March 6, 2026
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold told ESPN 101 St. Louis that he thinks shortstop prospect
JJ Wetherholt "might be the best hitter in camp." Goold adds that Wetherholt is a "very polished," accomplished hitter with power that will "catch you by surprise." The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia has a mature approach at the plate for his age and appears to be the real deal. Barring something unforeseen, it's looking like he will break camp with the MLB roster and be in line for a starting spot on the infield to begin the 2026 regular season. So far through seven Grapefruit League games, Wetherholt has gone 4-for-12 (.333) with a homer, four RBI, five runs, a steal, seven walks, and only three strikeouts in 19 plate appearances. His ADP should continue to rise this spring as the third-best middle-infield prospect in 2026, behind only
Konnor Griffin and
Kevin McGonigle.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
March 6, 2026
San Francisco Giants first baseman
Rafael Devers (hamstring) is progressing well and could make his return to Cactus League action in spring training next week, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. As a precaution, the Giants recently shut Devers down from all baseball activities after he reported tightness in his hamstring late last month. Barring a setback, the 29-year-old left-handed hitter should be just fine for Opening Day later this month. The three-time All-Star had a falling out with the Boston Red Sox last year and was traded to the Giants, where he finished with a .236/.347/.460 slash line, .807 OPS, 20 home runs, 51 RBI, and 52 runs scored in 90 games. Devers clubbed 35 homers and drove in 109 runs overall in 163 games, and although he's not in a favorable hitter's park, he gives fantasy managers a solid floor. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 7 fantasy first baseman.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
March 6, 2026
Detroit Tigers catching prospect
Josue Briceno (wrist) had right-wrist surgery to fix something called the "extensor carpi ulnaris subsheath," and he's expected to be out for multiple months, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Briceno injured his wrist in a Grapefruit League game last weekend and is now looking at an extended absence in 2026. When he recovers from his wrist surgery, he will likely report to Double-A Erie to continue his development in the minor leagues. The 21-year-old Venezuelan backstop hit .266/.383/.500 with an .883 OPS, 20 home runs, 76 RBI, and 60 runs scored in 100 games with Erie and High-A West Michigan last year. Per MLB Pipeline, Briceno is the team's No. 4 prospect. He could eventually be moved to first base long-term. Briceno might be a long shot now to make his MLB debut in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
March 6, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) said the goal is to try to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "I don't know how it's going to heal, I don't know what the process is going to be like, but the goal is always to try to join the team for Opening Day," Pena said. The 28-year-old was diagnosed with a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger on Thursday, and he'll be re-evaluated in two weeks. The injury will force Pena to miss the World Baseball Classic for Team Dominican Republic, but he's hoping he'll be healed in time for the start of the 2026 regular season. If Pena goes on the injured list to start the year, either
Carlos Correa or
Nick Allen are the candidates to take over at the 6 in Houston. It's not a serious injury for Pena, but it's enough to have fantasy managers hesitant to take him as a low-end starting shortstop in upcoming drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
March 6, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Jackson Chourio (wrist) won't play in Team Venezuela's game against Team Netherlands on Friday in the World Baseball Classic. Chourio is dealing with a wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch on Wednesday. He underwent further testing that revealed a soft-tissue contusion, so there is no structural damage. It sounds like Chourio has avoided any significant injuries, which is a huge relief. He will be available to play defense and run during Friday's game. Team Venezuela is just going to play it safe and not have Chourio hit for at least one game and see how he's feeling. Barring any setbacks, Chourio should be physically fine in a few days.
--Andy WebbSource: Daniel Alvarez-Montes
March 6, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Carlos Correa (neck) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's contest against the Washington Nationals. Correa is dealing with neck stiffness, so the Astros will play it safe and give him the day off. Astros manager Joe Espada said the team will see how Correa feels on Saturday. That being said, it sounds like Correa should be viewed as day-to-day. A lengthy absence by Correa would be problematic with
Jeremy Pena (finger) already out. Luckily, it seems like Correa should be fine in a few days, so fantasy managers and Astros fans shouldn't have anything to worry about.
