MLB 2026: Top breakout players for all 30 teams - ESPN

Spring training is going strong and it is time to turn our attention to this season's potential major league breakout candidates.

Whether it's for the later stages of fantasy baseball drafts or to be the first to mention a name in a group text, I've been inundated with requests for breakouts and sleepers — with varied definitions of the terms.

I've canvassed the league, chatting with agents, team executives and scouts to find the players who are emerging in camp or seem primed to break out in the big leagues, even if it likely will be a little later in the season.

Here are the breakout players you need to monitor, note or draft while you can — one for each MLB team (plus plenty of bonus names).

Jump to team:

American League
ATH | BAL | BOS | CHW | CLE
DET | HOU | KC | LAA | MIN
NYY | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR

National League
ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL
LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH

3B Coby Mayo's stock seems to have bottomed out to the point that I think he's also a nice bet but I prefer Basallo, who is highly touted but wasn't good in a 31-game MLB debut last season.

He has massive power, good feel for getting to it in games and enough catching ability to save the O's a roster spot. RHP Trey Gibson is another name to watch as he has stuff similar to Corbin Burnes and Kyle Bradish, so he could grab a spot in the rotation before the All-Star break.

Oviedo was acquired from the Pirates in the offseason Jhostynxon Garcia trade and is slated to start the season in the Boston rotation.

With top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early in Triple-A waiting for a spot, Oviedo will need to perform. He has a very good chance to be a reliable No. 3/No. 4 starter, which is a notch or two better than most are