The AL West and NL West enter 2026 with a mix of powerhouse contenders, rising stars, and volatile rosters. And just like every season, the difference between October baseball and disappointment will come down to unexpected performances.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s one player from each AL West and NL West team who could shock the league in 2026, whether it\u2019s a breakout year or a surprising step back.<\/p>\n
AL West Surprise Players
\nHouston Astros \u2014 Carlos Correa (Positive)
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USATSI_26864325-300x200.jpg\")
Aug 16, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Carlos Correa (1) hits a RBI single to right field against the Baltimore Orioles during the fourth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
A return to Houston<\/a> could be exactly what Correa<\/a> needed. If he stays healthy, there\u2019s still All-Star production in his bat and glove. 2026 could be a reminder that he\u2019s still one of the premier shortstops in the game\u2014a true bounceback season that stabilizes the Astros lineup.<\/p>\n Texas Rangers \u2014 Wyatt Langford (Positive)<\/p>\n Langford<\/a> has superstar upside for the Rangers<\/a>, and this could be the year it fully shows. His power, athleticism, and approach give him the tools to become one of the most dangerous hitters in the division.<\/p>\n Seattle Mariners \u2014 Josh Naylor (Negative) Naylor<\/a> brings intensity and power, but consistency is the question. If pitchers adjust and he struggles to maintain production over a full season, 2026 could be more frustrating than impactful. A dip here would hurt Seattle\u2019s offensive stability.<\/p>\n Oakland Athletics \u2014 Zack Gelof (Positive)<\/p>\n Gelof<\/a> has already flashed real potential. If he cuts down on swing-and-miss tendencies, he could turn into a legitimate breakout star and cornerstone for the A\u2019s<\/a> future.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Angels \u2014 Logan O\u2019Hoppe (Positive)<\/p>\n O\u2019Hoppe<\/a> has the makeup of a top-tier catcher. If his bat continues to develop, he could emerge as one of the brightest young stars in the AL and a key piece for the Angels<\/a> moving forward.<\/p>\n NL West Surprise Players Pages<\/a> has big power, but his approach remains a concern. If strikeouts pile up and consistency never settles in, he could struggle to hold a key role in a loaded Dodgers<\/a>\u2018 lineup. The tools are loud\u2014but the floor is lower than many expect.<\/p>\n \u00a0San Diego Padres \u2014 Jackson Merrill (Positive)<\/p>\n Merrill<\/a> might be one of the most exciting breakout candidates in all of baseball. His natural hitting ability, advanced feel for contact, and composure at a young age stand out immediately for San Diego<\/a>. What makes him special is his ability to adjust\u2014pitch to pitch, at-bat to at-bat.<\/p>\n If the power continues to develop, Merrill could evolve from a high-contact hitter into a complete offensive force. Add in defensive versatility and strong baseball instincts, and you\u2019re looking at a player who could leap into All-Star territory in 2026. This isn\u2019t just a breakout candidate\u2014this is a potential star arrival.<\/p>\n San Francisco Giants \u2014 Luis Arraez (Negative)<\/p>\n Arraez<\/a> is one of the best pure hitters in baseball\u2014but his profile leaves little margin for error. If his batting average dips even slightly and the on-base numbers follow, his overall impact drops quickly. In a new environment with the Giants<\/a>, that risk becomes even more real.<\/p>\n Arizona Diamondbacks \u2014 Corbin Burnes (Positive) If Burnes<\/a> returns healthy, he instantly changes everything for Arizona<\/a>. A fully locked-in Burnes is a Cy Young-caliber arm capable of dominating any lineup. His return from the IL could be one of the most impactful midseason boosts in baseball\u2014and a major reason the Diamondbacks contend.<\/p>\n Colorado Rockies \u2014 Nolan Jones (Negative)<\/p>\n Jones<\/a> has shown flashes, but consistency\u2014especially away from Coors Field\u2014remains a concern. If his approach doesn\u2019t hold up, 2026 could bring regression rather than progression for the Rockies<\/a>.<\/p>\n Why These Picks Matter<\/p>\n The West divisions are defined by high ceilings and real volatility. A bounce-back from Carlos Correa or a breakout from Jackson Merrill could reshape the playoff picture. Meanwhile, regression from players like Josh Naylor or Luis\u00a0Arraez could\u00a0open the door for unexpected contenders.<\/p>\n In 2026, the West won\u2019t just be about stars\u2014it\u2019ll be about who surprises us most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The AL West and NL West enter 2026 with a mix of powerhouse contenders, rising stars, and volatile…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":641763,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2391],"tags":[10105,22,537,5,52,54,57,4,3226,18,66,65,69],"class_list":["post-641762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-athletics","tag-anaheim-angels","tag-arizona-diamondbacks","tag-athletics","tag-baseball","tag-colorado-rockies","tag-houston-astros","tag-los-angeles-dodgers","tag-mlb","tag-mlb-athletics","tag-san-diego-padres","tag-san-francisco-giants","tag-seattle-mariners","tag-texas-rangers"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=641762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641762\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/641763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=641762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=641762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=641762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USATSI_27372593_168400885_lowres-300x200.jpg\")
Oct 19, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) runs after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning during game six of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
\nLos Angeles Dodgers \u2014 Andy Pages (Negative)<\/p>\n
\n![\"Corbin](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USATSI_26349944_168400530_lowres-300x216.jpg\")
Arizona Diamondbacks\u2019 Corbin Burnes (39) pitches against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field in Phoenix on June 1, 2025.<\/p>\n