Konnor Griffin "Trending Toward Being" Opening Day Shortstop

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on Foul Territory on Thursday that it looks like Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin is "trending toward being" the team's Opening Day shortstop. It was seen as a bit of a stretch going into spring training, since Griffin is only 19 years old and has played just 21 games […]

7 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions - Eric Cross' 2026 Picks

One of my favorite articles to write every pre-season is my bold predictions article here on RotoBaller. Why? Well, a bold predictions article can be both fun and informative. Many of these won't come true, but they're bold predictions for a reason. But at the same time, while the chances are slim, there's an element […]

2026 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft - RotoBaller Staff's Favorite Picks and Roster Strategies

Hey RotoBallers! Fantasy baseball season is in full swing (pun intended), and it's time to begin enacting our offseason research into mock drafts. Mock drafts are the perfect way for you to simulate a real-draft experience and get a feel of which players will be available for you at your respective picks. This is now […]

Fantasy Baseball Post-Hype Sleepers: Infield Breakout Candidates for 2026

Targeting post-hype sleepers is one of the best ways to find upside in the later rounds of fantasy baseball drafts. Everyone is enamored with the "shiny new toy," so going after those who have lost their luster makes a ton of sense when looking for value. Just look at Jo Adell last year. He was […]

Later-Round Fantasy Baseball Prospect Sleepers - Rookies To Stash (2026)

While draft season is in full swing, it is never too early to begin looking at high upside prospects to stash. In the final rounds of your draft, managers often select high-upside prospects who have a path to an early MLB debut. Last season, those who either drafted Nick Kurtz or stashed him early in […]

Konnor Griffin Exits Early After Being Hit in the Foot

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin (foot) left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game in the sixth inning after he was hit in the foot with a pitch, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports. Griffin stayed in the game to run the bases, but he didn't come out to play the field in the seventh inning. It doesn't […]

Konnor Griffin Open to Long-Term Extension With Pirates

Top prospect Konnor Griffin and the Pittsburgh Pirates are open to a long-term contract extension, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 19-year-old is the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball going into the 2026 season, and he appears to be the favorite this spring to open the 2026 regular season as Pittsburgh's […]

J.P. Crawford has Minor Shoulder Injury

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (shoulder) is dealing with a minor shoulder issue that has kept him from playing in a Cactus League game early in spring training, manager Dan Wilson told Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Kramer writes that the Mariners' concern level "appears low," and Crawford dealt with something similar last spring. The 31-year-old […]

Francisco Lindor to Restart "Impact" Activities in 2-3 Days

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired hand on Tuesday and can restart some "impact" activities in the next two to three days, manager Carlos Mendoza told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Lindor had surgery two weeks ago to fix a stress reaction in his left hamate bone. […]

Romy Gonzalez Not Expected to be Ready for Opening Day

Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) does not see himself being ready for Opening Day, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Gonzalez expressed that his ramp-up would be "too quick" if he tried to be ready for Opening Day. Last season, Gonzalez appeared in a career-high 96 games at the MLB level and looked […]

Konnor Griffin Slugs Two Home Runs on Tuesday

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin had a monster spring training showing against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in his team's 16-7 victory. Griffin, who will turn 20 years old in late April, is widely considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. […]

Sebastian Walcott has Internal-Brace Surgery, Out 5-6 Months

Texas Rangers shortstop prospect Sebastian Walcott (elbow) had successful UCL surgery last week, an internal-brace procedure performed by Dr. Keith Meister, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. The Rangers expect a five- to six-month recovery for Walcott. The 19-year-old could miss the entire 2025 season, delaying his development another year. Walcott is […]

Andres Gimenez Looking for Healthy 2026

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop/second baseman Andres Gimenez helped the Blue Jays get to the World Series in his first season after joining the team via trade, but he had a down year at the plate. He hit only .210 after hitting over .250 in each of his last three seasons in Cleveland, and he only […]

Trevor Story a Strong Candidate to Hit Second in 2026

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is a strong candidate to hit second in the batting order this year, following outfielder Roman Anthony in the leadoff spot, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Story was in the two-hole in his final 10 games of the 2025 regular season and also hit there in all three […]

Jose Caballero Bringing More Bat Speed into 2026 Season?

