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This has been an excellent season for rookies, with a transparent runaway RoY winner within the American League (Kevin McGonigle) and a tighter race between some high prospects within the Nationwide League. J.J. Wetherholt stays the clear favourite, however Sal Stewart has put up some gaudy counting stats, with the Mets’ former top-10 prospect duo of Nolan McLean and Carson Benge lurking as properly. All these names have gotten a good bit of protection given how good they’ve been, nevertheless it does really feel like an terrible lot of Prime 101 prospects have graduated this season. Maybe it isn’t really that rather more than regular—I haven’t gone again and charted this traditionally—nevertheless it does make for a helpful late-season column concept. So let’s check out how the remainder of our graduating class of 2026 Prime 101 Prospects have fared of their first cross at massive league motion, beginning with the Prime 25.
1. Konnor Griffin, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
After a reasonably tepid begin to his major-league profession, Griffin was heating up earlier than he hit the injured record for a month with a forearm pressure. He wasn’t even again every week from that earlier than he obtained sidelined as soon as once more, this time with a finger damage. Griffin will seemingly return earlier than the tip of the season, however he has been form of preserved in stasis mid-breakout, and we don’t know precisely what the misplaced time and pair of higher physique accidents will imply for the steadiness of 2026. Nonetheless, he did greater than sufficient in his 200-plus plate appearances to recommend the longer term stays vibrant. He has a possible plus-plus energy/pace combo within the near-term, and the latter may find yourself elite by his mid-20s if not earlier than. Conversely, he didn’t totally assuage the hit device considerations—he ran a terrifying chase charge throughout these first 200+ plate appearances—and he has let the no. 2 prospect, Kevin McGonigle, open up a wholesome early profession WARP lead. However it is a long-term worth record, and Griffin would possibly begin making up floor as quickly as subsequent season.
