Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Shohei Ohtani
LAD
There's no real debate at the top of 2026 fantasy drafts: In formats where he is considered one player, Shohei Ohtani remains the clear-cut 1.01 thanks to his unmatched two-way impact. Offensively, his 2026 projections again place him among the game's elite, with 45-plus home runs, triple-digit runs and RBI, and an on-base percentage north of .390 while continuing to anchor the Dodgers' lineup from the leadoff spot. The stolen base ceiling isn't what it was earlier in his career, but projected totals in the high teens still provide a valuable bonus atop his league-leading power and run production.
What truly separates Ohtani, however, is his return as a full-time starting pitcher. His 2026 projections peg him as a top-tier arm, capable of delivering ace-level strikeout totals, strong ratios, and double-digit wins in one of baseball's best team contexts. Even with some workload management baked in, Ohtani's ability to provide elite value on both sides of the ball gives fantasy managers a structural advantage no other player can match. As long as he's healthy, Ohtani isn't just the safest pick in fantasy baseball; he's still redefining what roster construction can look like. |
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2.
Aaron Judge
NYY
Aaron Judge followed up his MVP-caliber 2025 with another elite power profile, delivering 53 HR, 1.144 OPS, and a career-best 12 SB. His 2026 projections still anticipate slight regression & around 43 HR and a .285 AVG, but the underlying rates (elite barrel%, top-tier OBP stability) remain intact. Even with natural aging curves factored in, Judge projects as one of the safest four-category anchors in fantasy. He remains a first-round bat with minimal risk thanks to bankable power and sustainable plate discipline.
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3.
Jose Ramirez
CLE
Jose Ramírez remained one of fantasy's most reliable five-category contributors in 2025, once again clearing 30 HR while adding strong run production and double-digit steals. His 2026 projections show only mild age-related regression, with power and speed both expected to remain intact thanks to elite contact quality and plate discipline. The year-over-year stability in his batted-ball profile reinforces his high floor. Ramírez continues to profile as a safe first-round cornerstone, especially valuable in formats that reward category balance.
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4.
Kyle Tucker
LAD
Kyle Tucker delivered another well-rounded fantasy season in 2025, pairing plus power with double-digit steals and elite run production. He also delivered another season of murky injuries that diminished his output. His 2026 projections remain remarkably stable, reflecting how consistent his plate discipline and contact quality have been year over year. While there's little growth left in the profile, there's also minimal downside other than the injury history. Tucker signed with the Dodgers, a landing spot that only helps his value, as his profile is that of a safe early-round outfielder who fits seamlessly into any roster build.
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5.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
TOR
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rebounded nicely in 2025, hitting .292 with 23 HR, and his 2026 projections expect his power to climb back over 30 HR. His contact quality improved year over year, driven by more line-drive contact and a stabilizing strikeout rate. The projected power bounce is supported by underlying metrics, suggesting 2025 may have been closer to his floor than his median outcome. Vladdy profiles as a strong early-round value with legitimate top-five 1B upside if the HR surge materializes.
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6.
Cal Raleigh
SEA
Cal Raleigh had the year of his life in 2025, smacking 60 home runs while batting .247, far and away his best batting average ever. He drove in 125 and scored 110 times for a Seattle Mariners team that came very close to the World Series. Catcher is such a thin position that it is tempting to spend an early-round pick on Raleigh to be able to set-and-forget the position. His 2026 projections again place him among the position's home run leaders, with playing time security supporting strong counting stats, but we aren't going to see a repeat of his career year, and that is the current draft cost for the Big Dumper. Do you still want to spend a second-round pick on him if he's "only" getting you 40 homers with a .230 batting average? If so, he's easily the best catcher on the board. If not, wait three or four rounds to pick from the second tier.
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7.
Kyle Schwarber
PHI
Kyle Schwarber's 2025 profile remained extreme but effective, delivering elite home-run volume and run production while continuing to drag batting average, though not as much as in the past. He played in all 162 games, hit 56 home runs, drove in an MLB-leading 132, and scored 111 runs. His 2026 projections again place him among the league leaders in homers, with OBP formats propping up his overall value. Year over year, the power output has proven remarkably stable despite contact volatility. Schwarber remains a roster-construction play who fits best on teams built to absorb average risk in exchange for top-tier power.
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8.
