Fantasy baseball managers everywhere should have their drafts completed by now. It’s the season of optimism for baseball fans, for their real teams and their fantasy teams. Everyone looks at their rosters like “yeah, this is my year.”
One Player to Watch in April from Each AL Team
With so many breakout, bounce-back, and repeat star candidates across the league, April is a critical month to see which players become the story of 2026. The Aaron Judge’s and Bobby Witt’s of baseball are established. Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes look to bring home more hardware. These are known commodities and crucial parts of fantasy rosters. But players that go late in drafts end up swinging rosters one way or another, and identifying those players early leads to championships.
While there are several breakout candidates on every team, many are already being drafted at peak value. Take Roman Anthony, for instance, who everyone expects to build on a dazzling rookie campaign. He’s already getting drafted in the top 40 of players, which doesn’t give fantasy managers much headroom. Identifying players who aren’t getting as much attention early is key to fantasy dominance. The guys drafted in round 23 who break out into stars get the title of “league winner,” not the first round picks, whose values are defined.
Here’s one player to pay extra attention to from each American League squad in the first month of action.
AL EAST
Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo
Rutschman struggled down the stretch of the 2024 season after putting on a show in the Home Run Derby. He carried those struggles into last season, though nagging oblique injuries largely disrupted his season. Despite that, Rutschman actually improved on several key metrics last year. Not only did his barrel rate and average exit velocity improve, but he also posted a career-low whiff rate (14.5%) and lowered his chase rate by 7.2%. He doesn’t strike out much and walks a lot, which helps keep his OBP up. The metrics and his pedigree as a former first overall pick indicate a bounce-back campaign.
Keep an eye on Rutschman early. If he does rebound, he re-enters the discussion for best catcher in the game. His position as the 13th catcher off the board represents massive upside for owners. If his struggles do persist, all eyes turn to Basallo as the potential future of the Orioles’ catching position. Both players went late in the draft and could provide tons of value.
Boston Red Sox: Marcelo Mayer
As previously mentioned, the city of Boston rests on the shoulders of Roman Anthony, and his value as a budding superstar is well established. Fantasy managers should have their eyes on Marcelo Mayer in a pivotal year for the young second baseman.
Mayer didn’t have the success Anthony did in his rookie year, hitting just .228 with a .674 OPS. But Mayer has more draft pedigree than Anthony does. He was largely considered the #1 prospect in the 2021 draft and a steal for the Red Sox at pick four. His power and good instincts on the base-paths can translate to 20/20 production. Plus, he’ll likely split time between 2nd and 3rd base, the two thinnest positions for fantasy purposes. Mayer went largely undrafted by fantasy managers, making him a contender for waiver-wire add of the year.
New York Yankees: Ryan Weathers
Weathers is a pivotal part of the Yankees’ rotation, awaiting the return of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. The former first-round pick never really clicked in Miami and has struggled with injuries early in his career. There’s a lot of optimism in a breakout, which would do wonders for the Yankees and fantasy managers alike.
Weathers fastball velocity has ticked up in spring training, hitting triple digits multiple times. He’s throwing his changeup and sinker harder as well. His whole arsenal should play better with the increased velocity, generating more strikeouts and less hard contact. While his ratios leave much to be desired, a 17:3 K/BB ratio in 12.1 innings of work is encouraging. Weathers was a late-round pick for most fantasy managers and has a chance to outperform his draft position largely.
Tampa Bay Rays: Carson Williams
Williams got sent to the minors just a week ago to continue sharpening his bat skills, but that’s all changed. The injury to Taylor Walls allows the Rays’ top prospect to earn his spot at shortstop, and fantasy managers should take notice.
While Williams’ strength is his defense, he possesses tantalizing offensive potential for fantasy managers. He went 20/20 every year from 2023 to 2025 in the minors and can replicate those results at any level. In a lineup containing Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, and Jonathan Aranda, run-scoring and RBI opportunities are abundant. The biggest question mark for Williams remains his bat; he’s a career .247 hitter and struck out at a 41.5% clip in his brief 2025 MLB stint. If Williams hopes to stick around beyond Walls’ injury, that has to improve in a hurry. Should he hold Walls off, he’s worth a roster spot. He could easily produce across four categories for fantasy managers right away.
Toronto Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho
The Blue Jays have several pieces that represent potential draft value for fantasy managers, but none as fascinating as Varsho. While he showcases both power and base-running ability, he’s mostly revered as a sensational defensive center fielder. His career OPS sits at .725, with a .227 batting average.
Last year, Varsho looked reborn. He played in just 71 games, but hit 20 home runs and drove in 55 runs in those games with a career-best .833 OPS. While many of his metrics remained the same- he strikes out a lot, doesn’t walk much, and posts average exit velocity numbers- many of his metrics drastically improved, including bat speed, launch angle, barrel rate, and expected slugging.
Is that type of power production repeatable over 162 for the Blue Jays center fielder, or just a flash in the pan? We’ll probably know sooner than later as the season kicks off. If he slugs like that, he enters top-100 territory for fantasy managers. That’s a huge steal, considering he went near pick 200 in drafts.
AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox: Colson Montgomery
Fantasy managers got a good look at Montgomery last year, when he hit 21 home runs in 71 games with an .840 OPS. He’s the core of the Sox rebuild, which has momentum with Munetaka Murakami and Kyle Teel in the mix as well.
Montgomery displayed excellent bat speed, barrel rate, and expected slugging numbers in 2025, with above-average exit velocity and hard-hit rate. He walked a respectable amount for a rookie, but the strikeout rate (29.2%) and whiff rate (31.5%) need improvement. There’s work to do against lefty pitching as well; 17 of his 21 home runs came off right-handed pitching. Montgomery’s talent is clear, and his play draws comparisons to Corey Seager. Whether he can hit for average as Seager does is unclear, but the power comparison certainly plays. Fantasy managers who waited on shortstop may have landed Montgomery as their starter. That could pay off in a big way if he expands on his rookie year.
Cleveland Guardians: Parker Messick
Chase DeLauter is an obvious pick and should occupy benches right away as a potential breakout candidate following a strong spring.
Messick, however, was a surprise addition to the Guardians opening day roster after a strong spring of his own. In 15 innings of work, he worked a 3.60 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. He offers a mid-90’s fastball with good life and a nasty changeup that works well against both lefties and righties. He’s crafty, mixes his pitches well, and keeps hitters on their toes, playing off the deception of his fastball and fade on the changeup. Cleveland jumped on him in the second round of the 2022 draft as a middle-rotation type starter, but there’s more upside than initially thought. Messick went undrafted, with his spot in the rotation undetermined until just days ago. Fantasy managers should take advantage immediately.
Detroit Tigers: Kevin McGonigle
There’s no point in trying to get cute with this pick. The #2 prospect in all of baseball gave the Tigers no choice but to include him on the opening day roster, with nothing left to prove in the minors.
McGonigle mashed all spring and is considered one of, if not the, best hitting prospects of the 2020s. He walks more than he strikes out, a rare quality at any level in the majors. He mixes patience with aggression, attacking balls he can drive to all parts of the field. The power is legit and can translate to 30 home run seasons, with the contact skills of a multi-time batting champion. It’s not always smooth for rookies, but McGonigle’s penchant for controlling the strike zone and making quality contact should translate to the bigs. Of all the players covered to this point, McGonigle easily possesses the largest upside and league-winning potential.
Kansas City Royals: Jac Caglianone
Again, why get cute when the answer is obvious? Carter Jensen gets a nod as a late-draft acquisition and honorable mention. But it’s Caglianone’s development that plays the biggest role in determining both the Royals’ and fantasy managers’ ceilings.
It wasn’t pretty for Caglianone in his rookie year, but this isn’t just any other prospect. His raw talent could elevate him to MVP-level production, not unlike his teammate Bobby Witt Jr. In his senior year of college, he had more home runs (36) than strikeouts (25). He was the top power hitter in his 2024 class. His bat speed tops the leaderboard, above hitters like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In his short time in the majors, his exit velocity compares to that of Oneil Cruz and James Wood. Chase rate is a problem area, but he didn’t strike out at an alarming rate and took his walks. He’s had a strong spring and looked great in the WBC for team Italy.
Fantasy managers who drafted Caglianone got arguably the biggest steal of the draft. His ceiling could put him among the top 30 players in fantasy by season’s end. And, don’t forget, the Royals moved their fences in this season. Everything points to a massive season for the young star.
Minnesota Twins: Mick Abel
There’s a lot to watch with this Twins team. Does Royce Lewis finally break out? Can Brooks Lee become a valuable shortstop to replace Correa? Does Matt Wallner produce the 30+ home run season that many view as his floor? With all those questions, the player who, like Messick, could represent the best value for fantasy managers is Abel.
Abel finally flashed his true potential last year after a few up-and-down seasons early in his professional career. In 18 starts, he had a 2.20 ERA, with 114 strikeouts in 98 innings of work. While control is his biggest issue, the strikeout stuff has always been there. His fastball tops out at 99 and sets up a pair of breaking balls that both generate tons of swing-and-miss. He looked dominant in spring training, pitching to a 2.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, striking out 23 batters in 18 innings. That performance and the upside Abel possesses earned him a spot in the Twins’ rotation. He’s a priority add for fantasy managers, especially if he looks sharp in April.
AL WEST
Houston Astros: Cam Smith
There’s an argument to discuss Tatsuya Imai here, but there’s already enough attention on him as a piece of the Astros rotation. Going under the radar is that Cam Smith is now a projected starter in the Astros outfield after projecting as a bench piece for most of spring.
Smith was the main piece in the trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and instantly became Houston’s top prospect. He got a full run in 2025 and largely struggled. But remember, the 2024 first-rounder played only 32 minor league games before his big-league promotion. Smith posted an .812 OPS in spring training, and though he did strike out a lot last year, he walked a good amount, too. The Astros clearly see enough to give him a shot at daily playing time, believing in his prospect pedigree. Smith went undrafted in most fantasy leagues, which, combined with his upside, screams potential league-winner. Keep a close eye on him early, and stash him immediately if he comes out playing well in April. Top prospects like Smith earn that designation for a reason.
