Australian prog legends Karnivool is set to release their long-awaited new record In Verses on February 6. But who are they listening to? We sat down with Karnivool guitarists Drew Goddard and Mark “Hoss” Hosking, as well as drummer Steve Judd, to discuss exactly that.Check out their picks below and pre-order In Verses here.
Cog
A huge piece of the Australian prog rock scene. A monster trio that absolutely delivers live. We had the chance to tour with them when they released The New Normal in ’05, and it was super inspiring. Absolute legends! – Steve
Hiatus Kaiyote
A great fusion of neo-soul, funk, R&B and Melbourne swag. Choose Your Weapon really hit me at a time in my life when I really needed it. Lots of musical experimentation, from the wonkiest of beats, to some magical pop gems that just kind of just envelop your soul. Amazing band. – Steve
Midnight Oil
Titans of the Australian rock scene who stood on what they believed in and spread their message on a global scale. Never understated and truly an undeniable force. Rob was such a beast behind the kit, too. So much power and energy! Sadly passed this year, but the Oils on the Water concert (from ’85) is a great snapshot of that and always something I come back to watch. Icons. – Steve
Lo!
Sludgey, post-metal awesomeness from Sydney. A very memorable moment was watching them with Forstora in a tiny venue called 208 in Maylands, Perth.
Guitarist Carl Whitbread‘s dissonant note choices, together with vocalist Sam Dillon‘s confronting reptilian-inspired screams and stage presence, felt like a full frontal assault aimed at the small crowd who was gathered in a semi-circle around the band in the stageless room, it felt like everyone was being pushed up against the back wall by the sheer force of the music.
I left the venue howling cathartically at the moon. The heavy drop in the middle of the track “Mega Fauna” has to be the heaviest moment I’ve ever heard in my time on this planet. – Drew
The Drones
This band holds a special place in my heart, and a lot of Australians, for that matter. Singer, guitarist Gareth Liddiard is a celebrated figure in the Australian music industry, often cited as one of the country’s best songwriters, which is entirely subjective, of course, but I definitely agree with the statement.
The band’s music is characterised by Liddiard‘s guttural Australian drawl, his unique, dissonant guitar work and cynical, often humorous lyrics that touch on subjects like Australian history, suburban paranoia and societal decay. The band took a hiatus in 2016, and Gareth and his partner and bandmate Fiona Kitschin went on to form the band Tropical Fuck Storm (TFS) and continue to this day. – Drew
Red Sand Beat Band
Another band that holds a special place in my heart, having worked a number of times with the band personally in their hometown of Warburton, a small indigenous community in the Ngaanyatjarra lands, an area that spans roughly 3% of the Australian continent and encompasses the Gibson and Great Victoria Deserts, located around the WA, NT, SA borders.
Their sound is a special type of central “desert reggae” that, for me, symbolises something incredibly pure and powerful, emitting so much joy and goodwill in the face of so much adversity and the daily and generational challenges that face the Yarnangu people.
A song like “Wati Kutju” (One Man) or the undeniably catchy “My Life” instantly takes me back to this beautiful country (Ranges) and makes me smile, thinking of the people there, many of whom I’m proud to call my friends. – Drew
Pendulum
Lucky to know the good humans of Pendulum, Rob and Gareth are both legends and originally fellow Perthians. It’s an ironically bad band name (like we can talk!) thinking about it, most pendulums across the world would be swinging at 120bpm with the average band Pendulum song clocking in around 174-180 bpm I would hazard to guess.
Pendulum may very well be the world’s most aggressive gateway drug for metalheads who are afraid of sunlight but still want to headbang at those speeds. Not many bands could remix the ABC news theme and make it sounds better than the cinematic soundtrack to the new Tron movie.
They have somehow managed the art of compressing walls of sound that make DnB purists reach for their dictionaries while most of the crowd are too deep into the mosh-pit to care if the lyrics to “Propane Nightmares” actually make sense. Love them. – Hoss
King Gizzard & Lizard Wizard
Another band we love for their prolific extravagant catalogue and amazing musicianship. A band with so much music and so much lore they’ve had their own Gizz-Verse created by their ever loving fandom. Microtonal guitars we are very jealous of, and a genre breaking approach to music that is nothing short of inspiring.
With enough albums to fill the wing of a public library, music ranging from spooky flute jazz to how good is the environment over thrash metal, somehow it all still leaves you feeling like it all makes perfect sense, and wondering who the hell Han Tyumi is and why you even care.
I love a band that makes me feel like I’m being chased through a neon desert by a cyborg whilst simultaneously feeling like I need to do my taxes. All the while loving music even more and feeling inspired to create create create! – Hoss
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Luke Combs was once just another normal dude out of North Carolina — until he spent his final $200 so that we could hear his debut song, “Hurricane.”
Combs sat down with Today host Willie Geist and he explained the story of how “Hurricane” made it to country radio.
“I hit my boy Scotty, who was producing my stuff at the time, and I’m like ‘Hey man, let’s release these songs,'” the singer recalled.
