Key Hitter Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Know for 2026 Drafts

March 5, 2026

Joey's top hitter fantasy baseball prospects and draft sleepers for 2026. He discusses key MLB prospects, rookies and call-ups to target for fantasy baseball.

Every season, there are prospects who come into the majors and immediately make an impact. These players then become league winners for your fantasy baseball team. Just look at Paul Skenes in 2024 and Nick Kurtz in 2025. Both players started the season down in the minors and carried fantasy managers through the playoffs.

In this article, we will look at the top hitting prospects in baseball who could make a similar impact in 2026. Most of the prospects featured on this list are expected to make their team's Opening Day roster and could produce in fantasy right away. All five of these prospects are also ranked inside the top 55 on MLB Pipeline's recent prospect rankings.

So, let's look at which hitting prospects fantasy managers should be familiar with heading into the 2026 fantasy baseball drafts. These hitters should be on your fantasy radars in the middle to late rounds. All ADP referenced is from NFBC drafts since February 1.

Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Current ADP: 181.4
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 1 overall
2025 MiLB stats: 122 G, .333/.415/.527, 21 HRs, 94 RBI, 65 SB 

There is no prospect in baseball more hyped up than Konnor Griffin. Despite only playing one minor league season, the overall No. 1 prospect has been compared to both Mike Trout and Bobby Witt Jr. so far this offseason. That's how good many analysts think Griffin can be in the majors.

The Pirates prospect wasted no time making an impact in the spring, as he launched two towering home runs in a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox on February 24. His first homer came against an All-Star caliber pitcher in Ranger Suarez, and the second one was a towering 440-foot home run over the "Green Monster" in left-center field.

Konnor Griffin ... WOW 🤯

MLB's No. 1 prospect goes yard AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/F1VTJnWlWB

— MLB (@MLB) February 24, 2026

It's obvious that the talent is there for Griffin. He dominated at all three levels last season (Single-A, High-A, and Double-A), and his metrics were simply elite. He ranked in the 85th percentile or better in expected batting average (.334), expected slugging (.419), max exit velocity (114.2 mph), hard-hit rate (48.7%), and sprint speed.

The biggest question surrounding Griffin now is when he will make his major league debut. He has a clear path to make the Pirates' Opening Day roster, but the team could let him start the season in Triple-A before calling him up. Either way, the top overall prospect in baseball should be on fantasy radars. Managers should expect his ADP to rise gradually over the next few weeks.

Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles

Current ADP: 171.4
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 8 Overall
2025 AAA stats: 76 G, .270/.377/.589, 23 HRs, 67 RBI

Fantasy managers actually saw a glimpse of Samuel Basallo in the major leagues last year. The No. 8 overall prospect was called up by the Orioles in mid-August. However, Basallo definitely had his struggles in his first taste of the big leagues. He batted just .165 with four home runs, six doubles, and 15 RBI across 118 plate appearances in 2025.

It really wasn't a great first stint for Basallo in the majors last season. He wasn't hitting the ball hard, struck out at a high level, and appeared to be a bit overmatched at the plate. But getting that experience under his belt could actually help him be a solid all-around hitter in 2026. Don't forget, he made his major league debut at just 21 years old.

So, Basallo has the potential to really turn things around in his first full major league season. This is a player who was among the top Triple-A hitters last year. The Orioles prospect ranked in the 95th percentile or better in xwOBA (.424), expected slugging (.617), average exit velocity (94.2 mph), max exit velocity (115.9 mph), barrel rate (21%), and hard-hit rate (57.4%). It's hard to ignore that power at the plate.

With Basallo expected to be Baltimore's designated hitter in 2026, he is a top prospect to consider grabbing in fantasy baseball drafts. He could realistically be a top home run hitter at the catcher position this year. The power and playing time opportunities should both be there for the No. 8 overall prospect in baseball.

Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals

Current ADP: 184.5
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 18 overall
2025 MiLB stats: 111 G, .290/.377/.501, 20 HRs, 76 RBI, 10 SB

It took the Kansas City Royals just 20 games to realize how good top prospect Carter Jensen can be in the big leagues. Jensen made his major league debut in early September of last season and slashed .300/.391/.550 with three home runs, six doubles, and 13 RBI across 69 plate appearances. He was easily Kansas City's best hitter during that month.

Do not leave your upcoming drafts without Carter Jensen.

Currently going 198.0 overall according to NFBC ADP.

The kids Baseball Savant page is decked out in red and is backed up by his Minor league stats.

