Best MLB Rookies In 2026 For Fantasy Baseball This Season (Top Rookies)

Everyone loves their fantasy baseball rookies. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple redraft league, some form of keeper format or a full-blown dynasty league, rookies tend to be even more popular than some of the biggest stars across baseball. There’s just something about being the one who “discovered” them and we use quotes around the word because it’s not about actually being the person who scouted the talent. It’s about being the person who believed in the talent and wanted the player most in your fantasy baseball draft. Below is a list of our Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Rookies for 2026 and you can also find our Top 100 MLB Rookie Rankings here in the Draft Guide.

Breakout Pitching Prospects to Target Now

Trey Yesavage, SP Toronto Blue Jays

There’s a reason Yesavage is already the early favorite for the 2026 AL Rookie of the Years award across all the major sportsbooks. He's a consensus top-10 overall prospect who flashed elite strikeout potential in his brief 2025 regular season and postseason appearances. He is expected to be a key fixture in the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation for the 2026 MLB season, with a consensus projection as an SP3/SP4 fantasy option who offers significant strikeout potential thanks to a "plus-plus" splitter and high-vertical-break fastball which generate elite whiff rate. We're also being told there will be no strict innings limit so, barring injury, we can expect a full season from him. Given his strong finish to the 2025 season and postseason performance, fantasy managers should expect high strikeout rates (over 150 K across a projected 140+ innings) but potentially volatile ratios (ERA around 3.80, WHIP around 1.27) due to occasional command issues and the league adjusting to his unique pitching style. If his command tightens up and he maintains the strikeout rate, he could prove to be a fantasy anchor for your rotation.

Nolan McLean, SP New York Mets

Expectations for McLean are high, projecting him as a solid SP3 with potential SP1/SP2 upside. After a dominant eight-start cameo in late 2025, in which he posted a 2.06 ERA (2.97 FIP) and 1.04 WHIP across 48 innings, McLean is a front-runner for the NL Rookie of the Year award and is expected to be a staple near the top of the Mets' rotation. He has a six-pitch arsenal featuring multiple fastball shapes, a sharp sweeper, and a curveball, which generated a 30.3% strikeout rate in his limited 2025 MLB sample. While the potential of a six-man rotation hurts in fantasy due to a lack of two-start weeks, McLean should handle a full season's workload and while some projection systems anticipate a slight regression in his ERA and WHIP over a larger sample size due to lingering control issues, many believe those issues tend to be minor and that, with improved command, he could/should outperform his current projections.

Tatsuya Imai, SP Houston Astros

Imai projects as a solid mid-rotation (SP3/SP4) option with high strikeout potential thanks to his unique low arm slot and diverse arsenal (fastball, sharp "wrong-way" slider, splitter, changeup). We're talking about great swing-and-miss stuff that should be evident when you track his swinging-strike rate this season. After dominating the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) with a 1.92 ERA in 2025, he signed a three-year, $54 million deal with Houston that includes opt-outs, indicating both his self-confidence and the Astros' belief in his immediate impact. I actually cited that as one of the key reasons to consider drafting him this season when I wrote him up on January 1 in the 2026 MLB Free Agent & Trade Tracker and my opinion hasn't changed at all. One caveat, which might not be too bad as more and more teams are leaning in that direction, is the potential use of a six-man rotation which typically eliminates two-start weeks.

Bubba Chandler, SP Pittsburgh Pirates

After finally making his MLB debut in late August 2025, Chandler is expected to secure a full-time spot in the rotation from Opening Day with projections viewing him as a strong SP3/SP4 option with potential SP2 upside. He features a high-velocity fastball that touches triple digits, a dominant changeup, and a sharp slider, giving him an arsenal capable of high strikeout rates which are, obviously, key for fantasy. After tossing over 130 innings in 2025, we can also expect a full season of work from the young righthander. His strong finish in 2025 (1.08 ERA across his final three starts) suggests his previous command issues were largely mental, possibly linked to a delayed call-up, so expectations remain high. The Pirates made some surprising moves in the offseason to bolster the offense, but wins may still be a bit of an issue here. If that's the only category of concern, it's wheels-up for Chandler in 2026.

Top Impact Hitters for the 2026 Season

Kevin McGonigle, SS Detroit Tigers

While there is always a chance that something big happens for the 21-year-old during spring training and he breaks camp with the Tigers for Opening Day, McGonigle is probably more of a mid-season call-up you keep on your radar. If you play in a deep league and have the ability to stash him for the first couple of months, then by all means, please do so. The Tigers will likely want to see him in Triple-A, but make no mistake – he is one of the best pure hitters in the minors right now. McGonigle's main draw is his exceptional hit tool (graded 70 by Baseball America) and elite plate discipline, which suggests a high batting average and OBP in the majors. He also demonstrated developing power in the minors with 19 home runs and double-digit stolen bases in 2025, providing a promising power/speed combination for fantasy. After blowing through Low, High and Double-A in 2025, we expect to see him in the bigs sooner than later and should be considered a favorite for AL Rookie of the Year if he can garner the playing time.

