MLB September predictions: Playoff races, MVP and Cy Young awards, and more surprises
Welcome to September! We’re five months into Major League Baseball’s 2023 season, meaning it’s all coming down to the wire as the postseason quickly approaches.
Which of the current contenders will be headed to the playoffs come October? Which teams will have narrowly missed the cut? How will the division races shape up? Who will reach the Fall Classic? Who are the favorites to win the MVP and Cy Young awards? At the end of his historic season for the Los Angeles Angels, will Shohei Ohtani win his second MVP and finish with the most home runs in the majors? And what else may happen down the stretch?
To discuss what the final month of the regular season might bring, we asked a panel of 17 ESPN baseball experts some of the game’s biggest questions, covering September and beyond. We also asked a number of them to explain their answers — particularly those who went against the grain.
Below, you’ll find our picks for the postseason, major awards and more, including a few surprising answers and some bold predictions about what’s next.
Who will finish with the best record in baseball?
Atlanta Braves: 16
Baltimore Orioles: 1
You were the only voter to not pick the Braves. How do you think the Orioles will do it? It’s as much wishful thinking as anything, since this team has been so much fun all year, but unlike the Braves, the Orioles NEED these wins to secure their first American League East title since 2014. That year also happens to be the last time they entered September in first place, and they’ve already matched last year’s win total of 83. The Braves are absolutely a better baseball team, but with the way the schedule shakes out, we could be looking at some real Orioles magic at Camden Yards to close out 2023. — Clinton Yates
Who will be the No. 1 seed in the National League: the Braves or Dodgers?
Atlanta Braves: 17
Los Angeles Dodgers: 0
Not a single person picked the Dodgers. Why are the Braves the overwhelming favorite? The Braves are overwhelming favorites for the same reason Braves fans believe Ronald Acuna Jr. should be the overwhelming favorite for the NL MVP award: consistency. From the beginning of the season to now, they’ve been an exceptional baseball team, and as magnificent as the Dodgers’ 24-5 August may have been, the Braves went 21-8 and actually had a better run differential than Los Angeles. These are clearly the two best teams in the NL. They may well be the two best teams in baseball. But as much as the Dodgers have tried to take the mantle, the Braves have done nothing to give it up. — Jeff Passan
Will the New York Yankees finish with a losing record?
Yes: 16
No: 1
Everyone seems fairly certain the Yankees will finish under .500, but you think they’ll keep their 30-year streak of consecutive winning seasons alive. How come? Legendary manager Davey Johnson always advocated for having two to three rookies on every team because of the energy they bear, and in the Yankees’ case, you can immediately see this. The addition of Jasson Dominguez, Austin Wells and others gives them a fresh feel — and it’s not as if the Yankees are just a bad team. Aaron Judge might hit 40 homers in an injury-plagued season, Gerrit Cole is the Cy Young front-runner, and they have a strong bullpen. In 2016, they were a .500 team at the trade deadline — swapping Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller while turning to rookies like Judge and Gary Sanchez — and they finished well. I think they’ll do that this year. — Buster Olney
The 2023 AL and NL MVPs will be … ?
AL
Shohei Ohtani: 17
NL
Ronald Acuna Jr.: 9
Mookie Betts: 7
Freddie Freeman: 1
Ohtani was unanimous among our voters; what makes him a standout in the MVP race? The last thing Ohtani needed to win his second AL MVP was the sympathy vote, but here we are. The Angels’ bizarre season — just when you thought they couldn’t find a different way to disappoint and confound, they did — and Ohtani’s elbow injury have cast him in a Shakespearean light. He is by far the most valuable player in baseball, and along the way he has once and for all shredded the idea that a player’s worth is contingent on his team’s success. — Tim Keown
Why does Acuna deserve MVP? I’m a numbers guy, and while this MVP race has three amazing candidates, Acuna’s numbers are simply historic and impossible to overlook, and that’s beyond just being the first 30/60 player. He has started every single Braves game out of the leadoff spot, with these paces:
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147 runs: Other than Ted Williams in 1949 and Jeff Bagwell in 2000, this hasn’t been done since World War II.
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75 stolen bases: Other than Jose Reyes in 2007, this hasn’t been done since before the 1994 strike.
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219 hits: This hasn’t been done since Jose Altuve in 2014 and would be only the ninth instance this century.
Acuna is also pacing for 37 homers, and while we all talk about the Luis Arraez-Freddie Freeman prospective batting title race, Acuna is very much also in that mix. It’ll be tough for voters to ignore those statistical accomplishments. — Tristan Cockcroft
Acuna was the longtime favorite to win MVP. Why do you think Betts can overtake him? I’ll say this off the top: I wouldn’t have any qualms with anybody voting for Acuna. It’s that close. And I don’t think WAR should ever be the end-all, be-all, regardless of the version. But Betts’ 7.8 WAR at the start of September was a good bit higher than Acuna’s 6.7 WAR. Acuna has been dinged mostly by his defense, but few would make the case that he is actually a liability on defense. In fact, most would consider him a dynamic right fielder, regardless of what the metrics show.
Acuna gets the edge in baserunning, a product of him reaching the ridiculous 60-steal milestone before the end of August, but Betts has been a valuable baserunner in his own right. Offensively, of course, it’s really close too. But to me, Betts’ ability to also play both second base and shortstop — and play it well, I might add — gives him a slight edge in a head-to-head matchup that often makes it feel as if we’re splitting hairs. His versatility has also allowed the Dodgers to put together a much better lineup against right-handed pitching. — Alden Gonzalez
The Cy Youngs will go to … ?
AL
Gerrit Cole: 13
Kevin Gausman: 3
Luis Castillo: 1
NL
Spencer Strider: 6
Blake Snell: 5
Justin Steele: 4
Zac Gallen: 2
What makes you think Gausman can beat out Cole for the award? In a bit of a down AL Cy Young race, I have Gausman with a slight lead over Cole. Gausman leads the AL in strikeouts, has an identical walk rate to Cole and has made just two fewer starts. If the Jays can get into the playoffs with strong performances from Gausman while the Yankees fade into a tumultuous offseason, I think Gausman will win the award. — Kiley McDaniel
There doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus for an AL favorite, with Strider, Snell and Steele all vying for Cy Young. Make the case for Steele. Like MVP, there has to be an element of team value to the Cy Young award. That’s where Steele enters. The Cubs would be a second tier squad without him, and there’s no debating it. He’s the only pitcher on the Cubs who qualifies for the ERA title — injuries, ineffectiveness and youth have plagued the rest of the rotation — and he’s been that stalwart every playoff contender needs. The only time he failed to pitch at least five innings this season is around the time he went on the injured list back in early June. It was a short stint as he picked up where he left off, going 9-1 with a 2.72 ERA since that minor elbow ailment. Since June, the team has gone 13-1 with him on the mound.
