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The 2026 season is shaping up to be a banner one for rookies.

Normally when I put together the All-Rookie team for an upcoming season, it’s populated in large part by players who are more likely to arrive midseason than on opening day, making it questionable whether or not they’re deserving of your time in redraft leagues. But every single first-team player on the All-Rookie team this year — and most of their alternates — has a legitimate chance of making the cut. Most I would even say are favorites to do so.

Granted, I had to cheat a little. The usual cutoff for rookie eligibility is 130 major league at-bats for hitters and 50 major league innings for pitchers, and all of these players fall short of those thresholds. Some have technically lost their rookie eligibility, though, by spending too many days on the active roster. I’ve noted such cases below (and in doing so, probably used the word “technically” too much).

The focus here, just to reiterate, is redraft leagues. So much prospect coverage is geared toward dynasty play that even if you’re read up on prospects, you may be at loss for which ones can help you right now. Well, here they are, and most of them, at least to this point, are being undervalued in drafts.

That’s less true for the pitchers than the hitters.

Catcher

First team

Samuel Basallo


C


BAL


Baltimore

• #29

•

Age: 21

2025 Minors
AVG

.270

HR

23

OPS

.966

AB

270

BB

44

K

76

His Kyle Schwarber exit velocities at Triple-A last year point to Samuel Basallo having 40-homer upside, and he’s expected to get the majority of his at-bats at DH, reducing the wear and tear that inherently comes with catching.

Alternate

Carter Jensen


C


KC


Kansas City

• #22

•

Age: 22

2025 Minors
AVG

.290

HR

20

OPS

.878

AB

427

BB

60

K

122

Though he doesn’t have quite the catchet of Basallo, Carter Jensen’s exit velocities rank right up there with his and some of the best sluggers in the game. He and Salvador Perez are expected to trade off between catcher and DH.

First base

First team

Sal Stewart


1B


CIN


Cincinnati

• #27

•

Age: 22

2025 Minors
AVG

.309

HR

20

SB

17

OBP

.383

OPS

.907

AB

437

The natural third baseman is expected to spend more time at the cold corner for the Reds, where he should be able to carve out everyday duty with the superior hitter instincts that have been on display since the lower minors. His five homers in 18 games after reaching the majors last year showed the power will play as well.

Alternate

Munetaka Murakami


1B


CHW


Chi. White Sox

• #5

•

Age: 26

2025 Japan
AVG

.286

HR

24

OPS

1.051

AB

220

BB

38

K

71

Munetaka Murakami’s 80 grade power made him a two-time MVP in Japan, but his swing-and-miss issues are just as pronounced and perhaps a deal-breaker against major league pitchers, particularly since he’s most impacted by velocity.

Honorable mention: Charlie Condon, COL

Second base

First team

JJ Wetherholt


2B


STL


St. Louis

• #77

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
AVG

.306

HR

17

SB

23

AB

408

BB

72

K

73

With his disciplined approach and well-rounded skill set, JJ Wetherholt handled the upper minors so effortlessly that the Cardinals probably should have integrated him into their lineup last September, but they shed enough infielders this offseason to ensure he’ll be there now. He’s shortstop-eligible at the moment but is expected to play second base.

Alternate

Sung-Mun Song


2B


SD


San Diego

•

2025 Korea
AVG

.315

HR

26

SB

25

OPS

.917

BB

68

K

96

Perhaps the least heralded signing in a banner year for players migrating from East Asia, Sung-Mun Song is a bit of a wild card for the Padres, both in terms of the role he’ll play and the impact he’ll have. His extreme lift-and-pull tendencies may allow him to eke out enough power to factor in deeper leagues, but likely at the expense of batting average.

Third base

First team

Kazuma Okamoto


3B


TOR


Toronto

• #7

•

Age: 29

2025 Japan
AVG

.322

HR

15

OPS

.992

AB

270

BB

34

K

36

Kazuma Okamoto was the oldest of three stars coming over from Japan this offseason, and yet he got the longest deal at four years, $60 million, which speaks to how translatable his skill set is to the majors. His contact skills are on the other end of the spectrum from Murakami’s, and his exit velocities (reportedly 92.4 mph average and 112.2 mph max last year) are better than he gets credit for.

Alternate

Jordan Lawlar


SS


ARI


Arizona

• #10

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
AVG

.313

HR

11

SB

20

OBP

.403

OPS

.966

AB

259

Jordan Lawlar technically isn’t a rookie anymore, but since he falls short of the usual at-bat threshold, I’m counting him here. His ascension has been a long time coming but seems more likely than ever with him mostly playing the outfield this spring, where he’s hitting well so far.

