2026 Midseason Top Prospect List Updates

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA bumped Jefferson Rojas back into their top 100 after some recent graduates: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/risers-fallers-new-additions-to-april-2026-top-100-prospects-update/

Quote

Jefferson Rojas, SS, Cubs

Previous: Unranked

Now: No. 94

Rojas has earned spots in previous iterations of the Top 100 only to fall off again. He’s back now thanks to a more physical frame that could add some power to his profile. He showed up to camp with easily apparent strength that has resulted in a bushel of barrels on the backfields. If he can marry that added thump with enough athleticism to stick up the middle, he’ll be an asset on both sides of the 

Current BA top 100:

34. Moisés Ballesteros
74. Jaxon Wiggins
94. Jefferson Rojas

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[We Got The Whole 9]

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

2 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

I want to believe.

[Bertz]

Hartshorn's swing rate is 37.3%.  If he was an MLBer last year that would be second lowest in the league behind Juan Soto.

I think if I was looking for nits to pick that's one I'd keep an eye on.  Pitching is dire enough in Low A that you can probably do quite a bit of damage by just refusing to pull the bat off your shoulder.  I'm thinking about James Wood, who had stellar K/BB numbers as a 19 year old in A ball leading into (ironically) the Juan Soto trade.

James Wood had pedestrian contact numbers even then while Hartshorn's are quite good, so it's not apples to apples.  Also I don't want to yadda yadda that Wood has turned out quite good.  But just steeling myself for why/when Hartshorn's K/BB numbers likely go from insane to just good when he finally runs into pitchers with a little command.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

If he maintains that kind of swing rate with similar BB/K numbers, I wonder how long they keep him there. You obviously want him to start facing guys with better command sooner rather than later 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

31 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Hartshorn's swing rate is 37.3%.  If he was an MLBer last year that would be second lowest in the league behind Juan Soto.

I think if I was looking for nits to pick that's one I'd keep an eye on.  Pitching is dire enough in Low A that you can probably do quite a bit of damage by just refusing to pull the bat off your shoulder.  I'm thinking about James Wood, who had stellar K/BB numbers as a 19 year old in A ball leading into (ironically) the Juan Soto trade.

James Wood had pedestrian contact numbers even then while Hartshorn's are quite good, so it's not apples to apples.  Also I don't want to yadda yadda that Wood has turned out quite good.  But just steeling myself for why/when Hartshorn's K/BB numbers likely go from insane to just good when he finally runs into pitchers with a little command.

Also, quite frankly, it's been just 8 games.

[craig]

Great thoughts, everybody.  Kind of awesome to have a HS pick in April who we already think is under-challenged.  Worthless post, since all points made have been appropriate. 

1. 8 games: lets see how things roll over larger sample. 
2. Agree with Bertz's, pitchers at Myrtle are wild.  You can live on walks at Myrtle; better levels will tell more.  
3. The <5% Swstr is great.  But maybe he's not swinging through strikes because he takes a lot of strikes?  Might still have holes in his strike zone, he's just smart enough to know them and not swing?  But if he does have holes, better pitchers will find them and pound them?  

Sure is a fun start, though.  

Edited April 14 by craig