Happy Opening Week of baseball! It’s truly one of the best times of the year as we embark on another season. Let’s dive into some way-too-early dynasty reactions as we kick off the 2026 season.
This article will highlight key performances and observations from the first few days, along with predictions and bold takes as we head into the opening weekend.
Reaction 1: Jacob Misiorowski at the end of the year will be rated a top 15 starting pitcher in the league.
The 2025 season brought flashes of brilliance alongside high volatility. His fastball averaged 99.3 MPH last season and held opponents to a batting average of just .193, paired with solid secondary offerings, most notably a slider with an average spin rate of 2,473 RPM. Jacob Misiorowski showed he could dominate hitters, posting a first-half ERA of 2.81 over his first 25 innings pitched.
The second half, however, told a different story. He recorded an ERA over 5.00 and finished the season with a 4.36 ERA overall. Still, he tallied an impressive 87 strikeouts against 31 walks in 66 innings of work, leaving Brewers fans both optimistic and realistic. With a rotation that was once among the best in baseball featuring Corbin Burnes a few years ago and current New York Mets ace Freddy Peralta. Misiorowski was going to have to step up in a big way in 2026.
Misiorowski did just that, shutting down the White Sox lineup on Opening Day. He threw five innings, allowing just one earned run while recording an Opening Day Brewers record of 11 strikeouts. Dynasty managers who held onto Misiorowski, banking on his valuable 2025 MLB experience, were hoping he could emerge as the Brewers’ ace, and he certainly looked the part.
On 94 pitches, he posted an elite 58% whiff rate (25 whiffs on 43 swings). Similar to last season, he generated high strikeout numbers but also issued three walks which you can live with if you are fantasy managers as he only gave up 2 hits. He paired this with a comparable pitch mix to 2025, relying heavily on the fastball throwing 61 fastballs and mixing his secondary pitches sparingly. Moving forward, Misiorowski will need to maintain his mechanics and improve his command to work deeper into games. Misiorowski will need to continue to mix in his secondary pitches to keep hitters off the fastball.
Against a young White Sox lineup, this was exactly what you wanted to see from your future ace of your fantasy rotation. Dynasty managers who drafted or stashed the 23-year-old starter should feel validated, as he appears poised for a major developmental leap this season. If his innings are managed effectively, he has the potential to rank among the top 10 in strikeouts while establishing himself as one of the most talented young starters in the game. While this may be a slight overreaction overall due to the difficulty of the lineup that he faced, I am all in on the 23 year old righty taking that next step as another Brewers starter to develop into a top fantasy ace for managers.
Reaction 2: Kevin McGonigle finishes the season as a top 50 fantasy player.
Sure, rookies go through plenty of struggles and learning moments throughout their first full big league season. But there have not been many rookies with as advanced an approach at the plate as McGonigle. A consensus No. 2 prospect according to MLB.com and Baseball America, Kevin McGonigle put on full display why he has one of the best hit tools graded (70 grade from MLB.com) and an (80 grade hit tool from Baseball America) in the last decade.
He started off his big league career with a first-pitch swinging double against Nick Pivetta and just took off from there, finishing the game 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs. As one of the most hyped-up prospects in baseball all spring, he showed exactly why he belongs.
What makes McGonigle’s game so special is not only his smooth swing and overall offensive approach, but also his maturity at the plate. He works at-bats and makes pitchers grind. During spring training this season, he recorded 11 walks to just nine strikeouts in 56 plate appearances.
On top of that, I believe McGonigle could come close to a 20-20 season while maintaining a high on-base percentage and a solid batting average. On an infield single on Opening Day (March 26), he recorded a 30.2 feet-per-second sprint speed, which is considered elite. McGonigle does not get enough credit for his speed, so we may be in for a surprise there.
The Tigers have already trusted the 21-year-old by placing him in the middle of their lineup, and he should continue to receive everyday reps. While it is hard to make firm predictions after just a handful of games, his polished approach looks legitimate, and both Detroit and dynasty managers appear to have a foundational player on their hands.
Ranking him in the top 50 might feel a bit aggressive this early, but it may not be far off. Will McGonigle reach the tier of Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, or Elly De La Cruz? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a high-end dynasty asset.
In fact, McGonigle should already be targeted over players like Jacob Wilson, CJ Abrams, and Zach Neto. His approach is simply too advanced to ignore. He projects to strike out significantly less than Neto and Abrams while offering more pop than Wilson, all while providing the power expected from a starting shortstop. That combination is extremely valuable and a big reason his stock is rising quickly.
Reaction 3: Cam Schlittler will be an All Star in 2026 and a top 20 fantasy starting pitcher.
Cam Schlittler was a playoff warrior last year, delivering a historic performance in a win-or-go-home Wild Card game against the Red Sox throwing eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts. He showcased his nasty arsenal, featuring a fastball that averages 98.5 MPH, a sinker at 98.2 with heavy movement, and a cutter that sits around 95. Pair those three pitches with a newly developed curveball, and dynasty managers should be thrilled with the development of the 24-year-old right-hander.
ESPN’s top 300 rankings currently have Schlittler as the 46th pitcher on their list, but Pitcher List very own Nick Pollack has Schlittler ranked as the 20th ranked starter in his Top 100 Starting Pitchers for 2026 and I also see Schlittler having a similar rank heading into 2026.
While that dominant playoff start stands out, it’s important to remember that Schlittler has been one of the most effective pitchers in MLB since arriving on the scene. Over 73 innings last year, he posted a 2.96 ERA with an impressive 27.6% strikeout rate. Like many young pitchers, however, command remains an area to monitor, as he also carried a 10.2% walk rate.
