{{player.name}}

2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Andrew Vaughn’s 2025 season was a tale of two jerseys, defined by a mid-season trade that saved his career. After a disastrous start with the White Sox that saw him slashing just .189 with a .531 OPS, the former third-overall pick was demoted to Triple-A in May. However, a June trade to Milwaukee provided the change of scenery he desperately needed. Once recalled by the Brewers in July, Vaughn looked like the elite prospect scouts originally envisioned, slashing .308/.375/.493 with nine home runs in just 64 games. He carried that momentum into the postseason, notably hitting a decisive solo home run in Game 5 of the NLDS to help eliminate the Cubs. He finished the year with a respectable .254 average and 14 total home runs, proving he could thrive when removed from the toxic environment in Chicago.

Slated to enter 2026 as the primary first baseman for the Brewers, Vaughn recently avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $7.65 million contract. While projection models like ZiPS remain skeptical of his small-sample success in Milwaukee, his underlying metrics tell a different story. His 12% barrel rate and 91.6 mph average exit velocity were both career highs, and he dramatically improved his plate discipline by cutting his strikeout rate and nearly tripling his walk rate after joining the Brewers. For fantasy managers, Vaughn is a prime "post-hype" sleeper who offers a high-OBP floor and 20+ home run upside. He is a high-value target in the later rounds for those seeking a steady corner infield option with the potential to fully blossom in one of the league's most efficient offenses.