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Depth Chart Review: Anthony Volpe, Shintaro Fujinami, Ceddane Rafaela (2023 Fantasy Baseball)

Depth Chart Review: Anthony Volpe, Shintaro Fujinami, Ceddane Rafaela (2023 Fantasy Baseball)

Baseball is back! A new season presents new opportunities for MLB teams to strive towards improvement and provides fanbases across the nation with newfound hope for championship aspirations. The same goes for fantasy baseball managers, each of whom has a chance at winning as the playing field sits even.

Each week during this MLB season, the plan is to take a look at some of the ever-changing depth charts of MLB franchises to see what potential fantasy impact any moves being made could have on the fantasy landscape. In this preliminary article, we’ll take a look at what could be considered some surprise depth chart transactions as the 2023 season is set to commence.

Fantasy Baseball Lineup Assistant

Anthony Volpe (SS – NYY)

Surely, anyone not living under a rock has been informed of Volpe’s major league status for the start of this year’s campaign. The number five ranked prospect in all of baseball, Volpe quickly reaffirmed his unheralded presence this spring training when he slashed .314/.417/.647 with three homers and five stolen bases. This is the type of production that should have fantasy managers both in awe and salivating at the potential upside of the future Yankees’ superstar.

Volpe is expected to begin his major league career batting out of the nine-hole for New York, but the fact that he is making the starting lineup on day one is impressive enough. The rookie is a ripe 21 years old but should be a multi-category contributor right out of the gate. It is highly likely that Volpe will be repositioned to the top of the Yankees lineup if he gets out to a hot start. Volpe currently sits only behind Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson in the MLB preseason American League Rookie of the Year odds for 2023.

Shintaro Fujinami (SP – OAK)

The lesser-known Japanese hurler making the move over to the MLB this season, Fujinami has quietly posted a sub-4.00 ERA with 20 strikeouts across five spring starts for Oakland. He has impressive stuff, including a fastball that can top 100 MPH at its best. Fujinami is no stranger to the big stage as he pitched for 10 seasons in Japan, yet he is still just 28 years old.

Athletics’ manager Mark Kotsay has already noted that Fujinami will pitch for Oakland every sixth day of the week to begin the season and that he will be the second starter to take the hill for the team on April 1st against the Angels. The extra day of rest to begin the campaign should be good for Fujinami’s long-term prospects overall. He seems like a strong late-round fantasy selection, given the upside his arm possesses, and he should get plenty of opportunity in the near-depthless Athletics rotation in 2023.

Ceddanne Rafaela (OF – BOS)

Boston looks to have found one of their next future stars in Rafaela, an impressive 22-year-old athlete that possesses true 20-20 upside. He is a fantasy name to keep an eye on for this season, despite being sent down to Double-A Portland for now. Rafaela has a great chance to return to the Boston club this year and make an impact towards the middle of the season.

Rafaela smashed 21 home runs and stole 28 bases in the minors in 2022. He also has the ability to play in both the outfield and at numerous infield spots as a plus defender. The Red Sox are not expected to contend in 2023, which should allow for them to get a look at some of their younger talent once the season goes off the rails. Rafaela will be one of the first call-ups to receive substantial playing time sooner than later.

Jurickson Profar (OF – COL)

Profar recently signed a one-year deal with Colorado and is set to open the season as the starting left fielder for the Rockies. The move to Coors Field could pay dividends for the former top prospect, who had one of his better seasons with the Padres in 2022.

The 30-year-old veteran will be batting leadoff for Colorado in 2023 in front of the likes of Kris Bryant, Charlie Blackmon, and C.J. Cron. After tying his career-high with 82 runs scored last season, Profar could be primed to improve on that number in a potentially underrated Rockies’ lineup. Not much has been mentioned of Profar in fantasy circles, but he could provide value in deeper leagues, given his new status on the Colorado depth chart.

Christopher Morel (3B – CHC)

In a bit of a recently more disappointing move, 23-year-old Morel was optioned back to Triple-A Iowa just a few days ago. Fantasy managers were let down by this one, as Morel had initially been expected to break spring training with the big league squad. Nevertheless, Morel is another name to watch as the early MLB season unfolds.

Morel slashed .269/.333/.577 with four homers and eight RBI across 57 plate appearances this spring, seemingly making his case to join the Cubs come April. While that won’t be the case initially, there is a strong possibility he is called back up from the minors in short order if he continues to produce like this. The sophomore outfielder was also solid, if not spectacular, during his time in Chicago in 2022, when he smoked 16 round-trippers and stole 10 bases in 113 games played. Morel is a name to keep an eye on for when he makes his way back up to the big leagues.

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