Welcome back to The Game Haus’s MLB Farm System Watch series. Today, we will look at who is standing out among the NL Central prospects.
Farm System Watch will look at players who are top-30 prospects for their given team and have yet to make their major league debut.
Chicago Cubs
Next Up: Jonathan Long (1B)
Current Level: AAA Iowa
2026 Stat Line: 280AB/.261AVG/.734OPS
Long has had a solid bat ever since his college days. He has always been a bit of a limited defender, but his power and patient approach at the plate generate enough offense for him to remain in lineups.
Top Prospect: Jefferson Rojas (SS) [MLB #78]
Current Level: AA Knoxville
2026 Stat Line: 225AB/.298AVG/.889OPS
Rojas has been one of the youngest players at every level of the minor leagues he has risen to, but that hasn’t stopped him from showcasing his great bat-to-ball skills. After a bit of difficulty with AA pitching in 2025, he has stepped up his game in 2026 and begun to hit the ball hard again.
Cincinnati Reds
Next Up: Héctor Rodríguez (OF)
Current Level: AAA Louisville
2026 Stat Line: 298AB/.289AVG/.906OPS
Rodríguez has a quick and aggressive bat, which makes him a consistent hitter despite high chase rates. He has played everywhere in the outfield and has graded out well, especially in left.
Top Prospect: Alfredo Duno (C) [MLB #23]
Current Level: A+ Dayton
2026 Stat Line: 231AB/.264AVG/.900OPS
Duno is one of the top catching prospects in the league, and his bat has been the main reason why. He produces extremely high exit velocities and can drive the ball with his bat speed and raw power. Duno continues to work on his game behind the plate.
Milwaukee Brewers
Next Up: Jett Williams (3B/SS/OF) [MLB #55]
Current Level: AAA Nashville
2026 Stat Line: 276AB/.221AVG/.706OPS
Williams was one of the prospects returned to the Brewers in the Freddy Peralta trade last offseason. He has been called a prototypical Brewer with his small frame, speed, and reliable defense. Williams walks a lot but can also sneakily hit for some power.
Top Prospect: Jesús Made (SS) [MLB #1]
Current Level: AA Biloxi
2026 Stat Line: 258AB/.283AVG/.799OPS
The Brewers once again have a number one prospect in baseball with Made. The switch-hitting shortstop has the quick bat that is all the rage right now in baseball. As a switch hitter, his splits have been almost exactly even across his time in the minors, and his defense excels thanks to his speed and instincts.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Next Up: Termarr Johnson (2B)
Current Level: AAA Indianapolis
2026 Stat Line: 214AB/.192AVG/.612OPS
Johnson has been a very raw prospect since being drafted number four overall by the Pirates back in 2022. While his numbers have been slightly underwhelming, a lot of facets of his game have been slowly coming around, like his strikeout rate and defensive capability.
Top Prospect: Seth Hernandez (RHP) [MLB #3]
Current Level: A+ Greensboro
2026 Stat Line: 57.1IP/2.04ERA/0.98WHIP
The Pirates may have another top-of-the-rotation starter on their hands with Hernandez, who has great stuff and an intense dedication to getting better. He relies heavily on a good fastball-changeup duo, but also has a slider and curve to complement.
St. Louis Cardinals
Next Up: Joshua Báez (OF) [MLB #63]
Current Level: AAA Memphis
2026 Stat Line: 274AB/.277AVG/.982OPS
Báez has the rare combination of speed and raw power, as he was one of two minor league players to have 50 steals and 20 homers in 2025. He has adjusted his swing mechanics to cut down on swing-and-miss without losing his power and hopes to maintain his pop at the major league level.
Top Prospect: Liam Doyle (LHP) [MLB #20]
Current Level: AA Springfield
2026 Stat Line: 47.1IP/6.08ERA/1.61WHIP
Doyle is a high-effort lefty who can get down the mound. He uses his extension to generate a ton of whiffs on his fastball, which he uses most of the time. Doyle plays off his fastball with a good splitter, but has yet to hone in on an effective breaking pitch.
Check out our MLB page for more stories
like this!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!