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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9.
Yordan Alvarez
HOU
Yordan Alvarez is shaping up as one of the more polarizing draft-day decisions in 2026 fantasy leagues. After an injury-marred 2025 season burned managers who invested a first- or early second-round pick, Alvarez now projects as a rebound bat with elite per-game production when healthy. Projection systems still view him as a middle-of-the-order force capable of strong four-category output, supported by his consistently elite plate skills and long track record of hard contact. The main complication is positional flexibility: Alvarez is expected to qualify only at DH in most formats, effectively locking him into a UTIL role and increasing roster rigidity. That added risk will likely suppress his ADP, but entering his age-29 season, the underlying talent suggests a strong bounce-back is well within reach. If the discount reflects health concerns rather than skill erosion, Alvarez becomes a calculated upside play worth considering at the right price.
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10.
James Wood
WSH
James Wood was on a legitimate MVP pace through the first half of the 2025 campaign before a sharp second-half regression cooled the hype. He hit .278 with 24 home runs, 12 steals, 59 runs scored, and 69 RBIs early on, but his production dipped significantly down the stretch. Over the remainder of the season, Wood slashed just .223 with seven homers, 28 runs, 25 RBIs, and three stolen bases while being caught three times.
Despite finishing with strong overall totals, the 22-year-old was a liability for fantasy managers late in the year and carried a hefty 32.1% strikeout rate. Still, durability and elite batted-ball metrics stand out: Wood appeared in 157 games, posted a 16.3% barrel rate, a massive 56.3% hard-hit rate, and an .825 OPS. The talent is undeniable, and the ceiling remains enormous—he's best viewed as an OF2 in drafts, with hopes that 2026 delivers the full breakout. |
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11.
Rafael Devers
SF
Rafael Devers forced his way out of Boston early in the year and landed in the less fantasy-friendly environment of San Francisco. His numbers held steady for the most part, producing 35 home runs, 99 runs, and 109 RBI, though his batting average was the lowest since 2018. His Barrel percentage jumped from 13% to 16%, and his HardHit rate leapt to 56.1%, both the highest of his career. Projections have him essentially continuing on with these numbers, and at a thinner 1B than expected, Devers is a sneaky pick currently going in the fifth round.
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12.
William Contreras
MIL
William Contreras took a small step back in 2025, with his OPS dipping to .754 as his ISO fell to .140 despite continued growth in plate discipline (career-best 12.7% BB rate, sub-19% K rate). The underlying skills remain strong: his contact quality stayed well above league average (91.1 mph EV, 48.6% hard-hit), and his power downturn looks more variance-driven than structural after back-to-back elite seasons in 2023-24. The 2026 projections point to a rebound toward his established .360+ OBP profile with mid-20s homer upside, supported by premium volume at a scarce catcher position. Given his durability, lineup role, and stable skills, Contreras profiles as a high-floor catcher with bounce-back upside and remains one of the safest investments at the position.
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13.
Brent Rooker
ATH
Credit the Athletics (and Nick Kurtz) for giving fantasy managers a welcome stretch of "Brent Rooker the outfielder," which added some valuable roster flexibility. While Rooker couldn't quite replicate his breakout 2024 campaign, he still delivered strong power production in 2025. He finished with 30 home runs, 89 RBI, and 92 runs scored, posting a .262/.335/.479 slash line. His strikeout rate dipped to 22.2%, a change that may have slightly capped his power output, and it wouldn't be surprising to see that number drift back toward his career norm around 28%. Even so, Rooker benefits from hitter-friendly conditions in Sacramento and a spot in the heart of a lineup that ranked fourth in MLB with a .431 team slugging percentage. With that context, his counting stats should remain reliable, keeping Rooker firmly on the fantasy radar for 2026.
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14.
Riley Greene
DET
Riley Greene built on his breakout 2024 with another strong campaign in 2025, though it came with some noticeable tradeoffs. Batting mostly in the cleanup spot, he launched 36 home runs and knocked in 111 runs while posting a team-best .806 OPS. That power surge represented a 33% jump in homers, but it was paired with a spike in strikeouts, as his K-rate climbed to 30.7%. At the same time, his walk rate dipped from 11% to 7%, which dragged down his overall slash line more than fantasy managers would have liked. The underlying power metrics remain excellent—Greene posted a 17.1% barrel rate and a 45.5% hard-hit rate—supporting the production. While he falls just short of true OF1 territory, he enters his age-25 season firmly near the top of the OF2 tier.
