MLB: Comeback Candidates in 2026, Who Will Resurface?

Redemption Stories in Baseball: The Comeback Candidates for 2026

In baseball, comeback stories are a constant draw for fans. Each season, several players who once shone face difficulties due to poor performance or injuries, forcing them to seek a new opportunity on another team. These are the athletes who inspire, reminding us that promising careers can change quickly, but they can also resurface with the same speed. In the 2025 season, fifteen players met the criteria to be considered “recovery projects”:

• Age 27 years or older.
• One season with 2 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in their career, or at least 3 WAR in the three seasons prior to their decline.
• Less than 2 WAR in the previous season.
• Change of team.
• 2+ WAR or an improvement of 2 or more WAR year over year.

This list included Jesús Luzardo, Matthew Boyd, Merrill Kelly, Harrison Bader, Ramon Laureano, Aroldis Chapman, Adrian Houser, Carson Kelly, Gleyber Torres, Lucas Giolito, Clay Holmes, Mike Yastrzemski, Jhoan Duran, David Bednar, and Brad Keller. Each of them represented their own redemption story, but they all shared the goal of returning to their best level. The 2026 season promises more similar stories. Based on FanGraphs’ WAR projections, the six most likely candidates for the 2026 comeback list were identified, considering FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and RA/9 (Runs Allowed per 9 innings).

Candidates for Recovery for 2026:

Ha-Seong Kim, SS2025 Recovery Archetype: Ramon Laureano Kim, who was a key figure with the San Diego Padres in 2022 and 2023, seeks to rebuild his potential as an infielder with good defense and contact skills. He could draw inspiration from Laureano, known for his glove and bat in Oakland before injuries and poor performance led him to change teams. Laureano performed well with Baltimore and was then traded to San Diego, where he continued to bat above average.

Michael King, RHP

2025 Recovery Archetype: Merrill Kelly After accumulating 6.3 WAR between 2023 and 2024 with the Yankees and Padres, King had a limited season in 2025 due to inflammation in his shoulder and knee. His FIP was unusually high, but is expected to improve. King has sparked interest from teams needing pitchers, hoping he replicates Kelly’s performance in 2025.Luis Arraez, IF2025 Comeback Player Archetype: Gleyber Torres Arraez, with his unique skills for connecting with the ball, resembles Torres, another infielder whose value diminished. Torres, after becoming a free agent, signed with Detroit and responded with 2.6 WAR. Arraez could follow a similar path, improving his plate discipline.Zac Gallen, RHP2025 Recovery Archetype: Merrill Kelly or Jesus Luzardo Gallen, after rejecting Arizona’s offer, is an ideal candidate for recovery in 2026. Despite a decline in 2025, he is expected to improve his performance in 2026, considering the quality of his pitching.Cedric Mullins, OF2025 Comeback Archetype: Harrison Bader Mullins, after a disappointing performance with Baltimore and his transfer to the Mets, will look for a new team in 2026. Although he may not reach the 6 WAR of 2021, he can still be a valuable hitter.Willi Castro, OF2025 Recovery Archetype: Harrison Bader or Ramon Laureano Castro, who already had a recovery phase in his career, will seek to repeat the success after a decline in 2025. His versatility in the field and his potential could lead him to exceed 2 WAR next season. Other candidates for recovery include Zach Eflin, Patrick Sandoval, Marcell Ozuna, and Amed Rosario.