{{player.name}}

2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Jake Cronenworth’s 2025 season was a masterclass in "grit over statistics." While his power numbers continued a multi-year slide, he redefined himself as an elite on-base specialist. Across 135 games, Cronenworth slashed .246/.367/.377 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI. The headline of his year was his discipline; he posted a career-high 13.4% walk rate, proving that even without a "fear factor" at the plate, he could grind out elite plate appearances. However, the most legendary moment of his season came in April: after being hit by a pitch at Wrigley Field and suffering a broken rib, Cronenworth famously stayed in the lineup for a few days and hit a home run with the fracture before finally succumbing to a month-long stint on the Injured List.

Entering 2026, the 32-year-old remains the "Swiss Army Knife" of the Padres' infield. Despite persistent winter trade rumors suggesting he might be a "salary dump" candidate to clear room for pitching, Cronenworth remains in Peoria as a vital defensive safety net. With the Padres' new-look infield featuring Nick Castellanos at first base and Xander Bogaerts moving to leadoff, Cronenworth’s versatility is more valuable than ever. He is currently projected to split his time between Second Base and First Base, though he has already taken reps at Shortstop this spring to cover for Bogaerts during the World Baseball Classic. In the Padres' spring opener on February 20, Cronenworth looked sharp, going 1-for-2 and showing no lingering effects from the foot issues that hampered his late 2025 stretch.

For fantasy managers, Cronenworth is the ultimate "boring but beautiful" roster filler with an ADP around 235.