MLB Player News

According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Johnson will make $5.5 million in 2026 and then get a $1 million buyout of his $8 million mutual option. Well, he didn’t actually say that, but that’s how it always works out. Johnson’s 3.05 ERA last season was his best mark in his five relatively full major league campaigns, but his strikeout rate fell for a second straight year; he came in at 32% from 2020-23, 28% in 2024 and 25% last year. He’s also a pretty big flyball pitcher while throwing his curve about 70% of the time, and GABP doesn’t seem like a great park for him. He figures to join Tony Santillan in a setup role in front of Emilio Pagán.

No relation to Charlie. Condon is one of the best prep bats in the class, and he has a swing from the left side that suggest he’s going to hit for a high average thanks to its plane and quickness through the zone. There’s serious questions about the power, and right now, asking for more than 12-15 bombs in a season is asking too much. He’s an elite baserunner, however, so he should compensate with a good amount of steals — assuming he gets on enough to run, of course. Condon is also a terrific defender, and even with the lack of pop, there’s a lot to like here.

Grindlinger reclassified from the 2027 draft to join this year’s class, and immediately became the top two-way prospect eligible. There’s added intrigue in his profile as a player who doesn’t turn 18 until next April, so it’s very unlikely we’ve seen anything close to the best of the 6-foot-3 southpaw as of yet. As a hitter, he shows a swing from the left side that suggests he could have a plus hit tool, and while there’s not much power present, there’s enough bat speed to project average -- perhaps better -- pop in the coming years. He’s more advanced as a pitcher who touches the mid 90s with his heater with plenty of projection left, and he also shows a quality change and above-average slider at times, too. Whether he focuses on one side or does both, Grindlinger is certainly a fantasy prospect that is worth keeping an eye on, even acknowledging that it could be half a decade before he reaches the majors.

Hacopian transferred to Texas A&M after posting an impressive .375/.502/.656 with Maryland in 2025, and while he didn’t match those numbers in 2026 (.319/.405/.578), he certainly did enough to remain one of the top collegiate bats in the class. It’s also worth noting that he dealt with back issues this spring, which can help explain the dip in production. When at his best, Hacopian makes hard contact to all parts of the field, and there’s enough power in his right-handed bat to project 20-plus homer seasons at the highest level. The biggest concern is that he’s a below-average runner, and there’s a chance he’ll need to move from the middle-infield. The bat can play at third or left field, but obviously that puts more pressure on him to reach his offensive upside. There’s reason for optimism, but Hacopian might profile as a better “real-life” prospect than a future fantasy star.

Seelinger will stick around as organizational depth for the Mets after getting crushed for seven runs over two innings by the Royals in his big-league debut earlier this week.

Bell was a solid performer in 2025 with a .907 OPS, but really saw his stock soar in 2026 for the Wildcats with a .343/.510/.608 slash while hitting nine homers in 41 games. He’s a shortstop that hits from both sides of the plate, and that’s a literal descriptor with a swing that can provide a solid average with the type of power production you see from hitters who hit 15-20 homers on a consistent basis. He doesn’t have elite speed, but there’s enough there for a similar amount of steals, as well. Bell is more of a high-floor player than one with an immense ceiling, but there’s enough upside here for him to be fantasy relevant when he’s ready to go in a year or two.

Criswell augments Colorado’s bullpen depth heading into their final two first-half contests against the Giants. He’s tossed a pair of scoreless innings for the Rockies this season.

Shook returns to the minors after allowing six runs over 5 2/3 innings across four appearances for Colorado this season. He’ll continue to be an up-and-down middle relief option in the second half.

Gracia transferred to Virginia from Duke, and he hit .354 with a 1.121 OPS in his only season with the Cavaliers. He’s a left-handed hitter who recognizes pitches well, and he has the frame to hit for power and an approach that suggests he’s going to get on base. There’s a chance he could stick in center, but he’s more likely to end up in a corner-outfield spot. Gracia’s approach could make him a quick advance, and the ceiling suggests a .280 hitter who could provide 25-plus homers in his best seasons with a couple of handful of stolen bases. You can do worse.

Wrobleski was among the most prominent snubs for the Midsummer Classic. He winds up earning a well-deserved ticket to Philadelphia as a replacement for Reds flame-thrower Chase Burns, who will not pitch in the Midsummer Classic. The 25-year-old southpaw made a real statement in his final first-half outing, piling up nine strikeouts and allowing one run over seven innings against the Rockies earlier this week. He holds a sparkling 2.69 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 73/20 K/BB ratio across 100 1/3 innings of work.

Burress was slightly overshadowed by his teammate Vahn Lackey’s exceptional season, but he was one of the best performing outfielders of the last two seasons and finished 2026 with a 1.130 OPS, 16 homers and 10 stolen bases for the Yellow Jackets. The 21-year-old has above-average tools across the board, and he has a chance to hit for both average and power at the next level. He’s a well above-average runner, and he should be able to play any position in the outfield without too much trouble. He doesn’t offer the same type of ceiling as some of the other upper-echelon prospects in this draft, but he might be the most likely to end up being a regular -- at least based on what he showed in college -- and 30/30 seasons are within reach despite his 5-foot-9 frame.