Combs had come to Nashville to record a few songs, and he burned through just about all of his money in the process, but releasing them would take a little more cash than he’d counted on spending.
Combs’ producer told him that they could only release the songs once they were mastered.
Combs jokes, “I’m like ‘One, what is that? Two, how much does it cost?’ He’s like ‘$200 bucks a song,’ and I’m like ‘$200 bucks a song? What does it make it spit out a gold bar at the end?'”
These days, he’s one of the biggest country superstars on the planet and rakes in millions every year. But back then, Combs was worried about the last $200 in his bank account, and wondering how he could stretch that into a song that could be his big break.
How Did Luke Combs Choose ‘Hurricane’ As His First Song Release?
Luke Combs told his producer at the time that he only had $200 bucks left in his bank account and that he could only choose one of the batch of a few songs he had recorded to master it.
Combs decided to choose “Hurricane” as his first song release to the world. “So I decided to do “Hurricane,” put it out and it sells 10,000 copies the first week.”
Did Luke Combs Have A Record Deal When ‘Hurricane’ Came Out?
No. As a matter of fact, Combs didn’t have a record label representing him, or a manager or any public relations firm on deck. He did it solo, out of the back of his trunk.
Combs explains that he then used the money he made from the 10,000 copies of “Hurricane” to master the rest of the songs he had recorded in Nashville.
He then met his manager and used the album he had put together to pitch to record labels, and the rest is history.
Combs joked at the end of the interview that “Hurricane” did indeed spit out a gold bar at the end, just like he joked about it doing before he spent his final $200 to get it mastered.
Keep scrolling for more Luke Combs songs to keep your radio blasting.
Top 20 Luke Combs Songs That Prove ‘Em All Wrong
Check out Luke Combs’ best songs, and the songs that changed his life when so many thought he wasn’t good enough to be a country star.
Toby Keith Dies: Jason Aldean, Luke Combs + More Stars React
Toby Keith died at the age of 62 on Monday (Feb. 5) after a battle with stomach cancer. His death left the country music community mourning one of its most influential figures and talented songwriters. Here are some of the tributes and memories artists shared as they grieved Keith’s passing.
Swedish/American metal giants In Flames have officially entered a Los Angeles studio to begin recording their fifteenth studio album.
The band is once again teaming up with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (Motörhead, Body Count, Sepultura) alongside longtime collaborator engineer Mike Plotnikoff. In Flames have worked with Benson consistently since their 2016 album Battles, a partnership that has continued through their most recent release, Foregone in 2023.
This upcoming record will also mark a major milestone for the group, as it will be the first In Flames studio album to feature drummer Jon Rice, who has been touring with the band since May 2025. Rice brings a formidable résumé, having previously played with Behemoth, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, The Red Chord, Job For A Cowboy, and Scorpion Child.
On Tuesday, February 3, guitarist Björn Gelotte teased the start of the sessions by posting a short studio video on the band’s social media, simply captioned “XV” — the Roman numeral for 15 — confirming the album’s place in the band’s extensive catalog.
That same day, Mike Plotnikoff shared a photo of Rice‘s drum kit set up in the studio, writing: “Drums have begun @inflames @bgelotte @andersfridn @jon.charn.rice @howardbenson @joerickardproductions @decarli_editor @iansthunder @sunsetsoundrecorders #sunsetsound #studio2 #makinghits”
Jelly Roll walked away with three trophies at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, but it’s what he said — and what he plans to do next — that shows the kind of man he really is.
The country superstar won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” with Shaboozey, Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake.
He got to accept his Contemporary Country Album win during the main broadcast. In typical Jelly Roll fashion, the acceptance speech wasn’t about industry wins or chart positions. It was about grace, redemption, and giving credit where he believes it’s due.
“First of all, Jesus, I hear you, and I am listening, Lord. I am listening, Lord,” he said at the top of his speech.
“Second of all, I want to thank my beautiful wife. I would have never changed my life without you. I would have ended up dead or in jail, or I would have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus.”
“I believed that those two things could change my life. I want to tell you all right now that Jesus is for everybody,” he continued. “Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by one music label. Jesus is Jesus — and anybody can have a relationship with him.”
The Trophy That’s Headed Somewhere Special
So what’s Jelly Roll going to do with all that new hardware?
According to his wife, Bunnie Xo, at least one of those Grammys won’t be going on a shelf to collect dust.
“I know he’s going to give one to the Juvenile in Nashville to kind of give them a little inspiration and let them have a Grammy to themselves,” Bunnie Xo shared after the show.
In a 2022 interview with People, Jelly Roll called those years “the most impactful” of his life.
“The darkest moments of my life still were being that 15-year-old scared kid spending Thanksgiving away from his family,” he shared.
Leon Bennett, Getty Images
Leon Bennett, Getty Images
Now, more than two decades later, he’s sending one of music’s highest honors back to the place where he first started believing change was possible.
See the Best Pictures + Moments From the 2026 Grammy Awards
Jelly Roll was country music’s big winner at the 2026 Grammy Awards but he was far from the only highlight. See the best moments and pictures from the pre-show, red carpet and CBS broadcast.
