Fantasy baseball: Pair of aces returning from Tommy John surgery could be difference makers

As fantasy baseball draft season heats up here in March, two pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery stand out as tantalizing options: Shane McClanahan of the Rays and Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins.Both aces have showcased impressive form in spring training, flashing the strikeout rates and command that made them elite before their injuries.For managers willing to bet on their recovery, McClanahan and Alcantara could be the difference makers in 2025.McClanahan — who missed the 2024 season, after his August 2023 surgery — has been electric this spring.

The left-hander, who underwent his second Tommy John procedure, hit 99 mph in his first outing, racking up strikeouts with a filthy changeup and escaping a bases-loaded jam.Before the injury, McClanahan was a strikeout machine, boasting a 33.4 percent whiff rate from 2021-23—among the top 10 pitchers with at least 400 innings.His career 3.02 ERA and 456 strikeouts over 404 ²/₃ innings underscores his dominance.

Command has always been a strength, with a career 1.10 WHIP reflecting his ability to limit walks (2.6 BB/9).Spring reports suggest the Rays will cap him around 150 innings, but his quality-over-quantity profile still makes him a mid-round steal, often available after pick 100.If his command holds post-surgery, McClanahan could reclaim his spot as a fantasy ace.Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner, missed 2024 recovering from his October 2023 surgery but looks poised for a triumphant return.

In spring training, he has clocked 99 mph, pairing his triple-digit heat with a devastating slider and changeup.Pre-injury, Alcantara wasn’t a strikeout king (career 21.4 percent K rate), but his elite command set him apart.

His 3.32 career ERA and 1.16 WHIP, fueled by a stingy 7.4 percent walk rate, made him a ratio stabilizer who could log 200-plus innings.He has shown no rust this spring, attacking hitters with precision.The Marlins plan to ease him in, potentially limiting early innings, but his A...