While the annual MLB Winter Meetings are underway, the 2025 offseason has been one of the most exciting in recent years. With big-time trades and surprising free agent signings, the MLB is in for another exciting season in 2026. Looking back at the 2025 season, the National League Central took baseball by storm with young and exciting pitchers making their mark on baseball. With the National League CY Young award winner, Paul Skenes, and rookie All-Star Jacob Misiorowski headlining MLB, there were other up-and-coming youngsters playing very well this past season.
The talent in the NL Central is at an all-time high. Young superstars of the diamond and potential All-Stars are already making their case for some of the best players in MLB. At the top of the division, you have the Milwaukee Brewers, who just finished the 2025 season as one of the best teams in their franchise’s history. But even at the bottom with the Pittsburgh Pirates, potential superstar talent is waiting in the minor leagues and even on the big league roster.
The NL Central is on the rise and could become one of the best divisions in the sport, and here is why the rest of baseball should be worried.
National League Central’s Youth-Driven Pitching Wave
Paul Skenes was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates after winning a National Championship with LSU. After just two seasons in the majors, Skenes has transformed into arguably the best pitcher in baseball, recently winning the NL Cy Young award. Pittsburgh happens to have the best young pitching staff in the NL Central, with Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones showing signs of excellence in MLB. The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a solid rotation the past two seasons, and with young personnel, Pittsburgh’s rotation should look great for years to come.
Milwaukee has the most intriguing arm in all of baseball, Jacob Misiorowski. After just starting a handful of games in the first half of the season, “The Miz” was selected to the National League All-Star team, starting controversy about the All-Star Game. Regardless of how you feel about the selection, Misiorowski is an intriguing prospect with an incredibly high ceiling. Along with Misiorowski is a group of pitchers who do not scream “elite” but have performed quite well early into their careers. Quinn Priester, Logan Henderson, and Robert Gasser. With an incredible, controllable starting rotation and bullpen, the Milwaukee Brewers are built for long-term success.
Cincinnati may have the most underrated pitching staff in all of baseball, led by Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo. They have a stellar, young foundation in Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Andrew Abbott. Having this incredible pitching staff is going to win you games in the MLB. Cincinnati has one of the best young pitching staffs in all of baseball, and they are under control for several years. Cincinnati just made the postseason and should be a contender for the NL Central crown next season.
The St. Louis Cardinals have struggled to find long-term pitching solutions for several seasons. With the retirement of Adam Wainwright, St. Louis is in desperate need of finding their long-term ace. St. Louis has made multiple trades with the Boston Red Sox this offseason, gaining young assets in exchange for key veteran pieces (RHP Sonny Gray and 1B Wilson Contreras). Hunter Dobbins and Dick Fitts should “fit” right into the starting rotation for St. Louis, as Tink Hence should continue to develop as well. Even though the St. Louis Cardinals’ outlook isn’t as high as other teams in the division, there are definitely exciting pieces throughout the rotation.
Chicago fell to the Milwaukee Brewers in the postseason, but they were without key pieces in their rotation. Justin Steele and rookie Cade Horton would have certainly made a difference and are going to be huge contributors for years to come. Top 100 prospect RHP Jaxon Wiggins should make an impact sooner rather than later, and he would make this rotation even more deadly. Even with a quiet off-season, Chicago has been preparing the take over the division with an incredible farm system and sneaky free agent signings.
The National League Central’s Next Generation of Sluggers
The Milwaukee Brewers over-exceeded expectations last season, having the best regular season in franchise history. Jackson Chourio is already one of the bright, young stars in MLB and should continue to blossom at just 21 years old. William Contreras and Brice Turang are among the best at their positions in baseball, and it is even more impressive considering they are still young. Sal Frelick, Andrew Vaughn, and Caleb Durbin are still young and developing, but have shown great strides to becoming great MLB players. This lineup is already producing, even with most of the lineup under 30 years old, and should continue to blossom as the years pass by. Top prospects Jesus Made and Luis Pena are two of the brightest infielders in the minors and could make an impact within the next few seasons.
