Baseball is a sport that never fails to provide surprises, and the 2023 MLB season is not an exception. As the new season approaches, baseball fans are wondering which players are worth watching closely. From injury-prone players to those with unpredictable trajectories, here are eight MLB players who will be intriguing to watch during the 2023 season.
Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels
Anthony Rendon, the third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels, is a talented player with two All-Star appearances, two Silver Slugger Awards, and a World Series championship under his belt. However, many people are concerned about his injury-prone reputation. In 2022, he missed more than half of the season due to hip and knee injuries. His performance on the field is essential for the Angels’ success, and they will need him to stay healthy throughout the upcoming campaign.
Shintaro Fujinami – Oakland Athletics
Shintaro Fujinami’s journey to the big leagues has been winding, making him an intriguing player to watch this season. The pitcher for the Oakland Athletics was once considered one of Japan’s best prospects before struggling to adjust to professional baseball. After failing to secure a spot in Japan’s top league, he signed with the A’s in 2021. If Fujinami can finally realize his potential in 2023, he could become a valuable asset for Oakland.
Corey Seager – Texas Rangers
After spending his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and winning two NLCS MVPs and one World Series championship, shortstop Corey Seager will play for the Texas Rangers in 2023. In a post-shift world where defensive positioning shapes how batted balls turn into outs or hits, Seager has pressure to live up to all hopes and dreams for his potential. Seager is only 29 and has a bright future ahead of him, and his performance will be crucial to the Rangers’ playoff hopes.
José Berríos – Toronto Blue Jays
José Berríos, pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, needs to get back to serviceable, let alone All-Star form after a terrible 2022 season in which he had an ERA of 4.80 and a record of 7-16. As a key member of the Blue Jays’ rotation, he has an opportunity to prove that he can bounce back from last year’s struggles and help Toronto compete in their division.
Nico Hoerner – Chicago Cubs
Second baseman Nico Hoerner has been a steady presence for the Chicago Cubs since making his MLB debut in 2019. However, his ceiling as a hitter remains cloudy, and some analysts believe that he could have a breakout season in 2023. His performance at the plate can have a significant impact on the Cubs’ offensive production.
Dustin May – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers need Dustin May to stabilize their suddenly shaky rotation relative to recent years. The right-handed pitcher has shown flashes of brilliance in his first three seasons but struggled with injuries in 2022, resulting in him pitching just 99 innings. The Dodgers are counting on May to be healthy and effective throughout the upcoming campaign.
Blake Snell – San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres made headlines in late 2021 when they acquired Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays, hoping that he would provide them with much-needed pitching depth. Snell had an up-and-down debut season with San Diego in which he finished with an ERA of 4.37 and a record of 8-8. However, in 2023, he stands out as one of the players with the most to gain from a monster platform year on a World Series contender.
Joey Meneses – Washington Nationals
First baseman/outfielder Joey Meneses is a big-league sophomore who’s about to turn 31 and is either an organizational building block for the future or a unique and valuable trade asset. He showed flashes of brilliance during his 2022 rookie season for the Washington Nationals, batting .281 with seven home runs in just 180 at-bats. With more playing time, he could become a crucial part of the Nationals’ lineup.
Predicting the 2023 Season
As the new season approaches, fans are already predicting which team will win it all. Can the Houston Astros be the first repeat World Series winners since 2000? Which player will take home the AL MVP award, with Shohei Ohtani being a strong contender? According to FanGraphs, no team has even a 60 percent chance to win its division, making it difficult to make predictions. The article predicts that the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros will face off in the World Series.
Predicting MLB Award Winners
Predicting award winners for each season is always a fun exercise that generates discussions amongst baseball fans. For NL MVP, Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres stands out as he has finished high in MVP voting multiple times without winning. On the other hand, Lindbergh predicts that Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is the strongest candidate for AL Cy Young due to his outstanding performance last year. For NL Cy Young, Strider of the Atlanta Braves will win according to Kram’s prediction, Burnes according to Lindbergh’s prediction or Clayton Kershaw according to Wagner’s prediction. And for AL Rookie of the Year, Gunnar Henderson of Baltimore Orioles seems like an ideal choice according to Kram.
MLB Fantasy Baseball Rankings for 2023
As the new season approaches, fantasy baseball fans are already gearing up for their drafts. But which teams have the most fantasy value heading into 2023? The article examines all 30 MLB rosters to determine which teams have the most collective fantasy value. The rankings are subjective and based on a team’s collective fantasy value rather than overall team strength. Fans can find rankings for the 30 MLB teams accompanied by brief analyses of each team and their players, making it a fun way to prepare for the upcoming season.
In conclusion, the 2023 MLB season promises to be exciting, filled with surprises, and fans will have plenty of players and teams to watch out for throughout the season.
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