2 The Bigs

By Sal Corso: April 5th, 2026:

It’s been way too long since I’ve done a pitchers list. Yes, 2 The Bigs generally focused on hitters, but that’s going to change in 2026. We’re starting off with a bang. Here are 12 pitching prospects that I’m buying right now, ranging from the top names to extremely deep cuts. Note, there are many, many good pitching prospects in baseball. We’ll get to even more of them throughout the year.

The Obvious

Ryan Sloan / Kade Anderson (SEA)

Kade Anderson will be up and starting by early-to-mid 2026. He’s a mature, near-MLB-ready pitcher who needs no explanation. He has a mid-rotation floor and lefty-ace upside.

Sloan, who may be the most talented starting pitcher in the organization, is a bit more raw. He’ll need more time in the minors with only 21 starts under his belt. But he’ll make the most of that time and will be the lone pitching prospect in next year’s top 15.

Elmer Rodriguez (NYY)

Most evaluators say he’s a mid-rotation upside arm. I’m a bit higher on him. He’s put on weight, increased the velocity on his fastball, and has had success at every level since 2022. Ignoring a quick 5-inning start in AAA at the end of last season, Elmer has only had an ERA over 3.00 once in his entire career (4 seasons, 9 levels).

Seth Hernandez (PIT)

He’s already making people look foolish in his first professional start. This is top-5 prospect in baseball-type upside. If the Pirates can somehow keep Skenes, Chandler, and Hernandez together (they won’t), they’ll have one of the best rotations in the entire sport. Hernandez is still several years away.

The Value

Cam Caminiti (ATL)

The top Braves prospect per MLB.com had a fantastic first full season in professional baseball (56.1 IP, 2.08 ERA, 75 K in A-ball). He has three equally good pitches in his arsenal, which is rare and valuable for such a young prospect. He won’t have to rely on any single dominant pitch as he develops. Control is a slight concern with his off-speed pitches, but nothing he can’t improve throughout 2026, especially since he’s only turning 20 this summer.

Caden Scarborough (TEX)

The very tall (6’5”) right-hander had a huge 2025 after throwing just 10 innings the year prior. Last season, he struck out 114 batters across 88 innings and his .088 WHIP was one of the best on this entire list. He had surgery this offseason to remove a malignant melanoma but is ramping up and should make his professional debut this month. Could be my favorite upside pitching prospect in the sport.

Bishop Letson (MIL)

This name came up a few times when I asked the Instagram community who they were targeting. He’s also popped up in my own analysis. Letson, like many Brewers prospects, has developed out of nowhere after being an 11th-round pick back in 2023. Putting aside the rough 5 innings in AA last season and his 2026 debut, he was phenomenal in High-A across 37 innings. Letson is a tall right-hander with a lengthy arsenal of pitches. Like Caminiti, he can get batters out with any of his four pitches. He has the length and power of fellow Brewer Jacob Misiorowski, with slightly less velocity.

Jonathan Santucci (NYM)

Anyone who performs better after a promotion to AA automatically goes on my “2 The Bigs” watchlist. Santucci did exactly that. Here’s where his metrics jumped after the promotion:

• ERA: 3.46 → 2.52
• HR/FB: 13.2% → 5.4%
• HR/9: 0.93 → 0.36
• K/9: 9.98 → 11.34
• K-BB%: 18.3% → 22.8%

There’s more, but you get the idea. The 2024 second-round pick leads with his filthy slider and is looking to build on his very strong professional debut last year.

David Shields (KC)

Shields was a younger (17-year-old) high school prep draft pick in 2024, so he has some time to develop. But he made sure the Royals knew he was ready for pro ball. As a 17/18-year-old in A-ball, he posted a 2.01 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across 71+ innings in 18 starts. Just, wow. He throws a low-90s fastball that likely won’t reach the high-90s, but he’s still developing (and growing). Like many on this list, I love that he doesn’t rely on any single pitch to blow away hitters. He throws a lot of quality stuff (two breaking balls and a changeup) and uses his plus control to manage the strike zone.

Christian Zazueta (LAD)

Christian really put it together last year after a few tough seasons in the DSL and A-ball. The former Yankees international signing, who was traded to the Dodgers two winters ago, threw 67 innings in 2025, posting a 2.41 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Christian leans more toward the power side of this list, with a fastball that can reach the high-90s. What I like most, though, is that the velocity comes with excellent control. His 2.17 BB/9 and 5.9% BB% are second on this list only to Shields. He’s young and will likely spend most of 2026 in A+, with a possible late-season promotion to AA.

David Davalillo (TEX)

I really, really like Scarborough, so it was hard for me to include another Ranger on this list. But I couldn’t ignore the sustained success Davalillo has had in pro ball. MLB.com reported that his splitter produced a .077/.153/.092 line with a 54% swing-and-miss rate in 2025. That’s insane. What’s even more impressive is that he throws six different pitches: two fastballs, two sweepers, a cutter, and the aforementioned splitter. He had a strong 2026 debut, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings (4 H, 7 K) in AA.

Lucas Elissalt (DET)

This is a deep cut. A 6’4” 13th-round draft pick who, unlike many on this list, has had some control issues in his first year (3.51 BB/9). But it didn’t hurt his overall line. In 22 starts, he went 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA while averaging 10 K/9. Elissalt works counts to get to his best pitch — the curveball — but he has a deep arsenal that keeps hitters off balance. He doesn’t throw hard, which is why he’s not climbing rankings faster. But don’t let that steer you away from him. The 2025 Florida State League (A) Pitcher of the Year will look to command the zone more consistently in 2026. If he does, watch out.