As for league-wide numbers, Steele’s 2.69 ERA ranks second in the NL behind Snell, who’s on a losing team. Steele also ranks first in ERA+ and fewest home runs given up per nine innings pitched at a measly 0.7. He’s given up just 11 long balls all season. His first All-Star appearance should be followed by a Cy Young award. — Jesse Rogers
Why is Strider your pick for the NL? Wins and strikeouts aren’t everything, but when someone these days actually approaches 20 of the former and 300 of the latter — and for baseball’s best team — we notice. Strider won’t win the ERA title, but it’s not like anyone has a Bob Gibson-1968 ERA, either. I go with Strider. — Eric Karabell
The 2023 World Series matchup will be … ?
AL
Houston Astros: 8
Seattle Mariners: 3
Texas Rangers: 3
Minnesota Twins: 1
Toronto Blue Jays: 1
Tampa Bay Rays: 1
NL
Atlanta Braves: 12
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3
Philadelphia Phillies: 1
Milwaukee Brewers: 1
You have the Astros winning the division, but the Mariners making the World Series. Explain how Seattle gets there. This is all based on fatigue and history. Recent history shows that it’s hard to get to three straight World Series and even harder to repeat, but that doesn’t mean Houston will go down easily. The Astros have pushed hard of late to get into a position to win the AL West, but eventually those pitching injuries and mileage they’ve put on their bodies over the last few years will catch up to them.
That’s where a new, emerging power will fill the void — and the Mariners are that team. They’re brimming with confidence after a post All-Star break surge. Combined with the experience gained making the playoffs last season, they’re poised to go further this time around. The key to it all comes on the mound. The Mariners feature three starters (Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert) in the top 10 in ERA in the AL. No other team can make that claim. Add their star players — like Julio Rodriguez — showing up in the second half in a dramatic way and Seattle’s OPS has jumped from 10th to second since the break. The ingredients are all there for a playoff run and an upset in the ALCS no matter who the M’s face. — Rogers
Most of our voters have the Braves making the World Series, but you chose the Phillies. Why? The Braves have the most clout. The Dodgers have the most star power. But the Phillies have the roster best equipped to win October baseball games with fewer deficiencies than either Atlanta or Los Angeles. Philadelphia sports a lineup that can generate runs with or without homering, a rotation that runs six reliable starters deep and a spitfire bullpen that is considerably deeper than it was a year ago. — Paul Hembekides
A Twins-Brewers World Series?! Explain yourself! I’m calling this the “Hot Chocolate” World Series and, yes, it is admittedly a very long shot. But given the unpredictable nature of this season in general, I’m going with an unlikely World Series matchup. (I’m also aware that the Twins have lost an unfathomable 18 consecutive postseason games going back to 2004. Using straight 50/50 odds for each game, the odds of the Twins losing 18 straight would be about 1 in 261,985. This just means: They. Are. Due.)
There are also analytic reasons to pick both teams: namely, starting pitching. The Twins’ starters are near the top of the majors in lowest OPS allowed and strikeout rate. Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez are an underrated 1-2 punch and Joe Ryan and Kenta Maeda are both averaging more than 10 K’s per nine. The Twins also have a potentially dominant closer in flamethrowing Jhoan Duran and his 103-mph fastball. They’ll need another reliever or two to step up, but it’s a group that could be on a roll in October — they just need to win that first game.
The Brewers are also capable of a surprise — even upsetting the Braves. Their rotation is top five in lowest OPS allowed — and, remember, that’s with Brandon Woodruff missing most of the season. But he’s back now, Freddy Peralta is one of the hottest starters in the majors (1.71 ERA over his past seven starts with a .451 OPS allowed) and Corbin Burnes can wipe out any lineup on any given night. And they have a better bullpen than the Twins, led by closer Devin Williams and now featuring rookie Abner Uribe, who has averaged 99.5 mph with his fastball. — David Schoenfield
Who will finish with the most home runs in the majors?
Shohei Ohtani: 8
Matt Olson: 7
Pete Alonso: 1
Kyle Schwarber: 1
What makes you believe Ohtani will hit the most homers? The essence of the question for me is really “who is the better home run hitter right now?” given that the margin between Ohtani and Olson is so narrow. To me, Ohtani is the second-best home run hitter in the majors behind Judge, who is too far back to catch the leaders. So if Ohtani plays out the season, I think he’ll win it and, besides, if he’s not pitching, he’ll be able to focus on that kind of individual feat. The big, blinking caveat to this is that he’s injured. I’m sticking with him if he plays to the end of the season, but if he needs Tommy John surgery, it’s really hard to imagine he’ll wait another month to get that behind him. — Brad Doolittle
Olson is neck-and-neck with Ohtani. Why do you think he pulls ahead? This is less a bet for Olson being a superior home run hitter than it is a bet against Ohtani’s health and the pragmatic challenges it raises. Ohtani has a tear in his right UCL. We do not know the severity. What we do know is that it could necessitate Tommy John surgery, and if that is the ultimate outcome, the sooner Ohtani undergoes it, the better. Delaying until the end of September not only could prevent him from hitting to start the 2024 season but keep him from pitching until after Opening Day in 2025. Maybe Ohtani’s desire to hit 50 home runs or make a run at the Triple Crown will keep him going until the end, in which case Olson’s road is rough. But he’s going to play every day, and until we know the same of Ohtani, we’ll go with the sure(r) thing. — Passan
Who will be the wild-card teams in the NL?
Philadelphia Phillies: 17
Chicago Cubs: 16
San Francisco Giants: 8
Arizona Diamondbacks: 6
Cincinnati Reds: 2
Miami Marlins: 1
San Diego Padres: 1
The Phillies and Cubs were our most-picked teams. Why do they look like wild-card locks? In the Phillies’ case, it’s simple: They are loaded with accomplished veterans, and with Trea Turner and Bryce Harper heating up, they could be the biggest threat to the Braves’ NL preeminence. The Cubs seem to have two very solid traits — they generally catch the ball well, ranking in the top 10 in just about every advanced defensive metric, and they pitch effectively. And it’s always worth remembering that the wild-card races are never a battle of the best teams. The Cubs are a good team being chased by some slightly above average teams. They are hungry and won’t lose their edge. — Olney
Our voters were split between Arizona and San Francisco for the final spot, and you have both making it. What’s your reasoning? Just a hunch that the Giants and Diamondbacks will play a bit better than the Cubs in September. The Cubs will host these teams soon, and those series will be critical. It seems unlikely Marcus Stroman will be a factor. In addition, the Cubs have to close on the road with the Braves and Brewers. That may be a problem. — Karabell
How do you think the Reds secure a wild-card berth? The Reds play pressure baseball and they do so with sheer athleticism and spry youth. They remind me of the way the Guardians played during their playoff push in 2022 — with a certain innocence in being the youngest team and a mix of veteran confidence. In 2023, the numbers show that the Reds love to run: They’re first in MLB in stolen base attempts per game. Even when they get caught, they still force teams to be on their toes constantly. Pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders, beware! Even the opposing team’s designated hitter is stressed out watching these guys constantly run. (This is also a skill that could help knock off the Brewers, who give up hardly any baserunners.)
