Patience or Panic? Analyzing Cal Raleigh, Nick Kurtz, and Spencer Torkelson's Slow Starts

Early season struggles for three young MLB stars raise questions about their long-term potential.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 6:51pm

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An abstract, fragmented painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, using sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes to represent the movements and statistics of baseball players in a conceptual, deconstructed way.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the early-season struggles of three young MLB stars, their performances deconstructed into a dynamic, geometric visual.Oakland Today

This article examines the slow starts of three young MLB players - Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, Nick Kurtz of the Oakland Athletics, and Spencer Torkelson of the Detroit Tigers. It analyzes their early-season statistics and metrics, discusses potential reasons for their struggles, and provides recommendations on whether fantasy owners should be patient or panic about their performances.

Why it matters

These three players were all highly touted prospects who had breakout seasons in 2025, making them popular fantasy draft picks in 2026. Their early-season struggles have raised concerns about their long-term potential and could impact their teams' playoff hopes as well as the fantasy fortunes of their owners.

The details

Cal Raleigh, the Mariners' catcher, is off to a disastrous start, hitting just .132 with a .417 OPS and a league-leading 20 strikeouts. His strikeout rate has spiked from 26.7% in 2025 to 46.5% this season, while his hard-hit percentage has plummeted. Nick Kurtz, the Athletics' rookie first baseman and reigning AL Rookie of the Year, is slashing just .148/.361/.185 with a .546 OPS. His strikeout rate has also risen, from 30.9% to 38.9%. Spencer Torkelson, the Tigers' first baseman, is hitting .172 with a .535 OPS, a 6.4% increase in strikeout rate, and a 6.2% decrease in hard-hit percentage.

  • Raleigh's struggles began during the World Baseball Classic, where he went hitless in nine at-bats.
  • Kurtz is in his second MLB season after winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2025.
  • Torkelson is in his third MLB season after a career-best 2025 campaign.

The players

Cal Raleigh

The Seattle Mariners' catcher, who had an MVP-caliber season in 2025 but is off to a disastrous start in 2026.

Nick Kurtz

The Oakland Athletics' rookie first baseman and reigning AL Rookie of the Year, who is experiencing a sophomore slump.

Spencer Torkelson

The Detroit Tigers' first baseman, who had a career-best season in 2025 but is struggling to find his footing in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“If he can revert to that approach, he'll be a valuable asset to the Mariners and their fantasy owners.”

— The author

“So, while his current performance is concerning, I believe he can bounce back and reclaim his award-winning form.”

— The author

“So, while his current performance is concerning, I believe he can bounce back and reclaim his high-performing form.”

— The author

The takeaway

These early-season struggles for three young, highly touted MLB players highlight the unpredictability and volatility of baseball, even for the game's rising stars. While it's still early, fantasy owners will need to closely monitor these players' progress and be prepared to make tough decisions about whether to remain patient or cut bait, as their long-term potential and their teams' playoff hopes could hang in the balance.