Today will be somewhat of a continuation of my last article, as I felt really good about the content and structure of that last one. I want to talk about a few new players today in a similar context, with a bit of an added difference as well. The two I want to focus on today are Trent Grisham and Roman Anthony, two outfielders having good seasons but will be viewed much differently in comparison next season, with Roman Anthony having much more hype and upside going forward. I do agree with that and believe it’s an accurate view, but I want to look at what kind of season he’s potentially going to have in 2026. I’ll talk about him with more of a focus on the future, while Grisham is doing some interesting things this season worth talking about as well. He was once a notable prospect himself, and he’s steadily had a very productive season this year. He was another player being slept on who is having a pretty good season based on my efficiency index. He’s been similar in output to Isaac Collins, so he’s another player I want to highlight. 

Between the two, I like what Collins is doing more and prefer him over Grisham. When you look at the numbers, since Collins started playing every day he’s arguably been a top 10 points league hitter over the past two months. He’s showing real upside and consistency, and that he’s worth keeping an eye on going into next season. It’s a bit of a different distinction from Grisham, who very similarly to Ramon Laureano is having a great season but I can’t say I’ll be running to draft him next season. It feels to me that both are having career seasons, where Anthony and Collins should continue to improve as they gain more experience. I believe this is the peak for Grisham and Laureano, so it’s important to keep this all in mind as I discuss Grisham and Anthony below.

I’m going to start with Trent Grisham, who has been a pleasant surprise for the New York Yankees and has probably been their most consistent hitter this season outside of Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger. He’s already set a new career high with 21 home runs this season, to go along with a 0.349 OBP that’s made him very useful in points leagues. He also leads off for the Yankees against righties, and as he’s started to play every day the production has continued. Those are all great signs of a points league standout who also has the volume to make a real impact. Grisham also has great plate discipline with a 99th percentile 17.1% chase rate and 93rd percentile 13.3% walk rate, so this season he’s truly been a points league standout. He also has a career-best 22.7% pull air rate, explaining the jump in home runs, especially for a left-handed hitter in Yankee stadium. These numbers give clear reasons for the jump in production for Grisham, and it’s really no fluke at all. Grisham would not be an upside play going into 2026, but if playing time is no issue he’s worth keeping an eye on and will be a useful points league hitter. He’s a high floor type of player, and reminds me a lot of an Ian Happ type of hitter. He’s not flashy, and he’s had a down season but was drafted in the top 100 going into the 2025 season. Grisham could be that sort of player if he keeps up what he’s doing for the rest of this season.

In my efficiency rankings, Grisham has been the 19th best points league outfielder and the 51st ranked hitter overall, ranking directly behind Collins in both. He’s even been better than his teammate Jazz Chisholm, who is just behind him. I obviously would still draft Chisholm ahead of Grisham for his upside and positional versatility, as he’s eligible at second base, third base, and the outfield in CBS leagues. From a pure points and production standpoint though, Grisham has had the better season and actually been the better player in points leagues.

Now I’m excited to talk about Roman Anthony and the upside he’s already displaying. I was previously ready to make a bold prediction, and after having the best game of his career last night I’m even more confident in my take. Last night Anthony went 1-2 with a home run, stolen base, 4 walks, and 4 runs scored. It was a huge game for Anthony where all of his upside was on display. He is already leading off as a 21-year old, and has a maturity and approach at the plate we haven’t seen from a young rookie since Juan Soto. In 219 plate appearances Anthony has an excellent 0.409 on-base percentage with a very low 18.6% chase rate and high 14.6% walk rate. I’m very impressed with how good Anthony already is, and the fact he’s batting lead off and getting on base a lot is already making him a points league standout. 

I’ve worked hard to try and be ahead of the curve on these players without the track record, like James Wood for example. He wasn’t on my draft radar going into this season and should have been, even if it turned out to be a moot point since I traded for Wood and am in position to keep Aaron Judge and Wood in my FAB league. I had initially gone into this topic predicting Anthony to be next year’s version of James Wood this year, but I’m starting to think his breakout is already happening. That’s where the Juan Soto comparison comes in, even though I see Anthony as a mix of both players. What Anthony and Wood have in common is that both get on base a lot with good plate discipline and stolen base potential. The plate discipline for Anthony is actually more advanced, with a lower chase rate and a higher OBP. I would argue that part of his game is more in line with Juan Soto, with Anthony being much more of a stolen base threat. Soto has stolen bases this season, but it’s never been a big part of his game and he’s definitely not viewed as a speedster. I was initially hoping to draft Anthony at a discount next season in the 5th or 6th round, but if he keeps up what he’s doing I don’t see that happening at this point. Even in a normal draft without keepers I would anticipate him being taken in the 3rd or 4th round. I’m still likely to draft Anthony in the 4th round where he’s available next season. I’d love to be wrong and for Anthony to be available to take later in drafts, but that outcome is unlikely at this point. I’ll go into next season viewing Anthony as an elite hitter, and in that context it’s still great value to get him in the 4th round.