In a recent FantasyPros MLB podcast episode, Joe Pisapia, Joe Orrico, and Chris Welsh built a draft board around one core idea: don’t just chase name value, chase profit. Their best targets for 2026 are players whose current ADP still trails their realistic ceiling, whether that means top-25 upside, mid-round category juice, or late-round lottery-ticket power. Here are their must-have fantasy baseball draft targets for 2026.
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A few themes came through clearly from the episode. The group wants batting average stability without sacrificing speed, they want pitchers who can return ace-like value after injury or market drift, and they are especially interested in young hitters who look ready to make the jump from “interesting” to “league winner.”
If you want one hitter who fits the “boring until he wins you two categories” mold, it’s Maikel Garcia. The case is simple: contact, speed, batting average support, and enough quality of contact to keep the profile from feeling empty. Statcast backed up part of that optimism in 2025, with Garcia posting a 45.1% hard-hit rate and strong bat-to-ball indicators.
That is why he works so well as a draft-day glue guy. He is not the sexiest pick in the room, but he covers roster leaks fast.
Kirby is the kind of post-hype ace fantasy managers should be looking for when the room pushes pitching down. The panel’s argument was that last year’s surface stats masked a better foundation underneath, and Statcast still shows a profile consistent with a high-end starter.
The real fantasy appeal is roster construction. If you open with bats, Kirby can still anchor your staff without forcing you to pay the true SP1 tax.
Anthony was framed as the next Boston bat capable of making a huge ADP leap by next spring. That tracks. He is one of the most discussed young hitters in baseball, and the upside case is obvious: advanced approach, impact contact, and a park that can reward his left-handed swing. The hosts were betting on the talent catching up to the hype in full this season.
He is a ceiling pick, but not an empty one.
Peralta may be the cleanest veteran value in the whole conversation. The pitch was durability plus strikeouts plus a long track record of useful ratios. For fantasy players who do not want to mess around with fragile SP profiles, Peralta offers a much easier path to weekly volume.
He is not flashy anymore, which is exactly why he is a strong draft target.
Jakob Marsee (OF – MIA) and Sandy Alcantara (SP – MIA)
Miami was a major source of mid-round value in this episode. Marsee got love for his speed, contact habits, and the possibility that projections are still lagging behind a changed offensive profile. Alcantara was the other side of that coin: a proven starter whose first year back from Tommy John may have suppressed the market more than it should have.
For fantasy purposes, that is the sweet spot. One player can win steals and runs. The other can return SP1-like volume at a discount.
Sheehan felt like the classic helium arm the staff still believes has room to climb. The selling point was not just the Dodgers logo. It was the strikeout upside, the quality of his mix, and the idea that he has the stuff to matter even if Los Angeles manages his workload. A pitcher with bat-missing ability in that run-prevention environment is always going to matter.
Noelvi Marte (3B – CIN) and Jac Caglianone (1B – KC)
These were two of the better “don’t give up too early” bets from the show. Marte was positioned as a rebound bat with power-speed utility and multi-position appeal. Caglianone was the louder upside swing: elite raw power, huge bat speed, and the belief that last season’s ugly debut should not erase the long-term breakout potential.
That is a good reminder for fantasy managers this time of year. Prospect fatigue creates buying opportunities.
Max Muncy (3B – LAD), Adolis Garcia (OF – PHI), and Shane Baz (SP – BAL)
This was the late-round profit section of the show. Muncy was sold as a cheap answer at a weak third-base position. Adolis was the forgotten power-speed veteran whose projection still looks useful even if the market has cooled. Baz was the pitcher Welsh kept circling, and there is now an extra wrinkle there: he is with Baltimore after being traded from Tampa Bay in December 2025, which arguably makes the environment easier to buy into for 2026 drafters.
Price Check: Kyle Stowers (OF – MIA) vs. Jarren Duran (OF – BOS)
The most useful debate in the episode may have been the disagreement section. Welsh argued that Stowers’ power metrics were loud enough to support the breakout, while Orrico pushed back on how repeatable that barrel-rate level really is. Statcast does confirm the quality of Duran’s 2025 contact, which is why Orrico also defended him as a bounce-back value at a cheaper cost than last year.
That is probably the right takeaway. Stowers is the upside bet. Duran is the market-correction bet. Your roster build decides which one makes more sense.
Fantasy Baseball Takeaways
- Maikel Garcia is one of the best category-balance targets in drafts if you want average, speed, and lineup flexibility.
- George Kirby and Freddy Peralta stand out as discounted starters who can stabilize a staff without forcing an early pitching build.
- Roman Anthony is the upside bat most likely to make a major ADP jump by 2027 if the breakout lands.
- Jakob Marsee and Sandy Alcantara are strong mid-round values because their draft prices still leave room for clear profit.
- Emmet Sheehan, Jac Caglianone, Max Muncy, Adolis Garcia, and Shane Baz are exactly the kind of late picks that can swing a league if even two hit.
What is Fantasy Baseball?
Fantasy baseball is an online game where participants act as managers of virtual baseball teams based on real-life Major League Baseball (MLB) players. The performance of these players in actual games determines the results in the fantasy league. It’s a blend of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck, akin to the real-world decisions team managers must make.
Basic Strategy for Fantasy Baseball Success
1. Understand Your League’s Format and Scoring
Before drafting your team, it’s essential to understand the scoring system and rules of your specific league, as this will influence your drafting and management strategy. Knowing whether you’re in a points-based, category-based, or head-to-head league will guide you in selecting players whose strengths align with the scoring system.
2. Drafting Your Team Wisely
A solid draft is the foundation of a successful season. Here are a few tips for the drafting phase:
- Balanced Team: Ensure you have a balanced team with a mix of power hitters, average hitters, speedsters, starting pitchers, and relievers.
- Position Scarcity: Be aware of the depth of talent at each position. Some positions, like shortstop, may have fewer high-quality players, making it beneficial to draft a top player at that position early.
- High-Floor Players: Early in the draft, focus on players with a proven track record of consistency.
- Upside Picks: In the later rounds, look for “upside” players. These are athletes who have the potential to outperform their draft position.
3. In-Season Management
- Stay Active: Constantly look for ways to improve your team through waivers, trades, and free-agent pickups.
- Mind the Matchups: Pay attention to player matchups, platoon splits, and ballparks. Starting a pitcher in a hitter-friendly park, for example, can be risky.
- Injury Management: Stay on top of player injuries and have backups ready for your key players.
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