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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Shane McClanahan enters 2026 as one of the biggest wild cards in fantasy baseball. He hasn’t thrown a pitch in a major league game since August 2, 2023, following a grueling recovery process that cost him two full seasons. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in late 2023, his expected return in 2025 was derailed by a nerve issue in his triceps, keeping him sidelined for another entire year. Now 29 years old, the former ace looks to re-establish himself in a rotation that looks vastly different than when he left it.

Despite the long layoff, early projections are surprisingly optimistic about his talent shining through. While the Rays will undoubtedly handle him with extreme caution given his injury history, his ceiling remains that of a frontline starter. Fantasy managers should treat him as a high-risk, high-reward SP3/4; if his command and velocity return to pre-injury form, he could be a league-winning steal, but the risk of rust and innings limits is undeniable.