Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect CJ Kayfus should compete to earn a near-everyday role in the Cleveland starting lineup during spring training. The Guardians promoted Kayfus to the major leagues last season, but he did not find immediate success. Across his first 44 games in the big leagues, Kayfus held a .220/.292/.415 slash line with 10 doubles, four home runs, four stolen bases, and a 38:11 K:BB. Under the hood, the 24-year-old generated a modest .322 xwOBA with a 9.2% barrel rate. Earlier in the campaign, the former 93rd overall selection from the 2023 MLB Draft held a stellar .300/.390/.539 line with 14 long balls and four stolen bases across 86 games spread between Double-A and Triple-A. Kayfus should compete for at-bats at first base alongside Kyle Manzardo and see additional time in right field, sharing time with George Valera.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitching prospect JR Ritchie is drawing "excitement" in the early stages of camp and continues to make a strong case to begin the season in the MLB rotation. Ritchie is currently ranked as the team's No. 2 prospect on MLB.com and the sport's overall No. 86 prospect. Last summer, the 22-year-old opened the season at High-A but was able to progress through the upper levels at a fast rate, and concluded the campaign with Triple-A. At High-A, he posted a dominant 1.30 ERA with a 0.79 WIHP across a 41 2/3-inning stint. Through 98 1/3 innings shared between Double-A and Triple-A, Ritchie held an impressive 3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 102:44 K:BB. However, his path to the majors has become quite clear, following the injury to Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) and, more recently, Hurston Waldrep being shut down with elbow discomfort. He is a top name to monitor throughout spring training.

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Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Payton Tolle plans to mix in his secondary pitches more often to further improve his fastball. According to reports by Christoper Smith of MassLive.com, Tolle's fastball appears two miles per hour faster to hitters than it actually appears. The four-seamer sat at 96.7 mph but generated a much higher perceived velocity of 98.7 mph. Boston's chief baseball officer, Craig Beslow, expressed that Tolle will continue to mix in his secondary pitches in 2026, which will only improve his fastball in his first full season in the big leagues. During his brief 16 1/3-inning stint in Boston last summer, Tolle relied on his fastball 64.1% of the time, mixed his cutter 13.5% of the time, and his slider 9.5% of the time. During this stint, his four-seamer generated a modest .341 xwOBA, while his slider was highly effective, posting a 33.3% whiff rate and a .258 xwOBA. If Tolle can continue to build his secondaries, his four-seamer will take a step forward in 2026. Managers should monitor his progress as he will likely compete for the final spot in the rotation alongside Connelly Early, Patrick Sandoval, and Johan Oviedo.

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According to Maddie Lee of The Sun Times, Chicago Cubs catching prospect Moises Ballesteros may not make it to camp until next weekend due to visa issues. Ballesteros and fellow backsotp Christian Bethancourt continue to have their camp pushed back, but appear to be making some progress and could reach the United States by the end of the week. Ballesteros is expected to compete for a near-everyday role in the Cubs lineup following the departure of Kyle Tucker. Last season, the team's No. 1-ranked prospect in the system posted a .298/.394/.474 line with two long balls across 20 games. At Triple-A, the 22-year-old posted an impressive .316/.385/.473 slash line with 13 round-trippers in a 114-game stint. Ballesteros should compete for a lead role as the team's primary DH and may also see occasional starts behind the dish and at first base. Given his projected playing time, the young backstop is a prime late-round sleeper in deeper formats.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish is "expecting to be on some kind of innings limit in 2026," according to Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun. Bradish recently recovered from Tommy John surgery, so the Orioles are going to closely monitor his workload to ensure he stays healthy and productive. He was sidelined from June 2024 to August 2025, and he was able to make six starts before the end of the regular season. Across those half-dozen outings, he posted a 2.45 FIP with 13.22 K/9, 2.81 BB/9, and 0.84 HR/9. His ground ball rate declined, but it came over a small sample size, and his results were still as impressive as ever before. Even with the Orioles managing his innings, Bradish projects as the team's ace and ranks as RotoBaller's #21 starting pitcher ahead of 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.

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Philadelphia Phillies corner infielder Alec Bohm will "most likely" hit fourth, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Zolecki said that manager Rob Thomson indicated Bohm is the frontrunner for the cleanup spot, but he also mentioned Adolis Garcia and J.T. Realmuto as candidates in the mix to bat fourth. Bohm played 120 games last year, slashing .287/.331/.409 with 11 home runs, a 5.8% walk rate, a 16.3% strikeout rate, and 105 wRC+. He spent most of the season at the hot corner but also logged some appearances at first base, which is where he could end up eventually if infield prospect Aidan Miller debuts and takes over at third. Hitting fourth creates plenty of RBI opportunities for Bohm, so he definitely carries some upside into the 2026 season. Still, he currently ranks as the #26 third baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (ankle) said that he is pain-free and back to 100 percent as spring training gets underway, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. "Right now I feel great," Alvarez said. "No pain right now." The slugger landed on the injured list with a left ankle sprain back in September, and he didn't return for the rest of the season. He had missed a previous portion of the campaign with right hand inflammation. Across just 48 games in 2025, he slashed .273/.367/.430 with six home runs, a 14.1% walk rate, a 16.6% strikeout rate, and 118 wRC+. He had posted at least 167 wRC+ in each of the three seasons before that, so it's safe to say that Alvarez is looking to get back to his fully-healthy, pre-2025 form. He currently ranks as the #11 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

