There is a hidden upside in all of the fantasy baseball draft spots, and not just the first and second rounds. Some players have the potential to be seeded among those early picks; They just haven’t shown it yet. That they’re not appreciated is a good thing for savvy fantasy directors, though – this is the underrated team of 2023.
What if I told you that William Contreras has some of the highest projected power-up numbers of all hitters—let alone a catcher—in 2022? He had to split time at Mascare in Atlanta last season; He wasn’t an ordinary player, but that fear should dispel this season in Milwaukee. Speaking of which, Contreras should have a higher power boost Within the friendly borders of Brewers.
Speaking of projected numbers, Mountcastle has been a Statcast darling in 2022; There is a lot of red on his page from last season. I expect an even bigger year from the 26-year-old in 2023, especially in the batting average department. There are 35 homers and 80 and 100 verticals here.
Gimenez’s band isn’t exactly on fire, but he’s picked up speed this draft season. There is a lot to like about his profile; It’s not easy to say that Gimenez can hit 20 homers and steal 30 bases in his cap, especially with the new rules in MLB. Even with a bit of a dip in the batting average department, Gimenez can hit an ADP (currently near pick 100) into a tough spot at second base. We wish the guards realized it had to be Jimenez, no Amed Rosariohitting the top three in the Cleveland standings.
3b: Yoon Moncada, Chicago white stockings
Moncada being inducted into the 250 is kind of wild for me. He’ll be 28 after the first month of the season, so it’s not like he’s washed up; He just dealt with an injury. There’s a 25-and-15 upside here, with Moncada an integral part of a White Sox lineup that can only rise from a bad 2022. I’ll take that at the end of my draft.
Peña could have won AL Rookie of the Year otherwise Julio Rodriguez. What I love most about Peña is that he got better as the season went on, even after pitchers acclimated to him in July and August. Always a good sign for a beginner. Then he became almost a juggernaut in the playoffs. I don’t really mind reports of him falling out of the Astros’ lineup; He is one of the few players in baseball without real weaknesses. If it does a little more work (and who wouldn’t in 2023?) and maintains a respectable standing, there’s a four-tiered smoothie here.
The former NL MVP ripped the lid off the ball this spring, already hitting three homers with a ridiculous .308/.436 slash. / 1,000 on 13 at-bats. He looks healthy, still only 31 and plays half his games at Coors? Yes, sign me up.
Framper Valdez Luis Garcia has grabbed most of the headlines in the Astros’ rotation, but count me in the “Christian Javier is the real ace of Houston” club (if this is a one-person club, so be it). Javier was excellent all season and in the playoffs last season, and even his ERA and FIP predictions were top notch. Rounds scheduled could be an issue, but I have a feeling he’ll be over 150 in 2023.
I know, I know – trying to decipher the Rays bullpen is akin to understanding the Bermuda Triangle. Even having to share closer duties with like, 83 other assistants, Fairbanks collected 8 saves but that’s not really what I care about. What matters to me is that Fairbanks was the best overall throwaway in 2022; Just go take a look at its forecasted and advanced numbers – it is hilariously good. I want him out of all the fantasy merchandising staff in 2023.
