2026 National League Playoff Push: Which Prospects Could Still Make an Impact
· Yahoo Sports
The baseball world is now two weeks removed from the historic debut of Joshua Baez. The St. Louis Cardinals were looking to get one of their top prospects some major league experience before the season ended. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they are out of the playoff picture. However, some teams may take advantage of their position for a playoff push and call up a top prospect. With the third wild card spot and some divisions still up for grabs, there are plenty of top prospects who could appear as their teams make a playoff push.
Aug 29, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Joshua Baez (22) hits a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn ImagesDiamond(back) in the Rough
Demetrio Crisantes – 2B (Arizona Diamondbacks)With the future of second base in the air at Chase Field, now might be the perfect time for the Diamondbacks to call up their top prospect, Demetrio Crisantes. Coming back from a torn labrum, Crisantes has proven himself as one of the best prospects in baseball. Across the two upper levels, Crisantes is batting .298 with a solid BB/K ratio of 0.45. Crisantes is the future for the Diamondbacks at second base, and there is a major hole to fill for a playoff push.
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The Diamondbacks have a history of successful hit-first second basemen, and Crisantes should be next in line. He works with a simple approach in the box and generates tons of contact, including a 93% in-zone contact rate. His power is limited, however, by the contact-heavy approach and the aforementioned labral injury. On the dirt, Crisantes is limited to second base. He does not have the arm for the left side of the diamond, but shows enough range and footwork to maintain second base for Arizona not only in a pinch but also during a playoff push.
Philadelphia’s Playoff Push
Gage Wood – RHP (Philadelphia Phillies)Last year’s plan for Andrew Painter was to ramp him back up from injury so he could contribute to the Philadelphia pitching staff in some sort during last year’s playoff push. This never materialized for Painter, but could certainly be the case for Philadelphia’s newest top pitching prospect, Gage Wood. In his first full season of pro ball, Wood has held his own with an aggressive assignment to Double-A. In a little less than 60 innings, he has struck out nearly 1.5 batters per inning. The Phillies could certainly use another arm in the rotation as they chase down first place in the National League East.
Jul 12, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; National League pitcher Gage Wood (14) stands on the mound against American League in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesWood, similar to Painter, has an elite fastball. Also similar to Painter, however, is their propensity to get hurt. This makes projecting on the Arkansas product difficult. He may throw three average pitches now, but both the curveball and slider flash as a plus offering. Wood’s greatest asset behind his fastball is his ability to command the strike zone. He rarely walks batters and consistently fills the zone. If Wood can improve his off-speed and stay healthy, he can be an asset to the Phillies rotation for years to come, and not just for this playoff push.
Chicago’s Catching Conglomerate
Owen Ayers – C/1B (Chicago Cubs)Owen Ayers was widely known for his defensive ability before the Arizona Fall League (AFL) last season, when he had a breakout campaign. During the AFL, Ayers slashed .357/.539/.591 and led the fall league in walks. He’s continued into this season, batting .298 across three levels and more than tripling his season-best in home runs; he currently sits at 25 home runs on the season. Due to the backlog of catchers on the North Side, it’s unlikely Ayers gets at-bats during the playoff push, but it could be a good opportunity for him to get a taste of the big leagues.
Knoxville Smokies’ Owen Ayers (6) during the Minor League Baseball game against the Columbus Clingstones on July 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesAyers has long been known for his defensive ability. He’s consistently been at the top of MiLB leaderboards in caught stealing percentage thanks to a plus-plus arm. From a receiving standpoint, Ayers is no slouch, either. This power surge could establish him as the Chicago backstop of the future. His ability to get on base and the display of power could make him more than just a defensive backup. Chicago’s playoff push could be the time for Ayers to make his mark on the Chicago faithful.
Main Photo Credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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