As the 2026 major and minor league seasons dwindle down, prospects get September call-ups, and Pipeline rankings sway and swelter, I wanted to highlight a few significant risers on my own ranking that I think are worth keeping an eye on or buying any sort of stock in.

Jhonny Level: San Francisco Giants SS/2B

I’ve had my eye on Level for two years now, and he continues to impress me more and more with each passing day. Level is a switch-hitter with a fair glove and strong arm, and these attributes alone should be enough to take notice. The real kicker is his bat, as he’s showed out at each level (no pun intended) he’s stopped at so far. He put together a standout campaign in the Dominican Summer League with 10 home runs, 18 steals, and a 30:36 walk-to-strikeout ratio at 17 years old. He then split 2025 between rookie ball and the Giants’ A affiliate. The promising start to his career continued with a 12 homer and 21 steal season. He has really taken off in 2026 between A and A+, batting .311 with 17 HRs, 19 SBs, and 40 BBs. With improvement at every level, good defensive instincts, and still being only 19 years old, it seems the sky is the limit for Level. He’s been one of the minor league’s fastest risers on prospect big boards in recent months, and I think he’s only going to gain more attention and traction while finishing out 2026 and heading into 2027.

Kevin Alvarez: Houston Astros OF

The Astros signed Alvarez for a solid $2 million in 2025 during the international signing period, and he has been about as advertised since. His debut season in the DoSL was solid, batting .301 with 33 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and a 23:19 walk-to-strikeout ratio. The polished patience at the plate is one of the earliest tells of an elite hitter at a young age, and while Alvarez only hit two home runs, his power was expected to significantly increase over time as he fills out his frame and puts on muscle.

His age-18 season in A Fayetteville has shown a bit more power with a bit less plate discipline. He has swatted 9 home runs and swiped 14 bags while batting .266, and was also named to this year’s MLB Futures Game. He has walked 36 times while being punched out 68 times. His defense leaves a bit to be desired, but his bat should continue to grow and more than make up for any lackluster fielding concerns. If his bat progresses to where I think it could, and quite frankly where it’s already headed, he will be a top 30 prospect in baseball in a year’s time or less and eventually flourish as a major league threat at the dish.

Braylon Payne: Milwaukee Brewers OF

With the 17th overall selection in the 2024 Draft, the Brewers did what was widely considered a reach and took the 17 year old Payne. His 70 grade run tool and polished defense were the main reasons why, and while he didn’t initially profile as anything more than plus power with bad whiff issues, the lefty has quickly and quietly proved lots of doubters wrong before even turning 21.

Payne’s first two years with the Brewers A affiliate in Carolina showed some good and some bad. He swiped 35 bags across 82 games, while also adding 8 home runs. He struck out an unsettling 106 times in that span with a measly .240 average, showing his lackluster hit tool and giving scouts a reason to be a bit nervous for his development going forward.

In what has been a paramount age-19 season for Payne, he has come alive in the power department in 2026. He was recently promoted to AA after spending 77 games with A+ Wisconsin, slugging a whopping 23 home runs, stealing 24 bases, and increasing his batting average to .278. The dramatic increase in power had shown itself with a 90th percentile rank in exit velocity in 2025, but it’s safe to say he has exceeded all expectations this season. The Brewers are known for their homegrown talent, and while Jesus Made, Luis Pena, and company constantly steal the farm team’s headlines, Payne is blossoming into a legit four-tool prospect in his own right. Next season will be crucial for his development, and I think he could take another leap into the upper echelon of outfield prospects with a strong next 365. After all, he doesn’t turn 21 until August of 2027.

Kendry Chourio: Kansas City Royals RHP

It usually takes quite a while for a pitcher to genuinely impress me as much as Chourio, and the fact that he’s only 18 is even more ridiculous. He was signed in the 2025 international class out of Venezuela with a four-pitch arsenal that raises eyebrows and paints corners. Since then, he’s done nothing but prove he belongs at every level he’s pitched at.

Chourio rose through the ranks to the Royal’s A affiliate in Columbia at just 17 years old, and while he didn’t blow the doors off anyone there, he showcased exceptional control with just 4 walks in 22.2 innings and 5 through 51.1 innings overall in the minors in 2025. That George Kirby-eqsue command only would bode well for his second minor league campaign.

In 2026, Chourio has kicked things into another gear against better competition. He has split his age-18 season between Columbia and A+ Quad Cities, pitching to the tune of a 2.20 ERA, .88 WHIP, and 81:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 81.2 innings. That level of play was more than enough to earn Chourio 2026 Futures Game honors. The young right-hander should end up in AA next season after some more success with Quad Cities, and if that ends up being the case, he could be in the major leagues before he turns 22 years old.

Francisco Renteria: Philadelphia Phillies OF

While checking back in on the 2026 International class, Renteria’s numbers stood out as a potential five-tool phenom in due time. He has a solid arm and glove in the outfield, and his hitting and athleticism sets him apart from almost everyone else his age. He was ranked as the number three prospect in this class, and Philly has to be elated with the production they’ve seen so far. Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 216 pounds at 17, Renteria could legit profile as a unicorn prospect in the coming years.

In his first season in the Phillies’ system, the talented right-hander has flashed ridiculous hitting prowess. He has a .379/.470/.682 slash line with an eye-popping 11 home runs and 55 RBI across 53 games. He also has a 34:36 walk-to-strikeout ratio, showcasing some patience at the plate while still swinging for the stars. He also has stolen 24 bases and played great defense in center field, rounding out a true five-tool debut season for Renteria. There isn’t much else to say about him, but I truly believe this kid has #1 prospect in baseball potential, and might reach AAA as soon as his age-19 season.