MLB Stars Projected to Make History in 2026 Season

The numbers coming out of this year's baseball projections aren't just good. They're historic.

Juan Soto is projected to achieve something only three players in baseball history have done: maintain a .395 on-base percentage for nine straight seasons to start a career. The 26-year-old would join Ted Williams, Stan Musial, and Ferris Fain in that exclusive club, with his projected .413 OBP leading the National League.

If Soto hits his projected 34 home runs and draws 117 walks, it would be his sixth season reaching at least 25 homers and 115 walks. Only Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Barry Bonds have done that more often in their careers.

Shohei Ohtani continues to redefine what's possible in baseball. He's the only player ever to hit more than 15 home runs while striking out 30-plus batters as a pitcher in a single season, and he's done it five times already.

His projected 43 homers and 136 strikeouts as a pitcher would make 2026 his third season with at least 40 home runs and 100 strikeouts on the mound. No other player in history has achieved those numbers even once.

Paul Skenes, at just 24 years old, is projected to lead the National League in ERA for the second straight year. If he does, he'll become the youngest pitcher to lead his league in back-to-back seasons since 1913, when earned runs became an official stat.

Tarik Skubal could join even rarer company. The reigning AL Cy Young winner is projected to lead his league in ERA for the third consecutive season, something only five pitchers have accomplished since 1913, including Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw.

Aaron Judge's projected 43 home runs would put him on pace for his fifth season with at least 45 homers. Only seven players in baseball history have reached that milestone five or more times, including Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, and Ken Griffey Jr.

Why This Inspires

These projections remind us that greatness isn't just about one incredible moment. It's about sustained excellence, season after season, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible.

What makes these numbers even more exciting is the mix of established superstars and young phenoms. Ohtani and Judge continue their assault on the record books while Skenes, just two years into his career, is already chasing legends.

Baseball has always been a game of history and numbers, where today's heroes are measured against yesterday's giants. This season, we're not just watching great players. We're watching the next generation of legends write their stories in real time, creating moments that fans will talk about for decades.

The best part? We get to watch it all unfold starting this spring.