Preseason Prep – February 19, 2026
Ben Rice (C/1B-NYY) is coming off a strong age-26 campaign in which he hit .255 with 26 HR, 65 RBI, and 74 R across 530 PA, with a healthy 133 wRC+. Along the way, he fanned at a reasonable 19% clip while drawing some walks (9.5%) and making plenty of contact (80.5% overall, 89% in zone). Rice showed good patience and a keen batting eye as he logged a 43.5% swing rate and 21% chase rate while waiting for the right pitch. And he made lots of loud contact as a result of that approach, registering a 56% hard-hit rate, 15.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 93 mph, with an average launch angle of 14.2 helping him to put the ball in the air regularly (39.5% groundball rate). Rice logged 106 PA last year against LHP and wasn’t atrocious (.208 average, 7 HR, 104 wRC+) so he doesn’t seem to be in danger of strict platoon duty. He’s therefore a top-5 backstop for fantasy as he seems likely to hit .250 with 25+ HR.
Michael Busch (1B-CHC) followed up his encouraging 2024 campaign (.248 average, 21 HR, 65 RBI, and 73 R in 567 PA with a 118 wRC+) with a breakout 2025 in which he registered a .261 average, 34 HR, 90 RBI, and 78 R over 592 PA, with a robust 140 wRC+. In his age-27 campaign, Busch fanned at an acceptable 23.5% clip (down from 28.5% in 2024) while elevating his overall (76.5%) and in-zone (85.5%) contact rates to career bests. Meanwhile, Busch especially improved his quality of contact, with his 47.5% hard-hit rate (was 40% in 2024), 17% barrel rate (11%), and 92 mph average exit velocity (90) all up significantly from his 2024 figures while he maintained an average launch angle of 17 that generated 22% liners and 42% flyballs. Look for another campaign of a .250+ average to go with about 30 dingers.
Colt Keith (2B/3B-DET) will reportedly focus on 1B and 3B during spring training, manning 2B only if injuries force the issue. He underwhelmed on the surface in his sophomore campaign, logging a .256 average, 13 HR, 45 RBI, and 65 runs scored across 468 PA, although a 109 wRC+ (was 95 in 2024) should provide some encouragement. In his age-23 season, Keith fanned more often (up to 22% from 20%), but he drew more walks (up to 10.5% from 6.5%) and chased fewer pitches (o-swing% down from 29.5% to 27%) while making more contact (up to 79.5% from 78.5%). Although his in-zone contact rate remained steady at 89%, Keith significantly improved his Statcast profile, with a 43.5% hard-hit rate (up from 35%), 9% barrel rate (5.5%), and average exit velocity of 90 mph (88). An average launch angle of 13.3 (was 11.7 in 2024) facilitated more liners (up from 21.5% to 23.5%) and flyballs (up from 34.5% to 38.5%). While he offers .265-20 potential, the Tigers haven’t given him much playing time against LHP as he logged just 43 PA against southpaws in 2025, and he predictably struggled when he did face them (.163 average).
Zach Neto (SS-LAA) didn’t miss a beat after recovering from shoulder surgery delayed his season debut, posting a .257 average, 26 HR, 62 RBI, 82 R, and 26 SB across 554 PA, with a 116 wRC+. That increased production came despite a career-high 27% strikeout rate as Neto seemed to sell out a bit for power, with a career-high 17.5 average launch angle, 46.5% hard-hit rate, 14% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 91 mph. While Neto’s overall contact rate slumped from 74% to 72%, his in-zone contact rate actually climbed from 83.5% to 84.5% and he chased pitches outside the zone a bit less often (o-swing% down from 31.5% to 30.5%). With good health, Neto is certainly capable of recording his first 30-30 season while not hurting fantasy owners in the average department.
Jordan Westburg (3B-BAL) is recovering from an oblique injury suffered in January, so monitor his progress during spring training. He put together a productive injury-shortened 2025 campaign as he hit .265 with 17 HR, 41 RBI, and 59 R over just 352 PA, with a 115 wRC+ attesting to his productivity. His strikeout rate ticked upward to 22.5%, with his overall (73%, down from 74%) and in-zone (80%, down from 83%) suffering. The diminished in-zone contact rate is especially concerning as it wasn’t great to begin with. Westburg also made less loud contact in 2025 than he did in 2024, although a 43.5% hard-hit rate, 11% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 90 mph were all still solid. With good health, the soon-to-be 27 year-old seems a likely candidate for a .260-25 campaign in 2025.
