With the first half of the 2026 All-Star Game break just about done, let’s take a moment for a second and look at just which players have taken a significant step forward since the start of the year. Plus, those notables who’ve taken serious steps back.
Surprises
Hitters
- SS Otto Lopez (Marlins)
- 1B Ben Rice (Yankees)
- INF/OF Casey Schmitt (Giants)
- OF Jordan Walker (Cardinals)
- 3B Miguel Vargas (White Sox)
Jordan Walker and Casey Schmitt were two notable ex-prospects who’ve turned into high-end power hitters. The raw power has always been there for Walker. Now, it’s shown up for the 2026 All-Star who has refined his approach since his MLB debut years ago.
Ben Rice’s breakout year isn’t exactly shocking. Rice was one of baseball’s best hitters last season. But Rice is up to 29 home runs on the season, putting him in the 40-45 home run range if he can stay healthy. That would be a pleasant surprise for fantasy players.
Miguel Vargas has lived up to the top-tier prospect potential that he had with the Dodgers. Vargas, another 2026 All-Star, already has a career-best 21 home runs this season.
Lastly, who had Otto Lopez as the potential 2026 MLB hit king?
Pitchers
- SP Ben Brown (Cubs)
- SP Nick Martinez (Rays)
- SP Eduardo Rodriguez (D-Backs)
Ben Brown’s search for a third pitch landed him on a sinker, which finally unlocked a new level for the Cubs right-hander. His 1.85 ERA is the third-best among primary starting pitchers with at least 65 innings thrown this season.
Nick Martinez & Eduardo Rodriguez, meanwhile, were in the top 20 of the Majors in ERA as of July 11, with Rodriguez’s 2.29 ERA the seventh-best in the Majors. Not too shabby for two pitchers who could have easily been picked up early on this season.
Disappointments
Hitters
- 2B Jose Altuve (Astros)
- 3B Alex Bregman (Cubs)
- 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
- OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres)
- SS Trea Turner (Phillies)
Alex Bregman’s first tour with Chicago has not been great. Low exit velocity, and what would be a career-low .337 slugging percentage should the season end today.
His ex-teammate with Houston, Jose Altuve, is batting just .236 this season, something nearly impossible to conceive given how good a contact hitter he’s been throughout his career. Altuve has never had a batting average lower in a full season (his lowest was .219 in 2020).
Trea Turner, another great contact hitter, is also on the verge of multiple career lows, including for OBP and SLG. His power numbers, at least the barrel and hard-hit figures, are not terrible. But, generally, he’s the type of hitter who works singles and doubles. Not this year.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr., meanwhile, have had obviously rough seasons in terms of home run numbers.
Pitchers
- SP Mike Burrows (Astros)
- SP Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays)
- SP Freddy Peralta (Mets)
While Mike Burrows may not have the career resume that Gausman and Peralta have had, his 5.99 ERA put him on this list.
Burrows, acquired this past offseason in a three-way trade with the Astros, had a fine 2025 and followed it up with an equally impressive spring. But despite the breakout potential, Burrows constantly got himself in trouble with the home run ball. Now, he’ll look to dig himself out of Triple-A.
Peralta’s had significant command issues, which have led to abbreviated outings, high walk figures, and not many wins. And as for Gausman, he’s one of the few standout pitchers with a true three-pitch offering. But in 2026, few strikeouts for the righty.
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