The Top 15 is a great collection of talent, the best collective group in the game, but as in all good things they must end, and end they do. Procuring one of the players from the top group is a solid plan, but it’s not the only one that can prove to lead to success. Just know your parameters and how they relate to your overall team construction. You’ll be looking to focus on the speed game, high risk youngsters, and players who are coming off of sub-par seasons and hoping to see a return to form. There is definitely risk in looking at filling shortstop with a late option, but risk that could pay off in hefty rewards.
1. Bobby Witt Jr., KCR – Since coming into the league in 2022 Witt has averaged 26 homers, 93 RBI, 101 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, and sports a .844 OPS. He has earned the right to be one of the first players off-the-board in all formats.
2. Elly De La Cruz, CIN – It’s time for us to thank the Reds for confirming what most of us suspected in that De La Cruz was playing through an injury in 2025. Giving us privy to the left quad strain in the third week of November was not the best timing. appreciated. Expect the stolen base totals to rebound into the 50+ range and the power to continue to grow. The upside potential for the exciting 23-year-old is as high as any player in the game.
3. Francisco Lindor, NYM – In two of the past three seasons Lindor has gone 30/30 and missed by only a single stolen base in the third. As a back of the first-round pick it’s hard to beat that consistent elite level of production.
4. Gunnar Henderson, BAL – Henderson recently revealed that he played with a shoulder impingement for the better part of the 2025 campaign. That helps explain the drop off from 37 home runs in 2024 to only 17 last year. While he struggled with the power numbers, the 30 stolen bases represented a career best. A monster bounce back campaign could be in store for the 24-year-old.
5. Zach Neto, LAA – Neto has now produced back-to-back 20/20 seasons to begin his career. At this time next year, we’ll be talking about three-in-a-row and questioning his potential status as a first-round pick.
6. Trea Turner, PHI – The power fell off but Turner managed to post his third best season total of 36 stolen bases. In early drafts, the soon-to-be 33-year-old is being plucked from the board at the back of the second round where with his overall skill set he could prove to be a bargain.
7. Mookie Betts, LAD – Betts missed the season opener with a stomach bug and reportedly lost nearly 20 pounds while battling through the bug. He fractured his toe at the end of May stumbling around in his bathroom and it didn’t cost him time but might have cost him some stolen base production. It simply wasn’t his year, and he looked out of sync all season. An off-season of rest and recuperation could be just what the Doctor ordered.
8. CJ Abrams, WAS – Abrams finished up the 2025 season one homer short of a 20/20 campaign. A 20 home run, 30 stolen base, 85 run scored floor is worthy of a fourth round investment.
9. Geraldo Perdomo, ARZ – 2025 was an amazing breakout campaign for Geraldo Perdomo. He slugged 20 homers, drove in 100 runs, scored 98 runs, stole 27 bases and posted a stellar .290 BA. Anyone care to bet on a repeat?
10. Trevor Story, BOS – To say that his first three seasons in Boston were a disappointment would be an understatement. He not only played the full season in 2025, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the 2018/19 years at Coors, but also slugged 25 homers and stole 31 bases along the way. Every streak needs a starting point. Will this be Trevor Story’s?
11. Willy Adames, SFG – He’s a very good player, just not quite Milwaukee Brewer good.
12. Jeremy Pena, HOU – Pena produced the best walk rate of his career last year and it was reflected in what has proved to be his best season since arriving in Houston back in 2022. You can’t go wrong when looking at Pena as a solid mid-level option in 2026.
13. Corey Seager, TEX – Seager enjoyed another year of solid production. There simply wasn’t enough of it due to missing time with both hamstring issues and after undergoing an appendectomy in late August. There’s a 30-80 type campaign sitting there simply praying for 500+ at-bats.
14. Dansby Swanson, CHC – 2025 proved to be another in a string of typically solid years, one in which he finally reached the 20 stolen base mark. The consistent level of play makes for a solid floor to build upon as a tenth-round option in 2026.
15. Bo Bichette, TOR – 2025 proved to be a solid bounce back campaign for Bichette. He hit 18 homers with 94 RBI and posted a stellar .311 BA. The speed is virtually non-existent, limiting his upside potential in our game.
16. Otto Lopez, MIA – Filling your MI slot with an undervalued 15/20 type player in the mid-teen rounds has the potential to return solid dividends. The roster flexibility is a bonus. 2B-32
17. Xavier Edwards, MIA – The 31 thefts in 265 at-bats in 2024 allowed us to dream big for the 2025 season, but alas injuries dealt him a cruel fate, as the stolen base total dropped to only 27 in 561 at-bats last year. A fully healthy Edwards should be able to steal 30+ bases in his sleep. 2B-97
18. Jose Caballero, NYY – Jose Caballero has stolen 93 bases over the past two seasons. Pencil in a safe floor of 40 thefts with potentially more as Anthony Volpe (coming off shoulder surgery), is currently not looking at getting back on the field until at the earliest the end of April. 2B-23, 3B-37, OF-46
19. Konnor Griffin, PIT – Konnor Griffin was the #9 pick in 2024 and enjoyed an amazing 2025 debut. Across three levels of play in the Minors, ending up at Double-A, Griffin slugged 21 homers, stole 65 bases, and enjoyed a 900+ OPS at each level. The Pirates are rumored to be considering giving him a shot to head north with the team, as they should be. If you’re looking at speculating on younger players, the #1 prospect in the game is a great place to start.
20. Ezequiel Tovar, COL – Tovar suffered a left hip injury in the Rockies season opener with the Tampa Bay Rays, which led to him missing a month. He returned in May only to suffer a left oblique strain on June 2. It simply wasn’t the youngster’s year. That being said, don’t forget the 45 doubles and 26 home runs that we witnessed in 2024 as a 23-year-old. A bounce back to that level of play shouldn’t be ruled out.
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