IGORRR‘s Rémi Serafino has given fans a rare glimpse into the musical journey that shaped his drumming, detailing the songs, riffs, and artists that influenced his path to becoming one of France’s most boundary-pushing metal musicians.
In a new video, Serafino walks viewers through his earliest influences and how they informed his work with IGORRR, touching on everything from classic hard rock to extreme metal. The video, produced by Aurore Angelique with sound by Jimmy Goncalves & Nicolas Guernard and mixed/edited by Serafino himself, also features support from Asba, Sabian, Evans, ProMark, and Czarcie Kopyto.
From classic rock to avant-garde extreme metal, Serafino‘s insights provide a roadmap of the diverse inspirations behind IGORRR‘s signature chaos — showing just how deliberate and wide-ranging the band’s rhythmic backbone really is.
2/5 Meisenthal, FR La Boite Noire 2/6 Stuttgart, DE Im Wizemann Hall 2/7 Munich, DE Backstage Werk 2/8 Milan, IT Alcatraz 2/10 Ljubljana, SI Kino Šiška 2/11 Vienna, AT Gasometer 2/12 Prague, CZ Roxy 2/13 Budapest, HU Barba Negra 2/14 Warsaw, PL Progresja 2/16 Vilnius, LT Loftas 2/17 Tallinn, EE Helitehas 2/18 Helsinki, FI Kulttuuritalo 2/20 Stockholm, SE Fryshuset 2/21 Oslo, NO Rockefeller 2/22 Copenhagen, DK Amager Bio 2/24 Berlin, DE Metropol 2/25 Dortmund, DE FZW 2/26 Utrecht, NL Tivoli 2/27 Lille, FR L’Aéronef 2/28 Rouen, FR Le 106
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Usually as consumers, it feels like our complaints fall on deaf ears.
But this time, consumers’ voices seem to have been heard. PepsiCo, the owner of Doritos, Tostitos, Cheetos, Lay’s and more have announced a major price slash on their products.
Their official announcement reads: “At the heart of our business are the consumers who choose our brands. They trust us to bring them moments of joy, and they’ve been honest with us about how rising everyday costs are making their daily decisions harder. Message received.”
When Will Doritos, Tostitos and Cheetos Prices Go Down?
The new suggested retail prices begin rolling out in the United States this week (Feb. 2.)
And because retailers ultimately set their retail prices, shoppers may see even greater savings depending on the store.
You know, there are those rare few stores that set their prices lower than the printed suggested retail price on the bag. If you have a corner market that does this, look to save even more starting this week.
What is the Most Popular Potato Chip in America?
The most popular chip in America, according to Statista is the basic Lay’s potato chip. That proves that we Americans like to keep it simple with a basic fried potato slice and salt.
In the end, PepsiCo wants the message to be crystal clear, like their once renowned Crystal Pepsi was:”People shouldn’t have to choose between great taste and staying within their budget.”
Snacks from the ’90s That Have Disappeared
Was there anything better than opening your lunch box and seeing Shark Bites packed in next to some Hi-C Ecto Cooler? A simple pleasure kids of today can’t experience.
What other snacks came and went from our lives in the 1990s and beyond? Follow us as we look back at some ’90s snacks that have since disappeared.
19 Country Stars Who’ve Never Won a Grammy, Ranked
These 19 country singers have never won a Grammy Award, but it’s worse than that. Collectively, they’re 0-118!
This list includes two Country Music Hall of Famers and five more destined to get invited one day. Commercial success doesn’t equal Grammy success. Remember that. This list was updated after the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Hardcore and metal titans Converge will release their first full studio album from the band’s classic “core-four” lineup since 2017 with Love Is Not Enough, due out February 13 — and according to vocalist Jacob Bannon, the record arrives not a moment too soon.
Speaking with Full Metal Jackie on her weekend radio show, Bannon reflected on the band’s long road back to a traditional Converge album, admitting that time, circumstance, and global upheaval all played major roles in shaping the new material.
“Before you know it, five years, six years pass and we’re realizing that not only do we want to make a record, but we need in our soul to make a record,” Bannon explained. “We need to make something out of all this tumult and sort of frustration and darkness that was surrounding the world and our lives.”
The last several years have been anything but typical for Converge. The pandemic upended their usual creative rhythm, while 2022’s Bloodmoon: 1, a collaborative album with Chelsea Wolfe, pushed the band into unfamiliar territory. Recorded remotely across coasts, the project was both creatively rewarding and logistically taxing.
“Our perception of time has changed drastically since we experienced sort of the COVID pause in our lives,” Bannon said. “When the world shut down, it stopped our ability to do the things that we were doing functionally as a band for a while.”
That disruption, he noted, effectively erased a year and a half of momentum. “Then we did the Bloodmoon album sort of in that timeframe as well. It was super challenging to do… recording on different coasts and kind of not really being in the same room together. It was a cool experience, but something we just never had before.”
