Kev Mahserejian | Sun, Mar 22nd 2026, 7:21am EDT

15 Players Trending Up (2026 Fantasy Baseball)

In this installment of my fantasy baseball player breakdown series, we spotlight a range of fantasy assets worth targeting or fading across all positions and price points in the American League. Make sure to also check out my top 15 American League players trending down.

From a Yankees corner bat whose expected stats put him in elite company, to a Red Sox teenager already playing like a franchise cornerstone, to a reliever one surgery away from locking down a full-time closing role, there is no shortage of studs in this group.

Whether you are drafting in a standard 5×5 league, an on-base percentage (OBP) format or a points league, the names below deserve a spot on your radar and draft boards.

American League Players Trending Up

American League East

New York Yankees: Ben Rice (C, 1B)

Ben Rice evolved into a near-elite hitter in 2025, but he could be even better in 2026. The sophomore campaign for the Yankees’ backup backstop entering the season was a revelation. He was a negative player as a rookie, slashing .171/.264/.349 through 50 games. However, he was due for regression entering 2025, as his .269 wOBA trailed his .340 expected wOBA.

Rice proceeded to slash .255/.337/.499 with 26 home runs and 133 wRC+ in 138 games last season. Furthermore, the regression he experienced in 2025 was followed by even more potential future regression. Rice posted a .358 wOBA with a .394 xwOBA.

Rice ranked in the top 10 in expected metrics alongside perennial All-Star batters like Ronald Acuna Jr., Ketel Marte, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Pete Alonso. The discrepancy between his actual stats and expected stats was the eighth-most among qualified hitters.

Rice may not fully catch up to his expected stats in any given season due to his pull-heavy approach and lack of speed, but he does hit the ball very hard, and he has improved his plate discipline significantly. The jump for Rice was very real, making him a worthwhile fantasy asset in 2026, despite the inflated cost.

Boston Red Sox: Roman Anthony (OF)

Roman Anthony only played 71 games last season, but he made a significant enough impact to jump into the top 75 of fantasy baseball average draft position (ADP) this year. The former top-five prospect posted a .376 wOBA, 140 wRC+ and 2.7 fWAR as a 21-year-old rookie in 303 plate appearances. These are All-Star numbers for most top players in their prime (assuming you prorate the fWAR).

Anthony’s expected metrics were in line with his actual stats, yet there is some cause for concern with his 27.7% strikeout rate. His proclivity to strike out in the minors was forgivable due to his age relative to each level. If Anthony wants to make that jump to superstardom, he needs to cut the strikeouts just slightly. Anthony’s elite 13.2% walk rate last season suggests plate discipline isn’t a significant issue, rather, one that is fixable.

Nevertheless, Anthony has the makings of an elite fantasy asset with his mix of power and on-base ability in a very good Red Sox offense and home park. Drafting him is a wise choice if selected around his pick 50-60 ADP, especially in OBP and points leagues, where his walks are an added boost. Reaching is not warranted unless you need an upside bat after starting with a pitcher-heavy approach.

Toronto Blue Jays: Addison Barger (3B, OF)

Addison Barger was a welcome breakout for the Blue Jays last season. His 21 home runs in 135 games helped lift Toronto into the postseason and drive them into a nail-biting World Series. Although it did not count for fantasy, Barger was even better in the postseason than in the regular season.

Barger posted .367/.441/.583 in 68 playoff plate appearances after slashing .234/.301/.454 in 502 regular-season plate appearances. Even his plate discipline took a jump in this (albeit small sample) with a better walk and strikeout rate.

Barger’s year two jump was fueled by a significant improvement in hard-hit rate and better plate discipline. He also earned some batting average on balls in play (BABIP) luck after an unlucky .239 in 2024.

The main issue for Barger this season will be his splits against left-handed pitching. He hit just one of his 21 home runs last season in 89 plate appearances against lefties. His wRC+ versus lefties was a meager 69. This was an issue in 2024 as well, and will likely be one in 2026 unless he makes major tweaks.

The upside for Barger is limited by his poor average, average walk rate and lack of speed. He is stuck in the strong-side platoon masher archetype, which has value, but should not be reached for in fantasy baseball drafts.

Tampa Bay Rays: Ryan Pepiot (SP)

The Rays’ pitching staff is free from the minor-league confines of George M. Steinbrenner Field. They are back to Tropicana Field’s pitcher-friendly, enclosed environment. Despite this, Ryan Pepiot was still a quality starting pitcher in 2025. His 3.86 ERA was close to his 3.60 in 2024, while his peripherals did jump up slightly more.

Pepiot — unlike now Orioles starter Shane Baz, who had horrible splits — was better at home than on the road. He had a 3.41 home ERA with a 4.38 road ERA. Going back to Tropicana Field should not hurt him, but it may not help him as much as other pitchers. Pepiot is a talented starting pitcher, but he has not put together enough to suggest that a jump from good to great is impending.

Drafting him is safe, given that he is capable of bulk innings, provides some strikeouts and plays in a favorable park for his fly-ball nature. However, there may not be enough upside to justify selecting him at his top-150 ADP.