Shortstop

First team

Konnor Griffin


SS


PIT


Pittsburgh

• #75

•

Age: 19

2025 Minors
AVG

.333

HR

21

SB

65

OPS

.941

AB

484

K

122

Like Mike Trout in the way he marries natural baseball instincts with NFL linebacker athleticism, Konnor Griffin is pushing to be the first 19-year-old on an opening day roster since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989.

Alternate

Kevin McGonigle


SS


DET


Detroit

•

Age: 21

2025 Minors
AVG

.305

HR

19

SB

10

AB

331

BB

59

K

46

Overshadowed by the Griffin hype is Kevin McGonigle, the No. 2 prospect in baseball, who may not be as physical but is a hitting savant with perhaps an even easier path to the majors.

Outfield

First team

Justin Crawford


CF


PHI


Philadelphia

• #80

•

Age: 22

2025 Minors
AVG

.334

HR

7

SB

46

OBP

.411

OPS

.863

AB

440

The Phillies have left themselves with no real alternatives in center field to Justin Crawford, who has the look of a two-category specialist in Fantasy but impacts the ball well enough to grow into some power, as his father, Carl Crawford, eventually did.

Carson Benge


RF


NYM


N.Y. Mets

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
AVG

.281

HR

15

SB

22

OBP

.385

OPS

.857

AB

441

Part of the Mets’ rationale for trading Brandon Nimmo this offseason is that they had Carson Benge, a similar player with an even higher ceiling, waiting in the wings. He hit a wall late in the year at Triple-A, though, making it all the more imperative he has a big spring.

Chase DeLauter


OF


CLE


Cleveland

• #24

•

Age: 24

2025 Minors
AVG

.264

HR

7

OPS

.852

AB

148

BB

28

K

28

After three minor league seasons in which he sat more than he played (mostly because of a troublesome left foot), Chase DeLauter debuted during the postseason and now has a clear path to playing time in Cleveland. His hitting instincts are reportedly off the charts, but you mostly have to take that on faith.

Alternates

Owen Caissie


OF


MIA


Miami

• #17

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
AVG

.286

HR

22

OPS

.937

AB

370

BB

57

K

121

Owen Caissie finally grew into the full extent of his power projection last year, and the Cubs did him the courtesy of shipping him to Miami, where he should have a much clearer path to playing time. He fits the three-true-outcomes mold.

Dylan Beavers


RF


BAL


Baltimore

• #12

•

Age: 24

2025 Minors
AVG

.304

HR

18

SB

23

OBP

.420

OPS

.934

AB

342

Dylan Beavers’ on-base skills have stood out from the beginning and carried over to the majors, where he reached at a .375 clip in 35 games last year. He’ll have to beat out a well-compensated Tyler O’Neill for playing time, though.

Zach Cole


OF


HOU


Houston

• #16

•

Age: 25

2025 Minors
AVG

.279

HR

19

SB

18

OPS

.917

AB

358

K

146

Though the power/speed combo is an enticing one, the contact difficulties that led to a 35 percent strikeout rate in the minors last year could prove to be too onerous. Zach Cole did, however, make a strong enough impression in a late-season trial last year to have a leg up this spring.

Designated hitter

First team

Bryce Eldridge


1B


SF


San Francisco

• #78

•

Age: 21

2025 Minors
AVG

.260

HR

25

OPS

.843

AB

384

BB

42

K

127

Bryce Eldridge leverages his 6-foot-7 frame for massive power and, despite some strikeout concerns, is thought to be a shoo-in at age 21. He’d look a lot better for Fantasy if he was eligible at first base, and he likely will be soon enough.

Alternate

Moises Ballesteros


C


CHC


Chi. Cubs

• #25

•

Age: 22

2025 Minors
AVG

.316

HR

13

OPS

.858

AB

446

BB

49

K

67

By forfeiting Owen Caissie in the Edward Cabrera deal, the Cubs were also planting their flag in Moises Ballesteros, a natural hitting talent whose roly-poly build gives him a difficult path defensively. There’s a decent chance he regains catcher ability at some point, though, which would only elevate his stature.

Starting pitcher

First team

Nolan McLean


SP


NYM


N.Y. Mets

• #26

•

Age: 24

2025 Minors
W-L

8-5

ERA

2.45

WHIP

1.13

INN

113.2

BB

50

K

127

Nolan McLean already proved his mettle with a 2.06 ERA across eight major league starts last year and has considerable margin for error thanks to a deep six-pitch arsenal.

Chase Burns


P


CIN


Cincinnati

• #26

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
W-L

7-3

ERA

1.77

WHIP

0.77

INN

66

BB

13

K

89

Chase Burns threw fewer major league innings than McLean last year but technically doesn’t qualify as a rookie because of days spent on the active roster. He’s arguably the more talented of the two, though, having recorded double-digit strikeouts in four of his eight starts so far, which is more times than Paul Skenes has done it in his entire career.

