Five Prospects With the Best Chances to Make Opening Day Rosters

As spring training approaches, there are many things to be excited about. From the smell of freshly cut outfield grass in the air to the crack of the bat ringing through both Florida and Arizona, the anticipation of the new season is palpable.

For fans and front offices alike, spring training also brings the first chances to see each team’s new acquisitions in their new uniforms. However, it doesn’t end there, as fan bases get the chance to see their top prospects go up against major league talent — some for the first time.

This year, some of the game’s best prospects have a chance to crack their respective big league rosters. Among this group are players from all sorts of playstyles and circumstances, which makes these opportunities even more interesting to watch.

For some of the players who will break camp with their big league clubs, this will be the first step in seasons worthy of a Rookie of the Year trophy at the end of the year. On a similar point, some of these prospects could provide their clubs with much-needed help in getting to the postseason.

Let’s take a closer look at five of the prospects who could make the Opening Day roster with a big spring training performance, and what each of these players brings to the table.

JJ Wetherholt

Of all the players named in this story, eventual St. Louis Cardinals shortstop JJ Wetherholt has arguably the best chance to make the Opening Day roster. Wetherholt hasn’t missed a beat since he was drafted seventh overall by the Cardinals in the 2024 MLB Draft, and the team could significantly benefit from his presence on the big league team as early as possible.

Wetherholt tore the cover off the baseball during the 2025 campaign, reaching as high as Triple-A in the process. The 23-year-old slashed .306/.421/.510 with 17 homers and a 154 wRC+ the full season, seemingly never running into real competition wherever he played.

Wetherholt was one of just four minor league hitters to boast an on-base percentage above .420 in 2025, joining an elite group that included three top 100 prospects and big leaguer Luis Campusano. Wetherholt’s excellent bat-to-ball and plate discipline skills have allowed him to receive some of the best offensive grades of all players on our top 100.

According to multiple outlets, the Cardinals plan on giving Wetherholt “every opportunity” to make the Opening Day roster. Although he’s seen most of his reps at shortstop, he’s best set up to compete take over at second base in the wake of the Brendan Donovan trade.

All things considered, Wetherholt has a legitimate chance to break onto the scene and quickly become a household name in St. Louis. Currently, he has the second-best odds at Bet MGM to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, and if he cracks the Opening Day roster, this would become even more likely.

Konnor Griffin

Last season, there was no bigger story in the minor leagues than the rise of Konnor Griffin. The 19-year-old former first-rounder flew up top 100 boards across the industry, eventually becoming the consensus top prospect in baseball by the end of the season. This spring, this story would continue to grow even larger, as Griffin has the rare chance to make the Opening Day roster.

To say Griffin hit incredibly well last season would be an understatement. He finished the season slashing .333/.415/.527 with 21 homers, 65 stolen bases, and a 165 wRC+. This wasn’t even the most impressive part of his season, as he completed the very rare feat of moving the whole way from Low-A to Double-A as a teenager.

Although Griffin has put himself in conversations as a generational prospect, the idea of him breaking camp with the Pittsburgh Pirates felt nothing shy of fan fiction. However, Jeff Passan reported in December that the Pirates were strongly considering giving Griffin every opportunity to win the starting shortstop position.

This is truly an unprecedented possibility, as Major League Baseball hasn’t had a teenage hitter make their major league debut since Juan Soto in 2018. If history repeats itself, this could be the start of a historic career for Just Baseball’s No. 1 prospect.

While it may still be a little unrealistic to expect Griffin to start the year on the big league roster, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility. If he keeps taking strides against big league arms this spring, look for him to make his debut very soon.

Kevin McGonigle

Although Griffin stole the spotlight before season’s end, Detroit Tigers second baseman Kevin McGonigle had quite the historic season in his own right. Once Just Baseball’s number one prospect, he has the rare opportunity to skip Triple-A and go straight to the big leagues with a strong showing in spring training.

To put it plainly, McGonigle was an offensive machine during the 2025 season. The 20-year-old hit at a historic pace, slashing .305/.408/.583 with 19 homers and a 182 wRC+ between three levels. In addition to this production, McGonigle pulled off the rare feat of walking more than he struck out (59 BBs to 46 Ks).

The Tigers’ roster finds itself in an interesting position ahead of spring training. The second base spot currently belongs to Gleyber Torres, who posted a 113 wRC+ with over 3.0 fWAR last season. Aside from him, Zach McKinstry and Colt Keith round out the infield.

For the Tigers, it may be difficult to work McGonigle into the lineup without doing some serious positional adjustments. Whether that’s having Kerry Carpenter play an outfield position to free up the designated hitter spot, or something else, this could present a real challenge.

For this reason, it wouldn’t be completely surprising if the Tigers option Just Baseball’s No. 2 prospect to Triple-A to open the season. However, McGonigle has shown such a polished offensive game that he’s slowly forcing the team’s hand.

If McGonigle cracks the Opening Day roster, he should immediately become one of the favorites to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award. The question isn’t whether he’s ready, but where he’ll fit into the fold.

Joe Mack

After finishing the 2025 season with a record of just 79-83, the Miami Marlins are turning to their young core to provide hope for the future. One of the biggest pieces of this group is Just Baseball’s No. 26 prospect, Joe Mack.

During the 2024 season, Mack fully broke out and proved that he could be quite the intriguing hitter while at Double-A. This translated into the 2025 season, where Mack’s bat, combined with elite defense, caught the eye of evaluators across the industry.

Spending time between Double-A and Triple-A, Mack slashed .257/.338/.475 with 21 homers and a 120 wRC+. While there are questions surrounding his hit tool, the glove is legitimate. He caught 35 runners with some of the most ridiculous throws you’ll see from a catcher. Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton even gave his glove a potential 70-grade down the line.

Agustin Ramirez is currently the Marlins’ catcher, and while he hit well enough to keep that position, his glove tells the complete opposite story. His -13 Fielding Run Value was the second-worst among all catchers, meaning Mack’s glove would be a much-needed upgrade.

If Mack can hit well enough during spring training to break camp with the club, he’ll likely take the starting job behind the plate, with Ramirez shifting to a designated hitter role. While he may not be as flashy as the other names in this story, he’s certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Carson Benge

Despite losing some of the key names on their roster to free agency, the New York Mets have put together a very good offseason altogether. One of these moves — the Brandon Nimmo deal — opened the door for Carson Benge to potentially make the Opening Day roster.

During the 2025 campaign, Benge was at the forefront of the Mets’ farm system that was regarded as arguably the strongest in the sport. In 116 games between three levels, Benge hit 15 homers while slashing .281/.385/.472 with a 150 wRC+. He quickly flew up our top 100, becoming our No. 15 prospect by season’s end.

The former first-rounder did struggle a little bit once he reached Triple-A at the end of the season, but this shouldn’t be an issue that will plague him long-term.

With the Mets moving on from Nimmo, Benge is currently projected to be the team’s Opening Day left fielder, according to FanGraphs’ RosterResource. While he still has some work to be done to prove that he’s ready for this role, a big spring training performance could push him into this territory.

Benge proved that he has one of the highest offensive floors in the minor leagues last season. Now, it’ll be about whether or not he’s ready to make the big league transition after spring training, or sometime during the season.