Add to the mix that Hunter Greene is back, and before he went down, he was quietly starting to figure it out. In his last four starts before being placed on the IL in June, he allowed 13 hits and struck out 31 batters in 23⅓ innings for a 2.37 ERA. Love this team’s talent. So fun to watch. — Doug Glanville
Will the Orioles or Rays win the AL East?
Baltimore Orioles: 14
Tampa Bay Rays: 3
Why are the Orioles the favorite to win the division? The Rays are charging, and the team they are pursuing, Baltimore, lost dominant closer Felix Bautista, which is why the Orioles are going to hold on and win the AL East. They are young, hungry and well built, with the truest of grit. There’s no other explanation for how they can be where they are only two years after finishing 39 games out of fourth place. The Orioles are different. They don’t give a damn and were kicked around for so long that now, they just defy the odds. They will clinch the East at Oriole Park on the final day of the season against Boston. Gunnar Henderson will provide the walk-off. — Tim Kurkjian
Yet, you picked the Rays. What makes you think they can do it? It’s probably not cool to predict that anything negative might happen to the Orioles this season. They’re baseball’s darlings, but they’re going to find the final month of the season to be a grim slog to a wild-card spot. This is all new to the O’s, and the Rays have a stick-to-the-plan consistency that will win out in the end. It’s almost cultish how the Rays can ignore everything outside their own room and assemble a roster that conforms to the plan. Baltimore is putting together its own identity, one that should win multiple AL East titles, but that run starts next year. — Keown
Who will finish at the bottom of the NL East: the Mets or Nationals?
New York Mets: 12
Washington Nationals: 5
What makes you think Washington will fall back into the cellar? The Nats and Mets are in a virtual tie right now for last place in the NL East and I think the Nats will end up with that title. In short, Washington’s team right now is one of the worst in baseball — second worst, in fact, according to FanGraphs. When they’re starting in almost the same place, I’ll bet on the more talented Mets playing a bit better. — McDaniel
Who will win the AL West: the Astros, Rangers or Mariners?
Houston Astros: 10
Seattle Mariners: 4
Texas Rangers: 3
The Mariners currently sit atop the division, but you and our voters still think the Astros will take the title. How come? We sports journalists have short memories, but they aren’t that short. The Astros have been in the ALCS six straight seasons, which is a truly remarkable accomplishment. Obviously that streak will end eventually, perhaps even a few weeks from now. But at this point, it would be foolish to pick against them unless they have obviously deteriorated into a lesser team. Perhaps there were some early signs of fraying this season, but now Houston seems positioned just right and is even getting healthier the closer we get to October. The Astros have to give us a reason to pick against them — massive injuries, obvious widespread aging-out of core players, a division foe who has gotten too far ahead of them. None of those things are true right now. — Doolittle
Yet, you stuck with Seattle. Why? Because I’m a completely biased Seattle native who grew up going to games in the Kingdome? Or because they’ve been the hottest team in the AL? You choose! Technically, I’m predicting the Mariners, Astros, Rangers and Blue Jays all enter the final day of the season with the same record. I’m going with a Seattle win over Texas at home while the Astros and Blue Jays also win, eliminating the Rangers. Since Seattle has already clinched the season series over Houston, that gives the Mariners the AL West title. — Schoenfield
Before struggling in August, Texas spent most of the season leading the division. What makes you think they can still win it? The Rangers finished August with 10 losses in 13 games, but their inconsistencies actually date back even further than that. They went 40-38 from the start of June to the end of August, nowhere near as dominant as they were in April and May. Still, they still had a plus-42 run differential. And I still think they’re slightly more talented than the Astros and Mariners, the latter of which was a .500 team through its first 100 games. The Rangers’ lineup is deep and will be even deeper when Josh Jung returns. Their rotation is really good and will be even better when Nathan Eovaldi rejoins it. Their bullpen, well, it’s a problem. But nobody in the AL is perfect. The Rangers are the least imperfect. I have them winning the pennant. — Gonzalez
Make one bold prediction about the final stretch
In the American League …
Aaron Boone will be fired before the playoffs start. — Matt Marrone
The Mariners, Rangers, Astros and Blue Jays all enter the final day of the season with the same record — four teams for three spots. Seattle beats Texas and the Astros and Blue Jays both win, so the Rangers miss the playoffs (Mariners win the division since they won the season series over the Astros). — Schoenfield
The Rays lose their first playoff series after winning the AL East. — McDaniel
In the National League …
San Diego will finish with a winning record. — Hembekides
I’ll do you one better. The Padres will make the playoffs. — Gonzalez
The Phillies will be the wild-card entrant with the best chance to win the World Series. — Olney
The Reds and Marlins enter the final series of the season tied for the last wild-card spot in the NL. Miami sweeps the Pittsburgh Pirates while Cincinnati only wins two of three against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Marlins make the playoffs in a full 162-game season for the first time since 2003. — Liz Finny
There will be a three-way tie between the Giants, Reds and Diamondbacks for the final wild-card spot in the NL. — Kurkjian
As for individual players …
Freddie Freeman wins the batting title in the NL. — Karabell
Not only will Freeman win the NL batting title, he’ll also break Joe Medwick’s NL doubles record (64). — Doolittle
Actually, Freeman is going to win the triple slash crown, leading in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. — Cockcroft
Edwin Diaz returns — and he runs onto the field while playing a trumpet! — Glanville
Pete Alonso will hit 50 home runs. — Rogers
Justin Steele will continue his unlikely journey from obscurity (0-6 with 5.59 ERA in Double-A in 2019) to stardom by leading the Cubs to a wild-card spot. — Keown
Oakland Athletics center fielder Esteury Ruiz will catch Acuna in stolen bases. — Yates
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness winner Journalism opened as the 8-5 favorite in the Belmont Stakes when post positions were drawn Monday for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Derby winner Sovereignty was set as the second choice on the morning line at odds of 2-1 and drew the No. 2 post. Journalism, near the outside with the No. 7 post, is the only horse running in all three Triple Crown races.
“He’s been kind of the same horse since July of last summer,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “He does everything you’d ask a good horse to do: He eats well, trains well, acts well. I thought through the last six, seven weeks here, his energy’s been the same throughout.”
