2023 Fantasy Baseball Preview: 8 Fantasy-Ready Hitting Prospects

It is more important than ever for fantasy managers of all league types to know about prospects who have the chance to be game changers whenever they get their first cup of coffee. However, with leagues becoming more and more competitive, fantasy managers are finding they have to dig even deeper.

Well, I’m here to help you out. I thought it would be a good idea to give you eight hitters with zero real big-league experience (no Corbin Carroll or Gunnar Henderson blurbs here) who have the chance to become fantasy relevant in 2023. Let’s go find some fantasy baseball gold.

Check out the full FTN Fantasy 2023 fantasy baseball draft guide! C: Bo Naylor, Cleveland Guardians The Guardians have gotten nothing out of their catcher spot for years, but things might change next year, as it is expected that Bo Naylor will join his brother Josh Naylor in Cleveland. The 22-year-old had a bounceback season after a dreadful 2021 campaign where he hit just .188/.280/.332 and fell off many top prospect lists. Bo Naylor split his time between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .263/.392/.496 with 21 homers and 20 stolen bases across 510 plate appearances. He got an espresso-sized cup of coffee at the end of the season and didn’t log a hit in the five games he played. The catcher position is having its moment in the sun and Naylor looks like another great young catcher with the ability to swipe more than a handful of bags.

1B: Matt Mervis, Chicago Cubs Matt Mervis wasn’t drafted in the five-round draft in 2020, but that might have been the best thing for him. He was able to sign with whichever team he wanted, and after doing research (he is a nerd like us), Mervis determined the best team for him was the Cubs. So how did he do this year? Well, “Mash” Mervis led the minor leagues in homers with 36 while hitting .309/.379/.606 across 5,478 plate appearances before ending the regular season in Triple-A. He was sent to the Arizona Fall League, continued his mashing ways, and hit a respectable .262/.324/.590 with six homers and two stolen bases. With his production this past year, he is poised to be the Cubs starting first baseman unless the Cubs sign someone, which at this time appears unlikely. The fantasy baseball community has already fallen in love with the 24-year-old, so if you want him, you are going to have to pay starting first base prices.

Honorable Mention: Kyle Manzardo, Tampa Bay Rays Kyle Manzardo rarely swings and misses, so he should be a great option when he is called up from Triple-A Durham during the 2023 season. His minor league average exit velocities (88 mph) are a bit concerning and fantasy managers shouldn’t project league-changing power out of his bat but his ability to smash balls to all fields should boost his batting average.

2B: Addison Barger, Toronto Blue Jays Addison Barger had a breakout campaign in 2022. He rose three levels (High-A to Triple-A) and led the organization in RBIs (91), hits (144) and slugging percentage (.555). Barger’s professional career has been a roller coaster. He went from a contact hitting top-prep players when he was drafted in 2018, being limited to 13 games in 2019, didn’t play in 2020 but using the time to get stronger, turning into a free-swinging slugger in 2021, and then finally 2022 he merged the two to become a better overall hitter. He has a Josh Donaldson -esqe leg kick that at first glance is shocking, but it slows him down just enough to make loud contact. He was added to the Blue Jay’s 40-man roster this went and is a much better lefty bat option than Cavan Biggio in Toronto’s righty-filled starting nine.

Honorable Mention: Eduardo Julien, Minnesota Twins Eduardo Julien knows the strike zone and will be an excellent option for AVG or OBP leagues. Scouts and evaluators debate if he will show plus power in the majors. He hit .400/.563/.686 with five homers and was the Breakout Player of the Year in the Arizona Fall League.

3B: Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds Outside of Jackson Churio, no prospect had a bigger rise in fantasy baseball circles than Elly De La Cruz . The 20-year-old split his time between High-A and Double-A while hitting .304/.359/.586 with 28 homers and 47 stolen bases. However, the 6-foot-2 shortstop is not without warts. His 30% K rate and never having a swinging strike rate below 14% is concerning for a player at any level. However, with his 70-grade speed and 70-grade raw power, he might be just the type of athlete to get away with it. He was added to the Reds 40-man roster this winter and is just a phone call away from debuting for the improving Cincinnati Reds.

Honorable Mention: Curtis Mead, Tampa Bay Rays Curtis Mead might be one of the better hitters in the upper minors. However, his future home is uncertain due to below-average arm strength. The Rays’ roster is a tough nut to crack (just ask Vidal Bruján and Josh Lowe ) but he will be an excellent FAAB pickup if you need some help in batting average

Honorable Mention: Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles Power is Coby Mayo’s calling card, but just like Mead, his future home is not going to at third. We aren’t playing in dynasty here so who cares? He won’t get the call on opening day but if Baltimore is competitive out of the gate, we could see them put all the chips in.

Honorable Mention: Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Cincinnati Reds The Reds are flush with infield prospects after recent trades. Christian Encarnacion-Strand plus raw power and if he makes it to Great American Ballpark before De La Cruz, he will command many FAAB dollars, especially if you are a little light on power.

