It’s time for our first batch of Minor League farm reports for 2026, starting with the NL West. The Dodgers’ farm system, so far, has shown to be quite deep in terms of depth. However, the Giants, D-Backs, and Rockies have all seen some of their prospects pop in the numbers department. Plus, two standouts in the Padres system have excelled to this point, as well.
Dodgers
The Dodgers entered the 2026 campaign with a very deep farm system, so much so that players in the system that could be considered in their top-20 (20-11) would be among the five best players in other organizations. And, many prospects in Los Angeles’ system have proven their mettle thus far.
I suppose we should start with the many outfielders in the Dodgers’ system. Kendall George and Josue De Paula have torn up Double-A to this point, as the two both ranked in the top three of the Texas League in total hits for May. George, in particular, may be a nice trade piece for the Dodgers. Highly disciplined hitter, with a Take% in the top 10 of the circuit from this past April, plus blistering speed.
Mike Sirota and Charles Davalan were both in the top 15 of the Midwest League in total hits for April. Sirota has since been promoted to Double-A. Another notable prospect who was promoted in May was infielder Emil Morales, who slashed .323/.385/.570 with six home runs and 24 extra-base hits across 36 contests with Low-A Ontario before being moved up.
Morales beat up on the level alongside Easton Shelton, who came out of the Nevada high school powerhouse, Bishop Gorman. Shelton, a 20-year-old first baseman, was the first in the California League to 10 home runs this season. However, there’s a lot of swing-and-miss.
And by the way, we can’t neglect the pitchers. Jackson Ferris, one of the best arms in the system heading into 2026, netted himself a lot of groundballs in April — but not a lot of strikeouts. He’s now on the injured list.
River Ryan hit as high as 101 MPH down in Oklahoma City, a good sign for the future. And one other name to keep an eye on is Isaac Ayon, an 18th-round pick out of Oregon two years ago. Ayon’s 39.8% Whiff% was good for the top 20 in the Low-A circuit for May, before his promotion to Great Lakes.
Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks’ system has already yielded dividends this season, as Tommy Troy & Ryan Waldschmidt have both made their MLB bows this season. Still, there’s a lot of other talent that can be found in the Arizona farm.
Let’s start with the pitching. Daniel Eagen, who entered the year on a high after he ripped through High-A with a hammer curveball, posted the second-highest ERA (8.71) in the Texas League. The only other pitcher who had a worse ERA in that league was Dodgers prospect Adam Serwinowski, who also had high expectations in 2026.
But so far in May, things have been better for Eagen. Twenty-four strikeouts over 16 innings, and two home runs allowed after Eagen surrendered six in April.
There are also two other great pitching stories to note on the pitching side of things, both from High-A. Twenty-year-old Junior Sanchez posted the highest Whiff% in April at 43.8% in the Northwest League, one of five D-Backs on that list. Also included in that list were Brian Curley and Sawyer Hawks, both of whom were 2025 picks.
The swing-and-miss (26.7%) has come down for Sanchez in May. However, Wellington Aracena has been good from a whiff standpoint. Aracena, the prize from the Blaze Alexander trade with the Orioles, entered the day on May 26 with a 41.2% Whiff% on the month, 10th-best in High-A. Unfortunately, walks (10 over 11 IP) remain a problem.
Meanwhile, Slade Caldwell had himself a funky two months. Overall, he batted .197 across 40 contests this season. Like last year, the high take rate was still there in April. However, a lot of swing-and-miss (33.9%) so far for the young outfielder.
But you know who hasn’t shown much swing-and-miss? Kayson Cunningham. No home runs yet for the 2025 first-round pick. But on the other hand, a lot of contact, as Cunningham was in the top 15 in total hits (47) with Visalia as of this writing.
Giants
Two years ago, the Giants swapped players with the A’s in what was a smaller trade at the time. San Francisco sent now-retired pitcher Ross Stripling to Oakland in exchange for prospect Jonah Cox. So far in 2026, Cox has been one of the Minors’ most remarkable stories.
