take him 10th overall in the 2022 draft. He appeared to be in the midst of a breakout season in 2023 when an elbow injury forced him to undergo Tommy John Surgery. Since returning to the mound, Hughes has not looked quite the same. His fastball struggles to top 93 mph, and the shape of the pitch is not very good. His curveball, which was his bread and butter in college, has continued to be his best offering. The big breaker moves down and away to righties and is the pitch Hughes has the most feel for. However, with the lack of my else in his arsenal, opponents lay off the curve regularly, which leads to lower strikeout rates. He was added to the 40-man roster this offseason, and the hope is that another full season removed from Tommy John Surgery will lead to better results. Even if Hughes improves, a lack of plus stuff combined with pitching at Coors Field makes it difficult to find a silver lining in his profile.
Sean Sullivan- LHP, 23 YO, AA, Replacement Level
Throughout most of my rankings, Sean Sullivan has ranked rather high. This, an anomaly to where Sullivan is typically ranked. The 6’4″ lefty has shown impeccable command and control since being taken in the second round of the 2023 draft. In 20 starts this season, he posted a 2.94 ERA with a minuscule 6% walk rate. The hope was that the Rockies would be able to add just another tick or two of velocity to Sullivan’s fastball to unlock the next level in his potential. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Sullivan’s four seamer still sits 87-90 on the gun. Even with impeccable command, Sullivan’s fantasy ceiling is capped with his primary pitch being well below average. He has a strong chance to debut in 2026, but should be viewed as a floor option and not a reliable fantasy asset.
Jackson Ferris– LHP, 21 YO, AA, Starter
Jackson Ferris was supposed to be the next great Dodgers’ prospect acquisition after coming over from the Cubs prior to the 2024 season. Ferris put together a strong 2024 campaign, but regressed in 2025, struggling with command over his pitches. The lanky left-hander features a full-extension wind-up that seems to cause some issues with his location. His walk rate remained above 11% last year, as too many pitches were just uncompetitive. From a pure stuff standpoint, Ferris checks all of the boxes. He has two good breaking balls in his high-70s curve and mid-80s slider. His fastball sits 94-96 and can touch higher than that at times. He has the stuff to become a dynamic fantasy asset, but the Dodgers are still waiting for everything to click. If it does, we could see Ferris in 2026.
Patrick Copen– RHP, 23 YO, AA, Replacement Level
The long-term home for Patrick Copen will likely be coming out of the bullpen. However, the Dodgers gave Copen a chance to start throughout the 2025 season. His unique windup features a separation between his arm and glove as he rocks back with a huge leg lift. He releases the ball straight over the top, almost coming at hitters, and features a high-velocity fastball and an excellent slider. The funk of his windup works in his favor in terms of strikeouts, but also could be the driving force behind his control issues. In 27 starts last season, Copen walked 16% of the batters he faced. Primarily a two-pitch guy, these control issues are bound to land Copen in the bullpen. However, he has the stuff to be a high-leverage reliever and could debut as early as 2026.
Peter Heubeck- RHP, 23 YO, AA, JAG
In a similar sense to Copen, Peter Heubeck is also likely to find himself in a relief role moving forward. Heubeck was drafted by the Dodgers back in 2021 and has moved slowly through their system. Injuries have prevented him from ever topping 85.2 innings in a season, and he has similar control issues to Copen. His arsenal features a big fastball with great ride up in the zone. His slider and curveball project as plus breaking options as well. The upside is there, but Heubeck’s struggles with walks and home runs in the past make a starter’s role unlikely. He was not added to the 40-man roster this offseason but could still debut as a swing man for Los Angeles at some point in 2026.
Mitch Bratt– LHP, 22 YO, AA, Starter
Acquired from the Texas Rangers at last year’s trade deadline, Mitch Bratt wasted no time making a name for himself in his new organization. Bratt posted a 3.98 ERA across six starts with a strikeout rate of 31.6%. Bratt’s impressive strikeout rate from this past season makes his pinpoint control all the more notable. Bratt is a command specialist with a deep arsenal of secondary offerings. Although his fastball is below average in terms of velocity, his ability to mix pitches and keep batters off balance bodes well for his future potential. He is a bit reminiscent of Ranger Suárez and could turn into a reliable fantasy asset. He was added to the 40-man roster this offseason, giving him a good chance to debut in 2026.
