2026 WFBL FUTURES RANKINGS
2026 WFBL FUTURES RANKINGS
The WFBL Organizational Futures Ranking for 2026 have been based on an evaluation of the total number and ranking position of your Minors system prospects on the top prospect lists of the following industry expert websites: MLB Pipeline Top 100, Baseball America Top 100, The Athletic Top 100, ESPN Top 100, and Baseball Prospectus Top 101. Players listed below each appeared as individually ranked with at least one of these resources for 2026.
The rankings of your prospects on these lists as to the total number of players, as well as how highly those prospects are ranked by these experts was considered in formulating the final WFBL rankings. Your opportunity to improve with high draft picks over the next couple of years was considered as well.
If you have a problem with where your franchise is ranked, you can generally blame these sources - but also may need to review your own attention to prospect evaluations and the Minors Draft. Players who have Minors options and Majors experience were only considered if they were ranked by the previously mentioned sources.
If your club is near the bottom of the rankings, especially if you have been in the lower tiers for a few years, you should take some time to evaluate your Minors system and Minors Draft strategy more carefully. In parentheses next to each team name are the last five years organizational "WFBL Futures" rankings, with 2025 on the far left and then back through 2021 going left to right.
Following the player listings you can find each organization's future WFBL Minors Draft status. The overall number of picks which each club controls in the 2026-29 Minors Drafts with first round picks in parentheses.
Finally healthy, Chase DeLauter should be first up among a group of deep, talented prospects down in the pines of the deep south
New GM Mike Mannato is moving into a tough spot, taking over a Georgia organization that has only seen the postseason once in the last two decades. However, he also inherits the building blocks with which to begin turning that all around in the coming years. Completely rebuilt from the ground up, the Pines now have the enviable farm system roots with which to begin growing strong. It will be up to the new regime to take the next steps forward.
Max Clark, Leo De Vries, Josue De Paula, Payton Tolle, Bryce Eldridge, Liam Doyle, Chase DeLauter, Mike Sirota, Carson Williams, Charlie Condon, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Seaver King
2026-29 Minors Draft: 16 (5)
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Southpaw starting pitcher Robby Snelling should emerge this season as one of the Ems next wave of big prospect talent
The defending Mack/West Division pennant winners have captured the divisional crown five times in the last seven years. GM Dave Fackrell has built what is consistently a top-three prospect group. But a loss to division rivals Vancouver in last year's Whitey Week left the Ems at 0-3 in the Finals over their mostly successful history. Eugene enters another season with a top ranked organization and a team among the favorites as they continue to reach for their elusive first WFBL championship.
Eduardo Quintero, Josuar Gonzalez, Zyhir Hope, Jonah Tong, Ethan Holiday, Seth Hernandez, Josue Briceno, Robby Snelling, Aiva Arquette, Eduardo Tait, Angel Genao, Arjun Nimmala, Carlos Lagrange, Tyler Bremner, Joshua Baez, Emil Morales, Trey Gibson, Jefferson Rojas
2026-29 Minors Draft: 15 (3)
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The consensus top prospect in baseball, shortstop Konnor Griffin could become the first teenager to play in the WFBL in years
GM Clay Haymart went on a magical run to a WFBL championship, the only in franchise history, in his first season at the helm back in 2021. But regular season success has continued to elude the team. The Knights slipped to fifth a year ago in the Owens/East Division and have not finished above third in more than two decades. New York now has the game's top two position prospects, a pair of the top pitching prospects, and a boatload of draft capital coming with which to form the nucleus for long-sought long-term success.
Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle, Nolan McLean, Thomas White, George Lombard Jr, Caleb Bonemer, Kaelen Culpepper, Logan Henderson
2026-29 Minors Draft: 24 (9)
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Trey Yesavage hopes to emerge this year as a long-term contributor to the defending champion Cubs starting rotation
The Cubs have been building with a top five prospect organization for years. In 2025, their first Mack/West pennant in a decade was in sight. But a loss to Eugene in the season's penultimate week saw it slip away. However, the Cubbies then went on a big playoff run, gaining revenge on their divisional rivals with a Whitey Week victory. Fresh off the first WFBL championship crown in franchise history, GM Josh McGlohn looks to repeat and has the prospect and draft capital to remain a contender for years to come.
Sebastian Walcott, Trey Yesavage, Carter Jensen, Franklin Arias, Elmer Rodriguez, JR Ritchie, AJ Ewing, Kendry Chourio, Bo Davidson, Kal Stephen
2026-29 Minors Draft: 18 (6)
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Outfielder Carson Benge could force his way into the Montreal lineup at some point in the coming season
For only the second time in franchise history and the first in more than two decades, Montreal finished at the bottom of the Owens/East standings a year ago. Not only that, but this time last year GM Pat Murphy was working with the worst-rated group of prospects. Now, some smart drafting and a few key trades have begun a long-needed rebuilding program that finds Les Expos making the largest leap up the Futures rankings. Holding two of the top three, three of the top eight picks in the 2026 Minors Draft should bring even more young talent.