He backed up those top-20 expectations in his Friday start against the Giants, going 5.1 innings with zero walks and eight strikeouts. One encouraging development was his pitch mix. Last season, he relied heavily on his fastball, throwing it 55.9% of the time. In his first start of 2026, he showed more balance, throwing 22 fastballs and 22 cutters. Continuing to lean on that cutter, which features elite horizontal break (17.6 inches), could be key to his success.
Dynasty managers shouldn’t view this as an overreaction. Schlittler looks poised for a big 2026 as he continues establishing himself as one of the game’s best young pitchers. The key takeaway: if you roster Schlittler, you may have a future fantasy ace atop your rotation.
There are plenty of talented young arms right now Chase Burns, Jacob Misiorowski, Eury Pérez, and Nolan McLean, but Schlittler’s stuff stacks up with any of them, including just as much swing-and-miss ability. Plus, he should benefit from strong run support in the Yankees lineup, making him just as valuable as that group.
Reaction 4: Mike Trout looks like he’s returning to top-10 fantasy outfielder form.
Dynasty managers would love to see Mike Trout return to his old form. Plagued by injuries over the past five seasons (Has not played over 130 games since 2019), Trout simply hasn’t been a reliable fantasy outfielder. Last year, he didn’t look like himself, hitting .232 with 26 home runs and a .797 OPS. In addition, he posted a career-low .437 slugging percentage.
Trout has already looked to turn the page in 2026, hitting over .462 with a 1.573 OPS and a 311 wRC+ to begin the season, along with two home runs. What’s been especially impressive early on is his plate discipline, seven walks to just three strikeouts.
Another encouraging sign as Trout looks to stay healthy is that his bat speed hasn’t declined. He’s currently averaging 73.5 mph, just 0.5 mph lower than last year. Pair that with an early barrel rate of 30%, and it looks like we may be seeing a return to the Mike Trout we know.
Now entering his age-34 season, the Angels will need to manage Trout’s workload and prioritize his health. For dynasty purposes, he may no longer be a top long-term asset, but if he stays healthy in 2026, he can return to fantasy relevance and provide significant value.
Dynasty managers would love a Trout renaissance, and if he can stay on the field, this may not be an overreaction. There could be big things ahead for the three-time MVP and future Hall of Famer. Trout profiles as a strong target for win-now dynasty teams and is worth paying the name value tax.
Reaction 5: Is Cal Raleigh in for a big regression?
Cal Raleigh is coming off one of the best seasons ever by a catcher, finishing second in MVP voting behind only Aaron Judge in 2025. He delivered a historic campaign, slashing .247 with an MLB-leading 60 home runs and 125 RBIs. He paired that with a .948 OPS, which ranked fourth in the league. Raleigh was also incredibly durable, especially for a catcher playing in 159 games.
As the top-rated fantasy catcher, however, Raleigh has not looked the same to start 2026. He is currently hitting .133 (2-for-15) with an MLB-leading ten strikeouts. This is not the start dynasty managers were hoping for from one of their cornerstone players.
According to Baseball Savant, Raleigh currently ranks in the lower percentiles in several key metrics, including a 73.2 mph average exit velocity, an 92.2 mph max exit velocity, and a 55.6% strikeout rate. Should dynasty managers be concerned? The short answer is no. Even elite players go through slumps over the course of a season.
That said, the strikeouts will be something to monitor over the coming weeks and months. Some regression is likely, considering 2025 marked career highs in both batting average and slugging percentage.
Raleigh will remain a top-three catching option in 2026, and dynasty managers should not be panicking. While a repeat of his 2025 season is unlikely, this level of regression is an overreaction based on a small sample. There’s no reason to consider selling the 2025 Silver Slugger; he will continue to be one of the best options at the position this season and well into the future. This is simply a slow start for the 29-year-old catcher, not a sign of a major decline.
Reaction 6: Chase DeLauter looks like the AL Rookie of the Year.
Chase DeLauter, a first-round pick by Cleveland in 2022, is currently ranked as the No. 44 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. He also became one of just six players in MLB history to make his debut in the postseason last year for the Guardians.
DeLauter has been one of the most impressive players in the early stages of 2026. In his first three regular-season games, he’s slashing .353 with four home runs and an absurd 288 wRC+. He’s consistently barreling the baseball, posting a 54.5% hard-hit rate and a max exit velocity of 111.2 MPH. For a 24-year-old rookie, this is an electric start. If he’s not rostered in your dynasty league, he’s a must-add.
Coming into the season, DeLauter didn’t receive as much AL Rookie of the Year buzz as names like Kevin McGonigle, Samuel Basallo, and Trey Yesavage. However, after a scorching spring, where he hit .459 with three home runs and a 1.373 OPS. He has carried that momentum right into the regular season. He’s also become just the second player ever to hit four home runs in his first three career games.
With plenty of playing time ahead, he’ll be in a tight race with Kevin McGonigle for the top rookie in the American League. His contact skills, combined with his power potential (both graded at 60 by MLB.com), make him a dangerous hitter. While pitchers will adjust over time, the sky truly looks like the limit for the young outfielder.
Dynasty managers who stashed the 24-year-old should be extremely excited about what he can bring to their lineups. This doesn’t feel like an overreaction. DeLauter looks more than comfortable at the plate, and there’s plenty to be excited about as the season unfolds.
Looking Ahead
The first weekend of 2026 did not disappoint. We saw electric performances from this year’s rookie class, mixed with standout moments from one of the best players of this generation. It had a little bit of everything.
As the season gets rolling, dynasty managers should stay sharp, keep an eye on these early trends, and be ready to adjust where needed. It’s still early, but we’re already seeing the emergence of potential new stars and that’s what makes this time of year so exciting.
Baseball is back, and it’s just getting started.
Photos courtesy of IconSportswire | Designed by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)
