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Last month, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz highlighted five players entering make-or-break seasons in 2026. With spring training games now underway, let’s take a look at six more teams — three American League and three National League — with players who could be sneaky X-factors this season.
Keep these players on your radar as Opening Day approaches.
SS Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox
The profile:
Montgomery, 24, is perhaps the most promising up-and-comer on a White Sox roster suddenly stocked with young talent. But it wasn’t all that long ago that his status as a future fixture of Chicago’s infield was in doubt. Montgomery surged into the upper echelon of top-100 prospect lists with a loud performance in 2023 but then faltered with a poor showing in Triple-A in 2024 (80 wRC+). That left his prospect stock in a diminished state entering last season, and a back injury during spring training limited his opportunities to reestablish his value in camp. His return to Triple-A to start 2025 wasn’t much better (82 wRC+), but once Montgomery got the call-up in July, he heated up in a hurry and went on to finish fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
Montgomery’s headlining trait has always been his big, left-handed power. That skill was loudly on display last year, as Montgomery slugged .529 and swatted 21 homers in just 71 games, including a particularly scorching stretch in which he homered eight times across 12 games. And while seeing his power play at the highest level was certainly a positive sign for the White Sox, even more encouraging for Montgomery’s long-term prospects was how he looked as a defender.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, he has long faced questions about whether a player his size can hold up at shortstop, with many evaluators projecting a move to the hot corner sooner rather than later. Montgomery got some exposure at third base in the upper minors and early in his major-league tenure, but by the final two months of last season, he had entrenched himself as Chicago’s every-day shortstop. And among 33 shortstops who logged at least 500 innings at the position in 2025, he ranked eighth in both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average — a remarkable display of glovework that speaks to Montgomery’s athleticism and aptitude for improvement. If he can replicate that high level of defense over a full season, it’ll dramatically raise both the floor and ceiling for him as a player.
What they’re saying:
"We saw him early in camp last year, and then he had the back thing, and then we didn't see him ‘til he came up. And I think that he really exceeded expectations defensively. He's just such a good athlete, and it really came out. And I thought he got comfortable really quickly out there. He's a big-league shortstop that is really good and performed well, and [I’m] looking forward to seeing what this year looks like, too.” — White Sox manager Will Venable
"I feel like defense is, it's an effort thing, too, and more of a mindset thing. So in my head, it's like anything hit in my general direction, I'm gonna go after it. I felt like I always had that kind of instinct. But I just think the more I went up in the levels, that your intent has to go higher, because they hit the ball a lot harder, and they're a lot faster. I just think it's adjusting and adapting to the game.” — Montgomery
RHP Luis Morales, A’s
The profile:
It’s no secret that the A’s have assembled one of the most exciting lineups in baseball, a deep and talented unit that should score a boatload of runs in 2026. But if the team is to be more than just a run-scoring machine and become a legitimate threat to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020, their run-prevention efforts will need to be improved considerably. Top-10 marks for the A’s in several offensive categories last season were offset by finishing bottom-five by most measures on the mound, and as things stand, projection systems hint that a similar fate could be in store in 2026.
One key figure who could help change this outlook for the better is 23-year-old right-hander Luis Morales. While the A’s have an intriguing wave of pitching prospects looming in the minors who could debut over the next 18 months, Morales is clearly the arm most likely to impact the major-league team from the get-go in 2026.
A native of Cuba, Morales signed with the A’s for $3 million three years ago and immediately began flashing his high-octane arsenal in the low minors. Concerns about his strike-throwing lingered as he climbed, but he fended off doubts about his ability to stick as a starter and joined the big-league rotation in August. His seven scoreless innings against Detroit in his fourth career start was one of the best outings by any A’s pitcher in 2025, which speaks both to Morales’ speedy assimilation and to how little starting pitching success the franchise experienced last season.
Only a handful of starters league-wide throw harder than Morales, whose four-seamer averaged 97.3 mph as a rookie, but the continued honing of his command and development of his secondary pitches (sweeper, changeup) will determine just how good he can be. Whatever happens next, there’s no doubt Morales is one of the most important pitchers on the A’s roster.
