The top five MLB prospects to watch this season

Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic are underway. One of the hottest topics in baseball is which prospects will climb the ranks of the minor leagues or contribute to their big league club this season. Here are five prospects to keep an eye on.

Carlos Lagrange (SP, New York Yankees) — MLB No. 79, NYY No. 2

If you are looking for one of the best raw arms in the minor leagues, look no further than Carlos Lagrange of the New York Yankees.

The 6-foot-7, 248-pound right-hander was signed for $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 at age 18 as a high-ceiling prospect.

On the 20-80 scouting scale, Lagrange owns a 70-grade fastball, a 60 slider and 55 grades on both his cutter and changeup. He finished third in the minors last season with 168 strikeouts in 120 innings and a 33 percent strikeout rate while reaching Double-A.

His fastball sits around 98 mph and has touched 103 with strong armside run. Lagrange also struck out Aaron Judge with a 102.6 mph fastball during spring training, further showcasing his elite velocity.

The primary concern remains his control, as his walk rate climbed to 15 percent in Double-A. With pitching coach Matt Blake overseeing his development once he hits the big leagues, refinement of his command could make Lagrange one of the American League’s most electric young arms.

Justin Crawford (OF, Philadelphia Phillies) — MLB No. 53, PHI No. 3

With the Philadelphia Phillies moving on from several outfielders used last season, including Nick Castellanos, Harrison Bader, Johan Rojas and Weston Wilson, the team will need new contributors in the outfield. One of the most likely candidates to fill that role is Justin Crawford.

The son of four-time All-Star Carl Crawford, who remains the all-time leader in batting average, hits and stolen bases for the Tampa Bay Rays, and the second cousin of JP Crawford of the Seattle Mariners, Justin continues a strong baseball lineage. Selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, Crawford has produced at every level of the minor leagues.

Across his three full Minor League seasons, Crawford has hit .322. He struggled with chase issues from 2022 through 2024, but took a step forward with his plate discipline in 2025, increasing his walk rate while also lowering his strikeout rate.

Speed remains Crawford’s best tool. He has stolen more than 40 bases in each full season of his career, and that athleticism helps him impact the game defensively as well. His range allows him to cover large portions of the outfield, and he can often recover from mistakes easily.

Crawford could easily make the Opening Day roster, but if he does not, expect him to receive a call-up soon after and make an immediate impact with his speed and contact ability.

Carter Jensen (C, Kansas City Royals) — MLB No. 18, KC No. 1

The Kansas City Royals may have found their next star catcher.

Franchise icon Salvador Perez is now 35 and beginning to decline. Despite a 30-home run and 100 RBI season in 2025, he finished with just 0.4 bWAR while hitting .236 and struggling defensively. Kansas City will eventually need a successor.

Jensen, a Kansas City native, took a massive step forward in 2025. After hitting .259 in 2024, he broke out with a .290/.377/.501 slash line and 20 home runs in 111 games between Double A Northwest Arkansas and Triple A Omaha. The 2021 third-round pick also reached the majors late in the season, hitting .300 with a .941 OPS across 20 games.

Jensen will be 22 for most of the 2026 season. Mechanical adjustments, including lowering his hands in his stance, helped him get to the ball quicker and produce a 90th percentile exit velocity in Triple A.

Behind the plate, he projects well, too. While currently an average framer, his reaction time and arm strength give him strong potential to control the running game.

Keep an eye on Jensen, who could take over as the Royals’ primary catcher in 2026.

Carson Benge (OF, New York Mets) — MLB No. 16, NYM No. 2

Both of the Mets’ top prospects come from Oklahoma State. While Nolan McLean has grabbed headlines with a 2.06 ERA in his first eight big league starts, Carson Benge, just 10 spots behind him, has quietly built a strong profile.

Benge starred in college, slashing .339/.455/.609 with 25 home runs and 107 RBI across 120 games in two seasons. He also pitched, posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 37 innings in his second year.

Selected in the first round of the 2024 draft, he quickly rose through the minors, reaching Triple-A in his first full season. Last year, he hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases.

Benge has a knack for not missing hittable pitches and consistently makes hard contact against all pitch types. He projects as a 115 OPS+ hitter with capable outfield defense, giving the Mets confidence in his all-around game.

Expectations are high for him in Spring Training, and it will be interesting to see where he lands on the big league roster.

Kevin McGonigle (SS, Detroit Tigers) — MLB No. 2, DET No. 1

There is a lot to like about Kevin McGonigle. The Tigers were able to prioritize him after signing 2023 third overall pick Max Clark to a below-market deal.

McGonigle starred at Bonner Prendergast High School in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, posting a career slash line of .498/.638/1.034. Yes, you read that right—a 1.653 OPS in high school.

He has continued to hit at an advanced level in the minors. Despite battling injuries, McGonigle owns a .308 career average while reaching Double-A, along with a .512 slugging percentage.

He also impressed in the Arizona Fall League, earning MVP honors with a .362 average, 1.210 OPS and a 12/19 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 90 plate appearances.

McGonigle combines elite plate discipline with the ability to hit all pitches, pulling the ball or going to the opposite field. He adds speed, stealing 22 bases in 2024. His defense remains a question mark, and a future move to second base could maximize his value.

With one of the highest ceilings in the minors, McGonigle has the potential to be a game-changer and revive the art of the high batting average in the big leagues.

Jack Dobbins is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jwd5889@psu.edu.