In the 2026 MLB season, several top prospects are making headlines with impressive performances and early contract extensions. Key players include Seth Hernandez from the Pittsburgh Pirates, among others, who are expected to make significant impacts in the majors soon.
One theme from the 2026 Major League Baseball season has been top prospects either getting called up or signed to long-term contract extensions before making their MLB debut. Meanwhile, in the minor leagues, there are quite a few standouts right now who could eventually join their peers in the majors or with a lucrative contract.
Letās highlight a few top MLB prospects who are off to hot starts this year.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Thereās a long, long history of hard-throwing pitchers out of high school being drafted high and never even reaching Triple-A. The way Hernandez looks right now, he could be at Triple-A Indianapolis by 2027. Itās only two starts for Single-A Bradenton, but Hernandez has struck out 60 percent of the 25 batters heās faced with a .130 batting average allowed. Heās too good for the level and heās only 19 years old. Pittsburgh will probably have him make a few more starts, but heās destined for High-A Greensboro this summer.
Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With so many of the top MLB prospects playing shortstop, itās understandable why Franklin Arias gets overshadowed. He showed a lot of promise working his way through the minors in 2025, putting up a .278/.335/.388 triple-slash line with a minuscule strikeout rate (10.1 percent). Heās started his age-20 season with Double-A Portland and the numbers to this point are a testament to how advanced he is as a hitter. In his first 22 plate appearances, Arias has gone 10-for-22 with as many walks (two) and HBPs (two) as strikeouts. While thereās been limited power, it doesnāt really matter so much because heās that effective at getting on base. Oh, did we also mention heās the youngest player in the Eastern League? Boston could have an All-Star shortstop long-term.
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Both the San Diego Padres and the Sacramento Athletics won the Mason Miller trade. Leo De Vries, one of the top MLB prospects in 2026, was landed for a reliever. That was crazy value at the time for the Athletics and it still looks like a massive haul right now. At just 19 years old, De Vries is coming off a two-homer game on Sunday with Double-A Midland. The electrifying switch-hitter has already stolen two bases this year and his walk rate (14.3 percent) is not far behind his strikeout rate (19 percent), all the while he boasts a .333 batting average with a .956 OPS. Weāre not going to be surprised if De Vries is making his MLB debut in the Athletics lineup by September.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
What does a team with one of the best young rotations in baseball need? How about another future front-line starter. The Seattle Mariners were elated to land southpaw Kade Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He got the assignment to Double-A Arkansas to start his first full season in the minors and it looks like he belongs in Triple-A. Thatās because Anderson has limited the first 35 batters heās faced to a .156 batting average with a 48.6 percent strikeout rate across 9 shutout innings with just five hits allowed. Call it a small sample size if you like, but the stuff Anderson is throwing and his feel for it all bode well for him joining Seattleās pitching staff at some point this year.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
When center fielder Parker Meadows suffered a concussion and a left radius fracture in an outfield collision, landing him on the 60-day injured list, some wondered if Max Clark would be on his way to an early MLB debut. The Detroit Tigers ruled that out quickly, making it clear that Clark still has some things they want to see him work on at Triple-A Toledo. One thing is for certain: producing against Triple-A pitching isnāt an issue for the third overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Across his first 66 plate appearances, Clark boasts a stellar .352 batting average with 12 runs scored and nearly as many steals (six) as RBI (seven). Heās also demonstrated a great eye at the plate, evidenced by twice as many walks (10) as strikeouts (five). We think Clark will be in the Tigers lineup by June.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Robby Snelling isnāt even the best starting pitching prospect in the Miami Marlins organizationāthatās Thomas Whiteābut he is pitching lights out right now. The 6-foot-3 southpaw is coming off a pitching clinic in his last start with Triple-A Jacksonville, striking out 12 of the 21 batters faced (57.1 percent) across five shutout innings with just two hits allowed. Heās now recorded 20 strikeouts over his last two starts and would seem to be next in line for a spot in the Marlinsā rotation if someone goes down.
Related Headlines
Some of the top MLB prospects off to hot starts in 2026 include Seth Hernandez and others who are gaining attention for their performances.
The standout prospects include players from various teams, notably Seth Hernandez from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
MLB teams are offering contract extensions to top prospects to secure their talents early, anticipating their potential impact in the majors.
The 2026 MLB prospects are expected to significantly enhance their teams' performance, with some likely making their major league debuts soon.
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
Mike Trout's 446-foot HR joins him with Aaron Judge in Yankee Stadium lore.
Detroit Tigers projected to take a risk on a 6'3" prep bat in the MLB draft.
Arshdeep Singh makes history as the first PBKS bowler to reach 100 IPL wickets!
California's top high school football prospects are on the move this weekend.
Viktor Hovland shines with a 64 at RBC Heritage, Gotterup scores 70.
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.