Spring Coaching video games are slated to start out Friday, which means MLB’s largest stars might be again in motion. However with so many nice abilities within the sport at present, who might be each crew’s high participant in 2026?
To find out that, it’s time to look at the projections from FanGraphs Depth Charts (a mix of the Steamer and ZiPS projection techniques, with anticipated taking part in time allotted by FanGraphs employees).
By Wins Above Alternative, right here is the highest projected participant for every membership getting into 2026.
Blue Jays: Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (4.9 WAR)By advantage of his worth behind the plate, Kirk’s 2025 fWAR (4.7) nicely exceeded Guerrero’s (3.9), however Guerrero’s offensive ceiling is just too excessive to be neglected, even after one other inconsistent yr. Kirk is projected not only for the very best WAR season of his profession however for the second highest amongst catchers, trailing solely Cal Raleigh (6.4), whereas Guerrero’s potential output splits the distinction between his final two seasons (.295 AVG, 34 HR, 95 RBIs).
Orioles: Gunnar Henderson (6.0 WAR)Maybe crucial thriller surrounding the Orioles is what we should always anticipate from Henderson after he adopted up an MVP-caliber 2024 (.529 SLG, 37 HR, 155 OPS+) with a a lot much less eye-catching 2025 (.438 SLG, 17 HR, 121 OPS+). However given his age (nonetheless 24 as of Opening Day) and the shoulder harm he performed by means of in ’25, we are able to assume we’ve not seen his peak, and FanGraphs appears to agree that final yr wasn’t actually a mirrored image of his capabilities, projecting 29 dwelling runs and a .490 SLG for Henderson in 2026. Slightly below him, Orioles projected throughout the 3.5-4.0 WAR vary embody Adley Rutschman (4.0), Jordan Westburg (3.9) and Pete Alonso (3.6).
Rays: Junior Caminero (4.8 WAR)Caminero hit 45 dwelling runs in his age-21 season, a baseline that could possibly be a blessing or a curse going ahead. However FanGraphs affords optimism, with Caminero amongst simply 5 hitters projected to hit the 40-homer mark (behind Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Choose and Raleigh). His projected 4.8 WAR ties perennial MVP candidate José Ramírez atop the leaderboard at third base. Amongst his teammates, solely Shane McClanahan (3.0) is projected at or above 3 WAR in 2026.
Pink Sox: Garrett Crochet (5.8 WAR)”Second solely to Tarik Skubal” was the theme of Crochet’s 2025, which he completed with 5.8 WAR (second within the AL, fourth in MLB), a 2.59 ERA and an MLB-best 255 strikeouts in 205 1/3 innings (11.2 strikeouts per 9). If issues pan out as projected, we’re in for extra of the identical in 2026 — a barely elevated 2.91 ERA however nonetheless a 5.8 WAR (second, once more, to Skubal) and about 11.2 Okay/9. New acquisitions Sonny Grey (3.7 WAR) and Ranger Suárez (3.4) lag behind Crochet by a substantial margin; Roman Anthony leads Boston’s place gamers with a projected 3.5 WAR.
Yankees: Aaron Choose (7.3 WAR)Choose is hitting .326 with a 1.152 OPS because the starting of the 2024 season. He hit 58 dwelling runs in 2024 and adopted with 53 in ’25. He is coming off back-to-back 10+ WAR seasons, and now he is a batting champ, too. Projection fashions aren’t constructed for this, so though he does have the very best projected position-player fWAR in baseball, it is simply as seemingly an MVP-worthy 43-homer, 7.8-WAR season is underestimating him, even in his age-34 marketing campaign. Different Yankees projected over 3.0 WAR: Max Fried (3.9), Cody Bellinger (3.3), Austin Wells (3.2) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3.1).
Royals: Bobby Witt Jr. (6.7 WAR)Witt’s 8.0 WAR in 2025 trailed solely Choose (10.1) and Raleigh (9.1) amongst hitters, and the Kansas Metropolis shortstop continues to be simply 25 years outdated. Witt completed within the high 5 in AL MVP voting for the second straight season, batting .295 with 23 homers, 38 steals and an .852 OPS, whereas claiming each the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards at brief (plus the AL Platinum Glove). The all-around star is projected to guide the Royals in WAR by a substantial margin, with pitcher Cole Ragans (4.1 WAR) his nearest teammate.
