2 The Bigs

By Sal Corso: January 21st, 2026:

Everybody loves a good bold take. Last year, I had some hits…and misses (as everybody does). Anyone who only boasts their hits is a liar. Jaison Chourio was one of my biggest prospect plays, he struggled mightily. However, Nick Kurtz was my other, and he did not (see my 2025 bold prospect takes here).

Bold takes can make you look like a genius, or very much the opposite. We’ll look back a year from now and you all can call me an idiot on social media if these don’t work out. But the best that us prospectors can do is provide fun, sometimes exaggerated hypotheses for prospects who we are high or low on. That’s what this write-up is for. Let’s take a look at 10 bold prospect takes, in no particular order, for the upcoming season.

Note, these are both MiLB and MLB takes for any player that is still considered a “prospect”.

Brandon Sproat to have the best season of the big-3 Mets pitchers

I love starting off my write-ups with a bang. Yes, I know Nolan McLean jumped onto the scene and was insanely impressive. I know Jonah Tong also had a fantastic season in the minors. Sproat has gone through some growing pains, but they are ones that he can learn from. He already had to adjust, by using a plethora of off-speed pitches more often when batters caught up to his fastball. But that fastball is FAST, and if he can control the zone with his secondary pitches, that fastball becomes less hittable. He may not be in the opening day rotation, but he’ll get there early. If he does, a mid-3s ERA and some run support could lead to a nice 10-12 win season.

Moises Ballesteros finishes top-5 in the NL batting title race.

We’ve covered Moises a ton, and from the start we determined that getting on base was never an issue for the big catcher. He will likely spend most of his time at DH, while he works through his defensive struggles; but the Cubs will find a way to get his bat in the lineup consistently. Let’s see Moises hit .290 and find himself at the top of the NL, and MLB average leaders.

Caleb Bonemer has a .900 OPS in AA and becomes a consensus top-10 prospect

I’ve liked Caleb for a while now. He was a sleeper pick from my 2024 Bowman Draft chase list, and now enters as a my 7th best Middle Infield prospect in baseball. Now, he’ll likely spend most of the year in AA, but I believe he’ll pickup right where he left off in ‘25, when he hit for an .874 OPS across A/A+. I like a bold .900 OPS and 20 HR across A+/AA this year, and a jump into the top-10.

Josue De Paula is traded at the deadline and makes his MLB debut before end of season

Everyone is mad at the Dodgers, and they’re the reason we’re likely headed towards a lockout in 2027. What’s crazy is that, outside of paying elite MLB talent, they also have one of the best farm system’s in baseball. With the Tucker signing, there are very limited at-bats in the pros, especially for outfielders. Plus, they have very deep outfield talent in the minors. The Dodgers will ultimately make a splash at the deadline, and I see De Paula as the one on the move. From there, I think he makes his MLB debut before the season’s over, and could be a centerpiece for a rebuild (Joe Ryan and the Twins seems like a trade/spot).

Blaze Jordan hits 25 HR in the bigs

Blaze has always hit (a career .283/.341 line over 2000 plate appearances). But he was never able to find a defensive spot with the Sox that was open at the big league level. That’s why he was traded to St. Louis last year for a low price. Now, the Cardinals are in full rebuild. Which is perfect for Blaze, however, his defensive shortcomings still haunt him. Arenado was just traded to Arizona, which would ideally open up 3B for Jordan in St. Louis. But that’s looking more like JJ Wetherholt’s spot, with Winn secured at SS. So that leaves 1B, which is held by Alec Burleson. Blaze will have to earn a spot with his bat, or capitalize off an injury. If not, it’s looking like a full-time DH could be in the cards (pun intended). I’m betting that one of those three things happens, and his bat gets a chance to impress in that young lineup.

Noah Shultz gets a Cy Young vote

During our last #AMA session on Instagram, I was asked which pitcher could make a Yesavage-like entrance into the bigs this year. My answer, Noah Shultz. The 6’10” lefty hurler is coming off a hip injury. Now in full health, I believe the talent will deliver. A triple-digit fastball and a wicked slider, if he can control the zone he will be un-hittable. His spring will determine where he starts, but he will end the season at the top-end of that very, VERY open rotation.

Ethan Salas drops out of the top-100 MLB Prospects

In my eyes, 2025 was a PROVE IT YEAR for Salas, here’s my excerpt on why from last winter:

Yes, I know it’s early for Salas. But he’s still consistently being given a top-40 rank across baseball with a career .222 AVG across 700+ PA. He’s been (severely) under-average in wRC+ (Runs per PA) at A+ and AA across two seasons. He’s got a few years to really develop, but his ranking across baseball could take a major hit with another year of struggling to put the hit tool together.

And in fact, he did not prove it. He’ll be turning 20 in a few months and he just dropped from that top-40 rank to the mid 70s. I’m just not buying that he’ll figure it out at the plate this year. A .221 average and 22% K-rate across 900 PAs at the lower-levels of the minors just isn’t for me. He’s a platinum-glove potential catcher, but at some point, the lack of a hit tool will have other prospectors scaling back as well.

Rainiel Rodriguez hits 30 HR and ends the season in AAA, all before his 20^th birthday.

Rainiel just made our Top Bowman Value Buys list. There’s an extreme amount of potential in this kid, and it’s coming to fruition early (.276 20 HR 63 RBI in 2025). He’s got top-10 overall by midseason written all over him. On a team that is in full rebuild, his bat could be a major centerpiece for the organization in the near future. For this year, give me the extra +10 HR and a fast jump up two levels to end the season in AAA. He’ll make his debut in his 20 year old season in 2027 regardless.

Kevin Alvarez hits for an .875 OPS in A-ball and enters the Top-100 before start of 2027.

My favorite international signing from last year. Yes, I’ve made mistakes buying-in on early DSL success before, but I’m going to let it ride once more. That’s because I am not just focused on his DSL stats, but also his appearance. Here’s why he was #1 on my 2025 Bowman Chrome Chase List:

A big 6’4’’ lefty outfielder who leans hit over power. That’s always my kind of prospect, but even more so for international kids. 19 K’s in 156 ABs at 17-years-old in DSL league, sign me up. A Cuban phenom who has time to build on his 185 lb physique and has a slight upper-cut to his swing, one that could bring on more power without hurting his great contact and hit tools.

He’s got the approach that will allow him to do what a majority of international signings can’t do, and that’s transition well over to stateside leagues.

The Reds have two-top-5 vote-getters for NL ROY with Sal Stewart and Hector Rodriguez

Sal Stewart is my, and many others’ favorite for NL ROY. I’ve been higher on Stewart than most over the span of his minor league career. He proved me right towards the end of last season when he hit 5 HR with an .840 OPS in a quick 18 game stint with the Reds. He should pick up right where he left off, as he’s set up to be a middle-of-the-order bat for the Reds this entire season. This becomes a bold take because of Mr. Rodriguez. He’s a great at-bat, with high contact rates, low-K-rates, hits for average and has a nice bit of pop. He just can’t play defense (at least particularly well). But left field is currently wide-open, and that could be a great spot for the Reds to plug his bat into the lineup. If he does, he’s got the maturity at the plate to go for a .285 15 HR 15 SB type of year.