Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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9.
Elly De La Cruz
SS
Elly De La Cruz's 2025 season failed to showcase his elite fantasy ceiling. Fantasy managers expecting him to shore up the stolen base category were disappointed to see them drop from 67 to 37. However, after the season, the Reds revealed ELDC had played through a left quad strain for the entire second half, which is certainly supported by his first-half/second-half splits. Swing-and-miss remains part of his profile, though he did get his strikeout rate below 30% for the first time. His 2026 projections expect modest gains in efficiency rather than raw volume, with a stabilized strikeout rate supporting slightly better average and on-base results. The year-over-year trend in contact quality is encouraging, even if volatility persists. Elly remains a category-warping fantasy asset whose value hinges on embracing the variance.
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44.
Hunter Greene
SP
Heading into 2025, Hunter Greene was on many fantasy analysts' "must-have" lists, and when he was healthy, he showed off the skillset that makes him exciting. He struck out 31.4% of batters, dropping his walk rate to 6.2%, and ended with a swinging strike rate of 15.4%. However, a right groin strain cost him almost two months of the season, limiting his innings to only 107 2/3 in 19 starts. Looking at 2026, if the 26-year-old can make 30 starts, he has all the characteristics necessary to be a SP1 in fantasy. Greene is worth the risk.
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91.
Eugenio Suarez
3B
Eugenio Suarez enjoyed a dramatic power resurgence in 2025, crushing 49 home runs with 118 RBI across 159 games while rebounding from a down 2023 season. Although the batting average remained volatile (.228 overall), his .526 slugging percentage and top-tier barrel production reaffirmed his value as a category-altering power bat. The strikeout rate is still elevated, keeping his floor low in average-based formats, but the run production and durability help offset the risk. The move to Cincinnati boosts his value compared to having re-signed in Seattle, simply from a ballpark perspective. Entering his age-34 season, Suarez profiles as a high-variance corner infielder whose fantasy value hinges on elite power holding steady despite age-related decline concerns.
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122.
Chase Burns
SP,RP
Chase Burns flashed frontline bat-missing ability in his 2025 debut, posting a dominant 35.6% strikeout rate and 13.9 K/9 across 43.1 innings for Cincinnati. His 2.65 FIP sat nearly two runs below his 4.57 ERA, driven by a manageable 2.7% HR rate and elite swing-and-miss stuff, but a .364 BABIP and 45.7% hard-hit rate created volatility in the small sample. Burns' 8.5% walk rate was reasonable for a 22-year-old power arm, though his 0.56 GB/FB ratio suggests he'll need to sharpen command to limit damage in homer-friendly environments. Looking ahead to 2026, the projections lean into the strikeout upside while forecasting some ERA regression toward his underlying metrics as he secures a steadier rotation role. If the workload climbs into a full-season starter's range, Burns profiles as a high-K SP with ratios that may fluctuate week to week. In fantasy, he's best deployed as an upside SP3/SP4 in mixed leagues, with legitimate breakout potential if the command tightens and the batted-ball profile stabilizes.
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125.
Nick Lodolo
SP
Nick Lodolo finally delivered the healthy, front-line season managers have been waiting for in 2025, logging 156.2 innings with a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and career-best 4.8% walk rate. The improved command was the separator, as his BB% dropped sharply while maintaining a strong 24.3% strikeout rate and suppressing hard contact (87.6 mph EV). His 3.81 FIP suggests the ERA was mostly earned, though a slightly elevated 3.4% HR rate and fly-ball lean in Cincinnati keep some volatility baked in. The 2026 projections forecast another step forward in workload with ratios that remain comfortably above league average, positioning Lodolo as a high-end SP2 with SP1 upside if the command gains hold. Durability is still part of the evaluation given prior injuries, but the underlying profile — plus control, above-average swing-and-miss and neutral batted-ball quality — supports drafting him confidently inside the top 25-30 starters with room for profit.
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168.
Noelvi Marte
3B,RF
Noelvi Marte showed some growth in 2025, rebounding from a rough 2024 to post a .263/.300/.448 line with 14 homers and double-digit steals in just 90 games. The power-speed blend that made him a top prospect resurfaced, supported by a strong rOBA and near-league-average OPS+ despite an aggressive approach. Defensive versatility across third base and the outfield should help him maintain regular playing time, even if his glove remains a work in progress. FantasyPros 2026 projections reflect a young hitter still trending upward, making Marte an appealing upside play in deeper formats where counting stats and steals are at a premium.
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179.
Andrew Abbott
SP
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180.
Emilio Pagan
RP
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206.
Matt McLain
2B
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207.
Sal Stewart
1B
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228.
TJ Friedl
LF,CF
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237.
Spencer Steer
1B,LF
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288.
Brady Singer
SP
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335.
Tyler Stephenson
C
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417.
Tony Santillan
RP
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436.
Ke'Bryan Hayes
3B
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556.
Rhett Lowder
SP
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612.
Graham Ashcraft
RP
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617.
JJ Bleday
LF,CF,RF
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621.
Nathaniel Lowe
1B
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627.
Pierce Johnson
RP
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661.
Connor Phillips
RP
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669.
Brock Burke
RP
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698.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand
1B,3B
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749.
Will Benson
LF,CF,RF
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751.
Caleb Ferguson
RP
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811.
Jose Trevino
C
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851.
Dane Myers
LF,CF,RF
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885.
Michael Toglia
1B
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963.
Hector Rodriguez
LF,RF
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972.
Chase Petty
SP
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997.
Sam Moll
RP
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1145.
Zach Maxwell
RP
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1163.
Alfredo Duno
C
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1168.
Brandon Williamson
SP
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1172.
Tyler Callihan
2B,LF
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1198.
Jose Franco
SP,RP
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1279.
Josh Staumont
RP
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1315.
Lyon Richardson
RP
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1360.
Julian Aguiar
SP
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1373.
Yunior Marte
RP
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1380.
Carson Spiers
SP,RP
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1387.
Tejay Antone
SP,RP
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1397.
Sam Benschoter
RP
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1400.
Anthony Misiewicz
RP
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1407.
Luis Mey
RP
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1409.
Kevin Abel
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1538.
Blake Dunn
LF,RF
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1552.
Garrett Hampson
2B,LF,CF
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