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Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are among the eight players on this yearâ€s Era Committee ballot unveiled on Nov. 3 by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The voting results will be announced live tonight on MLB Network at 7:30 ET, with coverage beginning at 7.

Candidates need to receive votes on 75% of the ballots cast by the 16-member committee to become part of the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Class. The Hall of Fame on Tuesday revealed the names of the members of the voting committee: Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Jim Kaat, Juan Marichal, Tony Pérez, Ozzie Smith, Alan Trammell and Robin Yount; MLB executives Mark Attanasio, Doug Melvin, Arte Moreno, Kim Ng, Tony Reagins and Terry Ryan; and media members/historians Steve Hirdt, Tyler Kepner and Jayson Stark.

For more on the Era Committee eligibility requirements, click here.

Hereâ€s a quick look at the eight players up for Hall of Fame consideration on the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot:

Firmly in the conversation of the best position player in MLB history, Bonds is baseballâ€s home run king with 762 career dingers. His 73 homers in 2001 stand as the single-season record, too. He is the all-time leader in walks (2,558), Baseball-Reference WAR by a position player (162.8) and Most Valuable Player Awards (seven). He won four consecutive MVPs from 2001-04 with the Giants. During that span, Bonds†average slash line was .349/.559/.809. He was a two-time batting champion who led the National League in on-base percentage 10 times and in slugging percentage seven times.

A 14-time All-Star and 12-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Bonds was also a plus defensive player for much of his career and took home eight Gold Gloves. He stole 514 bases and finished nine seasons with at least 30 steals, including a 40-40 season in 1996.

“The Rocket†won seven Cy Young Awards, the most by any pitcher. His first came in 1986, when he also captured AL MVP honors as the Red Soxâ€s 24-year-old ace. He earned his final Cy Young with the Astros in 2004 at the age of 42. In between, Clemens won World Series championships with the Yankees in 1999 and 2000.

An 11-time All-Star, Clemens won seven ERA titles and was a pitching Triple Crown winner in 1997 and ‘98 with the Blue Jays. And we canâ€t forget about all of his strikeouts. Clemens was a league leader in Kâ€s five times, authored two 20-strikeout games and retired after 24 seasons with 4,672 strikeouts, third most in MLB history.

Although they are two all-time greats, Bonds and Clemens†connections to performance-enhancing drugs impacted their Hall of Fame candidacies while they were on the Baseball Writers†Association of America ballot.

Delgado slugged 473 home runs during his 17-year career and is the Blue Jays†franchise leader with 336 homers. He spent his first 12 seasons with Toronto and earned his two All-Star selections and three Silver Slugger Awards as a Blue Jay. He was the AL MVP runner-up in 2003, when he recorded 42 homers and an MLB-best 145 RBIs. Delgado topped the 100-RBI mark nine times and finished among the top 10 in MVP voting four times. He was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award in 2006 while a member of the Mets.

Arguably the gameâ€s best run-producing second baseman, Kentâ€s 377 career home runs are the most among players who primarily played the keystone position. He also ranks third among second basemen in RBIs (1,518) and second in slugging percentage (.500). While he was a productive player early in his career with the Mets, Kent really broke out once he arrived in San Francisco in 1997. Over the next six seasons, he produced a .297/.368/.535 slash line with 175 home runs and more than 100 RBIs each year.

Kent earned three of his five All-Star selections and won three of his four Silver Sluggers with the Giants, and he was named the 2000 NL MVP. He was also solid in the postseason, with nine homers and an .840 OPS through 49 games.

Mattingly spent his entire 14-year career with the Yankees and was one of the best hitters of the 1980s. During that decade, he garnered his six All-Star Game selections, won a batting title as well as an MVP Award, led the AL in hits twice and captured his three Silver Sluggers. A .307 lifetime hitter, Mattingly was slowed by injuries during the back half of his career, but he still earned four Gold Gloves in his final seasons, giving him eight total.

After retiring in 1995, Mattingly moved into the coaching ranks and spent 12 seasons combined managing the Dodgers (2011-15) and Marlins (2016-22). He guided Los Angeles to three division titles and was the 2020 NL Manager of the Year with Miami.

Of the top 13 position players in bWAR during the 1980s, Murphy is the only player not in the Hall of Fame. His 47.1 bWAR in the decade ranks 10th among that crew. No one had more total bases during the decade than Murphyâ€s 2,796, and his 308 homers were the second most. He cracked 36 home runs in 1982 and ‘83 and was feted as NL MVP after each season.

During an 18-year career spent mostly with the Braves, Murphy was a seven-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, a four-time Silver Slugger and the Clemente Award recipient in 1988.

Sheffield, one of the most intimidating hitters of his time, bashed 509 home runs and drove in 1,676 runs during his 22-year career. He topped 30 homers and 100 RBIs eight times and exceeded 300 total bases six times. That includes his MLB-high 323 total bases for the Padres in 1992, the same year he won a batting title.

Sheffield was a star during the 1997 postseason, batting .320 with a 1.061 OPS en route to a World Series title with the Marlins. Then, from 1999-2005 with the Dodgers, Braves and Yankees, he registered a .307/.408/.558 slash line with 247 homers.

Valenzuela broke into the big leagues in 1980 at 19 years old and by 1981, he was a worldwide phenomenon. The left-hander from Mexico won the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in ‘81 as Fernandomania swept across the sport. He completed 11 of his 25 starts that season and racked up eight shutouts. He also won the World Series with the Dodgers that year and again in 1988.

A 17-year veteran, Valenzuela recorded a 3.34 ERA and averaged 233 1/3 innings per season from 1981-90 with Los Angeles. That stretch included six All-Star selections, four top-five finishes for the Cy Young, two Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove.

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College baseball evolves every autumn, but the nature of that growth is difficult to pin down. Most of the movement happens behind closed doors. It happens in the controlled chaos of intersquads, in labs full of tech and force plates or in quiet midweek scrimmages where a pitcher alters a grip, a hitter reshapes a swing or a freshman takes a leap.

Hundreds of players elevated their stock in some form over the last two months, and any attempt to catalog every riser would fall well short.

As such, our list of college baseball fall ball all-stars is not meant to be exhaustive. It is meant to reflect the broader truth of the sport: Talent is everywhere. In the interest of spotlighting as many players and teams as possible, each school is represented only once in the list below, with one player per defensive position earning recognition based on the most consistent and compelling feedback from coaches and evaluators.

These selections were informed through dozens of conversations, scrimmage evaluations and development reports from across the country. Some are established names trending toward stardom. Some are players who took an unexpected step forward. All of them earned their place here by turning promising falls into meaningful momentum for 2026.

Catcher: Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas

The debate for top college catcher in the 2026 draft class will not resolve any time soon. It will likely center on Georgia Techâ€s Vahn Lackey, Texas†Carson Tinney and Helfrick, who emerged as one of the most complete players in the country last season. He hit .305/.420/.616 with 15 home runs and 10 doubles while catching 61 games for a Razorbacks team that went 50-15 and came within a few swings of reaching the national championship series.

Lackeyâ€s summer with Team USA and Tinneyâ€s consistent exit velocity gains this fall strengthened their cases, but the fall feedback on Helfrick was as loud and unequivocal as any player in the country.

Multiple evaluators described his fall as nearly flawless. He made clear defensive strides as a receiver, showed advanced zone control and plus raw power at the plate and established himself as the toughest out in a Fayetteville environment loaded with premium arms.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn reinforced the sentiment with uncommon conviction.

“Heâ€s a first-round pick in my book and, quite frankly, Iâ€ll have questions about whoever disagrees with that if theyâ€d seen him this fall,†Van Horn told BA. “Thereâ€s nothing he canâ€t do on the field. He calls his own game, he hits for power, he doesnâ€t swing and miss. We couldnâ€t get him out. Iâ€ve had plenty of first-rounders here. I know what they look like. Heâ€s as good as any of them. We havenâ€t had a player look this good in the fall since Heston Kjerstad, and he went pretty good.â€

First Base: Brady Ballinger, Kansas

Few hitters in the country combined impact and consistency in 2025 the way Ballinger did.

Only three Division I players with at least 65 batted-ball events reached all of the following marks last season: an average exit velocity of at least 89 mph, a 90th percentile EV of 106 mph or higher, a barrel rate above 30%, a zone contact rate above 85%, an overall contact rate above 80% and an air-pull rate above 35%. That group consisted of UT Arlingtonâ€s Tyce Armstrong, UCLA shortstop and top 2026 prospect Roch Cholowsky and Ballinger.

Ballinger produced an 89.9 mph average exit velocity and a 106.1 mph 90th percentile EV, making for an outstanding power baseline for a college hitter. His 32.9% barrel rate and 50% hard-hit rate reflect true impact, while his 85.2% zone contact rate and 80% overall contact rate show that he reached that impact without selling out. His 20.4% chase rate points to a mostly selective approach and the confidence to let the strength work inside the zone.

The statistical picture matches the scouting feedback.

This fall, Ballinger stayed on that track while addressing the one area evaluators wanted to see change: selective aggression. He swung at just 36.6% of pitches last season with a 69.4% heart swing rate and 59.1% zone swing rate.Â

The word from Kansas is that he spent the fall tightening swing decisions and being more willing to attack early-count pitches he can drive. The impact traits remain intact. The intent sharpened.

Ballinger already showed the underlying traits of a prominent draft bat. If the approach gains from this fall carry into the spring, he has a chance to push firmly into the Top 100 conversation as he builds on a breakout 2025.

Second Base: Keaton Grady, Dallas Baptist

Dallas Baptistâ€s offense absorbed heavy draft losses this summer, shifting the spotlight to returning players who needed to make developmental strides to preserve one of the sportâ€s most consistently competitive programs.Â

Several Patriots answered that call this fall, from slugging first baseman Chayton Krauss to outfielders Ben Tryon and Ryan Martin. But the most emphatic feedback centered on second baseman Grady, who started 41 games at the position last year and profiles as a critical returning piece regardless of whether he stays at second or slides to shortstop.

Grady was one of the countryâ€s most skillful contact hitters in 2025. He slashed .366/.449/.531 with four home runs, 14 doubles, 18 stolen bases and more walks (26) than strikeouts (21). His zone awareness was elite, and the bat-to-ball performance reflected it in a 92.7% zone contact rate paired with an 84.4% overall contact rate. When pitchers challenged him, he spoiled their plans with precision.

The missing gear in Grady’s 2025 profile was consistent loft-driven power. He produced an 89.6 mph average exit velocity for a strong trait baseline, but the batted-ball angles did not allow that strength to translate into home run volume.Â

This fall he made clear progress there. According to DBU coach Dan Heefner, Grady made tangible adjustments aimed at getting into the air more often and held the gains through the fall slate. It was not a wholesale identity shift, but rather a refinement that allowed his natural contact ability to carry more offensive weight.

If those directional adjustments hold, Grady has a chance to elevate from high-level table-setter to true middle-of-the-order threat. Even if the home run output remains modest, his discipline, speed and ability to punish strikes will again be central to DBUâ€s identity as it reloads for another postseason push.

Third Base: Nolan Freund, Little Rock

Little Rockâ€s postseason run in 2025 ended one win short of super regionals, but its resilience left a lasting impression. The Trojans handed eventual national champion LSU its only postseason defeat and led the Tigers through five innings of the regional final before falling in Baton Rouge. The momentum from that showing carried directly into the offseason, punctuated by a contract extension for coach Chris Curry that signals the programâ€s ambition heading into 2026.

Another run will rely on returners on the mound and a lineup driven heavily by newcomers. Among them, Freund emerged as one of the most impactful additions anywhere in the mid-major ranks this fall.

A juco transfer who earned NJCAA All-America honorable mention credentials, Freund hit .422/.495/.641 with 23 doubles, nine home runs and 71 RBIs last spring while drawing more walks (32) than strikeouts (31). The offensive track record translated immediately to Division I scrimmage environments. Curry noted the consistent quality of Freund’s contact, with firm line drives to all fields and enough loft to project legitimate extra-base threat potential against high-end pitching.

The glove is equally compelling. Curry described Freund as a strong-armed and plus defender at third base, capable of making rangy plays while also delivering carry across the diamond. That combination of polished defensive actions, bat-to-ball skill and physical strength positions Freund to anchor the left side of Little Rockâ€s infield while giving the Trojans a middle-of-the-order presence they can build around.

Freund is not just a valuable transfer. He looks like a player capable of materially elevating the ceiling for a program already riding a wave of confidence into 2026.

Shortstop: Roch Cholowsky, UCLA

A number of UCLA players delivered standout falls, but none approached Cholowskyâ€s combination of production, polish and projection. The consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2026 draft earned this spot emphatically.

Cholowsky is exactly as advertised. His defensive skill set is pure and advanced, defined by movement efficiency, soft hands, rhythmic transfers and a throwing stroke that stays loose and accurate on the move. He handles the shortstop position with natural ease and quarterback-like command, turning difficult plays into routine ones and elevating UCLAâ€s overall defensive operation.

At the plate, Cholowsky blends zone control, contact skill and impact. The swing is direct and on-plane, punishing mistakes without compromising approach. He drives the ball with authority from gap to gap and has the athleticism to turn singles into extra bases while making slow throwers uncomfortable with pressure on the bases.

During a fall scrimmage against UC Irvine, Cholowsky turned on an inside fastball for a double and later smoked a triple. Both came with the kind of effortless acceleration that only elite hitters show in game speed.

College baseball has not seen a position player enter a season with this level of draft anticipation in years. Cholowsky is the best player in the nation heading into 2026, and his fall performance only reinforced that truth.

Outfield: Derek Curiel, LSU

While Cholowsky reigns supreme, there is a legitimate competition brewing behind him for the title of second-best draft-eligible college bat. Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, TCU outfielder Sawyer Strosnider and Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia all factor into that argument.Â

Curiel not only belongs firmly in that conversation, thereâ€s an argument he could lead the charge very early on.

