The outfield gives you elite options at the top, with seven going off-the-board in the First Round and another three in the Second Round. After the first twenty or so outfielders come off the board, the available talent begins to thin quickly and is cause for a lot more questions than seemingly there are answers. Remember that you need 75 outfielders in a 15-team format and 60 in a 12-team. Don’t wait too long when constructing your outfield this year. You won’t enjoy the results. Three players that didn’t make the list are Bryce Harper, Matt Carpenter, and Kerry Carpenter, all of whom are limited to DH-only status.
- Ronald Acuna Jr., ATL – 15 homers, 29 stolen bases, and 71 runs scored is a fine season. Considering that he didn’t make his first appearance last year until April 28 due to rehabbing the torn UCL that cost him most of the 2021 season, those numbers look even more impressive. A healthy Acuna has the potential to hit 25 home runs with 40 stolen bases. The power/speed combination is as good as it gets.
- Aaron Judge, NYY – Even 75% of what we saw from Judge in 2022 would make for an outstanding season.
- Kyle Tucker, HOU – In 2021, he slugged 30 homers, drove in 92 runs, and swiped 14 bases. Last year, he duplicated the home run total of 30 and upped both the RBI and SB totals to 107 and 25. Tucker is one of the elite outfielders in the game and still just heading into his age-27 season. Pencil him in for 30-20.
- Julio Rodriguez, SEA – JRod got off to a slow start, but when May rolled around, he took his game to an entirely new level, finishing the season with 28 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and a .854 OPS laying claim to the first of what could prove to be many Awards, the 2022 AL ROY.
- Juan Soto, SDP – The transition to his new home in San Diego wasn’t as smooth as was expected, but he remains one of the best players in the game and should bounce back to his elite production level this year. Even in a “down year,” he walked 39 times more than he struck out.
- Yordan Alvarez, HOU – One of a handful of players with 40 home run potential. Will 2023 be the year? I’m leaning on “yes” being the correct answer.
- Fernando Tatis Jr., SDP – 2022 was a nightmare of biblical proportions. A PED suspension followed up the unreported broken wrist in a motorcycle accident. He didn’t make it on the field last year and still has three weeks remaining on his suspension that is to be served to start the 2023 campaign. The talent from the neck down is undeniable. From the neck up, the jury is still out. SS-102
- Mookie Betts, LAD – The stolen bases aren’t what they once were, but Betts found a way to slug 35 homers (a career-high) and score 117 runs. Expect more of the same in 2023.
- Mike Trout, LAA – He missed a month after being diagnosed with a rare chronic back condition, costovertebral dysfunction, but finished strong, recording his third 40 home run season and a .999 OPS. He’s likely to miss time on occasion moving forward, but when on the field remains a force to be reckoned with.
- Randy Arozarena, TBR – Only three baseball players have gone 20-20 in the past two seasons, and Randy Arozarena is one of those three players.
- Daulton Varsho, ARZ – The potential that many saw heading into the 2022 season was fulfilled as Varsho went 27-74 with 15 thefts. In his new home in Toronto, there’s an outside chance that he could join Pudge Rodriguez and J.T. Realmuto, becoming the third catcher-eligible player to produce a 20-20 season. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, it comes with bad news, as this will likely be Varsho’s last year attaining catcher eligibility. C-31
- Michael Harris II, ATL – Harris exploded onto the scene as a 21-year-old rookie, coming up one home run short of a 20-20 season. The fact that he didn’t get his first at-bat last year until May 28 makes his accomplishment even more impressive. He’ll get that 20-20 season in 2023 with plenty of room to spare.
- Cedric Mullins, BAL – That amazing 2021 season wasn’t duplicated, but mid-teen power and 30 thefts are still more than worthy of our attention.
- Luis Robert Jr., CWS – The potential to witness a 30-20 season is at hand if he can stay healthy and get in 500+ plate appearances, something he hasn’t managed to do over the past two seasons.
- Kyle Schwarber, PH – There’s no doubt that Schwarber can hit the ball a mile. Just remember that 40 home run potential comes with a BA price.
- Corbin Carroll, ARZ – The pre-season favorite to win the 2023 NL ROY, and his current 74 ADP reflects that. Pay the price. He’ll earn it.
- Adolis Garcia, TEX – Ignore the BA and smile every time you look at the morning box scores as Garcia fills the other four categories.
- Eloy Jimenez, CWS – There’s 30+ home run potential in the bat. All we need to see is 500 at-bats, something we haven’t seen since he arrived in 2019. As a full-time DH, the odds of a full season have improved significantly.