Cincinnati has one of the most exciting players in baseball playing arguably the most important position in the field, Elly De La Cruz. The former top prospect has become one of the brightest stars in baseball and has improved in his first two full seasons in the majors. Current top prospects Sal Stewart, Alfredo Duno, Tyson Lewis, Steele Hall, and Cam Collier should all play a role in Cincinnati’s future and should improve this lineup for years to come.
Pittsburgh’s rotation is the story; however, their lineup has some missing pieces. O’Neil Cruz has shown signs of greatness, and unfortunately, signs of long-term failure. However, they have the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball waiting to make his mark in the MLB, Konnor Griffin. With superstar potential, he could elevate this Pittsburgh lineup and make them relevant again.
The Chicago Cubs have developed one of the best farm systems in baseball. Former top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong made his first All-Star game last season and has the potential to be baseball’s next best player. Young third-baseman Matt Shaw provides great potential and solid defense. Top prospects Owen Cassie, Moises Ballesteros, and Jefferson Rojas are some of Chicago’s top prospects and can make an impact in the near future, with Cassie potentially making the Opening Day roster in 2026.
St. Louis has struggled with developing their young talent over the past half-decade. Jordan Walker has yet to find his stride in the majors; however, Masyn Winn has become the face of the franchise. With the lack of talent in their minor league system, JJ Wetherholt carries most of the load, becoming one of the top prospects in all of baseball. However, with some more trades looming, St. Louis could build a solid farm system within the next few months.
Elite Managers Elevating the National League Central
Looking at the 2025 post-season, three NL Central teams made it for the first time since 2015 (excluding 2020 season). When looking at those three teams, they are led by some of the best managers in baseball. St. Louis and Pittsburgh are in a weird phase, sticking with a manager who has shown little success and a new, unproven manager. Throughout the rest of the division, these managers have been instrumental in their team’s recent success.
Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy has become one of the best managers in baseball. He has won back-to-back National League Manager of the Year awards for changing the culture in Milwaukee. While facing the challenges of playing in a small market, Pat Murphy has assembled a team of “Average Joes,” and they have been winning games in unconventional ways. Regardless of where their success is coming from, Pat Murphy has changed the culture in Milwaukee and has become one of the best teams in baseball since he took over in 2024.
The reason Pat Murphy took over in 2024 from the Milwaukee Brewers is that Craig Counsell left Milwaukee for a hefty contract to manage the Chicago Cubs. After years of success in Milwaukee, it was certain that Counsell was going to replicate his success, especially in a bigger market. Chicago struggled in its first season; however, things changed in 2025 as Chicago made the postseason. The first time since the 2020 shortened season. They would end up losing to Milwaukee in the NLDS, but the future is bright for Counsell and Chicago to build on their success.
Terry Francona has been an MLB manager since 1997 and has managed four different teams. He became one of the best managers in baseball during his time with the Boston Red Sox and continued his success with the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians). Francona left Cleveland after the 2023 season and would wait a year to sign with the Cincinnati Reds. In his first season, Francona found success, bringing the Cincinnati Reds to the playoffs for the first time since 2013 (excluding the shortened 2020 season). With such a young squad, Francona and Cincinnati should continue to build off their success in the future.
National League Central: The Next Powerhouse Division
The 2026 season is right around the corner, and it feels like the National League Central is a division on the rise. When fans think of great divisions, they think of the National League West or the American League East. The reason that the National League Central has not taken that next step is due to teams throughout the division trying to save money (read my piece on the MLB Salary Cap vs Salary Floor). However, the National League Central has some of the best young talent in all of baseball. With great managers in charge, young bats leading the way offensively, superstar-level pitchers, and farm systems amongst the best in baseball, the National League Central is close to putting the league on notice.