His fall helped.

The draft-eligible sophomore shifted from left field to center without issue. Often when young players move to a premium spot for the first time, the discomfort is obvious in reads, angles or footwork. Curiel showed none of it. LSU coach Jay Johnson noted the absence of even the faintest growing pains, pointing to Curielâ€s instincts, closing speed and graceful timing around the ball.

At the plate, Curielâ€s fall was equally compelling. Among a position group overflowing with offensive ability, he paced the Tigers in their internal at-bat quality metric. He further tightened his approach while looking to convert more impact into the air toward his pull side, pairing that developmental emphasis with the physical gains of a second collegiate offseason.

Curiel appears positioned to take on a central role in LSUâ€s ongoing dynasty push—the type of middle-of-the-order, middle-of-the-field presence that championship programs are built around.

His fall only amplified expectations.

Outfield: Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M

Sorrell hardly needed much time last spring to validate his status as one of the nationâ€s most dynamic outfield talents. Despite appearing in only 26 games due to a hamstring injury, he slashed .337/.430/.789 with 12 home runs and five doubles while walking nearly as often as he struck out (16 to 25). At the pace he established, he was essentially homering every other game.

Sorrell’s injury had almost no bearing on his ability to drive the ball. What it did disrupt was the broader impact of his game, including his ability to pressure defenses with his speed and cover ground in the outfield. Those tools are not complementary for Sorrell. They are central, and when paired with his offensive thunder, they create a uniquely complete profile.

This fall, according to Texas A&M coach Michael Earley, Sorrell was finally his full self again. That alone is enough to elevate both his draft outlook and the Aggies†2026 trajectory. Evaluators believe he has the ingredients to push into the top 15 on draft day if he can show the total package across a full season.

For Texas A&M, the stakes around Sorrell extend far beyond personal draft value. After a season that cratered in 2025, the Aggies are operating in must-win territory. Sorrellâ€s return to full strength gives them a centerpiece for that effort.

Outfield: Ty Head, NC State

Head delivered strong surface-level results in his NC State debut last spring, batting .274/.433/.402 with four home runs, 11 doubles and a fantastic 48-to-28 walk-to-strikeout ratio. That foundation is now generating something far louder. Evaluators across the scouting community zeroed in on Headâ€s fall, with one describing him to Baseball America as “one of the top breakout candidates in the country†for 2026.

Headâ€s trademark plate discipline remains intact, but the storyline this fall was his physical growth and ability to drive the ball with more authority. The added strength has helped round out his offensive profile, and feedback suggests he is trending toward becoming a centerpiece in the Wolfpack lineup.

Head’s operation at the plate is compact and efficient. He hits from a fairly upright posture with a slightly-open stance, incorporating a minor barrel tip and toe tap before a short stride. There is real hand and bat speed, and the batted-ball data backs that up. His bat-to-ball skill is comfortably plus and approaches double-plus against fastballs. Last spring, he produced a 91% in-zone contact rate overall and a staggering 96% against heaters.

As encouraging as his offensive ceiling looks, Head’s defensive value is already established. He covers ground exceptionally well in center field, where his instincts and athleticism stand out immediately.

Head’s blend of advanced contact mechanics, refined strength and premium defensive ability makes him one of the most significant arrows-up players in the country heading into 2026.

Designated Hitter: Ethan Surowiec, Florida

Florida created a dilemma under our one-player-per-school guideline. Its two premier arms, Liam Peterson and Aidan King, both have legitimate claims to elite draft status over the next two years. But the Gators†fall had another headliner whose stock demanded recognition. Surowiec earned that distinction with a meaningful surge in momentum that stretched from his summer dominance into a productive fall.

After receiving only 16 at-bats as an Ole Miss freshman in 2025, Surowiec erupted in the Northwoods League, hitting .387/.475/.779 with 17 home runs, 23 doubles, 15 stolen bases and a 41-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio en route to league MVP honors. The damage output was eye-catching enough, but evaluators also noted the maturity of his approach and the way his contact quality translated to all parts of the park.

Surowiec carried that momentum directly into Floridaâ€s fall. He continued to show a disciplined, selective eye and produced a string of loud swings that translated into multiple home runs. The blend of patience, strength and adjustability at launch has Gators coaches confident that he profiles as a true middle-of-the-order presence.

Defensively, Surowiec showed promise at third base with clean actions and a solid arm, especially moving to his left. His development at the position gives the coaching staff flexibility, but whatever positional outcome awaits, the bat appears destined to play in a major way.

For a Florida team with sky-high potential, Surowiec has emerged as one of the most important additions to the lineup, and one whose rapid ascent is difficult to ignore.

Starting Pitcher: Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara

Multiple evaluators came out of the fall convinced that Flora “looked like the best pitcher on the West Coast,†citing both the sheer electricity of his arsenal and the way he attacked lineups in short stints. The power was effortless, the mix was more complete and the shaping improvements to his fastball stood out immediately. Nothing about his performance felt forced or rushed. Rather, it reflected a pitcher whose game continues to mature with intent.

The fastball forms the foundation of Floraâ€s profile, and it has taken another step. He regularly pushed into triple-digit velocity and paired it with an explosive carry profile that spikes into the low 20s of induced vertical break. UCSB set a clear fall objective: Eliminate occasional dead zone movement. Early feedback suggests the pitch now flies cleaner and with more consistent life. He works from a lower three-quarters slot that generated a -4.6 degree vertical approach angle in 2025, a compelling attribute that could continue tightening as the fastball refinements settle.

Floraâ€s feel for spin remains a separator. He works comfortably above 2,700 rpm with multiple breaking shapes: a sweepy slider that can devastate righties, a firmer slider that misses bats in the zone and a newly added curveball that gives him a middle option by velocity and shape. The breadth of the arsenal ensures that hitters cannot sit on one profile, especially given how well his fastball tunnels off those secondaries.

A kick changeup added this fall has emerged as the fourth pitch in the mix. While it has not yet been captured by in-game Trackman readings, UCSB coach Andrew Checketts noted that it played well in scrimmages and separated decisively from the fastball.Â

Flora set career highs across the board in 2025, and the fall showed a pitcher who looks sharper, stronger and more complete heading into his draft year. Even in a class with multiple elite arms, his combination of power, shape and command of at-bats has positioned him squarely in the race to be the first college pitcher selected in July.

Starting Pitcher: Joey Volchko, Georgia

Volchko earned one of the most meaningful fall stock bumps anywhere in the country. Evaluators who saw him at Stanford have long been captivated by his ceiling, and this fall was the first time that physical changes, pitch-shape refinement and repeatability appeared to align in a way that could turn raw promise into steady front-line performance.

That transformation began with strength gains guided by Georgia coach Wes Johnson and his staff. Added physicality naturally lowered Volchkoâ€s arm slot by 3-4 inches, making for a shift that improved his ability to maintain direction and stay through pitches. A remodeled four-seam fastball grip produced clearer carry characteristics, and Johnson worked with him to add a high-80s sweeper and a true changeup alongside his trademark cutter. Johnson said the adjustments have “unlocked more strikes and repeatability.â€

If those traits carry into the spring, Volchko could dramatically alter his draft trajectory.

The gap between Volchko’s potential and his results has defined his college experience to this point. Over 113 innings at Stanford, he pitched to a 5.89 ERA with a 20.6% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate. His profile was heavily influenced by difficulty repeating his delivery and consistently executing in the strike zone. The stuff has never been in question, though.

If he can now live in the zone more often, with a fastball that carries and secondaries that complement it, Volchko becomes a genuine handful for hitters. For a Georgia team with Omaha-level aspirations, the possibility of Volchko realizing his potential could be game-changing.

Starting Pitcher: Caden Castles, UC Irvine

Castles is the youngest player on our list, and his inclusion comes after a breakout fall that immediately positioned him as a high-priority draft follow for the future. His performance in Irvineâ€s marquee scrimmage at UCLA turned heads, particularly when he worked through Roch Cholowsky with a series of right-on-right changeups that drew quiet reactions from a scouting section not easily impressed.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound righty from Davis, California, is on track to step directly into the Anteaters†weekend rotation. His mix is already advanced and features a low-90s fastball, slider, sweeper and a changeup he can deploy confidently to both righties and lefties. Castles consistently achieves more than seven feet of extension, which is elite regardless of stature and especially notable for someone 6-foot-2.

UC Irvine ace Ricky Ojeda remains the headline arm for a UCI program that has become one of the most reliable postseason contenders on the West Coast under coach Ben Orloff. Castles may be the next great one in line, though. He looked the part of a future draft prospect this fall, both in results and in presence.

Relief Pitcher: Bo Rhudy, Tennessee

One bullish evaluator framed Tennesseeâ€s newest bullpen piece succinctly: “Iâ€ve never seen a fastball like the one he has.†That sentiment captures both Rhudyâ€s fall ascent and his potential impact in the spring.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound draft-eligible righty arrives in Knoxville from Kennesaw State after a strong 2025 season in which he logged a 3.16 ERA with 44 strikeouts against just five walks in 37 innings. He then backed that up in the Cape Cod League, posting a 2.45 ERA with 12 strikeouts and two walks over 11 innings while saving five games in nine appearances. Any momentum he carried into the fall only intensified.

Rhudyâ€s heater is the outlier pitch that drives the profile. On Trackman, it averaged 90 mph and touched 93.3, but it played significantly above the raw velocity because of a remarkable collection of underlying traits. The fastball averaged 18.4 inches of induced vertical break with an average spin rate of 2,722 rpm out of a 5-foot-4 release height and a -4.27 degree vertical approach angle. That combination made it extremely difficult to track, and hitters chased it at a 38% clip, well above the typical range for college arms.

Across both his 2025 college season and Cape stint, Rhudy threw the fastball 88% of the time. That staggering usage rate reflected how dominant the pitch was in both settings.

Tennessee coaches and scouts alike told Baseball America that Rhudy looked nearly untouchable all fall, carving through quality Volunteer hitters. If the traits hold under the SEC spotlight, he has a chance to become one of the nationâ€s most impactful relief arms in 2026.

Relief Pitcher: Keegan Oâ€Hearn, Michigan

This selection is rooted entirely in projection. Oâ€Hearn quietly established himself as one of the most intriguing developmental stories of the fall after transitioning from outfielder to full-time reliever under coach Tracy Smith and his staff.

Oâ€Hearn throws with a very low three-quarters, crossfire delivery and has already touched 98 mph. He pairs that fastball with a developing slider, and the combination gives him the ingredients of a late-game weapon.

Smith noted that Oâ€Hearn is still raw in terms of refinement and sequencing, but the delivery, arm speed and willingness to work make him an exciting project.

There is meaningful work ahead before Oâ€Hearn becomes a finished product, and this nod reflects future upside rather than present readiness. But mid-to-upper-90s velocity from the left side in the fall is uncommon, and the early return on his conversion points to a bullpen arm worth monitoring closely as the spring unfolds.

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Because of their focus on prospects (and the hunt for MLB debut patches), Topps Pro Debut, Chrome Update and Bowman Draft are three of the hottest baseball card releases of the year.

As such, many collectors were thrown off by Pro Debut coming out months later than usual this year and by Chrome Update’s Dec. 10 planned drop being almost a month later than the 2024 version.

Topps also just announced that the preorder for Bowman Draft will begin on Dec. 15, meaning its release likely won’t come until mid January when the 2024 version was released on Dec. 4.

And those brands are not alone.

A Baseball America analysis of 39 annual Topps baseball brands released or announced by this time in 2024 found that the 2025 delays are hardly confined to just those three releases. In fact, nearly a third of those 39 titles are more than two months behind last year’s schedule or have not even been announced yet, and more than half are at least two weeks off of last year’s pace.

Complete brand details and dates are included below. Among BA’s findings:

• Six annual brands whose 2024 release dates were before Oct. 1, 2024 have yet to be announced for a 2025 release
• Six brands have had (or will have) release dates more than two months later than their 2024 release dates
• Six brands have come out (or will come out) more than two weeks but less than two months later than their 2024 release dates, and an additional four brands that fall within that timeframe have yet to even be announced for 2025
• Of the 17 brands that were released within two weeks of the 2024 release dates, most were flagship releases, including Series 1, Series 2, Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Topps Chrome

For our analysis, BA looked at main brands that came out in both 2023 and 2024 in order to be able to compare year-over-year release dates more easily. So, brands such as Triple Threads and Shoebox Treasures (neither of which came out in 2023) are not included here. We also did not look at any brands that fall under the “Topps Now” banner or other niche specialty releases.

Topps’ product line has been a work in progress since the company was purchased by Fanatics in early 2022. Since then, it has regained licenses with the NBA and WWE. The company does discontinue brands from time to time (whether temporarily or permanently), as was the case with Bowman Inception in 2024 and Triple Threads, which was discontinued for several years before being brought back in 2024.

It’s worth mentioning that Topps does not promise specific release dates from year to year for any products until they are made available for preorder (often a month before release). But release dates from 2023 to 2024 remained mostly constant, while the 2025 release dates have been more variable.

It’s also worth noting that this trend seems to have started with later-in-the-year brands from 2024. For example, 2024 Topps Inception did not come out until June 2025.

Topps did not respond to a request for comment.

