Major League Baseball rosters are filled with talent, and every roster is carrying at least one player who is better than the consensus thinks. Whether it’s an old dog who claims to learn new tricks in the offseason or a rookie looking to take a starting job, there are players needed everywhere. There are tons of fantasy baseball-relevant players who will make tons of noise this year. Whether you consider them breakouts or sleepers, I just think they’ll have exceptional 2026 seasons. Here is one fantasy baseball breakout for every single team!
Breakout Players – AL EAST
Baltimore Orioles – Samuel Basallo, C/DH
Poised to make a gigantic leap, Basallo is nothing but potential for the Orioles. Last year, he posted a .966 OPS in the minors and made tons of headlines. Once he got called up to the Majors, he instantly hit a walk-off homer against the World Champions. His baseball savant page is quite intriguing, too, with 90th percentile EV at 108.2mph, which competes with any of the league’s best pure power hitters. He’s cheap, more than viable in 1-catcher leagues, and has 20+ home run upside.
Boston Red Sox – Caleb Durbin, 3B/2B
Announced as the starting third baseman, Durbin can take another leap in this star-studded Red Sox lineup. In 2025, he posted a 2.8 WAR, .256 AVG, and stole 18 bases. In 2026, he’ll be hitting in the heart of the order and pushed to steal more bases per Craig Breslow. His Dual 3B/2B eligibility and potential 30+ SB upside with respectable contact + avg skills is a steal. He’s one of my sneakier infielders, especially for his positional versatility.
New York Yankees – Ben Rice, C/1B
Ben Rice is the definition of a baseball savant darling. For those who care, Ben Rice was the only qualified hitter in baseball above the 60th percentile in all 13 statcast categories in 2025, yes, that’s real. His profile projects for an incredible breakout, with legitimate 30+ home run upside. He has a 97th percentile hard-hit rate, 92nd barrel rate, and his xwOBA was .394 against an actual .358. While also being catcher-eligible, there’s a ton to like in Ben’s game.
Tampa Bay Rays – Jonathan Aranda, 1B
Jonathan Aranda, the king of BAbip. Fun fact, in 2025, Aranda posted the highest BABIP with .409 in over 100 years. On top of that, he hit .316 across 106 games before a wrist fracture ended his year. His baseball savant page also screams at you. I think a full season could see him put up a near .300 AVG and 25+ home runs.
Toronto Blue Jays – Addison Barger, OF/3B
Oh, Addison Barger, the only World Series pinch-hitting grand slam in history. What’s not to love? His savant page is exceptional, with 93rd percentile bat speed, 51% hard-hit rate, 11.4% barrel rate in 2025. Hit 21 HR in his first full season and now has an everyday outfield role. Consensus projections have him around 21 HR with a 109 wRC+, his barrel rate and bat speed suggest that 30+ home runs is very much in play.
Breakout Players – AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox – Munetaka Murakami, 1B/3B
I’ve been a Murakami believer from the moment the rumours of him coming to the MLB started. He is the real deal. Murakami averaged 166 wRC+ and 33+ HR per NPB season for seven years. Then on Opening Day 2026, he walked twice and launched a 103 mph homer to right field in the ninth inning. If you want power, look no further than Murakami. He is the sole hope of the White Sox squad right now and could hit for 40+ home runs this season.
Cleveland Guardians – Chase DeLauter, OF
I’ll admit it, the health concerns scare me a ton. He’s practically never had a healthy season. However, when healthy, the tools are undeniable. Genuinely top 1% level hitter with elite bat speed, developing power, and premium athleticism. Cleveland is handing him a real role, and he just hit 2-home runs on his opening day start. Then another HR in extra innings. He’s a legitimate 30+HR upside if he stays on the field. Low risk, high ceiling, nothing to lose, and if he gets hurt, he didn’t cost much anyway.
Detroit Tigers – Kevin McGonigle, 3B
Well, if you didn’t draft McGonigle, you probably won’t be able to pick him up now. He had a HISTORIC opening day. McGonigle went 4-for-5 with two doubles, 2 RBI, and 2 runs in his MLB debut, which made him the third-youngest player with 4+ hits on Opening Day in the last 100 seasons, behind only Ken Griffey Jr. and Delino DeShields Jr. If this doesn’t scream generational talent, I’m not sure what does. His first-pitch swing was a 105.9 mph double, and he also had an infield single that had him clock an elite 30.2 ft/sec sprint speed. His spring training showed us a glimpse, but yesterday was the real deal.
