Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox: Schultz might not be long for the minor leagues. After a difficult 2025 put Schultz to the test, the White Sox lefthander looked like a different pitcher in 2026. Schultz dominated once again on Wednesday, striking out nine in his third start of the season. Schultz has struck out 19 batters to two walks over 14 innings to begin the season. He has taken a major step forward with his command and execution and looks ready for his MLB debut.

Tate Southisene, SS, Braves: The Southisene family could soon rival the Naylors as far as brotherly baseball trios. Tate Southisene, the Braves' first-round pick in 2025, connected for his first pro home run on Wednesday as part of a multi-hit night. After a rough professional debut following last year's draft, Southisene has shown off an improved swing and approach this spring. Southisene is one of four brothers in professional or amateur baseball. He has two older brothers: Ty (a Cubs minor leaguer) and Tee (who began his college career at USC and is now at Southern Nevada). The youngest Southisene, Troy, is a prominent 2026 high school prospect committed to Oregon State.

Jhonny Level, SS, Giants: Level finished the 2025 season with Low-A San Jose, hitting three home runs over 31 games. On Wednesday, he hit his second home run of the season in only his fifth game. Level has been scorching hot to begin 2026, starting 12-for-23 with nine runs, four doubles, eight RBIs and the pair of homers in less than a week’s worth of games. Level can sometimes be overlooked in a talented Giants system that also features headlining shortstops like Josuar Gonzalez and Luis Hernandez, but the 19-year-old is a Top 100 Prospect with real upside.

Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers: In an organization where it’s hard for even the best young players to break into the everyday MLB lineup, De Paula might have the best chance to do so of any of the Dodgers' current crop of prospects. On Wednesday, the 20-year-old outfielder collected four hits, including his first home run of the season. BA's No. 19 overall prospect drove in five runs, showing why he’s long been considered one of the best young hitters in the minors. De Paula is 8-for-22 (.364) to begin the season, with a homer and more walks than strikeouts in his first five games.

Liam Doyle, LHP, Cardinals: After a difficult spring training, the Cardinals’ 2025 first-round pick struggled in his 2026 debut. Starting for Double-A Springfield, Doyle went three innings allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk. Things got particularly messy for Doyle in the second inning when he allowed four singles and a walk.

Andrew Fischer, 3B/1B, Brewers: The Brewers drafted Fischer in the first round last year due to his advanced hitting ability and 60-grade power. After a good-but-not-great pro debut in which he played through a wrist injury, the 21-year-old third baseman is back healthy and producing at a higher level to begin 2026. On Wednesday, Fischer hit his first home run of the season—a grand slam in the seventh inning to power High-A Wisconsin to a 9-1 win over Quad Cities. He went 2-for-4 on the night with two runs, a walk and a pair of strikeouts. Fischer, ranked 12th in the Brewers' system, should continue to punish High-A pitching over the next month or two before receiving a promotion to Double-A Biloxi.

Editor’s Picks

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

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

Christian Oppor, LHP, White Sox: One of the more exciting pop-up prospects of 2025, Oppor has an opportunity to take the next step this season and could pitch himself into the White Sox future rotation plans with a good showing after being assigned to Double-A out of camp.

Oppor works with three pitches: a mid-to-high-90s fastball, a big breaking sweeper and a changeup. The changeup is his best pitch, playing off his fastball and keeping hitters off balance.

Oppor is one of the few lefthanded starters in the minor leagues that can run his fastball up to triple digits. That power and the ability to control it—combined with a pair of quality secondaries—could be the right ingredient mix to push his prospect status over the top. He’s one of 15 potential breakout pitching prospects for 2026.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Tigers outfielder Max Clark continued his red-hot start to 2026, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base for Triple-A Toledo. Clark is hitting .421 through 10 games.

• Charlie Condon has also carried his momentum into the start of the season. He went 3-for-6 with a homer for Triple-A Albuquerque.

• Brewers LHP Robert Gasser is dealing with soreness in his left arm.

• Wednesday was a good day for Braves pitching prospects. In Triple-A, Didier Fuentes fired six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, albeit with four walks. In Double-A, Herick Hernandez punched out seven batters (three walks) over 4.2 scoreless innings.

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