Colton Cowser (OF-BAL) disappointed in 2025, finishing the campaign with a .196 average, 16 HR, 40 RBI, 36 R, and 14 SB across just 360 PA. Injuries were at least partly to blame as he missed all of April and May with a fractured left thumb, missed action because of a concussion, and then played with two broken ribs sustained while colliding into an outfield wall in mid-June. The 5th overall pick in the 2021 draft therefore never really got on his feet in 2025 as he fanned a ton (35.5%) and his overall (68%) and in-zone (79%) contact rates plummeted. Encouragingly, the loud contact was there as he registered a 45.5% hard-hit rate, 14% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 91 mph, all of which were career highs. Although even a decent average seems unlikely given his track record of contact issues, Cowser should be a 20-10 guy if he can stay healthy in 2026, with 25-15 in the cards.
Carson Benge (OF-NYM) is an intriguing player who has a pathway to earning the Mets starting RF role during spring training. The 23 year-old impressed in his first full season of minor-league action in 2025, posting a .281 average, 15 HR, 73 RBI, and 22 SB across 519 PA as he climbed from High-A (271 PA) to Double-A (145 PA) to Triple-A (103 PA). The 2024 first-round draft pick (19th overall) out of Oklahoma State drew plenty of walks (13%) while not fanning often (17.5%) on the season. Although he registered just a .178 average in the highest level of the minors, he fanned at an acceptable 18.5% clip in Triple-A while his Statcast metrics were nice (53% hard-hit rate and average exit velo of 92 mph) and he made enough contact (81.5% overall, 88.5% in zone). While scouting reports indicate that he possesses no single elite tool, Benge grades as having plus current or potential tools across the board, including contact, power, and speed. He could be a five-category fantasy contributor as early as this season.
Jo Adell (OF-LAA) put together a career year in 2025 as he compiled a .236 average to go with 37 HR, 98 RBI, and 63 R across 573 PA in his age-26 campaign, with a wRC+ of 112 – his first north of 100 in the majors – attesting to his productivity. A key to his success was more contact as his 73.5% overall and 85% in-zone contact rates were career bests. Another key was loud contact as Adell’s Statcast profile featured career highs in hard-hit rate (49.5%), barrel rate (17%), and average exit velo (91.5 mph). With an average launch angle of 16.1, he was able to do some damage as his groundball rate came in at only 37.5%. If he can continue to keep the strikeout rate down to an acceptable level (26.5% in 2025, 30% career), Adell should again be a productive fantasy player; expect .235/30 with more possible, especially in the power department.
Jasson Dominguez (OF-NYY) could begin the upcoming season in the minors, which crushes what fantasy value he had entering 2026 fantasy drafts. He certainly underwhelmed in his age-22 campaign last year, registering a .257 average, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 58 R, and 23 SB across 429 PA, with a 103 wRC+ indicating that he was a slightly above-average producer. While he drew some walks (9.5%), he also fanned often (27%). Encouragingly, his contact rates (75% overall and 85% in zone) weren’t terrible, although his swinging-strike rate was not ideal at 12.5%. His Statcast profile also wasn’t bad as it shows a 49.5% hard-hit rate, 7% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 90.5 mph. It’s far too early to write off Dominguez, who possesses plus bat speed and speed, but expectations will need to be modest in 2026 as he continues to develop, perhaps spending part of the season in the minors to do so.
Chase Burns (SP-CIN) might have compiled an underwhelming 4.57 ERA and 3.3 BB/9 in his first taste of big-league action as a 22 year-old last season, but he also amassed a 13.9 K/9 while his 268 xFIP points to a .360 BABIP and 64% strand rate inflating his ERA. The young righty missed lots of bats (16% swinging-strike rate) while limiting the opposition’s overall (70%) and in-zone (83%) contact rates, but they did register a good bit of loud contact against him, with Statcast showing a 45.5% hard-hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 90 mph. Burns is a candidate to open the campaign in the Reds rotation, but fantasy owners will need to see how the competition for the final rotation spot shakes out. The 2nd overall pick in the 2024 draft is gifted with a 98-mph average heater, but may need to hone a third pitch after he leaned heavily on the fastball (58% usage) and 91-mph slider (34.5%) in 2025. The upside is tremendous, but he’s something of a lottery ticket right now; draft accordingly.