Organized chronologically by their 2025 release date, here’s a deeper dive into what our analysis of the 39 different Topps baseball card brands found, with dates going back two years for the releases:

Brands Released in 2025 No More Than 2 Weeks Later Than Their 2024 Release Date (17)

Brand2023 Release Date2024 Release Date2025 Release DateTopps Series 1Feb. 15Feb. 14Feb. 12Topps HeritageMay 24April 10April 23Topps Chrome BlackDec. 15April 27April 30BowmanApril 26May 8May 7Bowman SapphireMay 31June 5June 4Topps Series 2June 7June 12June 11Topps Dynamic DualsMay 30June 10June 18Topps ChromeJuly 26July 17July 23Topps FinestJuly 7Aug. 7Aug. 12Topps Chrome SapphireSept. 5Sept. 11Aug. 27Topps Chrome LogofractorSept. 5Sept. 17Aug. 27Topps T205/T206July 6Oct. 3Sept. 18Bowman ChromeSept. 13Sept. 11Sept. 23Bowman Chrome SapphireNov. 20Nov. 20Oct. 15Topps Diamond IconsJan. 31, 2024Feb. 5, 2025Oct. 22Topps ArchivesNov. 8Jan. 8, 2025Scheduled for Dec. 12Topps Heritage High NumberDec. 13March 26, 2025Scheduled for Dec. 17

Brands Released in 2025 More Than 2 Weeks But Less Than 2 Months Later Than Their 2024 Release Date (10)

Brand2023 Release Date2024 Release Date2025 Release DateTopps TributeJuly 12March 27April 23Topps UpdateOct. 11Oct. 16Nov. 12Topps Allen & GinterSept. 22Oct. 30Dec. 3Topps Chrome UpdateNov. 15Nov. 13Scheduled for Dec. 10Topps Allen & Ginter XOct. 20Dec. 6Scheduled for Dec. 31Bowman DraftDec. 12Dec. 4Preorder tentatively scheduled for Dec. 15, release likely in mid-JanuaryTopps Stadium ClubJan. 24, 2024Nov. 6Not announced yet for 2025 (but still within two months of last year’s release)Topps Chrome GildedOct. 18Nov. 20Not announced yet for 2025 (but still within two months of last year’s release)
Topps Chrome Update SapphireDec. 6Dec. 10Not announced yet for 2025 (but still within two months of last year’s release)Topps Brooklyn CollectionDec. 19Dec. 11Not announced yet for 2025 (but still within two months of last year’s release)

Brands Released in 2025 More Than 2 Months Later Than Their 2024 Release Date (12)

Brand2023 Release Date2024 Release Date2025 Release DateTopps SterlingMay 24April 3June 4Topps Archives Signature Series – Active Player EditionApril 19March 20Aug. 6Topps Tier OneOct. 25July 3Sept. 10Topps Pro DebutOct. 18Sept. 6Nov. 12Topps Cosmic ChromeAug. 30Oct. 11Scheduled for Dec. 17Topps Five StarFeb. 21Sept. 27Scheduled for Dec. 29Topps DynastyMarch 22, 2024June 27Product not yet announced for 2025Topps Chrome PlatinumMay 22, 2024July 17Product not yet announced for 2025Bowman SterlingNov. 3Oct. 9Product not yet announced for 2025Topps Museum CollectionNov. 22July 31Product not yet announced for 2025Topps PristineAug. 23Aug. 30Product not yet announced for 2025Topps Archives Signature Series – Retired Player EditionAug. 16May 17Product not yet announced for 2025

Six 2024 Brands Released Early In 2025 Worth Keeping An Eye On

Brand2023 Release Date2024 Release Date2025 Release DateTopps LuminariesFeb. 7, 2024Jan. 3, 2025TBDTopps DefinitiveNov. 22Jan. 10, 2025TBDBowman’s BestJan. 17, 2024Jan. 15, 2025TBDBowman Draft SapphireJan. 3, 2024Jan. 17, 2025TBDTopps TranscendentMarch 27, 2024Jan. 22, 2025TBDTopps InceptionDec. 6June 18, 2025TBD

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Baseball America is continuing dynasty ranking season with positional breakdowns of the top fantasy baseball players heading into the 2026 season.

Junior Caminero, who mashed 45 home runs in 2025 in his first full professional season, heads up our ranking of the top 40 third basemen available for next season.

It’s important to note the rankings below do not measure past 2025 value or projected 2026 value. Instead, our rankings look at a three-year window in an attempt to balance a variety of scoring types, with MLB proximity and performance peaks highly weighted in our analysis.

Top 40 Third Baseman Dynasty Rankings

1. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays

In his first full season at 21 years old, Caminero hit 45 home runs, knocking in 110 runs and amassing 5 fWAR. If this is what the third baseman is doing now—and with the prospect pedigree and underlying data to support it—expect a decade of top fantasy performance from the young Dominican.

2. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Guardians

Old Faithful just keeps ticking. Averaging32 home runs and 32 stolen bases the past five seasons, Ramirez continues to be the cream of the third base crop and shows no signs of letting up, despite being in his early 30s. The 2026 season promises to be more of the same—30/30 with a .280/.350 batting average and on-base percentage.

3. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B, Yankees

In his first full season with the Yankees, Chisholm Jr. hit 31 home runs, stole 31 bases and posted 4.4 fWAR to show he had no ill effects of being in the media spotlight capital of the world. That heâ€s still in his 20s and has dual eligibility in most formats makes his fantasy profile even more appealing. Chisholmâ€s only flaw is a not-so-great batting average. Expect his 2026 to pretty much look like his 2025 season.

4. Manny Machado, 3B, Padres

For the fifth straight season, Machado had 600-plus plate appearances, 27-plus home runs and 90-plus RBIs. The most interesting stat for dynasty owners is that he stole double-digit bases for the second-straight year. He isnâ€t the biggest asset in OBP leagues, running essentially an average on-base percentage, but entering his age-33 season, Machado is as much a set-it-and-forget-it player as anyone at a corner spot.

5. Jordan Westburg, 3B, Orioles

A long-time favorite of the fantasy team and public projections, Westburg has yet to put together a season with more than 450 plate appearances. The 2025 season was no different, as he missed over a month in the first half with a hamstring injury, then some time in June with a finger injury and then hit the IL with an ankle sprain at the end of August. Despite only getting 352 plate appearances, the 26-year-old managed 17 home runs and a .265 average, essentially duplicating his 2024 season output in fewer plate appearances. In just over 1000 major league PAs, Westburg has 38 home runs and a 115 wRC+. For 2026, assuming health, expect 25-28 home runs with a .265-.270 batting average and upside in his age-27 season.

6. Austin Riley, 3B, Braves

We essentially gave all of the Braves a mulligan for underperforming in 2024. As such, we expected a big bounce-back from the 2025 club. That was especially so for Riley, who, after three-straight 30-plus home run seasons, struggled to a 19-homer campaign in 2024. Unfortunately, the 2025 campaign was even worse for Atlanta. Again, that was especially so for Riley, who had a side injury that sapped his power, leaving him with only 16 home runs in 102 games and a wRC+ barely better than average. Assuming heâ€s healed up for 2026, he is still only 29 years old and should once again approach the 30 home runs and .260 batting average of his prime. But he is a bit less of a sure thing for hit and power at the hot corner than he once was.

7. Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs

Making the team out of spring training, the 2023 first-round draft pick struggled with a .172 batting average and only one home run in his first 68 MLB plate appearances, forcing the Cubs to demote him to Triple-A for more seasoning. When he came back after a month, he didnâ€t fare much better, hitting .202 over 164 PA heading into the all-star break and only one homer to show for it. Shaw salvaged his season in the second half with a .258 average and 10 home runs over his final 205 plate appearances. The good news is he is likely the Cubs’ full-time third baseman and should put up near 20/20 numbers as he heads into his age-24 season with expected positive regression. The bad news is heâ€ll likely bat at or near the bottom of the lineup, capping his counting stats until he can work his way up the order. Overall, we are strong believers in this power/speed blend from a hitter in his early 20s.

8. Maikel Garcia, 3B, Royals

The 25-year-old Garcia had a career year in 2025, amassing 6 fWAR with 16 home runs, 23 stolen bases and a .286/.351/.449 line while playing excellent defense at third base, shortstop and even some center field. With elite defense at a variety of positions and bat-to-ball skills in the top 10% of the league, Garciaâ€s fantasy floor is extremely high, especially since he’s one of the rare third basemen who will add 20-plus stolen bases. Once June rolled around, Garcia never hit below fourth in the lineup. The 2026 season should be no different.

9. Alex Bregman, 3B, Free Agent

Six years older than Garcia, Bregman has very similar bat-to-ball skills and resistance-to-chase, only without the speed component. Bregman has been a huge dynasty asset for the better part of a decade while playing in home parks tailored to his pulled-flyball approach. Although he wonâ€t come close to his back-to-back 8 fWAR seasons of the late 2010s, he should still produce 20-25 home runs with excellent BA/OBP for at least two more years. In that type of window, especially for a contending team, he could be pushed up a few spots due to his consistency and track record. But with the uncertainty surrounding where he will sign in free agency, weâ€re taking a conservative approach with our rank.

10. Royce Lewis, 3B, Twins

It seems as sure as the tides that Lewis will miss some time with a leg injury. In 2024, it was a quad that led him to miss two months at the beginning of the season. Last year’s culprit was a left hamstring that forced him to hit the IL twice, amassing six weeks of lost time. The difference last year, though, was that on a per-plate appearance basis, Lewis didnâ€t dominate in the manner of his past seasons. It was the third-straight year of declining xwOBA and bat speed. Although his sprint speed stayed in the bottom 25th percentile for a second-consecutive year, he stole a career-high 12 bases, raising his floor. Heading into his age-27 year, Lewis has a career 110 wRC+ and, if the stolen bases are a new part of his game, he should hit 20-plus home runs and steal 10-plus bases. The 2026 season feels like it will be more significant for Lewis than other third basemen ranked above him for determining his dynasty value.

11. Isaac Paredes, 3B, Astros

It came out recently that Paredes, who was out from July 20 onward due to a hamstring injury last season, is still behind on his recovery and may not be ready for the first couple months of 2026. When on the field, Paredes is consistently an above-average hitter—especially in OBP leagues—who can get you 20-plus home runs. He likely wonâ€t ever reach the 31-homer, 98-RBI heights of 2023 again, but he’ll still only be 27 years old, so it’s not an impossible outcome for him over the next few years if things break right.

12. Addison Barger, 3B/OF, Blue Jays

Barger had a career year in 2025 with 21 home runs and a 107 wRC+ over 502 plate appearances, but it was his World Series performance that has essentially guaranteed that he’ll be a full-time regular on a championship-contending club. With solid red Baseball Savant sliders for bat speed, exit velocity and hard-hit percentage, Barger does have platoon splits but should be a 20-plus home run bat with an average batting average for the next couple years (while likely retaining dual eligibility). With the confidence he gained as the postseason rolled on, itâ€s possible he is being under-projected and could have a ceiling of 30-plus bombs yearly.

13. Mark Vientos, 3B, Mets

With Pete Alonsoâ€s likely departure and the presence of Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio—both of whom play significantly better defense—Vientos looks like he will shift across the diamond to play first base. After a 2024 season in which he hit .266 with 27 home runs over only 454 plate appearances as a 24-year-old, high expectations were not met in 2025, as Vientos only hit 17 homers in about the same amount of playing time. His batting average cratered 32 points along with his defense. The good news is that his xBA in 2025 (.248) was actually higher than his .246 xBA mark in his breakout 2024 campaign. If he moves across the diamond or becomes the full-time designated hitter, he should be a 25-30 home run bat with an average around .250. That plays regardless of role, but be aware that he may permanently lose his third base eligibility.

14. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Free Agent

For the second time in his career, Suarez hit 49 home runs while also accruing 3.5 fWAR for the fourth-consecutive year. Not too bad considering heâ€s been in his 30s for each of those seasons. As of publication, he hasnâ€t signed with a team yet, though there are some rumblings of him returning to the Mariners. Seattle’s park is the biggest run suppressor in the major leagues, but you could still count on a floor of 30 home runs in that scenario. Because his batting average has surpassed .236 only once since 2019, we’ve dropped Suarez a tier in our rankings.

15. Noelvi Marte, 3B/OF, Reds

Marte went a long way in 2025, shaking off the PED pall that was hanging over him after his 2024 numbers were far below his pre-suspension performance. In 360 plate appearances, the 23-year-old had 16 home runs and 10 stolen bases while settling into a full-time right field role after the Reds acquired Keâ€Bryan Hayes at the trade deadline. On a per-plate appearance basis, Marte should have 20-plus home runs and 20 stolen bases if he played a full year, with a batting average in the .250s. Although he is less of an asset in on-base percentage leagues thanks to a career walk rate of 4.6%, a full-time player who is a power/speed blend and still under 25 is a valuable dynasty asset, even if his third base eligibility is likely to disappear after 2026.

16. Matt Chapman, 3B, Giants

Since tracking began in 2023, Chapmanâ€s bat speed has never been lower than the 88th percentile, and his hard-hit rate over hasn’t been below the 78th percentile. You already know Chapman’s an all-world defender, but did you know that heâ€s also been in the top third of the league in sprint speed the last three years and has averaged 12 stolen bases in each of the last two seasons? In other words, short of a devastating injury, Chapman should be a full-time starter for the next three seasons while averaging 22-25 home runs, 8-12 steals and a .235 batting average. Thatâ€s solid production, but on the wrong side of 30, just know that every year from here on out, it will likely get incrementally worse.

17. Brett Baty, 2B/3B, Mets

The knock on the 2019 first-round draft pick has been that, although he hits the ball hard, he has a groundball rate above 50%, so heâ€s not optimizing his angles. In 2025, although the groundball rate was still 53%, his barrel rate skyrocketed to 13%, a mark thatâ€s in the top 20% of the league. He also set a new maximum exit velocity of 115.8 mph, which was higher than Juan Soto, Cal Raleigh and Rafael Devers. On a per-plate appearance basis, public projection systems have Baty essentially equivalent to Addison Barger: a .250 hitter with 22-25 home runs. With dual eligibility, Baty is looking to build on a hot second half in which he hit .291 with nine home runs and a wRC+ of 135 over 190 plate appearances.

