Spring Training is here, and that means time to get busy for the 2026 MLB season — and fantasy baseball. Pitching is also in high demand when it comes to fantasy. And as far as potential rookie talents are concerned, there are many different rookies that need to be seriously considered, both in drafts and the free agent pool. Here are the 10 that catch our eyes the most.
Bubba Chandler
This year’s crop of rookie pitchers – at least from a fantasy perspective – may be one of the deepest in years. Part of that is that, aside from the high strikeout potential of many of these youngsters, several pitchers on this list have MLB experience. That includes Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler
Chandler pitched very well in Triple-A Indianapolis before he moved to the Majors. And after a brief stint in the Pirates’ bullpen, Chandler thrived as a starting pitcher. Across five September outings, Chandler struck 25 over 23.1 IP and walked only three. Additionally, Chandler conceded just two home runs.
Going back to September, Chandler was one of the best when it came to overwhelming opposing hitters. The right-hander had 33 swings-and-misses off his four-seamer in that month, sixth-most in the Majors. It’s a legit plus-plus pitch with triple-digit velocity, which also sets up his secondary stuff.
Connelly Early
Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early came up with clutch pitching performances down the stretch. And, with all the depth that the Red Sox have in that rotation, which also includes fellow rookie Payton Tolle, Early may have some of the best upside.
Over 19.1 IP at the MLB level, Early struck out 29 batters (13.5 K/9) for Boston. That K/9 was the fifth-highest in the Majors among all starting pitchers (min. 10 IP) last season in September.
We’ll see what a full season at the MLB level could do for Early. But based on the numbers from last season, which also included a high Chase% of 36.7%, the left-hander has to be under consideration for fantasy owners this upcoming season.
Parker Messick
Like Chandler and Early, Parker Messick got his first taste of the Majors during the final few weeks of 2025. And like those two, the former Florida State left-hander put up very strong numbers.
The 25-year-old walked just six batters and struck out 38 over 39.2 IP for Cleveland late last season. Additionally, the lefty posted a 2.72 ER and earned three wins for the Guardians during their mad dash to the AL Central title last season.
The fastball/changeup combo is what pushed Messick up the prospect charts, and that mix may very well define what kind of pitcher he will be in 2026. Messick’s fastball isn’t overpowering on paper, even though it does have carry and cutter. However, Messick’s changeup is separated from that fastball by about eight MPH, right in that sweet spot.
Nolan McLean
Even though Jonah Tong is also a name to watch, we tried to keep it so that only one pitcher per team made this list. For the Mets, that position belongs to Nolan McLean.
Look, I don’t believe that much has to be said or written about McLean. It’s rather obvious to state that McLean is a legitimate heavyweight option in fantasy. The 24-year-old struck out 57 batters over 48 innings last season, along with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Those were potential NL Rookie of the Year numbers. What was even more interesting about how McLean recorded those numbers was how he got there.
McLean can dig deep and gun it if need be. However, his velocity is in the low-to-mid-90s on most occasions, and he’ll regularly use that sinker. The thing with McLean is movement, and how he can change looks on hitters. Last in the Majors, McLean had a Chase% below 30% on the curveball – but a Whiff% of 50%. And when looking at that pitch, you can see why it’s a flummoxing offering.
Quinn Mathews
Cardinals pitcher Quinn Mathews is one of five pitchers on this list who have never pitched in an MLB game. That nod could come in 2026, as Mathews will look to put a very weird 2025 behind him.
As we noted in our International League recap, Mathews induced a lot of swing-and-miss last season with Triple-A Memphis. The left-hander, who rose quickly in the Cardinals’ system thanks to an uptick in velocity & polish, struck out 107 batters over 94 batters and only gave up six home runs. However, he walked 74 batters in Triple-A.
Even though the walks were high, Mathews still has significant fantasy potential. Given that the Cardinals are in a deep rebuild, he should get a look at the MLB level, provided he stays healthy in 2026.
Andrew Painter
Three years ago, fantasy baseball players had to consider Andrew Painter in the spring. Painter was making waves in camp and was on track to force the Phillies to make a big decision on him. However, elbow troubles and UCL reconstruction scuttled that idea. Now, Painter will look to crack the Opening Day 2026 roster for the team, now without Ranger Suarez.
Painter was well-known for his premium velocity before the surgery, which did return after his recovery. As we noted in our Phillies farm recap, Painter’s fastball velocity varied during the early parts of the year but steadied as the year went on. It didn’t have a lot of swing-and-miss (17.3%) last season, though.
Nonetheless, Painter struck out 111 batters over 106.2 IP. Limiting the home runs will be a challenge, especially in Philadelphia. However, given that the Phillies should be a competitive team, Painter is a must-watch name.
Robby Snelling
Like the Mets, we had to make a decision on who to list here for the Marlins. Should it be Thomas White or Robby Snelling? Given that Snelling has little to prove in the Minors, we’ll go with the latter.
Snelling had a fantastic 2025 campaign, highlighted by a run in Triple-A where the lefty struck out 81 over 63 innings, and only walked 17. The Marlins’ pitching prospect only conceded four home runs withthe Jumbo Shrimp.
With Snelling, the package is a hard fastball and a lot of groundballs. Groundball pitchers can be funny in fantasy baseball but Snelling should be just fine. However, the question will be how many wins he can net with Miami.
Miguel Ullola
Whenever a pitcher thrives in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, you have to pay attention. Miguel Ullola, one of the top prospects in the Astros’ system, did just that in 2025.
Ullola was one of the best pitchers in the PCL last season. As we noted in our Astros farm recap, the right-hander had quite the year, as he induced a lot of swing-and-miss both in and out of the strike zone last season with Triple-A Sugar Land. That helped him finish with 131 strikeouts over 113.2 IP, second-most in the PCL. Additionally, he significantly limited the well-hit contact.
Given that the Astros will head into 2026 with injuries and a different-looking rotation, Ullola has an opening to pitch in the Majors this season.
Jaxon Wiggins
Last season, Cade Horton went from prospect to franchise-building block for the Cubs. Could Jaxon Wiggins do the same in 2026?
Wiggins, a non-roster invite for the Cubs this spring, had a other-wordly season in the Minors last season. The right-hander, who boasts a big fastball, jumped from High-A and Triple-A and held his down at each level. He finished 2025 with one of the top-three whiff rates in the Double-A Southern League last season.
The Cubs’ rotation will tentatively include Shota Imanaga, Horton, newcomer Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd, plus Colin Rea & Javier Assad as depth options. Wiggins may not have room right away to make it to Chicago. However, he’s close.
Trey Yesavage
Last – but certainly not least – on this list is Trey Yesavage.
Like McLean, there’s little that needs to be explained about Yesavage. The Blue Jays rookie has more experience than any pitcher on this list, thanks to his incredible postseason. Yesavage struck out 39 batters over 27 innings in the playoffs. He shut down the Yankees and Dodgers, two of the best offenses in baseball, with near-relative ease in October.
Even though Yesavage doesn’t have that true four-to-five pitch mix that’s become the norm, the right-hander has deception and two power secondary offerings to play off one of the most difficult fastballs to pick up in the game today.
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