13 Hitters the Experts Draft (2026 Fantasy Baseball)

When preparing for your fantasy baseball drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy baseball rankings compared to average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable players below.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice

RK	PLAYER NAME	TEAM	POS	BEST	WORST	AVG.	STD.DEV	ECR VS. ADP
56	CJ Abrams	WSH	SS8	39	99	60.7	11	13
64	Vinnie Pasquantino	KC	1B9	44	85	69.7	7.3	14
73	Corey Seager	TEX	SS10	54	106	74.8	11	13
81	Bo Bichette	NYM	SS11	46	144	81	13.1	8
84	Jeremy Pena	HOU	SS12	38	130	87.9	11.3	20
88	Michael Harris II	ATL	OF21	52	142	91.5	11.4	14
96	Teoscar Hernandez	LAD	OF23	60	141	100.8	13.6	21
101	Trevor Story	BOS	SS13	64	148	103.2	18.9	17
102	Willy Adames	SF	SS14	76	156	104.3	13.7	13
105	Yandy Diaz	TB	1B13	50	170	111.7	21.2	21
108	Kyle Stowers	MIA	OF24	92	160	116.4	18.8	8
114	Jo Adell	LAA	OF25	81	171	121	18.5	11
123	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B8	98	198	127.8	18.7	8

Teoscar Hernandez took a dramatic step back in 2025 after posting a massive 25.6 offensive WAR the year before, finishing with just 0.4. His production dipped nearly across the board, and injuries limited him to 134 games. All that said, Hernández still managed 25 home runs with 89 RBI, scored 65 runs, and added five steals, but his efficiency cratered. He posted career lows with a .247/.285/.454 slash line, raising concerns about age-related decline as he enters his age-33 season. While hitting in the Dodgers lineup provides an appealing run-producing environment, continued struggles could push him lower than his typical middle-of-the-order role. Power remains his calling card, but at this stage, Hernandez profiles best as a depth outfielder, ideally drafted as an OF3 or OF4 rather than a lineup anchor.

Vinnie Pasquantino showed us the power we’d been hoping for in 2025, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 113. He barrels the ball well (10.8%), and he offers a decent batting average in the .265 range. Batting behind Bobby Witt Jr. and the seemingly ageless Sal Perez will never be a bad thing for counting stats. If you wait until the middle rounds, Pasquantino is in the last of the tier to be a true anchor at first base in 2026.

After spending the first seven years of his career in Toronto, Bo Bichette signed a 3-year, $126 million deal with the Mets. He will presumably bat behind Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, and he should pick up third base eligibility early in the 2026 season, making him much more attractive for fantasy managers. Bichette had a renaissance 2025 season, batting .311 after a miserable .225 in half a season before. He popped 18 home runs, drove in 94, and scored 78 runs. He continued his impressive HardHit rate at 48.8% and got on base at a .357 clip. While the Blue Jays’ lineup was no slouch, batting behind Lindor and Soto should afford Bichette plenty of counting stat opportunities. A 20/80/80 season seems reasonable, but the boost to batting average is what makes him a valuable mid-round pick as your SS1.

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.