We are a little over 50 games into the 2026 season. At this point in the season, a lot of players have graduated from prospect status, and others have earned their spot on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospect list thanks to a strong start to the season. This has led to new names and faces creeping into the bottom of the list.
New Names in the National League
No. 94 Luis Lara – OF (Milwaukee Brewers)
CREDIT: Dave Kallmann / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Top international prospects are nothing new for the Milwaukee Brewers. Luis Lara is one of the new names that should be known in the Brewers’ system, originating from the international market. Since coming over from Venezuela, he has been a walking highlight reel in the outfield. Lara has even won a Minor League Gold Glove in 2025.
Luis Lara showing why he is one of the best defenders in the Brewers organization! pic.twitter.com/lWGdeeDTNG
— MLB (@MLB) March 22, 2025
Luis Lara comes in at a whopping 5’7” and 170 pounds. This size has created concerns around his impact at the plate. The switch-hitter has a flat approach angle from both sides of the plate. He is much better on the right side, where he gets to his power more often. However, he generates consistent contact from both sides. This season, he is hitting over .330 in Triple-A and already has a career high in home runs. While Lara might be one of the new names on the Top 100, his floor would be that of Juan Lagares.
No. 97 Charles Davalan – OF (Los Angeles Dodgers)
The Dodgers continue to stockpile top outfield prospects, and Charles Davalan is one of the new names baseball fans should become familiar with. Davalan became the fifth Dodgers outfield prospect to crack the Top 100. Originally from Canada, Davalan began his college career at Florida Gulf Coast before transferring to the University of Arkansas. Davalan’s performance as a sophomore motivated the Dodgers to take him with the 41st pick last July. Since then, Davalan has made the most out of his at-bats with a career average of nearly .320.
Charles Davalan has generated buzz thanks to his bat. He shows excellent bat-to-ball skills, walking more than he strikes out. He has also discovered more power since going pro. While he will never slug for a ton of power, he is more than capable of lifting the ball to his pull side. The left-handed hitting outfielder will likely be stuck in left long-term. He has a fringy arm at best and is an average runner. Still, Davalan’s bat is enough reason to be one of the new names on the Top 100.
American League Aspirations
No. 92 Ike Irish – 1B/OF (Baltimore Orioles)
Ike Irish was well-known before becoming one of the new names on the Top 100. He was arguably the most polished college hitter in the draft last season. Since joining the Orioles’ system, Irish has left catching behind him, focusing on playing first and in the corners of the grass. At the plate this season, Irish has been solid in High-A. He is hitting .265 with 6 homers and a surprising 10 stolen bases.
Irish has carried his reputation as a hitter over to pro ball. The bat will be what carries him to Baltimore. He needs to elevate the ball more to really make an impact at the majors. Irish is fully capable of driving the ball to all fields, and creating more leverage should only inflate his numbers. Finding a position might be the biggest struggle for the Irish. This is nothing new for Baltimore, and Irish isn’t the only one of the new names on the Top 100 who needs to solidify a position.
Ike Irish showed off the wheels in his #SpringTraining debut 🏃♂️💨 pic.twitter.com/8GCzWq2jyP
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) February 24, 2026
No. 93 Wei-En Lin – LHP (The Athletics)
Wei-En Lin is the only pitcher of the new names on the Top 100. He is a lefty who signed out of Taiwan in 2024 with the Athletics. In his first season, he pitched to a 3.72 ERA in 87 innings. More impressive for Lin was the execution of his pitches. Lin pitched to a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.32 in his first pro season. He did all of this while striking out over 12 per nine innings, as well.
Wei-En Lin does not have the most explosive stuff. His fastball averages in the low-to-mid 90s, and he works through four pitches in total. His best pitch is a curveball that drops off a table. He also adds a slider to his mix. Lin’s greatest strength is his feel for all four pitches. He can throw all of his pitches for strikes and can use them in any count. He is a high-floor pitcher and has been one of the standout prospects to begin the season. He should continue to cement his status amongst the new names on the Top 100 list.
No. 95 Josh Hammond – SS/3B (Kansas City Royals)
Josh Hammond was selected in last year’s draft thanks to a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick awarded to the Royals for Bobby Witt Jr being a finalist for MVP in 2024. Hammond has a great outlook as a PPI pick with his future in the Royals’ system thanks to the start of his pro career. In 39 games, he is batting .283 with 18 extra-base hits. He has split time in Single-A at both shortstop and third base as he looks to solidify a feature position on the left side of the dirt as he becomes one of the new names to look out for in the Royals’ system.
Hammond’s arm will keep him on the left side of the diamond. He has demonstrated high baseball IQ so far, as demonstrated by his fielding and stolen base numbers. The main tool to watch for with Hammond will be his power. He has already demonstrated the ability to drive the ball with his 18 extra-base hits and will look to continue to do so as one of the new names on the Top 100.
That’s a baker’s dozen in doubles for Josh Hammond this season 🧑🍳🧁🍩 #LetsGlow pic.twitter.com/WmDfXcZvVo
— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) May 10, 2026
No. 96 Justin Gonzalez – OF (Boston Red Sox)
Justin Gonzalez was an imposing figure when the Red Sox signed him as an international free agent, and he has only matured more physically. He is the biggest of the new names on the Top 100, coming in at 6’5” and over 210 pounds. There’s no surprise that a player of this size has extreme raw power, as he generates high exit velocities. The Red Sox farmhand originally came in as a first baseman but has played more outfield than first base since 2025.
Gonzalez is an interesting prospect due to his power potential. He has the size, strength, bat speed, and exit velocities to hit for more than enough power as an outfielder. However, Gonzalez only hit four home runs in his first taste of full-season ball. This is due to his propensity to pull the ball, resulting in a lot of rolled-over ground balls. If Gonzalez is able to lift the ball more and become a more well-rounded hitter, there’s no reason he can’t rise above the rest of the new names on the Top 100 Prospect lists.
No. 98 Xavier Neyens – 3B/SS (Houston Astros)
Xavier Neyens was an overslot pick for the Astros in the first round of last year’s draft by the Houston Astros. Thanks to a massive 6’4” frame, Neyens hit for plenty of power in high school and will look to do that in pro ball as well. This frame was why he qualified as one of the best power prospects amongst the prep group. At just 19 years old, there’s plenty for Astros fans to love as he becomes one of the new names on the Top 100.
Neyens has already shown an aptitude to get into his power at the pro level. He has 9 extra-base hits, including 6 home runs, to start the season. Neyens is also batting .259. This is extremely impressive given the fact that he has struck out in nearly half of his at-bats. In just over 100 at-bats, he has 46 strikeouts. Neyens will need to limit the strikeouts and be more than just a three-outcome player if he hopes to stay on the Top 100 lists amongst the other new names.
Xavier Neyens Season Stats:
.257 AVG | 9 XBH | 19 RBI | .432 OBP#ChaseTheFight pic.twitter.com/M6pWLOI6CX
— Milb Central (@milb_central) May 18, 2026
Main Image Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
