The MLB season is well underway, and the injury bug has already bitten some teams. With this in mind, some of the top prospects in baseball are close to appearing in the big leagues. These four MLB prospects all could be promoted soon, depending on the circumstances surrounding the teams, particularly a key injury.
MLB Prospects Who Are an Injury Closer to Promotion
Payton Tolle – LHP (Boston Red Sox)
Payton Tolle burst onto the scene last season for the Red Sox down the stretch. He elicited a lot of whiffs thanks to his top-end fastball. The fastball is so dominant thanks to the extension he gets and the ride he generates. Unfortunately, Tolle doesn’t have any other plus offerings in his arsenal, but he uses them effectively to get hitters off of the fastball. While he struggled during his first taste of baseball in Boston, he had a great spring and a good start to the 2026 campaign. With this in mind, he could be just one injury away from Boston.
LHP Payton Tolle (GG #1) with Triple-A Worcester today:
5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 6 K
• 9 whiffs (25%)
• 27% CSWSimply mowed down hitters with ease. Limited QoC well and pounded the zone with strikes. FF T99 mph. FA-trifecta led the charge in terms of usage. pic.twitter.com/OyuFl3w8Pc
— G.G. (@ggeiss_mlb) April 12, 2026
The reason Tolle didn’t make the team was due to Boston’s plethora of arms. Additionally, the Red Sox already have three left-handed starting pitchers at the moment. For Tolle to get recalled, one of the lefties would likely need to go down with an injury. However, there should be no doubt that Tolle will be in a Red Sox uniform during this season. He should be a factor for the Red Sox down the stretch as they pursue the playoffs.
Bryce Eldridge – 1B (San Francisco Giants)
Bryce Eldridge may have the best raw power in all of Minor League Baseball. Unfortunately for Eldridge, the rest of his tools grade out as average at best. He is very aggressive at the plate, which has created a struggle for Eldridge against breaking balls. Additionally, in the field, Eldridge is not very mobile and is not a great defender. For him to be a successful big leaguer, he will need to tap into his power regularly. This is why the Giants decided to send Eldridge to Tacoma, due to the team’s healthy start.
There is no shot Bryce Eldridge stays in Sacramento long pic.twitter.com/T1Yuhkekqh
— Baseball Unstitched (@BaseUnstitched) March 24, 2026
The Giants acquired Rafael Devers last summer and are determined for him to play first base. However, he has manned the DH role for a lot of the season. Currently, Casey Schmitt is starting at first base and was given a starting role for the first time in his career. Luckily for Eldridge, he is off to a strong start. In Triple-A, he is hitting .360 and is generating walks at a higher rate, so an injury to Schmitt or Devers could see a call-up for Eldridge.
Those Set to Debut Soon
Colt Emerson – INF (Seattle Mariners)
Colt Emerson recently signed an eight-year extension with the Mariners. Emerson is capable of playing any position in the infield and has consistently hit at every level. He has one of the best hit tools in baseball thanks to an advanced approach. Defensively, he has even proven doubters wrong that he can man shortstop long term. He has also shown improvement in generating power in his second season, compiling 50 extra-base hits.
For those of you asking why the Mariners haven’t called up Colt Emerson yet… there are many reasons. But this is a big one pic.twitter.com/NxeVE7blTG
— Marine Layer Podcast (@MarineLayerPod) April 10, 2026
J.P. Crawford started the season for the Mariners on the injured list, which had fans unsure if Emerson would make the team out of spring training. However, the Mariners decided to give Leo Rivas the nod on Opening Day. Unfortunately for Seattle, Rivas struggled mightily. Emerson has shown a strong start to this season, hitting .265, but is striking out at a higher rate. If another injury brings Crawford or another infielder down, Emerson should be the next man up for the Mariners.
Charlie Condon – 1B/OF (Colorado Rockies)
Charlie Condon was one of the most prolific power hitters coming out of the college ranks in 2024. Unfortunately, Condon had a hand injury in his first full season in 2025. This limited his power numbers last season, but he showed back out during the Arizona Fall League. He is a power over hit player, but grades out as at least an average hitter. Since being drafted by the Rockies, Condon has played first base almost exclusively, where he’s an average defender. Also, being a larger guy, he is not the fleetest of foot.
Seems as though the Rockies are hitting the bal up and down the farm today:
Charlie Condon hits his 3rd HR of the year 422 feet in Albuquerque pic.twitter.com/NN6DRkIAhz
— Baseball Unstitched (@BaseUnstitched) April 8, 2026
The Rockies are coming off one of the worst seasons in recent baseball history. Ultimately, Colorado is still in a rebuilding mode, so there is no rush to get Condon to the big leagues. However, Condon is red hot to start the season, hitting .325 with four homers to start the season. An injury might not get Condon to Denver right away, but Rockies fans should see him sooner rather than later.
Main Photo Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images