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Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Sal Stewart is mostly playing first base and second base during spring training, manager Terry Francona told Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19. It's an interesting development given that Stewart played a mix of first and third base in his brief taste of MLB action last year, but the focus has shifted to keeping him on the right side of the infield. Goldsmith explained that Matt McLain is the Reds' primary second baseman, but Stewart could play there when McLain is off or playing shortstop. He also reported that Triple-A manager Pat Kelly said second base might be Stewart's best position. It's encouraging to see that Stewart has defensive versatility, as it could help to get his bat into the lineup more often. While it came over a small sample size of 18 big-league games, Stewart impressed with a .255/.293/.545 slash line, five home runs, a 5.2% walk rate, a 25.9% strikeout rate, and 124 wRC+ last year. He currently ranks #21 among first basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings, but more consistent playing time could boost his stock.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen said that he chose to re-sign for one year despite having several multi-year offers on the table from other organizations, according to Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com. "I've always bet on myself," Gallen told the media. "I felt like I owed it to myself, owed to my family, I even owed it to the organization, to the fans here to come back and have a good year." Gallen's free agency lasted into spring training, as he didn't re-sign with the Diamondbacks until Friday. The veteran starter is coming off a 33-start season, during which he posted a 4.50 FIP and 4.12 xFIP. He also had 8.20 K/9, 3.09 BB/9, and 1.45 HR/9 with a 43.6% home run rate. He slots right back into the Diamondbacks' No. 2 starter spot behind Merrill Kelly.

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Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Tyler Locklear (elbow, shoulder) is expected to be sidelined through at least the middle of May or early June, manager Torey Lovullo told Jack Sommers of SI.com. Locklear hasn't played since September when he landed on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. The young corner infielder was traded from Seattle to Arizona at the trade deadline last year, but he injured himself within the coming months after a collision on the field. He ultimately needed season-ending surgery on both his shoulder and elbow, and now, he's going to miss the start of the 2026 season. That's rough news for a fringe roster player who had been looking for any opportunity to make his mark. He struggled across 31 big-league games last year, slashing .175/.267/.262 with three home runs, an 8.6% walk rate, a 37.1% strikeout rate, and 52 wRC+. Presumably, he'll end up on the 60-day injured list, creating less competition at first base. Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana should crack the starting lineup while Ildemaro Vargas and Tim Tawa offer depth at the position.

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New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (back) is expected to resume throwing from the mound on Tuesday. The Yankees have been cautious with Schlittler, who is currently dealing with back inflammation. Schlittler should be fine in the long term, but the team doesn't want to risk aggravating the issue. For the time being, Schlittler is expected to be fully ready to go in time for Opening Day. He's coming off an excellent rookie campaign in 2025. He posted a 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and an 84/31 K/BB ratio in 14 starts. The 23-year-old is expected to be a mainstay in the Yankees' rotation in 2026.

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Hurston Waldrep (elbow) will visit with a doctor after experiencing elbow soreness following a live batting practice session. He underwent an MRI, which revealed loose bodies in his elbow, but no ligament damage. The visit with Dr. Keith Meister should help give the Braves a better timetable on when Waldrep will be able to pitch again. At the moment, it's unclear if the 23-year-old will be ready in time for Opening Day. Waldrep looked solid during his time with the Braves last season. He registered a 2.88 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 55/22 K/BB ratio across 10 games (nine starts) in 2025. The Braves were hopeful Waldrep could make a bigger impact in 2026, but this elbow issue could be a setback.

