Spring training is underway and we are still about a month or so away from the start of the 2026 MLB regular season. We have a few weeks to prepare for fantasy baseball drafts, and in most formats we monitor for injuries or unexpected performances during exhibition games. This will help us gain more insight into the draft throughout the season. But if you’re in dynasty or goalie mode, you may want to do a little more preparation, like digging deeper into the player pool and taking a look at some of the top prospects in baseball.
For those in goalie and dynasty mode, or managers looking to prepare for potential players who may be drafted later in the season, we’ll be checking in on some key players to monitor this spring.
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[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season]
Before we dive in, this list will include rookies who have yet to make their MLB debut and typically go undrafted or above Yahoo Fantasy Baseball’s top 200 picks – you won’t see Roman Anthony on this list, but you will see…
Connor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates
MLB.com prospect rankings: No. 1 overall
Griffin is baseball’s top prospect this spring and into the 2026 season. Griffin, a 2024 first-round draft pick by Pittsburgh, is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound player with true No. 5 tool potential. He will start the season as a 19-year-old teenager and turn 20 at the end of April. While we rarely see players this young in MLB, if Griffin’s season is closer to 2025, he could force the Pirates’ hand this season.
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Griffin put up crazy numbers last season in Single-A, High-A and Double-A ball. In 122 games, he hit 21 HR, 95 RBI, 65 stolen bases, and an OPS of .941. While the chances of being drafted are slim for a 20-year-old, Griffin is so good that the Pirates might be wise to fast-track him to the major leagues. If he starts in AA, there’s a good chance he’ll be promoted to AAA at some point this season. That could mean Griffin will get a September call-up if Pittsburgh makes a big move at the deadline.
Keep an eye on Griffin this spring. If he shows up offensively, it could put more pressure on management to get up quicker.
We tried to focus on players who weren’t drafted by Yahoo, but Griffin’s early ADP was 206.1. This is likely to happen with a goaltender where coaches will try to hide him in hopes of getting called up.
Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners
MLB.com prospect rankings: No. 9 overall
The defending AFC West champions could take a long-term look at 2023 first-round pick Emerson this spring. “It’s not impossible,” Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told MLB.com this month. [Emerson] Earned a spot on the 2026 “squad.” The 20-year-old was one of the best hitters in the minors last year, posting 16 HR and 78 RBI with a .285/.383/.458 slash line in 130 games across High-A, AA, and a brief stint in AAA-Tacoma, where he should play starting in 2026.
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JP Crawford and Josh Naylor are locked in at SS and 1B, respectively, for the M’s heading into the season (pending injury or unforeseen circumstances). New addition Brendan Donovan should settle in at 2B, while Cole Young, Miles Mastrobuoni, Leo Rivas and Ryan Bliss will come off the bench to compete for the 3B/platoon job. It’s not crazy to think Emerson can beat this team and force the Mariners’ hand this spring.
We also know Seattle isn’t shy about keeping a young guy on the roster and giving him a chance to shine; we saw that back in 2022 when Julio Rodríguez was a 21-year-old rookie. That said, Emerson’s most likely path is in 2027, when Crawford becomes a free agent and SS becomes open. But the M’s could prepare Emerson for a possible call-up this season by playing another infield position in AAA. Ultimately, he can help your fantasy team improve its batting average, and he also has some pop and speed.
Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins
MLB.com prospect rankings: No. 14 overall
The Twins are not expected to finish behind Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City in the AL Central this season (although you never know). If that’s the case, we might see Jenkins at some point later this season. The Twins don’t have much talent behind Byron Buxton in the outfield, and Matt Wallner will likely form some type of platoon with Trevor Larnach and Ryan Kreidler to suppress RF. Austin Martin, James Altman and Aaron Rodon will also see minutes/roster.
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It’s a crowded competition, but there aren’t a ton of great options. That could open the door for Jenkins, the fifth overall pick in 2023. He has played nearly 200 games at the minor league level, which is a lot for a 20-year-old. In 84 games last season between Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A, Jenkins had 10 HRs, 34 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a slash line of .286/.399/.451.
Buxton plays in the World Baseball Classic, which could give Jenkins more opportunities in the spring. If Minnesota isn’t competitive by the summer, players could be traded throughout the season. If that’s the case, Jenkins could get a call-up late in the season.
Thomas White, SP, Marlins
MLB.com prospect rankings: No. 17 overall
We typically see pitchers take longer to develop in the minor leagues, but White has a legitimate chance to make it to the majors this season and be a difference-maker. The 20-year-old started last season in High-A ball and finished the season in Class 3A Jacksonville. A 2023 first-round pick, White made 21 starts in the minor leagues, posting a 2.31 ERA and 14.6 K/9.
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As a left-handed pitcher, White already has the upper hand as he advances to the next level. Like most lefties, he has a plus slider, which should help him miss a lot of at-bats in the majors. FanGraphs had a great interview with White heading into spring training to give you a better idea of the type of player he could be.
The Marlins are one of the easiest teams to get into the league because they don’t usually play. Since winning the World Series in 2003, the team has made the playoffs only twice. Sandy Alcantara and Chris Paddack could become trade fodder, which would free up some spots in the rotation this season. If White has a solid spring and/or performs well in 3A early in 2026, he could take one of those spots. White can be a big source of strikeouts whenever given the chance.
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Andrew Painter, SP, Phillies
MLB.com prospect rankings: No. 28 overall
Painter was picked toward the end of the draft and had an ADP of 203.5 on Yahoo. We could see ADP rise this spring, which is why Painter is one to watch. We know Zach Wheeler will miss the start of the season, and now, FanGraphs has Painter listed as the fifth starter in Philadelphia’s rotation.
The 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Painter has a pedigree and extensive minor league experience. He’s 6-foot-7 and has impressive physical attributes on the mound. He made 22 starts in Triple-A last season, and while those numbers were less than ideal (5.40 ERA, 1.54 WHIP), Painter will have a chance to prove in Spring Training that he belongs in the MLB.
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If Painter looks good over the next few weeks, he wouldn’t be a bad depth option in a redraft format, and he’d be attractive to goaltenders. The Phillies should have a top-10 offense that will provide Painter with plenty of run support. If Painter can perfect his command and limit the long ball, he has a chance to provide fantasy value in 2026.
Other prospects to monitor: Kevin McGonigal, INF, DET; Spencer Jones, OF, NY; Carlos Lagrange, SP, NY; Travis Bazzana, INF, CLE
