12 Breakout Fantasy Baseball Hitting Prospects: Draft Sleepers to Target (2026)

January 7, 2026

Marty's 12 top fantasy baseball prospects for redraft leagues in 2026. His top hitter sleeper and breakout picks, including Samuel Basallo, Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle, and more.

All offseason, fantasy managers search high and low for the next star prospect. Outside of a few legendary talents such as Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna Jr., it can be a fool's errand trying to figure out which young studs will help you win your next fantasy baseball championship. However, if you do the research and take the right calculated risk, you may be able to strike prospect gold.

Luckily, there’s a pretty simple formula for finding sleeper prospects: the player has to have the tools and skills to perform at the major-league level and the chance to play every day. Seems easy enough, right? Not so fast. For every Nick Kurtz, there are more than a dozen prospects that fail. With that said, every year, there are usually two or three developing stars that break the mold and lead you to a fantasy championship.

The goal of this article is to highlight the best up-and-coming prospects who are being drafted outside the top 150. Not every player on this list will open the 2026 campaign on a big-league roster, so it’s important to have a backup plan. As Opening Day gets closer, their roles should become clearer, so be sure to track their progress throughout the offseason. These are the top sleeper prospects that should be on your draft radar for 2026.

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Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles (ADP: 165)

Samuel Basallo has the kind of power that could translate into a 25-home-run season as soon as this year. The 21-year-old has already hit a ball 115.9 mph, while posting a 56.9% hard-hit rate in the minors. Even though we are still trying to figure out the importance of bat speed, we do know that the best home run hitters have the hardest swings.

His 75.5 mph average bat speed would be top-20 in the majors if he qualified, sandwiched between Detroit Tigers slugger Riley Greene and teammate Gunnar Henderson.

115.9 MPH exit velocity for Samuel Basallo!

That is the 6th highest e.v. swing across AAA baseball this season and Basallo's 17th swing with over a 100 MPH exit velo! pic.twitter.com/vzmOvasV7x

— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) May 8, 2025

For 2026, the O’s No. 1 prospect will split time mostly between first base and DH while filling in at catcher if Adley Rutschman needs a break. This should allow him to reach at least 500 at-bats, which is fantasy gold at the position. Basallo has the upside to be a top-10 catcher in 2026.

Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals (ADP: 210)

Carter Jensen enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign in the high minors, hitting 20 home runs while slashing .290/.377/.501 with 10 stolen bases across 492 plate appearances. The former third-round pick’s 12.2% walk rate also showed he has good plate discipline and pitch recognition. On September 1, the Royals called up Jensen, and his production did not slow down.

In 69 plate appearances, Jensen hit three home runs, barreling the ball 20.8% of the time. His high barrel rate, if he qualified, would have tied Phillies’ slugger Kyle Schwarber for fourth overall in MLB. The 22-year-old’s good eye continued in the majors as he walked 13% of the time while posting a respectable 77.50% contact rate. 

Salvador Perez is 35 years old and is better suited to play first base or designated hitter at this point in his career, so Jensen should split time between catching and DH. When it’s all said and done, he could be a top-15 catcher in fantasy this season.

Sal Stewart, 1B/3B, Cincinnati Reds (ADP: 224)

Sal Stewart is one of the safest prospects to draft in fantasy because he should play almost every day for the Reds. Stewart was another September call-up in 2025, and he wasted no time showcasing his power. In 58 plate appearances, he crushed five home runs with a .291 ISO. His Statcast profile highlights his ability to make hard contact.

The data also shows that the 21-year-old does have some swing-and-miss issues. However, Stewart struck out only 15.6% of the time across 494 plate appearances in the minors, so there’s reason to believe he can improve in that department. In a full season, the Reds’ No. 1 prospect could hit more than 25 home runs while collecting plenty of RBI in the middle of the lineup. 

Konnor Griffin, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates (ADP: 288)

Per MLB Pipeline, shortstop Konnor Griffin is the No. 1 prospect in the game. Griffin has succeeded at every level and has more tools than Tim Allen in Home Improvement. The only question is, will the Pirates allow him to break camp with the major league team? Maybe. Maybe not. Optimistically, the front office said he has a shot.

