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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired hand on Tuesday and can restart some "impact" activities in the next two to three days, manager Carlos Mendoza told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Lindor had surgery two weeks ago to fix a stress reaction in his left hamate bone. The 32-year-old five-time All-Star appears to be making good progress, though, and barring a setback, he has a good chance to be ready to roll in time for Opening Day on March 26 against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets will ease Lindor back into spring training activities when he's ready. There's a chance he's not ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, but if Lindor opens with a stay on the injured list, it's likely to be a minimum absence. Lindor is a bit more risky now in fantasy baseball drafts because of his hand injury, but he should still be considered a top-10 option at the shortstop position.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes said he expects to make two starts for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, assuming they advance out of pool play, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The reigning National League Cy Young winner is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut in spring training on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, and he's also scheduled to pitch in one of Team USA's exhibition contests next week in Arizona. The 23-year-old will most likely take the ball on Opening Day on March 26 for the Pirates against the New York Mets on the road at Citi Field. The former first overall pick in 2023 out of LSU has lived up to the hype early in his MLB career and went 10-10 while leading the league in ERA (1.97), FIP (2.36), WHIP (0.95), and home runs allowed per nine innings (0.5) in 32 starts (187 2/3 innings) in his second year in the majors. Skenes is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game already and is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 3 starting pitcher in fantasy.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak (oblique) has been cleared to make his spring debut on Wednesday afternoon. The outfielder will serve as the team's designated hitter and bat in the leadoff spot. Moniak has been dealing with some lingering oblique tightness, but did not have to wait long to make his spring debut. Managers should continue to monitor his status as he may be cleared to return to the outfield in the coming days. Last season, the former first overall pick put together a career season with the Rockies, posting a .270/.306/.518 line with a strong .824 OPS. Across 135 games, Moniak launched 24 home runs while adding nine stolen bases. Managers should expect Moniak to continue to see a close to an everyday role in the Colorado lineup in 2026. However, he may occasionally sit against southpaws, which could limit his overall upside.

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Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) does not see himself being ready for Opening Day, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Gonzalez expressed that his ramp-up would be "too quick" if he tried to be ready for Opening Day. Last season, Gonzalez appeared in a career-high 96 games at the MLB level and looked rather comfortable, posting a .305/.345/.483 slash line with nine home runs and six stolen bases. Under the hood, Gonzalez generated a strong .344 xwOBA with an elite .276 xBA, a 12.6% barrel rate, and a 57.3% hard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he works his way back from shoulder inflammation. While he remains sidelined, Marcelo Mayer could carve out a larger role in the infield.

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Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone launched his first home run of spring training during Tuesday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds. The former top prospect hit a 460-foot long shot off Reds left-handed pitcher Brandon Williamson. Per Statcast, Caglianone hit the ball 115.2 mph. Caglianone made his MLB debut last summer but was unable to find much consistency during his first taste of the major leagues. Through 62 games, Caglianone held a .157/.237/.295 line with six doubles, seven home runs, and a modest 52:18 K:BB. However, in the minor leagues, the former Florida standout flashed immense upside, holding a .337/.408/.617 line with 20 home runs in a 66-game stint. Given his elite raw power, Caglianone is a prime post-hype breakout candidate heading into the 2026 season, as he should see an everyday role in the Kansas City lineup.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (back) was able to play catch from 90 feet on Tuesday, according to Matthew Leach of MLB.com. The right-hander underwent an MRI over the weekend after feeling soreness in his lower back. However, it appears Ryan is not facing a serious injury, as he has already resumed baseball activities. Managers should keep an eye on his status, as he may be cleared to return to the mound in the coming days. Last season, Ryan logged a career-high 171 innings to the tune of a 3.42 ERA with a stellar 1.04 WHIP. He struck out 194 hitters while posting an elite 5.7% walk rate, which placed him within the 87th percentile among qualified pitchers. The 29-year-old remains a top target when looking to improve your WHIP ratio, given his stellar command. He carries solid SP2 upside in all formats in 2026.

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Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe (elbow) is set to play catch up to 105 feet three times this week, according to MLB.com. The former top pitching prospect is still working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last June. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress, but he still has a long way to go before he is cleared to return to the mound. Before undergoing surgery last season, the former No. 3 overall pick logged 49 innings in Detroit while posting a 4.22 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. During this stint, Jobe struck out only 39 hitters and held a high 12.4% walk rate. In 2024, Jobe flashed high upside in the minor leagues, logging 91 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 96:45 K:BB. Given his current trajectory, Jobe may contend for a late-season return.

