13 eye-popping player projections for 2026

MLB.com takes a look at some of the most interesting player projections for the 2026 season.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:23pm

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Before every season, MLB.com likes to peruse the various player projections for stat lines that stand out. This article looks at 13 of the most interesting player projections for the 2026 MLB season, using the Steamer projections hosted at FanGraphs.

Why it matters

These projections provide a glimpse into how the league's top stars and up-and-coming players are expected to perform in the upcoming season, offering insights that can shape fan expectations, fantasy baseball strategies, and discussions around awards and team-building.

The details

The article highlights several notable projections, including Ronald Acuña Jr. returning to MVP-caliber form, the Mariners having two top-five players in Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, Munetaka Murakami's potential 30-homer debut season with the White Sox, Jacob deGrom potentially reaching 200 strikeouts, and breakout seasons for young stars like Nick Kurtz, Junior Caminero, Gunnar Henderson, and Pete Alonso. The piece also spotlights projections for pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Spencer Strider, Shane McClanahan, Nick Pivetta, and Mason Miller.

  • The projections are for the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Ronald Acuña Jr.

An outfielder for the Atlanta Braves who is projected to return to MVP-caliber form after recovering from an ACL tear.

Cal Raleigh

A catcher for the Seattle Mariners who is projected to be a top-five hitter in the Majors.

Julio Rodríguez

An outfielder for the Seattle Mariners who is projected to be a top-five position player in the Majors.

Munetaka Murakami

A slugger who is joining the Chicago White Sox after starring in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.

Jacob deGrom

A pitcher for the New York Mets who is projected to have his first 200-strikeout season since 2019.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, players like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have elite-level projections. Judge, for example, is projected to lead the American League with 43 home runs, 103 RBIs and a 1.004 OPS. Ohtani is projected for an MLB-best 44 home runs and 120 runs scored as a hitter, a 3.46 ERA and 136 strikeouts as a pitcher and 7.9 Wins Above Replacement as a two-way superstar, easily the highest of any player.”

— David Adler, Author (mlb.com)

The takeaway

These player projections for the 2026 MLB season offer a fascinating glimpse into how the league's top stars and rising talents are expected to perform, providing insights that can shape fan discussions, fantasy baseball strategies, and predictions around awards and team-building in the years to come.