18. Jordan Lawlar, SS/3B, Diamondbacks

Based on his minor league career, Lawlar should peak as a .280 hitter with 20/20 potential. When you hear that and see that he is heading into his age-23 season while being in the 98th percentile for sprint speed, you would think he would be ranked higher than 18th on a list of third basemen. However, in a major league career spanning 108 plate appearances, Lawlar has never hit a home run and has a .165/.241/.237 slash line, inspiring fear he may just be a Quad-A player who is overmatched by major league pitching. The truth, as it always is, is somewhere between the two extremes. With Geraldo Perdomo firmly entrenched at shortstop, Lawlar may become a third baseman for his major league career, though he has been playing some outfield this offseason, where his speed may suit him better. With a solid 2026, Lawlar could be in the top five of this list a year from now.

19. Alec Bohm, 3B, Phillies

In 2025, Bohm played in 120 games, managing just 11 home runs and a measly .123 isolated slugging percentage. That said, he did hit for a career-high .287 while running a career low 6.3% strikeout rate and posting the best swing decision metrics of his career. Bohm saw a bump in hard-hit rate, too, but his angles flattened considerably. Entering his age-29 season, you know what to expect from Bohm—strong batting average and the ability to produce 15-18 home runs over a full season.Â

20. Marcelo Mayer, 3B, Red Sox

It took some time for Mayer to make his long-awaited debut with the Red Sox, and he was inconsistent in his big league debut, hitting .228/.272/.402 with a 30.1% strikeout rate. Known for his combination of hit tool, approach and power as a minor leaguer, the plate skills didnâ€t translate over the jump from Triple-A. We anticipate the contact should improve and the strikeouts should lower over time, however. Thereâ€s still 25-homer power projection in Mayerâ€s bat, but thereâ€s also a question as to if he can stay healthy for a full season.Â

21. Carlos Correa, SS/3B, Astros

The Astros brought a franchise legend in Correa back at the 2025 trade deadline and now have him under contract for the next several seasons. After a nice small sample size season in 2024, Correa played 144 games in 2025 and produced fewer home runs and RBIs than his 86-game campaign the year before. Correa still hits the ball hard, however, and he underproduced his expected stats last season, so there is some reason for optimism for 2026. There has definitely been some degeneration of his skills, but he could be a valuable option in a corner infielder spot in deeper leagues.Â

22. Caleb Durbin, 3B, Brewers

It’s likely the deep league sleeper guy in your league was over the moon for Durbin a year ago as the former 14th-round pick and Division III college star forced his way into regular at-bats with the Brewers to hit .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases. That was good enough to be the 16th-best player at the third base position in 2025. Is there more ceiling here with Durbin? Perhaps it might come in a different form than it did in 2025. Thereâ€s likely more batting average and stolen base upside, as Durbin ran a .265 BABIP in his debut season while stealing bases at a 75% success rate. A little batted-ball luck could see his batting average jump close to .275, and he could perhaps see the basepath green light with greater frequency, too. Â

23. Munetaka Murakami, 3B, Free Agent

The most famous player coming over in a strong NPB class, Murakami set an NPB home run record with 56 in 2022. Since then, heâ€s posted seasons of 31, 33 and 22 homers while running strikeout rates north of 28% over each of the last three seasons. Thereâ€s a real concern around Murakamiâ€s bat-to-ball skills, and itâ€s reasonable to anticipate some early bumps in the road. If youâ€re a Murakami believer, you buy into the 70-grade raw power and on-base ability translating to MLB. Thereâ€s an outside chance that, within a few years, Murakami settles in and develops into a 40-homer bat. However, thereâ€s also a high risk it never fully translates.Â

24. Kazuma Okamoto, 3B, Free Agent

If youâ€re looking for a plug-and-play option in your FYPD this season and Murakami is taken/scares you, Okamoto is an excellent pivot. Youâ€re likely trading a few years in age and relevancy for a more stable profile, albeit one absent of Murakamiâ€s upside. Okamoto can provide a solid batting and on-base percentage floor while offering 18-24 home runs immediately. Heâ€s also a strong defender at both infield corners, guaranteeing more playing time and, in turn, a nice counting stat cushion. Â

25. Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers

Muncyâ€s peak seasons are long gone, and his durability has become a major question mark in recent seasons, as he’s totaled just 173 games over the last two years. That said, Muncy did hit 19 home runs over 100 games last season and provides a fairly high RBI floor in a good Dodgers lineup. Should he play 130 games next season and keep up similar production, another 25-plus home runs isnâ€t impossible. Entering his age-35 season, Muncy is only useful for competing fantasy teams.Â

26. Jacob Reimer, 3B, Mets

Reimer enjoyed a massive breakout season in 2025, hitting .282/.379/.491 with 17 home runs while running an 11.5% walk rate with a 21.5% strikeout rate. Itâ€s a well-rounded combination for a bat-first, power-hitting corner infield prospect. More often than not, young sluggers offer a heavy dose of swing-and-miss accompanying their eye-popping power. Reimer also has a real chance to move off of third base long term, but his bat will be enough to play at first base. The difference between exciting power hitters in the minors who go on to survive in the majors and those that donâ€t is often simply the ability to make enough contact. Reimer ran a 15.7% in-zone whiff rate in 2025 as a player 1-2 years younger than the average player at the level. Â

27. Josh Jung, 3B, Rangers

Jung has not been able to recapture the form of his 2023 rookie campaign in which he hit .266/.315/.467 with 23 home runs. He’s seen his power dip in every category since 2023, while his bat-to-ball skills have improved. There are still some ingredients for a potential breakout, but there are likely a few things heâ€ll need to balance, too. If Jung could maintain health for a full season and recapture his previous contact quality without his plate skills regressing, thereâ€s still a chance he can produce another season like 2023. However, itâ€s hard to gamble on that at this point with his injury history and lack of plate skills. Â

28. Miguel Vargas, 1B/3B, White Sox

Finally surpassing 350 plate appearances in a season, the former Dodgers prospect had his first major league season with a wRC+ above 100, positive WAR and more than 15 home runs. Qualifying at first base and third base for 2026, Vargas should once again find himself in the middle of the White Sox lineup. He should take a step forward as a 26-year-old and hit around 20 home runs, steal 10 bases and hit .240ish with the potential for more upside.

29. Brady House, 3B, Nationals

No longer a prospect, House got his first taste of the major leagues in 2025 and looked completely overmatched, as he hit just .234/.252/.322 with a 28.5% strikeout rate and 2.9% walk rate. He did produce hard contact at a rate of 46.3%, but his subpar launch angles led to a low rate of barrels. Thereâ€s real plus underlying power in Houseâ€s bat, and at 22 years old, he is still very young, so thereâ€s certainly upside. However, his plate skills are ugly. House ran a 36.5% o-swing rate in his debut with a 16.4% swinging-strike rate. Both of those numbers will need to improve for House to be a viable option in fantasy.Â

30. Tommy Edman, 2B/3B/OF, Dodgers

It was a very down season for Edman, as he hit .225/.274/.382 over 97 games with 13 home runs and three stolen bases. Edman enters his age-31 season in a muddled playing time situation that could change at the drop of a hat. If he gets full-time at-bats, he can still provide solid production. He greatly underperformed his expected numbers in 2025, suggesting a bounce back this upcoming season isnâ€t out of the cards.

31. Jose Caballero, 2B/SS/3B/OF, Yankees

Caballero had a very valuable 2024 fantasy season as a utility man with positional eligibility all over the field who hit nine home runs with a whopping 44 stolen bases. Heading into 2025, it wasnâ€t clear what role the 28-year-old would play, especially on a Rays team that makes it difficult to foretell future lineups. Well, Caballero got traded to the Yankees and essentially duplicated his 2024 season, even leading the American League in stolen bases. His 2026 outlook is very similar to his 2025 preseason outlook: If he plays, he will be a source of speed. His versatility is valuable to help fill roster holes, but the question is how many plate appearances he will get.

32. Ronny Mauricio, 3B, Mets

In his 2023 debut, Mauricio had two home runs and seven stolen bases in 108 plate appearances. He was viewed as a 2024 sleeper until a winter ball knee injury caused him to miss the entire next season. Returning to the Mets in June 2025, Mauricioâ€s sprint speed was down and he played sporadically, amassing fewer than 200 plate appearances. In 292 major league plate appearances, he has eight home runs and 11 stolen bases, essentially making for a 16 homer/20 steal bat with a below-average batting average but huge power, as he ranked in the top 25th percentile in both 2023 and 2025 for average exit velocity and bat speed. Heading into his age-25 season, itâ€s not clear where his playing time will come from. We like him and think he will be a solid source of power and speed despite the injury, but with his uncertain playing time, he has to be lowered in the rankings.

33. Josh Smith, SS/3B, Rangers

If youâ€re rostering Smith, more than likely heâ€s a bench option whose multiposition eligibility provides flexibility as an injury fill-in or daily league at-bat booster. Smith ranked 27th among third basemen and is a solid but unspectacular option. He has advanced contact skills but a very limited power upside. Â

34. Brock Wilken, 3B, Brewers

Over the last few seasons, Wilken has dealt with a string of bad luck injuries that have slowed his rise, but thereâ€s still plenty of upside as he heads into his age-24 season in 2026. Wilken hit .226/.387/.489 with 18 home runs over 79 games for Double-A Biloxi this past season while dealing with a knee injury that forced him to miss two months. He has plus contact quality, above-average on-base skills and improving contact. He’s always had some swing-and-miss in his game, but he ran the lowest swinging-strike rate of his career in 2025 at 9.4%. Thereâ€s a chance Wilken breaks out in 2026.Â

35. Zach McKinstry, SS/3B/OF, Tigers

McKinstry is a fantasy Swiss Army knife, as heâ€s eligible at a majority of positions in most formats. In his age-30 season, McKinstry had a career year, ranking as the 11th-best third baseman in 5×5 roto leagues by hitting .259/.333/.438 with 12 home runs, 19 stolen bases and 68 runs—all career highs. While it was a nice season, thereâ€s little reason to believe heâ€s going to repeat his success or even see the same amount of playing time. McKinstry is valuable in deeper leagues as a utility or bench option.Â

36. Curtis Mead, 1B/3B, White Sox

Once considered a top fantasy prospect, Mead never clicked with the Rays and was dealt to the White Sox at the 2025 trade deadline. He didnâ€t impress during his late-season stint in Chicago, but entering his age-25 season, Mead at least has an opportunity to find solid playing time, particularly if the team decides to trade Edgar Quero, as has been rumored.

37. Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B, Cardinals

Also once considered a top fantasy prospect, things have never fully clicked for Gorman, either. In 2023, he hit 27 home runs in 119 games and has been unable to touch that number since. Entering his age-26 season, Gorman could break out if he stays healthy.

38. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Reds

Even with the move to Cincinnati and the hitterâ€s haven that is Great American Ballpark, thereâ€s little hope that Hayes ever develops into a truly viable fantasy option. Heâ€s a name to take as a flier in a deeper league when youâ€re desperate for MLB at-bats.Â

39. Blaze Alexander, 3B, Diamondbacks

Alexander likely strikes out too much to ever be fantasy relevant, but his quality of contact is quite good. He ran a 12.8% barrel rate in 2025 with a 43.2% hard-hit rate. Thereâ€s at least 55-or-better raw power here based on his contact quality metrics, and thatâ€s perhaps enough for a low-risk flier in your league.Â

40. Luis Rengifo, 2B/3B, Angels

Rengifo went from being a fantasy offseason favorite to major disappointment in a matter of months. Now, he looks like nothing more than waiver wire fodder in most formats.

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Image credit:
Tony Vitello (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)

It felt like the college baseball world froze for a moment in late October when Tennessee coach Tony Vitello wrestled with a decision no Division I coach had ever made.Â

After eight seasons spent turning the Volunteers into a national force, Vitello found himself weighing the idea of leaving the college landscape for a professional dugout. It was an internal debate that stretched for days, then weeks, building into one of the most closely watched coaching dilemmas the sport had seen. And when he ultimately chose to jump and become the next Giants manager, he didnâ€t just leave Knoxville. He walked into history.

Vitello became the first sitting college head coach to take over as a major league manager without any professional coaching in between. It was a boundary-breaking move that instantly carried implications beyond Tennessee and San Francisco. If a college coach with no pro experience could make that leap, what else might now feel possible? Which doors, once assumed closed, were suddenly unlocked?

Yet the subplot to Vitelloâ€s leap was just as gripping as the groundbreaking nature of it—the timing.Â

The college baseball coaching carousel lives on a predictable calendar. Jobs open in late June. Hires are made in July and sometimes into August. There are occasional exceptions in May and the inevitable trickle of late-summer movement, but October sits far outside the rhythm. Itâ€s the point in the year when recruiting classes are finalized, fall ball is underway, rosters are largely settled and staffs are entrenched. A head coach leaving then can destabilize everything.

Thatâ€s why the move felt, in many ways, potentially crippling for Tennessee. And itâ€s why the rest of the sport watched so intently. But what really raised eyebrows in the weeks that followed was that Vitelloâ€s departure—neither in its timing, nor its route from college dugout to pro organization—didnâ€t turn out to be an outlier at all.

Instead, it became the first domino.

Vitello’s move was the opening act in what quickly revealed itself to be a small but notable wave of Division I head coaches making the leap to MLB organizations this fall. Less than a month later, Eastern Michigan head coach Robbie Britt accepted a job as field coordinator with the Red Sox. On Dec. 1, Nevada head coach Jake McKinley, fresh off earning Mountain West coach of the year honors in 2025, took the same role with the Mariners.

Behind them, several prominent college assistants quietly left for the pros, as well, continuing a pattern that has accelerated in recent years but never with this level of visibility or with this kind of impact on college baseball’s calendar.

Professional baseballâ€s intensifying interest in college coaches isnâ€t difficult to understand. If anything, it feels overdue. The sport is in the middle of a developmental acceleration unlike anything the modern draft era has seen.

In 2025, 27 players reached the majors within two years of their draft seasons, a group that included Blue Jays postseason revelation Trey Yesavage, Chase Burns and Nick Kurtz, Baseball Americaâ€s Rookie of the Year. They were three of eight players from the 2024 draft class to have already climbed to the highest level.

