Fantasy Baseball Hitter Sleepers: Mid-To-Late Round Draft Targets (2026)

February 17, 2026

Marty's 2026 fantasy baseball draft sleepers for hitters. These undervalued hitters are mid-to-late round draft targets who should outperform their draft cost.

Fantasy baseball drafts are right around the corner, which makes now the perfect time to start preparing for the season. While most fantasy managers are well-researched through the first 10 rounds, that’s rarely where leagues are won. History shows that championship teams are often built in the middle and late rounds of the draft.

In this article, we’ll highlight five sleeper hitters after pick 200 that offer breakout potential or a safe floor of consistent production. For this exercise, we analyzed the draft boards of the most recent NFBC Draft Champion Leagues.

These five players can either elevate your team to the next level or help you shore up some key categories. While you are assembling your team on draft day, be sure to strike a balance between unproven high-ceiling players and steady veteran contributors. Now let's take a look.

Sal Stewart, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

Recent ADP: 207

Heading into 2026, Sal Stewart’s playing time has been a concern for many drafters, which has contributed to his current Average Draft Position (ADP). Fortunately for fantasy owners, the Reds are trying everything they can to find a lineup spot for the 22-year-old out of Miami. Cincinnati's manager, Terry Francona, just released some very exciting news regarding his defensive versatility.

In camp, Stewart will see time at first and second base, which should provide him with daily opportunities to enter the starting nine. The young infielder also has the skills to play some third base and outfield. Either way, he is projected to be the second-best hitter on the team according to wRC+, so he shouldn’t have any trouble finding a home on the diamond.

If the 6-foot-1 slugger can stay healthy, he should have a clear path to at least 500 plate appearances. With his raw power, he has a strong chance to eclipse 25 home runs while collecting plenty of counting stats in the middle of Cincinnati’s lineup.

After raking in the minors in 2025, Stewart made his MLB debut in September and immediately showed off his ability to do damage. In just 58 plate appearances, he launched five home runs while posting a .291 ISO, a 17.5% barrel rate, and a .289 xBA.

Although Stewart’s 25.9% strikeout rate raises some red flags, he struck out only 16.6% of the time across 404 minor-league plate appearances. As he gains MLB experience, it's reasonable to envision him lowering his strikeout rate closer to league average.

Another feather in his cap is that he plays half of his games in the Queen City. Great American Ball Park ranked as the fourth-most home run–friendly park for right-handed hitters in 2025. By the 2026 All-Star break, Stewart could have 1B/2B eligibility while hitting behind Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suarez in one of the most historically hitter-friendly environments in baseball.

Stewart is a high upside play at a shallow position and should have no problem being worth his current ADP.

Heliot Ramos, OF, San Francisco Giants

Recent ADP: 213

After a certain point in the draft, it becomes nearly impossible to find everyday outfielders. In an era dominated by platoon bats, Heliot Ramos is one of the last outfielders you can count on to play as many games as possible.

In 2025, Ramos played 157 games on his way to 21 home runs, 85 runs, 69 RBI, and six stolen bases while slashing .256/.328/.400 with a career-low 22.7% strikeout rate across a career-high 695 plate appearances. The 26-year-old is just now entering his prime, and he continues to improve at the plate.

The former first-round pick out of Puerto Rico has decreased his strikeout rate over the past two seasons while improving his contact rate from 73% in 2024 to 78% in 2025.

For 2026, ATC projects Ramos for 22 home runs, 74 runs, 71 RBI, with six steals and a .252/.318/.421 slash line. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, his projected 145 combined runs and RBI are the highest counting-stat total among outfielders remaining on the board.

There’s also a chance Ramos hasn’t fully tapped into his power yet. In 2025, he hit a ball 116 mph (97th percentile), and in 2024, he posted a 14.5% barrel rate (92nd percentile) with a .200 ISO. A breakout season is on the table if Ramos can find the right blend of contact and power.

Overall, the Giants' left fielder has one of the safest profiles available at his current ADP. He contributes across four categories and can chip in with at least five stolen bases. If you are looking for steady production, look no further.

Wilyer Abreu, OF, Boston Red Sox

Recent ADP: 224

Wilyer Abreu has been one of the best platoon bats in baseball over the past few seasons, and the Red Sox have made it clear that he’ll see more time against left-handed pitching in 2026. For fantasy, this means more counting stats with a potentially lower batting average.