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Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (elbow) is working through a return-to-play throwing progression this week and is quickly approaching his return. The backstop is expected to be a full-go for Opening Day. Dingler had a delayed start to the offseason after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in January. Managers should continue to monitor the 27-year-old's status, but he appears well-positioned to avoid a delayed start to the regular season. Last summer, Dingler spent the entire campaign in the majors and did not disappoint, posting a .278/.327/.425 line with 21 doubles and 13 home runs. Under the hood, Dingler generated an elite .290 xBA with a 42.3% LA sweet-spot%, which placed him in the 98th percentile among qualified hitters. When active, managers should expect Dingler to carry solid No. 2 catcher upside, as he should see most of the starting opportunities in Detroit.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Nathan Church went deep in his spring debut over the weekend and is a name to follow amid the team's current outfield depth. With starting left fielder Lars Nootbaar (heel) expected to miss the start of the season, Church could claim a starting role with a productive showing in camp. Last summer, the 25-year-old made his MLB debut but did not find much success over his first stint, holding a .179/.254/.250 line with a double and a home run across 27 games. However, at Triple-A, Church showcased his five-category profile, which makes him an intriguing sleeper for deeper formats in 2026. Through his lone 53-game stint at Triple-A, Church posted an impressive .335/.400/.521 line with seven home runs and nine stolen bases. If he continues to hit for power in camp, he could be worth a late-round pick in deep 15-team formats.

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Houston Astros right-handed pitching prospect AJ Blubaugh is in competition for the final rotation spot, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The team's No. 13-ranked prospect on MLB.com will be competing alongside the favorites, Spencer Arrighetti and Lance McCullers; however, Rome has noted that Blubaugh, Peter Lambert, and Ryan Weiss have begun to "open eyes." Blubaugh made his MLB debut last summer and looked quite impressive, logging 32 innings with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. During this stint, Blubaugh was deployed both as a starter and a reliever, tallying 35 punchouts while posting a modest 9.6% BB%. However, his elite .184 xBA helped keep runners off base. He is a name to monitor in camp as he could push McCullers or Arrighetti, given their struggles last season and lengthy injury histories.

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Chicago Cubs first base prospect Jonathon Long (elbow) took some swings on Tuesday, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Long suffered this injury during a spring training contest over the week but apepars ot be progressing rather well. Cubs manager Craig Counsell also noted that is "soreness is dissipating." Montemurro also noted that while Long was expected to depart on Tuesday for the World Baseball Classic, he will instead depart the team on Friday to ensure he is fully healed. Last season, the former ninth-round pick spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Iowa and held a strong .304/.404/.479 slash line with 23 doubles, 20 home runs, and a 116:79 K:BB. If he continues this level of play, Long should be in the mix for a promotion within the first half.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has already begun to showcase his power upside as he looks to claim a spot on the Opening Day roster. Through his first three games (10 at-bats), the team's top hitting prospect has hit a double and gone deep while posting an .873 OPS. The Kentucky product has also begun to see time in the center field in addition to his time in left field, further suggesting the Diamondbacks are attempting to find an early-season role for him. Currently, they are without two starting outfielders as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) will not be ready for the beginning of the season, and Corbin Carroll (hand) is targeting an Opening Day return, but any minor setback would push him past this target date. Last season, Waldschmidt spent his time at High-A and Double-A and posted an overall .289/.419/.473 line with 18 home runs and 29 stolen bases. Even though he has never played a game at Triple-A, he is in a prime position to break camp with the MLB roster, given their numerous injuries.

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Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect JR Ritchie tossed two shutout frames in his spring training debut and continues to make a strong case for an early 2026 promotion. He entered the game after Atlanta southpaw Chris Sale logged two innings himself. Ritchie would not surrender a hit and would hold a 1:1 K:BB over this brief appearance. Managers should continue to keep a close eye on his development in spring training, as he could be in the mix for an early promotion, given the numerous injuries to the Atlanta starting rotation. Last summer, the 22-year-old began the campaign with High-A but was able to reach Triple-A in the second half. At Triple-A, Ritchie logged 59 2/3 innings with an impressive 3.02 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 67:21 K:BB. If he continues this trajectory, he would be worth viewing as a top early-season stash candidate.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect Bubba Chandler struggled in his spring debut on Monday afternoon against the New York Yankees. Across 1 1/3 innings, the top prospect allowed four earned runs with a high four free passes. He did not allow a hit and added two strikeouts. Chandler's command was a major issue during the 2025 season, and it appears to be resurfacing. Last season, the 23-year-old was expected to nearly break camp with the Pirates but would not earn the call until August. At Triple-A, Chandler carried a modest 4.05 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, with a 121:53 K:BB across 100 innings. However, in the majors, he looked far more comfortable, posting 31:4 K:BB over 31 1/3 innings. Chandler remains a top breakout candidate, but given his uneven command, he holds some risk in drafts.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone broke out in 2025, hitting .300/.358/.481 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, 30 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 268 plate appearances. The 28-year-old cut his strikeout rate from 28.2% in 2024 to 22% in 2025 while still posting an excellent 14.5% barrel rate. The lefty-swinging Canzone owns a career .756 OPS against right-handed pitching compared to just a .607 OPS against southpaws, so he may be limited to a large-side platoon role in Seattle. Canzone seems likely to see most of his at-bats in 2026 at designated hitter, but he could also get in the mix in right field if Mariners outfielder Victor Robles struggles or misses time due to injury. Given Canzone's likely playing time ceiling and his lack of speed (five career stolen bases), his fantasy upside is limited. However, Canzone has sleeper potential at his current average draft position of pick 336 if he can lock down a spot in the starting lineup whenever Seattle faces a right-handed starting pitcher.