The year before, 28 players completed that sprint, including nine from the 2023 class. Paul Skenes headlined the group, winning the 2025 National League Cy Young Award less than two years after the Pirates selected him first overall out of LSU. At age 23, he became the first pitcher in the live-ball era to pair a qualified sub-2.00 ERA with a strikeout rate of at least 25% per batter and a walk rate below 6%.

The numbers stretch beyond isolated success stories. In 2023, 29 players reached the majors within two years of being drafted, the most in at least a quarter century. From 2023-25, 84 players made that same rapid ascent. Before that, across the entire eight-year stretch from 2015-22, only 87 players reached the majors on such a timeline.

College players arenâ€t merely arriving sooner—they’re performing sooner, too. From 2023-25, 10 players produced at least 2.0 bWAR in their debut seasons after being drafted within the previous two years, marking the first time in the bonus pool era that multiple players hit that threshold in three straight years.

For MLB organizations, the conclusion is seemingly obvious: With players developing at unprecedented speed, clubs need coaches who understand how to nurture young talent, build confidence, manage workloads and translate high-output amateur tools into professional production.

College baseball, with its increasingly sophisticated training environments and systems built around 18-to-22-year-old players, offers an appealing pool of instructors. Even hires with no pro experience, like Vitello and Britt, arrive with fluency in the developmental language that todayâ€s fast-tracked prospects require.

And while MLBâ€s motivation is clear, the trend carries an equally compelling question on the other side of the equation: Why are college coaches saying yes, even after completing fall ball and appearing firmly committed to another NCAA season? Why is a December or even October jump suddenly more appealing than it might have been just a few years ago?

According to one sitting head coach who spoke with Baseball America on the condition of anonymity, the answer is also quite simple.

“We just deal with too much (BS) right now,” he said. “Dealing with the portal and tampering and NIL and roster limits and all of the things you hear coaches complaining about these days can wear on you. The opportunity to just coach baseball and worry about that is understandably appealing.”

While other coaches surveyed by BA didnâ€t respond with the same bluntness, the sentiment was unmistakably shared.

NIL, recruiting and the transfer portal surfaced again and again as friction points, especially for coaches at mid- and low-major programs who face constant roster churn without the budget or brand advantages enjoyed by power conference schools.

For many, the grind is no longer simply about building programs or developing players. It’s also about managing 12-month roster turnover, recalibrating depth charts more frequently than ever and contending with tampering pressures that often operate outside enforceable boundaries. The college job has expanded in scope, and not always in ways that align with what coaches want their work to be.

There is also something more aspirational at play. Several coaches pointed to the chance to chase a World Series as an undeniable part of the allure. That was a meaningful factor for Vitello, who had already reached the collegiate summit with a national championship in 2024. For others, the idea of impacting a professional organizationâ€s development system or contributing to postseason success carries a different kind of satisfaction than the cyclical nature of college seasons.

Still, coaches expressed skepticism that this trend will balloon into a widespread exodus. The challenges that push coaches toward the pros are real, they said, but so are the parts of the college game that keep most of them rooted where they are. What they do expect, however, is that this movement will remain a meaningful piece of future offseasons, particularly after the professional season ends and opportunities arise deep into the fall.

It may not reshape the landscape overnight, but it has already reshaped the expectations of what the college baseball offseason can look like.

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Image credit:
Ronald Acuna Jr. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Today, dynasty league fantasy baseball players have no shortage of resources available to help them assess prospects†tools, peak projections and rankings. Numerous sites and social media accounts display Statcast-inspired batted-ball data and pitchers†Stuff+ scores.

Thatâ€s why I take a much broader view with my dynasty strategy ideas. Well, thatâ€s not the only reason. Taking more of an “outside view†is one of the only things that differentiates me in fantasy leagues.

Iâ€m not the best pure evaluator, and Iâ€m certainly no projections wonk. What I do have is perspective, having worked at Baseball America for 25 years.

Here are the “outside views†that I apply most frequently in dynasty leagues.

1. Shortstops adapt

To play shortstop at a high level requires quick, precise, athletic movements. It requires anticipation. It requires the adaptability to make many different types of plays running in all directions, throwing from all angles.

These skills—athleticism, anticipation, adaptability—tend to translate to the batterâ€s box, if not immediately, then over time. A shortstop may not hit much as a young major leaguer, but often he can adapt.

It doesnâ€t hurt that a shortstopâ€s secondary tools—typically some combination of run, field and throw—help keep him on the field to gain batting reps to develop his hitting and power.

Players such as Jeremy Peña, Geraldo Perdomo and Dansby Swanson are examples of shortstops whose offensive production hovered near average—or below—for multiple seasons before the pieces fit. Eventually, the whole was equal to the sum of the parts.

Adaptability applies not only to swing mechanics and hitting approaches. It also applies to defense. A player who can handle shortstop typically throws well enough to play third base and has the range and footwork to play second base. Many shortstops run well enough to play outfield.

For my money, the shortstop provides the most avenues to major league value of any player type.

2. Lefthanders know the routine

From a young age, lefthanded pitchers face lineups with seven, eight or nine righthanded batters. Their stuff has to play against opposite-side hitters, which helps authenticate their performance on their way up the ladder.

For many lefthanders, this steady diet of righthanded hitters helps them adjust to MLB competition more quickly. They are well-practiced at locating changeups to their arm side and four-seamers, cutters and sliders to their glove side.

For those lefties who struggle to retire off-hand hitters, the high-power, low-control ones may quickly find themselves in the bullpen, while the low-power, high-control southpaw often has a long career as a depth starter.

Additionally, there is an observed “novelty†factor for lefthanders, which seems to be confirmed by their MLB success in recent seasons, both among veteran and rookie southpaws.

As a group, major league lefthanders just posted their best results of the 30-team era in 2025. Their 142.2 fWAR, 1.27 WHIP and 14.5 K-BB% are the best marks of the sample, while their 22.8% strikeout rate is the best in a 162-game season.

MLB teams are seeking out, developing and calling up lefthanders for their pitching staffs in record numbers. The last six 162-game seasons have the six highest total of lefthanders used in MLB history.

3. The outfield can be platoon purgatory

I prefer to tread lightly with young lefthanded-hitting outfielders. They face by far the biggest platoon risk in MLB. The outfield is open to virtually all player types—batters of both hands, throwers of both hands, power-oriented players, speed-oriented players and even a few glove-oriented players.

That means that a young lefthanded-hitting outfielder has to be completely well-rounded to play every day. Also, itâ€s much easier for an MLB team to run a platoon or two in the outfield than it is at other positions. This puts lefthanded hitters at elevated playing-time risk.

Unless they hit like Roman Anthony or field like Pete Crow-Armstrong, a young lefthanded-hitting outfielder risks falling into platoon purgatory.

4. Righthanded throwers offer true versatility

MLB teams are becoming increasingly obsessed with versatility. It allows them to move players around the diamond to field their best lineups, while also affording rest days for regulars.

As a result, lefthanded-throwing position players are on the wane. They can play only outfield or first base, and increasingly they are only playing outfield. A lot of first basemen are migrating to the position from other infield spots, e.g. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Michael Busch or Bryce Harper, who began as a catcher. By definition, that makes them righthanded throwers.

The lefthanded-throwing position player today has a tougher time securing a bench role, because extra roster spots tend to go to the most versatile players.

And true positional versatility can only be achieved by a righthanded thrower, which has led to a rise in the infield/outfield utility player, as typified by Brendan Donovan, Mauricio Dubon and Zach McKinstry. Or Tommy Edman, Enrique Hernandez and Jeff McNeil.

5. Pitchers and catchers peak later

Seek opportunistic additions or trades for pitchers or catchers in their mid 20s, especially if they have demonstrated they can handle the physical and mental grind of a full MLB season.

Itâ€s not unusual for MLB pitchers and catchers to struggle for their first few seasons as they acclimate to the heavy burden of preparing for and executing a game plan against MLB hitters.

Evaluating young baseball players is a tricky business. The physical, mental and emotional roadblocks to development are myriad, especially for pitchers and catchers.

6. Mind the margins

Hitting for average and for impact are the most important attributes for an MLB position player. But the reality is that the vast majority of potential MLB hitters are separated by thin margins when it comes to their hit tool and power. Most will fall in the general vicinity of a 50 grade; some a half-tick below and some a half-tick above.

Thatâ€s why it can be beneficial to find players who have advantages on the margins, such as fielding prowess, speed, athleticism or positive reviews for makeup and work ethic. Those minor separators can make a major difference for a player working his way into the regular lineup.

7. Teams†history with teenagers

Throughout baseball history, MLB teams have demonstrated repeatedly that they are skilled at identifying future major league hitters when they are teenagers.

These players may change positions between the time they are 17 and the time they are 25, but many of the top high school and international prospects achieve MLB stardom.

With the notable exception of Aaron Judge, the best hitters of the 2020s signed as teenagers. Juan Soto, Yordan Alvarez, Freddie Freeman, Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr. Bryce Harper, Corey Seager and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. occupy eight of the top 10 spots for wRC+ since 2020. The ninth non-Judge entry is Shohei Ohtani, who was drafted and signed as a teenager in Japan.

The same trend does not exist for pitchers. MLB teams have whiffed repeatedly when making big outlays on teenage pitchers.

Most of the lowest FIPs by starting pitchers in the 2020s are from college draftees, such as Paul Skenes, Jacob deGrom, Garrett Crochet, Chris Sale, Corbin Burnes, Shane Bieber and Tarik Skubal. However, a slew of pitchers signed as teenagers—most notably Logan Webb, Zack Wheeler, Cole Ragans, Cristopher Sanchez and Max Fried—have begun to cut into the advantage.

While teen pitchers may one day realize MLB stardom, the road is long and treacherous. From the list above, Webb, Wheeler, Ragans and Fried all had Tommy John surgery as prospects or young major leaguers.

In dynasty leagues, I prefer not to wait five or more seasons for a young pitcher to mature and build workload, all while hoping he avoids major injury. Most dynasty leagues simply donâ€t have as many roster spots at their disposal as an MLB team has with its minor league affiliates.

8. When teams speak, listen

MLB teams naturally have an information advantage on the public.

Thatâ€s why simply siding with the prospect who is promoted aggressively at a young age or the MLB veteran who secures a guaranteed contract can be the wise play.

After the 2024 season, the Red Sox signed Aroldis Chapman and the Orioles signed Ramon Laureano to what could be viewed as head-scratching one-year contracts. In these cases, the teams were right.

Chapman had a dominating season as Bostonâ€s closer, while Laureano performed well enough to be traded to the Padres, who then picked up his club option for 2026.

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Dynasty leagues are unique because they ask us to predict the future with a confidence we rarely apply to our real lives. We convince ourselves we know which 19-year-old prospect will blossom into a superstar, which 31-year-old slugger will age gracefully, and which team context will still matter two seasons from now — even though the sport keeps reminding us that everything is temporary and nothing is linear. And thatâ€s exactly why itâ€s so addicting.

Rotoworldâ€s Top 500 Dynasty Rankings exist at that intersection of certainty and delusion: a snapshot of what feels true right now, calibrated against what history keeps telling us weâ€re probably wrong about. Whether youâ€re chasing a title or tearing it down to the studs, this list evaluates long-term fantasy value through talent, trajectory, stability, volatility, and opportunity — all wrapped in the understanding that the dynasty landscape can transform overnight.

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If youâ€re looking for a compass in a universe built on chaos, this is it — at least until everything changes again.

Note: Rankings updated as of December 1

Rank

Player

Position

Team

Age

Level

ETA

MiLB

1

Shohei Ohtani

UT, SP

LAD

31

MLB

2

Bobby Witt Jr.

SS

KC

25

MLB

3

Juan Soto

OF

NYM

27

MLB

4

Elly De La Cruz

SS

CIN

23

MLB

5

Ronald Acuña Jr.

OF

ATL

28

MLB

6

Corbin Carroll

OF

AZ

25

MLB

7

Aaron Judge

OF

NYY

33

MLB

8

Tarik Skubal

SP

DET

29

MLB

9

Paul Skenes

SP

PIT

23

MLB

10

Gunnar Henderson

SS

BAL

24

MLB

11

Julio Rodríguez

OF

SEA

25

MLB

12

Fernando Tatis Jr.