Ryan Weathers (SP-NYY) was traded from the Marlins to the Yankees during the offseason, and perhaps he will break out there in his age-26 season. The southpaw, after all, looked good in two injury-shortened campaigns with the Marlins in 2024 and 2025, compiling a 3.74 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, and 4.03 xFIP across 125 IP in those two seasons. Staying healthy has certainly been his biggest issue as a forearm strain and a lat strain derailed his 2025 season, but Weathers, who possesses a power fastball, change, and sweeper, has drawn comparisons to Jesus Luzardo, Tarik Skubal, and Garrett Crochet based on his pure stuff. Those are certainly lofty comps, but Weathers has averaged 96.5 mph with his heater the last two seasons while deploying an 87-mph average change and 83.5-mph average breaking ball. During that span, he’s registered a respectable 11.5% swinging-strike rate while limiting opposing hitters to a modest 75% overall and 84% in-zone contact rate. He’s reportedly clocked north of 98 mph early in spring training, but can he remain healthy? Weathers will receive at least an audition for a rotation spot with Carlos Rodon (elbow) and Gerrit Cole (elbow) both opening the season on the IL.
MacKenzie Gore (SP-TEX) will begin his age-27 campaign with his third MLB club after the Nationals traded him to the Rangers in January. The southpaw is coming off his strongest big-league season to date in which he recorded a 4.17 ERA, 10.4 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, and 3.78 xFIP across 159.2 IP; the K/9 and xFIP were career bests while the B/9 and ERA were the second best of his career. Behind those figures were a career-high 13.5% swinging-strike rate and career-low overall (72.5%) and in-zone (83%) contact rates. When opposing hitters got the bat on the ball, though, there was some loud contact as Statcast shows a 44% hard-hit rate, 10.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 90.5 mph. Compared to seasons past, Gore’s 49% fastball usage and 12% slider usage were career lows while his 24% curveball usage and 10.5% change usage were career highs. The move from Nationals Park (park factor of 101) to Globe Life Field (97) does represent something of an upgrade for Gore, although it’s a downgrade in terms of homers as the former has a 94 for HR while the latter has a 104. Look for Gore to offer #2 SP fantasy value in 2026.
Jacob Misiorowski (SP-MIL) flashed some potential in his first taste of MLB action in 2025 but the results were mixed overall as he recorded a 4.36 ERA, 11.9 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, and 3.66 xFIP across 66 IP. The 23 year-old righty averaged 99 mph with his heater and missed some bats (13% swinging-strike rate) but continued to struggle – as he did throughout his minor-league career – with control. That will be what determines the course of his career as Misiorowski is otherwise an intriguing talent who limits contact (73.5% overall, 82.5% in zone) and did not yield too much loud contact, with Statcast showing a 37.5% hard-hit rate, 8% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 89 mph. Pitching deep into games will be a challenge if his BB/9 remains north of 9 and his high-octane stuff could make him a bullpen option if he’s never able to rein in the control. For 2026, fantasy owners should draft him as a mid-rotation SP with upside.
Edward Cabrera (SP-CHC) finally put things together with the Marlins in 2025 and will now pitch the 2026 campaign with a new club. Across a career-high 137.2 IP, the 27 year-old righty compiled a 3.53 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 3.62 xFIP. The keys to his success last season were a career-best BB/9 (4.50 in 431.2 career IP) and reining in the longball (1.11 HR/9 in 2025, 1.23 career). Meanwhile, his 12.5% swinging-strike rate was an improvement on what he logged in 2023-2024. There is some concern, however, about loud contact as Cabrera yielded a 46.5% hard-hit rate, 8.5% barrel rate, and career-high average exit velocity of 90.5 mph. Believe it or not, the move from Miami to Chicago represents an upgrade in home park for pitching, as Wrigley ranked 25th in the majors in park factor in 2023-2025 (97) while the park in Miami ranked 11th (101), although Chicago had a higher mark in homers (99) than Miami (90) during that time. The keys to Cabrera’s success will be continuing to limit the walks and homers.
Pablo Lopez (SP-MIN) reportedly has a “significant” tear in his right (throwing) UCL and, although he will seek another opinion, he will miss at least the 2026 campaign while he recovers from whatever procedure he undergoes; Tommy John is reportedly a possibility. Lopez is coming off a frustrating 2025 season in which shoulder and hamstring issues limited him to 14 starts. Across 75.2 IP, he compiled a 2.74 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 3.87 xFIP. A .278 BABIP (.297 career), 75.5% strand rate (73.5% career), and 7.5% HR/FB combined to suppress his ERA. Given the injuries, it was hardly surprising that Lopez was off last season, as his average fastball velocity was down a touch to 94.5 mph (95 in 2023-2024) while his 11.5% swinging-strike rate was his lowest since 2019 and the opposition’s overall (76%) and in-zone (84.5%) contact rates were up slightly. His control, too, slipped from the 2.2 he logged in 2023 and 2024’s 2. Now fantasy owners will have to wait until sometime in 2027 – his age-31 season – to see what he can contribute to fantasy.