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Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin had a monster Spring Training showing against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, going two for four with two home runs and four RBI in his team's 16-7 victory. Griffin, who will turn 20 years old in late April, is widely considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. While Pirates manager Don Kelly recently called it a "tough ask" for Griffin to be ready for the team's Opening Day roster, the young phenom may force his way to the big leagues in 2026. Across 563 plate appearances spread across three Minor League levels in 2025, Griffin slashed .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 65 stolen bases. He finished the year at Double-A Altoona, where he hit .337/.418/.542 with five home runs, 22 RBI, 20 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 98 plate appearances. Pittsburgh may choose to send Griffin back to the Minors to begin 2026, but he may be worth stashing in redraft formats ahead of his eventual MLB debut.

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Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that outfielder Chandler Simpson (hamstring) is tentatively scheduled to make his 2026 Spring Training debut on Friday, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Simpson has been held out of the Rays' first few Spring games due to a tight left hamstring, but it does not appear that he is suffering from a serious injury. It would make sense for Tampa Bay to slow-roll Simpson's recovery from a hamstring ailment at this point in the calendar, as the 25-year-old's main appeal as both a fantasy and real-life player is his speed. Across 441 plate appearances in 2025, Simpson hit .295/.326/.345 with zero home runs, 26 RBI, 53 runs scored, and 44 stolen bases. He struck out in just 9.8% of his plate appearances, but also posted a remarkably poor 0.0% barrel rate. As long as Simpson makes a full recovery and can hold down regular playing time in Tampa Bay, his speed and ability to hit for average give him fantasy appeal. However, his lack of power makes him difficult to build around in rotisserie-scoring formats.

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The Milwaukee Brewers say that starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (lat) is "on track to begin the season in the rotation, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The 33-year-old finished the 2025 season on the Injured List due to right lat strain and said on Monday that his status for Opening Day was "up in the air." However, Rosiak reports that Woodruff is scheduled to throw a live BP session on March 1 before beginning game progression. Woodruff missed the entire 2024 season and the first three-plus months of 2025 while recovering from shoulder surgery. He dominated upon his return until suffering the lat strain, recording a 7-2 record with a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts across 64 2/3 innings pitched (12 starts). Woodruff has a chance to be a high-end fantasy starting pitcher in 2026, but he carries a significant health risk at his current average draft position of pick 113.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez will make his Spring Training debut "a little bit later" due to normal buildup, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. While it does not seem as though Alvarez's Opening Day availability is in doubt, the 28-year-old's health is always worth monitoring. Alvarez has reached 600 plate appearances just once in seven MLB seasons, and he played in just 48 games in 2025 due to hand and ankle injuries. Alvarez's numbers were also down across the board in 2025, as he hit .273/.367/.430 with six home runs, 27 RBI, and 17 runs scored across 199 plate appearances. However, he owns an elite career slash line of .297/.389/.573 and still posted a 52.9% hard-hit rate in 2025. There's little reason to believe that Alvarez will not still be one of the game's best hitters when healthy in 2026, but fantasy managers may be wise to plan for him to miss some time.

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Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez's velocity was "way down" during his Cactus League debut on Tuesday at 86-89 mph, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Rogers says it's "eyebrow-raising" and "something to monitor," but it's also "exactly what came up last year." Estevez typically starts slow in the spring, and the Royals "really rely on how he says he feels." The 33-year-old was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 in his first season with the Royals, posting a 2.45 ERA (3.67 FIP), 1.06 WHIP, a league- and career-high 42 saves, 54 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 66 innings pitched out of the bullpen. His 89.4% team save share was the highest among all relievers in MLB last year. Regression could be coming -- he had a career-low 20.1% strikeout rate in 2025 -- but he'll be KC's primary closer again, making him at least a low-end No. 1 fantasy closer in his second year with the Royals.

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