Since then, Converge have been “playing catch up” — juggling tours, rebuilding schedules, and slowly reconnecting with the instinctive, in-room collaboration that has defined their most celebrated records. Eventually, the need for a new album became unavoidable.
“We gave ourselves to writing material and that’s basically what you have here,” Bannon said of Love Is Not Enough, which stands as the band’s first Converge-only album in nearly a decade.
The conversation also touched on the future of Bloodmoon, with Bannon confirming that a follow-up is very much alive — just waiting for the stars to align. “We absolutely will continue with Bloodmoon, but it’s just a logistical thing right now,” he shared, citing touring schedules and Chelsea Wolfe‘s recent solo album cycle.
“We have lots of ideas, lots of material, lots of excitement between the seven members of ConvergeBloodmoon, and we will absolutely be doing that at some time down the road.”
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Darden Restaurants Inc., the owner of such brands as Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Chuy’s and more have decided to permanently close down all locations of their chain, Bahama Breeze.
According to USA Today, the Caribbean-themed restaurant, which had dwindled down to 28 locations in the United States, will shut doors completely, sooner than later: Tomorrow (Feb. 5), as a matter of fact.
This hits home for me as I have a memory of taking a date to a Bahama Breeze in Troy, Mich. back in 2007.
I remember feeling like we were on a vacation on the beach. There was a live band playing and the vibe was quite intense. The woman only went on one date with me — not sure why, if you are wondering.
There aren’t really any other chain restaurants that are like this, and there won’t be any left come tomorrow.
What Will Happen to the Bahama Breeze Restaurant Locations?
Half of them will be converted to other Darden brands, the company said. So around 14 locations could turn into an Olive Garden, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, or Seasons 52, among other restaurants.
What Will Happen to Bahama Breeze Employees?
Like with most large corporations, Darden will do its best to attempt to place some of those employees at nearby Darden-owned restaurants.
The company said in it’s press release, “Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio.”
Here is the complete list of Bahama Breeze locations that are getting axed on Feb. 5:
500 Center Blvd., Newark, Dela.
3590 Breckenridge Blvd., Duluth, Ga.
12395 SW 88th St., Miami, Fla.
10205 Rivercoast Drive, Jacksonville, Fla.
1251 West Osceola Pkwy., Kissimmee, Fla.
11000 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Fla.
1540 Rinehart Road, Sanford, Fla.
19600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, Mich.
2000 Route 38, Cherry Hill, N.J.
3309 Wake Forest Drive, Raleigh, N.C.
320 Goddard Blvd., King of Prussia, Pa.
6100 Robinson Center Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa.
2714 Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge, Va.
15700 Southcenter Pkwy., Tukwila, Wa.
Keep scrolling to see a list of restaurants that not only are still in business — they’re also owned by famous people.
25 Country Stars With Their Own Bars + Restaurants
Of all of the side hustles country artists could partake in, opening a bar or restaurant is the most fitting — and very common. After all, many of these stars got their start on a barstool, tip jar nearby, playing their music for anyone who would listen.
These places feel like home for many of these singers. Over the years, several artists have gotten into the bar or restaurant game, and for a select few, brands have turned into franchises with several locations and/or concepts — we’re looking at you, Jimmy Buffett!
Let’s take a look at the country star food and entertainment venues that have opened over the years.
All six of these artists missed the 2026 Grammy Awards despite being nominated. Two of them won, though they weren’t there to thank the Academy in person. Keep reading for a breakdown of which country stars sat out the show this year.
Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency.
Has worked for three MLB teams.
Co-author of Author of ‘Future Value’
Multiple Authors
Now that we have ranked the top 100 prospects in the sport and all 30 major league farm systems, it’s time for our first team-by-team MLB prospect rankings big board of 2026. The top 10 prospects for all 30 teams are listed below — and will be updated regularly throughout the season.
Here are the rankings for your favorite team, along with what to know for the season ahead 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.
Who are your favorite team’s future stars and how close are they to reaching the majors?
The A’s have the thing every team is looking for: pitching depth. Jump, Arnold and Lin are all potential No. 2 to No. 4 starters who throw from the left side. Nett and Morris are either No. 4 starters or eighth-inning relievers depending on how their command develops.
Also keep an eye on Baez, as both haven’t debuted and are on the 40-man roster, but Nett’s stuff works better in shorter stints, so I think he is a bit more likely to come up if the opening is in the bullpen.
The D-backs ranked 21st in the farm ranking largely because they didn’t have any players in the top 50 prospects in baseball and only one in the top 100 at all — and the long arc of prospect history informs this valuation method.
But beyond that elite tier of prospects, they are quite deep with six players from 101-200 and a handful more who were in the mix for that range. It’s possible all of the top dozen players on the D-backs’ prospect list will be on next winter’s version; due to that, Arizona is a strong candidate to rise in these rankings throughout the season.
Next to debut: Tommy Troy, 2B
Brandyn Garcia and Andrew Hoffman are likely to start the season in the big league bullpen, but they and Cristian Mena (likely opens in the Triple-A rotation) have already debuted. Of those with no service time, Troy gets the nod over Drake.
