Ryan Kirksey | Wed, Mar 25th 2026, 12:33pm EDT

8 Fantasy Baseball Injury Stashes (2026)

Although 2026 Opening Day is upon us, that means the work managing our rosters has just begun. Part of that fantasy baseball strategy might be to stash injured players for a payoff later in the season.

This piece will look at some enticing injured players to grab at a low average draft position (ADP). Ahead of the 2026 MLB season, these eight names won’t give you anything for a few weeks, but might provide a huge return on investment later.

Fantasy Baseball Injury Stashes

Fantasy baseball drafts are where you can try several strategies. One strategy that is less common among drafters before the season begins is drafting injured players at a discount with the hope they bounce back and pay dividends later. For leagues with injured list (IL) spots (especially multiple IL spots), this strategy is a must for 2026.

The fantasy baseball season is long, and players who might miss six weeks will still be around for the final 18 or 19 weeks of the season. Stashing talented players on the IL can be extremely helpful to teams in contention in the long run.

Fantasy Baseball Hitters to Stash

Anthony Volpe (SS – NYY) | ADP: 327

Anthony Volpe should return in April or May at some point after labrum surgery in 2025. He had the surgery in October, so a six-month timeline would have him return at some point in the first month of the season.

Volpe offers 20+ stolen base upside and can also be a strong source of runs in this talented New York Yankees lineup. If your team needs steals late in the draft and you can keep your head above water for a month, Volpe is a good name to add.

Jordan Westburg (2B, 3B – BAL) | ADP: 227

Jordan Westburg is dealing with a partially torn elbow ligament that should keep him out until at least May. But he has proven valuable for fantasy baseball already.

If the Orioles give him a clean bill of health upon his return, Westburg is a good stash for home runs, RBI and a decent average. Westburg’s multi-position eligibility only raises his profile.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (OF – ARI) | ADP: 439

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. might have a longer timeline than these other hitters because he tore his ACL in September. He is likely out through the All-Star break and might return this summer at some point.

Gurriel has proven to be a bat that can produce 20+ home runs and drive in 75 runs. Prorate that to half a season, and he could be a major midseason acquisition that you already have stashed on your roster.

Kyle Teel (C – CWS) | ADP: 264

Kyle Teel strained his hamstring on March 10th in spring training, and he is likely to miss time to start the season. The exact timeline is unclear right now, but the White Sox won’t put their catcher of the future out behind the plate until they know he is ready.

In less than half a season during 2025, Teel hit eight home runs with a .273/.375/.411 slash line. If you are in a two-catcher league with IL spots, Teel is a must-add.

Fantasy Baseball Pitchers to Stash

Gerrit Cole (SP – NYY) | ADP: 204

We all know Gerrit Cole can be a fantasy baseball league-winner when he is at the top of his game. The question becomes, is it worth drafting him with a top-200 pick and holding on until his return? I think the answer is yes.

Cole is already facing batters and should be back at some point in May. Four and a half months of a healthy Cole is certainly worth the price of other pitchers going in this range or who are on the waiver wire (like Aaron Nola and Zac Gallen).

Cole has elite strikeout and whiff numbers and should have a low ERA and WHIP to add to a fantasy baseball team by the time June rolls around.

Carlos Rodon (SP – NYY) | ADP: 191

Even though he has had some bumpy performances for New York, we want Carlos Rodon for his strikeout ceiling. He is recovering from elbow surgery and may return by late April if recovery continues smoothly.

All signs point to that right now, which is why his ADP is inside the top 200. He is capable of a 30% strikeout rate and decent ratios even in a tough park for pitchers. Based on cost, I would rather have Cole, but Rodon is a nice consolation prize if you miss out.

Corbin Burnes (SP – ARI) | ADP: 495

Corbin Burnes is projected to come back around July or August after being another pitcher to succumb to Tommy John surgery in the early summer of 2025.

At 31 years old, Burnes has a proven track record of about nine strikeouts per nine innings and a low walk rate. In his last full campaign, he piled up 15 wins and 194 innings. He obviously won’t get there, but Burnes could have a dominant last two months of the season.

Jared Jones (SP – PIT) | ADP: 405

Jared Jones was a breakout strikeout arm in 2024 when he struck out almost 10 batters per nine innings in his 22 games as a rookie. Injuries struck the next year, and he had Tommy John surgery in May of 2025.

That will likely put him out through the All-Star break, but Jones is still one of several high-upside injured starters who can have a big end-of-season. His elite fastball and whiff rate profile could deliver strong numbers in August and September, and the Pirates may want him out there if they are in the Wild Card hunt.

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