Los Angeles Angels: Reid Detmers
Detmers gets mentioned in this conversation every year because of his stuff alone. Remember, he threw a no-hitter as a rookie in 2022? He’s never found consistency, however, making him one of the more maddening talents in the sport year after year.
Last year, the Angels moved him to the bullpen, and he actually found success, posting the best numbers of his career. Now, he’s currently slated back in the rotation, and fantasy managers should pay close attention. There are several instances of pitchers finding success as starters after working as relievers, most recently Kris Bubic and Michael King. Detmers, a former top prospect and first-round pick, has higher upside than either of them.
The Angels historically bring prospects to the majors quickly, often before they’re really ready. Perhaps Detmers needed more time to hone his craft before facing major-league hitters. Maybe the move to the bullpen helped him sharpen his approach, and the breakout finally happened. See how he does in April; if he looks sharp, the upside he possesses warrants immediate roster consideration. Detmers has the stuff of an ace, in real life and fantasy. The upside is tantalizing as always.
Seattle Mariners: Bryce Miller and Emerson Hancock
Like Baltimore, the conversation surrounding one of these players can’t exist without talking about the other. Hancock starts the year in the rotation as Miller recovers from an oblique injury suffered early in spring training.
Miller struggled in 2025, posting a 5.68 ERA in an injury-shortened season where he never looked right. However, before his injury, in spring training, his fastball came in nearly 2 MPH faster than last year. That looks like the Miller of 2024, where he threw to a 2.94 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 180 innings.
The higher velocity indicates that Miller could bounce back to his 2024 form once healthy. His off-speed pitches play better with the increased velocity, creating more deception and eliciting more strikeouts. That deception and pitch mix bred success for Miller in his breakout 2024 season. He took a big step back in 2025, but injuries can impact entire seasons for pitchers, which isn’t getting considered enough by fantasy managers. His draft value fell beyond round 20 even before the injury, and dropped even lower after it. But a bounce back seems likely, and he’s shown top-20 pitcher upside. Fantasy managers should stash him immediately as his return from injury is expected to be quick.
The only thing that could throw a wrinkle into these plans is Hancock, a former 6th overall pick and the next man up in the Mariners’ rotation. If Hancock does come out slinging it to start the season, he makes the conversation for the fifth rotation spot more interesting, especially if Miller’s recovery stalls. A healthy Miller should still have the edge, and could be a huge value if he returns to his 2024 numbers.
Texas Rangers: Jack Leiter
Fantasy managers should pay much closer attention to Leiter, who opens the season in the Rangers’ rotation following a promising 2025.
Leiter got blasted in six starts in 2024 and struggled in the first half of 2025. Control is the biggest issue he’s faced, with an inflated walk rate and lots of balls finding the middle of the zone. His fastball, specifically, got pounded early in his young career. But he started to find it following the break, posting a 3.28 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He reduced his walk rate while striking out 79 batters in 71 innings, compared to 69 strikeouts in his first 80 innings of the year.
There’s a lot to like about Leiter’s situation. He’s the son of former All-Star and World Series champion Al Leiter. Texas’ rotation features two veterans with major-league longevity and stretches of dominance, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. Who better for Leiter to learn from early in his career? Not only that, but the Rangers are great at developing young pitching. The environment is perfect for Leiter to find success.
What’s maybe gone forgotten is that Leiter himself got drafted as an ace-caliber pitcher. Texas took him second overall in 2021, and he immediately became their top prospect. If he puts it together this year, that doesn’t just mean a major-league-ready pitcher; it could mean one of the best young pitchers in baseball. Fantasy managers should already have Leiter stashed before it’s too late.
The Athletics: Lawrence Butler
Butler is the piece of the Athletics’ lineup with the most variability, as his 2025 season disappointed compared to an electric 2024 season. After hitting .263 with 22 home runs and 18 steals in just 125 games, Butler finished with a .234 AVG in 2025. He hit fewer home runs in almost 30 more games, and the drop in slugging and average brought his OPS down to .710 from .807 in his breakout campaign.
The main culprit was a sharp increase in strikeouts and whiff rate. Both jumped over 5% from 2024, while his barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and exit velocity all declined. His walk rate did increase, which is a positive sign for his development as a young player.
Butler’s 2026 season is crucial in determining his value going forward. His 2024 season was that of a five-category producer; 30/30 potential on a great offense with solid average and OPS ratios. His 2025 output produced a 20/20 season, but the ratios turned suboptimal. For him to be a valuable piece for fantasy managers, the strikeout numbers have to come back down to 2024 levels. If he does rebound, he has top 50 potential on one of the best offenses in baseball. That’s a huge value for managers who took a shot on him around round 13 in this year’s draft.
Main Photo Credits: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
