March 16, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Monday that they reassigned outfield prospect
Zyhir Hope to minor-league camp, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Hope was always a long shot to break camp with the big-league squad out of spring training, especially after hitting just .167 (6-for-36) with no homers, two doubles, five RBI, seven runs scored, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in 39 plate appearances over 20 Cactus League games in spring training. The 21-year-old is expected to begin the 2026 campaign at Double-A Tulsa after hitting .266/.376/.428 with an .804 OPS, 13 home runs, 80 RBI, 69 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 127 games with High-A Great Lakes and Tulsa in 2025. Hope played in only six games for Tulsa. Despite standing at only 5-foot-10, 193 pounds, he has impressive raw power from the left side. The Dodgers' No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is likely to spend all of 2026 in the minors before potentially debuting in the Show in 2027. For now, he's strictly a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues for his power/speed upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
March 16, 2026
The Chicago White Sox announced on Monday that they reassigned left-handed pitching prospect
Hagen Smith to minor-league camp. Smith will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Charlotte, but he figures to make his major-league debut with the Pale Hose at some point this year. The 22-year-old southpaw spent all of last year working at Double-A Birmingham, going 3-3 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 108:56 K:BB in 75 2/3 innings pitched over his 20 starts. The former fifth overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Arkansas was considered one of the highest-floor starting pitchers of his draft class, but his inability to throw strikes so far in the minors has been worrisome. Elbow soreness early last year also caused Smith to miss six weeks. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder still has a dominant fastball/slider combination, but he's going to need to throw more strikes if he's going to be successful at the major-league level. Smith is strictly a dynasty/keeper-league stash for now.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago White Sox
March 16, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed reliever
Orion Kerkering (hamstring) will pitch in a minor-league game on Tuesday, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Kerkering is ready to make his first appearance in a game this spring after throwing a successful live batting practice session in camp over the weekend. The 24-year-old is recovering from a Grade 1 right-hamstring strain, but barring a setback, he has time to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season at the end of this month. The hard-throwing former fifth-rounder in 2022 out of the University of South Florida struggled with command in 2025, walking 27 batters in 60 relief innings during the regular season. He also went 8-4 with a 3.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and the first four saves of his big-league career. Kerking also had 19 holds for the Phillies. He'll only be appealing in fantasy in leagues that count holds in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
March 16, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher
Gabriel Moreno (forearm) will start throwing next week, and manager Torey Lovullo feels strongly that Moreno will be ready for Opening Day in late March, according to Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic. Moreno has been dealing with right-forearm inflammation, but an MRI exam over the weekend ruled out any structural damage. The 26-year-old's arm injury affects him more when he throws than when he hits, too, so fantasy managers shouldn't have to be too worried about his status for the start of the 2026 regular season. Still, it's a reminder that the Venezuelan backstop is more of a No. 2 catcher in fantasy leagues than a starter, as he's played in over 100 games just once in his four MLB seasons. Despite hitting a career-high .285 (79-for-277) in 83 games in 2025, Moreno still didn't reach double-digit home runs and only drove in 40. He missed two months due to a fractured right index finger. The good news is he was hitting well to close out the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Jose M. Romero
March 16, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers reassigned infield prospect
Jett Williams to minor-league camp on Monday, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. We recently posted that Williams has been putting up video-game numbers in Cactus League play this spring with a .364 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, .636 slugging percentage, and a 1.136 OPS, but apparently it wasn't enough to convince the team's brass that he should start on the big-league roster for Opening Day. It was pretty much a done deal that the 22-year-old would begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Nashville when he missed over two weeks this spring with a left-quadriceps injury. Still, Williams turned heads at the plate during the Cactus League and could make his big-league debut sooner rather than later this year if he continues to swing the bat this well in the minors. The former 14th overall pick in 2022 has intriguing power/speed potential at a premium position after hitting .261/.363/.465 with 17 homers, 52 RBI, and 34 stolen bases in 130 minor-league games in 2025. Williams is Milwaukee's No. 3-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
