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Zach's top fantasy baseball pitching prospects for dynasty leagues and 2026. He breaks down pitchers to be targeting in fantasy baseball dynasty leagues.
Pitchers and catchers are starting to roll into teams' workout facilities, and spring training is just around the corner. As teams start to get ready for an exciting season ahead, fantasy managers in dynasty leagues should always stay busy. Whether considering potential trades, reviewing positional prospect depth, reacting to free-agent signings, or preparing for first-year player drafts, evaluating and projecting future talent is one of the most important aspects of dynasty leagues.
Getting a read on a player's value early on in his career is challenging, especially on the mound, where injuries, pitch mix, offseason work, and other programs can make results volatile from start to start and from year to year. To help with the evaluation, RotoBaller offers Dynasty Prospect Ranks as part of its Premium membership, removing the need for fantasy managers to guess.
Coming into the start of spring training, let's run down five of the prospects I'll be keeping a close eye on leading up to the start of the season. They each have breakout potential and will be options I'm looking to draft or trade for in as many places as possible, in the right situation. This list includes players throughout the minor leagues and a few who have tasted the big leagues. Be sure to also check out RotoBaller's fantasy baseball dynasty articles and fantasy baseball dynasty rankings.
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Nolan McLean, New York Mets
The two names at the top of RotoBaller's dynasty rankings are not surprising at all, and each one brings elite upside. While Chase Burns has more strikeout potential, his early average draft position seems a little high, while McLean is often available at a place where he brings great value. McLean starts the year as MLB Pipeline's top pitching prospect and the No. 6 overall prospect in the top 100.
The Mets' third-round pick in 2023, McLean doesn't rely on an overpowering fastball, sitting around 95 miles per hour most of the time, but his control and elite spin rate make his sinker and curveball both wipeout pitches.
Nolan McLean, Sinker & Curveball Overlay. pic.twitter.com/y6hi86JOqz
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 26, 2025
He started last season in Double-A and earned two promotions throughout the season, earning recognition as a Baseball America Triple-A All-Star and MiLB Awards Breakout Player of the Year. He went 8-5 in his 21 minor-league starts with a 2.45 ERA, 3.66 FIP, and 127 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings. He generated lots of weak contact and held opponents to a .192 batting average.
McLean joined the Mets for his MLB debut in August of last season and made eight starts down the stretch. He went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA, 2.97 FIP, and 57 strikeouts in 48 MLB innings, while holding opponents to a .200 batting average. He only allowed more than two earned runs in one of his eight outings, and he closed out the year with a career-high 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings against the playoff-bound Cubs in late September.
This offseason, the Mets added Freddy Peralta via trade to be their ace, but they'll rely on McLean to step up as their No. 2 starter. He has outstanding projections and a very high ceiling, especially since he'll be pitching on a team that should be very competitive after another busy offseason.
He's not a "sleeper" or a sneaky pick since he was so dominant in his first big league action, but he is still the first prospect pitcher I'll be targeting in dynasty leagues. The 24-year-old looks poised to be a mainstay near the top of the Mets' rotation for many years to come.
Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies
Painter's rise to the major leagues has been far from a straight line, and many dynasty owners may be frustrated that he still hasn't made his MLB debut. Last season, Painter was expected to be part of the Phillies' playoff push, but that wasn't the way the year played out. He's entering "post-hype sleeper" territory, and if you can take advantage of some potential fatigue and grab Painter later in drafts or at a lower cost in a trade, this could be the year he realizes his potential.
The talent is definitely still there for Painter, but he hasn't lived up to lofty expectations. He started out his pro career after being taken No. 13 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft right out of high school. He quickly climbed to Double-A in his first full season and dominated, which made many expect him to be on the fast track to the majors.
Unfortunately, he was shut down for Tommy John surgery and missed all of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He starred in the Arizona Fall League in 2024, and he seemed to be back on track, drawing another wave of expectations going into last season.
While his raw stuff was still excellent, and he flashed potential upside, he struggled with consistency and control. He ended up with a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 4.81 FIP in 106 2/3 innings, issuing 46 walks to go with 111 strikeouts. He still has an electric fastball that can touch triple-digits and works off it effectively with his other pitchers. Even though he had some rough games, he still looked outstanding in some games and some innings.
Andrew Painter fans four batters on four different pitches (cutter, four-seamer, slider, curveball) in his latest start!
The @Phillies' No. 1 prospect allows just one knock over six solid innings for the Triple-A @IronPigs. pic.twitter.com/KpNmxS5XWh
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 25, 2025
The Phillies seem to have high expectations for Painter again this season, and he could even start the year in the rotation, depending on who else is available. The key will be the righty regaining his fastball control, since he was hurt by misses in and out of the zone in Triple-A last season.
