When you start your fantasy baseball drafts and are looking to target specific things, look no further than these single-category contributors. These players are going to help you in areas you’re seeking out, such as batting average, home runs, and stolen bases. Drafting single-category players is critical to balancing out your roster as long as you’re surrounding them with the necessary complementary pieces. If you’re drafting Brendan Donovan to help your batting average, have a plan on attacking power upside because someone like Donovan won’t be much help there. We’ll get into all of the top targets for single categories, and a multi-category article will follow this one! When you’re done with this piece, check out some top late-round sleepers and some of the shortstops around the majors seeing their stock rise.

Batting Average

Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays - First Base

In 2025, we saw Yandy Diaz enter a new stratosphere in terms of home runs, but unfortunately for Diaz and the Rays, they’re going to be playing their home games at Tropicana Field again in 2026. When you look at three-year data between 2022-2024 for Tropicana Field, it’s VERY heavily tilted towards pitchers. In fact, according to Baseball Savant’s park factor, “The Trop” ranks 29th, only better than T-Mobile Park.

Since arriving in Tampa Bay back in 2019, he only hit more than 14 home runs once (22 in ‘23) but only hit worse than .281 twice in his six seasons. During his time with Tampa Bay, he’s hit .291 and has averaged 14.1 homers per Baseball Reference

With the return to Tampa Bay’s home, Yandy Diaz's most reliable statistic is his batting average, and he should be drafted to help your ratios.

Brendan Donovan, Seattle Mariners - Second Base

You know who is a very good real-life baseball player? Brendan Donovan. You know who isn’t going to contribute in many categories other than batting average? Shoh..jk..you guess it, Brendan Donovan. Donovan was traded to Seattle this offseason, which is basically the only possible downgrade in terms of ballpark he could’ve gone from.

Donovan’s career high in some categories: home runs (14), runs batted in (73), runs scored (65), and stolen bases (5).

He’s going to hit atop the Mariners lineup, which is definitely a boost, but he’s just not that guy. He’s not the guy who’s going to hit more home runs and steal more bases. Donovan’s a .282 hitter through the first four years of his career, coming off a career-best mark of .287.

Jacob Wilson, Athletics - Shortstop

At every level Jacob Wilson’s been at, he’s simply hit, hit, and hit some more. In 83 minor league games across three seasons, Wilson hit .393 with an OPS over 1.000 but only hit nine homers. He did flash a little more power at the major league level, but that’s only because of the ballpark he played in. He hit .311 in 2025 across 125 games, but really wasn’t a factor in many other areas.

When you’re looking at all the projections for Wilson in 2026, nobody is projecting him for more than 14 home runs. Steamer, ZiPS, ATC, THE BAT, and OOPSY are all 14 or fewer. Wilson doesn’t walk – or strikeout – he doesn’t steal bases and doesn’t hit for power. He’s going to flirt with .300 year after year, but currently, that’s what he offers fantasy owners.

Home Runs

Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels - Outfield

After showing flashes of a guy that can hit you 20 home runs and possibly steal you 20 bags, Jo Adell put all his eggs into the home run basket as he blasted 37 bombs and stole just five bags. Adell’s breakout campaign looks... repeatable, and the former top overall prospect could have finally found his footing in the majors.

There is possibly even a little more meat on the bone when it comes to average, considering Adell hit just .236 last year, and his expected average was 24 points higher than that. As you can see in the graphic above, thanks to Baseball Savant, Adell barrelled 17% of the pitches he connected on last season. The league average in that category was 7%. If he can keep that up, 40 home runs is attainable.

Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays - Outfield

In 2025, Daulton Varsho posted a .238/.284/.548 slash line and blasted 20 bombs in just 72 games. That’s a LOT of power in a short period of time. Varsho is opening the season as the Blue Jays' everyday center fielder, and over the past few seasons, his hitting profile has changed to a point where everything is in the air. He had a career 70.5% AIR% and 37.5% FB, which were both significantly higher than league average.

For a second consecutive season, Varsho pulled the ball in the air over 29% of the time, which is nearly two times more than league average. With his elite bat speed, Varsho should continue to sell out for home runs and is a real candidate to belt 30-plus bombs this year if he can stay healthy.

Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox - Shortstop

I already profiled Colson Montgomery in this year's late-round sleepers article, but I’m doubling down here on a player drafted in the 200s with elite pop. Montgomery hit 21 home runs in 71 games as a rookie last year, and that’s what he does – hit home runs.

Here was Montgomery’s ‘25 slash line: .239/.311/.529 while posting a robust .290 ISO. He was given a 55/60 raw power grade and has a 45/55 game power grade to boot. That’s his thing, and that’s what he does best. There is a 30-plus home run upside at shortstop that’s being taken around the 18th round in 12-team leagues.

Stolen Bases

Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins - Second Base, Shortstop

The number is four. That’s the number of home runs that Xavier Edwards has hit through three seasons and 239 games played. 63 is the other number. That’s the number of stolen bases that Edwards has had thus far in those 239 games. Edwards stole 27 bags in 2025 and 31 in ‘24 (in just 70 games).

Edwards only has 75 sprint speed, but is a great base runner. He’s scheduled to hit second for the Marlins behind Jakob Marsee, and it’s possible at times he’s leading off as well. Edwards has already given us 30-plus stolen base upside.

Chandler Simpson, Tampa Bay Rays - Outfielder

As of today, Chandler Simpson is slated to break camp in a timeshare and even bat at the back end of the lineup. He played 109 games in 2025 and swiped 44 bags, which tied for the second-most in the league. Simpson does one thing, and that’s it. He’s hit ONE home run during his minor league career and has a 104 stolen base campaign at the minor league level to boot. If you’re in the last few rounds of your draft and need a boost in steals, Simpson will be available.

Jose Caballero, New York Yankees - Second Base, Shortstop, Third Base, Outfield

Of the three players listed in the stolen base category, Jose Caballero has the most value. No, not just because he led the majors in stolen bases last year, but because of his eligibility as well. He can be played at FOUR positions, three in the infield and outfield as well.

Caballero will open the season as the New York Yankees starting shortstop and could play himself into a big role if he plays well. Even if he’s not playing every day, we saw what happened last year. He stole 15 bags in 40 games with the Yankees last season after stealing 34 in 86 games with the Rays. He isn’t shy at all about running, as he’s actually been thrown out 30 times through three seasons.

I highlighted ZiPS because this projection system is the upside Caballero could show. 120-plus games and 40 bags stolen. That’s why you’re drafting him. Ceiling.