Players I'm Excited to Watch in 2026 (NL Central)

Cubs

Michael Busch

Although Michael Busch had a career year in 2025, he did so somewhat quietly. Busch set career highs in home runs (34), RBI (90), batting average (.261), OBP (.343), SLG (.523), and OPS (.866). He ranked 2nd in home runs, 2nd in SLG, 3rd in OPS, and 4th in xwOBA among qualified first basemen.

Even more impressive was the significant leap he made 2024 to 2025, increasing his OPS by nearly 100 points in a single season. Furthermore, his 5.9% increase in barrel rate ranked as the 5th highest increase in the MLB from 2024 to 2025.

What makes me extra excited in Busch’s 2026 campaign is the strength of this Cubs’ lineup. Chicago ranked top 10 in home runs, OBP, SLG, OPS, total bases, and 3rd in team barrel rate, and just plugged in Alex Bregman. According to MLB’s projected lineup, Busch is expected to hit leadoff and will be protected by Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, PCA, Nico Hoerner, Moisés Ballesteros, Dansby Swanson, and Carson Kelly. That is a deep and dangerous 1-9, I can only be optimistic Busch meets or exceeds expectations. 

Reds

Sal Stewart

Stewart is going to be a serious contender for NL Rookie of the Year in 2026. He will face extremely stiff competition in Mets RHP Nolan McLean, Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, and Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt, but he showed real promise in late 2025.

After being called up in early September, Stewart hit .255 with an .838 OPS and 5 home runs in just 18 games. While the sample size has to be acknowledged, and pitchers will inevitably adjust, Stewart has mashed at every level of minor league ball up. In 2025 across 118 games split between Double-A and Triple-A, he racked up a .309 average with a .907 OPS hitting 20 home runs and driving in 80 RBI.

One thing that Stewart does need to improve is his on-base abilities. In his brief big league stint, Stewart recorded a 25.9% strikeout rate and a 5.2% walk rate, along with a below-average chase rate. It is going to be interesting to see how he adjusts in 2026 as he showed strong command of the zone in the minors, posting a 15.6% strikeout rate and a 9.3% walk rate in 2025.

What is undeniable is the power potential Stewart brings. His 95.4 mph average exit velo in the majors would have ranked 2nd among qualified MLB hitters, tied with Aaron Judge. Pair that with a 30% Pull Air rate in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, and Stewart has what it takes to pop 30 home runs.

Brewers

 

Andrew Vaughn

The former 3rd overall draft pick in 2019, has been one of those players where you know that a breakout is right around the corner but he was never able to get over the hump. In 2025 with Milwaukee, he finally did.

After spending 4 and a half years with the White Sox, Vaughn was traded to the Brewers in June and immediately took off, hitting .308 with a 141 OPS+ across 64 games. The turnaround was remarkable, as he accumulated 1.9 fWAR with the Brewers.

After struggling early with Chicago in 2025 (.189/.218/.314), he finished the year with a .254/.307/.411 slash and became one of the most productive bats on the 97-win, NL first place team.

Looking at his underlying batted ball metrics it is not inconceivable that Vaughn takes an even further step in 2026. With a full season hitting behind strong on-base contributors like Jackson Churio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Christian Yelich, opposing pitchers won’t have the luxury to dance around Vaughn with runners on base. 

Cardinals

Masyn Winn

Winn first grabbed national attention during the 2022 MLB All-Star Futures Game when he unleashed a 100 mph throw across the diamond. Since becoming the Cardinals everyday shortstop, he has developed into one of the premier defenders in the league. Winn earned his first Gold Glove in 2025 after recording 21 Outs Above Average, 2nd most among shortstops and tied for 3rd most among all MLB fielders.

As one of the league’s best defenders, there’s room to grow with the bat. After a strong 2024 season where he posted a .267/.314/.416 slash line, Winn took a step back in 2025. He does a very good job at limiting swing-and-miss and keeps his chase and strikeout rates under control, but his batted ball metrics remain below average. Winn is not currently a high-impact contact hitter, I wonder if a slight increase in bat speed could help with his barrel and hard-hit metrics.

One area where he could add more value is on the basepaths. Despite ranking in the 87th percentile in baserunning run value and the 77th percentile in sprint speed, Winn has just 22 stolen bases in 316 career games. He has indicated he plans to run more after having work done on his knee in September. 

Pirates

Brandon Lowe

Lowe was traded to Pittsburgh this offseason after spending 8 years with the Rays. Since debuting in 2018, Lowe has been one of the better power-hitting second basemen in the league. With a 162 game average of a .481 SLG and a 123 OPS+, he brings some much needed thump to this Pirate lineup.

Pittsburgh quietly had a solid offseason, bringing in Lowe along with Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna, plus promising prospect Jhostynxon Garcia from Boston, among other pieces.

Lowe has produced a wRC+ of at least 110 in 3 straight seasons (including 123 in 2024), and his move to PNC Park could further support his power output. Over a rolling 3 year average (2023-2025), PNC Park ranks 12th in the MLB in Statcast Park Factor for left-handed hitters. By comparison, Tropicana Field ranked 29th for left-handed hitters from 2022-2024. In other words, Lowe is moving to a more favorable environment despite already producing at a high level.

Furthermore, Lowe’s swing profile supports that optimism. Among left-handed hitters in 2025, Lowe ranked 28th in Pull Air rate at 23.9%, well above the 18.2% league average. Notably, that mark has remained consistent throughout his career, dipping below 23% only twice, 19.6% in his abbreviated 2018 debut (43 games) and 17.7% in 2022, when he was limited to only 65 games due to a fractured knee.

Lowe hit 31 home runs in 2025, his most since launching 39 in 2021, and with a swing speed in the 76th percentile in back-to-back seasons, a significant decline in power for the 31 year old doesn’t seem imminent.