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15.
Josh Naylor
SEA
Let's start with the important part: Josh Naylor will not steal 30 bases again in 2026. With a previous high of 10, the 30 was a gift to managers who drafted him and will most likely be the outlier of his career. Naylor did sacrifice power in his time between Arizona and Seattle, hitting only 20 home runs after smacking 31 the year before. The .295 average helped offset this to some degree, but as a career .269 hitter, this is also suspect to continue. Even though he will only be 29 this season, the return to Seattle limits the upside we can expect. He's more of an avoid, unless he falls in drafts.
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16.
Vinnie Pasquantino
KC
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.
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17.
Ben Rice
NYY
Ben Rice followed a rough 2024 debut with a legitimate breakout in 2025, slashing .255/.337/.499 with 26 homers and a 131 OPS+ across 138 games. The power spike was supported by improved contact quality and a manageable strikeout rate, turning him from replacement-level depth into a middle-of-the-order threat. Dual eligibility at catcher and first base quietly boosts his fantasy value, especially in formats where offensive production behind the plate is scarce. While his defensive profile may keep him rotating between DH and multiple positions, Rice's age-26 surge makes him an appealing upside target with room for further growth if the plate discipline gains hold.
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18.
George Springer
TOR
George Springer silenced skeptics in 2025 with his strongest campaign since 2019, turning in a monster season at age 35. He appeared in 140 games, launching 32 home runs while scoring 106 runs, driving in 84, and swiping 18 bases. His .309/.399/.560 slash line was the best of his career, and his 166 wRC+ ranked third across MLB. The obvious question is how to value Springer heading into his age-36 season in 2026. A repeat batting average is unlikely, as his .309 mark was fueled by a .340 BABIP—well above his career norm. Most projections pull his power back into the mid-20s for home runs, but the strength of the lineup around him should help preserve strong run and RBI totals, along with roughly 15 stolen bases. If Springer can once again stay on the field for around 140 games, he remains a valuable fantasy asset. While a full encore of 2025 shouldn't be expected, even modest regression still leaves him among the more reliable contributors.
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19.
Seiya Suzuki
CHC
Seiya Suzuki delivered a wildly uneven 2025 campaign. He posted new career bests with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs, but the bulk of that damage came early, as 25 of those homers and 77 RBIs were recorded before the All-Star break. Like much of Chicago's lineup, Suzuki cooled off significantly in August, managing just one home run across 89 at-bats. The power surge came at a cost, as his batting average dipped to .245 after finishing above .280 in each of the previous two seasons. Entering his age-31 season and set to hit free agency in 2027, Suzuki could show a bit more urgency at the plate in 2026. Even without a major spike, fantasy managers can reasonably project something in the neighborhood of 25 homers, 75 runs, and 85 RBIs. He remains a steady draft option based on four years of reliable MLB production, with the upside of a potential contract-year push.
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20.
Christian Yelich
MIL
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21.
Hunter Goodman
COL
Hunter Goodman broke out in 2025, turning everyday run at Coors into a 31-HR, 91-RBI campaign with a .278/.323/.520 slash and 120 OPS+. The skills growth backed it up: his rOBA jumped to .367 with a 124 Rbat+, while his average exit velocity (90.8 mph) and 47.3% hard-hit rate both cleared league norms. The strikeout rate remains elevated (26.3%) and his 5.7% walk rate caps the OBP ceiling, but a .243 ISO with consistent pull-side authority gives him bankable power in Colorado. For 2026, projections largely buy the power foundation while regressing the batting average closer to his career .248 mark, reflecting some BABIP normalization after last year's .331 clip. Qualifying at catcher enhances his fantasy utility, given the position's shallowness. Goodman profiles as a high-variance power bat whose home environment and batted-ball quality support another 25-30 homer season, but managers should price in batting average volatility rather than paying for a repeat of the .278 mark.
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22.
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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23.
Yandy Diaz
TB
Yandy Diaz made the most of the Rays' season at George Steinbrenner Field, cracking the 25-HR mark for the first time in his career while maintaining a .300 average. With the return to much less hitter-friendly Tropicana Field, fantasy managers should not expect another 25 homers, but 20 is within reason. Diaz is a middle-round pick best used to boost batting average, but there is more power to be had elsewhere at the position.