OF

SD

27

MLB

13

Kyle Tucker

OF

FA

29

MLB

14

Junior Caminero

3B

TB

22

MLB

15

Nick Kurtz

1B

ATH

23

MLB

16

Jackson Chourio

OF

MIL

22

MLB

17

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

1B

TOR

26

MLB

18

Roman Anthony

OF

BOS

21

MLB

19

José Ramírez

3B

CLE

33

MLB

20

Konnor Griffin

SS

PIT

19

AA

2026

1

21

Garrett Crochet

SP

BOS

26

MLB

22

James Wood

OF

WSH

23

MLB

23

Wyatt Langford

OF

TEX

24

MLB

24

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

2B, 3B

NYY

27

MLB

25

Zach Neto

SS

LAA

25

MLB

26

Yordan Alvarez

OF

HOU

28

MLB

27

Cal Raleigh

C

SEA

29

MLB

28

Francisco Lindor

SS

NYM

32

MLB

29

Pete Alonso

1B

FA

31

MLB

30

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

SP

LAD

27

MLB

31

Kevin McGonigle

3B, SS

DET

21

AA

2026

2

32

Pete Crow-Armstrong

OF

CHC

24

MLB

33

Ketel Marte

2B

AZ

32

MLB

34

Jackson Merrill

OF

SD

22

MLB

35

Logan Gilbert

SP

SEA

28

MLB

36

Hunter Brown

SP

HOU

27

MLB

37

CJ Abrams

SS

WSH

25

MLB

38

Rafael Devers

1B

SF

29

MLB

39

Cristopher Sanchez

SP

PHI

29

MLB

40

Manny Machado

3B

SD

33

MLB

41

Bryce Harper

1B

PHI

33

MLB

42

Eury Pérez

SP

MIA

22

MLB

43

Trea Turner

SS

PHI

32

MLB

44

Riley Greene

OF

DET

25

MLB

45

Jesús Made

2B, SS

MIL

18

AA

2027

3

46

Kyle Schwarber

UT

FA

33

MLB

47

Matt Olson

1B

ATL

31

MLB

48

Corey Seager

SS

TEX

31

MLB

49

Hunter Greene

SP

CIN

26

MLB

50

Bryan Woo

SP

SEA

26

MLB

51

JJ Wetherholt

2B, SS

STL

23

AAA

2026

4

52

Josh Naylor

1B

SEA

28

MLB

53

Mookie Betts

SS, OF

LAD

33

MLB

54

Samuel Basallo

C

BAL

21

MLB

–

5

55

Joe Ryan

SP

MIN

29

MLB

56

Chase Burns

SP

CIN

23

MLB

–

6

57

Logan Webb

SP

SF

29

MLB

58

Jeremy Peña

SS

HOU

28

MLB

59

Jacob deGrom

SP

TEX

37

MLB

60

Chris Sale

SP

ATL

36

MLB

61

Brent Rooker

OF

ATH

31

MLB

62

Freddie Freeman

1B

LAD

36

MLB

63

Leo De Vries

SS

ATH

19

AA

2026

7

64

George Kirby

SP

SEA

28

MLB

65

Nolan McLean

SP

NYM

24

MLB

–

8

66

Mason Miller

SP, RP

SD

27

MLB

67

Bo Bichette

SS

FA

28

MLB

68

Trey Yesavage

SP

TOR

22

MLB

–

9

69

Cody Bellinger

OF

FA

30

MLB

70

Blake Snell

SP

LAD

33

MLB

71

Spencer Schwellenbach

SP

ATL

25

MLB

72

Sebastian Walcott

SS

TEX

20

AA

2026

10

73

Austin Riley

3B

ATL

28

MLB

74

Jacob Misiorowski

SP

MIL

24

MLB

75

Jarren Duran

OF

BOS

29

MLB

76

Brice Turang

2B

MIL

26

MLB

77

Edward Florentino

OF

PIT

19

A-

2027

11

78

Luke Keaschall

2B

MIN

23

MLB

79

Cole Ragans

SP

KC

28

MLB

80

Walker Jenkins

OF

MIN

21

AAA

2026

12

81

Oneil Cruz

OF

PIT

27

MLB

82

William Contreras

C

MIL

28

MLB

83

Max Clark

OF

DET

21

AA

2026

13

84

Randy Arozarena

OF

SEA

31

MLB

85

Freddy Peralta

SP

MIL

29

MLB

86

Seiya Suzuki

OF

CHC

31

MLB

87

Aidan Miller

SS

PHI

21

AAA

2026

14

88

Jackson Holliday

2B

BAL

22

MLB

89

Geraldo Perdomo

SS

AZ

26

MLB

90

Jordan Westburg

3B

BAL

27

MLB

91

Tyler Soderstrom

1B, OF

ATH

24

MLB

92

Vinnie Pasquantino

1B

KC

28

MLB

93

Framber Valdez

SP

FA

32

MLB

94

Ben Rice

C, 1B

NYY

27

MLB

95

Maikel Garcia

3B

KC

26

MLB

96

Max Fried

SP

NYY

32

MLB

97

Andy Pages

OF

LAD

28

MLB

98

Michael Busch

1B

CHC

27

MLB

99

Emmet Sheehan

SP

LAD

26

MLB

100

Luis Peña

2B, 3B, SS

MIL

19

A+

2027

15

101

Byron Buxton

OF

MIN

32

MLB

102

Cam Schlitter

SP

NYY

25

MLB

103

Lawrence Butler

OF

ATH

25

MLB

104

Dylan Cease

SP

TOR

30

MLB

105

Michael Harris II

OF

ATL

25

MLB

106

Kyle Bradish

SP

BAL

29

MLB

107

Jose Altuve

2B, OF

HOU

35

MLB

108

Shea Langeliers

C

ATH

28

MLB

109

Christian Yelich

OF

MIL

33

MLB

110

Drake Baldwin

C

ATL

24

MLB

111

Bryce Eldridge

1B

SF

21

MLB

–

16

112

Dylan Crews

OF

WSH

24

MLB

113

Tyler Glasnow

SP

LAD

32

MLB

114

Andrés Muñoz

RP

SEA

27

MLB

115

Pablo Lopez

SP

MIN

30

MLB

116

Agustín Ramírez

C

MIA

24

MLB

117

Jesus Luzardo

SP

PHI

28

MLB

118

Josue De Paula

OF

LAD

20

AA

2026

17

119

Sal Stewart

1B, 3B

CIN

22

MLB

–

18

120

Gerrit Cole

SP

NYY

35

MLB

121

Spencer Strider

SP

ATL

27

MLB

122

Rainiel Rodriguez

C

STL

19

A+

2028

19

123

Alex Bregman

3B

FA

31

MLB

124

Jhoan Duran

RP

PHI

28

MLB

125

Eduardo Quintero

OF

LAD

20

A+

2027

20

126

Colt Emerson

SS

SEA

20

AAA

2026

21

127

Edwin Diaz

RP

FA

32

MLB

128

Thomas White

SP

MIA

21

AAA

2026

22

129

Michael King

SP

FA

30

MLB

130

Willy Adames

SS

SF

30

MLB

131

Isaac Paredes

3B

HOU

27

MLB

132

Jacob Wilson

SS

ATH

23

MLB

133

Carson Benge

OF

NYM

23

AAA

2026

23

134

Ozzie Albies

2B

ATL

29

MLB

135

Bryce Rainer

SS

DET

20

A-

2028

24

136

Zack Wheeler

SP

PHI

35

MLB

137

Bubba Chandler

SP

PIT

23

MLB

–

25

138

Matt Shaw

3B

CHC

24

MLB

139

Dylan Beavers

OF

BAL

24

MLB

–

26

140

Nick Lodolo

SP

CIN

28

MLB

141

Will Smith

C

LAD

30

MLB

142

Nick Pivetta

SP

SD

33

MLB

143

Cade Smith

RP

CLE

26

MLB

144

Shane Bieber

SP

TOR

30

MLB

145

Kevin Gausman

SP

TOR

35

MLB

146

Caleb Bonemer

SS, 3B

CWS

20

A+

2028

27

147

Payton Tolle

SP

BOS

23

MLB

–

28

148

Jasson Domínguez

OF

NYY

23

MLB

149

Zyhir Hope

OF

LAD

21

AA

2026

29

150

Jac Caglianone

OF

KC

23

MLB

151

Roki Sasaki

SP

LAD

24

MLB

–

30

152

Addison Barger

3B, OF

TOR

26

MLB

153

Jonah Tong

SP

NYM

22

MLB

–

31

154

Cam Smith

OF

HOU

23

MLB

155

Hunter Goodman

C

COL

26

MLB

156

Kyle Stowers

OF

MIA

28

MLB

157

Tatsuya Imai

SP

FA

27

MLB

2026

32

158

Ceddanne Rafaela

2B, OF

BOS

25

MLB

159

Noelvi Marte

3B, OF

CIN

24

MLB

160

Carlos Rodon

SP

NYY

33

MLB

161

Nico Hoerner

2B

CHC

28

MLB

162

Luis Robert Jr.

