The Yahoo Sports 26-and-under power rankings provide a unique perspective on MLB organizations’ talent base by evaluating all players under the age of 26. This includes both young big leaguers and prospects who are projected to reach the majors in the next 1-2 years. The rankings are divided into four categories: young MLB hitters, young MLB pitchers, prospect hitters, and prospect pitchers, with each team receiving a score in each category.
The rankings aim to showcase each team’s young core by valuing productive young big leaguers more heavily than prospects who have yet to prove themselves at the highest level. The focus is on players entering their age-26 seasons or younger, providing a comprehensive view of each team’s talent base.
The rankings are counted down from weakest to strongest, with teams 10-6 being the next group to be featured. The analysis delves into the specific players and prospects within each organization, highlighting key strengths and areas for improvement. It provides insights into how these young talents are shaping the future of their respective teams and the potential impact they could have in the coming seasons.
Since the end of 2019, no team has lost more baseball games. Despite this, the core of Wood, Crews, and Susana is something to look forward to. It may still be another year before they can truly contend, but there is reason for excitement.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have seen a surge in their ranking thanks to the emergence of young pitching talent led by RHP Paul Skenes. Skenes, a generational talent, has quickly become one of the most valuable pitchers in the league and has transformed the Pirates’ pitching staff. Joining him are promising rookie hurlers like RHP Jared Jones, RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, and RHP Kyle Nicolas, who show great potential for the future.
On the offensive side, the Pirates are relying on players like OF Oneil Cruz and 2B Nick Gonzales to develop into impactful hitters. Cruz, in particular, is a unique athlete with immense potential, while Gonzales shows promise as a low-end regular at second base. The Pirates will need their young bats to step up and complement their strong pitching staff in order to compete in the future.
Looking ahead, Pittsburgh has a promising group of prospects, especially in the pitching department with names like RHP Bubba Chandler and RHP Thomas Harrington showing potential. The Pirates will need to continue developing their young talent to build a competitive team in the years to come.
At just 22 years old, Smith-Shawver is a promising pitcher for the Braves, showcasing four solid offerings and a mid-90s heater with good movement. It’s only a matter of time before everything clicks for him, and he becomes another valuable starter for Atlanta, especially in playoff games.
While the Braves may not have a deep farm system, they do have a few high-caliber prospects who are expected to make an impact at the big-league level this season. Baldwin is a rare catcher who scouts believe will succeed in the majors. Although he is still working on his defense, the 23-year-old has consistently performed well at the plate and just needs to be reliable behind it. With Sean Murphy holding down the everyday catching job and limited DH opportunities due to Marcell Ozuna’s presence, Baldwin is likely to start the season in Triple-A before getting called up in the middle of the year. He has the potential to become the first Black everyday catcher since Charles Johnson in 2004. — J.M.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (total score: 18/30) | 2024 rank: 8
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Young MLB hitters (9/10): OF Jackson Chourio, SS Joey Ortiz, 2B Brice Turang, OF Garrett Mitchell, OF Sal Frelick, INF Caleb Durbin, INF Tyler Black
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Young MLB pitchers (4/10): RHP Tobias Myers, RHP Abner Uribe, LHP Robert Gasser, LHP DL Hall
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Prospect hitters (3/5): C Jeferson Quero, 3B Mike Boeve, 3B Brock Wilken, 3B Luke Adams, 1B Ernesto Martinez
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Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Jacob Misiorowski, RHP Logan Henderson, RHP Chad Patrick, RHP Craig Yoho, RHP K.C. Hunt
Chourio stands out among the talented group of young hitters for the Brewers, who played a significant role in the team’s division title win in 2024. He had a slow start but excelled in the second half of the season, becoming one of the team’s top hitters. With his exceptional skills, Chourio has the potential to be a superstar, but there is still room for improvement in his discipline and defensive abilities. The Brewers’ defense is solid overall, with players like Mitchell and Frelick contributing to the team’s success.
In terms of pitching, Myers emerged as a reliable starter in 2024, while Uribe is looking to bounce back from a challenging season. The Brewers have promising arms in their prospect group, such as Misiorowski and Henderson, who could make an impact in the near future. Overall, the Brewers have a good mix of young talent that bodes well for their future success. — J.S.
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