Fantasy Baseball Breakouts: One Player from Every AL Team to Watch in 2026

I wanted to keep the fantasy baseball coverage pumping with the MLB regular season starting up soon, so here, I will be trying to predict a surprisingly good fantasy player from each team. 

I'll go over American League teams/players first, then cover National League teams/players in another story.

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Orioles - Samuel Basallo

I think 2026 is when we get the breakout year for Basallo.

He's projected to be part of a platoon at designated hitter. As a lefty, that should have him in the lineup plenty. Basallo can play first base or catcher as well, so he could spell Pete Alonso or Adley Rutschman too.

He's a highly-regarded prospect for a reason, and I think the 21-year-old flashes some of his potential in 2026.

Red Sox - Wilyer Abreu

Abreu is my pick from the Red Sox.

He's played in 115 and 132 games the past two seasons, and shown flashes of good fantasy production. With a projected everyday role in the outfield for 2026, I think Abreu takes a step forward and emerges as a really good fantasy asset.

He'll open the year as a better deep-league asset, but if he takes a step forward, he could be owned in all standard leagues if he stays healthy.

Yankees - Cam Schlittler

Most of the Yankees I like in fantasy are already established assets. Schlitter burst onto the scene late last season, and I think he performs past his expectations for 2026.

He's expected to be in the starting rotation right away, and even after some starters come back, I expect Schlittler to stick in the rotation.

If he can improve upon his 2.96 earned run average and keep averaging more strikeouts than innings pitched, then I see him being a bigger fantasy asset than his ADP, which is 133 right now.

Rays - Carson Williams

Williams made his MLB debut in 2025 and struggled across 32 games. I think he shows why he's the team's top-ranked prospect in 2026.

Williams is expected to be the team's everyday starter at shortstop. He might open the year hitting near the bottom of the order, but with better results, he could move up, and into a more favorable spot for his fantasy outlook.

He's not even on the ADP list, which feels wrong, even after his struggles in 2025. Keep an eye on Williams and be ready to pounce and add him when he starts delivering.

Blue Jays - Eric Lauer

I'm going to take a stab and say Lauer is a fantasy surprise in 2026.

He's had some fantasy success in the past, and could be part of the team's starting rotation to open 2026 because of several injuries to other SPs. Lauer pitched well (mostly out of the bullpen) for Toronto in 2026, but he could pitch well enough to stick in the rotation, even after other SPs get healthy.

He's not on the ADP list, but could sneak onto it now that he's projected to make the rotation. At the very least, he will have streaming upside to kick off the season. I see him pitching well enough to stick in the rotation and have fantasy value in a lot of leagues.

White Sox - Edgar Quero

I wanted to use Kyle Teel, but his early-season injury has me pivoting to another Chicago catcher in Quero.

He was a pretty highly-regarded prospect coming up and showed some nice things in his rookie season in 2025. I think Quero takes a step forward in 2026 and emerges as a fantasy asset for all leagues.

He is expected to start at catcher until Teel is ready to return. Quero will pivot to more starts at designated hitter when Teel is back, but I see Quero hitting well enough to stick in the lineup in some fashion. Quero is another overlooked fantasy asset for drafts, but I think he works into a bunch of leagues in a hurry.

Guardians - Rhys Hoskins

I'm taking another shot in the dark here and identifying Hoskins as the team's surprisingly good fantasy asset in 2026.

He is coming off a down 2025 season, but I like his outlook in Cleveland. Hoskins should start pretty much daily at either DH or first base, while hitting near the heart of the lineup.

Hoskins could revive his career in 2026, and I think he's at least a good deep-league asset for 2026, and maybe even becomes a standard league asset for a few stretches.

Tigers - Kevin McGonigle

McGonigle is the team's top prospect and has yet to play above Double-A, but he's projected to be the everyday shortstop right now. He's also projected to hit leadoff, which would give him great fantasy upside.

His ADP is climbing, sitting inside the top-200 picks now. If McGonigle makes the opening day roster, you can expect his fantasy ownership to skyrocket.

He's a top-end prospect for a reason, and they'd only push him if they thought he was ready. McGonigle could star right away in the bigs, and I'd love stashing him on my bench in any fantasy league.

Royals - Noah Cameron

There were a few Kansas City players I considered before eventually settling on Cameron.

He earned nine wins and had a 2.99 ERA over 24 starts in 2025. Cameron is projected to make the starting rotation to open 2025, and if he takes a step forward, he could be a big fantasy asset in 2026.

His ADP is around pick 200 now, meaning he's a better deep-league asset, but I think he will earn standard league roster spots in a hurry, and stick there if he stays healthy.

Twins - Luke Keaschall

Keaschall flashed upside in 2025, but an injury derailed things for him.

His ADP is 134, but I see him being a better fantasy asset than that, if he stays healthy. He's projected to hit third and start everyday at second base for Minnesota. Keaschall could be a fantasy stud if those projections become reality.

For a pretty low-risk pick, you can add Keaschall to your roster. He could be one of the bigger fantasy draft steals by the end of the year.

Athletics - Max Muncy

Muncy, no not the Dodgers' Max Muncy, is my surprise pick from the Athletics.

He's another pretty highly-regarded prospect that I see taking off in 2026. Muncy is expected to start daily at third base, and even if he hits near the bottom of the lineup, he could have fantasy relevance in a bunch of leagues.

He'll open the year as a deep-league asset and could work into standard leagues in a hurry if he delivers right away, like he has this spring. 

Astros - Cam Smith

Smith showed flashes of promise during a 134-game rookie campaign in 2025. I think he improves and takes off in 2026.

Smith is projected to start daily in right field for the Astros. He might hit near the bottom of the order, but could still deliver enough for fantasy ownership in a lot of leagues.

Keep tabs on him, as he could go from deep-league asset right away to a standard league daily option in a hurry.

Angels - Reid Detmers

I've been hoping for the Detmers' breakout for a few years now, and want to give it another go in 2026.

He's projected to be in the starting rotation to kick off 2026. Detmers pitched pretty well out of the bullpen in 2025, and if he can translate that into starts, he could be a big fantasy asset, like he was back in 2022.

Detmers is still only 26 years old, so he's still not fully in his prime. Maybe he takes off in 2026, and goes from a deep-league asset to a standard league regular again.

Mariners - Brendan Donovan

Donovan is a recognizable fantasy asset to most, but I think he excels in his first year with the Mariners.

His ADP is 156, and if he stays healthy, I see Donovan being a much better fantasy asset than that. Donovan is expected to hit atop the Seattle lineup, which should be a good spot for a fantasy hitter.

Add in that Donovan can play at a couple spots and things are looking really good for him in 2026.

Rangers - Jack Leiter

Leiter is my pick from the Rangers after a pretty solid 2025 season.

He was 10-10, but had a 3.86 ERA and struck out about a batter per inning pitched. If Leiter can be a bit more consistent, then better numbers could be ahead.

Leiter's ADP is 241, so he's a better deep-league asset to kick off the year. He could be a standard league hold if he improves in his age-25/26 season.