--Andy WebbSource: Matt Kawahara
March 6, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Brandon Woodruff (lat) is hopeful to be fully healthy for the 2026 season. When healthy, Woodruff is reliable, but keeping him on the mound has been a problem. Since 2023, Woodruff has only made 23 starts, which is a big red flag for fantasy managers. Woodruff made 12 starts in 2025 and looked like himself when he was on the mound. In fact, Woodruff posted a 32.2% strikeout rate, which was the best of his career. He was cruising along until a lat strain in September ended his season. As everyone says, Woodruff feels in good shape heading into next season. Given the track record, it's tough to believe that Woodruff can be relied on for a full season. He's a high-risk, high-reward option that is currently sitting around 120 ADP.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
March 6, 2026
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill needs a bounce-back campaign after injuries plagued him throughout the 2025 season. Merrill came into the league in 2024 and was outstanding as he finished ninth in MVP voting. His excellent rookie season led to many drafting him in the first three rounds during last year's drafts. Sadly, the 2025 season didn't go as planned for Merrill. He only played in 115 games due to injury. Many of his offensive numbers took a hit, but his walk rate and barrel rate both improved. His overall mechanics are solid, which means he should be able to bounce back, assuming he stays healthy. The 22-year-old said during the offseason that he feels more comfortable and physically prepared for the 2026 season. Given his age and upside, Merrill is looking like a steal at his current ADP.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
March 6, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman
Junior Caminero is coming off an excellent breakout campaign in 2025. The 22-year-old burst onto the scene with a .264/.311/.535 slash line with 45 home runs and 110 RBI in 154 games. His defense wasn't great, but Caminero has the potential to be a superstar in this league for a long time. The biggest question for Caminero next season will be can continue this success in a new field? Last season, Caminero enjoyed playing his home games in hitter-friendly Steinbrenner Field. His home run distribution was fairly even with (22) homers at home and (23) on the road. He sported a .313 batting average playing at home with a lousy .218 average in road games. The expectation is that his power numbers and overall offensive success will regress with the move back to Tropicana Field in 2026. Caminero is still a stud, but he's sitting around 15.7 ADP in some fantasy formats. That might be a little high for a player who is more than likely going to face an offensive regression this season.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
March 6, 2026
Miami Marlins outfield prospect
Owen Caissie has struggled in his first taste of action in spring training. The former 45th overall pick has posted an underwhelming .111/.273/.111 slash with a .384 OPS. Caissie has struck out six times (over nine at-bats) and only drawn two walks. Caissie was shipped to Miami earlier in the winter as the headliner piece in the deal that sent right-hander
Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs. Caissie made a brief debut in the majors last summer and posted a similar .192/.222/.346 line over his first 12 games. At Triple-A, Caissie held a .286/.386/.551 line with 28 doubles and 22 home runs over a 99-game stint. While Caissie may endure some growing pains as he finds his footing in the majors, he is a viable late-round depth outfielder with upside as he should face little competition for everyday at-bats in Miami.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 6, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher
Logan Henderson has been quite sharp in his first two appearances in spring training and remains in a prime position to begin the regular season in the starting rotation. Over his first four innings of work, Henderson has allowed just two runs (one earned) while posting a strong 0.50 WHIP. He has only struck out one batter but has yet to allow a free pass. Henderson made his MLB debut last summer and looked very comfortable in Milwaukee, tossing 25 1/3 innings to the tune of a 1.78 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He struck out 33 hitters and allowed free passes at a solid 8.1% rate. While Henderson has yet to be officially named to the rotation, he appears to be in a great position to slot in as the No. 4/No. 5 option, especially with
Brandon Woodruff (lat) in danger of missing the start of the season.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 6, 2026
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect
Robby Snelling was sharp in relief on Thursday afternoon, tossing three scoreless frames with one hit and one walk. He struck out six. The prospect entered the contest after
Sandy Alcantara got the starting nod and logged three innings himself. This was a nice bounce-back outing for Snelling as he allowed five runs (four earned) in his most recent outing on February 27 against the Phillies. Overall, Snelling has tossed 5 1/3 innings this spring and allowed four earned runs with a 1.69 WHIP. Last summer, the left-hander looked quite comfortable during his first taste of Triple-A, tossing 63 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and an 81:17 K:BB. While Snelling appears to be on the outside of the current five-man rotation, he is still a top stash option in deeper 12+ team leagues, as he should earn the call to Miami early in the first half.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 6, 2026
San Francisco Giants first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge has looked quite strong during his first taste of spring training and is carrying some solid momentum into his first full MLB season. Through nine games in camp, the team's top hitting prospect has posted a .263/.391/.579 slash line with three doubles, a home run, and a 7:3 K:BB. Last summer, the Giants provided the slugging first baseman with a short 10-game stint in San Francisco, and he struggled, posting a low .107 AVG with a .476 OPS. However, during this small taste, Eldridge generated a new. 362 xwOBA, suggesting his results should have been far more impressive. Through 66 games at Triple-A, Eldridge held a .249/.322/.514 line with 18 lone balls. The former 16th overall pick is a strong selection in the final rounds as a deep-league corner infielder, as he should see nearly every day at-bats sharing first base and the DH spot with
Rafael Devers.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 6, 2026
Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect
Dylan Beavers has continued to hold his own through the opening weeks of spring training. Over his first six games of camp, the team's No. 2-ranked prospect (according to MLB.com) has hit .250/.294/.563 line with an .857 OPS. During this stretch, Beavers has tallied three doubles with a triple. However, he has struck out seven times and only drawn one walk. Beavers is competing for an everyday role in a crowded Baltimore outfield that welcomed
Taylor Ward in the offseason. Last summer, Beavers had a brief 35-game stint in the majors, during which he hit for a.227/.375/.400 line with five doubles and four long balls. At Triple-A, Beavers hit 18 home runs and swiped 23 bags, suggesting he could hold a solid five-category upside in a full-time position. He is a viable late-round sleeper candidate if he can carve out everyday at-bats in the starting nine.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 6, 2026
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Chase Burns has contended to flash immense upside throughout the early part of spring training, but has still struggled to command his pitches. Over his first 4 1/3 innings of work, the hard-throwing right-hander has walked five batters while striking out seven. He has surrendered only one run and held a modest 1.62 WHIP. Last summer, Burns made his MLB debut and had a similar outcome, posting an elite 35.6% K% but carrying a 4.57 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. However, under the hood, Burns generated a much lower 3.48 xERA with a .218 xBA, suggesting he may have gotten a bit unlucky during his first stint in the majors. Managers should continue to monitor his progress in camp, as his short-term upside could take a hit if he continues on this trajectory. Nonetheless, the former No. 2 overall pick is a prime breakout candidate in 2026, given his expected workload and immense strikeout potential.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
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