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Frank's top starting pitcher fantasy baseball prospect breakouts, sleepers, draft values for 2026 drafts. His top SP prospects to draft in redraft leagues.
Drafting prospects is a great way to swing for the fences on your late-round picks in fantasy baseball. Every season, there are plenty of impact players who get called up and provide a boost to fantasy teams. Last year, some of the impactful prospects included Cade Horton, Jacob Misiorowski, Chase Burns, Nolan McLean, Cam Schlittler, and Noah Cameron.
On this page, we're going to try to find 10 pitching prospects who can help out your fantasy baseball teams in 2026 redraft leagues. To define "prospect," we're not just merely choosing rookies that barely played last year, so Bubba Chandler and Trey Yesavage don't qualify for this list. The focus is on pitching prospects who aren't guaranteed to start the season in the big leagues on Opening Day.
Remember, when building a team, you don't want to go overboard with prospects because sometimes, they either disappoint (Roki Sasaki) or take much longer than expected to be called up (Chandler). So, without further ado, let's dive into my 10 favorite pitching prospects for the 2026 fantasy baseball season. Be sure to check out our top hitting prospects to target in redraft leagues as well!
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Fantasy Baseball Pitching Prospects for 2026 Redraft Leagues
Each of the 10 pitchers on this list is highly likely to be up in the big leagues for the majority of the season; they just aren't guaranteed a spot in the rotation right out of the gate. However, there's still a chance that they can win a spot in spring training.
Remember, this isn't just the 10 best prospects. It's a ranking of my favorites based on current costs, using recent ADP from the NFBC since January 1. Only prospects outside the top-190 ADP were included. Remember: this list is ordered by ADP, not preference.
Connelly Early, SP, Boston Red Sox
NFBC ADP: 245.98
Red Sox nation rises as Connelly Early exits his Fenway Park debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/8MfyKUxBEQ
— MLB (@MLB) September 17, 2025
Connelly Early debuted for the Red Sox last season, putting up a 2.34 SIERA with a 36.7 K% and 5.1 BB% in 19 1/3 innings. This was highlighted by an incredible big league debut vs the Athletics, where he tossed five scoreless innings with one walk and 11 strikeouts.
Early consistently had strikeout rates above 30% throughout the minors, but he showed improved command in the big leagues. He went from a 9.7% walk rate at all minor league levels in 2025 to 5.1% with the Red Sox, although that could be just because it was a small sample. Nevertheless, this is a talented lefty who can rack up punchouts.
The problem is that the Red Sox have a deep rotation, with Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, and Johan Oviedo likely opening the season as the starting rotation. There are also other veterans like Patrick Sandoval and Kyle Harrison. However, Early has the talent to beat them out in spring training.
Logan Henderson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
NFBC ADP: 297.05
The Brewers are going to trade Freddy Peralta.
Then, Logan Henderson will step right in with a breakout season.
33.3 K% in 25.1 IP last year.
This is just what the Brewers do.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 10, 2026
Logan Henderson flashed his potential in 25 1/3 innings last year, putting up an impressive 33.3% strikeout rate. We've seen the Brewers do a terrific job developing pitchers. Just look at Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick last season. You have to trust this organization.
Henderson has consistently posted high strikeout rates throughout the minors, so there's a lot of upside with him this season. Since the Brewers traded Freddy Peralta to the Mets, that opens up a spot for Henderson to begin the year in the rotation.
However, it's worth noting that other names like Brandon Sproat, Robert Gasser, and maybe even Aaron Ashby could win that No. 5 spot. Henderson is easily the best bet, but we have to mention the Brewers' pitching depth here.
Parker Messick, SP, Cleveland Guardians
NFBC ADP: 316.65
Parker Messick is another young starter who came up for "a cup of coffee" in the big leagues last year. In 39 2/3 innings, Messick registered a 3.43 SIERA and 19.4 K-BB%. We all know the Guardians have produced quality pitchers over the years, and perhaps Messick is the next in line.
This is a 25-year-old lefty who has more strikeout upside than he showed at the big league level last year. Messick put up a 23.0 K% with the Guardians, but was always around 28-30% in the minors, so there's room to improve in that regard.
While the Guardians' rotation is likely Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, and Logan Allen to open up the season, it shouldn't be too long before Messick replaces someone in that group. The most likely one is the lefty Allen, who is just an innings eater with limited upside.
Robby Snelling, SP, Miami Marlins
NFBC ADP: 330.61
Robby Snelling was dealt by the Padres to the Marlins as part of the Tanner Scott trade a couple of years ago. Now that Edward Cabrera was traded to the Cubs, there's room for Snelling to break camp with the rotation.
