From BA's January 26th
MLB Breakout Prospects To Watch In 2026 For Every Team:
Enddy Azocar, OF (Boston)
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: As an amateur infielder, Azocar intrigued Red Sox evaluators with his contact skills and the projection in his tall, gangly frame. He mustered just three extra-base hits while moving to the outfield in the Dominican Summer League in 2024, but Azocar added 25 pounds of muscle in the offseason and made huge gains in his quality of contact in 2025. He dominated in the Florida Complex League to earn a rapid promotion, then struggled in Low-A.
Scouting Report: Azocar stands balanced and upright, remaining quiet through his load before creating considerable whip with his well-synced hips and hands to make loud contact. His 90th percentile exit velocities jumped from 98 mph in 2024 to 105 mph in 2025, maxing out at 110.6 mph, suggesting above-average or plus power potential if he can cut down his 44% groundball rate. Doing so could come with risk to his hit tool. He showed excellent bat-to-ball skills on pitches in the zone with an 84% contact rate, but whiffed about half the time when he chased, a combination that creates a lot of variance in his eventual hit tool. Evaluators were divided on his defense. Some saw him as a quality corner and others believed he can be at least above-average in center or right field thanks to strong jumps, above-average speed and routes.
The Future: After putting himself on the prospect map with promising five-tool indicators in 2025, Azocar’s 2026 campaign will be closely watched. If he builds on his gains from last year, he could push for a 2028 big league arrival.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50
Esmil Valencia, OF (Miami)
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Valencia signed with the Astros out of the Dominican Republic in 2023 and made his stateside debut in the Florida Complex League in 2024. He spent most of 2025 at Low-A Fayetteville before being traded to Miami for Jesús Sánchez at the deadline. Post-trade, he excelled at Low-A Jupiter, hitting .327/.367/.510 with three home runs, five doubles and 14 steals in 24 games.
Scouting Report: Valencia is a 5-foot-10, 182-pound righthanded hitter with an upright, closed stance and a medium-high handset. His aggressive style permeates every part of his game, which cuts both ways. He posted a 33% whiff rate and near-40% chase rate, yet he produced frequent quality contact, especially late in 2025 when he logged multiple 100-plus mph batted balls, including three in his Jupiter debut. He is a savvy runner rather than a pure burner, using reads and anticipation to steal bases and take extra bases, though a 77% stolen base success rate reflects occasional poor decisions. Defensively, he handles center field and has shown the athleticism to stay there, and evaluators consider his arm one of the best in Miami’s system. Continued improvement to his routes and reads will determine whether he remains up the middle or shifts to a corner.
The Future: Valencia’s late-season jump in contact quality gives evaluators optimism, though he still needs to sharpen his swing decisions and continue adding strength. His speed-driven game and emerging power support the projection of at least a useful platoon outfielder. He should open 2026 in High-A Beloit.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Field: 55 | Arm: 65
Eliazar Dishmey, RHP (Miami)
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Dishmey signed out of the Dominican Republic for $50,000 in 2022. After an uneven performance at Low-A Jupiter in 2024, he returned there to open 2025 and posted a 3.13 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 42 walks in 74.2 innings. Promoted to High-A Beloit as a 20-year-old, he excelled, recording a 2.19 ERA with 32 strikeouts and just six walks in 24.2 innings to close out 2025.
Scouting Report: Dishmey showed the depth of his arsenal in 2025, working a five-pitch mix from a low-effort delivery and low three-quarters slot with above-average extension. His two- and four-seam fastballs sit 91-94 mph, touch 97, and play with run and sink at the knees and run-ride up in the zone. He spins the ball well and throws a borderline-plus, low-80s slider with sweep. He also mixes a high-70s two-plane curveball and a low-to-mid-80s changeup with significant fade and good separation off his fastball. Control was inconsistent early—reflected in 42 walks at Low-A—but sharpened notably after promotion, a promising sign for his long-term outlook.
The Future: Dishmey’s outcome range is wide. Added strength, improved consistency and possible velocity gains could elevate him toward a No. 3 starter ceiling, while a back-end rotational or bullpen role remain a realistic alternative if his strike-throwing stalls. He will return to High-A Beloit in 2026 to continue refining mechanics and command after a highly encouraging 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45
Joey Oakie, RHP (Cleveland)
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Oakie was a top 50 prospect in the 2024 draft class and signed with the Guardians for $2 million in the third round. In his pro debut in 2025, Oakie made 15 starts between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Lynchburg. He posted a 5.31 ERA in 59.1 innings with a 28.8% strikeout rate and 14.0% walk rate.
Scouting Report: Oakie is a stuff-over-polish righthander with a great foundation of physicality and athleticism with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. He has some depth in his arm stroke, and throws from a lower slot. Oakie gets great extension and has a well below-average release height, though he struggles to repeat that release—which impacts his control and command. He throws a heavy, boring four-seam fastball that averaged 95.2 mph and has already been up to 100. The pitch has great life and is a weapon in and out of the zone, and he actually improved its velocity in the second half of the season. Oakie’s slider is a plus offering in the 86-90 mph range that has great power, spin and movement. His changeup is his third-best pitch now, and one he hasn’t thrown with much frequency, but it’s a high-spin offering with plenty of arm-side fade. Oakie has the stuff to overwhelm hitters, but he’ll need to improve his pitch making and repeat his mechanics more consistently. He has the athleticism to make those adjustments.
The Future: Oakie has midrotation upside, but he’ll need plenty of development time before he gets there. He should continue pitching in the low minors in 2026 where he’ll focus on his delivery and pitch execution.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45
Jaitoine Kelly, RHP (Arizona)
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The younger brother of Pirates prospect Antwone Kelly, Jaitoine threw mostly in the upper 80s with a raw delivery and underdeveloped secondary stuff when the Diamondbacks started scouting him in 2023. Liking his size and the way he moved—and the fact that his older brother threw significantly harder despite having a smaller, stockier build—the Diamondbacks signed Kelly for $70,000 on what was a deep projection play. A couple years later, it is looking like a sharp investment. Kelly’s fastball made a big jump in 2025 and he looks like he could have the makings of a future starting pitcher.
Scouting Report: After averaging 88.3 mph and topping out around 91-92 mph in 2024, Kelly’s fastball averaged 92.6 mph and touched 95-96 in 2025. He averaged 17.2 inches of carry and has been up to 7 feet of extension. His best secondary is a kick changeup with good fade that can resemble a splitter. He has a slow, sweepy curveball that grades as below-average; he might need to add a harder, shorter breaking ball that would pair better with his fastball. Kelly has an above-average delivery and arm action and made huge strides in his strike-throwing. He will need to continue to work on his body to maintain athleticism.
The Future: Kelly has a long way to go but has significant upside given his arm and frame. If it all comes together, he has the potential to be a midrotation starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50