OF

CWS

28

MLB

163

Jonathan Aranda

1B

TB

27

MLB

164

Royce Lewis

3B

MIN

26

MLB

165

Iván Herrera

UT

STL

25

MLB

166

Cade Horton

SP

CHC

24

MLB

167

Gavin Williams

SP

CLE

26

MLB

168

Jo Adell

OF

LAA

26

MLB

169

Travis Bazzana

2B

CLE

23

AAA

2026

33

170

MacKenzie Gore

SP

WSH

27

MLB

171

Ryan Waldschmidt

OF

AZ

23

AA

2026

34

172

Josue Briceño

C

DET

21

AA

2026

35

173

Brandon Woodruff

SP

MIL

33

MLB

174

Teoscar Hernández

OF

LAD

33

MLB

175

Mike Trout

OF

LAA

34

MLB

176

Joshua Baez

OF

STL

22

AA

2026

36

177

George Springer

OF

TOR

36

MLB

178

Josuar Gonzalez

SS

SF

18

DSL

2029

37

179

Adley Rutschman

C

BAL

28

MLB

180

Josh Hader

RP

HOU

31

MLB

181

Ian Happ

OF

CHC

31

MLB

182

Brandon Nimmo

OF

TEX

32

MLB

183

Yandy Díaz

1B

TB

34

MLB

184

Jordan Lawlar

3B

AZ

23

MLB

–

38

185

Francisco Alvarez

C

NYM

24

MLB

186

Kyle Manzardo

1B

CLE

25

MLB

187

Eugenio Suarez

3B

FA

34

MLB

188

Chase DeLauter

OF

CLE

24

MLB

–

39

189

Marcelo Mayer

3B

BOS

23

MLB

–

40

190

Robbie Ray

SP

SF

34

MLB

191

JoJo Parker

SS

TOR

19

RK

2029

41

192

Jett Williams

SS, OF

NYM

22

AAA

2026

42

193

Liam Doyle

SP

STL

21

RK

2026

43

194

Tanner Bibee

SP

CLE

27

MLB

195

Sonny Gray

SP

BOS

36

MLB

196

Carter Jensen

C

KC

22

MLB

–

44

197

Drew Rasmussen

SP

TB

30

MLB

198

Matt Chapman

3B

SF

32

MLB

199

Kristian Campbell

2B

BOS

23

MLB

200

Munetaka Murakami

3B

FA

26

MLB

2026

45

201

Chandler Simpson

OF

TB

25

MLB

202

Anthony Volpe

SS

NYY

24

MLB

203

Alejandro Kirk

C

TOR

27

MLB

204

Brenton Doyle

OF

COL

27

MLB

205

Nathan Eovaldi

SP

TEX

36

MLB

206

Lazaro Montes

OF

SEA

21

AA

2027

46

207

Ryan Pepiot

SP

TB

28

MLB

208

Zebby Matthews

SP

MIN

25

MLB

209

Ranger Suárez

SP

FA

30

MLB

210

Mark Vientos

3B

NYM

26

MLB

211

Trevor Story

SS

BOS

33

MLB

212

Masyn Winn

SS

STL

24

MLB

213

Gleyber Torres

2B

DET

29

MLB

214

Jakob Marsee

OF

MIA

24

MLB

215

Steven Kwan

SP

CLE

28

MLB

216

Jarlin Susana

SP

WSH

22

AA

2027

47

217

Mike Sirota

OF

LAD

22

A+

2027

48

218

Edward Cabrera

SP

MIA

27

MLB

219

Yainer Diaz

C

HOU

27

MLB

220

Shota Imanaga

SP

CHC

32

MLB

221

Jack Flaherty

SP

DET

30

MLB

222

Shane McClanahan

SP

TB

28

MLB

223

Kade Anderson

SP

SEA

21

RK

2026

49

224

Kaelen Culpepper

2B, 3B, SS

MIN

23

AA

2026

50

225

Heliot Ramos

OF

SF

26

MLB

226

Brett Baty

2B, 3B

NYM

26

MLB

227

Robby Snelling

SP

MIA

22

AAA

2026

51

228

Shane Baz

SP

TB

26

MLB

229

Andrew Painter

SP

PHI

22

AAA

2026

52

230

Michael Arroyo

2B

SEA

21

AA

2026

53

231

Spencer Torkelson

1B

DET

26

MLB

232

Connelly Early

SP

BOS

23

MLB

–

54

233

Braden Montgomery

OF

CWS

22

AA

2026

55

234

Alec Burleson

1B, OF

STL

27

MLB

235

Dansby Swanson

SS

CHC

32

MLB

236

Brody Hopkins

SP

TB

24

AA

2026

56

237

Ryan Sloan

SP

SEA

20

A+

2027

57

238

Emmanuel Rodriguez

OF

MIN

23

AAA

2026

58

239

Alfredo Duno

C

CIN

20

A-

2028

59

240

Jared Jones

SP

PIT

24

MLB

241

Corbin Burnes

SP

AZ

31

MLB

242

Brandon Lowe

2B

TB

31

MLB

243

Kyle Teel

C

CWS

24

MLB

244

Bryce Miller

SP

SEA

27

MLB

245

Sandy Alcantara

SP

MIA

30

MLB

246

Kerry Carpenter

OF

DET

28

MLB

247

Jaxon Wiggins

SP

CHC

24

AAA

2026

60

248

Dax Kilby

SS

NYY

19

A-

2029

61

249

Ezequiel Tovar

SS

COL

24

MLB

250

Matt McLain

2B

CIN

26

MLB

251

Grayson Rodriguez

SP

LAA

26

MLB

252

Wilyer Abreu

OF

BOS

26

MLB

253

Devin Williams

RP

FA

31

MLB

254

Taylor Ward

OF

BAL

32

MLB

255

Jhostynxon Garcia

OF

BOS

23

AAA

–

62

256

Eli Willits

SS

WSH

18

RK

2029

63

257

Justin Steele

SP

CHC

30

MLB

258

Colson Montgomery

SS

CWS

24

MLB

259

Coby Mayo

1B

BAL

24

MLB

260

Luis Castillo

SP

SEA

33

MLB

261

Jeff Hoffman

RP

TOR

33

MLB

262

Travis Sykora

SP

WSH

21

AA

2027

64

263

Owen Caissie

OF

CHC

23

MLB

–

65

264

Willson Contreras

1B

STL

33

MLB

265

Seth Hernandez

SP

PIT

19

RK

2029

66

266

Colton Cowser

OF

BAL

26

MLB

267

Kris Bubic

SP

KC

28

MLB

268

Trevor Rogers

SP

BAL

28

MLB

269

Bryan Reynolds

OF

PIT

31

MLB

270

Colt Keith

2B, 3B

DET

24

MLB

271

Luis Perales

SP

BOS

22

AAA

2026

67

272

Moises Ballesteros

C

CHC

22

MLB

–

68

273

Aaron Nola

SP

PHI

32

MLB

274

Matt Wallner

OF

MIN

28

MLB

275

Xander Bogaerts

SS

SD

33

MLB

276

Triston Casas

1B

BOS

26

MLB

277

Charlie Condon

1B, 3B, OF

COL

22

AA

2026

69

278

Dalton Rushing

C

LAD

25

MLB

279

Aiva Arquette

SS

MIA

22

A+

2027

70

280

Carlos Correa

SS, 3B

HOU

31

MLB

281

Logan Oâ€Hoppe

C

LAA

26

MLB

282

Zac Gallen

SP

FA

30

MLB

283

Otto Lopez

2B, SS

MIA

27

MLB

284

Gage Jump

SP

ATH

22

AA

2026

71

285

Hurston Waldrep

SP

ATL

24

MLB

286

Sal Frelick

OF

MIL

25

MLB

287

Joe Musgrove

SP

SD

33

MLB

288

Jonny Farmelo

OF

SEA

21

A+

2027

72

289

David Bednar

RP

NYY

31

MLB

290

Xavier Edwards

2B, SS

MIA

26

MLB

291

Matthew Boyd

SP

CHC

35

MLB

292

Taj Bradley

SP

MIN

25

MLB

293

Luis Gil

SP

NYY

27

MLB

294

Kodai Senga

SP

NYM

33

MLB

295

Alec Bohm

3B

PHI

29

MLB

296

Trent Grisham

OF

NYY

29

MLB

297

Salvador Perez

C, 1B

KC

35

MLB

298

Daulton Varsho

OF

TOR

29

MLB

299

Robert Suarez

RP

FA

35

MLB

300

Franklin Arias

SS

BOS

20

A+

2027

73

301

Evan Carter

OF

TEX

23

MLB

302

Spencer Jones

OF

NYY

24

AAA

2026

74

303

Justin Crawford

OF

PHI

22

AAA

2026

75

304

Andrew Abbott

SP

CIN

26

MLB

305

Jorge Polanco

2B

FA

32

MLB

306

Gabriel Moreno

C

AZ

26

MLB

307

Josh Lowe

OF

TB

28

MLB

308

Ethan Holliday

SS

COL

19

A-

2028

76

309

Daylen Lile

OF

WSH

22

MLB

310

Carson Williams

SS

TB

22

MLB

–

77

311

Ryan Helsley

RP

BAL

31

MLB

312

Ryne Nelson

SP, RP

AZ

28

MLB

313

Luis García Jr.

2B

WSH

25

MLB

314

Emil Morales

SS

LAD

19

A-

2028

78

315

Steele Hall

SS

CIN

18

RK

2029

79

316

Merrill Kelly

SP

FA

37

MLB

317

Bryson Stott

2B

PHI

28

MLB

318

Cooper Pratt

SS

MIL

21

AA

2026

80

319

Brayan Bello

SP

BOS

26

MLB

320

Caleb Durbin

3B

MIL

26

MLB

321

Jacob Reimer

SS

NYM

22

AA

2026

81

322

C.J. Kayfus

OF

CLE

24

MLB

–

82

323

Jack Leiter

SP

TEX

25

MLB

324

Daniel Palencia

RP

CHC

26

MLB

325

Max Muncy

3B

LAD

35

MLB

326

Trevor Megill

RP

MIL

32

MLB

327

Jackson Jobe

SP

DET

23

MLB

328

Kyson Witherspoon

SP

BOS

21

RK

2027

83

329

Raisel Iglesias

RP

ATL

36

MLB

330

Nate George

OF

BAL

19

A+

2028

84

331

Logan Henderson

SP

MIL

24

MLB

–

85

332

Aroldis Chapman

RP

BOS

38

MLB

333

AJ Smith-Shawver

SP

ATL

23

MLB

334

Abner Uribe

RP

MIL

25

MLB

335

Ryan Clifford

1B, OF

NYM

22

AAA

2026

86

336

Jurickson Profar

OF

ATL

33

MLB

337

Theo Gillen

SS

TB

20

A-

2027

87

338

Anthony Santander

OF

TOR

31

MLB

339

Tommy Edman

2B, OF

LAD

30

MLB

340

Pete Fairbanks

RP

FA

32

MLB

341

Quinn Priester

SP, RP

MIL

25

MLB

342

Austin Wells

C

NYY

26

MLB

343

Casey Mize

SP

DET

28

MLB

344

Christian Walker

1B

HOU

34

MLB

345

George Lombard Jr.

SS

NYY

20

AA

2027

88

346

Arjun Nimmala

SS

TOR

20

A+

2027

89

347

Ralphy Velazquez

1B

CLE

20

AA

2027

90

348

Jamie Arnold

SP

ATH

22

RK

2027

91

349

Josh Jung

3B

TEX

28

MLB

350

Esmerlyn Valdez

1B, OF

PIT

22

AA

2026

92

351

Griffin Jax

RP

TB

31

MLB

352

Grant Taylor

RP

CWS

23

MLB

–

93

353

Reynaldo López

SP

ATL

32

MLB

354

Troy Melton

SP

DET

25

MLB

–

94

355

Andrew Vaughn

1B

MIL

27

MLB

356

Kumar Rocker

SP

TEX

26

MLB

357

Bo Davidson

OF

SF

23

AA

2027

95

358

Marcell Ozuna

UT

FA

35

MLB

359

Reese Olson

SP

DET

26

MLB

360

Luis Morales

SP

ATH

23

MLB

–

96

361

Lars Nootbaar

OF

STL

28

MLB

362

Adolis García

OF

FA

33

MLB

363

Brandon Pfaadt

SP

AZ

27

MLB

364

Jonathon Long

1B

CHC

24

AAA

2026

97

365

Giancarlo Stanton

OF

NYY

36

MLB

366

Spencer Steer

1B

CIN

28

MLB

367

Carlos Estévez

RP

KC

33

MLB

368

Ha-Seong Kim

SS

FA

30

MLB

369

Noah Cameron

SP

KC

26

MLB

370

Jung Hoo Lee

OF

SF

27

MLB

371

Will Warren

SP

NYY

26

MLB

372

Carlos Lagrange

SP

NYY

22

AA

2028

98

373

Ricky Tiedemann

SP

TOR

23

AAA

2026

99

374

José Soriano

SP

LAA

27

MLB

375

Kazuma Okamoto

3B

FA

29

MLB

2026

100

376

Marcus Semien

2B

NYM

35

MLB

377

Ryan Weathers

SP

MIL

26

MLB

378

Brendan Donovan

2B

STL

29

MLB

379

A.J. Ewing

2B, OF

NYM

21

AA

2027

101

380

TJ Friedl

OF

CIN

30

MLB

381

Jordan Beck

OF

COL

24

MLB

382

Cam Caminiti

SP

ATL

19

A-

2028

102

383

Tyler Oâ€Neill

OF

BAL

30

MLB

384

Jameson Taillon

SP

CHC

34

MLB

385

Parker Meadows

OF

DET

26

MLB

386

Aroon Escobar

2B, 3B

PHI

21

AA

2027

103

387

Jhonny Level

SS

SF

18

A-

2028

104

388

Tanner Scott

RP

LAD

31

MLB

389

Clay Holmes

SP

NYM

32

MLB

390

Tyson Lewis

SS

CIN

20

A-

2028

105

391

Nick Castellanos

OF

PHI

34

MLB

392

Hagen Smith

SP

CWS

22

AA

2026

106

393

Ryan Mountcastle

1B

BAL

29

MLB

394

Ramón Laureano

OF

SD

31

MLB

395

Gage Wood

SP

PHI

22

A-

2027

107

396

Jorge Soler

OF

LAA

34

MLB

397

Jake Burger

1B

TEX

29

MLB

398

Héctor Rodríguez

OF

CIN

21

AAA

2027

108

399

Juneiker Caceres

OF

CLE

18

A-

2029

109

400

Max Meyer

SP

MIA

27

MLB

401

Reid Detmers

RP

LAA

26

MLB

402

Gavie Fien

SS

TEX

19

A-

2029

110

403

Ethan Conrad

OF

CHC

21

RK

2027

111

404

Zach McKinstry

3B, SS, OF

DET

30

MLB

405

J.T. Realmuto

C

FA

35

MLB

406

Emilio Pagan

RP

FA

34

MLB

407

Juan Sanchez

3B

TOR

18

DSL

2029

112

408

Luis Arraez

1B

FA

28

MLB

409

Jesús Sánchez

OF

HOU

28

MLB

410

Demetrio Crisantes

2B, 3B

AZ

21

A+

2027

113

411

Esteban Mejia

SP

BAL

19

A-

2028

114

412

Sean Manaea

SP

NYM

34

MLB

413

Rhys Hoskins

1B

FA

33

MLB

414

Cade Cavalli

SP

WSH

27

MLB

415

Kyle Finnegan

RP

FA

34

MLB

416

Slade Caldwell

OF

AZ

19

A+

2027

115

417

Kenley Jansen

RP

FA

38

MLB

418

Angel Genao

SS

CLE

21

AA

2026

116

419

Dillon Dingler

C

DET

27

MLB

420

Lenyn Sosa

1B, 2B

CWS

26

MLB

421

Felnin Celesten

SS

SEA

20

A+

2027

117

422

Jacob Melton

OF

HOU

25

MLB

–

118

423

Eduardo Tait

C

MIN

19

A+

2028

119

424

Nolan Schanuel

1B

LAA

24

MLB

425

Caden Scarborough

SP

TEX

20

A+

2027

120

426

Chad Patrick

SP

MIL

27

MLB

427

Justin Wrobleski

SP

LAD

25

MLB

428

Elmer Rodriguez

SP

NYY

22

AAA

2026

121

429

Seth Lugo

SP

KC

36

MLB

430

Shane Smith

SP

CWS

25

MLB

431

Chris Bassitt

SP

TOR

37

MLB

432

Spencer Horwitz

1B

PIT

28

MLB

433

Kayson Cunningham

SS

AZ

19

A-

2029

122

434

Chase Meidroth

2B, SS

CWS

24

MLB

435

Andrew Fischer

1B, 3B

MIL

21

A+

2027

123

436

Colby Thomas

OF

ATH

25

MLB

–

124

437

Aidan Smith

OF

TB

21

A+

2027

125

438

Joey Ortiz

SS

MIL

27

MLB

439

Noah Schultz

SP

CWS

22

AAA

2027

126

440

Ryan Oâ€Hearn

1B, OF

FA

32

MLB

441

Ronny Mauricio

3B

NYM

24

MLB

442

Bailey Ober

SP

MIN

30

MLB

443

Jack Perkins

SP

ATH

26

MLB

–

127

444

Brock Wilken

3B

MIL

23

AA

2026

128

445

Brandon Sproat

SP

NYM

25

MLB

–

129

446

Mickey Moniak

OF

COL

27

MLB

447

Brooks Lee

2B, 3B, SS

MIN

25

MLB

448

Alejandro Rosario

SP

TEX

24

A+

2027

130

449

Rhett Lowder

SP

CIN

24

AAA

–

131

450

Andres Gimenez

2B

TOR

27

MLB

451

Miguel Vargas

1B, 3B

CWS

26

MLB

452

Bo Naylor

C

CLE

26

MLB

453

Elian Peña

2B, SS

NYM

18

DSL

2029

132

454

Christian Oppor

SP

CWS

21

A+

–

133

455

JR Ritchie

SP

ATL

22

AAA

2026

134

456

José Caballero

2B, 3B, SS, OF

NYY

29

MLB

457

Harry Ford

C

SEA

23

MLB

–

135

458

Brady House

3B

WSH

22

MLB

459

Cole Young

2B

SEA

22

MLB

460

Ian Seymour

SP

TB

27

MLB

461

Harrison Bader

OF

FA

31

MLB

462

David Hagaman

SP

AZ

22

A+

–

136

463

Parker Messick

SP

CLE

25

MLB

–

137

464

Austin Hays

OF

FA

30

MLB

465

Alex Freeland

SS

LAD

24

MLB

–

138

466

Cam Collier

1B

CIN

21

AA

2027

139

467

Ike Irish

C

BAL

22

A-

2028

140

468

Slade Cecconi

SP

CLE

26

MLB

469

Josh Adamczewski

2B

MIL

20

A+

2028

141

470

Trey Gibson

SP

BAL

23

AAA

2026

142

471

Xavier Isaac

1B

TB

22

AA

2027

143

472

Dauri Fernandez

3B

CLE

19

A-

2029

144

473

Joey Cantillo

SP

CLE

26

MLB

474

Kevin Alcantara

OF

CHC

23

AAA

–

145

475

Callan Moss

1B

PIT

22

A+

2028

146

476

Lucas Giolito

SP

FA

31

MLB

477

Luke Dickerson

SS

WSH

20

A-

2028

147

478

Leonardo Bernal

C

STL

22

AA

2027

148

479

Ernie Clement

2B, 3B, SS

TOR

30

MLB

480

River Ryan

SP

LAD

27

MLB

–

149

481

Brady Singer

SP

CIN

29

MLB

482

Josh Bell

1B

FA

33

MLB

483

Tyler Bremner

SP

LAA

21

RK

2028

150

484

Kruz Schoolcraft

SP

SD

18

A-

2029

151

485

Kendall George

OF

LAD

21

A+

2028

152

486

Kemp Alderman

OF

MIA

23

AAA

2027

153

487

Christian Scott

SP

NYM

26

AAA

–

154

488

Tommy Troy

2B

AZ

24

AAA

2026

155

489

Seaver King

SS

WSH

22

AA

2027

156

490

Jace LaViolette

OF

CLE

22

RK

2027

157

491

Bryce Cunningham

SP

NYY

23

A+

2027

158

492

Brandon Clarke

SP

STL

22

A+

2027

159

493

Ryan Johnson

SP

LAA

23

A+

–

160

494

Daniel Espino

SP

CLE

25

AAA

2026

161

495

Luis De Leon

SP

BAL

22

AA

2027

162

496

Brice Matthews

SS

HOU

24

MLB

–

163

497

Alejandro Osuna

OF

TEX

23

MLB

498

Brad Keller

RP

FA

30

MLB

499

Victor Robles

OF

SEA

28

MLB

500

Denzer Guzman

SS

LAA

22

MLB

–

164

501

Tony Blanco Jr.

