NEW YORK — Every fantasy baseball season has a few surprise names that explode onto the scene and completely change the rankings. In 2026, many analysts believe Edward Cabrera could be the next name to join that list.

The right-handed pitcher, formerly of the Miami Marlins, is receiving a lot of attention from the fantasy world thanks to his noticeable improvement in the past season. After years of being considered a promising but inconsistent talent, Cabrera seems to finally be finding his formula for success.

And if that trend continues, he could become one of the most valuable late draft picks.

For many years in his early MLB career, Cabrera always made analysts feel “both excited and worried.”

No one doubted his talent.

Cabrera’s powerful fastball, sharp change-up, and high strikeout potential have always made him a pitcher with immense potential for growth.

However, his biggest problem has been his ball control.

Early in his career, Cabrera frequently struggled with his walk. His walk percentage once reached 11.7%, causing many games to end prematurely and making it difficult for him to maintain effectiveness in multiple innings.

However, things began to change in the 2025 season.

Cabrera recorded his best numbers of his career:

ERA: 3.53

WHIP: 1.23

Strikeout percentage: 25.8%

Walk percentage dropped to just 8.3%

Notably, in the final 19 start games of the season, Cabrera achieved an ERA of only 2.87, showing a significant improvement in ball control and pitching strategy.

This is the period that led many experts to believe Cabrera was entering his prime.

One of the reasons Cabrera was so highly regarded was his incredibly versatile pitching.

His fastball consistently reached 97 mph, providing the foundation for highly effective side pitches.

But Cabrera’s most dangerous weapon was his changeup.

This pitch had a powerful drop and a significant speed difference compared to a fastball, causing many batters to miss or make weak contact.

In addition, Cabrera’s curveball was also improving significantly.

Pitching coaches believed that adjusting tactics—especially increasing the frequency of using fastballs to pave the way for changeups—could make him even more dangerous.

If this plan succeeded, Cabrera could absolutely become a top-tier pitcher.

What made Cabrera attractive to fantasy managers wasn’t just his talent.

But it also depends on his draft value.

According to many fantasy rankings, Cabrera has an Average Draft Position (ADP) of around 202, meaning he is often selected quite late in the draft.

This creates an extremely attractive opportunity.

If Cabrera truly shines, those who select him late in the draft could receive a value equivalent to a pitcher selected much earlier.

In fantasy baseball, that’s the kind of pick that can change the entire season.

Despite his bright prospects, Cabrera is not yet a completely safe pick.

The biggest issue is his health.

In the past, the 27-year-old pitcher has suffered numerous injuries, including shoulder and elbow problems.

Furthermore, the 2025 season will be the first time he surpasses 100 innings in MLB, indicating that Cabrera’s playing capacity is still quite limited.

For a pitcher, the ability to maintain fitness throughout a long 162-game season is incredibly important.

If Cabrera can stay in good shape, his potential is enormous.

In baseball, sometimes a pitcher only needs one season to change their entire career.

Many big MLB stars have started with a sudden breakout season.

With Cabrera, the signs are beginning to appear:

Better command

More refined pitch arsenal

Increasing confidence on the mound

If those factors continue to develop in the 2026 season, Cabrera will not only become a crucial pitcher for his team.

He could also become one of the biggest discoveries in fantasy baseball this year.

And for smart fantasy managers, sometimes winning an entire season starts with just one right draft pick in the 15th or 16th round.