Daniel Eagen– RHP, 23 YO, AA, Replacement Level
A third-round pick in 2024, Daniel Eagen put up excellent numbers in his first full professional season. In 23 starts, Eagen posted a 2.99 ERA and struck out 32.4% of the batters he faced. Watching Eagen on the mound, there are a few hitches in his windup that add effort and command risk to his profile. However, the results are difficult to argue with. His fastball works well up in the zone and profiles as an average offering. The curveball/slider combination is his best two pitches, and is the reason he posted such a high strikeout rate. The biggest thing to watch for in 2026 is his command. His walk rate jumped from 10.9% in High-A up to 12.6% in Double-A. Eagen has good but not great stuff, so maintaining at least average command is essential to his long-term fantasy value.
Spencer Giesting– LHP, 24 YO, AAA, JAG
Having worked his way up to Triple-A last year, Spencer Giesting could be in line for a Major League promotion in 2026. That being said, there is not a whole lot for fantasy managers to get excited about here. Yes, he was pitching in the PCL, but Giesting’s numbers took a major step back following his promotion to Triple-A. Even more than the numbers, the stuff is relatively underwhelming. Giesting features a high-80s fastball, which gets a slight boost thanks to the good extension he gets. Both his curveball and slider are good strikeout pitches against lefties, but he does not command them well enough to generate consistent chase rates. Geisting also mixes in a sinker and cutter, which could ultimately be better long-term options than his four-seamer. Giesting projects best as an AAAA starter who is unlikely to generate much fantasy value.
Dylan Ray– RHP, 24 YO, AAA, JAG
After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, Dylan Ray flashed significant upside in the lower levels of the Minor Leagues. Led by his excellent, big-drop changeup, Ray posted impressive strikeout rates in his first couple of seasons. However, the strikeouts have slowed significantly since being promoted to Double-A and have remained at that level. Ray lacks a consistent feel for any secondary other than his changeup. The team made some adjustments, moving Ray from a slider to a more cutter-like pitch in 2025. While the walks decreased, so did the strikeouts. At this point, Ray relies heavily on his average fastball and plus changeup. This is not a winning combination to find success at the Major League level. At this point, Ray lacks much appeal for fantasy managers, but is on the 40-man roster and should make his Major League debut at some point in 2026.
Miguel Mendez- RHP, 23 YO, AA, Starter
The drumbeat surrounding Miguel Mendez continues to grow louder. Mendez signed with San Diego back in 2021, and poor control resulted in a lack of attention from those in the dynasty community. The control took a major step forward in 2025 as Mendez lowered his walk rate to 11.2% last season. With a lower walk rate, Mendez’s stuff is all the more intriguing. He has an excellent fastball that he routinely locates at the top of the zone. His slider is a great strikeout pitch and is devastating to righties. To keep lefties at bay, Mendez also mixes in a changeup, which has great movement as well. Mendez has the stuff to be a front-line starter and will need to show continued improvement in 2026 to reach his ceiling. With limited depth in San Diego’s farm system, Mendez could make his Major League debut in 2026.
Jagger Haynes- LHP, 23 YO, AA, JAG
The potential for Jagger Haynes to make his debut boils down to the lack of pitching depth in San Diego. After being drafted in 2020, injuries delayed Haynes’ professional debut until 2023. In three seasons since returning to the mound, Haynes has done little to instill confidence that he can become a fantasy-relevant prospect. The biggest issue has been control. Haynes walked 14% of the batters he faced last season while only striking out 22.9%. Righties hit Haynes well, including hitting 10 home runs. There is not much fantasy appeal here, but the Padres could call on Haynes at some point in 2026.
Joe Whitman– LHP, 24 YO, AA, Replacement Level
Joe Whitman is a tall lefty with a smooth and consistent delivery. The Giants took Whitman in the second round of the 2023 draft. From a stuff perspective, Whitman is reliant on his sweeping slider to generate strikeouts. His fastball is a below-average offering that sits in the low to mid-90s. He does not get a ton of movement on it and lacks a consistent feel for locating the pitch. He struggled last season in Double-A, finishing with a 5.29 ERA, although his 3.60 FIP paints a prettier picture. Whitman could make a few spot starts for the Giants in 2025, but is unlikely to be a fantasy-relevant asset.
Jack Choate– LHP, 24 YO, AA, JAG
Jack Choate is an even taller left-handed pitcher in the Giants’ system. A ninth-round pick back in 2022, Choate was used as both a starter and reliever last year for Double-A. His usage as a reliever could point to a future transition as Choate has had his fair share of struggles against right-handed hitters. Coming from a low arm slot, Choate’s slider plays well against lefties and keeps them off balance. He lacks control of his pitches and surrendered 10 home runs to right-handed batters last season. His strikeout rate has hovered in the mid to high 20s throughout his professional career, but it is unlikely Choate will maintain that against Major League hitters. Choate does not project to have much fantasy appeal once he makes his debut.