The current group includes Eury Perez, Sandy Alcantara, Max Meyer, Braxton Garrett, and Janson Junk. Snelling can easily take that No. 5 spot, shifting Junk to the bullpen as a long reliever.
This is a 22-year-old lefty who was outstanding at Triple-A last season, putting up a 1.27 ERA in 136 innings. Pitching in a great spot like Miami makes Snelling look even more appealing as a sleeper.
Jonah Tong, SP, New York Mets
NFBC ADP: 364.32
One tweak can change everything
After adopting his Vulcan grip change, Jonah Tong saw his chase and whiff numbers rise.
He's our 2025 MiLB pitcher of the year: https://t.co/Vzs4tBI1Xe pic.twitter.com/mTeb1jqQqR
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) December 30, 2025
Jonah Tong was one of the most dominant pitchers in the minors last season, putting up a 1.43 ERA in 113 2/3 innings across all levels. That earned him a late-season promotion to the Mets, where he posted a 4.11 SIERA, 25.3 K%, and 10.3 BB% in 18 2/3 innings.
While there's not much left for the 22-year-old to prove in the minors, that's likely his destination to start the year. The Mets have Peralta, McLean, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes ahead of Tong in the pecking order, for now.
With that said, Senga has injury issues, while Manaea and Holmes have been inconsistent, so there's a good chance that Tong will be with the Mets sooner rather than later.
Payton Tolle, SP, Boston Red Sox
NFBC ADP: 444.68
Payton Tolle has the makings of a rotation workhorse 😤
He ranks No. 2 among lefthanded pitching prospects heading into 2026.
More here: https://t.co/d8rxRR4qJN pic.twitter.com/WmFt1GKFJm
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) January 14, 2026
Payton Tolle is another talented pitching prospect in the Red Sox system. The 23-year-old lefty put up an impressive 36.5% strikeout rate and 6.3% walk rate across all minor league levels last season.
While Tolle struggled in his brief 16 1/3-inning stint with the Red Sox, we saw him flash his high upside in his big league debut against the Pirates, where he struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball.
Like Early, Tolle is blocked by a deep group of starters, but he's worth a shot given his upside. There's a chance that we could see both Red Sox young lefties in the rotation by mid-summer.
Thomas White, SP, Miami Marlins
NFBC ADP: 460.88
Thomas White is a 21-year-old lefty who put up a 38.6% strikeout rate in 89 2/3 innings across the minors last season. Like Snelling, White has a decent chance to make it to the big leagues this season.
There's no guarantee that Meyer and Garrett will be ready when the season begins. Plus, this is a rebuilding team, so they would be wise to see what they have with their young starters.
However, since he's 21, there's a chance that the Marlins will slow-play him to the big leagues, so keep that in mind. Don't go overboard reaching for White.
Mick Abel, SP, Minnesota Twins
NBFC ADP: 555.62
Mick Abel absolutely dominated the minors last season, putting up a 2.20 ERA with a 28.6% strikeout rate in 98 1/3 innings across all levels. The problem is that Abel struggled mightily in the big leagues, both with the Phillies and Twins.
However, I'm confident that the Twins will be able to unlock Abel. It's clear that they think highly of him, as he was a key piece in the Jhoan Duran trade last season.
The backend of their rotation includes Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews, each of whom is inconsistent, so there's a chance that Abel will be up with the team before you know it.
George Klassen, SP, Los Angeles Angels
NFBC ADP: 725.95
George Klassen is a 24-year-old righty who has consistently put up impressive strikeout rates throughout the minors. The main appeal with Klassen is that he plays for a rebuilding Angels team that may give him a chance to showcase his skills at some point this season.
The Angels' rotation includes Jose Soriano, Yusei Kikuchi, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez, and Alek Manoah. If Rodriguez isn't ready or Manoah can't find his form, Klassen can easily be in this rotation.
There's strikeout upside here, making him worth a dart throw late in draft-and-hold leagues. In other formats, you can simply put him on your watch list.
Didier Fuentes, SP, Atlanta Braves
NFBC ADP: 741.90
Didier Fuentes reached the big leagues at 20 years old last season. Part of that was because the Braves were riddled with injuries to starters like Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach, but it's worth noting that Fuentes had a 29.8% strikeout rate in the minors last summer.
While Fuentes struggled in his four major league starts, I can't ignore a pitcher with a prospect pedigree getting to the MLB at such a young age. Even though the Braves' rotation is now healthy, there's no spot for him; he's worth a pick at the end of your draft-and-hold leagues.
Keep an eye on Fuentes to see if he shows improvement in the minors.
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