RotoProspects has unveiled its most comprehensive 2026 First-Year Player Draft Rankings to date, expanding the list to 187 players and giving dynasty and keeper league managers deeper insight into the next wave of fantasy talent. The expansion reflects updated evaluations from the 2025 draft, early professional returns, and ongoing minor-league development.
At the very top of the rankings sits a blend of elite prep bats, polished college arms, and near-ready hitters. Below is a breakdown of the top five prospects in the expanded rankings, incorporating recent scouting coverage, 2025 performance data, and draft-day context.
1. Ethan Holliday — SS, Colorado Rockies
Holliday (pictured above) headlines the 2026 FYPD class as the premier offensive upside play and the top overall prospect on the expanded board. Selected near the very top of the 2025 MLB Draft, Holliday entered pro ball with immense expectations and has done little to slow the hype. His left-handed power, advanced bat speed, and feel for hard contact immediately separated him from other prep bats in the class, with multiple evaluators citing exit velocities pushing past 110 mph during pre-draft showcases.
While Holliday is still early in his professional development, his combination of pedigree, strength projection, and shortstop athleticism gives him a middle-of-the-order ceiling with long-term fantasy impact. Dynasty managers are buying into a profile that could deliver both power and run production once he reaches the upper minors later in the decade.
2. Kade Anderson — LHP, Seattle Mariners
Anderson represents the safest high-end pitching option in the 2026 FYPD pool and the most likely of the top five to make an early fantasy impact. A top college arm during the 2025 draft cycle, Anderson was widely viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick thanks to his advanced command, clean mechanics, and well-rounded four-pitch mix.
Even while navigating injury recovery, Anderson’s fastball-breaking ball combination and strike-throwing ability have kept his stock firmly intact. His developmental path points toward a relatively quick climb through the minors, making him especially attractive in dynasty leagues that prioritize near-term pitching value and innings stability over long-range projection.
3. Eli Willits — SS, Washington Nationals
Willits brings one of the highest pure ceilings in the entire class and was selected first overall in the 2025 MLB Draft after dominating the high school circuit. A switch-hitting shortstop with premium athleticism, Willits posted video-game numbers in his final amateur season, combining elite contact skills with speed and advanced strike-zone awareness for his age.
The Nationals view Willits as a franchise cornerstone, and his long-term fantasy profile reflects that confidence. While he will require patience as he matures physically and refines his power output, Willits projects as a potential five-category contributor once he reaches the upper levels of the minors. For dynasty managers building toward the back half of the decade, his upside is among the very best in the class.
4. Seth Hernandez — RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Seth Hernandez stands out as the most electric prep arm in the top tier of the rankings, featuring one of the deepest pitch mixes among young starters in the 2026 FYPD pool. Drafted in the first round in 2025, Hernandez brings a fastball that climbs into the mid-90s, a sharp breaking ball, and a changeup that already earns plus-plus grades from scouts.
What separates Hernandez from many high school pitchers is his feel for sequencing and his ability to miss bats with multiple offerings. While his development will take time, the Pirates have shown a willingness to nurture high-ceiling arms carefully. In fantasy formats, Hernandez profiles as a future strikeout-heavy starter with frontline upside if his command continues to progress.
5. Aiva Arquette — SS, Miami Marlins
Arquette enters the top five as the most polished offensive position player in the group and one of the closest to major-league readiness. After a dominant 2025 season in which he slashed .354/.461/.654 with 19 home runs, Arquette cemented his status as the top college bat in the class and quickly moved through the early stages of pro ball.
Arquette’s right-handed power, plate discipline, and defensive versatility give him a high floor in both real-life and fantasy evaluations. Unlike many prep-heavy prospects near the top of the rankings, Arquette projects to contribute sooner, making him a priority target for dynasty managers seeking impact production within the next one to two seasons.
The Top 25 players in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft (FYPD) Rankings
For the full list of 168 players, including scouting grades and major-league ETAs, CLICK HERE (subscription required).
| No. | Name | Pos | Team | B/T | Level | Age |
| 1 | Ethan Holliday | SS | COL | L/R | Single-A | 19 |
| 2 | Kade Anderson | SP | SEA | L/L | R (ACL) | 22 |
| 3 | Eli Willits | SS | WAS | S/R | Single-A | 18 |
| 4 | Seth Hernandez | SP | PIT | R/R | R (FCL) | 20 |
| 5 | Aiva Arquette | SS | MIA | R/R | High-A | 22 |
| 6 | JoJo Parker | SS | TOR | L/R | R (FCL) | 19 |
| 7 | Steele Hall | SS | CIN | R/R | R (ACL) | 19 |
| 8 | Liam Doyle | SPRP | SL | R/L | AA | 22 |
| 9 | Jamie Arnold | SP | OAK | L/L | R (ACL) | 22 |
| 10 | Kyson Witherspoon | SP | BOS | R/R | R (FCL) | 21 |
| 11 | Ike Irish | C/OF | BAL | L/R | Single-A | 22 |
| 12 | Andrew Fischer | 1B | MIL | L/R | High-A | 22 |
| 13 | Kayson Cunningham | SS | ARI | L/R | Single-A | 20 |
| 14 | Tyler Bremner | SP | LAA | R/R | R (ACL) | 22 |
| 15 | Gage Wood | SP | PHI | R/R | Single-A | 22 |
| 16 | Dax Kilby | SS | NYY | L/R | Single-A | 19 |
| 17 | Xavier Neyens | 3B | HOU | L/R | R (FCL) | 19 |
| 18 | Kruz Schoolcraft | 1B/SP | SD | L/L | Single-A | 19 |
| 19 | Ethan Conrad | OF | CHC | L/L | R (ACL) | 22 |
| 20 | Jace LaViolette | OF | CLE | L/L | R (ACL) | 22 |
| 21 | Marek Houston | SS | MIN | R/R | High-A | 22 |
| 22 | Billy Carlson | SS/SP | CHW | R/R | R (ACL) | 20 |
| 23 | Gavin Fein | 3B | TEX | R/R | Single-A | 19 |
| 24 | Charles Davalan | OF | LAD | L/R | Single-A | 22 |
| 25 | Brendan Summerhill | OF | TB | L/R | Single-A | 22 |