Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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2.
Aaron Judge
RF,DH
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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46.
Cody Bellinger
LF,CF,RF
Cody Bellinger silenced doubts during his stint in New York, showing that his resurgence in Chicago was no fluke. He finished the season with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, 89 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases, while posting a strong .272/.334/.480 slash line. His batted-ball quality also trended in the right direction, as his HardHit rate climbed by five percentage points to 37.9%.
As he enters his age-30 campaign, his return to the Bronx is a boon to his fantasy value. A baseline projection in the range of 25 home runs with roughly 80 runs and 80 RBIs is a fair starting point. While his recent production has been far more stable, the downturns from 2021 and 2022 still loom as a reminder of his volatility. Fantasy managers should value the upside—but avoid paying a premium on draft day. |
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54.
Ben Rice
C,1B,DH
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. While his defensive profile may keep him rotating between DH and multiple positions, Rice's age-26 surge makes him an appealing upside target.
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110.
Heliot Ramos
LF,RF
Heliot Ramos broke out in 2024, but his 2025 follow-up was more solid than spectacular. The good news is his underlying quality of contact held firm (91.8 mph average EV, 47.8% hard-hit rate), while his strikeout rate improved to 22.7%, nearly league average. A more contact-oriented, opposite-field-heavy approach (63.2% to center in 2025) capped his over-the-fence output, but the skills foundation remains stable. Ramos' projections suggest mid-20s homer power and strong run production in an everyday role, Ramos profiles as a solid but unexciting OF4 or OF5 option.
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132.
Luis Garcia
2B,1B,DH
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155.
Jose Caballero
2B,3B,SS,RF,LF
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169.
Giancarlo Stanton
RF,DH
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184.
Austin Wells
C
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188.
Jasson Dominguez
LF,RF,DH
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194.
Anthony Volpe
SS,2B
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233.
Ryan McMahon
3B
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330.
Spencer Jones
CF,RF,LF
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410.
Mitch Garver
C,DH
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417.
J.C. Escarra
C
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478.
George Lombard
SS
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517.
Max Schuemann
2B,3B,SS,LF,RF
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532.
Jarred Kelenic
RF,LF
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587.
Yanquiel Fernandez
RF,DH
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710.
Marco Luciano
LF
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