Tigers: Tarik Skubal (6.3 WAR)Skubal is coming off back-to-back Cy Younger seasons, posting a 2.21 ERA in 2025 with 241 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings. He led all pitchers with 6.6 WAR in 2025 after main the AL with 6.0 WAR in 2024, and his 2026 projection would put him in between these two stellar seasons. Skubal is the ace of a gifted rotation that additionally options Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and free-agent additions Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander.
Twins: Byron Buxton (3.6 WAR)Buxton’s 2025 was his greatest season thus far with a .264/.327/.551 slash line, 35 homers, 24 stolen bases and a career-high 5.0 WAR. It’s hardly a coincidence that he performed in 126 video games, his healthiest season since 2017 (when he performed in a career-high 140 video games). An elite hitter and baserunner with above-average vary in heart area, Buxton has been staying on the sphere and dwelling as much as his immense potential of late. If he can do it once more in 2026, he has each likelihood to be the very best participant on a younger Minnesota squad.
White Sox: Colson Montgomery (2.5 WAR)Montgomery completely mashed after his callup to the Majors on July 4, socking 21 dwelling runs in simply 71 video games for Chicago down the stretch. He additionally flashed a powerful glove, totaling +6 Outs Above Common at shortstop in his half-season stint. All instructed, he racked up 2.7 WAR as a rookie and is projected for the same complete in 2026, which might be tops on a younger squad that additionally options younger hitters Chase Meidroth, Miguel Vargas and Kyle Teel — every projected for two.1 WAR — and Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami (2.2).
Angels: Zach Neto (4.3 WAR)Neto has unquestionably been the Angels’ high participant every of the final two seasons, main the membership with 3.5 WAR in 2024 and three.1 WAR final season. Neto has been nicely above common with the bat (112 OPS+ in 2024, 117 OPS+ in ‘25), has performed strong protection at shortstop and has been a member of the 20-20 membership in every season. The projections see the younger shortstop taking one other step ahead, which is smart since Neto was price 3.1 WAR in 128 video games in ’25.
Astros: Yordan Alvarez (4.4 WAR)It was a misplaced season for Alvarez, who solely performed in 48 video games resulting from harm and posted an OPS south of .800 for the primary time in his profession. The excellent news is Alvarez continues to be solely 28 years outdated and posted a superb .393 anticipated wOBA, along with his typical elite high quality and amount of contact. The truth that he’ll seemingly be the on a regular basis designated hitter in Houston ought to assist hold the Astros slugger on the sphere extra usually.
Athletics: Nick Kurtz (3.6 WAR)Kurtz wasted no time acclimating to the Majors, going from the No. 4 total choose within the 2024 Draft to the unanimous AL Rookie of the Yr in 2025. In 117 video games, the A’s first baseman posted a 1.002 OPS with 36 dwelling runs, considered one of which traveled an MLB-best 493 toes. The projections have Kurtz taking a slight step again, however he’s nonetheless anticipated to be one of many high energy threats within the Majors.
Mariners: Cal Raleigh (6.4 WAR)What extra are you able to say about Raleigh’s 2025 season? The Mariners’ backstop elevated his sport to a outstanding stage, bashing 60 dwelling runs with a .948 OPS and racking up 9.1 WAR, leading to a second-place MVP end behind Choose. It might be maybe a little bit unfair to anticipate a repeat of that sort of efficiency, however the projections are nonetheless robust, pegging Raleigh for six.4 WAR and 41 homers.
Rangers: Wyatt Langford (4.4 WAR)By WAR (4.1), Langford was the Rangers’ high participant in 2025, barely edging out Corey Seager’s 4.0-win season. The 24-year-old Langford is projected to guide the membership in WAR but once more, no small feat on a crew that options the likes of Seager, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. Langford’s sport encompasses a mix of fine offense, robust baserunning and defensive chops that give him an enviable mixture of a excessive ground and excessive upside.