March 16, 2026
Texas Rangers catcher
Kyle Higashioka (back) returned to the Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Chicago White Sox, doing the catching while hitting seventh in the batting order. Higashioka had not played since suffering a back injury in spring training on March 5. Now that the 35-year-old veteran backstop is back in action, he should have no problems being ready for Opening Day later this month, barring a setback with his back. Higgy split catching duties in 2025 with
Jonah Heim in his first year in Texas and finished with a .241/.291/.403 slash line, .693 OPS, 11 home runs, 47 RBI, 33 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 94 games and 327 plate appearances. In 2026, he'll be splitting catching duties with
Danny Jansen in Texas. Unless Jansen misses time with injury, Higashioka will likely be the team's No. 2 catcher, leaving his upside limited in fantasy. His 17-homer season in 2024 with the Padres will most likely end up being his best MLB season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Texas Rangers PR
March 16, 2026
Texas Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung (groin) returned to the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Chicago White Sox, playing third base and batting sixth in the order. An adductor strain had kept Jung out for all of March until Monday. Barring a setback, the 28-year-old right-handed slugger should be ready to go for Opening Day later this month. There's no arguing that Jung has a high-upside power stroke, but he's risky in fantasy baseball drafts because he's had a lot of trouble staying healthy so far in his four years in the majors. The former eighth overall pick out of Texas Tech in 2019 played in a career-high 131 games in 2025 and hit .251/.294/.390 with a .684 OPS, 14 home runs, 61 RBI, 53 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 511 plate appearances. Jung has easy 20-homer power over a full season if he can stay off the injured list. His injuries last year led to a disturbing drop in his batted-ball metrics.
--Keith HernandezSource: Texas Rangers PR
March 16, 2026
Washington Nationals outfielder
Jacob Young (wrist) got the start in center field and was in the two-hole for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Mets. Young made his return to the spring lineup to begin the week for the first time since suffering a bruised right wrist back on Feb. 27. The 26-year-old now has a little under two weeks to get fully back up to speed for Opening Day at the end of the month. Young is projected to be Washington's primary center fielder in 2026 in his third full season in the big leagues. He stole over 30 bags in his first full major-league season in 2024, but he hit just three home runs and drove in 36 runs in 150 games played. Last year, Young had a career-low .231 batting average, just two home runs, 15 stolen bases, and was caught stealing a league-high 11 times. Speed and defense are what keep him in the lineup, but even in NL-only leagues, fantasy managers should have better offensive outfielders to target.
--Keith HernandezSource: Washington Nationals
March 16, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever
Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) played catch again in camp on Monday and appeared to go just beyond 90 feet, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Graterol had surgery to fix the labrum in his right shoulder in November of 2024 and was unable to pitch at all last year. The 27-year-old hard-throwing right-hander had a setback late last year, but he appears to be back on track this spring. However, Graterol also isn't expected to pitch in any Cactus League games in spring training, and he's likely to open the 2026 regular season later this month on the injured list. He has struggled to regain his pre-surgery velocity on the mound, so the Dodgers have taken it slow with his throwing program. When healthy, Graterol has already proven that he can be a key late-inning reliever for the Blue, but right now, he's a big question mark because of his shoulder. The Venezuelan hurler had a career-best 1.20 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a career-high seven saves in 67 1/3 innings back in 2023.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
March 16, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect
Jett Williams has produced insane numbers in Cactus League action this year with a .364 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, .636 slugging percentage, and a 1.136 OPS. Williams, 22, came to Milwaukee in the offseason in the trade that sent right-hander
Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets. The former 14th overall pick in 2022 missed two-plus weeks this spring with a left-quadriceps injury, but he's fully recovered now. Despite his strong play at the plate in spring training, the expectation is that Williams will begin the 2026 campaign in the minors for more seasoning. The team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .261/.363/.465 with an .828 OPS, 17 home runs, 52 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 34 stolen bases in 130 games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse in 2025. He's the No. 51 overall prospect in baseball, and his power/speed upside makes him a must-stash in all dynasty/keeper leagues going into this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Brewers