The Braves are rich in potential starting pitching, with likely starters landing in the first four slots of the list and also seven through 10. There should be waves of arms coming over the next few years, but that also leads into the main concern here: the lack of position players.
Four of their top five bonuses handed out in the 2025 draft were to position players, headlined by Southisene, so Atlanta is trying to balance out the system more.
Next to debut: J.R. Ritchie, RHP
Braun should also open in the Triple-A rotation, with both needing to be added to the 40-man roster after the 2026 season. Pending health, both should make their debuts this season, but Ritchie is the superior prospect and likely comes up first.
Baltimore could still use some starting pitching depth in the majors this season and also some long-term impact in that area with Trevor Rogers and Zach Eflin on expiring deals.
Gibson and German should debut at some point in 2026 and De Leon and Bateman could be coming up in 2027 — and there is a handful of others either behind them or with more relief risk. I think Gibson has the best chance to be a front-line starter of that group, this group is likely more middle-to-back of the rotation type contributors.
Next to debut: Trey Gibson, RHP
Beavers and Basallo have already debuted, so I’ll go with Gibson here. German is in line right behind him (likely starting the season in Triple-A) should a rotation spot come open.
After a big group of position players arrived at Fenway Park in the past year or two, there are now a few nice waves of starting pitching prospects making their way to Boston. Tolle and Early already arrived late last season and will be back up in 2026. Bennett seems on track to appear in 2027, with Witherspoon, Valera, Phillips and Eyanson all just behind that.
Witherspoon, Valera and Phillips are the ones to watch here. Some scouts think Witherspoon makes the leap this year and Valera just needs health and another pitch shape or two to do that, while Phillips is still around the middle of the starter/reliever line, but with dynamic and unique traits.
Next to debut: Jake Bennett, LHP
With Tolle and Early having already debuted, there isn’t a clear answer here, leaving either Bennett at the end of a breakthrough season because he’s already on the 40-man roster or a Mikey Romero in a similar situation because he needs to be added to the 40-man roster after this season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
I’ve said many times that I liked what the Cubs did in the 2025 draft, with Conrad, Kepley, Hartshorn and Wing headlining the class. The rest of the prospects of consequence in this system will be in the upper minors or the big leagues this year.
Ballesteros looks set to be Chicago’s every-day DH with Wiggins, Long and Alcantara (and James Triantos, B.J. Murray Jr., Brandon Birdsell, Riley Martin, etc.) waiting in Triple-A for a call-up. I think Ramirez and Rojas will spend the whole year in the minors but both will also be in the upper minors.
Next to debut: Jaxon Wiggins, RHP
It should be Wiggins or Long, but I see more routes (read: relief) that Wiggins can help while Long is blocked by Tyler Austin at the moment.
I’m intrigued by the pitching pipeline in this system, as the White Sox still need a good bit of long-term help in the rotation. Schultz is a unique, towering lefty slinging from a lower slot, and Oppor was a big arrow-up performer in 2025 who now looks like a potential starter. Smith’s strike-throwing concerns undermined his pretty steady midrotation profile.
McDougal and the recently acquired RHP David Sandlin (11th, if the list went that long) have some relief risk, but above-average stuff and deeper arsenals where a command improvement would put them in the previous group.
Next to debut: David Sandlin, RHP
Because Sandlin has some experience as a reliever in Triple-A last season (and might end up there long term, too), I think he’ll fill more potential openings than McDougal when an arm is needed. If Schultz throws more strikes, he should get a look in the second half as he’ll need to be added to the 40-man roster after the season anyway.
The top of the Reds’ system is headlined by two power hitters with easily plus in-game power potential in Stewart and Duno and there are more players along these lines in the system. Lewis has some of the biggest exit velos in the low minors paired with plus speed, but questions about the rest of his game. Collier also has huge EVs, although from a first-base profile that is more of a necessity. SS/3B Hansel Jimenez (No. 16, if you were wondering) played in the Dominican Summer League last year and also has huge power potential.
Next to debut: Hector Rodriguez, LF
Stewart, Lowder, Petty and a few prospects beyond the top 10 listed here have all debuted already, so I’ll go with Rodriguez. He’s on the 40-man roster with a polished hit/power combo and has already played 53 games in Triple-A.
The Guardians have a lot of upper-minors help at the top of this list. DeLauter and Messick both could break camp with the big league team, while Ingle and Bazzana have already played in Triple-A. Velazquez, Stephen, Genao and Rosario have all played in Double-A.
Kahlil Watson and Juan Brito are just outside these rankings and should open the season in Triple-A. Lots of help is on the way for the defending division champs.
Next to debut: Chase DeLauter, RF
DeLauter made his big league debut in the playoffs, which doesn’t technically count for this question. He is set to be an every-day big league outfielder for the Guardians starting this year. Bazzana and Ingle both qualify, though their arrivals likely come later in the season.
I would bet most, if not all, of the best 15 prospects won’t graduate from this list by next winter. It’s a good sign for growth to keep prospects on the list and implies high upsides from lower-minors types.