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New York Mets relief pitcher Devin Williams is working hard to shake up his pitching repertoire this spring. According to Laura Albanese, Williams is incorporating a cutter and adding a gyro slider to his mix of pitches. The hope is that using the gyro slider will help protect his changeup. Williams has been throwing these pitches in bullpen sessions and will soon get a chance to use them versus live hitting. The 31-year-old is coming off the worst season of his career with the New York Yankees in 2025. He registered a 4.79 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 90/25 K/BB ratio with 18 saves in 67 appearances. The Mets gave Williams over $50 million this offseason, so he's expected to be the primary closing option. The hope is that the addition of new pitches will help Williams bounce back in 2026.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo is expected to function as the leadoff hitter and play right field, according to manager Skip Schumaker. This was expected to happen, but it's nice to finally have confirmation on the situation. Nimmo was traded to the Rangers in the deal that sent Marcus Semien to the New York Mets earlier this offseason. The left-handed slugger is hopeful to give a boost to this lineup after a strong campaign in 2025. Nimmo slashed .262/.324/.436 with 25 home runs, 92 RBI, and 13 steals in 155 games with the Mets last season. The 32-year-old is a consistent hitter and durable, with 150-plus games played in each of the last four seasons. His fantasy value should remain strong, especially with him hitting in the leadoff spot.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) recently underwent surgery on his left hamate bone. Lindor is back in the Mets camp now and is very optimistic that he'll be ready to play on Opening Day. The expectation is that Lindor will need about six weeks of recovery time after having surgery. He underwent surgery last Wednesday and believes he'll be ready in time for the regular season. This certainly seems like great news, but who knows if Lindor will truly be 100 percent healthy by then. His fantasy stock should still take a hit, but possibly being ready for Opening Day is fantastic news for the Mets.

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Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that infielder Colt Keith will focus on third base and first base in spring training, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. Keith will only return to second base if there are injury issues this year. The 24-year-old former fifth-round pick in 2020 spent most of his time at the keystone in his rookie season in 2024, but he played 24 games at second, 33 at third base, and 52 as the designated hitter for Detroit in 2025. Despite moving around the diamond last year, Keith was productive at the plate, slashing .256/.333/.413 with a .746 OPS, 13 home runs, 45 RBI, and 65 runs scored in 414 at-bats over 137 games played. The former top prospect must improve against left-handed pitchers (he had reverse splits), but with regular playing time and multi-position eligibility, he's a decent corner infield target in the later rounds of drafts.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) will skip pitching in this year's World Baseball Classic due to a "little cranky" right shoulder, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The good news is that the Rays are "very confident" that Uceta will be ready for Opening Day on March 26. The 28-year-old Dominican will play a key role at the back end of Tampa's bullpen this year and is expected to share high-leverage closing duties with Griffin Jax and Garrett Cleavinger now that Pete Fairbanks is no longer in town. Manager Kevin Cash said the decision to keep Uceta out of the WBC was a precautionary move. In 76 innings last year, Uceta had a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, one save, 21 holds, a career-high 103 strikeouts, and 27 walks in 70 appearances. His 38.7% whiff rate on his four-seam fastball ranked second overall in the big leagues, and he was just one of five relievers to reach 100 K's. While he may not rack up a ton of saves, Uceta will be useful for his ratios and holds.

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Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes said he'll work at first base, second base, and third base in camp this year, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Paredes also said he'll be a 100% participant in activities this spring after tearing his hamstring last year. The 26-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason and could be a man without a position on Opening Day, with Carlos Correa set to start at third base and Jose Altuve moving back to second base full-time. Despite playing in only 102 games in 2025 in his first year in Houston due to his hamstring injury, Paredes hit .254/352/.458 with an .809 OPS, 20 home runs, 53 RBI, and 53 runs scored in 438 plate appearances. His hamstring recovery could still be an issue, but the biggest setback for his 2026 fantasy value is his uncertain playing time if he sticks with the Astros. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 14 fantasy third baseman.

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Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) will do drills independently when the team holds its first full-squad spring training workout on Sunday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Casas has some catching up to do after tearing his left patellar tendon on May 2 of last year. Offseason acquisition Willson Contreras has taken his primary position (first base), but Casas thinks the BoSox will find a place for him when he's fully healthy. "When I'm healthy, I fit on any team," said Casas. Browne writes that designated hitter could be a "nice fallback" for Casas once he's 100% healthy. However, Boston could need the DH spot to deploy whichever player can't fit in the outfield on a given day. Casas said that medical professionals told him his injury typically takes a year of full recovery, which would put him on track to play again around May 1. The Red Sox's lineup lacks power, so they could use Casas' bat in their lineup, but the 26-year-old might not be ready for Opening Day, and he might not have a full-time role when he makes his season debut.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (lat) said he finally feels fully healthy this spring after missing all or parts of the last three years due to a 2023 shoulder surgery and a lat strain that ended his 2025 campaign early, according to Michael Reynolds of MLB.com. Although the Brewers are being cautious with Woodruff in camp, manager Pat Murphy fully expects Woodruff to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. "It feels like I'm finally to the point where I can do stuff and I just don't have to think about my shoulder, which is a good thing," Woodruff said. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star showed diminished velocity upon his return last year, but other than that, he was excellent, going 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 83 K's in his 12 starts. He showed last year that he can still keep hitters off balance. He'll be a high-risk, high-reward No. 3 starting pitcher target in fantasy baseball drafts.

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