5 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Draft Values - Outfield Gems to Know for 2026

March 9, 2026

Zach's fantasy baseball prospect sleepers and outfield draft values for 2026. These rookies and young studs are hidden gems with upside based on their ADPs.

Outfield is a critical but unique position for fantasy baseball. Unlike other positions, every MLB team plays multiple outfielders in every game, and most fantasy baseball formats require plenty of depth at the position. As a result, you need a unique strategy for building your roster at the position. One top strategy is to target top fantasy baseball prospects ready to break through and establish themselves as viable fantasy options.

Whether you already stacked your roster with elite options at the position as a core of your team or neglected it until late in the draft, finding late-round hidden gems is critical to success for a 162-game grind. Even if your outfield is fully stocked and out of space, a breakout performer can be great for trade value later in the season.

Since the outfield position is so deep overall, there are plenty of options very late in drafts, and many of them are prospects that bring lots of potential. In this post, we'll run down my top five hidden gems in the outfield, focusing on players going undrafted or extremely cheaply in most leagues. Some of these options may even start the season in the minor leagues, but they have the potential to produce this season. Be sure to understand how your league allows you to stash minor leaguers on the bench or inactive list, and at least keep a very close eye on these players on the waiver wire as the season gets underway. For this piece, we are referencing ADP from NFBC drafts as of February 15.

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Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians

ADP: 297.5

As you near pick 300 in your drafts, one outfielder with huge upside to keep a close eye on is Guardians' rookie Chase DeLauter. His main issues during his career have been injuries, but when he's healthy, he usually produces solid numbers. He made his MLB debut in the playoffs last season and looks set for an everyday role in Cleveland this year.

DeLauter comes loaded with plenty of raw power, and he has shown that throughout his rise to the majors.

.@CleGuardians top prospect Chase DeLauter hit this ball out of sight.

Literally...😳 pic.twitter.com/JPYszPrfvF

— MLB (@MLB) February 29, 2024

He had a huge spring training in 2024, going 13-for-25 with four homers and 10 RBI, but he was limited to just 85 games in Double-A, Triple-A, and the Arizona Fall League over the last two years. He had tons of hype, but with all the injuries, he's now entered post-hype sleeper territory. In those 85 games, he has posted a .274/.373/.474 slash line with 13 homers, a 13 BB%, and only a 13 K%. he has excellent metrics and exit velocity, with few holes in his swing.

DeLauter led off the first game of spring training for the Guardians, but will probably slot second behind Steven Kwan or hit lower in the lineup depending on how he performs. Since the Garudians gave him his MLB debut in the postseason last year, it seems likely that he'll break camp with the team and play a full season in one of their outfield spots, where he could provide a much-needed offensive upgrade.

The key with DeLauter is his ability to stay healthy, but if he can clear that hurdle, he could be a breakout this season and become an outfield fixture for fantasy baseball for many years to come.

Carson Benge, New York Mets

ADP: 352.1

The Mets are also hoping to start the year with a rookie in one of their outfield spots. They shifted Juan Soto to left field to possibly open the door for Benge to get the everyday job in right field.

With Juan Soto moving to left field, will the Mets turn to MLB's No. 16 overall prospect Carson Benge to play right?@Joelsherman1 weighs in on the possibility. pic.twitter.com/BArMnjwSpT

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 16, 2026

Benge is the No. 16 overall prospect in baseball coming into the season, according to MLB Pipeline, and he has a very high ceiling if he can get regular playing time in New York's outfield.

The athletic lefty was a first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and quickly climbed three levels in the farm system in 2025. He slashed .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 steals in 116 games across three levels, and even though he had an extremely low average in Triple-A, most of that was due to a very low BABIP. He still hit the ball well, though, with a 52.8% hard-hit rate.

It may not be the easiest transition to the majors, but he has enough home run and stolen base potential to be a great sleeper grab late in drafts. His ADP could rise if he has a big spring, but even if he starts in Triple-A, he should earn the call to Queens early in 2026.

Owen Caissie, Miami Marlins

ADP: 461.5

Caissie was the key piece in the trade that sent Edward Cabrera to the Cubs, and he immediately became a big part of the Marlins' short-term and long-term plan. The 23-year-old is another lefty with great upside in multiple categories if he can earn a starting job right away.

