TOP 20 ROOKIES

The top first-year talent for 2026, taking both talent and opportunity into account

- by BA STAFF

Nick Kurtz, 2025 American League Rookie of the Year

Rookies and other young players are the lifeblood of an MLB organization.

It’s just hard to know which ones will click right away— and which ones will require additional lessons while learning on the job against MLB competition.

But that doesn’t stop us from trying to forecast this year’s top rookies. Here, we rank our top 20 based on how we think they’ll perform in the 2026 season.

Drake Baldwin, 2025 National League Rookie of the Year

Last year, we led off our rookie ranking with Roki Sasaki, Dylan Crews and Jackson Jobe. While all three made Opening Day rosters, none distinguished himself.

Further down the rookie ranking, we identified the upside potential of both eventual Rookies of the Year, ranking Braves catcher Drake Baldwin at No. 12 and Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz—a 2024 draft pick with just 12 games of pro experience—at No. 18.

NOLAN MCLEAN

TEAM: METS AGE: 24 POS: RHP

The Case For: McLean proved his mettle in an eight-start 2025 debut. He throws six distinct pitches, headlined by a high-spin sweeper and curveball and complemented by a changeup and cutter he reserves mostly for lefthanded batters. McLean throws hard, misses bats and keeps the ball on the ground.

The Case Against: McLean posted a 2.06 ERA in 48 innings that will be practically impossible to replicate over a full season. But that's really the only concern with McLean, whom the Mets are counting on to be a key rotation member.

JJ WETHERHOLT