A year further removed from injury and with some Triple-A experience now, Painter could be set to finally deliver on the potential that people have been waiting on for several seasons. I'm trying to avoid overpaying for Painter, but his ADP is low enough right now to make him a nice value with a very high ceiling in dynasty drafts.
Robby Snelling, Miami Marlins
The 22-year-old lefty was ranked as the No. 39 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline and will be in big league spring training this year. He has yet to make his MLB debut after beginning his career with the Padres. The Marlins acquired Snelling as part of the trade that sent Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing to San Diego in 2024.
He started the 2025 season in Double-A with Pensacola, where he was decent overall with 85 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings on his way to a 3.61 ERA, 2.91 FIP, and a 1.22 WHIP. He was promoted to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in July, and he was even sharper at that level, posting a 1.27 ERA, 2.62 FIP, and a 0.99 WHIP. He had 81 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings and only issued 17 walks.
Robby Snelling had a very great past season with the Miami Marlins organization. He was named a Baseball America Minor League All-Star, a Baseball America Triple-A All-Star, an INT Post-Season All-Star, SOU Pitcher of the Week twice, INT Pitcher of the Month in August, and was a… pic.twitter.com/1R8Xmf8RX4
— Milb Central (@milb_central) February 1, 2026
Snelling and White could both earn spots in the rotation out of spring training or get called up early in the year. He doesn't have as overwhelming raw stuff as White, but he should be a solid option in dynasty leagues, with solid short-term upside as he could break camp with the MLB roster.
Noah Schultz, Chicago White Sox
Schultz is a fascinating prospect to consider if you're looking for a high-upside arm later in dynasty drafts. He was MLB Pipeline's No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect and No. 16 overall player coming into 2025, but he is now the No. 7 left-handed pitching prospect and No. 49 overall after a tough year in Triple-A.
The big qualifier throughout Schultz's career has been "if healthy," and last year he battled a recurring knee issue that may have been to blame for his downturn in stuff metrics and an elevated walk rate. He started the year at Double-A and went 4-3 with a 3.34 ERA and 3.94 FIP, striking out 58 batters in 56 2/3 innings.
Noah Schultz logs his best start of the season 🗒️
The @whitesox top prospect allows just one hit while striking out four for the Double-A @BhamBarons: pic.twitter.com/xhN4t27UYI
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 25, 2025
He struggled in limited time in Triple-A, going 0-2 in five starts with a 9.37 ERA and 5.52 FIP in 16 1/3 innings. He'll need to bounce back and adjust to that level and show that he's healthy and ready to take the next step.
The 6-foot-10, 240-pound lefty draws natural comparisons to recent White Sox development projects Chris Sale and Garrett Crochet. As the White Sox continue their rebuild, Schultz has the potential to earn his way into the rotation by the end of the year, and he has very high strikeout upside if this is the year he breaks through.
Hunter Barco, Pittsburgh Pirates
While Bubba Chandler deserves all the hype he's getting near the top of most dynasty rankings, his teammate Hunter Barco could also earn a spot in the Pirates' starting rotation as a rookie. Barco is the No. 96 prospect in MLB Pipeline's top 100, giving the Pirates five players in the top 100, including three pitchers.
Barco is a big lefty who could be a nice complement to Chandler and Paul Skenes as part of the Pirates' young core going forward. He was a second-round pick in 2022 while he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He made his pro debut in the summer of 2023, pitching his way up to Double-A Altoona in 2024 before a shin injury ended his year early.
In 2025, he pitched six games in Double-A and did not allow a single earned run over 25 2/3 innings. He moved to Triple-A for 21 games (17 starts) and had a 2.81 ERA and 3.54 FIP with 116 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings.
Hunter Barco slams the door!!
What a gem from the Bucs Top 100 prospect!
6.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 3BB, 7SO’s
He carries a 3.11 ERA in AAA this season… pic.twitter.com/wtsS3r7Nue
— Christian ✞ (@CWolfPGH) July 6, 2025
Barco got a cameo at the end of the season in the majors, working three scoreless innings in two games out of the bullpen, allowing three hits and no walks and picking up three strikeouts.
He's not getting much hype, but he could be a nice late-round add, and since he has averaged over a strikeout per inning at every stop along his rise to the majors, he brings good strikeout potential. If he can improve the control of his offspeed offerings, he could stick as a solid starter for many seasons to come.
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