MLB Pipeline unveiled its top 10 right-handed pitching prospects list for the 2026 season on January 12, highlighting young arms who already made impacts in the majors last year. Nolan McLean of the Mets tops the rankings, followed by Bubba Chandler of the Pirates and Trey Yesavage of the Blue Jays. The list features players with projected major league debuts ranging from 2026 to 2028.
The annual prospect rankings from MLB Pipeline build anticipation for the full Top 100 list, set to air on January 23 via MLB Network and MLB.com. This year's right-handed pitching group stands out for its familiarity, with the top three—Nolan McLean, Bubba Chandler, and Trey Yesavage—each logging major league innings in 2025. McLean emerged as the Mets' key starter late in the season, posting a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 48 innings, finishing 11th in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Yesavage made headlines by setting a rookie record with 12 strikeouts in Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers, while Chandler closed strong for the Pirates with a 1.08 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and zero walks across his final 16 2/3 major league innings.
The full top 10 includes: 1. Nolan McLean (Mets, 2026 ETA), 2. Bubba Chandler (Pirates, 2026), 3. Trey Yesavage (Blue Jays, 2026), 4. Andrew Painter (Phillies, 2026), 5. Seth Hernandez (Pirates, 2028), 6. Ryan Sloan (Mariners, 2028), 7. Jonah Tong (Mets, 2026), 8. Travis Sykora (Nationals, 2028), 9. Jaxon Wiggins (Cubs, 2026), and 10. Carlos Lagrange (Yankees, 2026). Jonah Tong, the Mets' minor league pitcher of the year, debuted alongside McLean but struggled with a 7.71 ERA in five major league outings; he remains highly valued amid trade rumors.
Standout tools include fastballs from Chandler, Painter, Hernandez, Tong, Wiggins, and Lagrange graded at 70, with Lagrange touching 103 mph. McLean's slider earns a 70 grade for its spin and versatility, while Yesavage's splitter stands out with a 58.4% whiff rate. Superlatives highlight McLean's highest ceiling as a potential No. 1 starter and Yesavage's solid floor, bolstered by his postseason performance against stars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Painter faces pressure to rebound post-Tommy John surgery, and Sykora will miss time after his own procedure. Lagrange's rapid rise from a $10,000 signing in 2022 to a breakout 2025 with 168 minor league strikeouts underscores the depth in this class.