On the other hand, it’s also good to have waves coming to constantly help the big league team. Thompson and Zac Veen are optionable 40-man outfield depth while Condon, Thomas, Riggio and Cole Carrigg seem likely to stay in the upper minors the whole season and the rest of the list is behind them.
Next to debut: Sterlin Thompson, LF
He doesn’t offer a ton in terms of defensive value, but Thompson had a hot second half in Triple-A (171 wRC+ with eight homers in the last 35 games of the season) and has always looked like a big league hitter.
The Tigers have a strong crop of position players headed to Detroit. McGonigle should show up in the majors at some point this year or early next year and has star potential, as does Clark.
Briceno is on a similar timetable and could be a middle-of-the-order type. Rainer and Rodriguez are boom-bust types with some hit tool risk but have upside on par with the others in this group. Having this many prospects with impact potential is the envy of every team in baseball.
Next to debut: Max Anderson, 2B/3B
Anderson isn’t necessarily an impact prospect, but he is a steady lower-end every-day type, like Lee. In Triple-A, the Tigers will likely have Anderson (not on the 40-man) and Lee (on the 40-man), along with Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney (graduated prospects, on the 40-man) and maybe McGonigle. There’s no telling the order in which these guys come up or where/when the opening will be, but I’ll gamble Anderson fits the bill.
Four of the top five prospects here were touted signees — Matthews, Janek and Neyens were first-round picks, Alvarez signed for $2 million internationally — but the others have been the result of solid scouting and development.
Frey was the most hyped one, going in the third round last year out of LSU. The rest were way under the radar: Pecko was a sixth-rounder from Towson, Blubaugh was a seventh-round pick out of Milwaukee, Cole a 10th-rounder from Ball State, Bush a 16th-rounder from a Texas junior college and Huezo a 12th-rounder who got $400,000 out of a California high school.
I give Ullola a slight edge over Pecko because he is already on the 40-man roster and has enough command issues that he’s likely seen as a potential reliever, and bullpen spots come open more often than rotation slots.
I’ve got my eye on the past few drafts and international signing classes currently playing at the lower levels of the Royals system. Hammond and Gamble were both early picks last year and have big upside as prep position players; Hammond (shades of Josh Donaldson) is my pick to click in the system this year.
I was all over Lombardi as a reliever-to-starter conversion coming out of Tulane when K.C. landed him in the second round. Shields (2024 draft) is an old-school pitchability lefty with enough angles and youth to eventually be a midrotation type. Gomez signed last month for just under $3 million and has big offensive potential, and Chourio signed a year ago and is now one of the better starting pitching prospects in the lower minors.
Next to debut: Ben Kudrna, RHP
He was added to the 40-man roster this winter and is in line to be the big league depth/replacement starter option at Triple-A, but is the only one with no service time.
The Angels added a lot of pitching depth with a deep 2025 draft class. Bremner ($7.69 million) was the second overall pick and should move quickly as a potential midrotation starter. Shores ($2.08 million) is a starter/reliever question mark, but a 6-foot-8 power sinker/slider type. Slawinski ($2.5 million) is a lower-slot 6-foot-3 high school lefty with good fastball shape and a good breaking ball.
RHP C.J. Gray ($1.25 million) is a standout athlete with big arm speed but is pretty raw. LHP Talon Haley ($900,000) is another high school lefty with multiple good breaking balls and a low-90s heater. LHP Xavier Mitchell ($875,000) is yet another high school lefty, a long, loose type with a low-90s heater and big-breaking curveball. RHP Luke Lacourse ($515,000) is a prep righty with a low-90s fastball and breaking ball with enormous spin rates, while RHP Nate Snead ($600,000) and LHP Alton Davis ($400,000) are college reliever types with big arm speed and pretty good breaking stuff.
Next to debut: Nelson Rada, CF
Rada has been pushed quickly through the system, having already played 42 games at Triple-A as a teenager. He’s a familiar type of prospect — the speedy contact/defense center fielder with very limited in-game power — who could be helpful in the big leagues this season.
The bad news for the rest of baseball is the Dodgers have hitting prospects coming in waves. Freeland has already debuted and should get more big league time this year while the others are more late-2026 or 2027 options.
De Paula, Hope, Ehrhard and Tibbs should also be in the upper minors this year. Quintero and Sirota are a year behind that group, making six outfielders in this top 10 who could all debut in the next two seasons. Morales is a year behind that group and might have the biggest upside and risk, as a shortstop with 25-homer potential.
Next to debut: Jackson Ferris, LHP
Most of the guys I think will contribute this year have already debuted, so I’m choosing someone from the upper minors who needs to be added to the 40-man roster in 2026. Ferris threw 126 innings in Double-A last year, so he should be a bulk-innings option in L.A. for the second half of the season.
The Marlins’ recent stockpiling of prospects has helped create a nice balance of 2026 big league impact players and higher variance low-minors types. White, Snelling, Mack and Caissie should all impact the big league team this season.
