Prove-it Prospects: Talents on the hot seat for 2026
These 5 players have to perform better in 2026 to hold their status in the rankings.
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Jason A. Churchill
Felnin Celesten, SS
Celesten starts 2026 as a shortstop full of above-average to plus tools, but is coming off a season in which the batted ball data was down, as was his availability and consistency. He was diagnosed with vertigo a month into the season, missing nearly two weeks, but the belief is the condition impacted him far beyond his return.
His standard numbers were OK in Modesto before an 11-game cup of java in High-A Everett to finish out the season. Overall, the power hasn’t developed yet, and his defense needs to be cleaned up.
And while he’ll spend all of 2026 at age 20, a repeat of 2025 will send him tumbling in my rankings, perhaps outside the Top 10 entirely — not that it would necessarily be permanent, considering the tools and age.
At some point, though, young players have to perform.
Christian Little, RHP
Little is likely to start 2026 in High-A, but to keep his status as a Top 20 prospect, he has to throw more strikes this coming season and maintain his rotation projection.
The improvement of at least one of his breaking balls is likely to be at the forefront of that equation. At 22, he’ll start to run out of time to stay on his current path. Big 2026 for Little.
Teddy McGraw, RHP
McGraw will begin 2026 healthy — at least in camp, since he ended ‘25 in good shape — but my system has little patience left for the 2023 draftee. I already have him at No. 29 because of his injuries and lack of time on the mound as a pro, and it’s a lot more difficult to see rotation work over the long term.
McGraw simply has to stay off the IL and pitch well. He’s probably not a candidate to be shoved off the Top 50, unless he has another major surgery that ends his season and potentially cuts into another.
Jason A. Churchill
Jared Sundstrom, OF
I’m not as high on Sundstrom as some others, and his 2025 is the reason why. After a strong year in High-A at age 23 (.263/.380/.434), he fell off the planet in Double-A in 2025, slashing .219/.297/.374 with a 29.7% strikeout rate.
He’s a big, strong outfielder at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, generates above-average bat speed, and can take a walk. He struggled with both good velocity and breaking balls at Arkansas last season, and lefties were able to get him to chase at the same rate as right-handers.
There are a lot of holes to close, and he’s already 24 and change.
Jason A. Churchill
Walter Ford, RHP
Ford’s high school velocity — up to 97 mph — seems to be permanently gone, and his strike-throwing isn’t going to save him here.
In 23 starts in Single-A, Ford posted a 17.9% strikeout rate, runs-allowed metrics had him in the low-mid 4s, and his stuff has been underwhelming so far in pro ball.
He will spend all of 2026 at age 21, and both of his breaking balls flash at times, but it’s difficult to profile him in the majors in any role at present.
Something’s got to give: Either Ford shows up with better stuff, or he’s unlikely to stay on my radar, at least as a starter, and he’s hanging on by a very thin thread as it stands.
Jason A. Churchill
