2026 Prospects to Watch

[jay87shot]

Who are some of the more intriguing prospects you are excited for in 2026. I am already missing the minor league updates and could use some prospect chatter.

1) Dylan O'Rae     After a sensational 2023 and solid start to 2024 in A+ at 20 the organization promoted him to AA in part because of overcrowding. Since mid-year 2024 it has been a disaster with a poor showing in AA and injuried for all of 2025. That being said O'Rae will turn 22 in Februaury and the injury could be a blessing in disguise if O'Rae added the necessary strength he lacked while re-habbing. Hopefully he can come back healthy and show the high end skills that flashed early in his career and add in some power.

2) Manny Rodriguez/Melvin Hernandez    Basically I want to see if they can build some strength and add some mph. I think both guys are likely solid chances to be 4-5 starters throwing low 90's but could be special in the mid 90's, you could make a really big list here and add basically all of the 2023/24/25 HS pitcher draft picks as well.

3)Jason Woodward     With all the injuries, I think it would be best to move him to relief were he could likely be hitting 100 regularly. I think he is someone who could/should move fast if all is good. 

On the higher end prospects, I am excited for Burke, Bitonti, and Payne most. Burke to see if he can build on the last 2 months and be the 1B of the future. Bitonti and Payne to see if they can find more consistency and make use of their extremely strong tool kits.

[Ro Mueller]

With Luke Adams' solid all-around game, including a far less noisy batting stance, I want to believe we'll start him in AAA next year. Let him see if his uber-patient approach works at that level. Basically the opposite of why we sadly held Jadher back in High-A in 2025.

That could mean we'd push Pratt, Wilken, Lara and Adams all to AAA in March, with all 4 likely to find that it's a rather large adjustment. I think that'd be fascinating to watch and root for them to adapt/succeed.

It might also be time to just throw Yerlin Rodriguez to the AA Southern League wolves. Sink or swim. Hopefully something finally clicks, so he moves toward the Abner Uribe path.

It'll also be a big year for Eric Bitonti in High-A. Will his contact rate be enough or do we risk seeing a .199 average with 200 Ks?

Then we've a real bevy of riches with starting pitching in the mid levels: Letson, Manuel Rodriguez, Thompson, Morrison, Knoth, Birchard, Woodward, Melvin Hernandez, Meccage, Dorchies, etc.

And let's hope that Hayden Robinson gets back to his pre-injury form in 2026.

[SF70]

I’m fascinated to see how the big-armed TJ’s fare this season. Woodward-Knoth-Broughton & Galindez all have soooooo much potential upside, and all should be healthy and ready to go in ST or early in the year.

The upper-minors should be loaded early on with top positional prospects. Quero-Wilken-Lara-Adams-Pratt at AAA. Made-Burke-Adamczewski-Boeve at AA with Fischer & Pena joining the group early on. Hard to imagine any team with that kind of top-end positional talent in the uppers.

But for me it’s the pitching throughout the system including the aforementioned 4-some in the first paragraph and pitchers yet to debut from the ‘25 draft-class that has me intrigued like never before. Boatload after boatload of talented arm talent that should give the team as much breakout pitching talent than any team in baseball.

 

[jay87shot]

On 11/15/2025 at 11:29 AM, SF70 said:

I’m fascinated to see how the big-armed TJ’s fare this season. Woodward-Knoth-Broughton & Galindez all have soooooo much potential upside, and all should be healthy and ready to go in ST or early in the year.

The upper-minors should be loaded early on with top positional prospects. Quero-Wilken-Lara-Adams-Pratt at AAA. Made-Burke-Adamczewski-Boeve at AA with Fischer & Pena joining the group early on. Hard to imagine any team with that kind of top-end positional talent in the uppers.

But for me it’s the pitching throughout the system including the aforementioned 4-some in the first paragraph and pitchers yet to debut from the ‘25 draft-class that has me intrigued like never before. Boatload after boatload of talented arm talent that should give the team as much breakout pitching talent than any team in baseball.

 

I am interested in seeing Knoth and Woodward and at least where they are velo wise. I wrote thos somewhere else but I think Woodward in the pen is a good idea. Another arm injury might be it for him but in the pen he will likely be around 100 and can move fast.

[SF70]

3 hours ago, jay87shot said:

I am interested in seeing Knoth and Woodward and at least where they are velo wise. I wrote thos somewhere else but I think Woodward in the pen is a good idea. Another arm injury might be it for him but in the pen he will likely be around 100 and can move fast.

Maybe, but Woodward has a starters arsenal with multiple plus pitches. My guess is they rotation him, but we’ll see.

[jay87shot]

21 hours ago, SF70 said:

Maybe, but Woodward has a starters arsenal with multiple plus pitches. My guess is they rotation him, but we’ll see.

I agree he has the stuff and ability but at this point he has throw 25 innings in 3 years. I would at least start him on 1 or 2 inning outings and be extra careful about overusing him. I would be very hesitant at pushing him to over like over 75 pitch games just to get some consistent health and work in.