Slaten dazzled as a Rule 5 pick in his rookie season in 2024, but he took a step back last year. A shoulder injury sidelined the righty for three months, and when he returned late in the year he had an ERA near 6.00 across his final 12 outings. All told, Slaten's strikeout rate dipped from 25.9 percent to 18.2 percent and his walk rate went up from four percent to 7.3 percent year-over-year. The good news is Slaten's velocity was actually up slightly, and the difference in his xERA from his rookie season (3.25) to his sophomore campaign (3.51) was minor. Slaten should bounce back in 2026 as long as he's healthy, and if that happens, he'll be in the mix to pick up saves if something happens to Aroldis Chapman. Read Past Outlooks