\t\tImage credit:
\n\tTravis Bazzana (Photo by Yuki Taguchi\/WBCI\/MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to begin this week, with this year\u2019s field featuring many of the best players from around the globe. A number of those WBC rosters will also include top prospects that can be found ranked in Baseball America\u2019s Top 30 lists or our Top 100 Prospects<\/a>.<\/p>\n And while a number of teams, such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Japan and Korea, either have no ranked prospects or no prospect-eligible players on their roster at all, there are still plenty of exciting names to know for when games begin on Thursday.<\/p>\n Australia<\/p>\n Travis Bazzana<\/a>, 2B, Guardians<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Cleveland\u2019s No. 1<\/a> & No. 22 in BA\u2019s Top 100 Prospects<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Bazzana\u2019s profile hasn\u2019t changed significantly since draft day, and his combination of hitting prowess and usable power gives him occasional all-star upside. He\u2019s expected to play for Australia in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. After that, he shouldn\u2019t need much more minor league time before assuming Cleveland\u2019s everyday second base job and adding more length to their lineup.<\/p>\n Brazil<\/p>\n Joseph Contreras<\/a>, RHP, Blessed Trinity Catholic HS, Roswell, Ga.<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: No. 34 on BA\u2019s 2026 MLB Draft Board<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Contreras is the son of Jose Contreras, who pitched 11 seasons in the major leagues after signing with the Yankees when he left Cuba. Joseph Contreras is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound righthander with long levers and tons of physical projection. As he\u2019s gotten older and stronger, his velocity has ticked up significantly, from topping out around 91 in 2024 to sitting 92-96 mph and touching 98 in 2025. He shows feel for an 83-86 mph slider that flashes plus, spins in the 2,400-2,800 rpm range and flashes good depth. He has multiple offspeed pitches led by a unique vulcan-grip forkball with low spin rates and hard tumbling action in the mid 70s and a more typical changeup with armside fade in the low 80s. Contreras is a Vanderbilt commit who\u2019s young for the class and has first-round upside.<\/p>\n Canada<\/p>\n Owen Caissie<\/a>, OF, Marlins<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Miami\u2019s No. 4<\/a> & No. 43 in BA\u2019s Top 100 Prospects<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Caissie profiles as a major league-ready, slugging corner outfielder with the requisite plate skills to project as an above-average regular. Following his acquisition, he is well positioned to crack the Marlins\u2019 Opening Day roster and contribute immediately to the middle of the lineup.<\/p>\n Tyler Black<\/a>, INF\/OF, Brewers<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Milwaukee\u2019s No. 27<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: As a 25-year-old, Black is now on the older end for a prospect. If the injury was what led to his struggles in 2025, he\u2019s a rebound candidate. However, with questions about his offensive profile at the positions he now plays, a path to playing time in Milwaukee is difficult, making him a potential change-of-scenery candidate.<\/p>\n Colombia<\/p>\n Michael Arroyo<\/a>, SS, Mariners <\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Seattle\u2019s No. 5<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: After the 2025 season, the Mariners decided to give Arroyo time in the outfield to lessen his defensive demands, take advantage of his average speed and create an avenue to playing time with the organization\u2019s crowded infield. Arroyo is expected to return to Double-A to open the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Great Britain<\/p>\n Harry Ford<\/a>, C, Nationals<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Washington\u2019s No. 3<\/a> & No. 99 in BA\u2019s Top 100 Prospects<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Ford faced a future in Seattle blocked by all-star Cal Raleigh. Now, he has a much clearer path to playing time in Washington, where he has a good chance to win a share of the catcher job alongside Keibert Ruiz, who is locked into a team-friendly deal through the 2030 season.<\/p>\n \u00a0Gary Gill Hill<\/a>, RHP, Rays<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Tampa Bay\u2019s No. 27<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Gill Hill shows flashes of velocity that would make him a midrotation starter, and the 21-year-old is still young enough to add more strength and stuff. His current arsenal doesn\u2019t miss many bats, but his plus control and durability make him a useful back-of-the-rotation arm.<\/p>\n Israel<\/p>\n Cole Carrigg<\/a>, 1B, Rockies<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Colorado\u2019s No. 6<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: While 2025 marked the toughest season of his career, Carrigg\u2019s tools remain intact, and with adjustments to his approach, he still has a chance to have a role as an everyday player. His defense, athleticism and speed make him a useful player if he hits enough to make an impact, but, like a number of Rockies prospects, he has to make better swing decisions to make it all work.<\/p>\n RJ Schreck<\/a>, OF, Blue Jays<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Toronto\u2019s No. 8<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Schreck looks like a second-division regular with a bat-driven profile.<\/p>\n Charlie Beilenson<\/a>, RHP, Mariners<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Seattle\u2019s No. 29<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: While Beilenson is already 26, his feel for an unusually deep arsenal makes him a prime candidate for a high-leverage relief role in the big leagues.<\/p>\n Italy<\/p>\n Dante Nori<\/a>, OF, Phillies<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Philadelphia\u2019s No. 7<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Nori will return to Double-A Reading, where his experience in colder weather will help him survive the early months in the Eastern League. He has a chance to be a table-setter who gets on base and holds down center field, but he\u2019ll need plenty of work to reach that ceiling.<\/p>\n Sam Antonacci<\/a>, 2B, White Sox<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Chicago\u2019s No. 7<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Few doubt that Antonacci will hit, but the rest of his game will need to continue to improve to become a major league contributor. The increase in his exit velocities and his performance in the AFL\u20141.046 OPS in 19 games\u2014are positive signs that he can fill a big league role.