As Major League Baseball teams prepare for the start of Spring Training, projections from FanGraphs Depth Charts provide insight into which players are expected to lead their respective clubs in 2026 by Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
For the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge stands out with a projected 7.3 WAR. Judge has been a consistent performer since 2024, posting a .326 batting average and a 1.152 OPS over that span. He hit 58 home runs in 2024 and followed with 53 in 2025, achieving back-to-back seasons exceeding 10 WAR and earning a batting title. The projection models estimate another strong season for Judge in his age-34 campaign.
Other notable projections include Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles at 6.0 WAR and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals at 6.7 WAR. Both players are recognized for their all-around contributions on offense and defense.
In the American League Central, Tarik Skubal is projected to continue his success for the Detroit Tigers with a forecasted 6.3 WAR after consecutive Cy Young-winning seasons.
The National League features Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers with an impressive projection of 8.4 WAR, reflecting his impact as both a hitter and pitcher.
The data also highlights emerging talents such as Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox (2.5 WAR) and Nick Kurtz of the Oakland Athletics (3.6 WAR), who are expected to be key contributors for their teams following recent debuts.
These projections offer an early look at potential standout performers across MLB as teams aim to build on individual achievements during the upcoming season.
