2 The Bigs

By Sal Corso: April 11th, 2026:

It’s Bowman Season! The season kicks-off with the first of the big 3 releases of the year, 2026 Bowman Baseball. Here are my favorite 20 prospect chases in the set to get you ready for release day. Check out the top-10 video below, and scroll to see all 20 names:

TIER 1

Edward Florentino (PIT)

Florentino burst onto the scene and up everybody’s ranks in 2025. He stands as a long 6’4″ lefty who was signed in 2024. He tore up Rookie ball (1.084 OPS across 29 games). The average dropped in A-ball, but the power remained high (.883 OPS 10 HR). He’s a potential 5-tool outfielder. He hit’s the ball hard (25% hard-hit-rate), walks a lot (14%), and drives it out of the park (30+ HR / 162 game pace).

Andrew Fischer (MIL)

Andrew burst onto the season this spring and in the World Baseball Classic. He’s looking like one of the best hitters out of the entire 2025 draft. The key for Fischer will be his defensive growth throughout the early-season. If he can get more comfortable at either corner infield spot, he should make his MLB debut sooner rather than later.

Juan Sanchez (TOR)

Juan had a great 2025 season after getting signed out of the Domincan Republic in last year’s international class (.341/.439/.565). But remember, we need to see how he fares in stateside ball before jumping the gun. At only 18.5 years old, he’ll start 2026 back at DSL, in hopes of coming over to A-level sometime mid-season. Juan is a raw power machine, but he turned that into on-field power during his DSL stint. Even better, he kept that K-rate in check at 17.4% across 253 PA. Juan can add weight to that 180lb, 6’3” body, which shows that the power potential is still much, much higher. I will not jump the gun until he reaches A-ball, but I’m liking the early metrics, profile and video I’ve seen so far.

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 sneaky upside pitching prospect in the sport. Caden made my top pitcher prospect buys of 2026 list.

Roldy Brito (COL)

Give me Brito over Holliday. The Rockies are going to be one pricey team in breaks, but Brito being the “#2” chase on the team is some fantastic value. I featured Roldy in our Prospect Profile on The Farm Report: Episode #2. Check it out.

TIER 2

Ethan Holliday (COL)

The #4 overall pick from last years’ draft may have the most raw power on this list (Holliday is 1a to Sanchez 1b). But swing-and-misses are an issue here. He’ll likely move off of shortstop, with the goal of being a middle-of-the-lineup power 3^rd baseman.

Kendry Chourio (KC)

Kendry is one of the long plays here. He’ll be 18 years old throughout the entire 2026 season and will likely spend most of that time in the A/A+ levels. He’s off to a phenomenal start, throwing 7.2 IP 2 ER 10 K across two starts. He throws hard, but his 12-6 curveball is the special pitch, which has already made a few knees buckle this season. The biggest thing for Chourio, is his profile. He’s got the tight, right-handed delivery from a shorter stature. That profile leads to trouble in the pros more than not. Can he continue to control the zone with ease? If so, he’ll be a problem.

Dasan Hill (MIN)

A very-tall power throwing left-hander who touches triple-digits with his 60-grade fastball. He had some command issues in his pro-debut but performed well overall. Control is everything for Hill, and will be the main point of focus for the Twins in his development. The stuff works, and it works very well.

Marconi German (WSH)

German was a sneaky-good signing from the 2025 international class. His advanced-for-his-age approach showed itself in his DSL debut. The switch-hitter slashed a .992 OPS across 53 games. He’s got a really smooth swing from both sides, and that path helps deliver more loft. While he’s only 5’10”, the power potential is there with Marconi.

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.

Justin Gonzales (BOS)

Justin was the talk of Red Sox camp, mainly because of his size (6’5”, 210). But he needs to show some development at the plate in 2026. Specifically, he needs to increase his patience and lower his chase rate. Gonzales will look to prove that he’s more than just a raw tools and profiler’s dream.

TIER 3

Deniel Ortiz (STL)

Ortiz was a hard-hitting machine in his first pro season, after he was drafted in the 16^th round of the 2024 draft. The corner infielder had a near 30% line-drive rate, and lowered his K-rate after his late-season promotion to A+. He’s starting 2026 in AA, let’s see how he fares against tougher pitching in his second year.

David Davalillo (TEX)

I really, really like Scarborough, so it was hard for me to include another Ranger’s pitcher 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.

Marek Houston (MIN)

The 2025 1^st round pick fared well in his pro-debut. He hit .370 in A-ball before struggling once he was promoted to High-A. Houston is known to be a solid, patient hitter who can put the ball in play. He’s off to a nice start in 2026, hitting to a .896 OPS with 2 HR in the first 8 games.

Edgar Montero (ATH)

Montero has spent his first two seasons in the DSL. Still only 19, he should spend all of 2026 stateside (in A-ball and above). The switch-hitter has a good looking swing from both sides, a swing that should continue to develop after slashing .313/.484/.580 across 55 games in 2025.

TIER 4

Gage Jump (ATH)

Gage is off to a nice start in AAA, throwing 6 IP only giving up 1 ER with 8 K. The lefty has seen a nice jump in velocity over the past year, and his fastball compliments his big breaking curveball well. He doesn’t have fellow Athletic pitcher Jamie Arnold’s ceiling, but he should settle into a middle-of-the-rotation type of floor prospect with some upside.

Dillon Lewis (MIA)

Lewis has a tough time hitting for contact consistently, but his in-game power is why the Marlins traded for him from the Yankees. He hit 13 HR in 76 games in 2025 and added 26 steals. Lewis will start 2026 in AA at the age of 22.

Breyson Guedez (ATH)

One of the better hit tools of the 2025 international class. Guedez may never reach past the 10-15 HR profile, but the consistent contact will be what gets him through the lower levels of the organization.

Luis Arana (MIA)

Another high-hit tool international prospect. Arana rarely strikes out (8% K-rate in 2025), and nearly walks twice as much as he does. He’s a leadoff batter profile, who could bring some sneaky pop if he keeps adding on muscle.