Every spring, players churn out headlines that make you want to throw your draft board out the window and start over. A guy who crushed your fantasy team last year is suddenly raking again, a top prospect is mashing big league pitching like it’s Triple-A, and a pitcher you gave up on two seasons ago looks like an ace. The temptation to overreact is real, and expensive, because for every legitimate breakout brewing, there are three guys padding their numbers against split-squad lineups and pitchers throwing at 75% effort on secondary stuff.
This piece runs through the Spring Training names getting the most buzz right now and calling it straight or somewhere in the murky middle. There’s a lot to dig into, so let’s get into it.
2B Matt McLain (CIN)
No one on planet Earth is hotter than 2026 Spring Training Matt McLain. They will write hymns of his triumphs throughout February and March like an ancient warrior. McLain owns a .545/.592/1.045 slashline with a 311 wRC+ and as many walks as strikeouts (5) through 15 games.
The 2025 fantasy baseball bust is on a rampage, but can he carry something into the regular season? After breaking out in 2023, McLain underwent shoulder surgery the following season and missed all of 2024. There was likely a residual impact on his 2025 season, which would explain the stark drop off from a .290/.357/.507 line to a .220/.300/.343 line.
Obviously, we do not expect anything close to his torrid Spring pace to carry over into the actual season. However, we do not even need to ask for more than a slightly worse version of 2023 to return a massive profit on his mid-100’s ADP. McLain hit 16 HR and stole 14 bases that season in 89 games. This is good for a 29 HR, 26 SB pace through 162 games. Whether he can replicate that season again is to be determined, but the potential is there, and the production was real for a strong sample.
FACT: If you can secure McLain in drafts, he is worth the cost of admission.
3B/OF Jordan Lawlar (ARI)
The Arizona Diamondbacks need a big year from their top prospect, Jordan Lawlar. Injuries and mediocre MLB stints have kept Lawlar from breaking out, but he is healthy now and producing in Spring Training. Lawlar’s posted four home runs and a .293/.420/.610 slashline through 13 Spring games.
Unfortunately, we still see some strikeout issues in this span. Lawlar has struck out 13 times through 50 plate appearances (26%), but at least has walked 9 times (8%). There is no correlation between Spring Training data and regular-season performance, yet we can still be pessimistic on a full breakout for Lawlar, given that there are still holes to poke in his outlook.
FICTION: We know Lawlar has a great power/speed combo, but we need to see the strikeouts come down before fully buying in. If he falls in drafts or is available on the wire, then he is worth a shot.
3B Coby Mayo (NYM)
With Jordan Westburg out until May (possibly longer) with a partially torn UCL, Coby Mayo finally has an opportunity for regular playing time to begin a season. Mayo’s 2025 season was not horrible, but it left much to be desired. He posted a .217/.299/.388 slash-line through 85 games with a 95 wRC+ and 28.6% strikeout rate.
Thus far, Mayo is slashing .452/.441/.742 with 2 HR through 34 Spring plate appearances, with just one walk and one strikeout in this span. Although this production is nice (aside from the minimal walks), we can continue banking on Mayo’s stellar minor league data for a hopeful breakout. He is still very young, healthy, and now, earning everyday opportunities.
FACT: There is “Austin Riley upside” in Mayo’s bat, and he is virtually free in drafts. He gets to play in a great home park with a potential top-five offense after the offseason additions of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward. Why NOT?
OF Carson Benge (NYM)
The Mets are likely opening the season with Carson Benge as an everyday outfielder. The top-25 prospect is a polished hitter with an impressive Spring to date. Benge has not hit a home run through 36 plate appearances, yet owns a .976 OPS. There is a lot to like in Benge’s profile throughout the minors, between his excellent plate discipline, steady power, and occasional stolen bases.
The Mets’ offense is different this season after the departures of Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo. However, different may not be declining. They revamped their roster with the additions of Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, and Luis Robert Jr. There is more of a risk-reward aspect to this club now (especially with Robert Jr.), and that plan includes betting on Benge. He could be the glue to this older roster.
FACT: Benge’s HR/SB upside is moderate for a top-hitting prospect, but his bat is ready. The fantasy production will arrive via runs, RBI, and batting average. Also, with his approach, he is a future points league star.
SP Shane McClanahan (TB)
The Rays’ former ace is healthy again and dealing in Spring. McCalanahan has not pitched a major league inning since 2023, but looks the part once more with an incredible peak of him against major league hitters these past few weeks. Just today, McClanahan pitched five shutout innings against most of the Red Sox starters. He earned four strikeouts, while walking two batters and allowing three hits.
This was McClanahan’s first five-inning outing since July 28, 2023. Since then, McClanahan has undergone Tommy John Surgery and a triceps clean-up for a nerve issue last season. McClanahan attempted a return last season, but the nerve issue persisted and prevented him from throwing even four total minor league innings.
FICTION: 3.2 innings pitched total since early August 2023 is hard to buy in fantasy, even at McClanahan’s deflated cost. Some will point to Woodruff’s 2025 season as precedent for missing time and returning to domination, but Woodruff just missed one full season. McClanahan is also not hitting 97 MPH with his fastball (96.8 max today with 7 pitches above 95), despite averaging it throughout his MLB career.
SP Max Meyer (MIA)
Meyer has been in the bigs since 2022, yet he has only had 127.2 IP since then. Nevertheless, he is healthy now and showed promise last season, despite a 4.73 ERA and 4.78 xERA. Meyer held a fantastic 3.51 xFIP and 3.72 SIERA in 2025 through 64.2 IP. His 16.8% K-BB was a career high, and he mixed it with a 49.2% groundball rate.
There were concerns around Meyer’s durability due to his short, skinny stature during the draft, and those fears have largely come to fruition. There are obvious concerns around Meyer staying on the mound after dealing with multiple issues since 2022. Tommy John Surgery, hip surgery on his labrum, and shoulder bursitis have ailed the former third-overall pick throughout his MLB career. Regardless, Max Meyer looks electric this Spring and has a rotation spot locked in. He has not given up a run, while striking out 12 and walking just one batter through seven innings.
TBD: Talent is not a big concern for Meyer. He has it and should display it if pitching regularly. However, he may be better suited for the bullpen long-term to maximize his quality stuff and stay healthy. For the sake of 2026 drafts, take a shot in the later rounds given that he has slot in the rotation and could have more luck this year.
SP Mick Abel (MIN)
The former Phillies first-round pick has potentially “figured it out” in Minnesota. Through 14 innings last year, Abel posted a 3.55 xERA, 3.50 xFIP, and 3.70 SIERA, despite an 8.36 ERA. He is now dealing in Spring with a 2.00 ERA, 2.44 xFIP, and 30.3% K-BB through 18 IP.
At no age, nor level with the Phillies did he have an xFIP below 4.00. He has made changes to his approach with an increase in groundball rate, while significantly improving his strikeouts and walks. It is possible Abel has just figured it out with a tweak to his stuff, but he was in a Phillies organization that has done wonders with their starting pitching. Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Zack Wheeler made leaps as Phillies, yet Mick Abel could not?
FICTION: I am not COMPLETELY ruling out a breakthrough for Abel since Minnesota definitely has a good track record with pitching too, and a change of scenery is occasionally necessary, but this sudden turn is improbable. Something has to give despite the small sample of success Minnesota has had with him between his stint in the minors and majors in 2025, along with this Spring. Abel is probably more “solid” than “good/great”.
SP Connelly Early (BOS)
Excellent article. What are your thoughts on Corbin Burnes and Jared Jones? Are either worth stashing? One more than the other?