Beau Ankeney mashed his way onto the prospect radar in 2026

Detroit Tigers prospect Beau Ankeney emerged as an unexpected rookie breakout during the 2026 minor league season. Drafted in the 14th round in 2025 out of Loyola Marymount, the 23-year-old first baseman hit 24 home runs across Single-A and High-A levels. His power surged after a late-July promotion, hitting nine home runs in just 27 games in High-A, including seven homers over a dominant nine-game stretch in August.

Brandon Day highlights Ankeney's standout raw power, noting an average exit velocity of 92 mph and a peak of 114.4 mph. While noting concerns over his age, chase rates, and swing-and-miss tendencies against breaking pitches, Day argues that Ankeney's bat speed, athletic defense, and ability to drive pitches to all fields make him a promising right-handed power bat in the Tigers' minor league system.