March 6, 2026
It's becoming "increasingly obvious" that Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Quinn Priester (wrist) won't be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season due to a right-wrist injury that is "not responding consistently," manager Pat Murphy told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Priester doesn't have structural damage, but more than six months after feeling discomfort in his wrist, the issue has not gone away. Opening Day is three weeks away, and Priester has not thrown off a mound in more than a week. "He'll have a bullpen and feels great, and then the next bullpen, he can't do it. Whenever you're dealing with whatever up the arm, [starting at] the wrist, it's concerning. But I'm optimistic," manager Pat Murphy said. Milwaukee is even thinking of sending Priester to a specialist at this point. If Priester is not ready to start the year,
Jacob Misiorowski and
Chad Patrick are the leading candidates to take a rotation spot. Fantasy managers should be extremely hesitant to take the 25-year-old in upcoming drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
March 6, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (hand) is already taking live batting practice in camp as he works his way back from hamate surgery on his right hand that he had on Feb. 12, according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Nothing is set in stone, but the fact that the 25-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year is already facing live pitching means he should be ready to go for Opening Day at the end of the month. The two-time All-Star is an elite five-category contributor when he's fully healthy, and he's coming off a bounce-back season in which he slashed .259/.343/.541 with an .883 OPS, career-best 31 home runs, 84 RBI, 107 runs scored, a league-high 17 triples, and 32 stolen bases in 642 plate appearances over 143 games. With easy 20-20 potential in a hitter-friendly home park, Carroll is a lock as a top-10 fantasy outfielder going into his fifth MLB season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
March 6, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect
Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) has not resumed throwing yet after he was shut down with left-elbow soreness 10 days ago, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. At that time, an MRI exam didn't show any structural damage. "Hopefully, in the next couple of days, he should be back at it," manager John Schneider said. The 23-year-old appears to be OK, but more elbow issues this spring are not what fantasy managers holding Tiedemann wanted to see after he had Tommy John surgery in July of 2024. He did not pitch at all in 2025 and already had an injury-prone label before having elbow reconstruction. Tiedemann isn't guaranteed to be ready to pitch in Grapefruit League games before the end of camp, and the Blue Jays will be extremely cautious with his workload in 2026. He probably isn't a realistic redraft target this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Arden Zwelling
March 6, 2026
Updating a previous report, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Jackson Chourio (hand) suffered a left-hand contusion from a hit-by-pitch on Wednesday in a World Baseball Classic exhibition game, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Chourio is not in the lineup for Team Venezuela's WBC game on Friday against the Netherlands, but he could play on Saturday against Israel. "He's fine," manager Pat Murphy said. X-rays on the 21-year-old came back negative, so he shouldn't be in any danger of not being ready on Opening Day in late March. Chourio should be considered a top-10 fantasy baseball outfielder going into his third MLB season. He's been pretty consistent in his first two big-league campaigns, hitting .272/.317/.463 with a .781 OPS, 42 home runs, 157 RBI, 168 runs scored, and 43 stolen bases in 279 regular-season games for the Brew Crew. Chourio's batted-ball metrics are a bit concerning, but heading into his age-22 season, he is just getting started.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
March 6, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage's next spring outing could be another live batting practice session, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. There are "no immediate plans" to get him into a Grapefruit League game. Manager John Schneider said, "We still view him as a starter," when asked about Yesavage's role going into the 2026 season. But it's no secret that Toronto is handling the talent young arm with kid gloves, and he could have an abbreviated start to the season, going like three to four innings per outing out of the gates. The 22-year-old only threw 46 1/3 innings at East Carolina in 2024 before jumping to 139 2/3 innings last year as he made it all the way to the big leagues while helping the Jays make it all the way to the World Series. Yesavage looked solid with 16 K's in 14 innings over his three regular-season starts, and he also added a 12-strikeout performance against the Dodgers in the World Series. His upside will be limited early on in his first full big-league season, so fantasy managers should have Yesavage ranked as more of a No. 3 starter with upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
March 6, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) thinks that grip changes last year led to his elbow issues that required Tommy John surgery, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. "I think the No. 1 thing that played a factor was mid-season grip changes," Schmidt said. "You make grip changes, and you start to really put different stress on different areas of your forearm and stuff like that." The 30-year-old started throwing a new sweeper on May 6 last year, and it required him to "grip it really hard" and "torque it." A month late, he was having trouble recovering between starts and battled through right-forearm soreness. Schmidt was limited to 14 starts in 2025. He plans on sticking with his old sweeper grip and will "definitely" ditch the newer one. This spring, Schmidt is focusing on his rehab. Fantasy managers are unlikely to have him available until the end of the summer, limiting his fantasy appeal in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
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
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