With MLB Spring Training 2026 now fully underway, Fantasy baseball drafts for the upcoming season have begun in earnest. The latest Cal Raleigh fantasy breakout projections highlight potential sleepers and emerging stars who could offer significant value beyond the obvious top picks like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Ronald Acuna Jr.
As the 2026 season approaches, with Opening Day set for Wednesday, March 25 featuring the Yankees versus Giants, preparing your roster through careful analysis of sleepers, breakouts, and busts can be decisive. Advanced models, including those that accurately forecasted Cal Raleigh‘s standout 2025 campaign, offer critical insights to give fantasy managers an edge before drafts start.
Identifying Standout Sleeper Candidates for 2026
Among the notable sleepers for 2026, the model emphasizes Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe. After being acquired in the offseason from the Rays, Lowe is expected to play a major role near the top of the Pirates’ lineup. His performance last season showed a resurgence in power hitting, tallying 31 home runs and 83 RBIs—his best figures since 2021.
The current average draft position (ADP) places Lowe at pick 159, yet projections rank him as the No. 6 second baseman ahead of well-regarded players such as Nico Hoerner, Marcus Semien, and Ozzie Albies, all typically selected within the first 100 picks. This discrepancy suggests Lowe could emerge as an undervalued asset in many drafts.
Promising Breakout Players Poised to Elevate Their Fantasy Value
The model also highlights catcher Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies as a prime breakout candidate. Goodman’s early major league exposure in 2023 and 2024 was underwhelming, with a batting average below .200. However, 2025 marked a dramatic improvement, with Goodman becoming the Rockies’ primary catcher and posting a slash line featuring a .278 average, .843 OPS, 31 home runs, and 91 RBIs. Only Cal Raleigh surpassed him in home runs among catchers last year.
Despite this performance and the home run-friendly environment of Coors Field, Goodman’s draft position remains surprisingly low, often not taken until late in the top 100 picks. The projection model ranks him as the No. 2 catcher for 2026, ahead of notable catchers like Will Smith and Shea Langeliers, making him a compelling target for fantasy team builders.
Players Who Could Disappoint: Projected Busts for 2026
On the other end of the spectrum, the model flags Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts as a significant Fantasy bust risk this season. Although the Dodgers continue to amass high-quality talent, Betts has experienced a decline in production over the past year. His batting average and OPS dropped to career lows of .258 and .732 respectively in 2025, and he struggled notably in the postseason with a .648 OPS, extending a troubling offensive trend compared to his prior performance.
Now entering his age-33 season, Betts is typically drafted around pick 48, but the model suggests he is overrated in fantasy circles. Other middle infielders such as Jeremy Pena, Corey Seager, and Willy Adames, who tend to be selected in later rounds, could provide more consistent and efficient production in 2026.
Leveraging Advanced Models to Gain a Competitive Advantage
SportsLine’s projection model, powered by the same expert team behind projections for several major fantasy platforms, continues to offer updated cheat sheets and rankings that adjust in real time to MLB transactions, injuries, and other news. These provide fantasy players with dynamic insight as teams refine their rosters during Spring Training and beyond.
One intriguing note from the model involves a starting pitcher barely selected within the top 200 picks who is projected to outperform household names like Max Fried, Chris Sale, and Logan Webb. Securing this undervalued pitcher could prove pivotal in head-to-head leagues or tournaments.
Fantasy owners aiming to maximize their 2026 draft strategies and remain ahead of the competition should consult these proven rankings and projections. The model’s previous success—such as identifying Cal Raleigh’s breakout—illustrates the value of relying on statistically driven analysis to identify reliable sleepers, breakouts, and those likely to disappoint.
