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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Mayer finally kicked the door down in late May, making his long-awaited debut and immediately stabilizing the infield defense. He avoided the injury bug that plagued his minor league tenure, playing in 98 games and showcasing the sweet left-handed swing that made him a top prospect. While he experienced typical rookie growing pains with strikeouts, his 14 homers and ability to drive the ball to all fields validated the hype. 

2026 Outlook: Entering his first full season, Mayer is projected to be a staple in the top half of the lineup. With the shortstop job firmly his (potentially shifting Trevor Story to second base or DH more often), he offers 20-homer upside and a solid batting average floor. His ability to handle high-velocity pitching improved significantly over the second half of 2025, where he posted an .850 OPS after the All-Star break. If he can maintain that discipline, he could quickly ascend into the conversation for the top fantasy shortstops in the league.