March 24, 2026
MLB.com's Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie write that Washington Nationals infielder Luis Garcia Jr. "all but cemented" himself as the team's starting first baseman this spring, even though he hit just .128 (5-for-39) with a homer, three RBI, one steal, one walk, and nine strikeouts in 14 Grapefruit League games. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter will shift from second base to first in D.C. in 2026. Garcia will still see some reps at the keystone, but he's expected to be Washington's primary first baseman this year, with
Nasim Nunez taking over at second. Garcia also dipped offensively from 2024 to 2025, slashing .252/.289/.412 with a .701 OPS, 16 home runs, 66 RBI, 67 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 526 plate appearances over 139 games. The Nationals and fantasy managers alike will hope that Garcia's move to first base will put less on him defensively and help him bounce back at the plate. The ceiling isn't high here, and 2024 might have been his peak, but Garcia will gain first-base eligibility and could bounce back slightly in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie
March 24, 2026
Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman
Tyler Freeman (back) will start the 2026 regular season on the 10-day injured list due to lower-back inflammation, according to Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette. Freeman dealt with back issues this spring, and the setback he had last week means he won't be ready for Opening Day this week. The 26-year-old's back injury isn't considered very serious, though, so the hope is that he has a minimal stay on the IL and makes his season debut early in April. Freeman, a former second-round pick in 2017 by the Cleveland Guardians, played in 110 games in his first year in Denver in 2025 and hit an impressive .281 (106-for-377) with two homers, 31 RBI, 50 runs, and 18 stolen bases in 428 plate appearances. He's a contact over power-oriented hitter, limiting his fantasy appeal to mostly NL-only leagues as a utility man in Colorado once he's healthy. In addition to having limited power, Freeman probably won't be of much help away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, either.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Gazette - Kevin Henry
March 24, 2026
The Detroit Tigers optioned infield prospect
Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. For now, Jung will operate as third base depth for the Tigers in the minors. The 25-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2022 out of Texas Tech has played in 55 total big-league games with the Tigers in the last two years and has hit just .190 (24-for-126) with no homers, six RBI, 22 runs, no steals, 22 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 149 plate appearances. He looked pretty bad at the plate in his first stint with Detroit in 2025 before finishing in a better spot with the lumber. Issues making contact at the plate have been a big concern for Jung, the younger brother of Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung. He will need to make some notable improvements with the Mud Hens at Triple-A before getting a shot in the majors again in 2026. Jung is a hold in dynasty/keeper leagues right now, with many managers likely considering selling low on him.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
March 24, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler appears set to open the season in the team's starting rotation, though no official confirmation has been made yet by the team. Right now, RosterResource projects the Pirates' top-ranked pitching prospect as the team's No. 3 starter. The right-hander didn't have the cleanest of springs, but looked sharp his last time out, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out eight batters and walking only one over five innings of work. The 6-foot-3 hurler finished 2025 on a high note as well, allowing just two earned runs over his final three starts while recording a pristine 19:0 K:BB in 16 2/3 innings pitched. Hopefully he can carry that momentum into 2026, and if he can, then the 23-year-old could end up as a real value pick in fantasy drafts, currently going around pick No. 160, whereas RotoBaller ranks him at 145 overall.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
March 24, 2026
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Wenceel Perez will open the 2026 season at Triple-A Toledo, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Perez is the odd man out for the Opening Day roster after infield prospect
Kevin McGonigle made the team out of spring training. With the 26-year-old starting the season on the farm, fantasy managers should expect
Matt Vierling to see most of the playing time in right field in Detroit to begin the year. Perez, a switch-hitter, didn't help his cause in spring training by hitting .158 (6-for-38) with no homers, three RBI, four runs, two stolen bases, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in 16 Grapefruit League games. The Dominican outfielder will be up with Detroit eventually after hitting .244/.308/.430 with a .738 OPS, 13 home runs, 43 RBI, 47 runs, and eight steals in 100 games in 2025 in his second year in the majors. When he returns to the big leagues, expect Perez to be in some sort of a platoon in the outfield, limiting his fantasy appeal in redraft leagues to deep-mixed and AL-only affairs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
March 24, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect
Aidan Miller (back) likely won't be ready for Opening Day at Triple-A Lehigh Valley due to an ongoing back issue. The Phils' top-ranked prospect dealt with a back injury late last year that prevented him from participating in the Arizona Fall League, and it has lingered into 2026, resulting in Miller being unable to play in any Grapefruit League games before being reassigned to minor league camp in mid March. Unfortunately, the organization has not yet provided a timetable for his return, so it's not clear when he's expected to make his 2026 debut. The 21-year-old could make his major league debut later this year if he gets going at Triple-A once he returns, and will be a top stash candidate once healthy.