But the Pirates said the same thing about pitching prospect Bubba Chandler, and his debut was pushed all the way to late August. Like Chandler, Griffin has nothing more to prove in the minor leagues. Across three levels last year, he slashed .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs, 65 stolen bases, and a 165 wRC+ in 563 plate appearances.

The 19-year-old also showed off his plate discipline with a 21.7% strikeout rate and an 8.9% walk rate. Defensively, he won the 2025 MiLB Gold Glove Award.

Konnor Griffin is your 2025 MiLB Gold Glove winner at the Shortstop position ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/JiG35vQeXD

— Milb Central (@milb_central) November 3, 2025

Depending on when Griffin is called up, he has a 20 home run ceiling and a fighter's chance to steal more than 40 bases with a .270 batting average. Even if he doesn't start the season in the Steel City, he is worth stashing until the Pirates come to their senses. Fantasy owners shouldn’t reach too far for the young prospect, but if he is still available after pick 150, he is worth the investment.

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Detroit Tigers (ADP: 305)

Kevin McGonigle is considered the best pure hitter in the minor leagues. Across three levels in 2025, McGonigle slashed .305/.408/.583 with 19 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a 182 wRC+ while walking more than striking out. Defensively, scouts are split on whether he will be a major league shortstop or if he is a better fit at second or third base. Here is how McGonigle compares defensively to other top prospects. 

Source: Sports Info Solutions

In the Arizona Fall League, the 21-year-old played third base more than any other position, potentially foreshadowing his role in the majors. Either way, the Tigers are thin at all three infield spots, so he shouldn’t have a problem finding a home on the diamond.

Unfortunately, the front office has already said they are more focused on development rather than bringing him up right away. Which means it’s possible that he isn’t fantasy relevant until the middle of the summer. But once he is called up, he will be a strong option at middle or corner infielder for 12- and 15-team leagues.

Dylan Beavers, OF, Baltimore Orioles (ADP: 310)

After destroying the minors, the Orioles called up Dylan Beavers last season in the middle of August. Once in Baltimore, Beavers posted a 125 wRC+, hitting four home runs with 14 RBI and 16 runs scored, while also stealing two bases. The 24-year-old lefty bat was one of five outfielders with more than 100 plate appearances who posted at least a 79% contact rate, 9% barrel rate, and a 10% walk rate (Soto, Kyle Tucker, Lars Nootbaar, and Trent Grisham).

Dylan Beavers is a STEAL in early 2026 drafts, and even if the ADP moves up 30-40 spots, he'll still be a steal.

Good contact? ✅
Great approach? ✅
20/20 upside? ✅

Early 2026 ADP: 296.4 (OF 67)pic.twitter.com/oE7Btx4W0O

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) November 8, 2025

Defensively, he can play all three outfield positions, so playing time shouldn’t be an issue. For 2026, he could hit 20 home runs with 15 or more stolen bases. He’s worth a look in 12-team leagues.

JJ Wetherholt, SS, St. Louis Cardinals (ADP: 332)

The Cardinals are looking to field a younger team next year, which means JJ Wetherholt should be on the big-league roster sooner rather than later. Wetherholt is still developing his power, so right now, he profiles more as a contact hitter. In Double-A and Triple-A combined, he slashed .306/.421/.510 with 56 doubles, 17 home runs, and 23 steals while walking almost as many times as he struck out.

Wetherholt primarily played shortstop at West Virginia and in the minors, but the Cardinals will need him to play second or third base. With the current state of the Cards, he will either make the team out of camp or he will be promoted in late May or early June. If everything goes right, he could hit 12 or more home runs with 20 stolen bases and a .265 batting average in his rookie season.

Chase DeLauter, OF, Cleveland Guardians (ADP: 364)

Chase DeLauter is probably the biggest “what if?” prospect on this list. The 24-year-old has dealt with several foot injuries, which have limited our ability to see how his tools translate over a full season. Across four minor league levels, DeLauter has popped 20 home runs with eight stolen bases while slashing .302/.384/.504 in 583 plate appearances.

