Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
NYY
Jazz Chisholm's 2025 season was a reminder of both his upside and volatility, as power-speed contributions were once again offset by injury concerns and streaky efficiency. His 2026 projections bake in similar power and speed totals with right around 600 plate appearances. When on the field, his per-game fantasy production remains strong, particularly in steals. Chisholm is best approached as a ceiling play rather than a foundational early-round option, but qualifying at third base does bump him up a few spots on draft boards.
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2.
Ketel Marte
ARI
The list of elite second basemen in 2026 fantasy baseball looks to be about three players long, and Ketel Marte is at the top of the list, depending on how you feel about Jazz Chisholm Jr. Marte offers an excellent barrel rate (13.5%) and an elite hard hit rate (47%) at the position, while also providing a boon in batting average (career .281 hitter). The downside is there, however. Marte is on the wrong side of 30, and the number of games he's played in has gone from 150 to 136 to 126 in the last three years. Still, you're not getting 30 home runs from many second basemen, and batting in between Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll should help his counting stats. Marte's biggest issue is health; if you draft him, prepare for at least one IL stint during the season. Otherwise, he's as good as they come.
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3.
Brice Turang
MIL
Fantasy managers who drafted Brice Turang, hoping for a repeat of his 50-SB season in 2024, may have been disappointed in the drop to 24, but they got a whole lot more than expected everywhere else. Turang improved in almost every metric, jumping to 18 home runs thanks to a leap in HardHit rate from 29.7% to 47.4%. He batted .288, ranking second at the position, and the 24 steals were still fifth on the list. At only age 26, Turang should bat behind Jackson Chourio and in front of William Contreras and Christian Yelich, an excellent spot to pick up counting stats. At the weakest position in fantasy, Turang may be the only one to offer something in all five categories and is the last of the three in the top tier.
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4.
Nico Hoerner
CHC
Nico Hoerner quietly delivered his best all-around season in 2025, pairing a career-high offensive impact (114 OPS+) with elite contact skills and Gold Glove-caliber defense. His strikeout rate dipped to 7.6% while maintaining above-average run production and efficiency on the bases, reinforcing his high-floor fantasy profile. His strong plate skills and secure everyday role keep him valuable in batting average, runs, and steals. Entering a contract year, Hoerner has added motivation to sustain peak performance, even if his limited power caps category ceiling.
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5.
Maikel Garcia
KC
Maikel Garcia took a massive step forward in 2025, transforming from a speed-first table-setter into a well-rounded fantasy contributor with a .286/.351/.449 line, 16 homers, and 23 steals. The offensive breakout was backed by real skill growth, including a sharp jump in on-base ability and contact quality after a down 2024. His elite defensive versatility locked in everyday playing time, which allowed the counting stats to fully surface across a full season. At just 26 years old, Garcia now profiles as a high-floor, multi-category infielder with sneaky upside rather than a niche speed play.
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6.
Jose Altuve
HOU
Jose Altuve's 2025 profile showed clear age-related erosion, with declining rOBA, reduced hard-hit rates, and a continued drop in stolen-base efficiency despite strong durability. While his contact skills remain above average, the quality of contact has flattened out, making his mid-20s home run totals harder to bank on going forward. The 2026 projections reflect this shift, leaning toward solid but unspectacular production with diminishing speed and only modest power. Altuve still offers batting average stability and run production in a strong lineup, but at his age, he profiles more as a floor play than a difference-maker in fantasy formats.
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7.
Luke Keaschall
MIN
Luke Keaschall was highly productive in his 49-game debut in 2025, slashing .302/.382/.445 with an elite 14% strikeout rate that underscores his advanced bat-to-ball skills. He also went 14-for-17 on stolen base attempts (82.4% success rate), adding category juice that plays up in roto formats. Keaschall profiles as a batting-average stabilizer with 20+ SB upside and emerging run-production value in deeper mixed leagues.
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8.