Sal Stewart, 1B Cincinnati Reds

Ranked as the No. 31 prospect overall by MLB Pipeline, Stewart is expected to secure a full-time role in the Reds' lineup, likely rotating between first base and designated hitter. His primary fantasy value lies in his excellent hit tool and emerging power, demonstrated by 20 home runs in the minors and five in a brief 18-game MLB stint in 2025. Fantasy managers should anticipate a solid batting average and high on-base percentage due to his advanced plate discipline. While his defensive position is a bit uncertain in a crowded infield, his bat is considered too good to keep out of the lineup. Given his age (22) and the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, Stewart offers high upside as a potential mid-round draft pick who could deliver 20-25 home runs over a full season.

JJ Wetherholt, SS St. Louis Cardinals

Wetherholt, a consensus top-10 prospect (No. 5 by MLB.com, No. 3 by Baseball America), is expected to compete for an Opening Day roster spot and likely secure a full-time role, primarily at second or third base due to the presence of Masyn Winn at shortstop. His fantasy value is high due to his elite hit tool, plus power, and speed combination. In 109 minor league games in 2025, he hit .306 with 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases, demonstrating a rare five-category potential. Fantasy managers should expect a high batting average and excellent on-base percentage (OBP) right away, with a strong possibility of a 20/20 season in the majors if given a full workload. Some projections anticipate close to a full season's plate appearances, making him a strong candidate to be a mid-to-late round draft pick with high upside.

Samuel Basallo, C Baltimore Orioles

Basallo is expected to be an everyday player with significant power, primarily rotating between catcher and designated hitter. He is considered the No. 1 catcher prospect and a top 10 overall prospect across all of Major League Baseball. Basallo made his MLB debut in August 2025, showing some initial struggles but demonstrating elite potential (a 75.5 mph average swing speed on par with Gunnar Henderson). Fantasy managers should focus on his significant power upside, as he hit 23 home runs in 76 Triple-A games in 2025. His strong offensive tools and advanced plate discipline suggest a solid batting average and OBP, but the key will be adapting to major league pitching to reduce a high strikeout rate. His playing time should be consistent, sharing time behind the plate with Adley Rutschman and serving as a left-handed DH. While his initial 2025 MLB stats were modest (.165 AVG, 4 HR in 31 games), his underlying metrics and minor league performance indicate a high-upside mid-round draft pick with the potential for 20+ home runs in a full 2026 season.

Moises Ballesteros, DH Chicago Cubs

Ballesteros is a top-100 prospect (No. 36 by Baseball America, No. 53 by MLB Pipeline) who forced his way onto the roster with dominant minor league performances and an impressive 20-game MLB stint in 2025 where he hit .298 with a .394 OBP. His elite hit tool and plate discipline are his calling cards, suggesting he can maintain a solid batting average in the majors. While he is a catcher by trade, his defensive limitations and the presence of other catchers mean he is likely to see the majority of his playing time as a left-handed designated hitter. His power is still developing (13 HR in Triple-A in 2025), but his hard contact metrics suggest 15-20 home run potential as he matures. Fantasy managers should target him as a high-upside late-round pick, especially in leagues where he maintains catcher eligibility, which significantly increases his value.

Kazuma Okamoto, 3B Toronto Blue Jays

When Okamoto signed with the Blue Jays back in early January, we wrote him up in the 2026 MLB Free Agent & Trade Tracker (January 3^rd if you click back to read) with some optimism, though we did wonder how the power would translate to the States, especially coming off an elbow injury in 2025. Not much has changed from then to now, but we do believe fantasy managers should expect him to immediately slot into the middle of the Blue Jays' lineup, providing right-handed power and excellent plate discipline (high walk rate, low strikeout rate). While a slight adjustment to MLB pitching is expected, his advanced approach and ability to hit velocity suggest a high batting average and OBP for a power hitter. Projections suggest he could hit in the range of 19-21 home runs with a decent batting average, making him a valuable asset, particularly in OBP leagues. He is expected to play a super-utility role defensively at third and first base, ensuring consistent playing time.

Betting Odds to Win 2026 AL Rookie of the Year

Betting Odds to Win 2026 NL Rookie of the Year