MLB Pipeline has ranked the top 10 first base prospects heading into 2026, highlighting players with strong hitting potential and power upside. Sal Stewart of the Reds tops the list, followed closely by Bryce Eldridge of the Giants. Seven of the prospects have estimated debut times of 2026, signaling a talented group ready to contribute soon.
First base remains a power position in Major League Baseball, where players must excel offensively to justify their spot on the defensive spectrum. In 2025, first basemen collectively hit 709 home runs, leading all positions in on-base percentage (.326), slugging percentage (.429), OPS (.754), and total bases (7,766). This emphasis on the bat is evident in MLB Pipeline's latest top 10 first base prospects list, released ahead of the full Top 100 Prospects reveal on January 23, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
The rankings feature a mix of high draft picks and international talents, many nearing the majors. Leading the group is Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds, with an ETA of 2026. Stewart, selected 32nd overall in 2022, boasts a 60-grade hit tool and posted a .255/.293/.545 line with five home runs in 18 major league games last season. His low strikeout rates—never exceeding 17 percent in full-season minors—position him as a .300 hitter threat, making him the highest-floor prospect and a potential Rookie of the Year candidate.
Bryce Eldridge of the San Francisco Giants ranks second, earning a 70-grade power tool. The 6-foot-7 left-handed slugger combined for 48 home runs over his last two minor league seasons and reached the majors before turning 21. Despite high strikeout rates in 2025, his 108.5 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity at Triple-A highlights his 40-homer ceiling, marking him as the highest-ceiling prospect.
Other notables include Charlie Condon (No. 3, Rockies), who needs to rebound from injuries after his 2024 Golden Spikes Award; Ralphy Velazquez (No. 4, Guardians), who slashed .330/.405/.589 in Double-A's final month at age 20; and Tre’ Morgan (No. 10, Rays), the top defender with a 70-grade field tool and 20 stolen bases in 2024.
The list also spotlights risers like Jonathon Long (No. 7, Cubs), who hit .305/.404/.479 with 20 homers at Triple-A, and prospects with humble beginnings such as Luke Adams (No. 8, Brewers), a 12th-round pick in 2022. Keep an eye on Blake Burke of the Brewers, who surged with 11 home runs in 37 Double-A games after promotion. These players could follow the path of 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, who slashed .290/.383/.619 with 36 homers for the Athletics.