March 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee) played in a minor-league game on Monday and showed that his hit tool is still sharp, hitting a double, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Casas has been cleared to take at-bats on the minor-league side of things in spring training, but he has yet to be cleared to run the bases or slide. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger is most likely to continue to serve as the designated hitter in minor-league games for the rest of camp as he continues to work his way back from a surgically-repaired left knee. The Red Sox aren't going to rush Casas back after trading for first baseman
Willson Contreras in the offseason. Fantasy managers hoping that Casas can bounce back in 2026 need to be prepared for him to potentially miss the first month of the 2026 regular season as he continues to get his legs back underneath him. Casas hasn't been able to reach his true potential in the big leagues due to injury, making him RotoBaller's No. 53 fantasy first baseman.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Ian Browne
March 16, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Johan Rojas has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Rojas tested positive for Boldenone. The announcement is bad news for Rojas' 2026 fantasy value, which was limited to deep-mixed and NL-only leagues for his speed. The 25-year-old will not be eligible to make his season debut now until late June. Rojas' absence should open up regular playing time for outfield prospect
Justin Crawford in the first half of the season, as well as the left-handed-hitting
Brandon Marsh. Rojas has an OPS of just .633 in his first three major-league seasons, slashing .252/.294/.340 with six home runs, 73 RBI, 94 runs scored, and 51 stolen bases in 699 plate appearances over 250 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
March 16, 2026
Cleveland Guardians manager
Stephen Vogt said on Monday that third baseman
Jose Ramirez (shoulder) is doing much better on Monday after exiting Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics with left-shoulder soreness, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Ramirez tested his shoulder on Monday and doesn't have any plans to undergo imaging. "He's feeling much, much better today, so we're going to reassess him day by day. He should be just fine in a few days," Vogt said. The 33-year-old seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner is day-to-day for now and should be good to go for Opening Day at the end of the month. It's great news for the Guardians and fantasy managers. J-Ram has been one of the best all-around hitters for the last eight years. He has made the All-Star team each of the last five seasons and has hit 30-plus home runs in three of the last five years, while also driving in over 100 runs in three of the last five years and stealing 40-plus bases in the last two seasons. Ramirez is a top-10 overall fantasy player.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
March 16, 2026
Cleveland Guardians manager
Stephen Vogt said that the team officially informed second baseman
Travis Bazzana that he will not make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Bazzana will remain in big-league camp for a few more days before being reassigned to minor-league camp. The 23-year-old Australian and former first overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Oregon State came into Monday hitting a strong .286 (4-for-14) with a homer, four RBI, two runs scored, one walk, and a strikeout in just five Cactus League games this spring. He also got some action in the World Baseball Classic for Team Australia. Bazzana hit .245/.389/.424 with an .813 OPS, nine home runs, 39 RBI, 71 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 84 games over three minor-league levels in 2025. He should be a future starting second baseman at the big-league level, with his ability to get on base being perhaps his greatest talent for fantasy managers. Bazzana will have to continue to improve at Triple-A Columbus to get called up to the big leagues for the first time in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
March 16, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Aaron Nola will start for Team Italy against Venezuela on Monday night in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "My gut," Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said. "I think Nola's the right person." Cervelli changed his mind after initially naming Colorado Rockies right-hander
Michael Lorenzen as the starter for Monday's contest against Venezuela. If Italy gets the job done on Monday, they will face a rematch against Team USA in the WBC finals on Wednesday night in Miami. In his first outing in the WBC, Nola looked to be in midseason form, throwing five shutout innings in a victory over Mexico in pool play. The 32-year-old veteran made one Grapefruit League start with the Phillies before joining Italy, allowing an earned run on two hits while walking none and striking out two in two innings. Nola is just outside RotoBaller's top-50 starting-pitcher rankings after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign in which he had a career-worst 6.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 17 starts. If healthy this year, he'll have a pretty safe floor and plenty of bounce-back potential.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
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