10 High-Impact Fantasy Baseball Prospect Risers, Sleepers: Breakout Rookies for 2026

February 28, 2026

Andy analyzes 10 fantasy baseball prospect breakouts, sleepers for 2026. Impact MLB prospect call-ups and rookies risers include Justin Crawford, Kazuma Okamoto, Konnor Griffin, others.

Targeting high-end prospects in the final rounds of your draft can provide your fantasy team with a massive spark throughout the season. Last summer, managers saw top prospects like Nolan McLean, Noah Cameron, Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz, and Jacob Wilson all make a massive impact during their rookie seasons.

In this piece, we will spotlight 10 prospects that are prime late-round targets as they have a clear path to a breakout campaign in 2026.

Who are 10 high-impact fantasy baseball prospects managers should keep on their radar heading into draft season? Let's dive in!

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Justin Crawford, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Current Level: Triple-A

2025 MiLB stats: 112 G, .334/.441/.452, 7 HR, 46 SB

Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect Justin Crawford went 2-for-3 with a strikeout in his spring training debut on Saturday afternoon. Crawford served as the leadoff hitter and knocked a double to center field to open the contest. Later in the game, Crawford would hit a single on a line drive.

The team's top outfield prospect is currently the favorite to claim the starting center field role, and his hot start in camp further cements him as a starting option.

Last season, the 22-year-old spent the entire 2025 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and held a .334/.411/.452 slash line with 23 doubles, seven home runs, and an eye-catching 46 stolen bases. While his power upside may be limited, Crawford could produce a high batting average with an elite stolen base total. He is a prime late-round option for those in standard leagues, as he should begin the season in an everyday role.

Robby Snelling, SP, Miami Marlins

Current Level: Triple-A

2025 MiLB stats: 136 IP, 2.51 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 166 SO, 39 BB

Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling tossed a perfect inning in his spring debut on Saturday afternoon. Facing the top of the New York lineup, Snelling would generate three straight outs against Marcus Semien, Juan Soto, and Bo Bichette.

While he was unable to tally any strikeouts, he made quick work of them, throwing only 10 pitches. The 22-year-old appeared to be in the mix to earn the final spot in the Miami rotation but now projects to be the season as the team's No. 6 option, and likely at Triple-A.

Clean inning for Robby Snelling in his spring debut today.

He should make 20+ starts for the Marlins this season and could be one of the top rookie pitchers for fantasy.pic.twitter.com/cx3Hff78h7

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) February 21, 2026

With veteran Chris Paddack being named as a starter and both Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett healthy, Snelling projects to be on the outside for the time being. However, he would likely be the first name called in the case of an injury. Last summer, the southpaw looked quite comfortable in his first taste of Triple-A, tossing 63 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.27 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He remains a worthy early-season stash candidate for those in deeper 12-team leagues.

Kazuma Okamoto, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

Current Level: MLB

2025 NPB stats: 69 G, .327/.416/.598, 15 HR, 1 SB

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto is starting at third base and batting sixth in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The Blue Jays will get Okamoto as many at-bats in spring training as they can before the 29-year-old reports to Team Japan for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Third base is his job to lose as he enters his first year in the major leagues, especially since Toronto could use Addison Barger more in the outfield with Anthony Santander (shoulder) potentially missing all of 2026.

The biggest question is whether Okamoto's power will translate to MLB immediately. He hit at least 27 home runs in each of his first seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, but he only managed 15 in 2025 due to an elbow injury. Still, his combination of contact and power skills makes him intriguing near the heart of the Blue Jays' batting order.

Sal Stewart, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

Current Level: MLB

2025 MLB stats: 18 G, .255/.293/.545, 1 2B, 5 HR

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart won the "best shape of his life" contest for the team in December, as he had already dropped 26 pounds from his listed 6-foot-1, 224-pound frame, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.

Stewart is confident that he'll still have plenty of power despite playing at a lighter weight, and he has a clear path to regular playing time between first base and designated hitter with Spencer Steer primarily playing left field.

The 22-year-old looked much more athletic in the offseason after trimming down, and he'll be looking to build on his first 18 games in the big leagues last year, when he hit .255 (14-for-55) with five home runs, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored. Stewart is a particularly intriguing dynasty/keeper asset because of his ability to hit for power while also maintaining solid hard-hit and strikeout rates.

Hunter Barco, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Current Level: Triple-A

2025 MiLB stats: 99 1/3 IP, 2.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 116 SO, 49 BB

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed pitching prospect Hunter Barco appears to be on the outside of the team's initial five-man starting rotation. The southpaw is expected to be in the mix for the final rotation spot but appears to be trending toward opening the season as a reliever or back at Triple-A.

With Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Mitch Keller, and Braxton Ashcraft locked into the top-4 spots, Barco will have to compete for the No. 5 job alongside Jose Urquidy.

While Urquidy spent all of the 2024 season and the majority of 2025 on the shelf working his way back from Tommy John, he has much more MLB experience than that young left-hander. From 2020 through 2022, Urquidy held a 3.71 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP across 301 innings. While Barco could make a strong case in camp, given his lack of experience, the Pirates may turn to the veteran.

Hunter Barco’s AAA debut is in the books!

