Edward Florentino, Carlos Lagrange highlight MLB’s top surprise breakout candidates for 2026

With spring training just around the corner, ESPN has released its boldest projections for the 2026 MLB season. The list highlights the AL and NL prospects that are most likely to take a major step into the big leagues to compete for Rookie of the Year honors and climb the industry rankings. After recently publishing new Top 100 lists and farm-system evaluations, the analysts at ESPN have now condensed their thinking into specific player-by-player predictions, in a picture that presents an unusually talent-rich class of rookies.Evidenced to be an everyday player by midseason after having split time between shortstop and third base. According to ESPN, Buster Olney lauded him as the guy who is really good at so many things: command of the strike zone, bat speed, and baserunning. His triple slash line in the AFL hinted at greatness: .362/.500/.710.On track for a big league debut at 19 with the slashing of .281/.359/.551 in Double A as an 18-year-old. The switch-hitter's long-term role may be changing from shortstop to third base, but according to ESPN, a clear future exists for Vries in Oakland's developing lineup. Viewed as an October contributor in the MLB season if Seattle accelerates its timeline. Jesse Rogers compared his rise to that of Paul Skenes, calling for a four-pitch mix that is near major-league ready.Projected to be the best hitter in Cincinnati, with a good .860 OPS in late-season action and hits the ball hard (51.3% at 95+) and at the right angles (16.5° on 95+), making his numbers elite in terms of contact data in the minors and a staple in the middle order.Schoenfield expects Griffin to make the Opening Day Roster and have a rare 3-WAR rookie season, which sets him up as a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.According to ESPN Prediction, Aidan can take the 3rd base job in Philadelphia by Memorial Day, and potentially force a trade of Alec Bohm after a projected .280, 20-HR, 25-SB stretch run.Another NL Rookie of the Year pick after flashing in the latter part of 2025, including winning four times in seven appearances, excluding a rocky start at .1.57 ERA.JJ Wetherholt, with his infield versatility, polished bat, and 20-20 upside that should translate to the majors quickly. ESPN analyst McDaniel added that now teams often choose between breaking camp with elite prospects or not calling them up until September in order to set up a Rookie of the Year push the following season.ESPN’s Jeff Passan predicts a leap into the Top 10 prospects, citing his centre-field defence, Corey Seager-like swing, and 35 steals in Low-A.Tipped to be this year's Cam Schlittler after a 3.53 ERA and 33.4% strikeout rate, with a chance of joining the bullpen in New York late in the season. ESPN's Tristan Cockcroft said better control will be critical to his success at the big league level, but noted Schlittler made similar adjustments in 2025.If these projections bear out, the 2026 season may shed one of the most interesting classes of rookies that baseball has seen in years, with multiple prospects set to reshape big league rosters well before the autumn months.