In 2020, he was drafted by the Padres, who traded him to the Cubs in exchange for Yu Darvish, and then the Cubs flipped him to the Marlins this offseason. Along the way, he did make his MLB debut last year, playing in 12 games for the Cubs last summer, going 5-for-26 (.192) with a double, a walk, and his first MLB home run:

BIG RED ENERGY. pic.twitter.com/Uzj92CxcfO

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 19, 2025

Over the last two years in Triple-A, he hit .281/.380/.507 with 41 homers, and he has proven he can mash at that level. If he can translate that power to the majors, he could be an instant contributor for the Marlins, whose lineup has significant pop after the last few rounds of prospects have had success in the majors.

Caissie hit a blistering .345 with three homers and a .424 wOBA in his last 23 games in the minors, so even if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster, he'll likely be an early-season arrival.

He may not be in as strong a lineup as Benge in the NL East, but that could actually play into his favor since Miami can have a longer leash and let him work through any adjustment periods. He doesn't have the speed upside that Benge brings, but actually has a little more power potential. Either lefty prospect is a nice hidden gem to grab late, since they could be breakthrough contributors if they can put together a strong spring and earn regular playing time.

Walker Jenkins, Minnesota Twins

ADP: 619.5

Let's keep the train of lefties with strong swings and lots of upside rolling! Thankfully, there's no need to avoid making your fantasy baseball team too lefty-heavy.

Jenkins isn't being drafted right now in most formats, but the 21-year-old has an incredibly high ceiling if he reaches the majors this season. He will likely start the season in Triple-A, but if you can carry him, he could be a difference-maker down the road.

He's already doing impressive things in spring training:

MLB's No. 14 prospect Walker Jenkins knocks an RBI double in his first spring AB for the @Twins pic.twitter.com/xGuXZdLYwt

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 21, 2026

Jenkings was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, and he has a strong chance to make his MLB debut at some point this season. He probably would have already made the majors if it weren't for injuries slowing him down the last few years. In 2024, he was limited to 82 games, and in 2025, he played 84 games, missing almost half of each season.

He missed time at the start of last year with an ankle injury, but he finished the season strong, hitting .296 with five doubles, a triple, and two homers in his 17 games in Triple-A in September. While he may not have the raw power potential of Caissie, he has an excellent approach and contact feel, and also has above-average speed for stolen base potential.

The big obstacles with Jenkins are his health and his MLB readiness. He hasn't played as much time at Triple-A and may not start the season in the majors. If he has a big spring or injuries open up playing time, though, he'll be a great option with a shot at contending for American League Rookie of the Year. The Twins lineup could use some sizzle, and Jenkins can bring it if he's healthy.

Max Clark, Detroit Tigers

ADP: 675.4

Further down the road, Clark could be the best prospect of all these hidden gems in the outfield. In fact, he's the No. 10 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. That is based on his overall prospect potential, though, not on his ability to contribute this season. Clark is a truly special prospect, but he's probably too far away for redraft formats this season.

If you're in a deep league or looking to take a flier, though, he's worth a look as a hidden gem late to strengthen your outfield. Clark had a blistering second half of 2025 and showed huge signs of future potential.

Max Clark's 2nd half of 2025 was a great sign of what's to come in the future. In 267 PA:

.287/.393/.484
.877 OPS
10 HR
10 SB
39/48 BB/K

After reaching AA in 2025, the 21-year-old looks to force the Tigers hand and earn a big league call-up in 2026. pic.twitter.com/qgdRFMeAL5

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) February 5, 2026

That production was in High-A and Double-A, though, and he has yet to spend any time in Triple-A. Unless injury or an incredible spring shifts the timeline, he's most likely to start the season in Toledo with the Mud Hens.

Long-term, Clark profiles as an elite leadoff hitter with decent power and outstanding stolen base upside. His above-average plate discipline and swing decisions should pay off right away when he does get to the majors. He's still only 21 years old, though, so the Tigers could try to give him another full season in the minors, or at least a long buildup before summoning him.

Much of that will depend on the health and progression of Parker Meadows, Kerry Carpenter, and Matt Vierling. All three of those outfielders have had injury issues, and if any of them go down, it could open the door for Clark to arrive earlier.

At this point, he's a wild card in redraft leagues because of his uncertain arrival date, but he's definitely someone you'll want to have on your roster once he arrives in the majors, making him a hidden gem worth stashing.

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