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Mike Carter looks at five hitter fantasy baseball breakouts, sleepers off to hot starts in 2026. Are Travis Bazzana, Sam Antonacci, TJ Rumfield, Jake McCarthy, Caleb Durbin for real?
Through the early going of a fantasy baseball season, we are forced to reckon with tough decisions. Do we decide to stick with a player, or jettison them to the waiver wire and try to find a better replacement? It is hard to know when to do that each time. We can find breakout hitters on the waiver wire.
That is the nexus of this article. In this piece, we will look at five hitters who have been hitting well and could emerge as must-start players right now. This week, we feature a couple of younger veterans who are making a splash and three rookies leaving their mark.
The following hitters are rostered in around 40% or fewer leagues, and every week, we will give you two or three guys who are rostered less than 20% of the time in Yahoo leagues who could help your teams. Let's dive in! Any feedback on this new piece to @rotoballermlb or me, @mdrc0508, would be welcome.
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Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians
44% rostered
It was suggested when Bazzana was recalled from Triple-A that his speed and defense would play well at the major league level, and the bat would take some time to catch up. But Bazzana is playing well in Cleveland and has moved up to the leadoff spot in the batting order.
On the season, Bazzana is hitting .273 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 22 runs scored in 47 games played. He has gotten hot over the last seven days, hitting a robust .429 with three homers, seven RBI, and six runs.
Bazzana struggled earlier in June, hitting only .182, but is now looking like a long-term difference maker at the keystone in Cleveland, and a player who can help your squad, especially if you are hurting for production at second base.
Over the weekend, Bazzana hit two home runs on Saturday, also scoring three runs and knocking in five as well. Look for some cold stretches as he adjusts to major league pitching, but the former top overall pick is poised to stay in the lineup for the next 10 years.
Sam Antonacci, 2B/3B/OF, Chicago White Sox
32% rostered
Most people who read my work know that I am a diehard Chicago White Sox fan. I was able to watch Antonacci in the Arizona Fall League a couple of times this winter, and came away with the idea that his professional hitting and gritty attitude would get him to the Sox sooner than later.
I thought maybe late 2026 or early 2027. Well, I was wrong, and I can admit it. He is here, and he is here to stay. He is hitting leadoff most days for a competitive White Sox team, and he is even getting at-bats against left-handed pitching.
Over the last month, Antonacci has been hitting .286 with three home runs, 10 RBI, four stolen bases, and 17 runs. On the season, he is up to .286 with four homers, 19 RBI, nine stolen bases, and 36 runs. He is a viable player to have on your roster.
Filling a hole mostly in left field while also getting a shot at second base once a week, Antonacci is providing meaningful stats that should be rostered far more often. Fantasy players are starting to recognize that Antonacci can help their squads. Look at his Statcast box below.
Not only are his offensive skills quite good, but Antonacci has eligibility at second base, third base, and the outfield. You are getting solid three-category production in batting average, runs, and stolen bases.
TJ Rumfield, 1B, Colorado Rockies
28% rostered
Rumfield was not drafted in most leagues because no one saw a path to playing time for him in Colorado. Yet, he has been given an opportunity for daily at-bats for the Rockies, and Rumfield has made the most of it.
The rookie is hitting .279 with 12 home runs. 42 RBI, and 34 runs scored. Over the last two weeks, Rumfield has been hitting well, at .333 with five homers, 13 RBI, and nine runs scored, holding down the number three spot in the order.
Take a look at his spray chart below. He is hitting home runs and pulling the ball in the air with frequency. I also like that Rumfield has a .359 OBP and keeps his strikeout percentage low at 14.6%, and the walks up at 9.3%. The guy has some skills on offense here.
Here below, you can see that Rumfield's pulled air percentage is higher than the league average, and if he continues that trend, he could hit 30 home runs this season. If you are struggling with production at the first base position, take a deep look at Rumfield.
Jake McCarthy, OF, Colorado Rockies
12% rostered
Yes, I know. McCarthy isn't a good hitter and isn't a starter. I have heard that talk, too. But the thing is, he seems to have found a home in Colorado. Well, now, McCarthy is batting leadoff for the Rockies, and he is producing while playing left field daily.
McCarthy is hitting .295 with a surprising five home runs, 28 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 27 runs scored in his first season in Colorado. After a down season in 2025, the Arizona Diamondbacks jettisoned McCarthy, who looked destined for a bench role wherever he went.
He is well on pace to surpass his career highs established in 2024, when he hit .285 with eight homers, 56 RBI, 25 stolen bases, and 66 runs. His current.802 OPS would be a career-high for him. If you need outfield help, McCarthy could help you in both the short- and long-term.
Caleb Durbin, 2B/3B, Boston Red Sox
10% rostered
Durbin was a player who was heavily drafted later in winter drafts as an option if you missed on the top-tier third basemen. Some players, like yours truly, thought pairing him with someone like Matt Chapman might replicate good production at the third base spot.
His horrific start to the year, hitting .171 through April. scuttled that. To the waiver wire Durbin went, and rightfully so. However, he has shown signs of life that made him a great fantasy help in 2025 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Over the last three weeks, Durbin has been hitting .309 with four home runs, seven RBI, three stolen bases, and 10 runs scored. If you lost Jose Ramirez like many did, or are suffering through a subpar performance from Alex Bregman, maybe using Durbin in the interim makes sense for you.
Durbin is an exemplary case of why we look at current numbers relative to season totals. If I just look at his season batting average, which is .215, I miss out on a guy who is hitting over .300 the last three weeks. Dig a little deeper, and you might find a gem before anyone else in your league does.
That is the nature of this new weekly article. My best advice is not to be afraid to churn the bottom parts of your roster for guys like these, listed here, who can help now and into the future. Message me @mdrc0508 on X if you have questions or if I can help in any way.
Remember that fantasy baseball is supposed to be fun above all else, so have fun with your teams! Always get the players you like, and it makes the game even more fun! Next week, we will return with another edition highlighting more breakout hitters.
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