What they’re saying:
"Nothing bothers Luis. Came up, made his debut last year. From where he came from, Cuba, being in Mexico for a year and then to work his way through the system. … This kid is ready for the big time, and his stuff is there, too. As close as you can get to sort of penciling yourself into the rotation through a handful of big league starts — he's pretty close to doing that. …
"These guys need 15 to 20 starts under their belt. We've seen it with [J.T.] Ginn and [Jack] Perkins, and they just need the experience of getting out of situations, working command. Luis's command is not quite where he needs it to be, but man, the stuff is there.” — general manager David Forst
DH Joc Pederson, Texas Rangers
The profile:
When Joc Pederson signed with the Rangers as a free agent in December 2024, it seemed like a perfect fit. A proven lefty slugger coming off an outstanding season at the plate joining a franchise looking to flush the odd offensive funk that followed its 2023 World Series run. A well-traveled hitter with ample postseason experience reinforcing a roster filled with accomplished veterans eager to get back to October.
Instead, Texas’ strange struggles at the plate were exacerbated further amid another disappointing season, with Pederson contributing to the woes with a brutal cold spell early in 2025. He endured a shocking 0-for-41 stretch that spanned more than three weeks in April, putting his slash line in a hole that he never climbed all the way out of. He then suffered a right-hand fracture that put him on the shelf for two months, adding injury to what was already a miserable first year in Arlington. After his return, Pederson was much more competent over the final two months (.757 OPS), but by then it was far too little and far too late for both player and team.
Now Pederson is entering the second year of his two-year, $37 million deal as one of several Rangers hitters looking to turn the page on a rough 2025. Even if he’s limited to DH duties mostly against right-handed pitching, Pederson is a crucial character in Texas’ efforts to get back on track.
What they’re saying:
"He came in mentally ready to roll day one in spring, like he's got something to prove. And when you come in hungry, that's the goal. It's not the best shape of your life, physically all the time. It's, where are they at mentally? Where's their belief? Where's their conviction? What was the motivation in the offseason? And I think the great news for a new manager is that a lot of these guys are motivated and ready to roll. …
"He's a smart baseball player, and just because he's DH'd a lot lately, I think it shouldn't take away to what kind of athlete that Joc is. And he is a guy that can lead a clubhouse. He's a guy that can lead a hitting department. He's really good on the tips and tells and identifying stuff on what pitchers are doing. He's really good at helping the young guys, whether that's scouting or whether that's taking them to dinner and impacting them that way. He's such a good teammate, the care factor is there. He's won, he knows what winning looks like. I'm hoping that he is part of a winning team this year as well.” — manager Skip Schumaker
RHP Landen Roupp, San Francisco Giants
The profile:
The San Francisco Giants have gradually amassed a rather deep stable of homegrown arms. Landen Roupp, Keaton Winn, Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt and Trevor McDonald were all drafted and developed in San Francisco’s system and have debuted in recent seasons, and now Blade Tidwell has joined the mix after arriving from the Mets via trade last summer. The Giants are in the process of sorting through the roles for all of these arms in 2026.
That said, Roupp looks to have the inside track on the fifth and final spot in a rotation that currently has four spots settled in staff ace Logan Webb, veteran lefty Robbie Ray and offseason free-agent additions Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle. After spending most of his rookie season as a reliever in 2024, Roupp made the fourth-most starts (22) of any Giants pitcher in 2025. He really found his groove midsummer, posting a 2.27 ERA across 14 starts from May 5 to July 22. But two stints on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation and a left knee injury limited his effectiveness and availability over the final two months, souring the end to an otherwise encouraging season.
Now back healthy, Roupp has looked sharp early in Cactus League play, with his velocity up a tick on all of his pitches. He attacks with an interesting mix, as a rare starting pitcher who leans on a traditional curveball as one of his primary weapons, and it’s no surprise, considering its elite spin rate. Competition remains fierce among the Giants’ cohort of homegrown arms, but Roupp projects as a pivotal part of San Francisco’s pitching plans regardless of whether he hangs on to his rotation spot or transitions back into a relief role.
What they’re saying:
"I think Landon really started to separate himself last year. I think something that makes him special, just his mound presence, it just feels different. He's on the attack. He's a very good competitor. I think we saw his confidence grow and grow as the season went on. And then beyond that, his stuff is good. Really good curveball, really started to pick up, a changeup throughout the season, good velocity. …
"He always spun it really well, and it always got really good results. It might be more of that old-school, like 12-to-6 type that we don't see as much, but it's worked for him. I think as the season went on, I think he started to get a feel for when to use it and when not to use it, to make sure it didn't lose effectiveness. And he ended up having a nice year and a year that we think he can really build off of." — general manager Zack Minasian
C/DH Moises Ballesteros, Chicago Cubs
The profile:
The most glaring change made to the Chicago Cubs’ offense over the offseason was the signing of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman in the wake of Kyle Tucker’s departure in free agency. That swap of lineup headliners will be fascinating to follow, but there are a few other fresh faces to monitor among the Cubs’ position-player group, most notably 22-year-old Moises Ballesteros.