Carson Benge, Kade Anderson, Bryce Rainer, Owen Caissie, Jaxon Wiggins, Cam Caminiti, Parker Messick, Connor Prielipp, Gavin Kilen, Ike Irish, Alex Freeland, Ethan Conrad, Andrew Fischer, Gage Wood
2026-29 Minors Draft: 15 (8)
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In a league suddenly flush with top shortstop prospects the High Rollers have one of the very best coming in Jesus Made
GM Steve Haws used to be known for having one of the consistently top-rated minor league systems, but then never translating it into actual seasonal success. All that flipped over the last few years. The Rollers won their first WFBL championship in 2023 and first Mack/West pennant in 2024. Last year they battled and fell just shy of a pennant repeat then fought to the playoff semis. Now the Minors system is finally returning to health and the club appears poised to stay relevant for many years.
Jesus Made, Luis Pena, Edward Florentino, Naoh Schultz, Connelly Early, Cooper Ingle, Jhonny Level, Tanner McDougal, Juan Valera
2026-29 Minors Draft: 19 (6)
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The pathway is clear for Sal Stewart to take over first base down on the Bayou and the Cajuns look to capture an elusive pennant
This is now a third straight year that GM Perry Sanchez has put together a top eight Futures organization. In 12 of the last 14 seasons the Cajuns have finished in the top half of the Kalas/South-Central Division and they are a consistent playoff contender. But with just one 2017 WFBL championship in the last two decades and no divisional pennants hung since moving the franchise south, the Bayou Boys are still pushing to get consistently up among the league's top clubs.
Sal Stewart, Rainel Rodriguez, Gage Jump, Brody Hopkins, Hagen Smith, Blake Mitchell, Kyson Witherspoon, Enrique Bradfield Jr, Ben Hess
2026-29 Minors Draft: 20 (4)
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Righty Bubba Chandler should find himself part of the Tribe's growing stable of young pitching talent in the coming season
GM David McNickle's crew took home the Mack/West pennant three times in a six year stretch between 2017-22. But as the division improved dramatically around them the Tribe collapsed, finishing in last place during each of the past three seasons. Some talent is now emerging on the mound. The chore out west is getting no easier, however, and the organization will need to work hard in order to catch up to their western rivals.
Bubba Chandler, Eli Willits, Moises Ballesteros, Alfredo Duno, Jonny Farmelo, Steele Hall, Tyson Lewis, Jeferson Quero, Ryan Clifford
2026-29 Minors Draft: 15 (3)
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Japanese import first baseman Munetaka Murakami has a starting spot reserved to bring power to the Farmers lineup
The Farm Boys are in a difficult developmental spot. Winning the Kalas/South-Central pennant a decade ago and advancing to the Finals that year was followed by five of six last-place finishes. The last three years have been much better as the roster stabilized. But work still lies ahead for GM Jeff Crisler to get the club back to the top of the division and into real title contention. A handful of prospects are ready to break into the lineup to aid in that effort.
JJ Wetherholt, Joe Mack, Billy Carlson, Theo Gillen, Jurrangelo Cijntje, Dax Kilby, Felnin Celesten, Justin Gonzales
2026-29 Minors Draft: 14 (2)
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Lazaro Montes is the top-ranked prospect in the Pack system and the outfielder continues to develop into a future impact bat
For a second straight year the Pack prospect group lies in the middle of the Futures rankings, showing slow but steady improvement. There is a ton of draft capital to add even more over the next few years. But it remains a very young group still searching for that one or two true impact kids to emerge. GM Keno Leighty has not enjoyed a Mack/West pennant since the franchise only WFBL championship way back in 2004. It appears that a couple more building seasons will be needed until returning to that level in this tough division.
Lazaro Montes, Cooper Pratt, Michael Arroyo, Jarlin Susana, Ralphy Velazquez, Braylon Doughty, Ethan Salas, Wehiwa Aloy, Bishop Letson
2026-29 Minors Draft: 29 (5)
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The Royals need real talent on the mound to contend with the western big boys and righty Rhett Lowder is a key in that regard
The Royals prospect group has become a bit top heavy almost overnight. But some of that is due to bats who emerged from the system and helped the club reach consistent .500 level status over the last three years. Now the mission for GM Aaron McGlohn is to match his brother Josh, finding the arms to go along with an emerging potent offense to push the club to the next level over the coming seasons.