Sovereignty is back after owners and trainer Bill Mott opted to skip the Preakness and run the Belmont on five weeks of rest, and things have gone swimmingly since he arrived at historic Saratoga Race Couse.
“We’ve been very lucky with everything that’s gone on since he’s been here,” Mott said. “He’s been moving well over the track.”
Sovereignty and Journalism in the field set up this Belmont, the second at Saratoga while renovations are made to its usual home on Long Island, to be a rematch between the first two Triple Crown winners who were also first and second in the Derby.
“He’s improved, as I think as many of these horses have,” Mott said of Sovereignty. “I think this entire group, if you look at their form and the way they’ve developed over the course of this year, I think they’ve made steady progress and it should be an interesting race.”
No. 6 Baeza, who finished third in Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, opened at 4-1. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby because of a minor foot bruise and held out of the Preakness, was next at 6-1 and will leave the starting gate from the No. 3 post.
The field of eight horses also includes No. 8 Heart of Honor, tied for the longest shot on the board at 30-1 after finishing fifth in the Preakness. New to the Triple Crown trail are No. 1 Hill Road (10-1), No. 5 Crudo (15-1) and No. 4 Uncaged (30-1).
Journalism, who was favorited in the Derby and the Preakness, and at the moment is the top 3-year-old in the country, looks like the horse to beat.
“Saratoga is very good for horses,” McCarthy said. “He seems a little bit reenergized up here. We’re looking for a wonderful renewal of the Belmont here on Saturday.”
Sports
Updated top 10 prospect rankings and next to debut for all 30 MLB teams: Who are your club’s future stars?
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Kiley McDaniel
We’ve entered June, meaning it’s time for our next team-by-team MLB prospect rankings big board update. The top 10 prospects for all 30 teams are updated below.
What has changed since our first in-season list update?
Here are the rankings for your favorite team, along with what to know for this month and who we expect to reach the majors next. Players in the big leagues are eligible for this update as MLB rookie eligibility rules apply here — 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster. All 30 of these lists will be updated throughout the season.
MLB prospect coverage: Updated top 50 MLB prospects
Jump to team:
American League
ATH | BAL | BOS | CHW | CLE
DET | HOU | KC | LAA | MIN
NYY | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR
National League
ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL
LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH
AL East
Preseason system ranking: 14th ($207 million)
What to know: George made the biggest leap after I ranked him 195th ahead of last year’s draft, where he signed for $455,000, the 160th-highest bonus. Forty-seven players I ranked ahead of him didn’t sign, so I roughly got that part right, but I wasn’t expecting him to show control of the strike zone and in-game power with a 1.119 OPS early in his pro debut.
Next to debut: Basallo is hitting in Triple-A and should make his debut this season.
Preseason system ranking: 4th ($278 million)
What to know: Kristian Campbell has graduated from this list, opening a spot for Tolle, whom I recently broke down. Anthony and Mayer are very high on my updated top 50 prospects list, and Anthony should be joining Mayer in the big leagues soon (*crosses fingers*). All of the pitchers listed are improving, which is encouraging.
Next to debut: *cough cough* Anthony.
Preseason system ranking: 21st ($166 million)
What to know: RHP Will Warren graduated since the last update. This system really falls off after Lombard. There are a lot of guys with one or two standout abilities who aren’t finished products, and 10 more who could be added. I wanted to add LHP Griffin Herring but he landed at 11th, just ahead of RHP Chase Hampton, who will miss the season because of elbow surgery.
Next to debut: Vivas made his big league debut a few weeks ago, and Jones and Schlittler are in Double-A but need to be added to the 40-man this winter. Both seem likely to be promoted to Triple-A soon and then maybe to the big leagues in September.
Preseason system ranking: 5th ($270 million)
What to know: There are a lot of position players with standout tools, so I’d guess in a few years, a third of the Rays would have been on this list. Gillen is arrow-up after going in the first round last year and transitioning to the outfield. The next 10 players are also quite good, with 1B Tre Morgan and 3B Cooper Kinney among my favorites.
Next to debut: Williams is regressing at Triple-A after seeming on track to debut late in 2025 or early 2026. He’s the most likely on this list to come up this season because Simpson has already debuted.
Preseason system ranking: 24th ($151 million)
What to know: Nimmala, Yesavage, Stephen and King (I have video analysis on King and Yesavage) are all arrow-ups, which is a good indication of how Toronto drafted the past two years.
Second baseman Orelvis Martinez fell to 11th after a pretty mediocre start to the season, increasing the odds that he’s a one-tool utility guy with big power. Tiedemann and Bloss are out after having elbow surgery, Rojas just returned to the mound, Kasevich returned to the field a few weeks ago, and Barriera is set to come back from surgery soon.
Next to debut: Roden has had a brief stint in the majors this year, and Bloss and Martinez got theirs last year. Tiedemann would’ve gotten his by now if he were healthy. Those recent draftees are tracking to get a look as early as next season, so Kasevich becomes the default answer because he should head to Triple-A soon.
AL Central
Preseason system ranking: 2nd ($313 million)
What to know: He gets lost a bit behind Schultz and Smith, but I believe in Taylor. Even if he doesn’t improve his command to be a 180-inning starter, he could still be a closer. Edgar Quero just graduated, and Meidroth should be graduating in a week or so.
Next to debut: Teel, hitting well in Triple-A, seems closer to ready than Schultz, Smith or Taylor.
Preseason system ranking: 11th ($213 million)
What to know: This is a very deep system, though there’s a drop-off around the 10th or 12th spot. Genao’s shoulder injury delayed his debut, Chourio just returned from his shoulder issue and DeLauter is consistently hurt. Doughty is arrow-up as a popular projection pick from last year’s draft.
Next to debut: Bazzana seems likely to reach the majors later this year or early next season, but Messick and Kayfus are in Triple-A and should show up first.
Preseason system ranking: 3rd ($298 million)
What to know: Jackson Jobe and Jace Jung graduated after the May update, and I noted then that Brant Hurter, Dillon Dingler and Trey Sweeney had already graduated. Rainer continues his hot start in pro ball, joining Clark and McGonigle as the impressive young position players in the system.
Next to debut: Smith was just called up but hasn’t debuted yet. Lee is in Triple-A, and Melton and Anderson are in Double-A, so I’ll lean Lee.
Preseason system ranking: 22nd ($163 million)
What to know: This system isn’t that good after the first handful of guys, with a number of players who haven’t turned the tools into reality yet. Pitcher, catcher and first base seem like they’ll be set for a while at the big league level — along with shortstop, obviously — but there are some holes to fill.
Next to debut: *cough cough* Cags. And he is getting the call up now!