SS: Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees Anthony Volpe went from being unranked after he was drafted in 2019 to easily top-10 and Yankees fans questioning the front office why they didn’t call up the young shortstop late last season. Volpe spent the season mostly playing in Double-A but was called up to Triple-A after the Double-A season concluded. The 21-year-old hit .251/.348/.472 with 18 homers and 44 stolen bases across 497 plate appearances in Double-A. He knows the strike zone as his 88:57 K:BB ratio suggests, so he is a great fit for average and OBP leagues alike. While it is unclear if he will stick at shortstop or slide over to second base, his bat is good enough at any position. With the Yankees avoiding arbitration and signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year deal, he should begin the season in Triple-A. However, if IKF or Gleyber Torres struggles, the Yankees’ front office could feel the pressure to call up the youngster

Honorable Mention: Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels Zach Neto was a first-round pick of the Angels last year and finished the season in Double-A. The Angels have been aggressive, and he hasn’t dealt with any hardship. With the Angels going for broke on Shohei Ohtani ’s last year and Gio Urshela penciled in as their everyday shortstop, we could see him soon.

Honorable Mention: Joey Ortiz, Baltimore Orioles Joey Ortiz is an excellent defender who has held his own in the minors. Not much power but his contact skills should give your squad a batting average boost. If the Orioles are in the hunt for a playoff spot early, we could see Ortiz.

OF: Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker was drafted in the first round of the 2020 draft by the Cardinals as a third baseman. However, with multi-Gold Glover Nolan Arenado manning that position for the foreseeable future, the Cardinals moved the 6-foot-5 Walker to the outfield. He got a small taste toward the end of his season in Double-A and played right and, occasionally, center during the Arizona Fall League. The Cardinals have been aggressive with the now-20-year-old, promoting him a level at a time, which is impressive for someone so young. He spent all year in Double-A where he hit .306/.388/.510 with 19 homers, 22 steals, an impressive 11% walk rate and a 22% K rate across 461 plate appearances. There is still a question about how consistently Walker will to his 70-grade raw power in games, but he is on track to receive a midseason call-up next year.

OF: Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers The Brewers minor league system is filled with young, exciting outfielders, but the one who has the shot to make the most noise is Sal Frelick . Frelick is 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds and was the Brewers first-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Boston College. A year after being drafted, the 22-year-old finished the season in Triple-A Nashville and is on the cusp of masking his debut. Frelick moved from High-A to Triple-A this year and slashed .331/.403/.480 with 11 homers, 24 stolen bases, and an impressive 63:52 K:BB ratio. Being on the shorter side, you shouldn’t expect double-digit power, but having plus-plus speed with above-average bat-to-ball skills screams top-of-the-order hitter. At the time of this writing, Roster Resource had the Brewers running Christian Yelich as their leadoff hitter. I’m a longtime Yelich stan, but ideally, you want him hitting second or third. While I don’t think Frelick will start the season with the big-league club, he fills a huge hole in their current lineup, especially with the trade of Esteury Ruiz to the Athletics.

OF: Jonny Deluca, Los Angeles Dodgers OK, this pick is for my deep draft-and-hold and dynasty friends. Jonny Deluca was the 25th-round pick of the Dodgers in the 2019 amateur and, outside of a 44-game sample in High-A in 2021, he has been an above-average hitter. In 2022 he hit .260/.347/.541 with 25 homers and 17 stolen bases and, more importantly, was added to the Dodgers 40-man roster this winter. If the Dodgers see something they like, you need to take notice. Do I think DeLuca is going to be a league winner? No, but looking at this guy's profile, plus-plus hit tool, won’t get the bat knocked out of his hands, and much-needed outfield depth for Los Angeles, he could see more time in the majors than many other managers expect.

Honorable Mention: Masataka Yoshida, Boston Red Sox Masataka Yoshia inked a five-year deal with the Red Sox and is expected to be their everyday left fielder and leadoff hitter. He slashed .336/.449/.559 with 21 bombs over 121 games last year in Japan. Great bat-to-ball skills and just doesn’t swing outside of the zone. Questions on if the power will translate and very little speed.

Honorable Mention: Justyn-Henry Malloy, Detroit Tigers Justyn-Henry Malloy was traded to Detroit early this month, which opens up playing time. He can play third, but should slide in as a right fielder. Slashed .289/.408/.454 with 17 homers and five steals across three levels. The move to the Tigers’ cavernous ballpark will limit the power, but Malloy’s double-digit walk rates make him intriguing in OBP leagues.

Prospects are fun, but beware. Chasing prospects can be fool’s gold. The upside is intoxicating, but it can quickly go awry. In 50-round draft-and-holds, feel free to take as many of the players as you can — after round 40, you are looking for upside. In more traditional roto leagues — outside of Naylor and Mervis, who seem poised to start opening day — just remember these names. Once you see/hear them again, you will have a leg up on your competition.

2023 Fantasy Baseball Preview: 8 Fantasy-Ready Hitting Prospects

C: Bo Naylor, Cleveland Guardians

This feature is only available to FTN Fantasy Premium Members Only