Travis Bazzana, Braden Montgomery, Justin Crawford, Rhett Lowder, Charlee Soto
2026-29 Minors Draft: 16 (5)
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The Cardinals are hoping that right-hander Brandon Sproat can join their rotation and help the club get back to contention
GM Tom Burniski won the first WFBL championship in franchise history back in 2019 and finished in second place in the Kalas/South-Central over three of the following five years. The club slipped to fifth last year under the weight of a horrendous 1-13 start. But they finished 4-3-1 over the second half while nine of their 16 defeats came by excruciating narrow 7-5 or 6-5 margins. The Cards hope some of that turns around here in 2026.
Samuel Basallo, Ryan Waldschmidt, Brandon Sproat, River Ryan, Max Anderson, Daniel Pierce
2026-29 Minors Draft: 16 (4)
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Finally healthy after Tommy John surgery, Andrew Painter now looks to make his debut in a deep and talented Athletics rotation
For the third time in franchise history GM Matt Veasey undertook a major rebuilding program. The result saw the A's plummet to the bottom of the standings over 2023-24 while the prospect group grew into one of the league's top rated. That talent emerged more quickly than anticipated and the Philly GM pivoted, dealing prospect and draft capital to reacquire some veterans. It now results in a big drop in these Futures ranks but also paid off in a worst-to-first pennant a year ago. 'One for the Thumb' has now become the rallying cry as the Athletics look for a record fifth WFBL championship.
Walker Jenkins, Aidan Miller, Andrew Painter, Caden Scarborough, Aroon Escobar
2026-29 Minors Draft: 5 (0)
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Last year's 16th overall Minors Draft pick JoJo Parker arrived in trade and gives contending Detroit a top prospect to dream on
This is a second consecutive #14 Futures ranking spot for the Motor City Boys who once consistently enjoyed a top farm system. But the flip side of that is Detroit's two WFBL championships and five Kalas/South-Central pennants over the last eight seasons. GM Ryan Hreben's club remains the top dogs running in the division as well as one of the top league title contenders. Thanks to that prior strong system the Drillers are primed to remain just that for years to come.
Jett Williams, JoJo Parker, Harry Ford, Nate George, Luis De Leon, Gavin Fien, Jacob Reimer
2026-29 Minors Draft: 15 (1)
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2023 second rounder Colt Emerson has emerged as the Chargers top prospect and the organization's shortstop of the future
In the last 19 seasons, GM Patrick Gordon has been able to finish as high as third place in the Owens/East just twice and register a winning season only once. The Bolts prospect group has also slipped in the rankings over the last few years, making a climb up the ladder that much harder. Injuries and slow development from some of Horsham's top prospects have been part of the problem the last couple years. Getting into consistent contending position remains their challenge out in the Philly suburbs.
Colt Emerson, Ryan Sloan, Jamie Arnold, Travis Sykora, Jacob Melton
2026-29 Minors Draft: 12 (3)
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The Bisons third round pick back in 2022, outfielder Dylan Beavers will fight for a regular role in the lineup this season
With four straight postseason appearances including a 2024 Owens/East pennant to their credit, GM Bob Turner's club has proven itself as a consistent contender over recent years. Their one losing season in that stretch came in 2023, but that also proved to be the lone year in which they made a run to the playoff Finals. There remains plenty of talent north of the border for another pennant and postseason push. While that unfolds the organization will work to improve their Futures ranking in the coming years.
Dylan Beavers, Hunter Barco, Joey Oakie
2026-29 Minors Draft: 17 (4)
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Boston selected southpaw Kruz Schoolcraft at 11th overall in last year's Minors Draft and he is now their top prospect
Three of the last six seasons have resulted in finishes at or near the .500 mark for what was once one of the WFBL's consistent championship contenders. In 2024, the Dawgs won the Draft Pick Playoff but were unable to use that as momentum, finishing third in the Owens/East a year ago. GM Chris Mitchell has also been unable to build his prospect group in the Futures ranking for many years. A glance at the roster reveals talent that could lead to Boston shooting back up the standings at any time, including this coming season. But at some point they will need to address improvement throughout the Minors system.
Kruz Schoolcraft
2026-29 Minors Draft: 12 (4)
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Nicknamed 'The Beast', 18-year-old Yorger Bautista is part of an international group the Spiders hope will improve their system
The Futures ranking yo-yo continues for the Spiders who have now finished 7-18-7-18 over the last four years. GM Rick McCullough was hired right after the 2020 COVID season and immediately won three consecutive Kalas/South-Central pennants. But the club fell to last place in 2024 before battling back to third and the .500 mark a year ago. There are a few big, young bats who emerged from the system in the last couple of years who could help the team take another step forward now. But continuing to build for the longer term might be a challenge due to a compromised future draft position.
Johnny King
2026-29 Minors Draft: 4 (1)