Preseason system ranking: 6th ($257 million)
What to know: Soto, Prielipp and Hill are progressing this year and appear to be headed to the Twins’ rotation over the next few years. I liked Diaw and Schobel before the year and they have taken big steps forward this season. You could also argue for SS Kyle DeBarge, who came in at No. 11, to be on this list.
Next to debut: Rodriguez gets hurt a lot but is at Triple-A doing his usual thing: low average, crazy-high walk rate, power and solid center-field defense. Prielipp, who could come up for short stints, needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter.
AL West
Preseason system ranking: 23rd ($160 million)
What to know: The returns on 2024 LSU teammates Jump and White continue to be solid. Morris has been good, and Clarke has made his big league debut, showing off his big tools and outstanding glove.
Next to debut: Half of this list has already debuted, but Jump is slicing through the minors like hot butter, so he could be next.
Preseason system ranking: 30th ($104 million)
What to know: Cam Smith and Zach Dezenzo graduated since the last update, and Powell exploded onto the scene. He was a little-known junior college prospect with huge measurable tools who has been pretty good this year, while showing those tools: easy plus speed and power, maybe even plus-plus.
Next to debut: Melton, who is 24 years old and continues to hit in Triple-A, has to be getting a look soon.
Preseason system ranking: 28th ($129 million)
What to know: Johnson has been a nice surprise, notwithstanding his MLB ERA, and Moore isn’t doing enough damage or making enough contact to hold his profile together in the upper minors now.
Next to debut: Klassen, Moore, Cortez and Aldegheri aren’t conventionally ready on paper. However, they have big league upside, are playing in the upper minors already, and the Angels are aggressive with promotions.
Preseason system ranking: 7th ($241 million)
What to know: Teddy McGraw is back on the mound with his massive raw stuff — and he’s worth monitoring even though he’s 23 years old with fewer than 15 pro innings. Sloan has been a pleasant breakout, Celesten has been OK and Peete has disappointed a bit.
Next to debut: Logan Evans is No. 11 and made his debut this year. Young was also just called up along with 12th-ranked 3B Ben Williamson. Ford is in Triple-A and also has a shot to debut later this season, as does Double-A LHP Brandyn Garcia (ranked 13th).
Preseason system ranking: 16th ($192 million)
What to know: Rocker has made two rehab appearances since his shoulder trouble, and Jack Leiter graduated since last month’s update. Rosario is out for the season because of elbow surgery. Scarborough wasn’t well-known out of a Central Florida high school leading up to the 2023 draft but is a huge breakout player. Fitz-Gerald was an overpay out of a South Florida high school in 2024 with a profile like the Dodgers’ Max Muncy.
Next to debut: Osuna recently made his big league debut so, if healthy, Santos is the clear answer — but he has made only two appearances after starting the season with a back issue. Drake, who’s dealing in Double-A, has to be added to the 40-man this winter.
NL East
Preseason system ranking: 27th ($133 million)
What to know: Catcher Drake Baldwin graduated, while pitchers Caminiti, Fuentes and Ritchie are all arrow-up near the top of the list (and in contention for the Top 100). A fourth-round pick in 2024, Hernandez is at the end of the top 10. Meanwhile, Alvarez and Murphy haven’t played this year because of injury, and Tornes is waiting for the Dominican Summer League to start in June.
Next to debut: Alvarez debuted last year, but he’ll likely get a look once he’s healthy. Waldrep also debuted last year and could have another promotion as an off-speed-focused relief arm.
Preseason system ranking: 15th ($197 million)
What to know: Ramirez and Snelling have been arrow-up in the upper parts of the system, and Salas and Johnson have been arrow-up in the lower minors. I went into more depth on Salas, the younger brother of Padres catcher Ethan Salas, in this breakdown, and Johnson, a second-round pick last summer, is showing plus lefty power in his first full season in the minors.
Next to debut: Snelling should get bumped up to Triple-A soon to set up a big league debut in the second half of the season. Marsee and Acosta (on the 40-man roster) are hitting all right in Triple-A, so they’re more likely to get the call first.
Preseason system ranking: 9th ($222 million)
What to know: Tong is a clear arrow-up this spring, along with Ewing and two position players showing more power this year who just missed the list: 3B Jacob Reimer and OF Eli Serrano.
Next to debut: Mauricio is at Triple-A, coming back from a torn ACL, and seems as if he could be a big league factor soon, though he got a 26-game stint in 2023. Gilbert is also performing well at Triple-A.
Preseason system ranking: 17th ($188 million)
What to know: Tait’s exit velos are 80-grade this season, and Escobar, Mendez and Moore have all been arrow-up to varying degrees.
Next to debut: Abel has debuted, and Painter seems likely to get a shot this year, though exclusively in a starting role.
Preseason system ranking: 12th ($212 million)
What to know: Susana, House, Dickerson and Sykora are all in a near tie at the top of the system. Dickerson is the new name up here (I did a deep dive on him in this video) that reminds me of Wyatt Langford as a hitter. Dickerson was underrated in the draft because he was a late bloomer with a hockey background.
Next to debut: Hassell and Lile just made their debuts. House is hitting well in Triple-A and will have to be added to the 40-man roster this winter, so he seems next up.
NL Central
Preseason system ranking: 10th ($215 million)
What to know: Hernandez was a highly touted international signee who is turning the corner, with raw power as his calling card. Keep an eye on OF Eli Lovich, a prep pick from last year’s draft, as an arrow-up prospect further down the list.
Next to debut: The first four have all debuted, with Long and Caissie looking like they’ll be next up if there’s a need for a thumper.
Preseason system ranking: 13th ($210 million)
What to know: Lewis has played only 11 games but has posted some truly amazing exit velocities in the Arizona Complex League as a 19-year-old lefty-hitting shortstop: 118.9 mph, 114.1, 111.3, 109.7, and 109.3 are his top five. He was known as a raw, standout athlete in last year’s draft, but I didn’t realize he had this kind of power.
Next to debut: Burns is an all-around player, headlined by his triple-digit fastball and hellacious breaking ball. Given that Lowder and Petty have had a big league look already, Burns seems to be next.
Preseason system ranking: 8th ($225 million)
What to know: This is a very deep system, with another dozen or so prospects who could be in that 10th spot. C Marco Dinges (fourth round) and RHP Tyson Hardin (12th round) are two notable picks from the 2024 draft who are in the mix.
Next to debut: Misiorowski is performing well at Triple-A, and Quero might join him there soon, so they seem the closest to getting the call.
Preseason system ranking: 20th ($179 million)
What to know: Griffin and Sanford are the two top position players from the Pirates’ 2024 draft haul, despite both facing questions about their short-term hit tool translating to pro ball.
Next to debut: Yorke got a big league look last year, and Ashcraft and Burrows recently made their debuts. Bubba is waiting … *looks at watch*.