--Jarod RuppSource: Charlotte Varnes - The Athletic
March 24, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that second baseman
Ketel Marte was scratched from Tuesday's exhibition game against the Cleveland Guardians due to soreness, according to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. There is "no concern" about Marte's status for Opening Day on Thursday.
Ildemaro Vargas is starting at the keystone on Tuesday against Cleveland with Marte sitting out. The 32-year-old Dominican is the second-ranked fantasy second baseman at RotoBaller, behind only the Yankees'
Jazz Chisholm Jr. In a hitter-friendly home environment in Phoenix, the three-time All-Star has at least 25 home runs in each of the last three years while recording at least 72 RBI as well. Marte's 145 wRC+ led all qualified players at second base in 2025 for the second straight year. Additionally, he has hit .283 over the last three seasons for the D-backs. It doesn't get much better than Marte at the second base position in MLB.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
March 24, 2026
Houston Astros outfield prospect
Kevin Alvarez will begin the season with Single-A Fayetteville, per Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. The Astros' top-ranked prospect was part of the 2025 international signing class and performed well in the Dominican Summer League last year as a 17-year-old, recording a .301/.419/.455 slash line with a 23:19 BB:K in 47 games there. The team clearly feels he is advanced enough to skip over playing rookie ball with the club's Florida Complex League affiliate, so he'll begin at Single-A instead. The 18-year-old possesses good contact ability along with projectable power in his 6-foot-3 frame, and it will be interesting to see how he fares stateside. Regardless, he's not expected to debut in the majors for a few years, but he could quickly become a desirable dynasty asset if he continues to live up to his top-prospect billing.
--Jarod RuppSource: Francys Romero
March 24, 2026
Athletics pitching prospect
Jamie Arnold will begin the season at Double-A, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The Athletics' first-round pick in the 2025 Draft (11th overall) did not debut professionally last season after being selected, so this will be his first taste of pro ball. The left-hander was invited to big league camp this spring, but pitched just three innings in the Cactus League, although he did manage to rack up four strikeouts during that time. The 6-foot-1 hurler struck out 33.9 percent of batters faced in his final year at Florida State while walking just 7.7 percent. The Athletics' second-ranked prospect is already 22 years old, so if he shows well at Double-A, a quick call to Triple-A could be in the cards this season, and a September debut would not be out of the question. He's a name to remember later this year, and could be part of the A's rotation in 2027.
--Jarod RuppSource: Martin Gallegos
March 24, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Luis Gil will start the 2026 campaign in the minors to stay built up until the team needs a fifth starter, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Despite
Gerrit Cole (elbow) and
Carlos Rodon (elbow) not being ready for the start of the regular season, the 27-year-old Gil was unable to crack the Opening Day four-man rotation in the Bronx. The Yankees won't need a fifth starter until April 11 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Gil didn't make his debut in 2025 until early August after he suffered a lat strain in spring training last March. The Dominican hurler was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2024, but he managed to make only 11 regular-season starts last year, posting a 3.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 41:33 K:BB in 57 innings. Gil's lowered strikeout rate and poor chase rate likely had something to do with his injury last year, but it has fantasy managers and the Yankees wondering if he can get back to his 2024 form. Although he could make his 2026 debut early in April, Gil won't be a lock for a rotation spot once Cole and Rodon return.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
March 24, 2026
Athletics pitching prospect
Gage Jump will begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The Athletics' third-ranked prospect made a good impression this spring, allowing just two earned runs in 9 2/3 innings of work (1.86 ERA), with a 1.24 WHIP and a 7:3 K:BB, but has yet to pitch above Double-A during the regular season. The southpaw made 20 of his 26 appearances at Double-A in 2025, posting a 3.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 16.8 percent K-BB% (86 strikeouts) over 81 2/3 innings pitched. With a good showing at Triple-A, the 22-year-old could be up in the big leagues by midseason, so fantasy managers in redraft leagues will want to keep an eye on his progress as the lefty could provide some reinforcement for pitching-needy staffs once the injuries to fantasy starters start to pile up. The LSU product has seen an uptick in velocity on his fastball and has a deceptive delivery, along with three secondary pitches that could produce at least a K per inning whenever he gets the call.