He should get close to every day playing time.

pic.twitter.com/Z4APwHUPkK

— Nicho Roessler (@NichoRoessler) February 22, 2026

It's not surprising to see Jensen tear it up in the majors. He is currently the No. 18 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline, and this is a hitter who has put up solid numbers all throughout his minor league career. In 2025, the 22-year-old catcher hit .290 with 20 home runs, 76 RBI, and 10 stolen bases across 111 games at Double-A and Triple-A.

The jump from Double-A to Triple-A last season also didn't affect Jensen at all. During his 43 games at Triple-A, the Royals prospect went on an unreal stretch. He ranked in the 93rd percentile or better in expected slugging (.527), average exit velocity (93.4 mph), barrel rate (14.7%), hard-hit rate (58.8%), and walk rate (16.3%).

As a result, Jensen is a prospect to know ahead of 2026 fantasy baseball drafts. He is set to make the Royals' Opening Day roster and should be in the lineup every day as a catcher or designated hitter. The No. 18 overall prospect has the upside to contribute solid numbers in the batting average, home run, and stolen base categories.

Sal Stewart, 1B/3B, Cincinnati Reds

Current ADP: 191.6
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 22 overall
2025 MiLB stats: 118 G, .309/.383/.524, 20 HRs, 80 RBI, 17 SB

Cincinnati Reds prospect Sal Stewart has quickly risen in prospect rankings. Just one year ago, Stewart was ranked as the No. 84 prospect in baseball on MLB Pipeline. Now, he will enter the 2026 season as the No. 22 overall prospect following an incredible 2025 season.

Stewart dominated at both Double-A and Triple-A last year. He hit .306 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI, and 13 stolen bases across 80 games at Double-A, and then batted .315 with 10 home runs, 36 RBI, and four stolen bases across 38 games at Triple-A. With a 21% barrel rate and a .654 expected slugging in those 38 Triple-A games, it was apparent that Stewart needed to be in the majors.

So, the Reds eventually called him up in early September. Stewart then continued his dominance at the plate, as he hit .255 with five home runs, one double, and eight RBI across 58 plate appearances with Cincinnati. Those five home runs led all Reds players during the month of September, and the 22-year-old firmly put himself on the map.

That makes Stewart a sneaky selection at his late-round ADP. He showed in the minors that he can hit for a high average and total solid home run and stolen base numbers. Given that the Reds prospect is expected to put in Cincinnati's lineup every day, he is someone to keep a close eye on during fantasy baseball drafts.

Justin Crawford, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Current ADP: 275.6
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 53 overall
2025 AAA stats: 112 G, .334/.411/.452, 7 HRs, 47 RBI, 46 SB 

Philadelphia Phillies prospect Justin Crawford will have every opportunity to earn the starting center field job out of spring training. The Phillies moved on from Nick Castellanos this offseason, and that move opens up a roster spot for Crawford in center field. The No. 53 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline is definitely the favorite to earn that job.

Crawford is coming off a strong minor league campaign in 2025, in which he hit .334 with seven home runs, 47 RBI, and 46 stolen bases across 112 games at Triple-A. He ranked in the 70th percentile or better in expected batting average (.273), hard-hit rate (43.4%), strikeout rate (18%), and zone-contact rate (89.5%) last season and was a major threat on the basepaths all season long.

That stolen base upside is why fantasy managers should consider getting familiar with Crawford in fantasy baseball drafts. The Phillies prospect stole 47 bases in 87 games in 2023, stole 42 bases in 110 games in 2024, and stole 46 bases in 112 games in 2025. In each of those three Minor League seasons, Crawford also hit above .310 at the plate.

Justin Crawford and @Phillies skipper Rob Thomson discuss the spring debut of MLB's No. 53 prospect.

More on how the makeup and preparation of the club's 2022 first-rounder has impressed during camp: https://t.co/gUdg6INDbt pic.twitter.com/jKrqQt8ilb

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 22, 2026

If you are looking for some batting average and stolen base boosts in the later rounds, Crawford is a fantastic target. He should make the Phillies' Opening Day roster and should see the majority of starts in center field. Although the 22-year-old won't supply much in the home run or RBI department, he could steal upward of 30 bases in his rookie campaign.

Honorable Mentions

Other top fantasy baseball prospects to monitor:

• Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers
• JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals
• Owen Caissie, Miami Marlins
• Moises Ballesteros, Chicago Cubs

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