The 2026 season is younger, and but some MLB stars would possibly already really feel the warmth (even with winter reminding us it’s not utterly over in some components of the nation). Teams are engaged on their second or third video games of the season this weekend, with some shock performers rising and others asking their superstars to kick issues into gear already.
Small sample caveats however, the early performances from Cal Raleigh and these 5 different MLB stars is sufficient to really feel somewhat sweat in your forehead.
C Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
2026 stats: 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts after a 60-homer breakout
Was last year all a dream? Cal Raleigh would possibly need to be sure Randy Arozarena doesn’t have a relative someplace on the earth who put a hex on him after refusing to shake his hand throughout the WBC. While no stranger to hanging out after a 12 months the place he fanned 188 occasions, doing nothing however a stroll of disgrace again to the dugout is alarming by means of two video games and presents fairly the outlet to climb out of. Big Dumper will ultimately run into an enormous fly, in fact, however possibly Raleigh additionally must make some true changes on the plate. One can not hit 60 house runs and fly below any pitching coach’s radar any longer.
RHP Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
2026 stats: 67.50 ERA in 0.2 innings and certain to face adversity
Here’s the ridiculous factor about how small a sample size we’re speaking with Paul Skenes proper now: He nonetheless doesn’t even qualify for the ERA title but (or non-title, in his case). The reigning NL Cy Young winner allowed 5 earned runs to the New York Mets and retired simply two batters earlier than getting yanked.
The sufferer of some bad center-field play by Oneil Cruz, followers must also contemplate the concept that taking part in for a crew just like the Pittsburgh Pirates would ultimately catch as much as Skenes. He can not afford unhealthy days just like the one he had on Opening Day; nobody is able to cease writing up mock trades for Skenes that value a number of top-100 prospects. At worst, that is the form of 12 months Jacob deGrom had in 2017 with the Mets, when his ERA “skyrocketed” to three.53 because of some uncharacteristic unhealthy luck and a scarcity of assist behind him.
OF Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
2026 stats: 0-for-7 with 5 strikeouts on a slumping offensive crew
Before Raleigh turned the face of the Seattle Mariners franchise, there was Julio Rodriguez. His profession has been a uncommon one: A top-10 prospect who nearly instantly turned a star upon debuting within the Majors, he appears to have reached a sure ceiling which, whereas implausible, gained’t have his identify spoken in the identical sentence as Ken Griffey Jr. any time quickly.
The indisputable fact that the Mariners are 1-1 despite the efficiency of Raleigh and Rodriguez snoozing by means of the primary two video games is definitely a great signal; for what it’s price, first baseman Josh Naylor can also be 0-for-8. Rodriguez hit only .207 in the first month last season, so Mariners followers aren’t unfamiliar with a gradual begin. Still, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer must be sweating and have the Seattle ballpark components able to justify any extended slumps.
SS Willy Adames, San Francisco Giants
2026 stats: 0-for-7 with 4 strikeouts after a poor first 12 months in San Francisco
Willy Adames may not really feel like a famous person to some followers, however the San Francisco Giants are paying him like one. Just two years right into a seven-year deal price $182 million signed after the 2024 season, the priority meter right here must be enormous primarily based off of his struggles in 2025. The Giants bought a .225/.318/.421 hitter for his or her cash; yeah, Adames smashed 30 house runs and drove in 87, however he additionally struck out a career-high 179 occasions and went dormant for entire months at a time. It looks as if he’s off to repeat final 12 months’s numbers for San Francisco, who’ve but to attain a run in two video games towards the New York Yankees.
1B Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
2026 stats: 0-for-8 and on the opposite facet of 35
Freddie Freeman is the form of participant you may depend on to have a career-worst 12 months and then someway nonetheless win World Series MVP. He’s began off his 12 months going 0-for-8 with a stroll. Why have any panic? It’s his age: He’s already 36, and if you understand something about blowing out that many candles in your cake, you understand your physique begins to provide out. Although nonetheless extremely productive final season, Freeman’s 3.5 bWAR in 2025 was the bottom of any full marketing campaign since 2015. Some athletes instantly decline; others burn out like a wick.
OF Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
2026 stats: 1-for-8 after a troublesome spring coaching
Maybe it could have been finest if Corbin Carroll had been eased into motion. Dealing with a hamate injury suffered originally of camp, he hit solely .105 in spring coaching and he has limped by means of two common season video games. In some methods it was irresponsible of the Arizona Diamondbacks to permit him to battle by means of it, however we will additionally credit score him and the group for permitting their famous person to hitch the crew proper off the bat. The worst of what this will develop into has but to reach. A prolonged droop to start the 12 months void of energy will most likely be the end result. If he’s that unhealthy to start the 12 months, we will then query if possibly there was a greater different. A foul March-April can bury Arizona rapidly in a crowded NL image.
