Welcome to theScore's ranking of the top 25 players entering their age-25 season or younger during the 2026 campaign. We've compiled our list based on previous performance and our long-term projections, and it includes only players who have already reached the majors. Below are the players ranked 10-1.
Note: Bobby Witt Jr. will be playing in his age-26 season in 2026.
Not many players begin their major-league careers like Yesavage. The right-hander has thrown almost twice as many innings in the playoffs compared to the regular season, and he was one of the most incredible stories of the 2026 campaign. The former first-round pick started last season in A-ball but finished the year pitching in Game 7 of the World Series. Throwing from one of the more unique arm slots in baseball and equipped with a fearless mentality, Yesavage's ceiling feels unbelievably high. While it's way too early to start anointing him as a perennial All-Star and Cy Young contender, few can say they've made a better first impression.
When De La Cruz is on, there might not be a more electric player in baseball. Few can match his combination of blinding speed, light-tower power, and incredible arm strength at shortstop. Although his game still has some flaws, especially in the strikeout department, he's shown consistent improvement, lowering his strikeout percentage each year while taking more walks. Expect De La Cruz to continue to get better as he enters his prime as one of the pillars of the Reds.
It's easy to forget about Chourio, who only turned 22 two weeks ago, but it's clear he still hasn't reached his ceiling. The Venezuelan is one of only nine players ever to start their careers with consecutive 20-homer, 20-steal seasons, and he might've gone 30-30 last year if not for a hamstring injury that cost him most of August. Upon returning, he was a force for the Brewers in the playoffs. It's easy to see why Chourio is considered the future of the franchise.
Caminero broke out in his first full big-league season in 2025, hitting 45 homers and finishing top-10 in AL MVP voting at age 21. He followed that up by going 7-for-20 with three homers, seven RBIs, and just one strikeout for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, suggesting that 2025 might have merely been his floor. Caminero owns the kind of bat that can change the fortunes of an entire franchise and possesses natural offensive skills that should continue to improve as he gains more MLB experience. And remember, he's just 22. The sky's the limit.
Kurtz hit 36 home runs in 117 games as a rookie. Read that again. The fourth pick in the 2024 draft crushed major-league pitching in his first taste of the bigs, finishing 10th in home runs despite not debuting until the end of April. Though Kurtz no doubt benefited from hitting in a minor-league park in Sacramento (1.039 OPS), his .967 OPS on the road showed he's a legitimate threat no matter where he plays. He's also one of 20 hitters ever to record a four-homer game - he's the only rookie to do it - and joined Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge as the only players last season with an OPS over 1.000 (min. 400 PA). That's pretty good company. What might be most impressive is that Kurtz didn't just sell out for power. He finished 18th in MLB in average while walking 12.9% of the time.
You'd never know Anthony is only 21 years old by watching him play, as he hardly seems intimidated by the moment. As Team USA's youngest player at the World Baseball Classic, he emerged as one of their best hitters, finishing with two homers and a .920 OPS across seven games. While some of that team's biggest stars struggled, Anthony stepped up and led them to wins. The Red Sox also quickly demonstrated their confidence in his abilities, handing him a $130-million extension two months after his MLB debut. Anthony oozes superstar status.
It feels like some people outside of Arizona might not fully realize Carroll's greatness. He's the complete package: a perennial 30-30 talent with plus defense, one of the most successful base-stealers in the game, and the league leader in triples for three consecutive years. In 2025, Carroll fell just three triples shy of achieving only the fifth 20-20-20-20 (doubles, triples, homers, and steals) ever - and he's just getting started.
In four big-league seasons, Rodríguez has already produced two 30-30 campaigns, earned three top-10 finishes in AL MVP voting, won a pair of Silver Sluggers, and accrued the most outs above average in center field since 2022. J-Rod's all-around brilliance, passion for the game, and infectious smile are eerily reminiscent of another great Mariners center fielder who made his own leap to superstardom in Year 5. After nearly taking his team to the World Series last season, Rodríguez seems poised to ascend to that next level in 2026.
Henderson is somehow already entering his fifth season in the majors. At his best, he's one of the premier shortstops in the game, as shown by his 7.9 fWAR campaign in 2024. Even during a "down" year in 2025 while battling injuries, Henderson still finished with a .787 OPS and 4.8 fWAR. If that's his floor, then watch out once he really hits his prime. Henderson's power, plate discipline, athleticism, and leadership capabilities make him a franchise player and a dream selection as a second-rounder.
What more can you say about Skenes at this point? The Pirates ace joined Dwight Gooden and Fernando Valenzuela as the only pitchers to win both Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young Award in their first two MLB seasons. With a sub-2.00 ERA and a WHIP under 1.000 in each campaign, Skenes is the heavy favorite to repeat as the NL Cy Young winner. He's the definition of a generational talent, and we can't wait to see what he does next.
