Hitting Prospects Whose Stock is Up To Start 2026

It’s early in the baseball calendar, but the first month of the season is always an opportunity to identify which prospects took a large step forward in the offseason and are applying it on the field.

It’s important to discern which players are just simply off to a hot start versus those who have made tangible leaps backed by potential mechanical adjustments and data. The 10 players below would fit the latter description.

Franklin Arias – SS – Red Sox

Arias entered the 2026 season as the No. 39 overall prospect on Just Baseball’s Top 100 list, in large part to his elite bat-to-ball skills. His zone contact rate of 93% was among the best in the Minor Leagues, and he at least showcased enough pop to fend off the “slap hitter” label.

It was that natural ability to hit that allowed Arias to climb three levels at 19 years old last year, closing out the season with a 10-game taste of Double-A. He returned to Portland as the youngest player in the Eastern League, but has immediately looked more mature at the plate, both physically and in his approach.

He has always controlled his big leg kick well enough to compete, but there were times when it looked like he could push out onto his front side prematurely. Arias added strength in the offseason, aiding his increase in bat speed and giving him a stronger, more controlled base as well.

The results through the first 20 games this season have been jaw-dropping. It only took Arias one month to match his 2025 home run total of eight, and every metric that matters is noticeably better. Arias’s average bat speed is up two MPH, he has doubled his average launch angle, increased his Hard Hit rate by 20%, and has cut his chase by 5%.

Unsurprisingly, the result is the biggest power breakout in baseball through the first month, hitting .346/.426/.704 (177 wRC+). Arias is unlikely to sustain his ridiculous average exit velocity of 94 MPH through his first 20 contests, but there’s also no doubting that Arias has added a power dynamic to his profile that few expected.

We were on the generous side relative to the industry with a 45 future value on Arias’ power, though above-average pop seems attainable with the increased bat speed and improved angles.

The key variable now for Arias is his shortstop defense, where his hands are great, but the range is a bit short. If he can take a step forward with the glove as well, Arias could become one of the best prospects in baseball.

AJ Ewing – OF/2B – Mets

Another prospect who entered the season already inside of Just Baseball’s Top 50 prospects, Ewing has been so good that he has pushed his already high stock even higher as well. The elite wheels and above-average bat to ball lead the way, helping him turn in an impressive age 20 season where he climbed from Low-A to Double-A, posting a 147 wRC+ in 124 games.

Despite only playing 28 games at Double-A to close out the year, Ewing’s ridiculous start to the 2026 season at the level earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he has continued to mash.

Even through his success in 2025, Ewing struggled to lay off secondaries at times. In the early going this season, Ewing is chasing non-fastballs nearly 10% less frequently.

Ewing’s barrel control, paired with improved plate discipline, has helped him walk more than he has struck out through his first 25 games between Double-A and Triple-A, and he is already 16-for-17 on stolen bases.

Add in a slight uptick in the exit velocity department and a glove that looks above average in center field and second base, and Ewing looks like a guy who could help the Mets as soon as this season.

Ethan Salas – C – Padres

Making his Low-A debut just before his 17th birthday, Salas stood out at the level, posting a 123 wRC+ before being promoted to High-A and Double-A for nine games apiece just to get him more reps at the end of the Low-A and High-A seasons.

Salas would spend all of 2024 at High-A, where he struggled, slashing just .206/.288/.311 (76 wRC+). His potential bounce-back season in 2025 was negated due to a lumbar spine issue that limited him to just 10 games.

As a result, Salas started to slip off of radars. He still entered the season as Just Baseball’s No. 100 overall prospect, with his 70-grade defensive potential behind the dish buoying him.

On top of getting healthy and stronger, Salas made some swing adjustments that have him utilizing his lower half much more effectively. His stance is now open with a toe tap that has helped him keep his weight back.

The sample size is still small, but through his first 22 games at Double-A, Salas boasts a 169 wRC+ with an average exit velocity nearly six MPH higher than his last full season in 2024 and a nearly 20% jump in Hard Hit rate.