Last year, the Guardians' No. 2 prospect made his major league debut in the playoffs, where he collected one hit across seven plate appearances.

Scouts project him as a middle-of-the-order bat with good speed. Defensively, he profiles as a corner outfielder and should be on the Guardians' starting roster in 2026. Fantasy owners should draft him as one of their last outfielders in a 15-team league.

Justin Crawford, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (ADP: 442)

Justin Crawford is a speedy outfielder with excellent contact skills and the son of former major-leaguer Carl Crawford. The Phillies just announced that Crawford has a shot to make the big-league roster out of camp as the everyday center fielder. In Triple-A, the Phillies' third-ranked prospect collected seven home runs with 46 steals while slashing .334/.411/.452 across 506 plate appearances.

The 21-year-old will be fantasy relevant in 15-team leagues because of his speed and contact skills. Unfortunately, he hasn’t found a way to lift the ball yet, so you should expect minimal power with the capability to swipe 25 or more bags.

Bryce Eldridge, 1B/DH, San Francisco Giants (ADP: 500)

Bryce Eldridge is MLB Pipeline's 12th-ranked prospect, and he may have the most power out of any hitter on this list. In Triple-A, Eldridge hit 18 home runs with a .514 slugging percentage. However, like most young sluggers, he has contact issues and struggles against same-handed pitching.

In San Francisco, Eldridge will play first base and designated hitter. Due to his flaws, he has a low floor and should be drafted in leagues that allow you to make roster cuts. The best-case scenario is that he is the 2026 version of Kyle Manzardo.

Moises Ballesteros, C, Chicago Cubs (ADP:547)

If there were no such thing as defense, Moises Ballesteros would probably be ranked as a top-25 prospect instead of the 53rd. Ballesteros has shown elite bat-to-ball skills with just enough power to be a fantasy-relevant player in 2026. In Triple-A, the 22-year-old had a .278 xBA with a 13% strikeout rate and a 42.9% hard-hit rate.

Once in the majors, his performance proved he belonged. In 66 plate appearances, he slashed .298/.394/.474, with two home runs, good for a 143 wRC+.

During his time in MLB this season, we saw Moises Ballesteros use all parts of the field at the dish.

A look at all 17 of his major league hits: pic.twitter.com/zCZpu9NkJ9

— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) December 5, 2025

The 5-foot-8 Venezuelan’s biggest flaw is that he doesn’t have a defensive position. He has slow footwork and doesn’t have the arm to be an everyday catcher. When the Cubs called him up late last season, he played 18 of his 20 games at designated hitter. Even though the Cubs aren’t an offensive juggernaut, the fact that he doesn’t have a definitive defensive role could limit his at-bats, thus putting a ceiling on his overall production.

Carson Benge, OF, New York Mets (ADP: 557)

The 22-year-old left-handed hitter climbed three levels in his first full professional season, and because of the Brandon Nimmo trade to Texas, he has a chance to start the season in Queens. The Mets' No. 2 prospect made contact on 87% of pitches inside the zone at Triple-A, while striking out only 18.4% of the time.

He is an above-average runner and has the arm strength to play all three outfield positions. For fantasy, he is a late-round dart throw in a 15-team league, and he may not even get the starting job out of camp. But if he does, he is worth monitoring because he may be able to accumulate enough stats at the back end of the Mets lineup to help your fantasy squad.

Other prospects to keep on your radar

• Aidan Miller (SS) - Philadelphia Phillies
• Harry Ford (C) - Washington Nationals
• Carson Williams (SS) - Tampa Bay Rays
• Travis Bazzana (2B) - Cleveland Guardians
• Colt Emerson (SS) - Seattle Mariners
• Spencer Jones (OF) - New York Yankees
• Walker Jenkins (OF) - Minnesota Twins
• Joshua Baez (OF) - St. Louis Cardinals

Drafting prospects is always a gamble, but as the saying goes, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. If you do take the plunge, make sure you hedge your bet by drafting an established veteran at the same position. Over the next few months, it will be important to monitor news on each player to ensure you’re making the right investment on draft day.

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