The Top 10 Right-Handed Pitching Prospects for 2026
Right-handed pitching prospects don’t always arrive with this much clarity. By 2026, several have already turned heads with results. Many were drafted high or broke out unexpectedly, but all earned their spots through a mix of performance and projection. These pitchers are already part of the conversation.
Nolan McLean, Mets
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No pitcher on this list enters 2026 with a stronger combination of performance and underlying metrics than McLean. He struck out 57 over 48 innings during his MLB debut season and ended with a 2.06 ERA. His curveball topped all of baseball in spin rate last year (3,248 rpm), and his mid-80s sweeper mirrors his sinker with 17 inches of horizontal movement.
Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays
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Yesavage blew past the big-league life. His 12 strikeouts in a single World Series game set a postseason record. The 82–85 mph splitter that helped him get there registered a 58.4 percent whiff rate. Few rookies arrive with that kind of confidence against MVP-caliber hitters.
Bubba Chandler, Pirates
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Chandler wasn’t dominant in Triple-A, but something clicked in Pittsburgh. Over his final three outings, he gave up just two runs and didn’t walk a single batter across 16 2/3 innings. His heater sat at nearly 98 mph.
Carlos Lagrange, Yankees
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Lagrange’s breakout was one of the most dramatic among all pitching prospects in 2025. After signing for $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic, the 6-foot-7 righty struck out 168 batters over 120 innings in High-A and Double-A. His fastball touched 103 mph last season.
Jonah Tong, Mets
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Tong’s fastball comes in hot, often in the upper 90s, but what really confuses hitters is how much it rides. He tweaked his Vulcan changeup grip midseason and shifted his fingers toward the horseshoe. That minor change helped tighten command and allowed him to finally hold down a spot on the Mets’ roster.
Seth Hernandez, Pirates
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Pittsburgh’s top 2025 draft pick, Hernandez, entered with advanced command and off-speed feel. His 12–6 curveball spins tight and late, while his changeup already had pro-level deception. At 6-foot-4, he repeats his mechanics well and enters a system known for grooming breakout arms.
Andrew Painter, Phillies
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Painter spent 2025 rehabbing and recalibrating. Still just 22, he worked his way through Triple-A, and though his walk rate crept near double digits, the stuff looked mostly intact. Fastball command is the final piece. If it returns, the Phillies could have their front-line starter back sooner rather than later.
Travis Sykora, Nationals
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Sykora barely pitched in 2025, but his presence was loud before surgery. He mixed a heavy fastball with a biting slider and posted standout strikeout totals before his elbow gave out. The Nationals will be careful in his recovery, but his size and pitch profile still make him a long-term bet.
Ryan Sloan, Mariners
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Sloan stands out for his feel. In 82 innings last season, he walked just 4.5 percent of batters and used a sinking changeup to neutralize lefties. He’s more control than chaos, but if the stuff ticks up, the upside gets interesting.
Jaxon Wiggins, Cubs
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Wiggins enters the year with high-end velocity and a fastball that consistently plays in the upper 90s. He’s among six righties in the Top 10 whose fastballs were graded a 70 by evaluators. The focus will be on tightening command and refining secondary pitches to match his raw power.