It is only right for a little positivity after last week’s article, Five Hitters Due For Negative Regression.
This piece seeks players who can earn a break in 2026. Whether 2025 was a nightmare due to underperformed peripheral stats (via StatCast), injuries, or both, there is always value to be found throughout a fantasy baseball draft. Some players are on new teams and can get boosted by new faces, while others are in a good spot regardless.
Baseball seasons are long and provide significant sample sizes, but some samples tend to be skewed if injury issues linger or bad luck compounds into mental mistakes from frustration. Whatever the case may be, a new season brings about new opportunities and a fresh slate for these players to get right.
OF Jac Caglianone (KC)
The Royals did not get the real Jac Caglianone last season. Despite crushing the minors and forcing an expedited call-up midseason, Caglianone struggled to find his bat. Luckily, there is regression on the way, along with his natural development in year two.
- Batting Average: .157 | Expected Batting Average: .237
- Slugging Rate: .295 | Expected Slugging Rate: .431
Caglianone massively underperformed his peripheral numbers and should find himself, at worst, as an average offensive bat in 2026. Furthermore, with the Royals moving in their outfield walls, there is a potential boon for him and the entire offense.
There are questions regarding Caglianone’s value after a horrendous rookie season. Will he play every day? Will he platoon?? These concerns are valid, but he did better against left-handed pitchers than right-handed pitchers last season…albeit in a small sample for each, and with both splits below league average.
The bet is on Caglianone’s talent with a mix of regression. He is a former sixth-overall pick for a reason. Caglianone showed that he was league-ready at 22 years old with a 170 wRC+ through 304 plate appearances at Double-A and Triple-A.
OF Luis Robert Jr. (NYM)
The Mets made their big splash of the offseason by acquiring Luis Robert Jr. via trade from the Chicago White Sox. Robert Jr. has long been a trade candidate, but is also a regression candidate.
- Batting Average: .223 | Expected Batting Average: .246
- Slugging Rate: .364 | Expected Slugging Rate: .426
Robert Jr. underperformed both his expected slugging and batting averages by significant margins. With his speed, he should typically “over-perform” his expected metrics. Unfortunately, injuries have been a pain in his rear and have limited his overall talents. He has missed a combined 114 games due to injury since 2024. The injuries are typically to his lower body, yet the Mets are optimistic they can keep him healthy by tweaking his mechanics.
Not only does Robert Jr. benefit from potential regression this season, but he should also benefit from playing within a good offense for the first time since early COVID-era baseball. The Mets and White Sox are on opposite ends of the offensive spectrum. With protection in the lineup from bats like Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette, and Jorge Polanco, we should see a resurgent season from La Pantera.
SS Dansby Swanson (CHC)
The Cubs’ star shortstop had a down 2025, but can expect a bounce-back in 2026. Dansby Swanson is a talented hitter in a good offense. That is typically what I look for when drafting! Especially when I can acquire these players on a discount.
- Batting Average: .244 | Expected Batting Average: .267
- Slugging Rate: .417 | Expected Slugging Rate: .477
Swanson is regularly available in drafts after the top-120 picks and provides value in all five traditional categories. He set a career-high in stolen bases last season with 20, and is roughly a 20-20 player on average between the past two seasons. The Cubs’ offense could also be even better than 2025 with Alex Bregman joining them. Kyle Tucker was seen as a ceiling raiser for last season, but he played just 136 games and floundered throughout the second half.
Swanson has struggled to play to his peripherals since 2022, but with some luck on his side, he could have a massive season, especially if his batting average cracks .270 again.
2B Gleyber Torres (DET)
The Tigers’ offense fell off in the second half of last season, along with Gleyber Torres. Before the All-Star Break, Torres slashed .281/.387/.425. After the Break, he slashed .223/.320/.339. Torres did not miss a significant number of games in 2025, yet underwent sports hernia surgery in October to correct a lingering groin issue.
- Batting Average: .244 | Expected Batting Average: .267
- Slugging Rate: .417 | Expected Slugging Rate: .477
Gleyber Torres is unlikely to hit 38 HR as he did in 2019, but he could get back to 25 in 2026 with some regression. This would come with a quality batting average, runs, and RBI in a Tigers’ offense that is young and talented.
Between Torres, Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson, and the looming star prospect Kevin McGonigle, there is a lot to like about Detroit in 2026. Torres is slotted in the two-hole according to Roster Resource and should hit in the top-half of the order even upon McGonigle’s call-up.
1B Jake Burger (TEX)
Year one for Jake Burger in Texas was horrible. He dealt with injuries to his oblique, quad, and wrist in-season and was bad enough to get demoted to the minors in May. Burger ended the season with 16 HRs and a .236/.269/419 slash line through 103 MLB games.
- Batting Average: .236 | Expected Batting Average: .246
- Slugging Rate: .419 | Expected Slugging Rate: .478
Luckily, there is hope for Burger in 2026. His power numbers, or lack thereof, were a result of bad luck and injuries. His strikeout rate was the lowest of his career, and his .324 xwOBA last year was not far from his .339 xwOBA in 2024. Burger is unlikely to become a star based on regression alone, but in an offense with Corey Seager, Brandon Nimmo, and a healthy Wyatt Langford, there is hope for a quality fantasy season with major HR and RBI.
