Baseball’s box score is simple: score runs, avoid outs. Those raw numbers create narratives we track all season, and each spring invites the same question — who will leap forward in 2026?
Unpredictable arcs are why we watch: Cal Raleigh erupting for 60 homers, Tarik Skubal accelerating into ace territory, Garrett Crochet converting from high-leverage reliever to Opening Day starter, and rookie Nick Kurtz turning into an instant slugger. Below are preseason “Real or Not” takes on eight players who could headline next year.
Shohei Ohtani — 50 homers and 20 wins Case: Ohtani’s 50/50 campaign was one of the most extraordinary single-season achievements in recent memory. With a renewed pitching plan that includes more starts, he looks committed to being a two-way force. There are historical precedents of pitchers reaching 20 wins with fewer than 30 starts when surrounded by elite run support and bullpen help. Verdict: Not Real. A Cy Young-level pitching season is within reach, but modern innings limits and workload management make a 20-win season unlikely. The Dodgers will protect him late in the year, reducing decisions and making a repeat 50/20 improbable.
Aaron Judge — 63 homers a