Arquette and Cannarella headlined the 2025 draft group and won’t be factors this year. DeFrank just pitched in the Dominican Summer League, so he’s years away but with huge potential due to his triple-digit heater. Salas and Caba are shortstops with limited power who are tracking like starters so far.
Lewis was the headliner in the Ryan Weathers trade and isn’t a 2026 factor, but he is a late bloomer with big tools. Outside of this top 10, RHP Karson Milbrandt, CF Luis Cova and LF Brandon Compton are more toolsy prospects to keep an eye on in 2026.
Next to debut: Joe Mack, C
Once one of the Opening Day catchers takes a foul tip on the wrong body part or something like that creates an opening, Mack should get the call as the only other catcher on the 40-man roster.
I’ve long been a fan of Williams and it seemed destined the headliner of the Freddy Peralta trade would end up in Milwaukee, as the Brewers have a number of players like him already.
Henderson and Sproat will impact the pitching staff this year, and Quero should get his feet wet this season as well. Made, Pratt and Adams all seem more likely to debut in 2027, and that’s 80% of the top 10, who all rank in the top 150 prospects in baseball. The Brewers know what they’re doing.
Next to debut: Jett Williams, SS
It could easily be Quero, but he fits only two spots on the big league roster while Williams can fit at almost any position on the field, so I’ll go with him.
The top arms in the Twins system have real impact potential. Prielipp has durability questions but plus stuff and enough command to project as a starter. Soto missed most of 2025 because of an elbow issue but also has above-average to plus stuff with enough command to project as a starter.
Hill has some walk issues but, likewise, has three above-average pitches and lots of physical projection. RHP Riley Quick is a former offensive tackle with four above-average pitches and standout athleticism for his size. If these guys click, it will be a foundation for one of the better rotations in the game.
Next to debut: Connor Prielipp, LHP
I’ll lean to Prielipp, but of the players on the 40-man roster including those with an easier path to a spot — Jenkins and Rodriguez — all of the candidates have had durability issues, so who knows who will be healthy when the time comes.
Most of the players on this list will be in the big leagues this year or next. McLean will open in the major league rotation, Benge seems likely to open in the lineup, and Tong and Clifford will both be 2026 big league factors at some point.
Ewing, Reimer, Santucci and Wenninger are more 2027 factors than 2026, but a strong season can change those plans. Pena and Asigen will take a while, but they’re 18 years old and 16 years old, respectively.
Next to debut: Carson Benge, CF
I think he’ll open the season in the big league lineup while the others who will start in the majors have already debuted, so he has got to be the choice here.
The system has been gutted by trades and graduations, leaving mostly recent high draft picks at the top. Rodriguez-Cruz was acquired in the Carlos Narvaez trade, and Lagrange was an international signee. Lombard, Kilby, Jones and Hess were all first-round picks, while Cunningham was an overslot second-round pick. Kent and Hurd were third-round picks. Hampton was the best value as a sixth-rounder, but he has thrown 18⅔ innings in the past two years, so this season’s performance will go a long way toward the verdict on his prospect status.
Next to debut: Spencer Jones, CF
He’ll get a big league look at some point this year and is the ultimate boom-bust type: Four homers in a week and a 40% strikeout rate are almost equally likely.
Help is coming. Crawford and Painter may spend the whole season in the big leagues this year. Miller should debut at some point and has All-Star potential. Rincones should also debut and may be an every-day corner outfielder.
I think the Phils should develop him as a starter, but if Wood is moved to relief, he’ll be in the big leagues this year. The same may be true of fellow 2025 draftee Obermueller. Escobar and Nori both reached Double-A in 2025 and could be big league options late in 2026 or 2027.
Next to debut: Justin Crawford, CF and Andrew Painter, RHP
Neither has debuted yet and both look set to open the season on the big league roster, so it’s likely they both debut on the same day, making the Phillies the only team with a tie for this spot.
After graduating Paul Skenes, you could argue the Pirates still have the two prospects with the best chance of becoming aces in Chandler and Hernandez (apologies to Nolan McLean). All four of those are former pro prospects as position players, which I think is a sneaky important factor in a potential ace.
Chandler has already debuted and has a solid three-pitch mix headlined by a plus fastball with starter command. Hernandez hasn’t debuted yet and needs to sharpen his breaking ball, but he hits triple digits and has one of the best changeups in the world.
Next to debut: Jhostynxon Garcia, CF
Garcia was traded as a potential long-term answer in center field. I don’t think he gets the Opening Day nod, but he may get his shot early in 2026.
Things have really thinned out after trades and graduations. Salas needs to get on the field and perform to regain his past acclaim, but the potential is still there. Meanwhile, the early postdraft accounts of Schoolcraft are very positive, with some sneaky top 100 support that may become reality by the next update. Musgrove is an analytics darling with great data but limited experience and command at the moment.
Next to debut: Miguel Mendez, RHP
This may be the weakest guess of all 30, as he could spend his whole season in Double-A. That said, he is on the 40-man roster and could get a quick promotion to Triple-A, but there are lots of veteran players around the fringes of the big league roster any option will have to fight through.