Baltimore Orioles: Kyle Bradish (SP)

Kyle Bradish missed most of the 2024 and 2025 MLB seasons due to elbow surgery, but his return in the second half of last season was astounding. Bradish maintained the elite metrics he flashed in 2024 before his injury. Although his 2024 and 2025 samples are very small, a combined 2.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 26% K-BB, 2.92 SIERA and 2.81 xFIP through 71.1 innings is tantalizing.

The question for Bradish comes down to whether he can sustain this level of pitching throughout a full season, or even just a half-season. With corrective surgery, we can be optimistic about his ability to stay on the mound, but can that be effective?

With the heights he has reached as a starter, there is plenty of wiggle room to decline, yet still provide fantastic performances. Even with his innings capped this season, there is too much upside in Bradish’s profile relative to his cost to ignore.

American League Central

Minnesota Twins: Luke Keaschall (2B)

Luke Keaschall was one of the few bright spots in the Twins’ lineup last season. Despite playing just 49 games, he was arguably their second-most valuable hitter on the season behind Byron Buxton. Keaschall slashed .302/382/.445 through 207 plate appearances and posted an excellent 134 wRC+. Beyond his batting, Keaschall boosted his fantasy value by providing 14 stolen bases.

Furthermore, Keaschall’s most impressive feat in his rookie season was providing most of this production after a forearm fracture in April. Of his 207 plate appearances, 181 were post-injury. Before the fracture, his slashline was a ridiculous .368/.538/.526 with an even more absurd 19.2% walk rate and 7.7% strikeout rate (albeit, all within a 26 plate appearance span).

There is more upside than meets the eye with Keaschall, but the lack of power will persist. The hope is that he is Nico Hoerner with better plate discipline, and slightly more pop. If only he were on a better offense than Minnesota for the sake of runs and RBI.

Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene (OF)

Riley Greene’s 2025 season was exciting, but also concerning. He posted a career-high 36 home runs and a career-worst 30.7% strikeout rate. With his career-worst 7% walk rate and career-high 31.7% fly-ball rate, it is clear Greene made changes in his approach to sell out for power. Despite this, we can give some grace to the young slugger for his poor plate discipline last season.

Greene’s profile is stellar, and he is only 25 years old. Offseason tweaks could be enough to drop his strikeout rate down and walk rate back up. The bigger issue is how he performed versus left-handed pitching. To date, Greene has performed as a neutral hitter against lefties, but his numbers last season cratered. Greene’s splits against lefties were not kind last year, as his wRC+ versus righties (141) nearly lapped his wRC+ versus lefties (74).

While the comp may sound egregious, there is not much difference between Riley Greene and Trent Grisham. Their numbers last season, outside of RBI, were similar. Grisham’s underlying metrics and plate discipline are far better, however. That said, Greene has room to grow, and with a price near pick 100, he is a fine bet for a team in need of a power outfielder who will hit in the heart of the order for an improving Tigers offense.

Cleveland Guardians: Kyle Manzardo (1B)

Kyle Manzardo finally broke out in 2025 with 27 home runs and 70 RBI in 531 plate appearances. The former highly-ranked prospect had been on the cusp of a call-up for years, but was stuck in Triple-A due to his inconsistent performance. Manzardo not only displayed power, but quality plate discipline with a 9% walk rate and a 25.4% strikeout rate.

Manzardo’s next step will be improving his batting average and figuring out left-handed pitching. Neither will be an easy task, and his spring training performance thus far has not helped his case for everyday playing time. Nevertheless, playing on the Guardians is a blessing and a curse.

The curse is the poor offense around him (excluding Jose Ramirez), while the blessing is his lack of competition. As things stand, Manzardo is a fine pick in the later part of drafts if you need power from a corner infielder, but his upside is likely capped due to his splits and general offensive environment.

Kansas City Chiefs: Maikel Garcia (3B)

Maikel Garcia put it all together in 2025 and delivered a full, five-category fantasy season. His 16 home runs, 81 runs, 74 RBI, 23 stolen bases and a .286 average through 666 plate appearances were worthy of a top-75 fantasy asset last year. The best part was that he provided this despite an ADP near pick 150. Garcia is now priced appropriately in the top-75 of 2026 drafts, but that does not make him less of a value.

The Kansas City Royals are moving in their corner outfield walls this season. This should allow for a much higher offensive park factor and benefit everyone who plays in Kauffman Stadium. Garcia’s bat is powerful, but not powerful enough to crack an overwhelming number of home runs. The good news is that several bats behind him are powerful enough to produce extra-base hits regularly.

With his speed and improved ability to get on base, Garcia could provide 100+ runs this season from the leadoff spot. Also, Garcia has the capability of stealing 30+ bases. His floor in a full season is what he posted last year. If you have the opportunity to draft Garcia, make it happen.

Chicago White Sox: Colson Montgomery (3B, SS)

Colson Montgomery was one of the few bright spots of Chicago’s southside last season. He posted an incredible 21 home runs in just 71 games. The powerful lefty made his presence known as a rookie, but he has some flaws that make a 2026 season with prorated power stats unlikely.

