12 Surprise MLB Players Making Early Season Impact

From Shohei Ohtani to lesser-known names, a mix of stars and breakouts are shining in the first weeks of 2026.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting various baseball players and actions in a fragmented, multi-perspective style, using bold colors to capture the energy and excitement of the new MLB season.Unexpected stars emerge as the 2026 MLB season gets underway, with a mix of established names and surprise breakouts making early impacts.Angels Today

Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani continues his historic run, while perennial All-Stars like Corbin Carroll, Giancarlo Stanton, and Sandy Alcántara are off to big starts. But it's a dozen lesser-known players who are making surprising early-season impacts across Major League Baseball.

Why it matters

The early season is a time when unexpected players can emerge and capture the attention of fans and analysts alike. These 12 breakout stars could play a major role in shaping the 2026 MLB season if they can sustain their hot starts.

The details

Players like Joey Wiemer of the Nationals, Jose Soriano of the Angels, and others are putting up impressive numbers in the first few weeks, showing flashes of potential that could lead to breakout campaigns. Wiemer is batting .440 with a 1.253 OPS, while Soriano leads the majors with a 1.2 WAR and 0.45 ERA.

  • Through the first 3 weeks of the 2026 MLB season

The players

Shohei Ohtani

The two-way superstar for the Los Angeles Angels, who continues his historic run of production at the plate and on the mound.

Corbin Carroll

The young outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who is off to a hot start in 2026.

Joey Wiemer

An outfielder for the Washington Nationals who is batting .440 with a 1.253 OPS in the early going.

Jose Soriano

A starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels who leads the majors with a 1.2 WAR and 0.45 ERA.

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The takeaway

The early season is a time when unexpected players can emerge and capture the attention of fans and analysts alike. These 12 breakout stars could play a major role in shaping the 2026 MLB season if they can sustain their hot starts.