Braves: Ronald Acuña Jr. (5.4 WAR)Acuña hasn’t had the luxurious of a wholesome yr since that completely ridiculous 40-70 season, however even restricted to 95 video games and interrupted by yet one more lower-body harm (a calf pressure, in that case), he was the Braves’ second-most-valuable place participant final yr by WAR (3.5). We’re but to essentially set up what a median Acuña season is, however FanGraphs has him projected for 31 dwelling runs and 26 stolen bases, plus the fifth-highest wRC+ in MLB (152). Even when issues do not go to plan, the Braves’ lineup will most likely have a lot to fall again on, together with Austin Riley (projected 3.6 WAR), Michael Harris II (3.5), Matt Olson (3.1) and reigning Rookie of the Yr Drake Baldwin (3.1).
Marlins: Xavier Edwards (2.8 WAR)There’s some respectable potential on Miami’s roster, however the observe file is not actually there. FanGraphs tasks six Marlins (Edwards, Otto Lopez, Kyle Stowers, Jakob Marsee, Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez) above 2.0 WAR in 2026 and even has Stowers down for 27 dwelling runs, however Edwards, for his contribution at brief, simply barely leads the pack after a good yr hitting .283 with 27 stolen bases.
Mets: Juan Soto (6.1 WAR)Dependable as they arrive, Soto threw the Mets a curveball when within the midst of their tumultuous and finally unsuccessful push for the postseason he began stealing bases — 27 of them within the second half, to be actual, in comparison with 11 earlier than the break. One other 43-38 season could be a bit outrageous, however FanGraphs does have him main the Mets with 38 dwelling runs and 23 stolen bases. Francisco Lindor, coming off his second 30-30 season and his fourth straight top-10 MVP end, is projected simply behind at 5.0 WAR, adopted by offseason acquisitions Bo Bichette (4.3) and Marcus Semien (3.1).
Nationals: James Wooden (3.1 WAR)For the second yr in a row, Wooden is projected to guide the Nationals with 3.1 WAR. It proved a strong prediction for 2025, when he hit .256/.350/.475 with 31 dwelling runs — the Nats’ first 30-HR season since 2019 — and three.3 WAR. FanGraphs does not fairly have Wooden down for one more 30-homer season, nonetheless, pulling up simply brief with 27. CJ Abrams, who completed simply 0.2 WAR behind Wooden in 2025, is projected to have one other 20-HR, 30-SB season on the identical WAR interval (2.9).
Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez (4.8 WAR)Three pitchers exceeded 6.0 WAR final yr — each Cy Younger Award winners, Paul Skenes (6.6) and Skubal (6.5), and ground-ball machine Sánchez (6.4). With Ranger Suárez now sporting a unique shade of crimson jersey and Zack Wheeler delayed by his restoration from thoracic outlet syndrome, FanGraphs’ projections place Sánchez’s stellar 2025 (2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 7.6 H/9, 9.4 Okay/9) as his formal introduction to the ace position. Wheeler is projected at 3.3 WAR in 24 begins, however given the standard six-to-eight-month restoration interval for the thoracic outlet decompression process he underwent in September, he may very nicely exceed each.
Brewers: William Contreras (4.5 WAR)Contreras had surgical procedure to restore a fractured left center finger in November however must be able to go for Opening Day, setting the stage for one more robust yr from the Brewers backstop. Whereas his 2025 (.754 OPS, 17 HR, 3.6 WAR) was a little bit of a step again, he was the NL Silver Slugger honoree in each 2023 and ’24 at catcher and owns a profession .805 OPS. Contreras has been an integral a part of a Brewers crew that had MLB’s greatest file in 2025 and goals to repeat the feat in ’26.
Cardinals: Masyn Winn (3.6 WAR)Winn is a sensational defender whose +21 Outs Above Common have been tied for the third most in MLB in 2025, incomes him his first profession Gold Glove. His fielding at shortstop, a premium place, has been adequate to beat his marginal offensive worth, as Winn has a profession .680 OPS after a .673 mark in 2025. He’s the highest projected participant on a Cardinals membership that traded away a number of key items, together with Sonny Grey, Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado, this offseason.
Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong (4.7 WAR)In 2025, Crow-Armstrong put all of it along with an unimaginable first half, hitting 25 homers and stealing 27 bases to go along with incredible defensive capacity in heart area — his +24 Outs Above Common have been tied for probably the most in MLB. However a poor second half (.216/.262/.372 with solely six homers) put a damper on PCA’s breakout season. Nonetheless, the Cubs outfielder put up 5.4 WAR and is projected to guide a gifted Chicago membership in ’26.
Pirates: Paul Skenes (5.4 WAR)Skenes has been nothing wanting unimaginable since his 2024 debut, following up his Rookie of the Yr marketing campaign with an NL Cy Younger-winning season in ’25. The Pirates phenom had a 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts in 187 2/3 innings, netting him 6.5 WAR. FanGraphs tasks Skenes’ ERA (which sits at 1.96 for his profession) to rise a bit to 2.84 in ’26, however he’s nonetheless anticipated to accrue twice as a lot WAR as Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh’s second-highest-projected participant (2.7 WAR).
Reds: Elly De La Cruz (4.7 WAR)The extremely gifted De La Cruz didn’t take the leap many had hoped in 2025, regressing from an .810 OPS in ’24 to a .776 mark in his second full season. He did play by means of a left quad pressure for a lot of the yr, although, and nonetheless hit 22 homers and stole 37 bases. De La Cruz’s power-speed potential and powerful arm at shortstop give him an opportunity to be among the many greatest gamers within the Majors, not to mention on the Reds.
D-backs: Corbin Carroll (4.8 WAR)Carroll had his greatest season within the Majors in 2025, posting 6.5 WAR (seventh greatest amongst place gamers) and turning into the primary 30-30 participant in franchise historical past. At 25 years outdated, Carroll has already established himself as a real star and a constructing block in Arizona. Carroll just lately underwent surgical procedure on a damaged hamate bone in his proper hand, making him unavailable for the World Baseball Traditional, however he could possibly be again by Opening Day.
Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (8.4 WAR)For the primary time in Dodger blue, Ohtani was a totally operational two-way star within the second half of the season and in L.A.’s run to a second straight title. Ohtani was price 7.5 WAR as a hitter, because of a 1.014 OPS, 55 dwelling runs and 20 stolen bases, whereas posting 1.9 WAR and a 2.87 ERA throughout 47 innings. If Ohtani retains this up over a full season, he could possibly be on his solution to a fourth straight MVP award and the fifth in his profession.
Giants: Patrick Bailey (4.6 WAR)Not the title you have been anticipating? Regardless of posting a .602 OPS final season, Bailey was nonetheless price 3.2 WAR in 135 video games because of his elite protection behind the dish. In 2024, Bailey racked up 4.3 WAR regardless of his .637 OPS, so it’s not out of the query for a bounceback to a 4-ish-win season. Bailey can have loads of firm competing for the WAR lead, with Logan Webb main the Giants final season in that metric (5.5 WAR) and Matt Chapman doing so in 2024 (5.4).
Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr. (5.4 WAR)Someway, Tatis is just getting into his age-27 season, and he’s put collectively fairly the profession thus far. In his first six seasons (together with the COVID-shortened 2020 season), Tatis has clubbed 152 dwelling runs, swiped 124 bases and transitioned from shortstop to turn out to be a premier defender in proper area. Tatis does all the pieces nicely on a baseball area, and it nonetheless seems like there could possibly be one other stage in his sport as he’s entered his prime.
Rockies: Ezequiel Tovar (3.0 WAR)Accidents restricted Tovar to 95 video games in 2025, and his offense dipped from a .763 OPS in 2024 to a .694 OPS in ’25. Tovar’s wonderful shortstop protection will at all times give him a excessive ground, however his propensity to whiff and his low stroll price would possibly result in year-to-year volatility on the dish. If Tovar reverts again to his 2024 stage, although, he profiles as one of many higher shortstops in baseball.