The international position players are bringing dynamism to the top of this system while the pitching is composed more of depth types. Gonzalez, Level and Hernandez will be the top three prospects in the system by midseason, with Eldridge likely graduating by then.
Martinez, also from the international department, is the top pitching prospect, while the next few pitchers are largely big league adjacent as role player types: Whisenhunt, RHP Trevor McDonald and RHP Blade Tidwell. They should all be back-end starters or long relievers, maybe a middle reliever.
Several other candidates for this title got a big league look late last season, so I’ll take the cop-out and pick the Rule 5 selection. If Susac doesn’t make the team, Jesus Rodriguez (acquired from the Yankees at the deadline in the Camilo Doval deal) will be the pick here.
Emerson, Anderson and Sloan could be the cornerstones of the next era of Mariners contending teams. Arroyo and Montes are more strong contributors than potential stars, while Celesten, Farmelo, Stevenson and Becker are all interesting potential regulars but need to prove themselves a bit more before we know how excited to be.
In the wake of this week’s Donovan trade, which took place after my farm rankings published last week, the Mariners swapped places with the Cardinals, moving down from seventh to ninth.
Next to debut: Colt Emerson, SS
Emerson could be competing with Cole Young for the second-base spot in spring training, and even if he doesn’t get it, I think he’ll be the first position-player prospect with no service time to be called up. A reliever like Robinson Ortiz or Alex Hoppe has a shorter path to a call-up but much less upside.
The system has gotten much deeper in the last year with the Brendan Donovan and Sonny Gray trades (and, to a lesser degree, Willson Contreras and Ryan Helsley deals) on top of a couple of good drafts. There’s now real pitching depth with Doyle and Cijntje headlining the group, and the waves of position players are getting clearer, with Wetherholt and Crooks fitting on the big league team this season, then Rodriguez, Baez and Bernal in the next wave.
In the wake of this week’s Donovan trade, which took place after my farm rankings published last week, the Cardinals swapped places with the Mariners, moving up to seventh from ninth.
Next to debut: JJ Wetherholt, SS
In the wake of the Donovan trade, Wetherholt has a strong case for NL ROY in 2026, and if Konnor Griffin doesn’t break camp with the Pirates, Wetherholt would be my pick for the award.
The system’s pitching depth is building, even if the big league team won’t use most of the prospects this year: Only one pitcher on the projected Opening Day pitching staff is homegrown (Shane McClanahan). The Rays obsessively shop for value from all 30 teams and are always on the lookout for intriguing traits, so it makes sense that they don’t just settle for the internal option as the answer to the question.
Hopkins was the headliner in the Arozarena trade and would also fit that description. Forret and Brito were acquired this winter and also fit.
Next to debut: Brody Hopkins, RHP
You could argue for Dominic Keegan or Tre Morgan, but Hopkins needs to be added to the 40-man roster after the season and has dynamic potential in the later innings either when needed or if he needs to coast to an innings limit.
The farm system depth was thinned out by the MacKenzie Gore trade, but Walcott remains atop the list with star potential followed by some intriguing sleepers. Scarborough is a common pick-to-click within the industry, and Owens was also on that list for many in the 2025 draft.
I’d also keep an eye on Castillo, whose underlying metrics suggest a 2026 breakout could be on tap.
Next to debut: Winston Santos, RHP
Santos was limited by a back injury in 2025 but should be the first prospect with no service time to be considered for call-up this season, though Davalillo, Leandro Lopez and Emiliano Teodo (all on the 40-man roster) are also in the mix.
The last couple of drafts are already paying dividends, with more help on the way. Khal Stephen, a 2024 draftee, was traded for Shane Bieber, while the first pick that year, Yesavage, has already paid big league dividends and King has risen a ton since the draft.
Parker and Nimmala were top picks in recent drafts, and Shaw, one of my picks to click in 2026, was a ninth-rounder in 2023 out of a Canadian high school. Keep an eye on 3B/OF Tim Piasentin and Cook from the 2025 draft crop.
Next to debut: Ricky Tiedemann, LHP
He threw 17⅓ innings in 2024 and zero in 2025, but has three plus pitches and starter command when he’s right. Things seem set for him to ramp up innings in 2026, and if he’s sharp, he’ll do some of it in the big leagues.
There’s lots of upside on the mound, but it comes with risk. Sykora has had two major surgeries but has front-line potential. Susana has ace-level stuff but reliever command. Rosario has three plus pitches but won’t throw a pitch in 2025 or 2026 because of injury. Perales has front-line starter stuff but poor command at the moment.
RHP Landon Harmon (just missed the top 10) also has front-line stuff but command questions, as does LHP Alex Clemmey. Meanwhile, the position players on this list are more solid every-day types than potential stars.
Acquired in the MacKenzie Gore deal, Ortiz could fit at first base, corner outfield or designated hitter openings, and I think he has scooted ahead of Christian Franklin for the first shot when a spot opens up in the lineup.