- George Springer, TOR – 25 homers, ten thefts, and 100 runs scored with a .340+ OBP make Springer one of the best leadoff bats in the game.
- Teoscar Hernandez, SEA – Hernandez is off to the west coast, and there’s no reason not to expect another 25-to-30 HR season with solid RBI production.
- Starling Marte, NYM – Marte is heading into his age-35 season and coming off a year in which he stole only 18 bases. This would be only the second time since his rookie season back in 2013 that he failed to reach the 20 stolen base mark. Has a new bar been established?
- Byron Buxton, MIN – One of these years, he’ll stay healthy and produce a monster season. Who am I kidding? Take the 300-to-400 at-bats and have a replacement player ready, and you’ll be happy with the results.
- Tyler O’Neill, STL – Last year saw O’Neill serve two stints on the IL with his left hamstring and another with a shoulder impingement, reducing his playing time to roughly a half-season. He still hit 14 homers and 14 stolen bases through all those struggles.
- MJ Melendez, KCR – He’s not a typical leadoff bat, but don’t let that sway you in your decision to roster him. At some point in his career, Melendez will break through the 30-home run barrier, possibly as soon as 2023. C-78
- Bryan Reynolds, PIT – He doesn’t want to be in Pittsburgh, and the reality of the situation is such that who can blame him? A change of scenery is needed badly for the 28-year-old Reynolds.
- Seiya Suzuki, CHC – I still saw enough last year, albeit in short bursts, to believe. He gets a mulligan for the mediocre debut in 2022.
- Steven Kwan, CLE – Kwan does exactly what the Guardians want and expect from a leadoff bat. Last year he walked more than he struck out on his way to posting an excellent .373 OBP. In addition to the great hit tool, you can add 100 runs scored, a handful of home runs, and 10-15 stolen bases. It’s hard to want much more from a #3 outfielder.
- Whit Merrifield, TOR – Lourdes Gurriel, and Teoscar Hernandez have found new homes for 2023, so even though Merrifield struggled badly after the trade last year, the Jays believe and have him slotted into full-time at-bats in 2023. He could prove to be a huge bargain at his current 193 ADP. 2B-83
- Nick Castellanos, PHI – Castellanos might not be 34-100 good, but his second season in Philly should be better than 13-62.
- Anthony Santander, BAL – We finally saw a full season from Santander, and he responded in fine form, slugging 33 homers and driving in 89 runs.
- Jake McCarthy, ARZ – 8 homers to go along with 23 stolen bases in a pinch more than half a season. Who saw that coming? Is a 15-30 season right around the corner for the late-blooming McCarthy?
- Christian Yelich, MIL – The power we witnessed in his first two years in Milwaukee has vanished, but hitting at the top-of-the-order, he will get you 90+ runs scored and 15+ thefts. He’d move up this list if he can ever rebound and hit even 20 home runs.
- Giancarlo Stanton, NYY – There are few, if any, players that have the pure power of Giancarlo Stanton. Don’t forget about him when making your plans for 2023.
- Kris Bryant, COL – The move to Coors Field last year was supposed to fuel a renaissance. Back and plantar fasciitis shattered that dream, as he only managed to stay healthy for 42 games. The talent is there; let’s hope the same for the health.
- Andrew Vaughn, CWS – 2022 was a solid step in the right direction. 2023 will be even better. 1B-23
- Hunter Renfroe, LAA – The 30-home run power potential seems far more appealing now that he is no longer proving to be a BA liability.
- Harrison Bader, NYY – If you’re looking for cheap speed after the 10th Round, Bader stole 17 bases last year in only 292 at-bats. A 25-stolen-base season should be in the cards for the former Card.
- Mitch Haniger, SFG – If Haniger can stay healthy, pencil him in for a 30-90 season in his new home in San Francisco.
- Mike Conforto, SFG – Conforto missed all last season, dealing with contract and shoulder issues, but recently inked a two-year deal with the Giants. In the mid-teen rounds, it’s worth seeing if he can rebound and demonstrate the talent that saw him best 25 homers three times in his career.
- Brandon Nimmo, NYM – It’s tough not to score 100 runs hitting in the leadoff slot for the Mets with that strong supporting cast. Bump him up in Leagues that use OBP instead of BA.