Ballesteros memorably cracked his first career home run in September, directly to Anthony Rizzo, who was sitting in the Wrigley Field bleachers after celebrating retiring with the Cubs. But the lefty-swinging backstop projects to be more than just an answer to that Rizzo-related trivia question. He’s still rookie-eligible entering 2026, and his sterling track record of mashing in the minors (.289/.371/.457 across 1,937 MiLB plate appearances) has him comfortably slotted in the 50-60 range on most top-100 prospect lists.
By trading another top-100 prospect in Owen Caissie and shifting Seiya Suzuki back to the outfield to replace Tucker, the Cubs should have plenty of at-bats available at DH for Ballesteros. How that impacts his long-term development as a catcher, his natural position, remains to be seen. But if the Cubs believe Ballesteros’ bat can help them win right now — and the current roster construction indicates they do — they’re going to find a way for him to be in the lineup.
What they’re saying:
"We view him as a catcher. We obviously have two catchers on our roster right now. We want Balle to continue to develop as a catcher, but he also has a great bat. So we're gonna be trying to win this year, as all years. But we're gonna try to figure out ways to develop him behind the dish, and if that's at the big-league level, that'd be awesome. …
“Great hand-eye, the bat to ball, the ability to hit multiple pitches … hitter-ish is the word that you hear a lot from coaches that are around him. And I think the way that he approached his first few at-bats in the major leagues, he just did not seem intimidated. He was ready to face plus stuff and had some big hits for us. That's something that's pretty exciting for just how young he is. Should be a guy that's in the big leagues for a long time.” — general manager Carter Hawkins
RHP David Morgan and RHP Bradgley Rodriguez, San Diego Padres
The profile:
The San Diego Padres supercharged their already stacked bullpen last summer with the acquisition of fireballer Mason Miller at the trade deadline. That unit has since declined somewhat with longtime closer Robert Suarez departing in free agency, but the Padres still project to have one of the best relief corps in baseball. That has a lot to do with Miller’s outsized presence, as well as the tremendous seasons turned in by the likes of Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and Jason Adam, all of whom return in 2026. But look down the depth chart, and you’ll find that San Diego has even more impact relievers ready to contribute.
The most intriguing duo from that next wave are 26-year-old David Morgan and 22-year-old Bradgley Rodriguez. Rodriguez zoomed through the minors thanks to his hellacious heater that touches triple-digits, and he debuted briefly in May before making a handful more major-league outings in September. With minimal experience in the upper levels, he might need some more polishing before being unleashed in a regular role in San Diego’s bullpen, but his stuff speaks for itself.
Morgan, meanwhile, racked up 41 appearances with a 2.66 ERA as a rookie last season, marking the latest chapter in his astonishing development story. He was primarily an infielder in junior college and at the NAIA level, but San Diego signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2022 with hopes that his standout arm strength could translate to a full-time future on the mound. Boy, were the Padres right. It took some time for Morgan to fully take to his new focus, but he got better as he climbed each level. His effectiveness as a rookie despite a relative lack of reps on the mound was impressive, and the Padres are confident he’s just scratching the surface of his potential.
What they’re saying:
"Really excited about those two. … They bring electric stuff to the table. And they also bring an attitude, like a not-scared attitude, which is always great to see in a young player, that he's fearless and puts his best foot out there whenever he can. So are we looking for those guys to take the next step? We're hopeful of that. I know that the progression of every pitcher is not always straight up the mountain. So we're prepared for that, but we're going to take care of them, too, with the workload and all that. They make our bullpen really good. We've got great back-end guys. [Morgan and Rodriguez] potentially being able to fill-in when those guys need a breather? That makes us feel really good.” — manager Craig Stammen
"I saw [Morgan] right after we signed him in Arizona, and it was like, this guy's got talent, but not super polished. That's really a compliment to him and our development team. Those guys did a great job taking [that velocity] but now getting that to where it's command, it's control, it's secondary pitches … And then the development when he got to the big-league level, because at the big-league level, the four-seamer got hit a little bit, and all of a sudden, now he comes up with a two-seamer. He's throwing a slider and a curveball. I think those are things that are really exciting. When you see somebody that has the aptitude to add those pitches, I think part of it is development and a big part of it's on him, that he's just a really good athlete.” — general manager AJ Preller