2025 was a tough year for a lot of players, but 2026 offers a clean slate and a chance to get back on track. From young phenoms to established veterans, everyone on this list has been there and done that, and also taken a few hits along the way. Now it’s time to see who can respond.
Pitchers
Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox
When it was announced that Boston would be acquiring Sonny Gray via trade, some fans were underwhelmed, largely because of his 4.28 ERA during his age-35 season. But the surface numbers hide how well he actually pitched. Gray posted a 3.39 FIP, nearly a full run lower, which suggests he was far more unlucky than ineffective.
While velocity often declines with age, command usually does not, and that remains Gray’s greatest strength. He ranked in the 93rd percentile in walk rate last season and continues to generate a healthy amount of ground balls. Fenway’s hitter-friendly reputation raises concerns, but the park still ranked just 22nd in home runs allowed last year. All signs point to Gray being positioned for a much stronger season in Boston.
Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
In limited action last year, Cole Ragans posted a 4.67 ERA across 61.2 innings, but his underlying performance tells a very different story. His xERA sat nearly two full runs lower than his actual ERA, and he struck out hitters at an elite 38.1% rate.
The biggest regression came in his barrel rate, which jumped to 9.2% after sitting at 6.2% in 2024, even though his stuff itself didn’t noticeably decline. With those strikeout numbers and more normal batted-ball luck, Ragans is well positioned to return to being a top-tier starter in 2026.
Sean Manaea, New York Mets
After the best season of his career, Sean Manaea completely fell apart, finishing with a 5.64 ERA and negative WAR. A big part of the decline came from changes in his pitch mix. Manaea leaned heavily on his fastball last season, using it 60% of the time compared to just 31% in 2024, despite it never being an above-average offering.
He also abandoned his slider in favor of a sweeper, even though his slider graded extremely well in 2024 by STUFF+. The raw tools are still there. With some adjustments to his arsenal, Manaea has a clear path back to being a reliable starter.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
Spencer Strider dominated the league in 2022 and 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2024. His return was highly anticipated, but the results were rough. His strikeout rate dropped, his walk rate climbed, and nearly every underlying metric took a step back.
The biggest issue was velocity. His fastball was down nearly two miles per hour on average, which is devastating for a pitcher whose game is built around overpowering hitters. With a full offseason to properly ramp up, Strider should regain much of his stuff and return to looking like the Cy Young contender he was before the injury.
Devin Williams, New York Mets
Before 2025, Devin Williams was widely viewed as one of the best relievers in baseball. Last season was a brutal outlier. He posted an 85 ERA+ and blew four saves in his lone season in New York.
Despite the struggles, Williams may have been the unluckiest pitcher in baseball. His FIP finished two full runs lower than his ERA at 2.68, and he ended the year with 14 straight scoreless appearances. The dominance never truly left, and with more normal luck, Williams should look like an elite closer again in 2026.
Hitters
Luis Robert Jr., New York Mets
Luis Robert Jr. has always been an elite defender, but his bat hasn’t lived up to expectations since 2023. Injuries played a role, but even when healthy, he often looked disengaged.
A fresh start could be exactly what he needs. Now on a competitive roster that depends on him, Robert showed encouraging signs late, posting a 123 OPS+ over his final 31 games. That stretch feels more like the real version of his talent and could carry into 2026.
Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
One of the biggest wild cards entering 2026 is Adley Rutschman. After exploding onto the scene, his production has dipped significantly over the past two seasons.
Even through the struggles, his plate discipline remains excellent, with a low strikeout rate and strong walk numbers. At just 27 years old, Rutschman is still squarely in his prime, and a bounceback season feels more likely than continued regression.
Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates badly need offense to support their talented rotation, and Oneil Cruz was supposed to be the centerpiece. Instead, he was a major disappointment.
Cruz still hits the ball harder than almost anyone in the sport, but his strikeout issues remain severe. He walks enough to survive, but he finished below league average in nearly every major offensive category. This is a risky choice for this list, but after such a poor season, something has to change. If Cruz adjusts his approach even slightly, he can return to being at least an average hitter with elite upside.
Luis García Jr., Washington Nationals
Luis García Jr. was one of the few bright spots on a weak 2024 Nationals team, but 2025 was a step backward. He struggled both offensively and defensively.
At just 25 years old, García still has plenty of time to rebound. His Statcast numbers paint a much more optimistic picture, with xwOBA and xSLG well above his actual results. That kind of gap usually corrects itself, making him a strong candidate for a bounceback season.
Teoscar Hernández, Los Angeles Dodgers
The last thing the league needs is another productive Dodger, but Teoscar Hernández struggled badly in 2024. His numbers fell off sharply, and some blamed age after he turned 33.
The decline wasn’t nearly as dramatic under the hood. His bat speed dipped slightly, but not enough to explain the full drop-off. The real issue was plate discipline. Hernández stopped taking walks and lost easy opportunities to get on base. Surrounded by an elite lineup, the pressure should ease, and a return to form feels very realistic in 2026.
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