By Jacob Becquey

With 2025 in the books, fans and writers can look back at players that underperformed. Whether due to injury or just plain bad luck, a lot of factors can make a very good player have a down season.

After a bad season, any player would want to come back in a big way. Here’s 5 of those players who could bounce back in 2026:

#1: Anthony Santander, Toronto Blue Jays

Santander had a 2025 to forget; just one year after hitting 44 home runs, he only managed 6 in an injury-ridden campaign. While this lack of production may paint the Santander contract in a poor light, 2026 could be a big year for the slugger.

What made Santander’s 2025 so bad? Well, multiple factors can play into a slump, but a key one could be injury. Santander had 2 IL stints, one from May-September and one in the Postseason, all due to a shoulder injury. With a full offseason to rest and rehabilitate, Santander could come back with a vengeance for the Blue Jays.

Santander has shown that he can hit for power for years, but for another run to the World Series, the Jays need their 40-homer caliber bat back.

#2: Dylan Cease, FA

One of the most appealing arms available this offseason, Cease had both a decent and mediocre 2025. While he struck out 215 batters, he posted a 4.55 ERA for the Padres, who finished 2nd in the NL West. The stuff looks good, but, for some reason, Cease could not keep runners from scoring.

Cease’s WHIP and strikeout numbers show that a large part of his struggles with runners was luck; balls just getting through the infield, batters sitting on pitches, and other small factors out of his control led to a crooked ERA. With just a little more luck and potentially a new location, the sky’s the limit for Cease.

Whichever team signs Cease is in for a ton of strikeouts, but if he can just limit a few more runners, they could have the 2026 Cy Young winner in their rotation.

#3: Devin Williams, FA

After years of dominance with Milwaukee, Williams’ first and likely only year with the Yankees did not go as planned. With a 4.79 and only 18 saves, the intended closer did not preform to New York’s expectations.

So what caused this issue? It likely comes down to mindset and confidence. After giving up a 3-run homer to Pete Alonso in the 9th inning in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series, any pitcher would struggle with confidence, but it seems to have had a big effect of Williams. However, after giving up the closer role to David Bednar, Williams preformed a lot better, leading him to a 1.13 WHIP and 90 strikeouts.

The team that signs Williams is in for a roller coaster, but it’s understandable that they would bet on a bounce back from a pitcher with such a dominant resume.

#4: Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves

After returning from TJ surgery in April, Strider had high expectations for a struggling Braves team. However, much like his team, he struggled through 2025, posting a 4.45 ERA in 125 and a third innings after returning from injury.

So what was up with Strider? Well, injury will mess with any pitcher, for one, but he just kept giving up hits, including 20 home runs through the year. If Strider gets his command back, he could bolster a Braves rotation prime for a revenge tour.

Strider is still a top-notch pitcher, but if he can get his command back, he could find himself in Cy Young conversations.

#5: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

This one may be cheating, since Betts already started preforming better in the second half of 2025, but his 2025 was still a major step down from the Mookie of old.

Betts put up a .258 average and .732 OPS in 2025, a far cry from his usual MVP form. While batting average is a crooked stat, it still matters for batters like Mookie, and it plays into why his season wasn’t his best. However, Betts is a first-ballot Hall of Famer with incredible defense and support, hinting that 2026 will be a return to form.

With a super team like the Dodgers, they don’t necessarily need a bounce back from Betts, but a good performance from one of their Hall of Fame bats increases this team’s chances at a three-peat.

Who do you think will bounce back in 2026? Lets us know on X, @Full_Count_Blog!