Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
|
1.
Bobby Witt Jr.
KC
Bobby Witt Jr. solidified his status as a top-tier fantasy player, finishing 2025 with 31 HR, 49 SB, and a .298 average while cutting his chase rate for the second straight season. Projections for 2026 keep him squarely in the elite tier with 30+ HR, 40+ SB, and strong run production. The continued gains in swing decisions and contact quality suggest his breakout is fully sustainable. Witt is a top-three overall fantasy pick with league-winning category balance.
|
|
2.
Elly De La Cruz
CIN
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 his stats to move back toward his 2024 numbers, though counting on him for 50+ steals isn't the best approach. Elly remains one of the riskier first-round picks, but could turn into a Top 3 overall if he is able to put it all together.
|
|
3.
Gunnar Henderson
BAL
Gunnar Henderson backed up his 2024 breakout with a season during which he says he had a shoulder impingement for almost 75% of the year. His power dipped considerably, and even though he still stole 30 bags, it was obvious something was off. His 2026 projections expect a bounce-back year, projecting elite power production and strong run totals. Year-over-year gains in swing decisions suggest his profile is fully established rather than volatile. Shortstop is a stacked position, but Henderson remains one of the elite options for those looking to secure it early.
|
|
4.
Francisco Lindor
NYM
Francisco Lindor remained Mr. Consistent in 2025, once again delivering strong power-speed production. His 2026 projections show minimal regression, closer to a 25/25 season, supported by premium lineup placement and consistent plate discipline. However, the hamate bone injury in Spring Training threatens his counting stat totals, particularly in the power category. He is still a top-tier shortstop, but comes with more risk now than in previous seasons.
|
|
5.
Trea Turner
PHI
Trea Turner's age-32 season was a clear bounce-back, as he hit .304/.355/.457 with 36 stolen bases and a top-five MVP finish, reaffirming that his elite speed remains fully intact. While the power dipped to 15 homers, his improved on-base skills and renewed aggressiveness on the bases helped offset the decline and restored his five-category profile. Defensive metrics also stabilized after a rough 2023-24 stretch, supporting everyday shortstop volume and lineup security. As long as the speed holds near the top of the league, Turner remains a high-floor fantasy anchor with upside tied to any rebound in home-run output.
|
|
6.
Zach Neto
LAA
If Zach Neto had stayed healthy in 2025, it would have been fascinating to see where his numbers would have ended up. As it was, in 128 games, he hit 26 home runs, scored 82 runs, drove in 62 from the leadoff spot, and stole 26 bases. Neto barrels the ball extremely well (14.0%) and is above average in HardHit rate at 46.6%. His batting average in the .250 range won't ruin your averages, and if the steals keep up, he could be a major player in the busy shortstop landscape of 2026 fantasy baseball. He is currently going in the third round of drafts, but a full season could provide a 30/30, which is valuable at any position.
|
|
7.
Mookie Betts
LAD
Whether Father Time came calling or it was just a down year, Mookie Betts was one of the bigger disappointments in 2025. In his age-32 season, he saw a drop in his walk rate and posted the lowest batting average of his career. He also suffered a power outage, hitting 20 home runs across 150 games; by comparison, he hit 19 in 2024 across only 116 games. His HardHit rate plummeted to 35.8%, continuing a three-year decline. However, he still bats in the Dodgers lineup, scoring 95 runs and driving in 82 for the World Champions. He will only qualify at shortstop, a much deeper position than second base, in 2026. He still has plenty of value, but don't draft him based on his name alone. We've seen the best Betts has to offer.
|
|
8.
CJ Abrams
WSH
CJ Abrams' 2025 stats look similar to the two years before. In 635 plate appearances, he hit 19 home runs, stole 31 bases, and slashed .257/.315/.433. He did see a jump in his runs scored (92), presumably because of James Wood hitting behind him. Fantasy managers should be aware that all of his expected numbers were lower than his actuals, and his barrel rate and HardHit rate are nothing to write home about. He will steal 30+ bases, pop around 20 dingers, and the top of the Nationals lineup has worlds of potential. It's just hard to swallow the high price tag in such a deep position.
|
|
9.
