Jonah Tong. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
2026 marks the third year of Major League Baseball’s spring breakout games featuring top prospects from each team playing each other in a single showcase matchup during spring training. Starting in 2027 and continuing in 2028, however, MLB is upping the ante. Beginning next year, baseball fans won’t have to wait until October or November for a champion to be crowned.
MLB on Monday announced that the fourth annual spring breakout showcase in 2027 will move to a tournament-style format, with a champion crowned in both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. Teams comprised of top prospects from each MLB club will play in a head-to-head format, with each spring league crowning a champion at the end. The tournament will be four rounds and a single-elimination format.
The spring breakout showcase has become an event prospects look forward to each year, along with the fans. In the past it has featured three rookies of the year, including Paul Skenes, Nick Kurtz, and Drake Baldwin; and this year players like Konnor Griffin (No. 1 overall), Kevin McGonigle (No. 2 overall), Jesus Made (No. 3 overall), Leo De Vries (No. 4 overall), JJ Wetherholt (No. 5 overall), and Max Clark (No. 10 overall) are all expected to participate.
Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark told MLB.com that he’s excited for the new expanded tournament because of the opportunity it brings for the prospects to really push themselves and show teams what they’re made of, because, along with trying to make a team, now there’s bragging rights involved as well and even more reason for them to push harder in the tournament.
“I think it’s going to be huge,” he said. “It’s only giving you more chances to put focus on minor league prospects. I think it brings an extra percent in terms of competitiveness. When you play a game, and then add in that it’s a tournament, there’s adrenaline, a feeling about playing another colored jersey. You get an extra percent,” he said.
In 2025, the Mets had Jett Williams, Carson Benge, and Ryan Clifford all on their spring breakout roster, along with rookie phenom Jonah Tong, Ryan Lambert, Chris Suero, Kevin Parada, Jacob Reimer, and more.
The rosters for the 2026 spring breakout games will be announced on Thursday during an MLB Network special from 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET.
