Pick up these soon-to-be breakout stars while you ...
Key takeaways
- Aaron Judge, No. 2 in ADP, likely out until at least mid-July Juan Soto, No. 3, 19 days Tarik Skubal, No. 6, 43 days Jose Ramirez, No. 7, likely out 4-6 weeks Ronald Acuna Jr., No.
- When such a large portion of the fantasy baseball superstar pool is sidelined for significant time, our focus shifts to who might be next in line to shine.
- Additionally, fantasy managers who roster injured stars such as Judge or Ramirez might feel the need to shake things up, in an attempt to fill the production lost from their sidelined stars.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Need an emerging star to fill a gap on your fantasy roster? Pick up Jac Caglianone while you can. Jamie Sabau/Getty Images Tristan H. Cockcroft Jun 17, 2026, 10:50 AM ETClose Tristan H. Cockcroft is senior writer for fantasy baseball and football at ESPN. Tristan is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. He is also a two-time LABR and three-time Tout Wars champion.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions If it feels like this season has been brutal on the injury front, particularly among the game's most prominent players, you're not wrong.
Seven of the first 11 players picked (on average) in ESPN leagues during the preseason have already spent time on the injured list, with every one of them either having spent or expected to spend longer than a minimum stint on the sidelines:
Aaron Judge, No. 2 in ADP, likely out until at least mid-July Juan Soto, No. 3, 19 days Tarik Skubal, No. 6, 43 days Jose Ramirez, No. 7, likely out 4-6 weeks Ronald Acuna Jr., No. 8, on the IL for the second time Garrett Crochet, No. 9, 52 days and counting Cal Raleigh, No. 11, 33 days