The All-Star break always feels like the perfect time to look ahead. Not until the second half of 2026, as that story is still being written. Instead, let’s move on to the following images for next spring. If the 2027 fantasy baseball season started tomorrow, who would you want with the overall pick? That’s the question we’ll answer next week when I present my top 10 players of 2027. Before we get there, we need to establish a set of players. This is not a royal situation. The hope of descent does not matter. Age only matters if it changes the outlook for the coming year.
We start with one question:
Can this player truly finish as the No. 1 hitter in baseball next season?
The latest production has had a lot more weight. Donors in five categories received additional incentives. Resilience was key. Subordinate skills were even more important. Every player on this list has a realistic path to becoming a first-rounder. The debate is whether they have enough of a ceiling to top it off.
Suspended Superstars
Every draft starts with players who have proven they can run a fantasy program.
- Bobby Witt Jr.
- Shohei Ohtani
- Aaron is the judge
- José Ramírez
- Juan Soto
Each got the benefit of the doubt:
- Witt continues to set the standard for class balance. Even in what felt like a “quiet” season, he’s hitting .288 with 13 home runs and an MLB-leading (second by technology) 30 stolen bases before the All-Star break. There aren’t many players who can contribute to elite production in all offensive categories.
- Ohtani and Soto continue to redefine offensive harmony. Soto has a .993 OPS with 21 home runs while Ohtani has already launched 20 homers with a .939 OPS. If you’re betting on offensive efficiency, few hitters offer a safe haven.
- Judge is always one of the best hitters in baseball whenever he is healthy. Production hasn’t disappeared, but sustainability is starting to enter the conversation more than it did a few years ago.
- Then José Ramírez. Every season someone predicts a downturn. Every season he reminds us why betting on him is risky. The .239 batting average isn’t the José of old, but the 24 stolen bases at halftime show again why he continues to be one of baseball’s most unique champions. Let that .282 expected batting average take the worry away.
Five Tier Difference Makers
These players can’t win multiple fantasy categories on their own.
- Elly De La Cruz
- James Wood
- Pete Crow-Armstrong
- Corbin Carroll
- CJ Abrams
This could be the most exciting team in baseball:
- James Wood has officially graduated from breakout candidate to star. Twenty-five home runs, 61 RBI, 15 stolen bases and a .948 OPS put him squarely in the first round conversation.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong is not far behind. His combination of 21 home runs, 23 stolen bases, a .296 batting average and a .930 OPS turned him from a sensational outburst into a legitimate superstar. More importantly, the underlying metrics support the leap. His contact rate has improved significantly while his top speed gives him one of the best fantasy assets in the game. If the season ended today, there is a strong argument that he would be one of the first few hitters selected in the 2027 draft.
- CJ Abrams deserves more national attention than he gets. Twenty home runs, 67 RBIs and 15 stolen bases represent one of the quietest elite fantasy seasons in baseball.
- Elly De La Cruz and Corbin Carroll remain among the most dangerous athletes in the sport. Their speed creates upside that few players can match, and both have enough power to threaten 30 home runs in a full season.
Rising Stars
These players force their way into the first round of discussions.
- Little Caminero
- Nick Kurtz
- Ben Rice
- Jordan Walker
- Julio Rodríguez
- Jackson Chourio
The breakout continues, and the odds for the first-round stalwarts are:
- Junior Caminero’s 27 home runs already put him among baseball’s all-time power hitters, and Nick Kurtz wasted little time establishing himself as one of the sport’s most dominant bats.
- Ben Rice has become one of the biggest surprises of 2026. Twenty-eight home runs, 65 RBI and a .956 OPS turned him from an intriguing sleeper into a legitimate building block.
- Jordan Walker deserves to be a part of this conversation. His first half has been stellar, hitting .294/.893 OPS with 22 home runs, 73 RBI and 12 stolen bases. The raw power has always been evident, but the continued development of his offensive game has raised his fantasy ceiling significantly.
- Julio Rodríguez and Jackson Chourio came up with very different questions. Rodríguez has yet to regain his stardom despite another productive season. Chourio continues to rate them very high but still has another level to reach.
Wild Cards
Talent is never a question.
- Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Fernando Tatis Jr.
- Jordan Alvarez
- Kyle Schwarber
Health, consistency, or one missing piece has been:
- Yordan Alvarez is likely to have the quietest offensive season of anyone on this list. A .310 average, 29 home runs, 67 RBI and an incredible 1.030 OPS make him impossible to ignore despite offering little speed.
- Kyle Schwarber has once again turned baseballs into memories with 32 home runs in the first inning. While he won’t give up many stolen bases, few hitters can compete with his ability to change a fantasy matchup with one swing.
- Acuña and Tatis are still two of the most talented players in baseball. Neither has produced at the level we expected this season, but both have already shown that they have very good players when everything clicks between work and life.
The Next Wave Is Coming
One of the most difficult decisions when creating this list was deciding where to draw the line. There are several elite prospects who haven’t accumulated enough league experience to warrant serious consideration for the top ten positions in 2027, yet.
- Connor Griffin talks about the team’s topics. Few prospects in baseball have his combination of elite athleticism, power and speed. If his development continues on your current trajectory, don’t be surprised if he’s part of this conversation a year from now.
- Kevin McGonigle deserves a similar mention. His improved technique, elite bat-to-ball skills and rapidly growing power have made him one of the fastest rising prospects in the game. Although putting him in next year’s first round is premature, his long-term dream outlook continues to improve all the time.
The Debate Begins Now
Twenty players remain. Only ten will survive. The rankings will be out next week. Until then, let the debate begin. Who else should be in the top 10 for 2027? Let me know your thoughts below!
