Image: (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
Every baseball season sees the emergence of a few players out of the depths of obscurity and into the limelight. Whether an unheralded prospect climbing the ranks, a journeyman finally maximizing their potential, or even an anticipated prospect cementing their status as a big leaguer, rooting for one of these players can be an invigorating feeling for a fan. Some examples from 2025 include Addison Barger, Ben Rice, Trey Yesavage, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cam Schlittler, Maikel Garcia, Jonathan Aranda, Michael Busch, Andy Pages, Cristopher Sanchez, Nick Kurtz, and more.
Ryan and Kyle Borkowsky choose four possible candidates to take the next step in their game in 2026.
Logan Henderson, RHP
Milwaukee Brewers
The 24 year-old Logan Henderson appears to be in a position to win a spot in the Brewers’ rotation with his strong start to spring training and the offseason trade of Freddy Peralta to the Mets. The 7th-ranked prospect in the Brewers’ organization, Henderson made 5 starts last season pitching to a 1.78 ERA before being sidelined for the year with a flexor strain last August. His time in the majors last year displayed some underlying indicators of being more than just a rookie flash in the pan – he dominated primarily with two pitches, his changeup (40% usage and .205 wOBA against) and fastball (49% usage and .280 wOBA against), the latter of which sits at only around 93 mph. Additionally, he demonstrated the ability to limit walks with a 0.99 WHIP and a 3.20 SIERA.
A heavy pronator, he would occasionally throw a cutter or a gyro slider, but these pitches were largely ineffective. As a result, he decided to sideline these pitches for the most part and introduce a slurve coming into this year, after seeing Yoshinobu Yamamoto carve through the playoffs with a curveball of his own. If he gains a confident command of his slurve/curveball, it will add an element of unpredictability to Henderson’s arsenal, giving it a new dimension and lethality. That being said, the curve is still a work in progress, and there is always the possibility of it being too easily identified because of its movement disparity from Henderson’s other pitches. With a 6’0 frame, and a lingering elbow issue that has caused him to start the year in the minors, Henderson’s breakout is no sure thing. Yet the Brewers have one of the best pitching development programs in the league; as he presently stands, he has the potential to be a positive MLB contributor with a No. 3 starter as a reasonable ceiling.
– Ryan Borkowsky
Brenton Doyle, CF
Colorado Rockies
Despite being primarily known for his defense, some underlying metrics signal that Brenton Doyle may be due for a breakout. In 2025 he posted a .193 average, a .312 slugging, and a .248 wOBA despite having an expected average of .239, an expected slugging of .415, and an xwOBA of .300, signaling that he’s due for some positive regression. Through spring training, Doyle has gotten his WRC+ up to 147 and his wOBA to .417. Along with the rest of the Rockies, Doyle saw his 2025 performance take a drop compared to his 2024 performance. Part of this could be due to off the field reasons: his wife had a miscarriage at the start of the 2025. This tragedy may have played a role in weighing down his on field performance.
Talking with the media, Doyle seems to be in a better mindset coming into 2026. Before this down season, in 2024, Doyle performed to a 3.6 WAR with a .260 average and 23 home runs. Coming in with a new mindset separated from his 2025 season, the soon-to-be 28 year-old Doyle should be able to return to his 2024 level with a bounce back season in 2026. Another season in Colorado at altitude will surely help out Doyle’s offense. Doyle’s relatively high expected stats combined with a better mindset going into the season make him destined for success in 2026.
– Kyle Borkowsky
Wyatt Langford, LF
Texas Rangers
Wyatt Langford has by no means been a disappointment by the standard of his 4th overall selection in the 2023 draft, but he has not yet ascended to the status of superstardom that many thought was his potential. In his two full seasons with the Rangers, his defense has surprisingly been superior to his offense. His glove has ranked near the top of the league in terms of OAA, while his wRC+ stood at a respectable 111 and 118. Last year, he sported 90th percentile walk rates and 78th percentile xwOBA (.346) – All Star caliber numbers, but not MVP-level. There is reason to believe he can make a leap to MVP contention if he continues his trend of improvement on his walk rate, barrels, and exit velocity, which he began last season. Last year, he hit 22 home runs, but the raw power suggests potential for more.
Furthermore, in spring training, he has raked, posting a .623 wOBA and 5 home runs in 39 at bats. His main issue last year, his K%, was limited in his modest spring training sample size, descending from 26.4% to 10.3%. These numbers are likely unsustainable, but expecting 30+ home runs and a wRC+ at or above 130 is not unreasonable. Compounded with his base stealing proficiency, Langford has the potential to be a five-tool MVP candidate, should his upward trajectory continue and his health hold up.
– Ryan Borkowsky
Eury Perez, RHP
Miami Marlins
Eury Perez is similar to Wyatt Langford in that their possible “breakout” is not an ascendence from obscurity to relevance, but instead from respectability to stardom. Perez, a former top 10 prospect, was sidelined for the entire 2024 season with Tommy John surgery after an age-20 season where he pitched to a 3.15 ERA in 19 starts. Despite his dominant 2023, his star faded after his injury until his return last year, where he started 20 games and pitched to a 4.25 ERA. Often after major arm surgery, pitchers find trouble regaining their peak form, but there is much to suggest that Perez’s moderate decline in 2025 is no more than an illusion. His FIP was 3.67 and SIERA was 3.80, two metrics which more effectively isolate pitcher performance than ERA. If he had pitched enough innings, his SIERA would have been top 20 in the league. Similarly, his 2025 WHIP of 1.05 would have been top 10 in the league, and this is even with a 43rd percentile BB%, meaning his ability to limit hits was outstanding.
Standing at 6’8 and with a 98 MPH fastball that he throws 51% of the time, Perez is already an imposing presence. Reports from spring training indicate that he had a healthy offseason, adding more weight and consolidating a windup modification that yielded successful results last September. His main issue is a lack of generating ground balls, yet he has spoken to reporters about increasing his changeup usage, which garnered a 62.5% ground ball rate last year, highest of any of his pitches, in addition to generating a 0.68 xwOBA. His devastating arsenal and extra year removed from surgery makes him poised to break out as one of the league’s young aces in 2026.
– Ryan Borkowsky
Categories: Analysis, MLB Player Profiles
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