All 97 Players Eligible To Earn Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) Draft Picks In 2026

Image credit:
Trey Yesavage (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Editor’s note: Rhett Lowder erroneously appeared in an earlier version of this post. Lowder qualifies as a 2026 rookie but actually had PPI eligibility attach in 2025, which he spent on the MLB injured list and on rehab assignments.

The 2025 season showcased the best features of the Prospect Promotion Incentive. Two MLB teams added draft picks based on the performance of young, homegrown performers.

Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won National League Rookie of the Year in 2025 as a PPI-eligible player, granting Atlanta the 26th overall pick in 2026.

Astros righthander Hunter Brown finished top three for the American League Cy Young Award in his third and final season of PPI eligibility. Houston added the 28th pick as a result.

That was then. This is now.

The list of players who have the potential to earn PPI eligibility in 2026 now comes into view. A total of 97 players have cleared the first hurdle of eligibility, which is ranking on at least two out of three qualifying Top 100 Prospects rankings. Those qualifying Top 100 rankings belong to Baseball America, ESPN and MLB.

Note that the players listed in this post do not automatically add PPI eligibility. They have simply taken the first step toward that end by ranking on the requisite number of preseason Top 100s. For PPI eligibility to attach, players must accrue at least 172 days of MLB service in 2026. To trigger a draft pick, as Baldwin and Brown did in 2025, a PPI-eligible player must then also factor for a major award.

You can read much more on PPI qualification rules, history and quirks here. All players are presented alphabetically.

Potential PPI-Qualifying Players With MLB Experience (18 Players)

The following players are 40-man roster members who have major league experience. Most were called up for the first time on Aug. 15 or later. Having MLB experience gives these players an advantage when it comes to Opening Day roster considerations.

Moises Ballesteros, C, Cubs

Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Orioles

Dylan Beavers, OF, Orioles

Owen Caissie, OF, Marlins

Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates

Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians

Connelly Early, LHP, Red Sox

Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants

Harry Ford, C, Nationals

Carter Jensen, C, Royals

Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets

Parker Messick, LHP, Guardians

Brandon Sproat, RHP, Brewers

Sal Stewart, 3B/1B, Reds

Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox

Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets

Carson Williams, SS, Rays

Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays

This group of debuted prospects is much more robust than last year’s group, which totaled just eight players. The early betting favorites to win Rookie of the Year in each league are present: Trey Yesavage in the AL and Nolan McLean in the NL.

Notable Exceptions

Henderson and Melton both made their MLB debuts in the first half of the 2025 season but retain rookie eligibility for 2026 despite early callup dates. That’s because they spent much of the season on the injured list, and neither player exceeded 45 days of active service. However, both exceeded 60 days of total service—once factoring IL time—thus nullifying PPI eligibility.

A Note About Traded Players

Owen Caissie, Harry Ford and Brandon Sproat all were involved in offseason trades but will retain the potential to add PPI eligibility with their new clubs. Only players traded in the midst of their debut seasons have the potential for PPI eligibility nullified.

Potential PPI-Qualifying Players Who Reached Double-A Or Triple-A (49 Players)

The following players reached the upper levels of the minor leagues in 2025, if only for a game, but did not make their MLB debuts. This pool of players is considered to be in play for a 2026 callup, though few will make Opening Day rosters and accrue enough MLB service for PPI eligibility to attach.

The best bets to make Opening Day rosters are those ranked highest on the BA Top 100, a subset that includes top 25 overall position prospects Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Colt Emerson and Carson Benge.

Franklin Arias, SS, Red Sox

Michael Arroyo, OF, Mariners

Joshua Baez, OF, Cardinals

Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians

Carson Benge, OF, Mets

Leonardo Bernal, C, Cardinals

Josue Briceño, C/1B, Tigers

Jurrangelo Cijntje, SHP, Mariners

Max Clark, OF, Tigers

Justin Crawford, OF, Phillies

Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Twins

Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers

Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics

Liam Doyle, LHP, Cardinals

Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners

A.J. Ewing, OF, Mets

Angel Genao, SS, Guardians

Trey Gibson, RHP, Orioles

Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates

Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers

Brody Hopkins, RHP, Rays

Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins

Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics

Carlos Lagrange, RHP, Yankees

George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees

Joe Mack, C, Marlins

Jesús Made, SS, Brewers

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers

Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies

Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners

Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox

Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies

Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers

Connor Prielipp, LHP, Twins

JR Ritchie, RHP, Braves

Elmer Rodriguez, RHP, Yankees

Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins

Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox

Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox

Robby Snelling, LHP, Marlins

Jarlin Susana, RHP, Nationals

Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals

Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Guardians

Sebastian Walcott, SS, Rangers

Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks

JJ Wetherholt, SS, Cardinals

Thomas White, LHP, Marlins

Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Cubs

Jett Williams, SS, Brewers

Potential PPI-Qualifying Players Who Have Not Yet Reached Double-A (30 Players)

While at least one fast-moving collegian from the 2025 draft is likely to reach MLB in 2026, he is unlikely to do so in time to accrue 172 service days. But it’s not impossible.

Last year, Astros outfielder Cam Smith appeared in this cohort of prospects but still went on to make Houston’s Opening Day roster and stick in MLB all season. The most likely players to repeat that trick this year are first-round 2025 college draftees Kade Anderson, Jamie Arnold, Aiva Arquette, Tyler Bremner and Kyson Witherspoon.

It’s possible, but not likely.

Kade Anderson, LHP, Mariners

Jamie Arnold, LHP, Athletics

Aiva Arquette, SS, Marlins

Caleb Bonemer, SS, White Sox

Tyler Bremner, RHP, Angels

Cam Caminiti, LHP, Braves

Billy Carlson, SS, White Sox

Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians

Alfredo Duno, C, Reds

Edward Florentino, OF, Pirates

Nate George, OF, Orioles