Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox: After a tricky year in 2025, White Sox lefty Noah Schultz is looking to right the ship in 2026. After a scoreless four-inning debut last Friday, Schultz went five innings on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits, a walk, while striking out five. Schultz used his two-seam and four-seam fastball and big sweeping slider to dominate Triple-A Nashville's lineup. The 6-foot-10 Schultz is blessed with massive potential. It’s simply a matter of refining his execution.

Luis Lara, OF, Brewers: Last season, Lara homered three times. Through just five games with Triple-A Nashville this season, the Brewers' outfield prospect already has two. Lara is a talented defender with polished bat-to-ball skills and approach. If he can sustain more impact at the plate, Lara's prospect status could significantly rise. He’s a borderline Top 100 prospect already based on his defense in center field and plus hit tool.

Jack Wenninger, RHP, Mets: The Mets’ pitching development has been trending up, as they’ve produced multiple top pitching prospects in recent years. Wenninger, a sixth-round pick, might be among the most improbable development stories. Making his first start of 2026 on Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse, Wenninger pitched 4.2 scoreless innings and struck out five while allowing five hits and a walk. His mid-90s fastball averaged 18 inches of ride, and he mixed in a changeup, slider, sinker and sweeper. Wenninger has a chance to debut with the Mets this summer.

Jimmy Crooks, C, Cardinals: The Cardinals historically have been flush with catching talent in their system. At the moment, they might have more catching than ever, with three viable everyday catching prospects in Jimmy Crooks, Rainiel Rodriguez and Leonardo Bernal. Crooks is the closest to everyday impact and on Wednesday showed why he ranks ninth in one of baseball's deepest farm systems. Crooks went 4-for-4 with a double and a home run for Triple-A Memphis. He drove in two runs and reached base a fifth time via a walk. Crooks has a good balance of hitting ability and the defensive chops to stick behind the plate.

Henry Bolte, OF, Athletics: While there are lingering questions about his hit tool, Bolte is as tooled up as any player in Triple-A. He continued his hot start to the year on Wednesday, going 2-for-3, with a home run, two walks and three runs. The Athletics' No. 7 prospect has a chance to make his debut this season if he performs well in Triple-A. He hit .300/.404/.433 over 34 Triple-A games in 2025.

Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins: Rodriguez is one of baseball's most divisive prospects. His unusual three-true-outcome profile and athleticism make him a feast or famine type of player. On Wednesday, Rodriguez showed a glimpse of his massive raw power with Triple-A St. Paul. In the bottom of the third inning, Rodriguez crushed a hanging slider 451 feet at an exit velocity of 113.6 mph. At 23 years old, Rodriguez should be close to a MLB callup. He has outlier power, plus speed and the ability to handle any position in the outfield.

Editor’s Picks

50 Prospects Who Impressed Scouts: ICYMI, Josh Norris presents his highly-anticipated annual spring training review of buzz-worthy MLB prospects getting praise from scouts on backfields. Read more…

Draft Bonus Pools: MLB released bonus pools and pick slot values for the 2026 draft to teams on Wednesday. See them here. 

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Each day, we’ll pick a prospect that has our attention.

Jason Woodward, RHP, Brewers: Woodward was Milwaukee’s fourth-round pick from 2023 out of Florida Gulf Coast. He reached Low-A in 2024 but missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery and has just 12 pro innings to his name. This spring, he looks like a breakout waiting to happen. On the backfields, he showed a mid-90s fastball, a potentially double-plus changeup and a new cutter that serves as a strike-stealer. Woodward’s breaking ball will need to be tightened, but he looks like the next man up on the Brewers’ conveyor belt of interesting pitching prospects. 

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the Pirates and top prospect Konnor Griffin are deep into contract extension negotiations.

• Orioles outfielder Dylan Beavers went 3-for-5 with a homer. Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford also had a three-hit day.

• Braves righty JR Ritchie cruised through five scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett.

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