Kansas City Royals – Maikal Garcia, 3B/2B/SS/OF
Where do I even start with Maikel Garcia? If I had one bet in 2026, it’s that he and Bobby Witt bring the Royals to the top of the AL Central. In 2025, he was one of two third basemen to put up 15 HR and 20 SB. His 2026 saw him put up .286/.351/.449 with 16 HR, 23 SB, 81 runs, 74 RBIs. Maikal also won a Gold Glove, and then went to the WBC and was named tournament MVP after slashing .435/.458/.652 with 6 RBI and 3 stolen bases for Venezuela. He is just beginning to reach the tip of his production; his ceiling is unknown, and it just feels like every day he gets better. With the Royals moving their fences in 10ft, 20-25 HR alongside 30 SB is well within his reach. Did I mention he has quad eligibility on some platforms? However, he is mostly dual eligible. I truly think that during next year’s draft season, we’ll all be reflecting on why we didn’t draft Maikal Garcia higher!
Minnesota Twins – Mick Abel, SP
After making the Twins roster, Mick Abel is looking to showcase his pitch mix in the majors. His mix is quite nice, usually dominating with his 4-seam, curveball, sinker, and slider. He tops out around 96.5 mph and had some really dominating starts in spring training. Minnesota’s overall pitching needs have increased since the Pablo Lopez injury, meaning he’ll see a much greater role than we initially imagined. He could be sneakily better than we all think. I could see him finish somewhere in the realm of 135+ innings and a 4.25 ERA.
Breakout Players – AL WEST
Houston Astros – Cam Smith, OF/3B
After securing a starting outfield job, Cam Smith comes into the Astros lineup batting 6th. He brings an Elite bat speed and dual eligibility for OF/3B. He currently has a bat speed in the 84th percentile. On top of this, his speed is a real problem on the base paths. In 2025, Smith provided 95th percentile sprint speeds but only 8 stolen bases last year; he left so much to be desired. His athletic profile suggests he should be a lock for 25+ steals; he just has to take more opportunities to make it happen. He’s going to be an everyday player and just needs to find himself on the bases more often to use his abilities.
Los Angeles Angels РJos̩ Soriano, SP
His fastball sits 98–100 mph with legitimate secondary pitch development confirmed this spring. If the slider and changeup click, his stuff rivals any mid-rotation arm in the format at essentially zero cost. He also just had. An exceptional outing where he held the Astors scoreless. This could be the year he puts it all together.
Oakland Athletics – Tyler Soderstrom, LF/1B
In his first full MLB season in 2025, he hit .276 with 25 HR, 93 RBI, and a 125 wRC+, and finished as a Gold Glove finalist. He is also an elite at producing hard hits, with over 49.8% of his hits being such. He’s a double-eligible OF/1B, playing in one of baseball’s most hitter-friendly parks, and an insanely high upside lineup. His last year was just the start of Soderstrom’s great future. The A’s believe in him. You should, too.
Seattle Mariners – Cole Young, 2B
Cole Young had an up-and-down rookie year, but the offseason work was immediately obvious. He led the Mariners in spring training with 6 HR and a 1.093 OPS. Spring training was his playground, and he shone very bright for the Mariners. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said he looks “unbelievable right now”, and several Mariners veterans have predicted 20–25 HR this season. His power is real, and he hit a bomb in the season opener.
Texas Rangers – Evan Carter, OF
Elite speed, committed every day CF role, and a 10 HR / 30+ SB ceiling. He’s speed personified on the diamond. I know that sometimes we get overzealous with predictions, but in a world where stolen bases are gold, Carter might be the best pure speed play available in the back half of your entire draft, or on the wire. He’s certainly someone to keep an eye on throughout the season, especially if you require steals.
Breakout Players – NL EAST
Atlanta Braves – Drake Baldwin, C/DH
Drake Baldwin had one of the better rookie catcher seasons we’ve seen in a while in 2025, and he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award to prove it. In 446 plate appearances, he hit 19 HR, drove in 80 runners, and posted an .810 OPS. His Statcast profile was equally impressive; he gave us a really nice 353 xwOBA, .272 xBA, and .480 xSLG. Did I mention that he was also an elite defender? He’s one of the best blocking catchers in the MLB. Baldwin’s bat is really pure, and if he’s not a catcher, he will get a ton of DH shares too. gets the lion’s share of at-bats in a Braves lineup built to score runs. For a catcher eligible player with 20+ HR upside in that lineup, his ADP is criminally undervalued.
