February 11, 2026
New York Mets outfield prospect
Carson Benge is viewed as a potential starting option in right field ahead of spring training. The team's President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns, announced on Tuesday that with
Juan Soto shifting to left field, Benge will be given an opportunity to earn the starting job. Additionally, he will compete alongside infielder
Brett Baty, newly signed
MJ Melendez, and veteran
Tyrone Taylor. Baty spent the entire 2025 season in the minor leagues but was knocking on the MLB door for most of the summer. He began the campaign with High-A but would spend the second half at Triple-A. Across 116 total games, the Oklahoma State product posted a .281/.385/.472 line with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He is a top name to monitor in spring training, as he would hold five-category upside if he sees every day at-bats.
--Andy SmithSource: SNY
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect
Josue De Paula earned a non-roster invite to MLB spring training. The young outfielder is considered the team's top prospect on MLB.com and is quickly establishing himself as one of the top hitters in the entire minor leagues. According to MLB.com, the 20-year-old enters the 2026 regular season as the overall No. 13 prospect. Last summer, De Paula spent most of his regular season with High-A, alongside fellow budding star
Zyhir Hope. At High-A, De Paula would hold a strong .263/.406/.421 line with an .827 OPS. During this 98-game stint, De Paula hit 12 home runs and swiped 32 bases. He then earned a four-game taste of Double-A, where he was unable to tally a hit. Even though De Paula is still likely one calendar year away from the major leagues, he is a top dynasty asset and could even debut at Triple-A in the second half of 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: Sonja Chen
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Zyhir Hope earned an invite to MLB spring training. Hope is quickly climbing prospect boards and is entering the 2026 campaign as one of the top outfield prospects in the game. According to MLB.com, Hope is the team's No.2-ranked prospect and the sport's No. 20-ranked prospect, sitting behind fellow outfield teammate
Josue De Paula. Last summer, the 21-year-old spent the majority of the campaign with High-A Great Lakes before earning a short six-game stint at Double-A. With Great Lakes, Hope posted a .264/.377/.428 slash line with 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases. He carried this momentum into Double-A, posting a .316/.350/.421 line. While Hope will not break camp with the MLB roster, he will likely open the season with Double-A, which could open the door for a second-half Triple-A promotion.
--Andy SmithSource: Sonja Chen
February 11, 2026
Chicago Cubs first base prospect
Jonathon Long has earned an invite to MLB spring training. Long is considered the team's No. 6-ranked prospect in the system per MLB.com and is now quickly approaching his MLB debut. Long joined the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Draft but has since emerged as one of their top bats. Last summer, the infielder spent the entire 2025 campaign with Triple-A Iowa and performed at a high level. Across 140 contests, the Long Beach State product held a .305/.404/.479 line with a strong .883 OPS. He hit 20 home runs while holding a 116:79 K:BB. The previous season, Long held a similar .283/.391/.461 line across 114 games between High-A and Double-A. Even though
Michael Busch is the team's primary first baseman, Long could be in the mix for an early call-up as an injury replacement, given his quick adjustments to Triple-A pitching.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Bastian
February 11, 2026
Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect
Jaxon Wiggins is among the non-roster invitees set to attend MLB spring training. On MLB.com, Wiggins is considered the team's No. 2-ranked prospect and the sport's overall No. 67 prospect. Last summer, the right-hander was one of the most effective arms in the entire minor leagues and is now quickly approaching his MLB debut. He began the 2025 campaign with High-A but finished the second half with Triple-A Iowa. At High-A, Wiggins logged 26 1/3 innings to the tune of a 1.71 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He was then bumped up to Double-A, where he logged 42 innings with a stellar 1.92 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. In his first taste of Triple-A, Wiggins took a step back, allowing five runs over 9 2/3 innings. Despite his struggles, Wiggins will likely begin the 2026 season with the Iowa Cubs, leaving the door open for an early first-half MLB debut.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Bastian
February 11, 2026
According to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect
Chase DeLauter is expected to see time in both center and right field during camp. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect is expected to not only compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but also potentially carve out a starting role. Throughout his minor league career, the former 16th overall selection from the 2022 MLB Draft has shown high upside but has struggled to stay on the field. Last summer, DeLauter appeared in just 42 total MiLB games, with the majority of them at Triple-A Columbus. With the Clippers, DeLauter held a .278/.383/.476 line with five home runs and a strong 23:22 K:BB. Later in the season, he joined the Guardians in the postseason. If he were to perform well in camp, he should have the edge over
Daniel Schneemann in center field or potentially
George Valera in right field.
--Andy SmithSource: Tim Stebbins
February 10, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Crochet replaced his changeup with a splitter during the offseason, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Crochet reportedly used informative videos from pitching coach Andrew Bailey and coach Devin Rose to experiment and ultimately implement the new pitch while working out at Vanderbilt University during the offseason. Crochet only threw his changeup 4% of the time last year, but it produced an impressive .080 wOBA and 42.1% whiff rate. In comparison to the changeup, we'd expected his splitter to have an even lower spin rate, and perhaps additional drop (lower induced vertical break). Crochet posted a spectacular 2.64 xFIP during his first season in Boston last year, and he ranks as RotoBaller's #2 starter heading into 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jen McCaffrey
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays reliever
Yimi Garcia (right elbow) has been "feeling good and throwing for numerous weeks now," manager John Schneider told Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Garcia underwent surgery to clean up scar tissue in his right elbow last September, and he also dealt with an ankle sprain last season. Schneider wouldn't officially commit to Garcia being on the Opening Day roster, but the pennant-winning skipper did express optimism that he might be ready for the season opener. The Jays, of course, will be cautious with Garcia's build-up and have no plans to rush him back. Injuries limited the veteran reliever to 21 innings last year, during which he amassed 10.71 K/9, 5.14 BB/9, and 0.86 HR/9 along with a 3.85 FIP. He has just 12 saves over his last four seasons but can still be trusted in leverage situations this year, assuming he's healthy and returns to his pre-injury form.