- Oscar Gonzalez, CLE
- Ian Happ, CHC
- Masataka Yoshida, BOS
- Cody Bellinger, CHC
- Joc Pederson, SFG
- Taylor Ward, LAA
- Jeff McNeil, NYM 2B-106
- Riley Greene, DET
- Seth Brown, OAK 1B-84
- Lars Nootbaar, STL
- Randal Grichuk, COL
- Austin Meadows, DET
- Bryan De La Cruz, MIA
- Andrew Benintendi, CWS
- Alex Verdugo, BOS
- Joey Meneses, WAS 1B-40
- Christopher Morel, CHC 2B-33
- Jorge Soler, MIA
- Lane Thomas WAS
- Gavin Lux, LAD 2B-102
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr., ARZ
- Joey Gallo, MIN
- Jesse Winker, MIL
- Trey Mancini, CHC 1B- 39
- Austin Hayes, BAL
- Edward Olivares, KCR
- Esteury Ruiz, OAK
- Brandon Marsh, PHI
- Jarred Kelenic, SEA
- Avisail Garcia, MIA
- Adam Duvall, BOS
- Jake Fraley, CIN
- Ramon Laureano, OAK
- Chris Taylor, LAD 2B-22
- Dylan Carlson, STL
- Jurickson Profar, FA
- Manuel Margot, TBR
- Brendan Donovan, STL 2B-38, 3B-31
- Juan Yepez, STL
- Michael Brantley, HOU
- Marcell Ozuna, ATL
- Jose Siri, TBR
- Nick Gordon, MIN 2B-36
- Kyle Stowers, BAL
- AJ Pollock, SEA
- Akil Baddoo, DET
- Oswaldo Cabrera, NYY
- Oscar Colas, CWS
- Mike Yastrzemski, SFG
- Wil Myers, CIN 1B-25
- Dylan Moore, SEA SS-26
- Leody Taveras, TEX
- Mark Canha, NYM
- Drew Waters, KCR
- Trent Grisham, SDP
- Sal Frelick, MIL
- Jack Suwinski, PIT
- Harold Ramirez, TBR 1B-32
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN
- Charlie Blackmon, COL
- Eddie Rosario, ATL
- Victor Robles, WAS
- Enrique Hernandez, BOS
- Tommy Pham, NYM
- TJ Friedl, CIN
- Michael A. Taylor, MIN
- Chas McCormick, HOU
- Max Kepler, MIN
- Myles Straw, CLE
- Nick Senzel, CIN
- Aledmys Diaz, OAK 2B-22
- Corey Dickerson, WAS
- Garrett Mitchell, MIL
- Gavin Sheets, CWS
- Andrew McCutchen, PIT
- Hunter Dozier, KCR 1B-42, 3B-27
- David Peralta, LAD
- Trayce Thompson, LAD
- Bubba Thompson, TEX
- Josh Smith, TEX 3B-36
- Tyrone Taylor, MIL
- Kevin Kiermaier, TOR
- Will Brennan, CIN
- Yonathan Daza, COL
- Kyle Isbel, KCR
- Matt Vierling, DET
- James Outman, LAD
- Brian Anderson, MIL 3B-48
- Tony Kemp, OAK 2B-89
- Aaron Hicks, NYY
- Brad Miller, TEX 3B-27
- Darin Ruf, NYM 1B-45
- Kyle Lewis, ARZ
- Mauricio Dubon, HOU SS-21
- Ji-Hwan Bae, PIT
- Alek Thomas, ARZ
- Colton Cowser, BAL
- Jesus Sanchez, MIA
- Nelson Velazquez, CHC
- Nolan Jones, COL
- Garrett Hampson, MIA SS-32
- Stone Garrett, WAS
- Adam Frazier, BAL 2B-124
- Dustin Harris, TEX
- Pedro Leon, HOU
- Andy Pages, LAD
- Jarren Duran, BOS
- Jo Adell, LAA
- George Valera, CLE
- LaMonte Wade, SFG 1B-22
- Connor Joe, PIT 1B-24
- Alex Call WAS
- Leury Garcia, CWS 2B-47
- Jose Azocar, SDP
- Brennen Davis, CHC
- Nate Eaton, KCR
- Trevor Larnach, MIN
- Austin Slater, SFG
- Josh Lowe, TBR
- Cal Mitchell, PIT
- Mickey Moniak, LAA
- Johan Rojas, PHI
- Vidal Brujan, TBR 2B-31
- Taylor Trammell, SEA
- Diego Castillo, ARZ 2B-28, SS-32
- Austin Martin, MIN
- Sean Bouchard, COL
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