Corey Seager
TEX
Corey Seager followed up his MVP-caliber 2023-24 run with another elite per-game season in 2025, posting a .271/.373/.487 slash with a 151 OPS+ despite being limited to 102 games. His plate discipline continued to improve, as he set a career high in walk rate while maintaining plus power and run production when healthy. Durability remains the lone concern, but his underlying offensive skills show no signs of erosion entering his age-32 season. If fantasy managers can deal with some missed time, Seager remains one of the safest high-end fantasy bats at shortstop.
|
|
10.
Geraldo Perdomo
ARI
Geraldo Perdomo delivered a true breakout in 2025, erupting for a .290/.389/.462 slash with 20 homers, 27 steals, and 100 RBI while finishing fourth in MVP voting. After previously profiling as an OBP-focused table-setter, he made tangible gains in both power and aggressiveness on the bases, turning him into a legitimate five-category contributor. His elite plate discipline (94 walks vs. 83 strikeouts) gives the profile strong stability, even if some power regression follows. Entering his age-26 season, Perdomo looks like one of fantasy's safest high-end shortstops with upside tied to lineup context and continued run-production growth.
|
|
11.
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.
|
|
12.
Bo Bichette
NYM
After spending the first seven years of his career in Toronto, Bo Bichette signed a 3-year, $126 million deal with the Mets. He will presumably bat behind Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, and he should pick up third base eligibility early in the 2026 season, making him much more attractive for fantasy managers. Bichette had a renaissance 2025 season, batting .311 after a miserable .225 in half a season before. He popped 18 home runs, drove in 94, and scored 78 runs. He continued his impressive HardHit rate at 48.8% and got on base at a .357 clip. While the Blue Jays' lineup was no slouch, batting behind Lindor and Soto should afford Bichette plenty of counting stat opportunities. A 20/80/80 season seems reasonable, but the boost to batting average is what makes him a valuable mid-round pick as your SS1.
|
|
13.
Jeremy Pena
HOU
Jeremy Pena took a major step forward in 2025, posting career highs in batting average (.304), OBP (.363), slugging (.477), and OPS (.840) while cutting his strikeout rate and showing tangible growth in plate discipline. The power rebound (17 HR) combined with a repeatable 20-SB pace pushed him from a glove-first middle infielder into a true five-category contributor. Underlying contact quality and 2026 projections support most of the gains, even if some batting average regression is expected. Pena fractured the tip of his finger in early March, but he should be ready to go for Opening Day.
|
|
14.
Trevor Story
BOS
Trevor Story's 2025 rebound was quietly impressive, as he logged a full season for the first time since 2021 and delivered 25 HR with a career-best 31 stolen bases. While the batting average (.263) and on-base skills remain below his Colorado peak, the power-speed blend at shortstop is once again intact when volume is present. Entering 2026, Story profiles as a high-variance but legitimate middle-infield upside play, with health, rather than skill erosion, still the defining risk.
|
|
15.
Willy Adames
SF
Willy Adames continued to provide bankable power in 2025 with 30 home runs, but the batting average (.225) and elevated strikeout rate once again capped his overall fantasy ceiling. His underlying profile still supports mid-20s to low-30s homer power in 2026, though projections point toward neutral batting average and reduced steals compared to his 2024 peak. Adames remains a dependable power-first shortstop in fantasy, but he's better valued as a solid floor option than a true breakout bat.
|
|
16.
Dansby Swanson
CHC
Dansby Swanson delivered another steady two-way season in 2025, posting 24 HR and 20 SB while improving his quality of contact (47.8% HardHit, 90.1 mph EV). His power rebounded from 2024 as his ISO climbed back to .173 and his fly-ball rate ticked up, supporting a return to the 20+ homer range. While his 26% strikeout rate caps batting average upside, his consistent playing time and renewed stolen-base aggression keep his five-category floor stable. Entering 2026 with projections again hovering around a 20/15-20 profile, Swanson profiles as a reliable middle-infield fantasy riser thanks to stable power, speed, and everyday volume.
|
|
17.