4.1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5SO’s

A little wild as the innings went on - but overall, looked very good. A good start to his AAA career

Strikeout recap here! pic.twitter.com/g2OVZeLsEb

— Christian ✞ (@CWolfPGH) May 10, 2025

However, if Urquidy stumbles out of the gate, Barco would emerge as a sneaky stash candidate in deeper formats. Last summer, Barco logged just three innings with the Pirates but did not allow a run while posting a 3:0 K:BB.

Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners

Current Level: Triple-A

2025 MiLB stats: 130 G, .285/.383/.485, 28 2B, 16 HR, 14 SB

MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson, the No. 9 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, will be given a legitimate chance to make this year's Opening Day roster, and it "seems a certainty that his housing carousel in 2026 will include residence in Seattle." Emerson is working out at all three infield positions in camp (shortstop, second base, and third base) as he did on his own in the offseason.

He's a natural shortstop and has the plus defense needed to stick at the premium position long term as arguably the best defensive infielder in the M's system.

However, Emerson won't be at the 6 this year unless J.P. Crawford misses time due to injury. MLB Pipeline lists the 20-year-old as the "owner of the best hit tool in the Mariners system" as well, and his glove could elevate him into what general manager Jerry Dipoto calls "a sneaky five-tool guy."

We won't have a clearer picture of Seattle's plan for Emerson to begin the year until later in spring training, but he's already a player that should be stashed in all dynasty/keeper formats, and he figures to make an impact at the big-league level at some point this year.

Konnor Griffin, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

Current Level: Double-A

2025 MiLB stats: 122 G, .333/.415/.527, 23 2B, 21 HR, 65 SB

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin (foot) left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game in the sixth inning after he was hit in the foot with a pitch, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports. Griffin stayed in the game to run the bases, but he didn't come out to play the field in the seventh inning.

It doesn't appear to be a very serious injury, though, as Griffin said, "I'm good." Pittsburgh might give the 19-year-old a day or two off in camp to rest his foot, but it doesn't sound like anything that will prohibit the young infielder from winning the Opening Day starting shortstop gig.

When you have It, you have It.

Konnor Griffin has It.

And this is what It sounds like. pic.twitter.com/VbiNsHcgs3

— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) February 24, 2026

Griffin has played in only 21 minor-league games beyond High-A, but his power/speed upside might be too much for the Pirates to pass up to begin the 2026 season, which is why they're considering signing him to a long-term extension before he has even set foot on a big-league diamond in a regular-season game. His draft stock will continue to improve in all fantasy formats if he continues to play well in spring training.

Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Current Level: Double-A

2025 MiLB stats: 134 G, .289/.419/.473, 27 2B, 18 HR, 29 SB

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has already begun to showcase his power upside as he looks to claim a spot on the Opening Day roster. Through his first three games (10 at-bats), the team's top hitting prospect has hit a double and gone deep while posting an .873 OPS. The Kentucky product has also begun to see time in the center field in addition to his time in left field, further suggesting the Diamondbacks are attempting to find an early-season role for him.

Currently, they are without two starting outfielders as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) will not be ready for the beginning of the season, and Corbin Carroll (hand) is targeting an Opening Day return, but any minor setback would push him past this target date.

Last season, Waldschmidt spent his time at High-A and Double-A and posted an overall .289/.419/.473 line with 18 home runs and 29 stolen bases. Even though he has never played a game at Triple-A, he is in a prime position to break camp with the MLB roster, given their numerous injuries.

Spencer Jones, OF, New York Yankees

Current Level: Triple-A

2025 MiLB stats: 116 G, .274/.362/.571, 23 2B, 35 HR, 29 SB

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that outfield prospect Spencer Jones is "currently blocked" from playing time at the big-league level, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. A former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2022, Jones will turn 25 years old in May.

He posted monster numbers split between Double and Triple-A in 2025, hitting .274/.362/.571 with 35 home runs, 80 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases across 506 plate appearances. However, swing-and-miss remains a major concern in Jones' profile, as he logged a 35.4% strikeout rate.

.@Yankees prospect Spencer Jones SMOKES his first #SpringTraining home run! pic.twitter.com/qMrKlV6aUW

— MLB (@MLB) February 21, 2026

The Yankees currently have established veterans Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge penciled in as their starting outfielders, while Giancarlo Stanton is locked in as the designated hitter. Even if one of those four players were to suffer an injury, fellow Yankees outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez may be ahead of Jones in the outfield pecking order. Barring a trade or multiple outfield injuries in New York, it appears as though Jones will begin the 2026 season in the Minors.

JR Ritchie, SP, Atlanta Braves

Current Level: Triple-A

2025 MiLB stats: 140 IP, 2.64 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 140 SO, 54 BB

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect JR Ritchie tossed two shutout frames in his spring training debut and continues to make a strong case for an early 2026 promotion. He entered the game after Atlanta southpaw Chris Sale logged two innings himself.

Ritchie would not surrender a hit and would hold a 1:1 K:BB over this brief appearance. Managers should continue to keep a close eye on his development in spring training, as he could be in the mix for an early promotion, given the numerous injuries to the Atlanta starting rotation.

Last summer, the 22-year-old began the campaign with High-A but was able to reach Triple-A in the second half. At Triple-A, Ritchie logged 59 2/3 innings with an impressive 3.02 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 67:21 K:BB. If he continues this trajectory, he would be worth viewing as a top early-season stash candidate.

2026 Prospect Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Who are the top fantasy baseball prospects to know? Check out our latest 2026 prospect fantasy baseball rankings which are updated regularly:

More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies