With the season beginning on Thursday, it’s time to throw caution to the wind and get bold. Some of these predictions may sound a little crazy, but crazy things happen in sports. These predictions are bold because they assume that certain players will overcome significant obstacles or take advantage of new rules to perform at a high level in the upcoming season.

Our featured pundits are here to share bold fantasy baseball predictions for 2023.

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Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions

What is one fantasy baseball bold prediction (player related) that you believe will happen this season and why?

“One bold prediction that I have is Corey Seager will win AL MVP. When looking at the rule changes in the MLB, I expect Seager to benefit greatly from the ban of the shift. Last season, he had 123 outs hit into the shift which led the league. He puts a lot of balls into play and with the shift no longer being allowed, I expect a huge season out of Seager in his second year in Texas.”
– Ari Koslow (FantasyPros)

“Alec Bohm will hit 20+ HR, bat .280 or higher with 75+ runs and RBIs. ATC’s Interprojectional risk metrics for him are low (super safe) with a negative skew (he should outperform expectations). His HR/FB levels last seemed on the unlucky side – a correction should add a few homers alone without any growth. But he is also hitting the ball harder in the spring and with more loft, that should get him over the 20 HR mark. Playing time isn’t in question with Rhys Hoskins down, and the Phillies still excellent lineup will support large run production figures in 2023.”
– Ariel Cohen (FanGraphs)

“Hayden Wesneski will receive a Cy Young Award vote. In the 33 innings he pitched last season, he struck out a batter per inning, had an ERA/xERA of 2.18, and a K/BB rate of 4.71. He throws a “frisbee slider” that has 18.1 inches of horizontal break, and he had a 26% K-rate at each level in the minor leagues. While projections suggest regression, I think Wesneski will get on the radar and stay on the radar this season as one of the top pitchers in the National League. And yes, I’m a Cubs fan. Why do you ask?”

“Jacob deGrom will start at least 20 games and win the AL Cy Young. I have zero shares of Jacob deGrom and will never draft him again in any fantasy league I am in. That is just a personal preference and probably more in line with how jilted lovers feel after breaking up with the same person for the sixth time than any sort of deep analysis. As @IsItTheWelsh would tell you, I have been quite the Negative Nancy about deGrom’s value in fantasy baseball.

But no more, my friends. Above all things, I am a baseball fan, and I want good things to happen in baseball. Jacob deGrom is the best there is, and while my therapist has forbidden me from re-engaging in a relationship with him myself, I predict 25 starts and a Cy Young for the 34-year-old Ranger.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

Find the rest of Kelly Kirby’s Bold Predictions here

“The Astros’ Cristian Javier will win the American League Cy Young Award. Javier’s arsenal is flat-out nasty — particularly his fastball. In two playoff starts last year, he gave up one hit and zero runs in 11.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and five walks, and he was responsible for six innings of a combined no-hitter in the World Series. In the regular season, he posted a 2.54 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 30 appearances and 25 starts, with 194 Ks in 148.2 innings. The Astros were shrewd about slowly working their young flamethrower into the rotation last season. Javier has pitched only 250 innings over the last two years, so that thunderous right arm should be fresh. Look for Javier to take another big step forward and establish himself as one of the premier starting pitchers in all of baseball.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

“Andres Gimenez and Michael Harris II both hit 20+ home runs and steal 30+ bases. Am I predicting this just because I have a ton of shares of both because of my draft strategies this year? Of course not. I would never do something like that. Harris is a popular bust candidate this year because of his breakout 2022 and ADP, but I’m a believer. There will probably be some bumps along the way, but the talent is real. After hitting 19 HR and stealing 20 bags in 114 games in 2022, I’m projecting him to easily surpass both numbers in a full season in 2023. Gimenez hitting 20 HR might be the tougher sell. I think he steals 30 bags easy with the new rules, but 20 HR is calling for him to surpass last year’s 17, which more than doubled his output over the previous two seasons combined.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)

“Julio Rodriguez goes 40/40! The rules MLB changed will favor an uptick in stolen bases, and Julio already had 28 in 132 games last season. He also hit 28 HR over that span, and that included a horrendous homerless April of ’22 where Julio hit just .202 with a .544 OPS. Throw that out, add in 25 more games played and Julio can be a 40/40 fantasy legend in 2023!”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.

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