2 The Bigs

By Sal Corso: February 16th, 2026:

Over 40 non-debuted MLB Top Prospects have been invited to camp. Let’s run through each one and give you a spring expectation and timeline for their call-up. We’ll separate each timeline and provide notes below the tables. Enjoy!

OPENING DAY

Player	Team	Position
Ryan Waldschmidt	ARI	OF
Jordan Lawlar	ARI	OF
Travis Bazzana	CLE	2B
Hector Rodriguez	CIN	OF
Carson Benge	NYM	OF
Carlos Lagrange	NYY	RP
Elmer Rodriguez	NYY	SP
Justin Crawford	PHI	OF
Colt Emerson	SEA	2B/3B
JJ Wetherholt	STL	3B

• The Diamondbacks are in desperate need of outfield depth. Ryan Waldschmidt is already impressing, he’s a mature hitter and I think he wins one of those outfield spots with a great camp. For Jordan Lawlar it’s now or never. Even with Waldschmidt, there’s still room. Corbin Carroll will likely not start in the field every game with his hand injury. Lawlar will get his true shot.
• Travis Bazzana should have a solid camp and will win that starting job. Of courser, unless the Guardians want to mess with service time.
• One of my 2026 Bold Predictions is that Hector Rodriguez gets an NL ROY vote. He’s my sleeper big performer of camp.
• Everybody in New York is talking about the two lighting Yankees arms. Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez will both have good camps. Expect the former to slot into a needed bullpen spot, and Elmer to grab a rotation spot with some lingering issues to the Yankees top guys (Cole, Rodon).
• Cole Young should get the first crack at the 2B or 3B spot, now that Brendan Donavan will occupy the other. But the Mariners need Colt Emerson, who can come in and play most infield positions and hit the ball well.

APRIL-MAY

Player	Team	Position
Noah Schultz	CHW	SP
Kevin McGonigle	DET	2B
Max Anderson	DET	3B
Jett WIlliams	MIL	SS
Jonah Tong	NYM	SP
Aidan Miller	PHI	SS
Konnor Griffin	PIT	SS
Kade Anderson	SEA	SP
Michael Arroyo	SEA	2B/OF
Jhostynxon Garcia	PIT	OF

• Noah Schultz is a 6’10” lefty who touches 100 MPH with a wicked slider. He dealt with an injury last season, but I think he has a fantastic spring and ups that timeline to early-season. By end of season he’ll be a top 1-2 arm in that rotation.
• One of my favorite prospects I covered in the Arizona Fall League was Max Anderson. He had a great end of ’25, an even better AFL, and now he’ll have just as good of spring. Anderson will be another one of those scrappy Tigers hitters at the bottom of the lineup early in the season.
• After hearing reports from people around the organization, I don’t think Konnor Griffin will win the job out of camp. The Pirates will take their time with him and bring him up after a nice start in AAA.
• The Mariners, the #1 farm system in baseball, have an influx of talent at the pros as well. With Young and Emerson in the infield, Michael Arroyo will get the call to help with outfield depth mid-season, after a solid camp but one where the Mariners know he still needs a little more time. Kade Anderson is already making spring headlines. He’s going to look nasty right away, but the rotation is just too deep. Let him get some pro experience in AA-AAA before coming up midseason.

JUNE-SEPTEMBER

Player	Team	Position
Jonathon Long	CHC	1B/3B
Braden Montgomery	CHW	OF
Charlie Condon	COL	1B
Walker Jenkins	MIN	OF
Max Clark	DET	OF
Josue Briceno	DET	1B/C
Josue De Paula	LAD	OF
Cooper Pratt	MIL	SS

• Braden Montgomery is one of my favorite prospects in baseball. A 5-tool, switch-hitting outfielder is in a perfect scenario in Chicago. He’ll have a good spring, but an inconsistent one where the Sox know he’ll need a bit more time at the higher levels. But he will be a day 1 impact player for that club.
• Although he made very quick strides after he recovered from injury, Charlie Condon still needs to get that approach right. He needs to show he can make consistent contact before he sees a major league field. It’ll take time, and the Rockies are in no rush.
• My end-of-season #1 prospect, Max Clark will have a good spring, but he needs some time before he’s ready to face MLB pitching for good. The other Tiger, Josue Briceno, is still very young and needs time. He may struggle a bit in the spring but will have a nice year in the upper-levels of the minors in 2026 and jump into the top-20 prospects in baseball.
• Josue De Paula will impress in camp. He’s got a mature approach and will probably make social media headlines if he gets a hold of one in March. But there’s no room in that outfield. My bold prediction of the year is that he gets traded and debuts later this year.

2027

Player	Team	Position
Leodalis De Vries	ATH	SS
Ralphy Velazquez	CLE	1B
Zyhir Hope	LAD	OF
Jesus Made	MIL	SS
Jacob Riemer	NYM	3B
A.J. Ewing	NYM	OF
George Lombard Jr.	NYY	SS
Ethan Salas	SDP	C
Ryan Sloan	SEA	SP
Lazaro Montes	SEA	OF
Xavier Isaac	TBR	1B

• You’re looking at Max Clark-Jesus Made as 1-2 prospects in baseball by end of season. I don’t think Made is rushed up with the extensive depth of good quality hitters the Brewers have at the pro level.
• For Ethan Salas, the contact just isn’t there. I think that shows again in camp. You’re likely looking at a platinum defensive glove with no real upside at the plate.
• It’s not just about Kade in Seattle. Ryan Sloan is already impressing but that rotation is DEEP and will include Kade shortly into the season. Plus, I think he shows his youth a little bit this spring.
• One of the best stories in baseball, Xavier Issac is coming off of his big offseason surgery and needs some time to acclimate back into baseball. Leave it to the Rays to make that process faster than usual for Xavier, but I can’t see him jumping up too quickly after the year he has had. Can’t wait to see him healthy in 2026.