Ozzie Albies
ATL
Ozzie Albies took a clear step back in 2025, slashing .240/.306/.365 with 16 homers. His ISO cratered to .124 (down from .233 in 2023), with a dip in average exit velocity (87.5 mph) and hard-hit rate (30.7%) driving the power regression. While he rebounded to 157 games and chipped in 14 steals, his declining run production reflected a more contact-oriented, lower-impact profile. The 2026 projections forecast a modest power rebound with improved run totals, but not a full return to peak production. Albies now profiles as a lower-end top-10 second baseman who can still be helpful in the right roster build.
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9.
Ceddanne Rafaela
BOS
Ceddanne Rafaela took a meaningful step forward in 2025, emerging as a clear fantasy riser after trimming his strikeout rate from 26.4% in 2024 to 19.9% while boosting his ISO to .165. While his .295 OBP still limited his runs ceiling in standard formats, Rafaela's elite defense secures everyday playing time, and his 80% SB success rate could add impactful speed to a roster. If the 2026 projections hold near a 15-18 HR, 18-22 SB pace with incremental OBP growth, Rafaela profiles as a high-floor middle-round target whose category juice outweighs the modest plate-discipline concerns.
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10.
Matt McLain
CIN
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11.
Xavier Edwards
MIA
Xavier Edwards followed up a breakout 2024 (.328/.397/.423, 129 OPS+) with a heavier workload in 2025, logging 619 PA but seeing his efficiency normalize (.283/.343/.353, 94 OPS+). The batted-ball profile supports the pullback: his .330 BABIP was far less inflated than 2024's .398 mark. Encouragingly, he trimmed his strikeout rate to 14.2% and maintained strong contact skills, giving him a stable batting-average floor even if the run production remains modest. Edwards' fantasy value hinges on lineup spot and volume; if he sticks near the top of Miami's order, he's a useful MI target for managers chasing average and speed without sacrificing plate discipline. Just don't draft him expecting meaningful power growth.
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12.
Brandon Lowe
PIT
Brandon Lowe rebounded in 2025, earning an All-Star nod while clubbing 31 home runs across 134 games, his highest total since 2021. His underlying metrics remained strong, but a declining 6.9% walk rate and 26.9% strikeout rate capped his OBP at .307 despite a career-best .297 BABIP. Projections forecast another 30-homer campaign with a batting average in the .245-.255 range, reinforcing his profile as a power-first middle infielder with limited speed.
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13.
Bryson Stott
PHI
Bryson Stott took a step forward in 2025, rebounding from a down 2024 campaign to post a .257/.328/.391 line with 13 homers and 24 steals over 147 games. His underlying profile supports the modest bounce-back: a career-best 9.6% walk rate, 86.9 mph average exit velocity, and 29.5% hard-hit rate remained well below league average. The shift toward more fly balls (29.2% FB rate, 0.68 GB/FB) helped stabilize his power output, but his .134 ISO still caps the ceiling. With 2026 projections forecasting another 20-plus steal season with double-digit homers and steady ratios, Stott profiles as a stable middle-infield option.
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14.
Marcus Semien
NYM
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15.
Jorge Polanco
NYM
Jorge Polanco rebounded in 2025, posting a .265/.326/.495 line with 26 home runs and a 134 OPS+ across 138 games for Seattle. Looking ahead to 2026, projections that peg him closer to the low-.250s with 20-23 homers suggest some pullback from last year's career-high ISO (.229) and HR rate (5.0%). That's reasonable given his age, but the improved contact quality and stabilized plate discipline from 2025 give him a higher floor than most mid-tier second basemen. Health remains the primary variable, yet if he approaches 140 games again, Polanco profiles as a strong MI option with 20-plus homer power and counting stats buoyed by everyday run production.
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16.