Trey Yesavage


SP


TOR


Toronto

• #39

•

Age: 22

2025 Minors
W-L

5-1

ERA

3.12

WHIP

0.97

INN

98

BB

41

K

160

Though still a rookie, Trey Yesavage is already well known to all thanks to a postseason resume that includes 5 1/3 no-hit innings against the Yankees and a 12-strikeout effort against the Dodgers in the World Series. His unconventional delivery and 80-grade splitter make him a bat-misser of the highest order.

Bubba Chandler


P


PIT


Pittsburgh

• #36

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
W-L

5-6

ERA

4.05

WHIP

1.48

INN

100

BB

53

K

121

Frustration boiled over for Bubba Chandler at Triple-A last year, contributing to his control problems there, but he walked just four in his 31 1/3 innings in the majors and has three different pitches capable of generating whiffs.

Tatsuya Imai


SP


HOU


Houston

• #45

•

Age: 27

2025 Japan
W-L

10-5

ERA

1.92

WHIP

0.89

INN

163.2

BB

45

K

178

The hardest-throwing pitcher in Japan last year stands out all the more for his splitter and reverse-breaking slider, but he’s had control problems in the recent past and had to settle for a contract (three years, $54 million) that was well below projections.

Alternates

Connelly Early


SP


BOS


Boston

• #71

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
W-L

10-3

ERA

2.60

WHIP

1.11

INN

100.1

BB

40

K

132

Connelly Early doesn’t get a ton of prospect love and will have to wait his turn in 2026, but his crafty six-pitch approach has played both in the minors and also the majors, where he had a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13.5 K/9 in four starts last year.

Parker Messick


P


CLE


Cleveland

• #77

•

Age: 25

2025 Minors
W-L

5-6

ERA

3.47

WHIP

1.22

INN

98.2

BB

42

K

119

Another who finds himself on the outside looking in despite an impressive late-season debut, Parker Messick showed he could get whiffs on his fastball at a nice rate, but he may be more hittable than his 2.72 ERA in seven major league starts would suggest.

Robby Snelling


SP


MIA


Miami

•

Age: 22

2025 Minors
W-L

9-7

ERA

2.51

WHIP

1.11

INN

136

BB

39

K

166

Robby Snelling, who first rose to prospect prominence in the Padres system, had a 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 in his 11 starts at Triple-A last year, but he’s struggled so far this spring and is likely blocked anyway following the acquisition of Chris Paddack.

Mick Abel


P


MIN


Minnesota

• #20

•

Age: 24

2025 Stats
W-L

7-2

ERA

2.20

WHIP

1.11

INN

98.1

BB

40

K

114

Though Mick Abel was well short of the usual 50-inning threshold to retain rookie eligibility, he technically doesn’t qualify because of how much time he spent on the active roster. He’s had an eye-opening spring, though, dominating with his fastball especially, and may be able to force his way into the Twins’ starting five.

Logan Henderson


P


MIL


Milwaukee

• #43

•

Age: 24

2025 Minors
W-L

10-4

ERA

3.59

WHIP

1.11

INN

77.2

BB

24

K

87

Logan Henderson’s unconventional profile, being a two-pitch pitcher who doesn’t throw particularly hard, is apparently a tough sell for the Brewers, who kept sending him down last year even as he put together a 1.78 ERA in five starts.They have enough depth this spring to leave him out of the rotation again, potentially.

Honorable mentions: Jonah Tong, NYM; Thomas White, MIA; JR Ritchie, ATL 

Relief pitcher

First team

Clayton Beeter


RP


WAS


Washington

• #39

•

Age: 27

2025 Majors
SV

1

ERA

4.26

WHIP

1.22

INN

25.1

BB

18

K

33

Technically not a rookie because he’s spent too many days on the active roster, Clayton Beeter is nonetheless very new to this and only began working in a high-leverage role last September. The Nationals have stayed mum about their closer plans, but Beeter’s bat-missing ability would make him a logical fit.

Alternate

Payton Tolle


SP


BOS


Boston

• #70

•

Age: 23

2025 Minors
W-L

3-5

ERA

3.04

WHIP

0.99

INN

91.2

BB

23

K

133

Payton Tolle’s breathtaking fastball gives him a high overall ceiling, but he looked to be not quite ready for prime time with a 6.06 ERA down the stretch last year and is expected to begin the year at Triple-A. He’s eligible at relief pitcher in Fantasy, but his future is in the rotation.

Honorable mentions: Foster Griffin, WAS; Jack Perkins, ATH; Ryan Weiss, HOU