<\/p>\n Nick Morabito<\/a>, OF, Mets<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: New York\u2019s No. 11<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: The Mets added Morabito to the 40-man roster in November to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. Time at Triple-A is on tap to help him hone his speed and defense, which are potential carrying tools that give him a chance to become an extra outfielder.<\/p>\n Andrew Fischer<\/a>, 3B, Brewers<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Milwaukee\u2019s No. 12<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Fischer was one of the more complete offensive threats available in the 2025 draft. He could be up in Milwaukee by 2027, either at third base or first base, with the upside to hit in the middle of their lineup.<\/p>\n Sam Aldegheri<\/a>, LHP, Angels<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Los Angeles\u2019 No. 15<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Aldegheri\u2019s pitchability and floor will give him a chance to crack the Angels\u2019 rotation in 2026. To reach his back-end starter ceiling, he\u2019ll need to prove his late-season progress wasn\u2019t a fluke.<\/p>\n Netherlands<\/p>\n \u00a0Druw Jones<\/a>, OF, Diamondbacks<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Arizona\u2019s No. 17<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Jones managed to produce for a short stretch last year; doing it for closer to a full season is his next challenge. If he can, he still might have some offensive upside he can deliver along with his plus defensive abilities.<\/p>\n Antwone Kelly<\/a>, RHP, Pirates<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Pittsburgh\u2019s No. 8<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Kelly\u2019s velocity spike raised his ceiling. If his slider takes a similar step forward in 2026, he projects as a midrotation starter with the fallback as a late-inning reliever who can overpower hitters. An MLB debut in 2026 isn\u2019t out of the question after he closed 2025 at Double-A Altoona.<\/p>\n Jaitoine Kelly<\/a>, RHP, Diamondbacks<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Arizona\u2019s No. 27<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Kelly has a long way to go but has significant upside given his arm and frame. If it all comes together, he has the potential to be a midrotation starter.<\/p>\n Panama<\/p>\n Leo Bernal<\/a>, C, Cardinals<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: St. Louis\u2019 No. 10<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Bernal looks like a rotation catcher who will see most of his starts against lefthanded pitchers. Improvements to his lefthanded swing and blocking ability could push him into everyday catcher territory.<\/p>\n Enrique Bradfield Jr.<\/a>, OF, Orioles<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Baltimore\u2019s No. 8<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: There\u2019s little doubt that Bradfield can help a major league team as an everyday outfielder thanks to his speed and defense, and his current offensive trajectory points toward that kind of floor. He\u2019ll be back at Triple-A Norfolk to start 2026 and could make his major league debut over the summer.<\/p>\n Puerto Rico<\/p>\n \u00a0Elmer Rodriguez<\/a>, RHP, Yankees<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: New York\u2019s No. 2<\/a> & No. 59 in BA\u2019s Top 100 Prospects<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Rodriguez began the year in High-A and ended it with a cameo in Triple-A, where he should begin the 2026 season. He has a chance to make his big league debut at some point after midseason and could one day settle in as a midrotation starter with a chance for a little bit more depending on how his body fills out as he matures.<\/p>\n Taiwan<\/p>\n \u00a0Wei-En Lin<\/a>, LHP, Athletics<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Athletics\u2019 No. 5<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: After a revelatory 2025, Lin is one of the Athletics\u2019 more intriguing young arms. He would benefit from added power and more chase from his secondary pitches, and he must prove his stuff plays against upper-level hitters, but his pitchability gives him a high floor and midrotation upside.<\/p>\n Hao-Yu Lee<\/a>, 2B, Tigers<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Detroit\u2019s No. 6<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: Lee has many of the same strengths and weaknesses as Jace Jung and Max Anderson, which leads to a bit of a logjam at Triple-A. Lee\u2019s defense is better than either Jung or Anderson, however, and he has some defensive versatility. On a Tigers team whose lineup is getting more and more lefthanded, Lee\u2019s ability to produce quality at-bats against lefties could help him carve out a platoon role.<\/p>\n Yu-Min Lin<\/a>, LHP, Diamondbacks<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: Arizona\u2019s No. 15<\/p>\n Scouting Report: Lin\u2019s ability to generate tremendous spin on both his curveball and slider gives him a decent floor, but the lack of power in his repertoire limits his ceiling. He still has back-end starter potential but will need to get better results than he did in 2025.<\/p>\n United States<\/p>\n Nolan McLean<\/a>, RHP, Mets<\/p>\n Prospect Rank: New York\u2019s No. 1<\/a> & No. 8 in BA\u2019s Top 100 Prospects<\/a><\/p>\n Scouting Report: In the words of one scout, McLean\u2019s high-spin breaking stuff and low-spin changeup are \u201chow you draw it up.\u201d He showed in his eight-start MLB debut that he is major league ready. He was the Mets\u2019 best pitcher down the stretch and is ready to assume a prominent role in the rotation. He has the ingredients to become a prototype No. 2 starter. McLean retains his rookie status for 2026 and will likely add Prospect Promotion Incentive eligibility, giving the Mets a chance to add a draft pick after the first round if he factors for a major award in his first three seasons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Image credit: Travis Bazzana (Photo by Yuki Taguchi\/WBCI\/MLB Photos via Getty Images) The 2026 World Baseball Classic is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":499616,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[363,99,72364],"class_list":["post-499615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-mlb","tag-sports","tag-world-baseball-classic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=499615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499615\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/499616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=499615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=499615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=499615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}