Salas’s top-end exit velocities make it easier to buy into the power uptick being sustainable. Entering this season, he had never hit a ball in the air north of 108 MPH. He already has four air exit velocities of 110 MPH or above this year. In terms of 105 MPH and above in the air, Salas has already eclipsed the total in less than 20% of the at bats. The icing on the cake is a 7% increase in contact rate as well.

With the potential to be a plus-plus defender behind the dish, the offensive barrier to being a big league regular is much lower than the average prospect for Salas.

That said, he is showcasing a skill set that could easily result in above-average offensive upside as he approaches his 20th birthday, which could vault him back among the top catcher prospects in the game.

Luis Lara – OF – Brewers

A switch-hitter with good bat-to-ball skills, Lara has long been lauded for his defensive ability and baseball instincts, encouraging the Brewers to move the outfielder through the Minor Leagues quickly despite never quite lighting it up at any level.

He took a step forward in the second half of his age-20 season at Double-A last year, posting a 121 wRC+ from August onward (167 PA), carrying that momentum and then some into 2026.

In a season where he will be 21 years old for its entirety, Lara got the nod at Triple-A, where he is undoubtedly lighting it up in the form of a .336/.432/.538 line.

In 32 games, Lara has already left the yard in a pitcher-friendly Nashville ballpark six times, which is more than he had in the previous two seasons combined. The bat-to-ball has been as good as ever as well, sporting a 93% zone contact rate, aiding his dead-even strikeout to walk ratio.

Folks within the Brewers org view Lara as a Gold Glove caliber centerfielder where his speed and instincts shine, but he’ll also surprise you with a plus arm. With the uptick in game power and polishing of his present strengths, Lara quickly looks the part of an everyday centerfielder and will be on the next top 100 update.

Eric Hartman – OF – Braves

An under-the-radar signing as a 20th round selection out of the Canadian prep ranks, Hartman turned in a solid pro debut at Low-A last year, but looks like a different player at High-A this season. The quality of contact is night and day for Hartman, only posting an average exit velocity of 81.5 MPH in 2025 compared to 89.5 MPH through his first 26 games this year.

The gargantuan leap in exit velocity has unsurprisingly resulted in a massive uptick in game power as well. Hartman has already eclipsed last year’s home run total of five in 85 Low-A games, launching nine in his first 26 High-A games on his way to a 174 wRC+.

The swing can get a little rigid, as Hartman clearly is geared up to do damage, pull side from an initially relaxed setup, making the operation reminiscent of Kyle Stowers. Hartman has an unsustainably high air pull rate of 54%, though it’s clear that the left-handed hitter will have little issue elevating consistently.

After splitting time between second base and left field last year, the Braves are focusing on leveraging Hartman’s plus speed by playing him in center field, where he is a work in progress, but appears to be getting more comfortable with the ability to run balls down and an above-average arm. He swiped 48 bags on 54 tries in 2025 and already has 11 on 14 tries in 2025, validating the quickness.

There are things to refine, but it’s clear that Hartman boasts intriguing power and speed upside at what could be a premium position.

Seaver King – SS – Nationals

The 10th overall selection in 2024, King turned in a disappointing first full pro season, with an OPS of just .631 between High-A and Double-A. Approach and batted ball angles were the crux of the issue for King, chasing at a 36% clip to pair with a 51% ground ball rate.

Tools were never a question, though, which is why the D-II Wingate transfer was a top 10 pick after just one year at Wake Forest. His plus raw power and speed combination is tantalizing, and King looks to be tapping into it in 2026.

In the early going, the chase rate is down 12%, and King has nearly doubled his average launch angle. His average bat speed has jumped by a full MPH, resulting in louder contact as well.

King could still do a better job of pulling the ball, as most of his hits are the other way, but the tooled-up shortstop is following up a strong Arizona Fall League campaign with clear improvements at the Double-A level in 2026, with a 147 wRC+ through 26 games.