--Andersen PickardSource: Arden Zwelling
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher
Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) will be stretched out to multiple innings during spring training, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Tiedemann is coming off Tommy John surgery, and while the Jays will stretch him out during the coming weeks, he won't be in a bulk role for the entire season. The organization will evaluate his workload on a month-to-month basis, and he has a shot to make his MLB debut as a bullpen option late in the season. Tiedemann hasn't thrown in a live game since 2024, when he amassed just 17.1 innings before getting injured. He made four short Triple-A starts that year, posting 12 walks and 11 strikeouts over nine innings of work. That was a small sample size, though, and he had pitched to a much more encouraging 1.68 FIP, 16.77 K/9, and 4.70 BB/9 in the minors the year before. Toronto won't rush the former third-round pick into making his MLB debut, but the fact that he's already on the 40-man roster bodes well for his chances of making the big-league squad at some point in 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Arden Zwelling
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
George Springer (knee, oblique, wrist) dealt with a variety of injuries during the 2025 season, according to manager John Schneider. In addition to the previously reported knee and oblique soreness, Schneider said Tuesday that Springer also experienced right wrist discomfort as the season went along. The injuries impacted Springer's ability to throw, but he recovered well during the offseason and is not expected to face any setbacks for the 2026 regular season. Schneider specifically noted that Springer "is going to be out (in the OF) whenever we need him." That's good news for the Jays and fantasy managers after the veteran outfielder slashed .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs and 166 wRC+ across 140 games last year. He spent most of 2025 in the designated hitter slot but could be tasked with playing more outfield innings after
Anthony Santander (shoulder) was ruled out for at least five months. Springer currently ranks as the #26 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays corner infielder
Kazuma Okamoto will see some time at first base, according to manager John Schneider. Okamoto is widely viewed as a third baseman, but he played both corner infield spots in Japan. In fact, he posted an impressive .996 fielding percentage across 130 games at first base in 2024. Presumably, he'll be the Jays' go-to first baseman when
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is designated hitting. Schneider's willingness to play Okamoto at first could also indicate that he wants to get Guerrero fewer games in the field. No matter how the lineup looks, it's encouraging to know that Schneider plans to get Okamoto's bat in the lineup consistently, whether that's at first base or third base. He slashed .327/.416/.598 with 15 homers and 210 wRC+ during his final season in Japan, and he walked as much as he struck out. He currently ranks as the #27 third baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for the 2026 season.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 10, 2026
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Reese Olson (right shoulder) has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season after undergoing labral repair surgery, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. He was officially placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Olson battled multiple injuries last year and ultimately made just 13 starts. He missed a month and a half during the early portion of the season due to ring finger inflammation, and then he was sidelined from late July through the end of the season due to his shoulder issue. Across 68.2 innings of work, he posted a 3.50 FIP with 8.52 K/9, 3.28 BB/9, and 0.66 HR/9. His long-term absence provides a better explanation for why Detroit signed veteran starter
Justin Verlander to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Verlander should replace Olson as the Tigers' No. 4 starter entering the 2026 season, barring any other unforeseen transactions or injuries.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jason Beck
February 10, 2026
When asked about right-handed reliever
Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he's "100 percent confident if he's closing most games," according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. General manager Ross Atkins said in November that the Blue Jays weren't committed to using Hoffman as their primary closer in 2026 after he struggled in late-game situations in 2025. The 33-year-old veteran had a career-high 33 saves, but he also had a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 68 innings during the regular season, and he famously blew Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hoffman should see most of the team's save chances to open the season, but both
Yimi Garcia (elbow) and
Louis Varland are options to save games if Hoffman struggles. He'll be on a much shorter leash in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith
February 10, 2026
Texas Rangers left-hander
Cody Bradford (elbow) said he will throw his seventh bullpen session on Tuesday in his rehab from an internal-brace procedure last June, and he's still aiming for a return in May, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Bradford's bullpen on Tuesday will be his first that isn't limited to fastballs. The 27-year-old will try eight to 10 changeups. The 27-year-old southpaw pitched well in 2024, going 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 70 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 76 1/3 innings over his 14 appearances (13 starts). Bradford doesn't blow hitters away, but he has strong command and has shown a knack for keeping batters off balance. Because his command could struggle upon his return in 2026 after a long layoff, it's hard to get behind him in single-league formats this year. The Rangers will most definitely ease Bradford back in, too. At best, he's a bench stash in AL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Shane Bieber (forearm) will open the 2026 season on the injured list, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Bieber is dealing with right-forearm fatigue and will have his ramp-up during spring training delayed past Opening Day. Manager John Schneider said Bieber is feeling good and is playing catch, but he's week-to-week and won't start the season on time. The 30-year-old still hasn't recovered from the extra workload he took on last fall during the team's run to the World Series. Bieber pitched well in the postseason, but he made five appearances after making seven starts for Toronto in the regular season in his return from Tommy John surgery. He pitched well in his return and showed an increase in his velocity, but this is a reminder that Bieber carries significant injury risk.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
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