Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

After two uneven seasons, Fernando Tatis Jr. re-established himself as an elite five-category force in 2025 and projects to remain there in 2026. Projections call for another 30-plus homer, 25-steal campaign with triple-digit runs atop the Padres lineup, supported by strong on-base skills and premium batted-ball quality. His improved plate discipline and reduced strikeout rate from last season point to a more stable batting-average floor than in earlier seasons. At the same time, underlying metrics suggest his power output still has room to grow. Entering his age-27 season with his role and health stabilized, Tatis profiles as a legitimate Top-5 overall fantasy upside play in 2026 drafts.

Multiple trips to the injured list cut short what could have been a breakout campaign for the 22-year-old, holding Jackson Merrill to 115 games with 16 home runs and just one stolen base. Entering 2026 healthy, he's a strong bet to rebound toward his 2024 production. While he's unlikely to be a major contributor on the bases, a season in the range of 25 homers with around 80 runs and 80 RBI is well within reach. His expected batting average and slugging percentage both outpaced his actual results, pointing to poor fortune layered on top of the injury issues. Merrill still offers the highest ceiling among his peers and could push into OF2 value if everything clicks, though he's best drafted as an OF3 with upside baked in.