Impact Fantasy Baseball Prospects To Know - Carter Jensen, Trey Yesavage, Max Clark, Samuel Basallo, Charlie Condon, Ricky Tiedemann

January 18, 2026

2026 fantasy baseball prospects that can make big impacts - Carter Jensen, Trey Yesavage, Max Clark, Samuel Basallo, Charlie Condon, Ricky Tiedemann. Target these top prospects in 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.

Targeting high upside prospects can be the difference between winning and losing your fantasy league. Last season, many up-and-coming players like Junior Caminero carried a discount in their ADP and surpassed all expectations.

In this piece, we will spotlight six prospects, including three that have already reached a brief taste of the major league level late last season, and determine if they are worth viewing as top breakout picks for 2026.

Who are six high-upside breakout prospects managers should keep on their radar heading into draft season? Let's dive in!

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Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals

Current Level: Kansas City Royals
2025 MLB stats: 20 G, .300/.391/.550, 6 2B, 3 HR, 12 SO, 9 BB

Kansas City Royals catching prospect Carter Jensen made his MLB debut late in the 2025 season and immediately flashed high upside. With the Royals, Jensen posted a .300/.391/.550 line with six doubles, three home runs, and a 12:9 K:BB across a 20-game stint. Under the hood, the No. 1-ranked prospect in the system per MLB.com generated a remarkable .447 xwOBA, .336 xBA, and a .633 xSLG, suggesting he was not only making contact with the ball. but was flashing high raw power. Earlier in 2025, Jensen began the season with Double-A but needed only 68 games to earn the call to Triple-A.

Carter Jensen hit this baseball 482 feet 😳 pic.twitter.com/CE151rFkIk

— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2025

Through 43 games with the top level of the Kansas City system, Jensen held a .288/.404/.647 line with 14 home runs. In 2026, Jensen is expected to split the job with Salvador Perez behind the dish and likely shift to the DH spot on his off days from catching. In his brief stint last summer, he logged 10 games behind the dish and nine at DH. If he continues to perform at this level, Jensen has the upside to be an everyday player and carry high-end sleeper appeal at the catching position.

Trey Yesavage, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Current Level: Toronto Blue Jays
2025 MLB stats: 14 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 16 SO, 7 BB

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Trey Yesavage is not expected to have a strict innings limit during the 2026 campaign. Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet reported that their top right-hander will have no workload limits in his second MLB season and is expected to remain in the starting rotation. The 20th overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft made his MLB debut late in the season and played a key role in their run to the World Series. During his first three MLB starts (14 innings), Yesavage posted a 3.21 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP.

However, in the postseason, the East Carolina product struck out an eye-catching 39 batters across 27 2/3 innings. Over 98 innings in the Tornot system last summer, Yesavage posted a 3.12 ERA and 0.97 WHIP, with 160 punchouts. Yesavage projects as an SP3 with upside in all formats heading into 2026.

Max Clark, OF, Detroit Tigers

Current Level: Double-A
2025 MiLB stats: 111 G, .271/.403/.432, 14 HR, 19 SB

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has continued to progress at a steady pace through the system and is nearing the top level of the minor leagues. In 2025, the former third overall pick began the season with High-A, but eventually made his debut at Double-A Erie in the second half. Through 68 games with High-A, Clark posted a strong .285/.430/.427 line with an elite 56:65 K:BB.

During his first taste of Double-A action, the 21-year-old took a bit of a step back but remained productive, carrying a .251/.360/.439 line with a.799 OPS. He continued to show a strong eye at the plate, drawing 29 walks compared to 34 strikeouts. If Clark can see his production reach a new level with Double-A to begin the 20226 campaign, Clark could reach Triple-A early in the first half, which may leave the door open for a late-season MLB debut.

Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles

Current Level: Baltimore Orioles
2025 MLB stats: 31 G, .165/.229/.330, 6 2B, 4 HR, 30 SO, 6 BB

Baltimore Orioles catching prospect Samuel Basallo could see nearly every day at-bats with the Orioles to open the 2026 season. The top catching prospect in the sport and the overall No. 7-ranked per MLB Pipeline, made his long-awaited MLB debut in August of the 2025 season. Through his first 31 games in Baltimore, Bassalo showed some growing pains, posting a .165/.229/.330 line with a modest .559 OPS. He hit four home runs but carried a 30:6 K:BB. Through 70 games with Triple-A Norfolk, Basallo posted an impressive .270/.377/.589 line with 17 doubles and 23 home runs.

During his brief stint with the Orioles last season, Basallo logged 22 games behind the dish with seven at DH and two at first base. With Pete Alonso now on the roster, Basallo will likely only rotate between catcher and DH. Managers should expect Basallo to open the campaign, rotating with Adley Rutschman behind the dish and at DH, given his usage last summer.

However, if Basallo sees these struggles continue, he could lose DH at-bats to Tyler O'Neill or Ryan Mountcastle.

Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Colorado Rockies

Current Level: Double-A
2025 MiLB stats: 55 G, .235/.342/.465, 11 HR, 1 SB

According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Charlie Condon is expected to compete for the starting first base job during spring training. Condon was selected with the third overall pick by the Rockies in the 2024 MLB Draft. The former Georgia Bulldog came out of college as an outfielder but appears to be in the mix for a role at first base, hoping to get him to the majors sooner.

Charlie Condon leaves the yard again!

The @Rockies' No. 2 prospect homers in his second consecutive game for Double-A @GoYardGoats: pic.twitter.com/zBvVr6N8gp

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 4, 2025

In 2025, Condon split his time between High-A and Double-A and posted an overall .268/.376/.444 line with an .820 OPS. He launched 14 home runs and added 16 doubles with two stolen bases. Condon also turned in a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Given that the Rockies do not have a firm answer at the first base position, Condon could make a strong case to start there on Opening Day. He will be competing alongside Troy Johnston and Blaine Crim.

Ricky Tiedemann, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Current Level: Triple-A
2024 MiLB stats: (missed 2025 due to injury) - 17 1/3 IP, 5.19 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 27 SO, 16 BB

Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) is expected to be fully healthy ahead of spring training. Tiedemann has battled numerous injuries throughout his young career, which have prevented him from staying on the bump for consistent periods. Last season, Tiedemann missed the entire campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, the team's No. 4-ranked prospect appears to be fully healed and prepared to make a push to make his MLB debut early in 2026.

He made his professional debut during the 2022 campaign and tossed 78 2/3 innings split between the Low-A, High-A, and Double-A, and struck out 117 hitters with a 2.17 ERA. In 2023, Tiedemann racked up 82 punchouts in just 44 innings of work. The southpaw has immense strikeout upside and could be an intriguing late-round target for those in deeper leagues if he can show this potential in spring training.

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:

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