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24.
Salvador Perez
KC
Sal Perez remained remarkably durable in 2025 with 155 games played, but the underlying production continued to slide as his batting average fell to .236 and his OBP dipped below .290. While the raw power is still intact, 30 homers and 100 RBI, the overall offensive efficiency has flattened to league-average levels, limiting his advantage over younger catching options. His aggressive approach and declining contact quality leave little margin for error, especially as age-related regression becomes harder to ignore. Perez is still a volume-driven fantasy catcher with counting-stat value, but he now profiles best as a mid-tier option rather than a clear positional edge.
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25.
Agustin Ramirez
MIA
Agustín Ramírez took his lumps as a 23-year-old rookie in 2025, slashing .231/.287/.413 with 21 home runs and 16 steals across 136 games, good for a below-average 92 OPS+ and 89 Rbat+. The underlying data paints a more intriguing picture: a 90.8 mph average exit velocity and 47.2% hard-hit rate both comfortably exceeded league norms, while his .182 ISO suggests legitimate 25-homer upside if the batted-ball luck (.253 BABIP in 2025) normalizes. His aggressive approach (6.2% walk rate) caps his OBP floor, but a manageable 19.3% strikeout rate and strong 84.2% stolen-base success rate support continued category juice. With modest plate-discipline growth, the 2026 projections point toward improved run production and a step forward in overall efficiency, making Ramírez a clear fantasy sleeper entering his age-24 season. The power-speed blend is already bankable in standard formats, and any OBP rebound would push him into the top tier at his position.
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26.
Ivan Herrera
STL
Ivan Herrera followed up his 2024 breakout with another step forward in 2025, logging 452 plate appearances and posting a .284/.373/.464 line with 19 home runs and a 140 Rbat+. His gains were backed by skills growth: a career-best 18.6% strikeout rate, 9.5% walk rate and 91.2 mph average exit velocity, along with a jump to a .180 ISO. While his BABIP dipped to .315, his rOBA (.372) and hard-hit rate (48.2%) supported the production, reinforcing that the bat is driving the value rather than batted-ball luck. The 2026 projections maintain him as an above-average offensive catcher with mid-to-high teens power and strong on-base skills, though a full repeat of last year's efficiency likely regresses slightly. Even with modest pull and fly-ball rates, Herrera's improving contact quality and stable plate discipline give him one of the higher offensive floors at the position. He only had 14 appearances at catcher in 2025, so check your league's position eligibility or prepare to have him only as a DH for a while into 2026.
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27.
Bryan Reynolds
PIT
After years of steady production, Bryan Reynolds showed real signs of decline. His strikeout rate climbed to 26.5% — a jump of roughly four percentage points — and he posted a career-worst .245/.318/.402 slash line. Playing in a Pittsburgh lineup that offers little support only adds to the downside. As he enters his age-31 season, fantasy managers should be prepared for increased inconsistency. Reynolds is still projected for around 20 home runs, but his run and RBI totals will suffer in a weak offense, and his batting average is more likely to settle near .250 than his career .271 mark. At this stage, he profiles better as an OF3 or OF4 rather than a reliable, every-week fantasy starter.
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28.
Alec Burleson
STL
Alec Burleson may not carry the same buzz as some other OF3 or OF4 options, but his profile is trending in the right direction as he enters his age-27 season. He took a noticeable step forward in 2024, appearing in 139 games while posting 18 home runs, 69 RBI, and 54 runs scored, along with a .290/.343/.459 slash line and an .802 OPS. His appeal is rooted in strong contact skills, evidenced by a modest 14.5% strikeout rate, paired with enough power to contribute in multiple categories. Locked into a prominent spot near the top of St. Louis' lineup, Burleson offers inexpensive batting-average stability and quiet upside for fantasy managers in 2026 drafts.
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29.
Yainer Diaz
HOU
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30.
Mike Trout
LAA
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31.
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. The underlying metrics support the bounce-back: his 89.9 mph average exit velocity and 45.8% hard-hit rate were both career-best marks, while his strikeout rate dropped to 15.6% after spiking to 29.2% in 2024. The result was a .348 rOBA and 134 Rbat+, well above league average and a clear return to middle-of-the-order production. 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 and prior volatility, but the improved contact quality and stabilized plate discipline from 2025 give him a higher floor than most mid-tier second basemen. Durability 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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32.