Preseason system ranking: 19th ($184 million)
What to know: Hence, Mathews and Hjerpe have underperformed thus far. Hence and Mathews have started slowly and dealt with minor injuries, while Hjerpe is getting elbow surgery. McGreevy is improving and might make the biggest impact on the major league rotation this season of all of the pitching prospects in the top 10. Meanwhile, Rodriguez has six homers in his first 10 games in the Florida Complex League this season, including massive exit velos.
Next to debut: Crooks looks solid in Triple-A, but if Hence (the one prospect from this list on the 40-man roster) or Mathews gets hot, they might be first up, instead.
NL West
Preseason system ranking: 25th ($139 million)
What to know: Waldschmidt and Caldwell — and among those just missing the list, SS J.D. Dix and RHP Daniel Eagen — from last year’s draft class are all arrow-up in the early going.
Next to debut: Groover and Troy seem like 2026 debuts, and Lawlar, Del Castillo and Mena have all had big league time this season. So, there might not be an easy answer.
Preseason system ranking: 18th ($185 million)
What to know: Condon, Brecht and Thomas from the top of last year’s draft class are all doing OK, while Karros has an arrow-up bat and is growing into some power. OF Robert Calaz’s underlying data pushed him from No. 3 down to 12th, joining a number of arrow-up prospects like SS Ryan Ritter in a pretty tightly grouped area.
Next to debut: Dollander, Amador, Veen and 11th-ranked LHP Carson Palmquist have debuted while Fernandez is in Triple-A and seems to be next up.
Preseason system ranking: 1st ($420 million)
What to know: Roki Sasaki has graduated. Hope and George are toolsy outfielders moving up, and Zazueta slid into Sasaki’s spot.
Next to debut: Rushing has debuted, and Freeland is hitting well as an infielder in Triple-A, so he’ll be next up if there’s a need.
Preseason system ranking: 26th ($135 million)
What to know: De Vries is tracking like a future superstar, but there are a lot of questions. I like what I’m seeing early on from Hightower, so this might be the time to jump in on him — the buzz around him after the draft and at camp has led to a solid Low-A debut.
Next to debut: There isn’t a good option because Rodriguez was just called up and no one else on the list is close. RHP Braden Nett is pitching pretty well in Double-A and could be the next prospect to debut; there are several fill-in types in Triple-A who have already debuted.
Preseason system ranking: 29th ($109 million)
What to know: Gutierrez is the arrow-up name this year after Davidson was the big arrow-up name last year. Gonzalez’s pro debut is heavily anticipated as many thought he was the best player in this year’s signing class, though Marlins SS Andrew Salas might have temporarily taken that crown.
Next to debut: Whisenhunt and McDonald are in Triple-A while Eldridge is in Double-A, so I’d bet on one of those three to get the call next, depending on the need.
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Eli Lederman
College football coaching staffs are off the trail. Top recruits are flocking to campuses across the country. At long last, official visit season is here.
The busiest stretch of the annual recruiting calendar has commenced with elite prospects traversing the country for official visits from now to the start of the quiet period June 22. As things stand, 146 of the prospects ranked inside the 2026 ESPN 300 are already committed. That number will skyrocket over the summer months as top programs race to fill out their recruiting classes and rising high school seniors settle on their college homes.
USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Clemson entered June with the top five classes in ESPN’s latest team recruiting rankings for the class of 2026. Here’s a primer on the state of play across the class as the latest recruiting cycle begins in earnest this month:
Jump to a tier:
Spring recap | Five-star outlook | QB dominoes
ESPN 300 news | Flip watch | Big visit weekends
What has gone down this spring?
The four months since national signing day closed the door on the 2025 class have delivered plenty of fireworks in the 2026 cycle.
Miami offensive tackle commit Jackson Cantwell (No. 3 overall) and Georgia quarterback pledge Jared Curtis (No. 5) stand among the five five-star prospects who have committed since March 1, leaving only 10 five-star recruits on the board. The 2026 quarterback market has similarly narrowed this spring following the pledges of Curtis, Brady Smigiel (No. 44 — Michigan), Peyton Falzone (No. 235 — Penn State), Kayd Coffman (No. 237 — Michigan State) and Derek Zammit (No. 243 — Washington).
No program holds more ESPN 300 commits than USC with 13, headlined by five-star pledges Elbert Hill (No. 15 overall) and Keenyi Pepe (No. 17). Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Clemson, Texas A&M, Arizona State, LSU and Georgia have charted some of the strongest starts in the latest cycle. Beyond the blue bloods, Kansas, Syracuse, Illinois and Louisville are recruiting at an impressive clip six months out from the early signing period in December.
Five-star outlook
As of Monday, 11 of ESPN’s 21 five-star prospects in the 2026 cycle are committed. What’s next for the remaining 10? Things are about to heat up for the nation’s most coveted recruits.
DT Lamar Brown, No. 1 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The two-way lineman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told ESPN he’s now being recruited exclusively as a defensive lineman. Brown took an official visit with Miami over the weekend, and he’ll head to finalists Texas (Friday), Texas A&M (June 13) and LSU (June 20) ahead of his July 10 commitment date after swapping a trip to Florida State for this weekend’s visit with the Longhorns.
ESPN’s top overall prospect attends high school on the LSU campus, and the Tigers are clear leaders in Brown’s process, but plenty can change this month.
“It’d be hard for me to leave Louisiana,” he said. “But it may not be the best option for me. That’s why I’m looking at other teams and relationships with other coaches.”
RB Derrek Cooper, No. 7 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The nation’s No. 1 running back prospect opened his slate of official visits at Miami and will get to Alabama (Friday), Georgia (June 13), Florida State (June 15), Penn State (June 17) and Ohio State (June 20) over the next month.
Cooper, who held a short-lived commitment to Georgia last summer, remains high on the Bulldogs as well as Ohio State. Another prominent contender for the versatile rusher from Hollywood, Florida, is Miami, which is pushing hard to add Cooper alongside offensive tackle pledge Jackson Cantwell as the program’s second five-star cornerstone for 2026.
DE JaReylan McCoy, No. 9 in the 2026 ESPN 300: McCoy’s recruitment appeared wrapped up when he committed to LSU on Jan. 2. But the pass rusher from Tupelo, Mississippi, decommitted from the Tigers a month later.
Though Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M have lingered in McCoy’s process this spring, sources told ESPN that the nation’s No. 2 defensive end is down to three schools: Florida, LSU and Texas. McCoy is taking official visits with all three programs — starting with Florida this past weekend ahead of trips to Texas (June 13) and LSU (June 20) — before announcing his commitment July 1.