Gleyber Torres
DET
Gleyber Torres reestablished himself as a reliable fantasy middle infielder in 2025 after a down 2024, showing improved plate discipline (career-best walk rate) and a rebound in overall run production following his move to Detroit. While the power remains well below his 2018-19 peak, his 2025 advanced profile points to solid contact quality and a more patient approach that supports a stable AVG/OBP floor. The 2026 projections reflect a continuation of that skill set rather than a return to 30+ homer upside, making him more valuable in OBP formats than standard roto leagues. With minimal speed and capped power, Torres profiles as a low-ceiling but steady fantasy contributor, best viewed as a post-hype sleeper for managers seeking middle-infield stability rather than upside.
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17.
Jackson Holliday
BAL
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18.
Luis Garcia
WSH
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19.
Otto Lopez
MIA
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20.
JJ Wetherholt
STL
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21.
Brendan Donovan
SEA
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22.
Caleb Durbin
BOS
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23.
Jose Caballero
NYY
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24.
Luis Arraez
SF
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25.
Brett Baty
NYM
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26.
Jeff McNeil
ATH
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27.
Andres Gimenez
TOR
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28.
Colt Keith
DET
Colt Keith took a meaningful step forward in 2025. The power growth was supported by real skill gains, as his ISO jumped from .120 to .157 with a spike in hard-hit rate (35.3% to 43.7%) and average exit velocity (87.8 mph to 90.0 mph). With 2026 projections building on that improved plate discipline and batted-ball authority, Keith profiles as a fantasy riser, especially in OBP formats. While he's unlikely to contribute much in steals, a potential jump into the 18-22 HR range with solid run production at second base gives him stable middle-infield value with room for another step forward entering his age-24 season.
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29.
Willi Castro
COL
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30.
Tommy Edman
LAD
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31.
Ernie Clement
TOR
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32.
Jordan Westburg
BAL
Jordan Westburg followed up his 2024 All-Star breakout with another solid but less impactful 2025, as injuries limited him to 85 games and capped his counting stats. On a per-game basis, his power remained intact (17 HR, .457 SLG), but reduced doubles output and minimal speed kept him from taking the next step. His multi-position eligibility and steady contact quality help stabilize his fantasy floor, particularly in deeper formats. If he can stay healthy and reclaim a full-time role in Baltimore's crowded infield, Westburg still offers sleeper upside as a balanced power contributor entering his age-27 season.
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33.
Brooks Lee
MIN
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34.
Chase Meidroth
CWS
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35.
Jonathan India
KC
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36.
Jake Cronenworth
SD
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37.
Lenyn Sosa
CWS
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38.
Marcelo Mayer
BOS
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39.
Luisangel Acuna
CWS
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40.
Luis Rengifo
MIL
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41.
Nolan Gorman
STL
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42.
Nasim Nunez
WSH
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43.
Max Muncy
ATH
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44.
Ha-Seong Kim
ATL
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45.
Cole Young
SEA
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46.
Kristian Campbell
BOS
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47.
Jared Triolo
PIT
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48.
Travis Bazzana
CLE
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49.
Kody Clemens
MIN
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50.
Nick Gonzales
PIT
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51.
Christian Moore
LAA
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52.
Javier Baez
DET
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53.
Romy Gonzalez
BOS
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54.
Hyeseong Kim
LAD
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55.
Gavin Lux
TB
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56.
Mauricio Dubon
ATL
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57.
Gabriel Arias
CLE
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58.
Brayan Rocchio
CLE
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59.
Tyler Freeman
COL
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60.
Edouard Julien
COL
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61.
Brooks Baldwin
CWS
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62.
Angel Martinez
CLE
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63.
Blaze Alexander
BAL
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64.
Brice Matthews
HOU
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65.
Sung-Mun Song
SD
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66.
Javier Sanoja
MIA
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67.
Josh Rojas
KC
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68.
Casey Schmitt
SF
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69.
Oswald Peraza
LAA
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70.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
BOS
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71.
Zack Gelof
ATH
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72.
Davis Schneider
TOR
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73.
Santiago Espinal
LAD
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74.
Adam Frazier
LAA
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75.