--Jarod RuppSource: Martin Gallegos
March 24, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect
Lazaro Montes will begin the season at Double-A Arkansas, per Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. The Mariners' fourth-ranked prospect played nearly half of his games in 2025 there after starting the season at High-A. The powerful left-handed hitter blasted 32 home runs in '25, 14 of which came in 64 games at Double-A. With his big-time power comes a lot of swing-and-miss, though, as the 6-foot-5 slugger registered a 30.5 percent strikeout rate during his time with Arkansas (career 27.1 percent K%). It was somewhat offset by a strong 12.4 percent walk rate (career 15.2 percent BB%), but with just a .213 AVG at Double-A, the team would surely like to see the Cuban take a step forward in 2026 before sending him on to Triple-A. With a strong showing at both levels, there's a chance MLB's No. 43 overall prospect makes a late-season debut, but 2027 is when he'll likely begin making an impact for fantasy. Redraft managers should keep an eye on his progress, as the power is for real, and if he gets the call in September, he could provide a home-run boost for teams in need.
--Jarod RuppSource: Francys Romero
March 24, 2026
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain (illness) is back at second base and is batting second in the team's exhibition game on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. McLain caught a bug going around the team's clubhouse and was held out of Monday's exhibition game. The 26-year-old former 17th overall pick in 2021 out of UCLA has major bounce-back potential for fantasy managers in 2026 near the top of a powerful Reds lineup. McLain turned heads as a rookie in 2023 with a .290/.357/.507 slash line with 16 homers, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases, but he missed all of 2024 due to injuries and returned as a disappointment last year. He hit .220/.300/.343 in 2025 with 15 homers, 50 RBI, and 18 steals in 147 games played. McLain has mashed this spring, going 27-for-51 (.529) with seven homers and 16 RBI in 17 Cactus League games. He's an excellent choice as a starting second baseman in fantasy after some of the high-end names at the position come off the board.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
March 24, 2026
MLB.com's Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie have Washington Nationals outfielder
Daylen Lile starting in right field for the team going into the 2026 regular season this week. Lile will get the nod next to left fielder
James Wood and center fielder
Jacob Young after the team surprisingly optioned
Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester at the end of spring training. Outfield prospect
Robert Hassell III is also beginning the year at Rochester. Lile, a former second-round pick in 2021, made his major-league debut in 2025 and hit an impressive .299/.347/.498 with an .845 OPS, nine home runs, 41 RBI, 51 runs, and eight stolen bases in 351 plate appearances over 91 games played. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter makes plenty of contact and has emerging power and speed skills. His defense won't do him any favors, though, and he'll likely need to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump in 2026 to hold Crews off eventually. Still, there's a lot to like about his profile in dynasty/keeper leagues, and he's now firmly on the radar in mixed fantasy leagues as well. RotoBaller has Lile ranked as the No. 44 fantasy outfielder in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie
March 24, 2026
Washington Nationals catcher
Keibert Ruiz is projected to be the team's primary catcher entering the 2026 regular season, according to Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie of MLB.com. This was the expectation after the Nats optioned prospect
Harry Ford to Triple-A Rochester to get him more consistent reps to begin the season. The team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is very much in Washington's long-term plans, though, and he could even have a good shot to become the team's No. 1 backstop by the conclusion of this season.
Drew Millas will open the year as Ruiz's backup behind the dish. The 27-year-old Ruiz, a Venezuelan switch-hitter, is RotoBaller's No. 34-ranked fantasy catcher because of his declining offensive profile. Since hitting a career-high 18 home runs in 2023, Ruiz has a .235/.266/.345 slash line with a .610 OPS, 15 homers, 82 RBI, 80 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 752 plate appearances in the last two seasons. Ruiz doesn't strike out much, but he also makes a lot of weak contact.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie
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