Kyle Manzardo
CLE
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33.
Kerry Carpenter
DET
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34.
Marcell Ozuna
PIT
Marcell Ozuna's 2025 campaign marked a steep regression from his elite 2023-2024 peak, as his slash line fell to .232/.355/.400 with 21 home runs across 592 plate appearances. While his 15.9% walk rate buoyed his OBP, his power indicators slipped considerably — including a drop to a .168 ISO, 3.5% HR rate, and a career-low 89.9 mph average exit velocity. After posting rOBA marks of .384 and .394 the previous two seasons, he dipped to .342 (118 Rbat+), signaling a clear step back from middle-of-the-order dominance. Now eligible only at DH with the Pirates, Ozuna's lack of positional flexibility further caps his fantasy utility. He profiles as a fantasy faller, with 2026 projections pointing toward solid but no-longer-elite power production more in line with a mid-tier corner bat than a foundational fantasy piece.
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35.
Luis Arraez
SF
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36.
Mark Vientos
NYM
Mark Vientos failed to build on his 2024 breakout, with his 2025 season showing notable pullbacks in rOBA (.361 to .310), ISO (.249 to .179), and HR rate despite similar playing time. The plate skills did improve slightly (career-best strikeout rate to 24.8%), but the quality-of-contact gains from 2024 didn't hold, leaving him closer to league average overall production. The 2026 projections still lean on his raw power and everyday role potential, but expect more of a low-OBP, mid-20s HR corner bat rather than a true middle-of-the-order force. In fantasy, Vientos profiles best as a CI option in deeper leagues where power is scarce, with limited upside unless the 2024 batted-ball profile returns.
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37.
Anthony Santander
TOR
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38.
Colt Keith
DET
Colt Keith took a meaningful step forward in 2025, improving his rOBA from .308 to .326 and his Rbat+ from 95 to 107 while boosting his walk rate from 6.5% to 10.3%. 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), even as his strikeout rate ticked up slightly. His more balanced batted-ball profile (lower GB%, higher FB%) suggests the 2025 power gains are sustainable rather than fluky. 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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39.
Josh Bell
MIN
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40.
Ryan O'Hearn
PIT
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41.
Giancarlo Stanton
NYY
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42.
Bryce Eldridge
SF
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43.
Ryan Jeffers
MIN
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44.
Moises Ballesteros
CHC
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45.
Andrew Benintendi
CWS
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46.
Jonathan India
KC
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47.
Trevor Larnach
MIN
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48.
Gavin Sheets
SD
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49.
Edgar Quero
CWS
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50.
Jorge Soler
LAA
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51.
Nolan Gorman
STL
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52.
Masataka Yoshida
BOS
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53.
Austin Hays
CWS
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54.
Victor Caratini
MIN
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55.
Pavin Smith
ARI
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56.
Gavin Lux
TB
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57.
George Valera
CLE
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58.
Starling Marte
FA
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59.
Miguel Andujar
SD
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60.
Joc Pederson
TEX
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61.
Tyler Freeman
COL
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62.
Kyle Higashioka
TEX
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63.
Jonah Heim
ATL
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64.
Ryan Mountcastle
BAL
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65.
Adrian Del Castillo
ARI
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66.
Liam Hicks
MIA
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67.
Heriberto Hernandez
MIA
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68.
Jesse Winker
FA
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69.
David Fry
CLE
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70.
Luis Campusano
SD
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71.
Mitch Garver
SEA
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72.
Andrew McCutchen
FA
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73.
Yanquiel Fernandez
NYY
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74.
Randal Grichuk
FA
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75.
Rob Refsnyder
SEA
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76.
Wilmer Flores
FA
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77.
Jahmai Jones
DET
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78.
Eloy Jimenez
TOR
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79.
Eduardo Valencia
DET
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80.
Justyn-Henry Malloy
TB
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81.
Kyle Farmer
ATL
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82.
Kris Bryant
COL
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83.
Jared Young
NYM
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84.
Nelson Velazquez
STL
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85.
Garrett Stubbs
PHI
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86.
Luken Baker
ARI
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