Miami Marlins – Xavier Edwards, 2B/SS
Xavier Edwards is one of the purest contact hitters in the MLB, full stop. In 2025, he led the Marlins with a .283 average, 75 runs, and 27 stolen bases while posting a 14.2% strikeout rate, which landed him the 12th lowest among all qualified NL hitters. His sprint speed is in the 75th percentile, and he was tied for fourth in all of baseball with 33 infield hits last season. Clearly showing his speed capacity and contact-first approach. What we do know is that he definitely is not a power hitter at all. But, if you want a consistent contact and steals guy, he is a phenomenal option! This year, he looks to continue to grow his skillset and could bring back even more production with this reimagined Miami lineup.
New York Mets – Carson Benge, OF
On Opening Day 2026, Carson Benge made his MLB debut and immediately homered. As if his breakout wasn’t already going to happen, he does that. He’s made a real name for himself in the Mets organization and has become an everyday player and a key contributor to their already stacked lineup. The Mets present to be one of the best offences in the majors, and he will help make it happen. His upside is clear, and he brings value with his fielding, his bat, and his speed. A great combo and key piece for the Mets moving forward.
Philadelphia Phillies – Justin Crawford, OF
If you didn’t already know, he is the son of Carl Crawford, and yes, the bloodline is very real. In 2025, Justin won the International League batting title at .334 with a .411 OBP and 46 stolen bases at just 21 years old. He has an exceptional combination of contact and blitzing speed. He just made his MLB debut as the everyday Phillies CF, hitting ninth in the order, giving him a ton of potential to gather steals and runs. If you didn’t know, His father stole 480 career bases, and Justin provides a similar level of speed. Don’t be shocked if the kid has 40 stolen bags at the end of the year. The speed for Justin is quite literally “generational”.
Washington Nationals РNasim Nu̱ez, 2B/SS
In spring training, Nasim rightfully claimed the starting second base job. For Nasim, the only breakout coming is in the aspect of speed. That’s pretty much all of it with Nasim. With an uber elite 30 feet per second spring speed, he lands in the 99th percentile of all MLB runners. In Triple-A, he had 46 swipes on 53 attempts. For Nasim, the real upside is speed and everyday accumulation. In deep leagues, he could single-handedly win your steals. 40+ steals upside is very real.
Breakout Players – NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs – Daniel Palencia, RP
If you weren’t watching the WBC, let me fill you in. Palencia threw 5 innings across the tournament without allowing a single run or hit, striking out 9 hitters against the best players on the planet. It was truly tremendous. Then, he closed out the WBC Championship game for Venezuela against Team USA, striking out Kyle Schwarber to seal it. Once again showing his closing capabilities. Crying on the mound while delivering absolute heaters. He’s the Cubs’ confirmed closer, also a shutdown reliever in his prime who will get all the opportunities. 30+ saves is my expectation.
Cincinnati Reds – Sal Stewart, 1B
Everyone already knows Sal Stewart, but this year, literally everyone will learn his name. Sal came up in September of last year and hit 5 HR in 55 at-bats with an OPS over .800, and then went and had a ridiculous spring where he put up .327/.450/.592 with 3 HR and 11 RBI in 20 spring games. Then on Opening Day, batting cleanup against AL Cy Young favorite Garrett Crochet, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, becoming the first rookie in Reds history with 3+ hits on Opening Day. He is absurdly good, makes great contact, and hits the ball very hard. He’s 22 years old, batting cleanup with real power, and this is his year to put it all together. The ceiling is untapped for Sal, and he’s going to make major noise this year.
Milwaukee Brewers – Chad Patrick, SP
Patrick has been a long-time Triple-A tweener, but this year, he could really step into a solid role. In 2025, he was second on the entire Brewers pitching staff, behind only Freddy Peralta. He then struck out 11 in 9 postseason frames and allowed just two runs on the biggest stage of his career. His arsenal is honestly quite weird and irregular. Patrick has a mix of seven pitches headlined by an 87.9 mph cutter and a sinker, with his four-seam and cutter both grading at 111 and 114 Stuff+, respectively. He has a bunch of decent tools, but nothing that completely overwhelms. He is definitely a more movement-based pitcher who doesn’t rely on velo. and he fools hitters with movement variety rather than pure velocity. In 2026, Chad Patrick is a lock in the Brewers rotation, and his first game already saw him obtain a 2.08 ERA. For fantasy, he’ll be super cheap, probably not rostered, and a consistently viable streaming option.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Bubba Chandler, SP
This is one of the cleanest pitching breakout cases this year. It’s really easy to see how clear it is. Chandler was MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 pitching prospect heading into 2025 and delivered on his debut. He went 4-1, 4.02 ERA, 31 K in 31.1 innings with a 30% whiff rate, 25% strikeout rate, and only 3% walk rate. He has absolutely electric stuff, and managed to win 4 games for the Pirates, which speaks volumes to his ability. He’s opening 2026 in the Pirates’ starting rotation as the No. 4 starter, behind only Skenes, Keller, and Mlodzinski. A full season of that profile is a 3.50 ERA, 9+ K/9 arm with so much room to make waves for the Pirates. He has such high upside, and surely sharing a Bullpen with Cy Young winner Paul Skenes can help him out.
