Late-Round Power Targets for 2026 Fantasy Baseball

No one goes into a fantasy baseball draft with the goal of being light on power. But drafts take unexpected twists and turns, which can turn even the best-laid draft plans upside down. If you find yourself having to play catch-up in the power department mid-draft, fear not. This article identifies some late-round power targets going outside the top 300 picks. While each player comes with some risk at this point in the draft, they all have the ability to pack a punch at the plate.

Late-Round Power for Fantasy Baseball

(ADP pulled from Dec. 29 – Jan. 29 NFBC Draft Champions)

Matt Wallner (OF — MIN)

ADP: 315.76

We haven’t seen the full power potential of Matt Wallner, as he’s surpassed the 100-game mark only once in his four-year career. But the power skills are undeniable. Wallner has been among the league leaders in bat speed since it was first tracked in 2023. He also has a history of making loud contact, registering a career barrel rate of 15.7% and a hard-hit rate of 49.5% over 273 big-league games.

In addition to smashing baseballs, Wallner excels at pulling them in the air. Across 104 games last season, his 29% air-pull rate ranked ninth among qualified players. He also posted a hefty 19.6% HR/FB rate in that stretch, well above the 11.9% league average.

There are some warts in Wallner’s profile. Like many free swingers, he racks up strikeouts and struggles to make consistent contact. However, Wallner made gains on both fronts last year as the season progressed. He shaved his 30.3% strikeout rate in the first half to 27.7% in the second half. Additionally, Wallner improved his zone contact by nine points to a 79.9% mark. While that’s still below league average, we’ll take it.

Assuming Wallner’s plate improvements carry over and he can stay on the field, watch out. There’s 30+ home run potential waiting to be unleashed if everything breaks right.

Josh Bell (1B — MIN)

ADP: 333.73

Sticking with Minnesota bats, Josh Bell is another late-round power target this draft season. While the streaky veteran isn’t flashy, he offers both pop and durability on the cheap. Plus, he made in-season swing adjustments in 2025 that not only led to a second-half breakout but also are intriguing moving forward.

Bell looked cooked in the first half of the season after slashing .219/.307/.372 with a 91 wRC+ over 326 plate appearances. But increased flyballs in the second half, combined with an already-improved bat speed for the year, moved the needle on the power front. Bell finished 2025 on a high note with a 16.9% HR/FB rate to go with an .842 OPS and 134 wRC+ across his final 207 plate appearances. He also recorded an EV90 of 108 mph for the year, good for 20th in the league.

Bell isn’t a sexy bat, and many will gloss over him in drafts. But don’t underestimate his improved quality contact and batted ball gains. If they stick, Bell could push for 25 homers as an everyday accumulator for the Twins.

Dominic Canzone (OF — SEA)

ADP: 332.57

Dominic Canzone hit the refresh button in 2025. Coming off a down 2024 season filled with injury stints and spotty playing time, Canzone quietly emerged as a sneaky-powerful bat.

Over 82 games, he boasted a .300/.358/.481 slash line and 141 wRC+ with 11 home runs and three steals. Canzone’s power metrics were especially impressive in that stretch. He showcased a 14.5% barrel rate, a 50% hard-hit rate, and a 107.9 mph EV90. In addition to plus power, Canzone made strides at the plate. He cut his strikeout rate from 28.2% in 2024 to 22% and improved his zone contact by five points to 84.2%.

Canzone was primarily a strong-side platoon bat last season, but there’s no reason he can’t earn more playing time in 2026. After all, his .712 OPS and 113 wRC+ in 68 plate appearances against lefties last year is far from terrible. More looks and a solid power profile mean a 20-25 dinger season is in the cards for Canzone.

Gavin Sheets (OF — SDP)

ADP: 379.14

Gavin Sheets blossomed in his first season with the Padres. He finished 2025 with a respectable .252/.317/.429 slash line to go with 19 home runs, 71 RBI, 57 runs, and a couple of steals across 145 games. While that doesn’t jump off the page, Sheets’ 19 dingers were a career-high, and his improved underlying metrics indicate he could provide useful power late in drafts.

Among the meaningful strides Sheets took last season was making more quality contact. He upped his hard-hit rate from a middling 35.3% in 2024 to 46.5% last year. Similarly, his barrel rate climbed from 5.7% to 9.5%. Sheets also showcased a plus 24.2% air-pull rate (league average is 18.2%) and a bat speed in the 86th percentile — both career best marks. These gains should bode well for Sheets power-wise, considering he does most of his damage from his pull side.

There’s some performance risk with Sheets, as his production cratered in the second half of 2025. But at his current cost, I’m willing to bank on better contact, increased bat speed, and a plus ability to pull balls in the air. If things don’t pan out, Sheets is a cheap drop.

Jorge Soler (OF — LAA)

ADP: 381.97

The injury bug hit Jorge Soler hard in 2025, as back inflammation kept him off the field for half the season. He finished the year with an underwhelming .215/.293/.387 line and 88 wRC+ across 315 plate appearances. And while that doesn’t give anyone the warm and fuzzies, Soler still managed to flex some muscle, power-wise.

Soler popped 12 long balls in that limited stretch, barreled the ball at a near 13% clip, and registered an above average 15.6% HR/FB rate. Soler’s elite bat speed dipped a bit, but that’s not too surprising given his back issues. He also still managed to post a 107.2 mph EV90.

Overall, Soler has a career of strong power metrics. While he’ll likely miss some time during the season, Soler has logged at least 570 plate appearances in three of the past five years. His power is tough to beat on a per plate appearance, making Soler one of the better bets to rack up 20+ home runs late in drafts. That’s a steal at this point in the draft.

Bryce Eldridge (UT — SFG)

ADP: 383.73

At first glance, Bryce Eldridge’s .107/.297/.179 slash line over a 10-game stint in the majors last year is forgettable. However, it’s tough to ignore the raw power lying beneath the surface. The hulking six-foot-seven rookie posted a whopping 25% barrel rate, 68.8% hard-hit rate, and a 95.6 mph average exit velocity across those 37 plate appearances with a .497 xSLG.

Sure, we’re talking super-small sample size here. But Eldridge was no stranger to posting big power numbers in the minors. In 286 plate appearances in Triple-A last season, he registered a 62.7% hard-hit rate and 95.7 mph average exit velocity while slashing .249/.322/.514 with 18 home runs and a .265 ISO. Yowza.

Eldridge should make the Opening Day roster and pick up first base eligibility early in the season. Growing pains will likely come with the rookie, given his elevated strikeout rates and subpar contact issues. But Eldridge’s bat is oozing with power upside, making him a screaming deal at a draft cost just inside pick 400.

Romy Gonzalez (1B/2B — BOS)

ADP: 402.89

Romy Gonzalez is an interesting late-round power target who gave us a glimpse of what he’s capable of in 2025. Over 341 plate appearances, he slashed .305/.343/.483 with nine home runs and six steals while posting a 123 wRC+.

While the blend of pop and speed is nice to see, it’s his power potential that really stands out. Gonzalez showcased a career-high 57.3% hard-hit rate and 93.3 mph average exit velocity last season, marks that were top-10 among batters with at least 300 plate appearances. He also barreled the ball at an above-average 12.6% clip.

High ground ball rates (career 52.5%) will likely limit Gonzalez’s home run totals. But there’s still 20-dinger upside with more playing time this year. Plus, his multi-position eligibility is an added bonus. Gonzalez is a no-brainer late-round power target at the end of drafts this season.