Ten Young Hitters and Pitchers Who Are Already Making Noise in April

We're only a few weeks into the 2026 season and the league is already buzzing about some serious talent stepping up. Sure, the usual suspects like Shohei Ohtani, Yordan Alvarez, Corbin Carroll, Cristopher Sánchez and Bryan Woo are doing what we expect them to do. But there's a whole crew of newer faces who look like they could be taking massive steps forward this year. The Cardinals' Jordan Walker is looking like one of the top breakout players already. To keep things focused, this list skips anyone with previous All-Star selections or MVP or Cy Young Award votes. Here are ten players who have been absolute standouts so far, and why their future might be seriously bright.

The Hitters Making Headlines

Ben Rice, 1B, Yankees. Rice's dominance hasn't come out of nowhere. Last season he posted an .836 OPS with 26 home runs, but the underlying metrics said he should have been even better with a .394 expected wOBA versus his actual .358 wOBA. This year? He's crushing it. Through his first 11 games, Rice is sitting at a 1.183 OPS with four home runs and absolutely elite numbers across the board: a .473 xwOBA (100th percentile), a 75.0 percent hard-hit rate (100th), and a 25.0 percent barrel rate (99th percentile). He's also showing elite plate discipline with a 90th percentile chase rate. Paired with Aaron Judge in the Yankees lineup, Rice is looking like one of the best hitters in baseball right now.

The Pitchers Taking Over

José Soriano, RHP, Angels. Soriano has been straight up dominant. In three starts against the Astros, Cubs, and Braves, he's allowed just one run across 20 innings. His latest outing was an eight-inning masterpiece against Atlanta on Monday, where he gave up one run, struck out 10, and walked zero. His fastball is sitting at 97.5 mph and he's generating a 33.8 percent whiff rate. The best part? He's finally throwing more strikes after that being a problem in the past. With a 66.0 percent ground-ball rate leading all qualified pitchers since 2025, Soriano has all the pieces to be a true breakout star.

Cam Schlittler, RHP, Yankees. The second-year righty came up huge last season with a 2.96 ERA and 84 strikeouts in his first 14 starts, then dazzled in the postseason with 12 strikeouts across eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series. Now in 2026, he's leveling up even more with a 1.62 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and zero walks in his first three starts. His heavy fastball approach is generating a 32.3 percent whiff rate while he's hammering the zone at a 54.1 percent rate and getting a shocking 37.7 percent chase rate.

Jack Leiter, RHP, Rangers. After being a household name since his Vanderbilt days, Leiter's early breakout is incredible to watch. In his first two starts, he's allowed three runs while striking out 17 against just two walks. He's generating whiffs on 45.3 percent of swings (98th percentile), shaved his walk rate by nearly six percent, and boosted his chase rate by almost 10 percent. With a six-pitch mix and newfound command, he's finally coming into his own.

Chase Burns, RHP, Reds. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 Draft flashed serious upside in his debut last year with 67 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings, but that 4.57 ERA masked some real promise. This year? The numbers are matching the stuff. Through two starts, Burns has allowed one run in 11 innings with 16 strikeouts, generating whiffs on 44.4 percent of swings and averaging 98.5

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.