Montgomery’s .290 ISO was significantly higher than any he posted throughout the minors. While players can improve throughout their careers, they tend to post their gaudiest numbers against minor league competition, especially in Triple-A bandboxes.

Furthermore, Montgomery posted a 29.2% strikeout rate and a 8.8% walk rate last season despite displaying good plate discipline throughout his minor league career. He developed an extreme, pull-heavy approach with poor discipline, which he carried over from the minors earlier in the season.

Without speed and with a poor Chicago White Sox offense around him, Montgomery is not a useful fantasy selection in 2026 drafts unless he falls significantly.

American League West

Seattle Mariners: Brendan Donovan (2B)

Brendan Donovan is not only the Mariners’ new second baseman, but he is also their projected leadoff hitter this season. His bat will be a welcome addition atop Seattle’s lineup to provide a consistent on-base presence. The Mariners’ offense last season was very good, with an 11th-ranked team wOBA and third-best wRC+.

Without any significant offseason losses, the Mariners’ offense should be as good, if not better, this season. Fantasy-wise, Donovan’s profile still leaves something to be desired. He should have a significant number of runs with a great batting average this season, but he does not have much power, nor much speed. Donovan is a much better option in points leagues or those that penalize strikeouts.

Houston Astros: Bryan Abreu (RP)

Josh Hader will begin this season on the 15-day injured list (IL), leaving Bryan Abreu as the team’s closer for at least the first few weeks. This will not be Abreu’s first opportunity as their closer, but it could be a crucial one. Hader’s 2025 season was cut short by a shoulder strain, and now he is dealing with a bicep issue. These compounding injuries are poor signifiers for his availability in 2026.

Abreu has recorded 13 saves and a 2.40 ERA for the Astros since 2023. He could outright hold the closer role if Hader has to undergo surgery or misses a significant chunk of the season. Also, if Hader returns, it could be in a limited capacity where he cannot pitch in back-to-back games. This could result in a shared closer role with Abreu.

The chances of Abreu fully obtaining the closer role over a healthy Hader are very low (due to Hader’s contract), but several outs make him a valuable selection around his pick 150 ADP.

Texas Rangers: Jack Leiter (SP)

Jack Leiter finally pitched a full MLB season in 2025. After being selected second overall in the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft, there were high expectations for Leiter as a prospect. Issues within the minor leagues delayed his call-up, but 2025 marked a massive step for the young starter. Leiter’s overall season was not bad due to his 3.86 ERA in 151.2 innings, but his 1.28 WHIP and poor peripheral stats leave something to be desired.

The good news is that Leiter took a step up late in the season. Through his final seven starts, Leiter posted a 3.35 ERA, 3.34 xERA, 3.33 xFIP, 1.02 WHIP and 21.5% K-BB. The opponents were not incredible, and oftentimes, late-season performance can be fugazi, but this is potentially something.

Leiter has the stuff to take that next step as a starting pitcher. He never put it together in the minors, but starting pitchers can be weird. Sometimes, a tweak or two with some confidence when you have the goods is all it takes.

Leiter is starting the season in Texas’ rotation and is currently priced towards the end of drafts, making him virtually free. If he pays off, he pays off. If he does not, just drop him to the waiver wire with no remorse.

Los Angeles Angels: Jo Adell (OF)

The Los Angeles Angels finally unlocked their former top prospect in 2025. Last season marked the first time Adell had a wRC+ above a league average of 100 (112) and a wOBA above .310 (.333). Between his terrible defense and plate discipline, Adell still has shortcomings; however, he was an objectively good hitter last season and a productive big leaguer for the first time.

Adell even underperformed his expected metrics:

.236 batting average versus a .260 expected average
.485 slugging versus a .549 expected slugging rate

The Angels outfielder could be even better in 2026 without any further improvements. There is so much power in his swing, and the approach is possibly good enough to sustain production. Adell may revert to his previous poor strikeout numbers, but the past two seasons have been steady between 26-28%.

Though Adell’s price in drafts is just after pick 100, his home runs upside may be worth chasing for teams lacking in that category.

Athletics: Tyler Soderstrom (1B, OF)

The A’s have something real in Tyler Soderstrom. He is a converted catcher who raked throughout his first full MLB season. Soderstrom had two abbreviated stints in the Majors before 2025, but he at least hinted at a breakout in 2024. Soderstrom’s expected stats that season were excellent, and he was moving to Sacramento’s minor league park in 2025 with everyday playing time.

Soderstrom’s 25 home runs, 75 runs, 93 RBI, eight stolen bases and .276 batting average last season were not a fluke. Soderstrom is a hard-hitting bat with a quality approach. He cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 22.6% and sustained a solid 8.8% walk rate.

Soderstrom is heading into his second full season with a young (excluding Jeff McNeil), improving offense, and playing half his games in a bandbox. As with any left-handed hitter, some may have concerns with his splits against lefty pitchers. Rest assured, Soderstrom is about league average against lefties while stellar versus righties. Soderstrom should be a target for everyone.

NFL

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NBA

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