The 2023 MLB season is here! We already enjoyed an exciting Opening Day, but the best is yet to come. And what is baseball without some bold predictions to add fun to it?
Some of the following are not-so-bold statements. Others are incredibly bold. They are all somewhat realistic, though, and we wouldn’t be surprised if some of them actually happened.
Let’s list my 10 Bold Fantasy Baseball Predictions for the 2023 Season without further ado!
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10 Bold Fantasy Baseball Predictions for the 2023 Season
Yordan Alvarez Will Win The AL MVP Award
Aaron Judge just hit 62 home runs with a .311 batting average and won the AL MVP in 2022. Shohei Ohtani pitches like an ace and mashes like a middle-of-the-order slugger. Yet the 2023 MVP in the junior circuit will be Yordan Alvarez. This is one of my favorite bold predictions.
After alarming owners all spring long with his hand issue, he went out and homered in the season’s first game. Last year, he only required 135 games to hit 37 homers and drive in 97 runs, and he did it with a gorgeous 185 wRC+.
Don’t worry about remarks from his GM, Dana Brown, saying he won’t be an everyday player to start the season. The AL West is becoming more competitive, and he probably won’t be able to afford to rest Alvarez so much.
Oneil Cruz Will Go 35/25
Here, we discussed how much we like Cruz as a breakout candidate in 2023. He made significant strides as he got used to MLB pitching and is a physical freak in every sense of the word.
He has enormous raw power and blazing speed, and he can make you look brilliant for picking him up on draft day. The Pirates’ shortstop has enough category juice to finish with 35 homers and 25 stolen bases.
Anthony Volpe Will Steal 45 Bases
We are not expecting MVP-caliber rate stats, but Anthony Volpe can run. And, most importantly, he is willing to run. In the last two seasons in minor league ball, he accumulated 83 stolen bases.
He already swiped a base in the Yankees’ debut on Thursday. So even with an OBP in the .330-.340 range, he can surpass 45 thefts.
Some Go Up, Some Go Down
Luis Robert Jr. Will Return First-Round Value
Chicago White Sox’s outfielder Luis Robert Jr. has teased with major tools for years. Injuries and inconsistency have held him back, though.
Not anymore. Not this year. Robert can accomplish big things, even if his plate discipline can get in the way. He has power, speed, and the potential for a high batting average. We are betting this is the year he is fully healthy and puts it all together to return first-round value when it’s all said and done.
Paul Goldschmidt Will Start His Decline Phase
All good things come to an end. Goldschmidt is fresh off one of his finest seasons, with a 177 wRC+, 35 homers, 115 RBI, and an MVP award. However, he is 35 and will eventually start declining.
He could have his first full season under 30 home runs since 2017 and hit well below .300. That doesn’t mean he will suddenly turn into a bad player. He is not a machine, although it sometimes looks like he is. As far as bold predictions go, this is one in which I wish I’m wrong.
Gunnar Henderson Will Be A Bust… In 2023
The Baltimore Orioles rookie is being associated with some unfair expectations. He is young, he is good, and he is a dynasty league asset. Redraft leaguers could find his overall 2023 output a bit disappointing, though.
Remember that he had a 25.8 percent strikeout rate last year in the majors and a .259 average. He also stole just one base in 34 games. So don’t be surprised if he is a .240 hitter with 20 homers and ten steals: that’s not bad for a rookie, but well short of what’s expected.
In dynasty formats, he has the potential to be a monster. But, unfortunately, he is not a lock to hit his ceiling in 2023.
Mike Trout Will Hit 50 Home Runs And Lead The American League
Last year, Trout finished with 40 home runs. That’s not surprising: it’s the third time in his career he goes yard at least 40 times in a season.
However, get this: he did it in only 119 games played. The fact Trout was on a record home run pace last year isn’t being discussed enough. He is not running anymore, but Trout seems to be enjoying his prime as a hitter.
50 home runs are not out of the question. He has the underlying stats and motivation to go for that number.
Pitching Bold Predictions: Breakouts In The Horizon!
Clarke Schmidt Will Be A Top-40 Starting Pitcher
Schmidt is taking a book from the Corbin Burnes’ book and implementing a new cutter in 2023. Of course, just because he is throwing one now doesn’t necessarily mean he will follow the same career path as Burnes, but it might be what Schmidt lacked to this point.
Last year, he had a 3.12 ERA relieving but lacked a good fastball to complement his excellent breaking stuff. The cutter helped him post a promising 4/25 BB/K ratio in 19.2 spring training innings, and he has good control and acceptable command. We are betting on a breakout here, and that’s the beauty of bold predictions: few people are seeing this coming.
Graham Ashcraft Will Be The Reds’ Best Pitcher
Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are very talented young pitchers. They are the ones in people’s mouths when discussing the Reds’ future and deservingly go. However, there is a third name that can, and probably will, finish ahead of both in overall value: Graham Ashcraft.
Ashcraft seems to be using his phenomenal slider more to get whiffs, and it worked to perfection in spring training. We love a good BB/K ratio, and his was outstanding with a 2/25 in 17.1 innings.
He gets grounders, he has excellent fastball velocity, and he has this beautiful slider:
If he uses it more, he has a path to dramatically improving his strikeout rate last year (71 in 105 innings). Do you like bold predictions? Bet on Ashcraft. The dividends could be huge.
Joe Ryan Will Be A Top-20 Starting Pitcher
Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan is currently considered a top-40 arm in fantasy. However, his potential is good enough to soar into the top 20 when all is said and done.
He is already a great pitcher – he had a 3.55 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 147 frames last year, with 151 punchouts); Ryan overhauled his slider and also added a split-changeup in the offseason. He is going for the kill.
As long as he is healthy, he has the potential to emerge as the Twins’ ace and lead your staff in the process.