OT Immanuel Iheanacho, No. 12 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The nation’s top uncommitted offensive tackle is down to Auburn, LSU, Oregon and Penn State and plans to announce his pledge in early August. Iheanacho opened his series of spring official visits with LSU then will be at Auburn (Friday), Penn State (June 13) and Oregon (June 20).
After Oregon missed out on Cantwell and five-star quarterback Jared Curtis last month, sources told ESPN that the Ducks entered June as the leader in Iheanacho’s process. His three other finalists will all get their chance to sway the 6-foot-7, 350-pound lineman this month, with LSU seen as the most serious contender to challenge Oregon for Iheanacho’s commitment.
OLB Tyler Atkinson, No. 13 in the 2026 ESPN 300: ESPN’s top linebacker opened his official visit slate with a trip to Clemson over the weekend. Atkinson does not yet have any other official trips on the calendar, but Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon stand among the prominent powers expected to land visits in the coming weeks and months.
Georgia might enter the summer with a slight edge for the productive in-state linebacker from Loganville. However, Atkinson’s recruitment remains wide open as of now.
ATH Brandon Arrington, No. 14 in the 2026 ESPN 300: Projected to play cornerback at the next level, Arrington will have taken official visits with Penn State, Washington, Texas A&M, Alabama and USC by the time he wraps his trip to Oregon on June 20.
Oregon, Texas A&M and USC have been the consistent leaders in Arrington’s recruitment over the past year. Washington has entered the mix as a late-arriving contender. All six schools will continue to be involved in the chase for Arrington’s pledge up to his July 5 commitment date.
DE Richard Wesley, No. 18 in the 2026 ESPN 300: Wesley’s May 10 commitment to Oregon lasted all of 17 days. Upon pulling his pledge from the Ducks last week, Wesley’s recruitment remains open as the coveted 2027 reclass works through an accelerated process.
The circumstances of Wesley’s surprise pledge and subsequent decommitment from Oregon hasn’t soured his relationship with the program. He’ll return for an official visit with the Ducks on Friday before trips to Texas (June 20) and Ohio State (Aug. 30). Tennessee and Texas A&M are among others working to land an official visit date with Wesley.
TE Kaiden Prothro, No. 19 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The lanky 6-7, 210-pound receiving tight end from Bowdon, Georgia, opened an all-SEC run of official visits at Georgia over the weekend. Alabama (Friday), Auburn (June 10), Florida (June 13) and Texas (June 20) are next in line as the recruitment of the highly rated tight end prospect gains steam.
Georgia, with family ties and a history of developing tight ends, appears the most likely destination for Prothro while Auburn and Florida are two other programs pushing especially hard in his recruitment this spring.
OT Felix Ojo, No. 20 in the 2026 ESPN 300: A promising offensive line recruit, Ojo will end up taking a whopping eight official visits between April 18 and June 20. He already has made stops at Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Colorado, Florida and Ohio State this spring and will travel to Michigan (June 7), Texas (June 13) and Oklahoma (June 20) over the next month.
Ojo tells ESPN that Ohio State, Texas and Texas Tech have been the most aggressive programs in his recruitment this spring. He’s aiming to commit before the start of his senior season, so the relationships Ojo builds over the next month of visits will be central to his process.
DE Jake Kreul, No. 21 in the 2026 ESPN 300: A disruptive pass rusher from Florida’s IMG Academy, Kreul will visit Florida (June 7), Texas (June 13) and Oklahoma (June 20) this month following previous officials to Colorado and Ohio State this spring.
No program has worked harder to assert itself in Kreul’s recruitment than Oklahoma. Per ESPN sources, the Sooners view the 6-foot-3, 235-pound defender as a priority target in 2026. Among the top challengers for Kreul’s pledge, expect Texas and Ohio State to be heavily involved this summer.
Landing spots for the top uncommitted quarterbacks
The month began with only four of the 18 passers ranked inside the 2026 ESPN 300 uncommitted with nearly a dozen top programs still searching for a 2026 QB pledge. How might things unfold for the quarterback market’s top recruits over the next three months?
QB Ryder Lyons, No. 49 in the 2026 ESPN 300: ESPN’s fifth-ranked pocket passer has courted interest from BYU, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon and USC this spring. Three of those programs — BYU, Oregon and USC — will get Lyons on campus over the next month.
BYU has made some surprise splashes on the recruiting trail this spring, and USC is working to get the in-state quarterback to join his brother, Walker, with the Trojans. But ahead of official visits on each of the next three weekends, it’s Oregon that looks most likely to land Lyons, who will enroll in 2027 following an LDS mission after his high school graduation.
QB Landon Duckworth, No. 104 in the 2025 ESPN 300: Auburn, Florida State, Ole Miss and South Carolina are all-in on the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback. While all four programs will host Duckworth for officials this spring, sources tell ESPN that Ole Miss and South Carolina have established themselves as clear leaders in his process this spring.
Coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels have worked harder than any other school in Duckworth’s recruitment, selling the mobile passer on his fit in the Ole Miss offense and the program’s record of development at the position. South Carolina, which previously held Duckworth’s pledge from August 2023 to June 2024, continues to maintain a strong presence in his process, as well. Visits with both programs in the coming weeks will be pivotal for Duckworth.
QB Oscar Rios, No, 192 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The former Purdue pledge holds a list of seven finalists — Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Utah and Virginia Tech — ahead of visits to Utah, UCLA, Arizona and Colorado this month following earlier trips to Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech.
Kentucky remains a leader among the schools Rios has already visited. Plenty can change across the string of visits in front of him in the coming weeks ahead of a June 25 commitment date, days after Rios closes his run of officials with a visit to Colorado.
QB Bowe Bentley, No. 261 in the 2025 ESPN 300: The dual-threat quarterback from Celina, Texas, is down to LSU and Oklahoma. Bentley spent this past weekend with the Tigers and will make his latest trip to the Sooners this coming weekend, part of a swing of back-to-back officials that could help decide one of the most intriguing quarterback recruitments in the cycle.
Sources within both programs feel confident about their chances with Bentley, who is likely to make a decision not long after wrapping up his pair of official visits early this month.
Elite skill position recruits and top defenders
Past the five-star firepower, there’s plenty more available talent in the upper crust of the 2026 class.
Four of the nation’s top five running backs remain uncommitted this month, led by No. 1 Derrek Cooper. No. 2 rusher Savion Hiter (No. 27 overall) will take officials with Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee prior to the quiet period. Ezavier Crowell, a reclass from the 2027 cycle, is set to commit on June 26 after ESPN’s No. 30 prospect visits Georgia, Texas, Auburn, Florida State and Alabama. Baylor, Florida and Houston are all on the list for four-star rusher Davian Groce (No. 35), whose recruitment remains “wide open,” per ESPN sources.
