The future of Black baseball didn’t wait its turn in 2026. Young players supplied power, speed and frontline pitching across the majors, and they dominate this year’s All-MLBbro Team. Veterans still earned their places, and one manager kept winning. But the story of this group is how many players are building something that could last well beyond one season.
Drake Baldwin, catcher, Atlanta Braves
There was no sophomore slump for Baldwin. After winning National League Rookie of the Year, he earned his first All-Star selection and improved his batting average, on-base percentage and OPS while setting new highs in hits, runs, doubles and home runs. He hit .284 with 25 homers and an .817 OPS, and his 79 RBIs finished just one shy of his rookie total. Atlanta’s young catcher proved his debut was the beginning of something bigger.
Josh Bell, first base, Minnesota Twins
Bell is one of the veterans in this young group, and his production earned him the spot. In his first season with Minnesota, he played 154 games and drove in 96 runs, adding 21 homers and 78 runs scored. The switch-hitter supplied a steady presence in the middle of the Twins’ order and showed that there is still plenty of value in a dependable bat that answers the call almost every day.
Xavier Edwards, second base, Miami Marlins
Edwards kept putting the ball in play and creating chances for Miami. He finished with 145 hits and 21 stolen bases while reaching base at a strong clip. His game doesn’t require a towering home-run total: he can get aboard, pressure a defense and keep an inning moving. That combination made him an easy choice at second base.
CJ Abrams, shortstop, Washington Nationals
Abrams earned his second All-Star selection, his first as a starter, and joined some elite franchise company. With 33 home runs and 34 stolen bases, he became just the third player in Nationals/Expos history to produce a 30-30 season, joining Vladimir Guerrero and Alfonso Soriano. He also drove in 106 runs. The speed was always there; the power and run production made 2026 a breakthrough season for Washington’s young shortstop.
Vaughn Grissom, infielder, Los Angeles Angels
Grissom did more in one season with the Angels than he had in his entire major league career entering 2026. His 102 hits, 13 home runs, 72 RBIs and 47 runs scored all surpassed his previous career totals. He entered the year with five homers and 33 RBIs, then more than doubled both figures despite playing just 119 games. After injuries and limited opportunities in Atlanta and Boston, Grissom finally had a season he could build on.
Nasim Nuñez, utility, Washington Nationals
Nuñez made speed his calling card. His 49 stolen bases led the National League and set a Nationals single-season record, giving Washington a threat every time he reached base. His offensive numbers were modest, but the impact of nearly 50 steals is hard to ignore. He brought a different kind of weapon to a Nationals group already loaded with young talent.
James Wood, outfield, Washington Nationals
Wood paired 30 home runs with 30 doubles, 106 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. He and Abrams gave Washington a rare pair of young 30-homer, 20-steal threats. Wood’s combination of power, patience and athleticism makes him more than a highlight reel; he is becoming the kind of hitter an opposing pitcher has to plan around all night.
Michael Harris II, outfield, Atlanta Braves
Harris answered an uneven 2025 with one of his best offensive seasons. He hit .294 with 26 homers and 87 RBIs, giving Atlanta another dangerous bat alongside Baldwin. His speed and work in center field add to the package, but the return of his production at the plate was the headline. At 25, Harris already has an established résumé and plenty of room to keep building it.
Jordan Walker, outfield, St. Louis Cardinals
Walker announced his arrival on a national stage by winning the Home Run Derby, becoming the first Cardinal to claim the crown. He backed up that July showcase with a full season of production: 29 home runs, 102 RBIs, 97 runs scored and 22 stolen bases in 158 games. St. Louis had been waiting for his considerable talent to translate into sustained results. In 2026, Walker gave the Cardinals a glimpse of the impact player they envisioned.
Chandler Simpson, outfield, Tampa Bay Rays
Simpson’s game looks different from Walker’s, but it works. He hit .306, collected 175 hits and stole 46 bases, leading the American League in steals. He didn’t hit a home run, and he didn’t need one to make pitchers and catchers uncomfortable. When Simpson gets on base, the pressure starts immediately.
Chase Burns, starting pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
Burns became an All-Star in his second major league season and emerged as a bright spot in Cincinnati’s rotation. The 23-year-old went 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 154⅓ innings before a groin injury ended his season. His ability to miss bats gave the Reds a frontline presence and gave this roster its clearest example of young pitching taking a major step forward.
Grant Anderson, reliever, Milwaukee Brewers
Anderson gave Milwaukee 52 appearances and 59 innings, going 3-3 with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. His role was different from the stars who filled the stat sheet every night, but reliable bullpen innings matter over a long season. He helped bridge the gap for a Brewers club that finished with the majors’ best record.
Devin Williams, closer, New York Mets
Williams’ season was a complicated one. He saved 16 games and struck out 52 batters in 39⅔ innings, but he also posted a 4.54 ERA and missed time with a shoulder injury. His best stretches still showed the swing-and-miss ability that made him one of baseball’s most feared relievers. This selection recognizes the saves and the talent while acknowledging that 2026 fell short of his usual standard.
Will Venable, manager, Chicago White Sox
The South Side has something to cheer about again.
After three straight 100-loss seasons, Will Venable helped guide the White Sox to 84 wins, a 24-win improvement and a postseason berth. Turning that much losing into October baseball earns Chicago’s skipper his place on MLBbro’s 2026 All-Bro Team.
Dave Roberts, manager, Los Angeles Dodgers
Roberts guided the Dodgers to a 100-62 record and another division title, marking his sixth 100-win season as a manager. He also became the fastest manager to reach 1,000 regular-season wins earlier this year. Managing a loaded roster comes with expectations, and Roberts keeps meeting them. He closes this All-Bro Team as a reminder that leadership belongs in the conversation alongside what happens between the lines.
The veterans gave this team balance. The young players gave it its identity. From Abrams and Wood in Washington to Baldwin and Harris in Atlanta, this year’s selections show how much Black talent is shaping the game right now—and how much more could be coming.