Despite being limited to 115 games last season due to oblique and calf injuries, Abreu still hit 22 home runs with 53 runs, 69 RBI, and six stolen bases with a .247 batting average. He also posted a career-high 12.3% barrel rate (77th percentile). Not only can the 26-year-old hit, but he is one of the best right fielders in MLB. Last year, he won his second consecutive AL Gold Glove Award.

With his playing time solidified, the young Venezuelan native will have the opportunity to reach a career-high in plate appearances. For 2026, Abreu projects to hit up to 25 home runs and steal 10 bases while hitting around .245. If he can stay healthy and afloat against southpaws, it’s possible his ceiling is even higher.

Gleyber Torres, 2B, Detroit Tigers

Recent ADP: 237

Gleyber Torres remains one of the most underrated players in fantasy baseball, but with good reason. Torres hasn't hit more than 20 home runs since 2023, and he plays in one of the biggest ballparks in baseball. However, under the hood, Torres’ profile is a sight to behold.

In 2025, the 29-year-old All-Star posted a .363 xwOBA while rarely striking out and walking at one of the highest rates in the majors. More impressively, Torres produced those numbers while playing through a sports hernia injury for nearly half the season.

In the first half, Torres slashed .280/.393/.503 with nine home runs, 51 runs scored, 45 RBI, and four stolen bases. For comparison, Torres didn't have any steals in the second half and hit only .223/.320/.339. Although we don't know exactly when he sustained the injury, it clearly affected his performance.

Torres underwent sports hernia surgery right after the season and is expected to be ready for spring training. As the everyday second baseman in Motown, Torres conservatively projects for 18 home runs, 80 runs scored, 69 RBI, and six stolen bases, while slashing .257/.343/.400 across 643 plate appearances.

On draft day, the Venezuelan native could be your second baseman if you decided to wait on the position, or a very strong middle infielder. His blend of batting average, counting stats, and modest speed makes him a bargain at his current ADP.

Matt Wallner, OF, Minnesota Twins

Recent ADP: 310

Much has been made this offseason about how difficult it is to find power late in drafts. While that is true, Matt Wallner represents one of the last legitimate 30-homer threats available outside the early rounds. However, Wallner also has the lowest floor of anyone on this list.

In 2025, the 28-year-old out of Southern Mississippi hit a career-high 22 home runs while slashing .202/.311/.464 across a career-high 392 plate appearances. The batting average is an obvious concern, but his career-low .228 BABIP suggests he’s more likely a .230 hitter than someone flirting with the Mendoza Line.

Wallner also showed strong plate discipline, walking at nearly a 12% clip (84th percentile) while improving his contact rate from 64% to 67%. While still below league average, the upward trend is encouraging. When Wallner does make contact, the results are loud. The former 39th overall pick in the 2019 draft posted a 13.8% barrel rate (85th percentile) and an average bat speed of 76.6 mph (96th percentile).

Entering 2026, Wallner is positioned to hit in the heart of the Twins’ lineup and is projected for a 118 wRC+. But how many at-bats should we realistically project for him? That remains the key question. Throughout his career, Wallner's playing time has been limited because he struggles against left-handed pitchers and is often injured. Across four MLB seasons, Wallner has hit only .181 against southpaws with 63 strikeouts in 205 plate appearances.

Over that same time span, he has only played in 273 games. In 2025, he missed time due to a left hamstring strain, a right oblique strain, and back spasms. Another one of Wallner’s biggest flaws is his 29.1% strikeout rate. However, that was actually an improvement from his 36.4% strikeout rate in 2024. Overall, Wallner fits the mold of a classic three-true-outcomes hitter.

For 2026, if Wallner continues to improve his contact rate and cuts down on the whiffs, he has the power to reach 30 home runs in 500 plate appearances. That said, his inability to stay healthy or hit lefties could limit his at-bats. If you do decide to draft him, make sure you have already loaded up on hitters with strong batting averages.

After a long winter, the fantasy baseball season is finally upon us. As you prepare, use this article as a guide to build your team in the late and middle rounds. If you have any comments or questions, please always feel free to reach me on X at @Marty_Tallman. Good luck this season!

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