St. Louis Cardinals – JJ Wetherholt, 2B
Drafted 7th overall in 2024 out of West Virginia, and he wasted zero time proving he belongs. His spring training lit a fire across the league, and the Cardinals had no choice but to make him a starter. In 2025 across Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .306/.421/.510 with 17 HR, 23 SB, and nearly as many walks as strikeouts across 109 games. Then on Opening Day 2026, in just his second career at-bat, he launched a 425-foot solo homer at 101.7 mph exit velocity. Then two days later, he hit a walk-off single in extras. The Cardinals are going to let him get a ton of opportunities. He’ll get so much time to grow and be even better than he already is.
Breakout Players – NL WEST
Arizona Diamondbacks – Jordan Lawlar, 3B/OF
Lawlar’s 2025 was a second consecutive injury-plagued mess; it saw him have thumb surgery in March, hamstring issues in June, and more. However, when he finally got to Triple-A, he put up a very dominant .313/.967 OPS in 63 games with 50 RBI and 20 stolen bases, earning PCL All-Star honors. In April alone, he slashed .408/.487/.749 and won PCL Player of the Month. He has a 5-tool prospect pedigree as the 6th overall pick in 2021, and his 3B/OF eligibility adds multi-position fantasy versatility. A full healthy season is a legitimate 15 HR / 20 SB. He’s solid, and if he can stay healthy, he’s a really nice outfielder in a ton of deep leagues.
Colorado Rockies – Ezequiel Tovar, SS
Tovar’s 2025 was rough. He was dealing with some lingering hip and oblique injuries, which saw him only feature in 95 games with only 9 HR and a .253 average. But let’s not forget what 2024 looked like: 26 HR, a league-leading 45 doubles, 78 RBI, and a 3.8 WAR in 157 games. Now, He also just became a WBC Champion with Venezuela and is an everyday shortstop at Coors Field. In 2026, a healthy Tovar is projected for 23 HR, 39 doubles, 90 RBI. We all know Tovar is great, but another leap, while remaining healthy, could see him have an exceptional season.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Andy Pages, OF
People remember Pages getting benched in the 2025 World Series, but what they’re forgetting is the other 156 games where he hit .272 with 27 HR, 86 RBI, 14 SB, and posted a 4.1 fWAR. He was tied for 4th among all center fielders in baseball. He was amazing all year round and a staple in the Dodgers lineup. His 113 wRC+ ranked in the top five for the position. He then homered on Opening Day 2026 to kick off the new season. He’s batting eighth in the deepest lineup in baseball, and his preseason price of 27 HR, 4.1 WAR center fielder in that lineup should cost. Stop sleeping on this guy.
San Diego Padres – Jackson Merrill, OF
Injuries destroyed Merrill’s 2025 counting stats, but his underlying profile never moved an inch. Per Baseball Savant, Merrill has an 85th percentile hard-hit rate, elite sprint speed, .490 xSLG, and so much more to love. When he’s healthy, we’ve seen All-Star flashes. A healthy 2026 is a .270 AVG, 25 HR, 25 SB. Merrill is one of my favorite candidates for a premier bounce-back. He’s the same hitter he was in 2024 when he looked like a top-30 pick. His 2026 outlook presents itself very nicely, and he could smash his projections by simply staying healthy.
San Francisco Giants – Bryce Eldridge, 1B
Yes, he was optioned to start 2026, but this is a 21-year-old who hit .260/.333/.510 with 25 HR across Double-A and Triple-A last year. Also, last year, he was the youngest position player in the entirety of the majors when he made his debut for the Giants. When he was up for a brief stint, his average EV of 95.6 mph sat between Oneil Cruz and Aaron Judge. Also, he registered a 25% barrel rate and 68.8% hard-hit rate, which places him in the 99th percentile. This year, the Giants’ first base situation is very weak. When Eldridge gets the call, and it will happen, he could be the best free agent pickup of your entire fantasy season. Stash him now and be patient.
That concludes my analysis for some breakouts and leaps in 2026! Featuring one player for every MLB team!
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