LSU and Texas A&M stand as the top contenders for four-star wide receiver Ethan Feaster (No. 23 overall) ahead of his July 4 commitment date. Elsewhere in the wide receiver class, sources tell ESPN that Florida, Florida State and LSU are setting the pace for Calvin Russell (No. 26), while Alabama continues to lead the chase for in-state pass catcher Cederian Morgan (No. 47).
On defense, Alabama and Oregon hold a slight edge with four-star safety Jett Washington (No. 22 overall) as the nation’s top safety preps for officials with both schools along with Ohio State and USC. The Crimson Tide are also leading the charge for outside linebacker Xavier Griffin (No. 28), the former USC commit who will visit Florida State, Georgia, Texas after a trip to Ohio State over the weekend.
Four-star safety Jireh Edwards (No. 29) has set his commitment date for July 5 and already visited Auburn and Maryland in recent weeks. Edwards told ESPN that he’s heading into upcoming trips to Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M and Oregon with “an open mind.” Sources tell ESPN that defensive end Anthony Jones (No. 25) and outside linebacker D.Q. Forkpa (No. 40) are two of the top defenders on the board this spring for Miami and coach Mario Cristobal.
Flip watch
DE Zion Elee, No. 2 in the 2026 ESPN 300, Maryland commit
Elee was slated for a series of summer officials across the Big Ten and SEC before he closed his recruitment and cancelled those trips in February. That’s why his official visit to Auburn last month raised eyebrows, even while Elee asserts he’s still locked in with the Terps.
“I have a bunch of former teammates there so I just wanted to check it out,” he told ESPN. “I wasn’t thinking anything of it. I’m still firm with Maryland. I just wanted to take pictures.”
The historic local class Maryland dreamed of building around Elee — think Iheanacho, Edwards et al — doesn’t appear likely. And with blue bloods still pursuing Elee this spring, his recruitment will remain one to watch from now to signing day. As things stand, Elee is committed to the Terps with plans to return to Maryland for his only scheduled official visit of the month on June 20.
WR Tristen Keys, No. 10 in the 2026 ESPN 300, LSU commit
Keys has been the top-ranked member of the Tigers’ 2026 class since March 19, but the LSU pledge hasn’t kept ESPN’s No. 2 wide receiver from taking other visits. After spring trips to Auburn, Miami, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, Keys was back at Miami for an official over the weekend.
Following his Hurricanes visit, sources tell ESPN that Keys will get to Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and Texas A&M for officials this month before his June 20 trip to LSU. As Keys keeps his recruitment, coach Brian Kelly’s ability to hang onto five-star talent will be tested again this cycle.
QB Keisean Henderson, No. 16 in the 2026 ESPN 300, Houston commit
Programs across the Big Ten and ACC spent the spring chipping away at Henderson’s Houston commitment. Florida State finally broke through this month, landing a June 9 official visit from the mobile, 6-foot-3 passer.
Henderson has held firm on his pledge to the Cougars while maintaining dialogue with multiple programs this spring. While sources tell ESPN that there has been no change in his commitment status or plans with Houston, Henderson’s visit to Florida State marks new territory in his recruitment.
QB Jaden O’Neal, No. 122 in the 2026 ESPN 300, Oklahoma commit
Despite 11 months spent in the Sooners’ 2026 class and an offseason transfer from California to Oklahoma’s Mustang High School, O’Neal could soon be on the move.
The departure of Sooners offensive coordinator Seth Littrell last fall unsettled O’Neal’s camp, and sources tell ESPN that the program’s full-throttle pursuit of Bowe Bentley under new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has damaged the trust between O’Neal and Oklahoma. O’Neal visited Arizona over the weekend, and his upcoming official trip to Florida State looms especially large with Bentley nearing a decision and quarterback dominoes getting ready to fall this month.
Biggest visits
Alabama (June 6-8): The Crimson Tide’s first recruiting class under coach Kalen DeBoer got rolling in June last year. Alabama could go a long way toward turbocharging its 2026 class this weekend with four top-30 recruits on campus between five-star skill talents Derrek Cooper (No. 7 overall) and Kaiden Prothro (No. 19) and four-star defenders Xavier Griffin (No. 28) and Jireh Edwards (No. 29).
Auburn (June 13-15): The Tigers will have a big name on campus this weekend when five-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 12 overall) takes his official trip to Auburn. But the weekend of June 13 will give coach Hugh Freeze and his staff a shot at multiple elite targets, including running back Ezavier Crowell (No. 30), safety Bralan Womack (No. 31) and wide receiver Cederian Morgan (No. 47).
Florida (June 13-15): While the Gators will have elite prospects on campus all month, Florida has a chance to build momentum with several top targets two weekends from now. Prothro and No. 4 running back Davian Groce (No. 35 overall) headline a talented group of visitors that could also include top-40 linebacker Izayia Williams — who flipped from Florida to Ole Miss last month — and defensive tackle Kendall Guervil (No. 253), a priority in-state recruit.
Florida State (June 9-15): It’s not exactly a weekend, but the Seminoles will embark on a defining stretch of quarterback visits in the middle of the month. It’ll start with a visit from five-star passer Keisean Henderson (No. 16 overall) before top dual-threat passer Landon Duckworth (No. 104) on June 13 and Oklahoma pledge Jaden O’Neal (No. 112) on June 15 also make visits.
Georgia (June 6-8): The Bulldogs will host a series of heavy hitters this weekend with running back Savion Hiter (No. 27 overall), cornerback Chauncey Kennon (No. 48) and offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko (No. 50) set to visit. Georgia gets Cooper, another top running back target, on campus starting June 13.
Michigan (June 13-15): Coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines will welcome eight top-150 prospects on June 13. Hiter, No. 3 athlete Salesi Moa (No. 34 overall) and outside linebacker D.Q. Forkpa (No. 40) lead the group of blue-chip visitors. Top-75 offensive tackles John Turntine III (No. 43) and Leo Delaney (No. 75) mark another pair of key visitors.
Notre Dame (June 20-22): The Fighting Irish will host roughly a dozen commits from June 13 to 15 but could continue to bolster the nation’s second-ranked class a week later. Notre Dame will look to leave a lasting impression on Ogboko, ESPN’s No. 8 offensive tackle, four-star defensive tackle Elijah Golden (No. 84 overall) and athlete Joey O’Brien (No. 102) on the final weekend before the summer quiet period.
Oregon (June 20-22): Coach Dan Lanning will get his top 2026 commit — five-star tight end Kendre’ Harrison — on campus on the final official visit weekend of June with a chance to make a mark with a number of other key Oregon targets. Iheanacho and Edwards are set to visit on June 20 alongside five-star athlete Brandon Arrington (No. 14 overall), outside linebacker Talanoa Ili (No. 53), cornerback Khary Adams (No. 68) and athlete Jalen Lott (No. 108).
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