In 2022, Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Pete Alonso (New York Mets) led the way at first base, as per usual. And after three top-three MVP finishes, Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis) finally won the NL MVP in his age-34 season. Here are some sleepers to watch for in 2023:
1. Joey Meneses (Washington)
Joey Meneses (1B-OF) came out of nowhere as a 30-year-old rookie, impressing in his 56 games with a .324 batting average, .367 on-base percentage, and astounding .930 OPS. His 13 home runs put him on pace for 38 homers over a full season, per FanGraphs. He may not have made Washington Nationals fans forget about the Juan Soto trade, but he arguably outhit Soto since being called up. Now, beginning as a fixture in the Nationals’ lineup, will Meneses keep it up? His .371 BABIP screams regression, and outperforming Soto over a full season is an unrealistic ask. However, even if Meneses does regress some, he showed sufficient upside in 2022 to warrant fantasy managers’ attention.
2. Wil Myers (Cincinnati)
Wil Myers (1B-OF) has been in MLB for 10 years, yet he is only one year older than Meneses. Unlike Meneses, Myers had a bad 2022 season, hitting .261 with seven home runs in 77 games. In the San Diego Padres‘ postseason run, he limped to three hits in 29 at bats with one home run. A nagging knee injury hampered his production all season, and after eight years with the Padres, he signed with the Reds during the offseason on a one-year, $6 million contract. While Myers will play in a less explosive lineup, he will play half his games in a more favorable ballpark (Great American Ball Park) and his contract includes major incentives to perform well. As MLB.com noted, “Myers could earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonus money and a $500,000 assignment bonus if he’s traded during the upcoming season.” A bounce-back season could be in the cards and a midseason trade to a better lineup is a strong possibility.
3. Triston Casas (Boston)
Triston Casas made his major-league debut for the Boston Red Sox in 2022. As a September call-up, the second-ranked prospect in Boston’s farm system hit five homers and walked 19 times in 27 games. Despite hitting just .197, he finished the year with an OBP of .358. Casas represents a typical three true outcomes hitter, a slugger who will strike out a lot, take his walks, and hit dingers. If the Red Sox give Casas everyday at-bats and his power translates to the big leagues over a full season, he will turn his fantasy managers a significant profit.
4. Rowdy Tellez (Milwaukee)
Speaking of one-dimensional sluggers, Rowdy Tellez had a memorable 2022. Once an unheralded 30th round pick by Toronto in 2013, the towering 6-foot-4, 255-pound behemoth has established himself as a legitimate power source. Despite hitting just .219, Tellez played in a career-high 153 games and hit a career-high 35 home runs. He comes into 2023 an intriguing pick in the middle of drafts as the Brewers retain an upper-echelon offense and again look to push for an NL Central crown.
5. Spencer Torkelson (Detroit)
Spencer Torkelson, the former top prospect in the Detroit Tigers‘ organization, made the 2022 Opening Day roster but looked overmatched on the biggest stage. Between three levels in 2021, Torkelson hit 30 home runs; however, in 2022, he hit just eight in 110 games with the Tigers. He fought with the Mendoza line all season, finishing with a .203 batting average. Therefore, he comes into 2023 as a sleeper not due to his production, but simply due to his potential and opportunity. As a former No. 1 overall draft pick, the Tigers will give Torkelson every opportunity to see if he can recapture what made him so coveted out of Arizona State. Given the Tigers’ offense finished with a league-low 557 runs scored in 2022, they simply have no better options. If Torkelson even remains rosterable in 2022, he will justify his draft cost.
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