Cox entered play on May 26 with a .414 batting average in the Eastern League, along with a league-high 60 hits. He’s also shown authority to drive the baseball, as Cox picked up six home runs and 20 extra-base hits. Plus, 26 stolen bases.
He’s one of several players in the midst of a breakout this season in the Giants’ system. Perhaps the most notable, to this date, is what Jhonny Level has done in Low-A San Jose. Level picked up 54 hits across his first 38 games in the California League, plus nine home runs. And as noted above in the D-Backs section, Level ranked in the top 10 in terms of contact made at the level.
It’s not just Level, who’s been doing at in A-ball. Trevor Cohen and Gavin Kilen both ranked as two of the best contact hitters in the Northwest League. Cohen, a third-rounder out of Rutgers last season, had the lowest Whiff% (18.1%) in the Northwest League last month. Kilen, the Giants’ first-rounder, is presently tied with Rockies prospect Jacob Humphrey for the most hits (50) in that league.
As for the pitching, Joe Whitman (56 K over 44 IP) won’t overwhelm hitters — but he’s gotten the job done in another turn with Richmond.
Padres
The Padres’ system has taken some losses over the past year, to say the least. Multiple high-profile prospects were traded away last year, and Humberto Cruz‘s MLB career hopes may have ended after he self-deported this year. Cruz did so after he was hit with a federal misdemeanor after he worked with cartels to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country.
San Diego’s system still has some upside. Javier Chacon, a reliever now with High-A Fort Wayne, was among the best swing-and-miss pitchers in Low-A this past April, along with California League strikeout leader Winyer Chourio. Both are older than your traditional Low-A player but something to watch.
Those two shone in Lake Elsinore, while 6’8” lefty Kruz Schoolcraft continues to find a groove. The 19-year-old walked 22 over his first 21 innings this season in Low-A
But easily, the two best stories for San Diego’s farm have been, arguably, the two best prospects in the system heading into the year: Kash Mayfield and Ethan Salas.
Forty-two hits for Salas over 38 games, plus the lowest Whiff% (11%) in the Texas League so far this month. The young catcher missed a lot of time last season, and he’s made up for it in 2026.
And as for Mayfield, opposing hitters are barely hitting over .100 off him this season. And, as expected, a lot of swing-and-miss so far.
One other prospect I’ll not discuss before moving on is Alex McCoy, an undrafted free agent signed out of Hofstra University in New York two years ago. McCoy had a knack for making hard contact in the CAA but didn’t put up explosive numbers in 2024. However, a big frame and projectable upside earned him a deal with San Diego.
He got on top of the ball often in college, and with a 52% GB% in May, that’s still the case. But he can square it up, as McCoy hit nine home runs in 41 contests to earn a tie for third in the Midwest League.
Rockies
At this point, we’ve covered the likes of Charlie Condon and Cole Carrigg at great length. So, let’s focus on some other names, shall we?
The Rockies’ future is heavily reliant on how well the team can develop home-grown pitching. And there are some names to keep an eye on, particularly at the High-A level. Colorado has four pitchers (Brody Brecht, Jordy Vargas, Jackson Cox, Everett Catlett) who’ve shown flashes.
Brecht is currently on the IL. But over his first seven starts, he struck out 31 over 20 and didn’t allow a home run. Vargas, as noted above, ranked second in pitcher Whiff% in the Northwest League last month. And overall, he’s tied for 10th in the circuit in total strikeouts (41).
Catlett, a Georgetown product, posted a 38% Whiff% in May as of this writing. The left-hander is third in total strikeouts (51), while Jackson Cox, a second-round pick from 2022, is first with 58 over 44 innings. Cox, who missed all of 2024 recovering from UCL surgery, had a 36% Whiff% in May as of the 26th.
Sticking with the A-ball theme, Roldy Brito has torn up Low-A Fresno to this point. Tanner Thach, the current California League hit leader, will need a promotion at some point.
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