Jett Williams
MIL
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76.
Edmundo Sosa
PHI
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77.
Thomas Saggese
STL
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78.
Austin Martin
MIN
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79.
Ronny Mauricio
NYM
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80.
David Hamilton
MIL
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81.
Amed Rosario
NYY
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82.
Tim Tawa
ARI
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83.
Adael Amador
COL
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84.
Tyler Fitzgerald
TOR
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85.
Michael Massey
KC
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86.
Miguel Rojas
LAD
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87.
Ramon Urias
STL
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88.
Ryan Ritter
COL
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89.
Ezequiel Duran
TEX
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90.
Daniel Schneemann
CLE
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91.
Cody Freeman
TEX
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92.
Vaughn Grissom
LAA
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93.
Jorge Mateo
ATL
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94.
Dylan Moore
PHI
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95.
Jose Tena
WSH
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96.
Nick Yorke
PIT
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97.
Jesus Made
MIL
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98.
Andy Ibanez
ATH
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99.
Max Anderson
DET
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100.
Curtis Mead
WSH
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101.
Richard Palacios
CLE
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102.
Sam Antonacci
CWS
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103.
Darell Hernaiz
ATH
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104.
Jose Fermin
STL
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105.
Andruw Monasterio
BOS
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106.
Enrique Hernandez
LAD
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107.
Thairo Estrada
FA
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108.
Bryan Torres
STL
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109.
Leo Rivas
SEA
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110.
George Lombard
NYY
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111.
Jose Iglesias
FA
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112.
Chris Taylor
LAA
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113.
Jon Berti
FA
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114.
Orlando Arcia
MIN
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115.
Hao-Yu Lee
DET
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116.
Ryan Bliss
SEA
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117.
Nick Loftin
KC
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118.
Max Schuemann
NYY
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119.
Christian Koss
SF
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120.
Shay Whitcomb
HOU
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121.
Juan Brito
CLE
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122.
Jorbit Vivas
WSH
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123.
Tristan Gray
MIN
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124.
Tommy Troy
ARI
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125.
DJ LeMahieu
FA
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126.
Kyle Farmer
ATL
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127.
Brendan Rodgers
BOS
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128.
Ildemaro Vargas
ARI
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129.
Payton Eeles
BAL
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130.
Nick Sogard
BOS
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131.
Luis Urias
ARI
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132.
Kyren Paris
LAA
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133.
Paul DeJong
NYY
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134.
Tyler Callihan
PIT
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135.
Orelvis Martinez
FA
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136.
Tanner Murray
CWS
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137.
Tyler Wade
TEX
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138.
Garrett Hampson
CIN
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139.
Tim Anderson
FA
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140.
Nick Madrigal
LAA
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141.
Abraham Toro
KC
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142.
Miles Mastrobuoni
SEA
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143.
Brett Wisely
ATL
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144.
Cesar Prieto
STL
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145.
Weston Wilson
BAL
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146.
James Triantos
CHC
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147.
Samad Taylor
SD
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148.
Cameron Cauley
TEX
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149.
Liover Peguero
PHI
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150.
Edwin Arroyo
CIN
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151.
Jared Serna
MIA
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152.
Kevin Newman
KC
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153.
Luke Williams
ATL
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154.
Michael Arroyo
SEA
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155.
Ronny Simon
PIT
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156.
Cavan Biggio
HOU
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157.
Ben Cowles
CHC
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158.
Aaron Schunk
ATL
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159.
Alika Williams
PIT
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160.
Tsung-Che Cheng
BOS
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161.
Marco Luciano
NYY
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162.
Ryan Fitzgerald
LAD
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163.
Donovan Walton
LAA
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164.
Nate Furman
SF
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165.
Scott Kingery
CHC
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166.
Sergio Alcantara
PHI
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167.
Grae Kessinger
NYM
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168.
Jack Winkler
HOU
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169.
Cooper Kinney
TB
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170.
Jose Rojas
NYM
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