Looking for some sneaky grabs in fantasy drafts this spring? There are a lot of undervalued hitters that can be found later in drafts, with some having more upside than you think. Here’s a look at five hitters who could be poised for big years in 2026.
Brett Baty
We’ll start with Brett Baty, the former first-round pick who had his best career season in 2025.
Baty belted a career-high 18 home runs last season and posted a .828 OPS over the second half. It was the first time we saw what Baty, always an intriguing power hitter, could do at the MLB level. But what we also saw was a more reserved Baty, one who was willing to work counts at a level not seen at the MLB level. Don’t believe it? Look at the three-year chart.
Where Baty will play this season is a moving target. He’s seen time in the spring both in the infield and outfield, pegging him as more of a utilityman now that Bo Bichette is at third. But so long as Baty is in the lineup, he could be a 20-25 home run hitter for a team that’s deep on paper.
Addison Barger
Addison Barger was a key reason why the Blue Jays were able to make it as far as they did last October.
Barger hit 21 home runs last season for the Jays, most of which came in the first half. He had a down second half but came to play when Toronto needed him the most. Barger slashed .367/.441/.583 with three home runs and seven extra-base hits during the playoffs.
Plus power, as well as protection around him in the Jays’ lineup, are the perks. Where the concern with Barger is how he hits against left-handed pitching. The results last year (.607 OPS, 30.3% K%) were not good.
Jordan Lawlar
Yes, it’s spring, and no, you shouldn’t get too excited. However, take a look at who is in the top three of the league in terms of Barrel% this spring:
| Player | Team | Barrel% |
|---|---|---|
| Jo Adell | Angels | 28% |
| Jordan Lawlar | Diamondbacks | 26.9% |
| Matt Vierling | Tigers | 25.8% |
Jo Adell is a well-known commodity. And Matt Vierling, who’s not known for his power, has been a useful utilityman in fantasy for the past few years. But sandwiched in between the two is Jordan Lawlar, who has a path to regular playing time in 2026 with Arizona.
It’s been a very good spring for the now-center fielder. Blocked in the infield by Geraldo Perdomo and Nolan Arenado, the Diamondbacks will use Lawlar’s athleticism out in the outfield. And look at the peripherals, Lawlar’s been hitting well, as he currently leads the D-Backs in home runs (4) this spring.
He’ll look to build off what was a good year and a good final month at the MLB level last year.
Colson Montgomery
This is one of those instances where the term “breakout” can get muddled — because what defines a breakout?
In some ways, one could argue Colson Montgomery already had his breakout season. The White Sox shortstop was one of baseball’s best hitters in the second half last year, as Montgomery finished fifth in the league in home runs (21) after the break.
Now, Montgomery does have his flaws. For one, he struck out a lot last season. Montgomery had a K% just shy of 30% (it was over 30% in the second half), and those 21 home runs accounted for most of his extra-base total (31 overall).
If the term breakout means blockbuster season — and Montgomery is fully capable of hitting 30 or more home runs this season — then, yes, the 24-year-old has to be taken under serious consideration.
Chandler Simpson
Chandler Simpson is on this list for one reason and one reason only: speed.
Simpson stole 44 bases in 109 contests last season, which was simply impressive. Perhaps not by his standards, as the outfielder stole 104 bases in the Minors during the 2024 season. But still, he finished third in the category overall last season.
There are some questions that one has to consider with Simpson, namely, A) can he stay healthy (he dealt with a hamstring injury early in camp, although that hasn’t been a problem of late) and B) will the Rays let him loose on the basepaths.
Simpson is more reserved as far as his swing tendencies are concerned, compared to some other chaos players. He doesn’t chase that much. But given how elite his speed is, getting an extra base here and there won’t hurt at all.
Check out more of our fantasy baseball coverage, including a look at our potential fantasy breakout pitcher watch list.