New York Yankees speedy infielder Jose Caballero, who hit a 402-foot home run in the Grapefruit League game on Sunday against the New York Mets, said his goal in the offseason was to "improve his average bat speed to 71 mph this season," according to Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Caballero also […]

Later Round Fantasy Baseball Power Hitters - Legitimate Home Run Surgers (2026)

The hitter equivalent for pitcher whiffs might be power. Yes, making contact matters, but not so much if the hitter doesn't make loud contact. We know hitting the ball hard matters, but optimizing launch angles to generate barrels will lead to home runs. The best hitters do both consistently. To hit the ball hard, hitters […]

Jack Brannigan Exits After Getting Hit in the Face

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jack Brannigan (head) was forced to exit early during Sunday's Spring Training game versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Brannigan was removed from the contest after getting hit in the face by a batted ball. He's currently being evaluated for further injury, so he should be considered day-to-day right now. Brannigan is competing for […]

Aidan Miller is Dealing with Back Soreness

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Aidan Miller (back) is likely going to sit out for a few days. According to Todd Zolecki, Miller is dealing with back soreness, so the Phillies plan to be careful with him. The team will take it easy with Miller while he gets treatment this week. The 21-year-old is expected to begin […]

Jeremy Pena Set to Return to the Leadoff Spot in 2026

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada has confirmed that shortstop Jeremy Pena will be the team's leadoff hitter in 2026, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pena took over as the team's primary leadoff hitter in 2025 and delivered his best season since his breakout rookie year in 2022. Across 543 plate appearances, the 28-year-old slashed […]

Taylor Walls is Making Spring Debut on Sunday

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (hernia) is set to make his Spring Training debut versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Walls underwent sports hernia surgery in September, but appears to be fully healthy now. The 29-year-old figures to begin the season as the starting shortstop with Carson Williams waiting in the wings. Last season, […]

5 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Risers, Sleepers: Breakout Rookies for 2026

Every season, managers look to find league-winning prospects in the final rounds of their draft. Last season, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz took the crown, as he finished as a top-15 hitter in all formats. In this piece, we will spotlight five high-upside prospects who could make a major impact in the majors this season. […]

Every MLB Team's Greatest Defensive Player of All Time

Many of the sport's greatest players are credited with their ability to make an impact on the defensive side of the game. And today's we're here to talk about the best defensive players of all time, for each MLB team. While some MLB teams have very clear choices, others do not have the same illustrious […]

Kevin McGonigle Starting at Shortstop in Grapefruit League Opener

Detroit Tigers infield prospect Kevin McGonigle is starting at shortstop and is hitting second in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the New York Yankees, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. The Tigers have moved McGonigle around to third and second base in camp to increase his chances of making […]

Bo Bichette Batting Third in Mets Spring Training Debut

New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette is starting at third base and batting third in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the division-rival Miami Marlins, according to Max Goodman of NJ.com. Despite the injury to Francisco Lindor (hand) that could keep him sidelined to start the 2026 season, the Mets will keep Bichette […]

JJ Wetherholt Playing Second, Batting Fifth in Grapefruit League Opener

St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect JJ Wetherholt is starting at second base and batting fifth on Saturday in the team's Grapefruit League opener against the Washington Nationals, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. The offseason trades of both Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan have cleared a path for Wetherholt to be an everyday […]

Hitter Fantasy Baseball Sleepers at Each Position for 2026 Drafts

Spring training arrived this week, and with it, so begins our speculation on perhaps the best topic of fantasy baseball: who are this season's sleepers at every position? Hope springs eternal, as the poets say. We all have opinions as to who these players are. The debates rage on in late winter, when fantasy players […]

Trey Sweeney Dealing With Shoulder Strain

The Detroit Tigers have paused shortstop Trey Sweeney's (shoulder) throwing activities in camp due to a right-shoulder strain, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Sweeney's injury doesn't mean he won't be ready in time for Opening Day in late March, but it definitely hurts his chances of winning a big-league roster spot out of […]

JJ Wetherholt an Option to Bat Leadoff for Cardinals?

As part of a wide-ranging discussion about lineup construction with St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol on Friday, the Belleville News' Jeff Jones reports that shortstop prospect JJ Wetherholt's name was "bandied about as an option at leadoff." It's looking more likely that Wetherholt will not only be on the team's Opening Day roster, but […]

Marcelo Mayer Not Guaranteed an Opening Day Roster Spot

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora made it clear that it's not a guarantee that infielder Marcelo Mayer will be on the team's Opening Day roster, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Cora said Mayer "needs to earn" a job on the Opening Day roster and needs to "show some things this spring." Specifically, the […]

4 Fantasy Baseball Prospects With Upside to Know for 2026 Drafts

Targeting high-end prospects can provide your fantasy team with elite upside. While some prospects may not make the MLB roster out of camp, they are still worth targeting with your final draft selections, as they could be league-winning assets. In this piece, we will spotlight four high-end prospects who could be worth a late-round pick […]