As the MLB season starts, already, it seems like there have been some very exciting moments. Many of the players on this list have failed to live up to their potential over the last few seasons, and perhaps, that will end in 2026. In 2026, these players are some big players to watch for a major breakout season in 2026.
Massive Breakout Candidates in 2026
7. Jose Soriano
In order for the Los Angles Angels to even sniff a playoff spot, they need a pitcher like Jose Soriano to breakout. Their offense, led by many great players, doesn’t need too much help it seems. Soriano is a player that has shown potential to be the ace the team needs in the past, with his career ERA being 3.82. The Angels need Soriano to remain a healthy pitcher in order for them to get the most out of their potential star.
In his first start of the season, Soriano struck out seven, walked three, and allowed no runs. Perhaps Soriano could walk less hitters, but nonetheless, that start could be the beginning of a big year for Soriano.
6. Yordan Alvarez
From 2019-24, Yordan Alvarez was one the best hitters in the major leagues, consistently hitting over 30 homers with an average that at times eclipsed .300. Last season, Alvarez didn’t have a very good first 48 games, hitting .273 with six home runs, which even then, wasn’t too bad. Unfortunately, the big man would be injured for the rest of the season. Certainly, a very good season from Alvarez isn’t going to surprise many.
However, after being injured for one season, and Houston feeling a bit different with the team losing it’s core, Alvarez should definitely breakout right back into the player he was before. Alvarez could be even an interesting peace potentially for a trade. Funnily enough, in his first game, Alvarez went 0-2 with a BB, but a ball that would’ve certainly been a homer bounced off the roof and into foul territory.
The Daikin Park roof took a potential home run away from Yordan Alvarez pic.twitter.com/9ECK49DFK1
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 26, 2026
5. Elly De La Cruz
Elly De La Cruz is probably already a star in the MLB at the young age of 24. However, his numbers haven’t really blown anyone away. First of all, De La Cruz has been a strikeout prone batter, striking out 218 times in 2024 and 181 times in 2025. He hit 22 home runs with an average of .259 in 2024 and 25 home runs with an average of .264, which both show that he can be the next superstar.
In order for De La Cruz to really be the next big thing, the Cincinnati Reds would love to see a better than 30 home run season from De La Cruz with less Ks as well. This definitely looks like the season to do it. Watch out for the next superstar at the shortstop position.
4. Mike Trout
Is it over yet for the man, the myth, the legend? Mike Trout, quite potentially the GOAT if he stayed healthy for more of his career, comes into 2026 hoping for a breakout. His last great season was in 2022, where he hit .283 with 40 home runs. Since then, Trout has played in 241 games, where combined he has hit below .240 and 54 home runs. Last season was a mostly healthy season, but he looked different, hitting just .232 with 26 shots in 130 games.
However, as Trout has already hit a bomb in 2026, this feels like it could be the campaign where Trout can muster together a great season. The first ballot Hall of Famer has struggled to stay healthy in his career- but if he can in 2026, then Aaron Judge has a man to compete with for the AL MVP.
3. Luis Robert Jr.
Luis Robert Jr. is a player that is pretty similar to Trout in the way that he can hardly ever stay healthy. In 2023, where he actually still missed 17 games, Robert slugged 38 homers with a good .264 average and superb defense. Robert Jr. in 24 and 25 hasn’t done anything really similar to that, as both years he slugged 14 home runs in about 110 games and a .223 average. If he can stay healthy, it just feels like with the change of scenery that he can become a different player entirely.
This could very well be his breakout season, and with his first game seeing him for 2-4, with two RBI, a BB, and a K, maybe Robert Jr. can become a feared player again. He is in the middle of a lineup that is about 30 times better than the one in Chicago, and this may help him become a power-hitting, base-stealing, great defending, amazing outfielder that everyone knows he can be.
2. Austin Riley
Austin Riley may be the key to the Atlanta Braves, also known at the Atlanta Injuries. The Braves have been constantly hit by the injury bug since the latter half of 2024. Even the end of the Braves lineup is being affected, and with the last two seasons that Riley has had, he needs to take it up a notch and prove that he is the best third baseman in the MLB again. At one point, he slugged 33, 37, and 38 home runs for Atlanta, which provided the Braves with nothing but production.
Atlanta is going to need to rely on the old core that got them to 100-win seasons in both 2022 and 2023, including Riley. If Riley can remain off the IL, it feels like he could pop off again for the Braves.
1. Francisco Alvarez
As the MLB Network ranked the top 10 catchers, they missed Francisco Alvarez, who is the biggest key to the list. The reason is simple – the Mets already have great players in Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Bo Bichette, among others. If Alvarez breaks out into a superstar, he can bring the lineup to the absolute top of baseball. Alvarez is just 24, and in 2023 Alvarez hit 25 home runs in just 120 games. For the last two seasons, Alvarez has struggled to stay healthy, hitting 11 HR’s in both seasons in limited action.
In 2025, the New York Mets had seen enough and sent him down to Triple-A, where he popped off before being brought back up and popping off again. Alvarez hit eight home runs with an average above .300 in the course of about 40 games. He was a completely different player and superstar. With Alvarez starting the year off with a 430 FT bomb, Alvarez is set to slug 30+ homers in 2026. If he can, then the Mets are a very dangerous team with a more balanced lineup.
Main Image: Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