1B

PIT

20

A-

2028

165

Just Missed: Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Max Anderson, Jordan Walker, Braxton Ashcraft, Félix Bautista, Tyler Mahle, Dennis Santana, Cedric Mullins, Riley Oâ€Brien, Cristian Javier, Luis Rengifo, Adrian Morejon, Joe Mack and Braylon Payne

All ages are as of Opening Day — March 25, 2026 —

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Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.

“OK, wow on 3. 1, 2, 3…â€

This rallying cry marks the conclusion of the Spokane Indians†gameday staff meeting, held just prior to opening of the Avista Stadium gates. Itâ€s an apropos ritual, because this is a team, and ballpark, with a definite “Wow†factor. I had visited once before, in 2016, and in the intervening nine years it had slipped my mind somewhat, this fact: Avista Stadium is one of the best places to see a baseball game, anywhere.

I say this with clarity, for this is a place where you can see the forest for the trees.

Avista Stadium, originally known as Fairgrounds Recreational Park, is a byproduct of Major League Baseballâ€s westward expansion. It opened in 1958, the same year the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, built specifically so the Spokane Indians could serve as the Dodgers†Triple-A affiliate.

Avista Stadium has seen innumerable improvements since 1958, including many in recent years in order to meet MLBâ€s facility standards. Nonetheless, a throwback charm endures.

The press box is on the roof, the scoreboard is rudimentary, and there are “skyboxes†with concrete boundaries at the top of the seating bowl in lieu of suites. The concourse is situated in front of the ballpark, serving as a buffer between the gates and the seating bowl.

The Indians remained the Dodgers†Triple-A affiliate through 1971, fielding some of the most future star-laden teams in Minor League history along the way. The celebrated 1970 squad, managed by Tommy Lasorda, featured the likes of Steve Garvey, Bobby Valentine, Charlie Hough, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Doyle Alexander.

In 1983, the Indians switched to the Northwest League, and there they remain. They have served as the High-A affiliate of the Rockies since 2021, representing the Pacific Northwest within Colorado’s far-flung Minor League system.

The city of Spokane is named for the Spokane tribe, the first people to live in the region. Professional baseball has been played here since the 1890s, with almost every team using the Indians name. In 2006, the baseball team and the Spokane Tribe of Indians announced a groundbreaking partnership that included logos and signage featuring the tribeâ€s Salish language script. Salish can now be found all over the ballpark, including the primary home jersey.

The Indians front office, being a proactive bunch, incorporated me into the gameday experience in a variety of ways. It started before the gates opened, when I was asked to lead the “Wow!†to conclude the gameday employees meeting. I also spent time in the kitchen rolling hot dogs for the teamâ€s “Dollar in Your Dogs promotion.†Cash vouchers, totaling $2000 overall, were included in select wrappers.

Then it was time for a wardrobe change, one involving a backpack and an air tube.

After all the straps were strapped and zippers zippered, I emerged onto the concourse and greeted fans in the guise of inflatable mascot KC. He was unveiled by the team in 2022 in collaboration with the nearby Fairchild Air Force Base, paying tribute to the KC-135 Stratotanker (a refueling tanker aircraft).

During my time in the teamâ€s office area, I confirmed that a floor safe with unknown contents remains unopened (it was discovered during a 2013 renovation). When I wrote about the safe in 2016, Indians senior vice president Otto Klein speculated that it might contain “Jimmy Hoffa. Tommy Lasorda’s black book. A million dollars in cash. Fun stuff, whatever you can dream of.”

Klein has been with the team for decades, but he isn’t the team’s most prominent Otto. That honor goes to Otto the Spokaneasaurus, who arrived at Avisita Stadium in 1993.

Spokane’s mascot pantheon also includes Ribby the Redband Trout. He debuted in 2017 as part of the Indians’ Redband Rally campaign, dedicated to honoring and protecting one of the Spokane Tribe’s first food sources.

Ribby appears on the field in the sixth inning to rally the team to victory. On this evening, I served as one of his dancing minnows.

I did not make for a particularly convincing minnow.

As always, I felt more at home watching someone else eat a ballpark meal. My Designated Eater in Spokane was Andy Wodka; it would be his job to eat the ballpark cuisine my gluten-free diet prohibits.

Andy, a Chicago Cubs fan and longtime Washington state resident, had two items before him. First up was the Tanker Nachos, served in a batting helmet and sturdier than an aerial refueling aircraft.

Next was the Bavarian Burger, a homestand special that was topped with muenster cheese and fancy mustard (among other things).

Andy’s reaction to these items was captured on video, and those videos are unfortunately missing audio. I apologize for this subpar documentation of Avista Stadium’s concessions, but would like to note that the ballpark is home to both a double-decker “Wake Up Call” coffee bus as well as an outfield group area modeled after a replica train car.

The train car is called The Coors Light Caboose and offers an excellent vantage point to have a meal and watch the game.

Time for another garbage segue, but at least this one is literal. During the game I visited the team’s “Compost Corner,” part of the Indians’ Zero Waste campaign. Avista Stadium’s trash cans are divided into three categories: garbage, compost and recycling. These bins are then unloaded into the Compost Corner, with team employees sifting through the contents to ensure that each bit of trash is properly disposed of.

I spent a couple innings on Compost Corner duty and found the work to be fulfilling and relaxing. You quickly get used to the smell.

Between sorting garbage, rolling hot dogs, showcasing concessions and dressing in various mascot costumes, I didnâ€t get to see much Northwest League baseball action. Spokane won the game, 3-2, over the Hillsboro Hops. After the game, kids ran the bases.

Goodbye from Avista Stadium, where thought goes into every detail and there’s never a dull moment. If you’ve never been, put this one on your ballpark bucket list.

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The 2025 Major League Baseball season was one of the most memorable in recent history. From the Los Angeles Dodgers becoming the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees†â€90s dynasty to the incredible run that brought the Toronto Blue Jays to their first World Series since 1993, itâ€s time to look back at the unforgettable moments from the season that was.

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On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman revisit the year in baseball with their annual time capsule episode. Starting with the Opening Series in Japan—which featured Shohei Ohtani getting a little help on a home run, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. receiving a contract extension and Juan Sotoâ€s reception upon his return to the Bronx—the guys collect mementos from these moments so future generations can remember them.

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss the first-ever swing-off to decide the All-Star Game in Atlanta, the extremely rainy Speedway Classic, Jacob Misiorowski pulling an extremely rare Charizard Pokémon card and the first-ever American Pope being a Chicago White Sox fan. This yearâ€s time capsule does not disappoint!

Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images

(Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

1:40 – What is the time capsule?

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5:28 – Opening Series in Japan

19:11 – Baseball Pope

36:30 – Rafael Devers traded

42:26 – Cal Raleighâ€s Home Run Derby

53:12 – Speedway Classic

1:08:43 – Mets complete collapse

1:11:48 – 2025 Postseason

1:23:09 – Ernieâ€s couch

1:31:59 – Yamamotoâ€s Game 7

ðŸ–¥ï¸ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or atyahoosports.tv

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Whether you’re looking for gifts for loved ones or just loading up your own collection, ’tis the season for great deals in the baseball card and collectibles world. To help sort things out, we’ve compiled some of the more interesting deals out there right now.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back over the long holiday weekend straight through to Cyber Monday, as we’ll be updating the list as more deals are posted.

Save 40% On A BA Subscription

We’re calling it “our biggest sale ever,” and for good reason: Because it is.

From now until 11:59 p.m. ET on Cyber Monday (Dec. 1), you can save 40% on any one-year digital subscription to Baseball America or combo subscription (website and a year of the print magazine) by using code BA40 at checkout.

We have never offered such a big discount before, and the extra insight you’ll have on fantasy baseball and card collecting alone (never mind just being the smartest baseball fan in the room) could help you cover for the cost of the subscription in no time.

Collectibles From Topps & Fanatics

As of now, the major card retailers (Topps, Panini and Leaf) have yet to announce any specific deals for Black Friday weekend.

But Topps did drop one early holiday gift for collectors last week, finally announcing that certain products on their site will now earn Fancash, which can be used on their sister sites such as Fanatics, their Fanatics Collect auction site and Fanatics Live breaking site.

And don’t forget that there are some major baseball card releases scheduled to drop in the coming weeks, including Topps Allen & Ginter on Dec. 3, Topps Chrome Update (featuring the hunt for Debut Patches) on Dec. 10 and both Topps Cosmic Chrome and Panini Prospect Edition on Dec. 17 (dates subject to change).

Speaking of Fanatics, they will be having sales all weekend, starting with 30% off on Wednesday, and then up to 60% off through Cyber Monday. Various discount codes will be displayed at the top of the site, and keep your eye out for free shipping options, as well. Keep in mind, however, that discounts often don’t apply to some of their baseball card offerings.

Here are three Fanatics pro tips:

• First and foremost, if you don’t already have the Fanatics app, get it. Not only do you earn $5 in Fancash just for downloading it, but you earn up to 5% in Fancash for all in-app purchases (as opposed to 1-2% on the site). And if you pay with the Fanatics credit card in the app, you earn 9% Fancash. The app also has “challenges” for certain shopping milestones that can earn you even more Fancash. One prominent example (which you will need to sign up for in the app) is offering $20 in bonus Fancash for any single $200+ in-app purchase made before Jan. 1, 2026.

• Even if you don’t have the Fancash credit card, you should still check your credit cards to see if they offer Fanatics-specific cash back opportunities. Most cards offer either 5% or 10% cash back once activated.

• You can often find discounted Fanatics gift cards on the sites of major retailers. In recent years, Best Buy and BJ’s have offered such discounts. And because delivery on digital gift cards is almost instantaneous, you can use these gift cards on already-discounted Fanatics merch and get free shipping in most cases.

Minor League Sales & Auctions

The official Minor League Baseball online store is offering 30% off most items through Dec. 1 with promo code CYBERWEEK. You can also check the online shops for specific MiLB teams for even more discounts.

The Minor League Baseball auction site is currently holding their 2025 ‘Year in Review’ auction, which features a ton of cool specialty jerseys and other stuff from all across the minors.

Deals On Baseball Caps, Gear, Collectibles, Conventions & More

The MLB Auction site has a bunch of cool collectibles available, including a Derek Jeter holiday auction and a Red Sox Foundation scholarship auction. And speaking of good causes, the New York Yankees Foundation is once again holding its virtual holiday food drive, during which you can get two free Yankees tickets for 2026 with every $40 donated to the cause. Every entry is also automatically entered to win autographed memorabilia from 2025 Hall of Famer CC Sabathia.

The Hall of Fame started early this year, offering 30% off everything in their online store, which includes baseball cards, autographed collectibles, jerseys, caps and more. Plus, Hall members get an extra 10% off (so 40% total), plus free shipping.

New Era is offering 30% off on their site on Black Friday and sales up to 60%. And you can get free shipping on orders over $100.

Another shop I really like for caps is Mickey’s Place up in Cooperstown, N.Y. I discovered it on a trip to the Hall of Fame some years back, and their selection of caps is amazing. All the stuff from the majors and minors that the big shops are usually sold out of, they’ll have in stock. And they’re offering 10% off online through Dec. 8.

Gamestop has gotten into the hobby in a big way in recent years, and their most intriguing holiday offering actually comes on Dec. 6, when they host their first-ever “Trade Anything Day.” For this event, you can literally bring in just about anything to receive $5 in store trade-in credit (some restrictions apply, so read the info on their site for details).

How about bats, gloves and other gear? Our friends at Louisville Slugger, Wilson and EvoShield have started launching their Black Friday specials, as well, with deals from 30% to 60% off.

Or maybe you’re looking for a fun collectibles event to attend next year? Tickets are already on sale for Fanatics Fest in New York City from July 16-19, 2026 (there are various discount codes floating around the web), and tickets go on sale on Cyber Monday (Dec. 1) for the National Convention in Chicago from July 29 to Aug. 2, 2026.

Baseball Card Retailers

Our friends at Blowout Cards have already dropped a ton of huge deals leading up to Black Friday weekend, and they tell us that even more are coming as the week goes on, so stay tuned for that. Plus, a handful of random customers who place orders with Blowout will get bonus Baseball America goodies included with their order.

Steel City Collectibles has also started posting its Black Friday deals, as has Dave & Adam’s.

Make sure to check back at those sites all weekend for even more deals, and remember that most of these retailers offer free shipping with a $199 purchase.

And be sure to show your local card shop some love all weekend long, especially on Small Business Saturday. You can find a ton of great locations on the interactive map on Topps’ website. And if you haven’t already, remember that the MVP Buyback period has opened, so bring in your eligible Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge cards to participating shops for $20 and more of store credit.

National retail chains such as Amazon and Walmart often offer deals on various baseball cards and collectibles, so keep an eye out there, too. Another pro tip: There are always great Black Friday weekend sales on sleeves, top-loaders and other supplies on Amazon, so it’s a good time to stock up.

Stay Informed All Year Long With Free Baseball America Newsletters

And finally, want something you can get for free not just during Black Friday, but all year? Our Baseball America newsletters are just the thing for you and the baseball fans in your life.

Again, we’ll continue to update this story as more retailers add discounts and special promotions. And make sure to also check in on sites like eBay for discount codes and more for all of your holiday shopping needs.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!

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