Devin Fitz-Gerald – 2B – Nationals

Another Nationals prospect balling out, Fitz-Gerald was acquired in the Mackenzie Gore deal after an impressive pro debut with the Rangers, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 draft.

The switch-hitting infielder was spectacular at both the Arizona Complex League and at Low-A, turning in a cumulative .302/.428/.482 slash (143 wRC+) in 41 games before seeing his season cut short due to a shoulder injury. He showed enough to be tabbed as one of our potential breakout prospects for 2026.

Despite the limited reps at Low-A, the Nationals pushed Fitz-Gerald to High-A to start the year, where he hasn’t missed a beat. Through his first 24 games, Fitz-Gerald is walking more than he is striking out, already with 14 extra base hits and 10 stolen bases, on his way to a 175 wRC+.

The operation is simple and smooth with a great feel for the barrel from both sides. Fitz-Gerald does not chase much and spoils tough pitches well, making him a tough hitter to punch out. He may not light it up exit velocity-wise, but he generates good angles from both sides that should make him a doubles machine.

Cooper Flemming – SS – Rays

A well-rounded player, Flemming was drafted in the second round of the 2025 draft, with the Rays intrigued by the sum of his parts. A year later, Flemming looks more physical, offering a potentially intriguing blend of hit and power. Through his first 23 pro games at Low-A, Flemming has raked to the tune of a .364/.457/.568 line (176 wRC+) with three homers and 11 extra base hits.

Flemming is finding the barrel consistently, spraying line drives to all fields on his way to a 50% Hard Hit rate. It’s a very simple operation, with almost no hand movement and a minimal stride, making it easy to understand how Flemming has been able to maintain an 82% contact rate through his first taste of pro ball.

Between his very projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and an operation that could accommodate a bit more violence, it’s becoming easy to dream on comfortably above average power to pair with Flemming’s natural feel to hit.

Nathan Flewelling – C – Rays

The second preseason breakout pick featured in the article and the second Ray, Flewelling has turned his intriguing exit velocities into game power at High-A this season, having already left the yard seven times. The left-handed hitting catcher has simplified his mechanics, previously featuring a bigger hand move that could result in him being tardy and out of sync with his lower half at times.

Now starting his hands closer to his slot, Flewelling is more consistently on time, driving the ball in the air regularly while pillaging velocity. He has already eclipsed last year’s total of six home runs at Low-A with seven long balls in 20% of the games while cutting down on the swing and miss.

A patient hitter, Flewelling continues to walk at a strong clip and could provide ample on-base skills to pair with his above-average pop.

Defensively, Flewelling continues to showcase the tools necessary to be a quality backstop, with a plus arm that has helped him nab 27% of attempted base stealers as a pro, along with blocking and receiving skills that continue to improve. Still just 19 years old for the entirety of the season, Flewelling offers a really sound profile and could find himself on top 100 lists by season’s end.

Jhonny Level – SS – Giants

Signed for a hair under $1 million in the 2024 IFA class for the Giants, Level dominated the DSL in 2024 before turning in a solid season at the Arizona Complex League in 2025, earning a 31-game look at Low-A to end the year, where he posted an 89 wRC+.

Through his first 22 games at Low-A this year, the newly-turned 19-year-old is mashing to a .333/.400/.556 line with four home runs and 13 extra base hits. The leap in bat speed stands out in particular, moving the bat three MPH faster than he was the season prior.

Level’s ability to maneuver the barrel from both sides of the plate really stands out, and the early returns in 2026 show that he is leveraging that more effectively. Though it’s an extra small sample from the right side, Level is running a zone-contact rate of 90% from both sides of the plate with an OPS north of .950 from both handedness.

The increase in bat speed should result in more power as Level learns to elevate more consistently. His more contact-oriented swing and approach have produced plenty of line drives and hard ground balls as he settles into full-season ball, but Level has more in the tank.

The icing on the cake is that the defensive tools continue to look as advertised, with Level offering above-average defensive potential at shortstop. The Giants’ farmhand is likely to join the top 100 list in the next update as well.