Jacob Wilson
ATH
Jacob Wilson took a major step forward in 2025, finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His elite 7.5% strikeout rate and 84.1 mph average exit velocity underscore his contact-over-power profile, but a 52.4% ground-ball rate and modest 2.5% HR rate cap the overall ceiling. The 2026 projection (.296/.350/.435, 12 HR, 5 SB in 472 PA) reflects some batting average regression from a .317 BABIP, though his bat-to-ball skills should keep him a category stabilizer. Wilson is more of a high-floor MI option than a true breakout candidate, but if fantasy managers load up on power early, that almost-.300 batting average would be a welcome addition.
|
|
18.
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.
|
|
19.
Ezequiel Tovar
COL
Ezequiel Tovar's 2025 season was a step back on the surface (.253/.294/.400 in 95 games), but his underlying profile remained relatively stable, including a solid 39% hard-hit rate and improved strikeout rate (25.1%) compared to his 2024 breakout. Injuries limited his counting stats after a 26-HR, 3.8 WAR campaign in 2024, yet his batted-ball mix still supports mid-20s power in Coors Field. The 2026 projections (21 HR, 10 SB, 79 R, 74 RBI, .263 AVG) suggest a rebound to useful across-the-board production at the shortstop position. With everyday playing time in Colorado and a history of durable volume prior to 2025, Tovar profiles as a fantasy riser capable of returning top-12 value at the position if his 2024 power gains reappear over a full season.
|
|
20.
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.
|
|
21.
Colson Montgomery
CWS
|
|
22.
JJ Wetherholt
STL
|
|
23.
Xander Bogaerts
SD
Bogaerts showed modest rebound signs in 2025, posting a .263/.328/.391 line with 20 steals across 136 games after an injury-marred 2024 campaign. While his power remains well below his Boston peak, he has had 33 steals over the last two seasons with a 90.9% success rate in 2025. Projections suggest a similar batting average with mid-teens homers and another 15-20 SB season, Bogaerts profiles as a steady middle-infield contributor whose five-category contributions are more valuable than his recent OPS totals indicate.
|
|
24.
Konnor Griffin
PIT
Konnor Griffin entered 2025 as one of the most highly regarded prospects in the lower minors and exceeded expectations after being widely considered the top prep position player in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound infielder combines elite speed and athleticism with impact power, slashing .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs, 65 steals, and a 21.7% strikeout rate across Single-A, High-A, and Double-A as a 19-year-old. His wRC+ improved at each level, finishing 75% above the Double-A average despite being the second-youngest hitter with 80 plate appearances, behind only Leo De Vries. Once questioned for his hit tool, Griffin now appears on track for a 2026 MLB debut, and a potential extension could accelerate his timeline. He offers defensive versatility but has primarily played shortstop.
|
|
25.
Otto Lopez
MIA
|
|
26.
Kevin McGonigle
DET
|
|
27.
Jackson Holliday
BAL
|
|
28.
Brendan Donovan
SEA
|
|
29.
Masyn Winn
STL
|
|
30.
Carlos Correa
HOU
|
|
31.
Jose Caballero
NYY
|
|
32.
Andres Gimenez
TOR
|
|
33.
Ernie Clement
TOR
|
|
34.
Brooks Lee
MIN
|
|
35.
Anthony Volpe
NYY
|
|
36.
Chase Meidroth
CWS
|
|
37.
J.P. Crawford
SEA
|
|
38.
Josh Smith
TEX
|
|
39.
Jake Cronenworth
SD
|
|
40.
Zach McKinstry
DET
|
|
41.
Joey Ortiz
MIL
|
|
42.
Nasim Nunez
WSH
|
|
43.
