Impact Fantasy Baseball Prospects To Know - Brice Matthews, Nolan McLean, Andrew Painter, Charlie Condon, Carter Jensen, Sebastian Walcott

February 9, 2026

2026 fantasy baseball prospects that can make big impacts - Brice Matthews, Nolan McLean, Andrew Painter, Charlie Condon, Carter Jensen, Sebastian Walcott. Target these top prospects in 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.

Drafting high-end prospects in the final rounds of your draft can provide your fantasy team with a massive boost down the stretch. Last season, several high-end prospects flashed elite potential in the major leagues, such as Chase Burns, Logan Henderson, and Nick Kurtz.

In this piece, we will spotlight six more high-upside prospects managers should consider targeting in their drafts.

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

Brice Matthews, SS/OF, Houston Astros

Current Level: MLB
2025 MLB stats: .167/.222/.452, 4 HR, 1 SB

Houston Astros infielder Brice Matthews will reportedly take some reps in the outfield during Spring Training. According to Chandler Rome, Matthews is going to see some playing time in center field during camp. Until this point, Matthews has almost exclusively played in the infield during his pro career. He did play nine games in center field during his time in Triple-A Sugar Land last season.

The Astros need another outfielder with Jesus Sanchez, Jake Meyers, Cam Smith, and Jose Altuve as the main options. Matthews appears to be ready for the big league level after posting impressive numbers in the minors last season. His best path to playing time might be moving to the outfield.

Nolan McLean, SP, New York Mets

Current Level: MLB
2025 MLB stats: 48 IP, 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 57 SO, 16 BB

New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect Nolan McLean is expected to operate in a lead role in the upcoming season. With the Mets missing out on left-handed starter Framber Valdez in free agency, their rotation looks set entering spring training. While newly-acquired right-hander Freddy Peralta will serve as the ace, McLean will likely slide in as the No. 2 option. Last summer, the former third-round selection made his MLB debut and looked quite comfortable in the major leagues.

Across his first 48 innings of work, the right-hander struck out 57 hitters while posting a 2.06 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Progressing through the minor leagues, McLean carried a 2.41 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP across 113 2/3 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A. McLean is a top breakout pick in drafts this season, as he should be given a massive workload this summer.

Andrew Painter, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

Current Level: Triple-A
2025 MiLB stats: 118 IP, 5.26 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 123 SO, 47 BB

As things currently stand, the Philadelphia Phillies don't have a set No. 4 or No. 5 starting pitcher, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Aaron Nola are the three healthy starters who are guaranteed rotation spots. The Phillies are hoping top prospect Andrew Painter and veteran Taijuan Walker fill out the rotation, but they aren't slam dunks. Both pitchers need to perform in spring training, but even if they don't, they have to be in the initial rotation as Zack Wheeler continues his recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome.

Andrew Painter touched 99.2 mph while utilizing his cutter for 3 of his 5 strikeouts for the Triple-A @IronPigs.

MLB's No. 5 prospect (@Phillies) has 32 K's in 28.1 IP this season. pic.twitter.com/N924rLSHQc

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 29, 2025

Painter, 22, had a 5.26 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 123:47 K:BB in 118 innings over 26 starts with Single-A Clearwater and Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025 in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. There wasn't a notable dip in Painter's stuff last year, and he could bounce back another year removed from TJ surgery. A lowered price in 2026 definitely makes Painter an intriguing buy-low candidate with elite pitching upside.

Charlie Condon, OF, Colorado Rockies

Current Level: Double-A
2025 MiLB stats: 99 G, .268/.268/.376/.444, 14 HR, 2 SB

The Colorado Rockies announced on Thursday that they gave first base prospect Charlie Condon a non-roster invitation to 2026 major-league spring training. Condon, the No. 70 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, will have a shot to win an Opening Day roster spot if he excels in spring training, especially since the Rockies no longer have either Michael Toglia or Warming Bernabel competing at first base. The former third overall pick out of Georgia hit .268/.376/.444 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, and 59 runs scored in 99 games at the Rookie level, High-A Spokane, and Double-A Hartford last year.

Condon played third base and outfield in college, but he is expected to move forward exclusively as a power-hitting first baseman, and he should make his MLB debut at some point in 2026. He may never live up to his draft pedigree, but at hitter-friendly Coors Field, Condon and his 6-foot-6 frame should project for plenty of power at the very least.

Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals

Current Level: MLB
2025 MLB stats: 20 G, .300/.391/.550, 6 2B, 3 HR

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.

Sebastian Walcott, SS, Texas Rangers

Current Level: Double-A
2025 MiLB stats: .255/.355/.386, 19 2B, 13 HR, 32 SB

xTexas Rangers top prospect Sebastian Walcott has received an invite to big-league spring training. The young infielder is currently considered the team's top prospect and the No. 6 overall-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com. The 19-year-old spent the entire 2025 campaign with Double-A Frisco and is quickly approaching his MLB debut. Across this stint, Walcott posted a strong .255/.355/.386 line with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, and an impressive 32 stolen bases.

He held a 108:70 K:BB. In 2024, Walcott spent the majority of the campaign with High-A, where he posted a .261/.342/.443 line across 116 games. While Walcott is unlikely to compete for an early MLB debut, he could begin the season at Triple-A, which would keep him in play for a second-half promotion to Texas.

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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