Prospect hype tends to center around the consensus top 10 names, but every season, a handful of lesser-known players force their way into fantasy relevance. Identifying those potential gems isn’t about chasing buzz — it’s about tracking skill development, level-to-level progression, and most importantly, opportunity at the big-league level.
These underrated prospects may not headline preseason rankings, but their underlying metrics and organizational paths suggest they could provide meaningful fantasy contributions in 2026 — and at a much lower draft-day cost. For reference, I will be looking at prospects ranked outside the Top 50 using a combination of Fantrax, MLB.com, and Fangraphs rankings.
Your first step… Well, okay, your second step, right after reading this article, is to head over and devour our updated Top 500 Dynasty Baseball Rankings for 2026.
2026 Fantasy Baseball: Four Hitting Prospects Who Could Make an Impact in 2026
Joshua Baez (OF – St. Louis Cardinals)
Fantrax Rank – 150
MLB.com Rank – 87
FanGraphs – NR
The first thing that stands out is the developmental jump in 2025. After being drafted in 2021, he struggled through injuries in 2022 and was very underwhelming in 2023 and 2024 with a .231/.338/.395 slash line with 34% K rate. In 2025, he played almost as many games (117) as he did in the previous two seasons, and the improvements jumped off the page. He lowered the K rate to 20%, which led to an eye-popping .287/.384/.500 slash line. He also showed his power/speed upside with 20 home runs and 54 stolen bases.
The key factor for Baez is the Cardinals’ thin outfield depth. An Opening Day trio of Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, and Victor Scott II leaves plenty of room for competition. With St. Louis in clear rebuild mode, they’re far more likely to look internally for answers — creating a realistic path to opportunity.
Baez is likely to open 2026 in AAA, but a strong start could push him to the majors by May or June. With legitimate five-tool upside, he offers impact potential across multiple categories yet remains largely undrafted in redraft formats and even undervalued in dynasty leagues.
Moises Ballesteros (UTIL – Chicago Cubs)
Fantrax Rank – 64
MLB.com Rank – 55
FanGraphs – 84
Ballesteros was signed out of Venezuela as a catcher back in 2021, but if he makes the Cubs roster out of Spring Training, he is likely to be used primarily as a DH. Not that he can’t catch, but it’s the bat that is providing him the opportunity for regular playing time in the big leagues.
He has above-average power and improved on those numbers each season with 10, 14, and 19 home runs in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He started last season in AAA, and while he had just 13 home runs in 114 games, the rest of his hit tool was near elite. With a very low 13% K rate and elite contact, he put together a .316/.385/.473 slash line with 121 wRC+. He had a cup of coffee in the show at the end of the season and also stood out with a .298/.394/.474 slash line over 66 plate appearances.
The Cubs appear ready to let him develop his defensive skills in the big leagues while enjoying the upside bat his provides. That is good news for fantasy as he comes with four-category upside and is going undrafted at this point.
Owen Caissie (OF – Miami Marlins)
Fantrax Rank – 75
MLB.com Rank – 42
FanGraphs – 62
Caissie was traded from the Cubs to the Marlins in January, and that could be just the opportunity he needs. He wasn’t likely going to leap Crow-Armstrong, Happ, or Suzuki in Chicago, but in Miami, there is a good chance he makes the Opening Day roster.
He has shown plus power at every level with 11 home runs at A+ in 2022, 22 home runs at AA in 2023, and then a combined 41 home runs at AAA over the last two seasons. Even with a high K rate (28%) over those two seasons, he still managed to post a very good .281/.380/.507 slash line.
The Marlins are a young rebuilding team and likely patient with Caissie in terms of his strikeouts. The power upside is very intriguing in points leagues, and someone you may be able to get on waivers after the draft.
Justin Crawford (OF – Philadelphia Phillies)
Fantrax Rank – 78
MLB.com Rank – 53
FanGraphs – NR
Crawford is the only one of the players in this article who is currently being drafted, and for good reason. Like the two players above, he is projected to be on the Opening Day roster after an impressive minor league career.
Unlike those other players above, he doesn’t come with much average but is nearly elite in all other areas. He has hit over .300 in three straight minor league seasons while also stealing at least 40 bags in each of those, as well. He gets on base at an elite rate with a great plate discipline(11.5% walk rate at AAA last year) and very low K rate(18%).
He likely starts as a bottom-of-the-order guy for the Phillies but has the potential to be a leadoff hitter as he develops even further. A player that can bring value in both category and points leagues in 2026 with little to no risk on draft day.
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