Ha-Seong Kim
ATL
|
|
44.
Jared Triolo
PIT
|
|
45.
Carson Williams
TB
|
|
46.
Colt Emerson
SEA
|
|
47.
Max Muncy
ATH
|
|
48.
Nick Gonzales
PIT
|
|
49.
Javier Baez
DET
|
|
50.
Gabriel Arias
CLE
|
|
51.
Brayan Rocchio
CLE
|
|
|
52.
Aidan Miller
PHI
|
|
|
53.
Jett Williams
MIL
|
|
54.
Mauricio Dubon
ATL
|
|
55.
Hyeseong Kim
LAD
|
|
56.
Brooks Baldwin
CWS
|
|
|
57.
Luis Garcia
FA
|
|
58.
Thomas Saggese
STL
|
|
59.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
BOS
|
|
60.
Javier Sanoja
MIA
|
|
61.
David Hamilton
MIL
|
|
62.
Alex Freeland
LAD
|
|
63.
Edmundo Sosa
PHI
|
|
64.
Trey Sweeney
DET
|
|
65.
Miguel Rojas
LAD
|
|
66.
Ezequiel Duran
TEX
|
|
67.
Ryan Ritter
COL
|
|
68.
Oswald Peraza
LAA
|
|
69.
Daniel Schneemann
CLE
|
|
70.
Taylor Walls
TB
|
|
71.
Jorge Mateo
ATL
|
|
|
72.
Sebastian Walcott
TEX
|
|
|
73.
Leo De Vries
ATH
|
|
|
74.
Jesus Made
MIL
|
|
75.
Darell Hernaiz
ATH
|
|
76.
Andruw Monasterio
BOS
|
|
|
77.
Kaelen Culpepper
MIN
|
|
78.
Nick Allen
HOU
|
|
79.
Leo Rivas
SEA
|
|
80.
Jose Iglesias
FA
|
|
81.
Orlando Arcia
MIN
|
|
82.
Christian Koss
SF
|
|
|
83.
George Lombard
NYY
|
|
84.
Tristan Gray
MIN
|
|
85.
Kyle Farmer
ATL
|
|
86.
Max Schuemann
NYY
|
|
87.
Paul DeJong
NYY
|
|
88.
Maximo Acosta
MIA
|
|
89.
Jose Fernandez
ARI
|
|
90.
Tanner Murray
CWS
|
|
91.
Mason McCoy
SD
|
|
92.
Tim Anderson
FA
|
|
|
93.
Cooper Pratt
MIL
|
|
94.
Vidal Brujan
NYM
|
|
|
95.
Ryan Walker
FA
|
|
|
96.
Payton Eeles
BAL
|
|
97.
Denzer Guzman
LAA
|
|
98.
Cesar Prieto
STL
|
|
|
99.
Cameron Cauley
TEX
|
|
100.
Liover Peguero
PHI
|
|
101.
Edwin Arroyo
CIN
|
|
102.
Jared Serna
MIA
|
|
103.
Kevin Newman
KC
|
|
104.
Luke Williams
ATL
|
|
105.
Luis Vazquez
BAL
|
|
106.
Ben Cowles
CHC
|
|
107.
Trei Cruz
DET
|
|
108.
Jose Barrero
BAL
|
|
|
109.
Aaron Schunk
ATL
|
|
110.
Alika Williams
PIT
|
|
|
111.
Josh Kasevich
TOR
|
|
112.
Tsung-Che Cheng
BOS
|
|
113.
Marco Luciano
NYY
|
|
114.
Ryan Fitzgerald
LAD
|
|
115.
Jacob Amaya
ARI
|
|
116.
Vinny Capra
BOS
|
|
|
117.
Ethan Murray
MIL
|
|
118.
Sergio Alcantara
PHI
|
|
|
119.
Jack Winkler
HOU
|
|
|
120.
Carlos Vargas
FA
|
|
|
121.
Rece Hinds
HS
|
