MLB Opening Day 2026: Top 50 people who will impact the MLB season, Nos. 25-1

Jake MintzWed, March 25, 2026 at 8:05 PM UTC

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What is a baseball season, if not a series of cascading stories, unfurling one after another? October is its own grand beast, but the marathon regular season is a stage all its own. The singular length of the MLB calendar allows for narrative arc, for character development in a way other sports do not. This is the lens through which we’ll attempt to preview the upcoming campaign.

Who are the figures most likely to define, influence and dictate the 2026 season? When the dust settles in November, what and whom will we remember? That is the admittedly vague framework for this list of the top 50 people who will impact the MLB season. But this is not a science, so lighten up and enjoy the ball, why don’t ya?

Read more: Top 50 people who will impact the MLB season, Nos. 50-26

25. Kevin McGonigle, Tigers infielder24. Konnor Griffin, Pirates shortstop

Oh, to be young and full of promise.

Widely considered the two best prospects in baseball, McGonigle and Griffin are both expected to be major contributors this season. McGonigle’s impact should start right away; the 21-year-old made Detroit’s Opening Day roster. Skipper A.J. Hinch said McGonigle will go back and forth between third base and shortstop, but his magic is in the batter’s box, where he projects as a special, special hitter. It’s a short, compact move with legit juice and elite swing decisions. McGonigle immediately becomes one of the Tigers’ best bats and represents the club’s only major offensive addition from a year ago. How quickly he hits the ground running will play a big role in determining how good Detroit’s lineup is in what is likely the final year of the Tarik Skubal Era.

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Griffin, almost two years younger than McGonigle, did not make Pittsburgh’s roster. That decision, despite all the hype, was likely more about legitimate player development concerns than service time tomfoolery. The 19-year-old Mississippian clocked some big homers in spring training but didn’t otherwise blow the lid off the joint. Besides, Griffin has yet to take a Triple-A at-bat. He’ll be up in Pittsburgh soon enough, and when that happens, he’ll be the most hyped Pirates rookie position player since Andrew McCutchen.

23. Emmanuel Clase, former (?) Guardians pitcher & alleged gambler

A word to the wise: If you’re a major-league ballplayer, you probably shouldn’t be wagering on Major League Baseball.

Clase, once the most dominant closer of his generation, has become the face of something much more sinister. His direct involvement in a gambling scandal was made public just before last year’s trade deadline and has since become one of the most important stories in the sport. Allegedly, Clase was intentionally throwing balls outside the strike zone in predetermined moments while an off-site accomplice was placing prop bets on the outcomes. He also roped teammate Luis Ortiz into the scheme, though Clase appears to have been the ringleader.

The trial won’t commence until after the World Series, but this entire story will most certainly cast a shadow on the 2026 season. MLB’s embrace of the online betting world is equal parts understandable and unsettling. All the other leagues are doing it, the money is there to be had, and partnering with gambling sites, in theory, allows for better monitoring practices. But with Pandora’s box completely ajar, scandals such as Clase’s will keep happening as long as stupid ballplayers are around to do stupid stuff.

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22. Elly De La Cruz, Reds shortstop21. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles shortstop

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Source: “AOL Sports”