The 2026 Pacific Coast League season started on March 27. This league is known for great hitting environments — and terrible pitching environments. And heading into 2026, several prodigious sluggers will call the PCL home (for now). Here’s our preview of the league.
Albuquerque Isotopes
Charlie Condon is coming off a great spring. Lowered swing-and-miss in the shortened sample size, three home runs, and 15 hits for the Rockies in camp. Now, he’ll head to the Isotopes, where he could thrive as a power-hitting masher. However, it’ll be about keeping the swing-and-miss down in Triple-A.
He won’t be the only one to watch. Reliever Welinton Herrera pitched great in the Arizona Fall League and Double-A last season, and he’ll be tested in a very hitter-friendly environment.
Cole Carrigg, who spent 2025 with Double-A Hartford, also jumps to Triple-A.
El Paso Chihuahas
Marcos Castanon and Nick Schnell are two of the very few players on El Paso who could be considered prospects. Although the two are not big names, Schnell is a former Day 1 pick.
Relief pitcher Garrett Hawkins, a three-pitch pitcher and one with a mid-90s fastball, struck out 80 over 60 last season.
Las Vegas Aviators
Gage Jump‘s fastball can “jump” on hitters — and now he’ll have a chance to ace advanced hitting at a supremely difficult pitching environment. The left-hander is one of several notable pitching prospects for the Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate.
Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang and Kade Morris, the former of whom was added to the 40-man roster this past winter, will pitch in Las Vegas.
As for the lineup, Henry Bolte is an exciting hitter who will swing and miss a lot. Junior Perez is back after a breakthrough season between Double-A and Triple-A.
Oklahoma City Comets
River Ryan will look to get back on track after he missed all of 2025 due to injury. The high-octane pitcher hit as high as 99 MPH over the spring and struck out 12 over 9.2 IP in Grapefruit League action.
He’ll be joined by Ronan Kopp, an electric left-handed reliever who was added to the 40-man roster by the Dodgers in November. Kopp can hit triple digits out of the bullpen.
As for the offense, Ryan Ward is still stuck in Oklahoma City. That’s how it goes when you’re with the Dodgers, even though Ward was the best hitter in the Pacific Coast League. He’ll be joined by Zach Ehrhard and James Tibbs, two very good outfield prospects acquired for Dustin May.
Reno Aces
Mitch Bratt doesn’t throw hard — yet he was one of the best strikeout pitchers in the Texas League last season. Bratt, acquired from the Rangers in July 2025, has a low-90s fastball with cut, a sinker & a changeup, plus two sliders with different shapes.
The left-hander will be joined alongside Kohl Drake, a pitcher with even greater upside and one who was electric in the Minors over the past two seasons. Sans, some lulls in Triple-A.
Meanwhile, the headliner of the Aces’ roster is Ryan Waldschmidt, who didn’t miss a beat in Double-A after he bulldozed through High-A. Power and plate discipline are among the hallmarks of his game.
Waldschmidt is joined by Tommy Troy and Kristian Robinson.
Round Rock Express
A veteran roster includes Cameron Cauley, arguably the best position player prospect on the Round Rock team. Sebastian Walcott likely would have started 2026 with Triple-A. But alas, an elbow injury scuttled that.
Emiliano Teodo will hope for better after an injury-shortened 2025 season.
Sacramento River Cats
Bryce Eldridge whiffed a lot in spring action this year. That’s not going to go away in his game. But the question now will be whether he can improve ever-so-slightly and cut down the whiff as he heads down to Triple-A again this season.
Carson Whisenhunt had a rough spring, as he walked eight over nine innings. He’ll be on the Sacramento pitching staff alongside Trevor McDonald, who was hit around in the Cactus League after a good late-season run with the Giants last year.
Salt Lake Bees
There’s some upside on the Salt Lake pitching staff, aside from hard-thrower George Klassen. Sam Aldegheri and Mitch Farris, both of whom have MLB experience, are on the Bees’ roster. Samy Natera Jr., who missed a lot of bats in Double-A, is an interesting reliever to watch.
Denzer Guzman and Nelson Rada, both top prospects in the Angels’ system, head to Salt Lake. Both had good camps. Guzman hit .350 with two home runs in limited action.
Sugar Land Space Cowboys
There are some upside pitchers in Sugar Land.
Jayden Murray‘s fastball missed a lot of bats last season, and he could be a potential option for the Astros’ — or some other teams — future. Alimber Santa was a heavy groundball pitcher and could thrive in the PCL.
Miguel Ullola has some of the best stuff in the Houston system. However, walks hurt him badly in camp.
Zach Cole and Shay Whitcomb, the latter of whom spent time in Team Korea this past March, are among the notable hitters with the Cowboys.
Tacoma Rainiers
All eyes will be on Colt Emerson. Emerson could be a fixture in the Mariners’ infield for years to come. Consistent contact hitter, power, and may very well be the team’s shortstop of the future.
Check out more of our Minor League coverage, including a look at 2026 International League prospects to watch.