As you prepare for your fantasy baseball drafts, figuring out who you want to target and avoid in drafts is important. Culling your draft list is crucial to make it go seamlessly.
The outfield is often talked about as being a bad position in fantasy this season. However, it is not as bad as it seems, but it does have very serious drop-offs from the top of the pool to the middle and to the bottom. Yet, there are interesting targets throughout. Here are my picks for outfielders to target and avoid at the position in 2023.
- ADP Target & Avoid: Catchers | First Base | Second Base | Shortstop | Third Basemen
- Fitz’s Positional Primers
- Justin Mason’s Draft Day Cheat Sheet
- Players the Experts Draft
- Latest Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft
Outfielders to Target or Avoid at ADP
Targets
Randy Arozarena (OF, DH – TB) | 38.42 ADP
Randy Arozarena was one of two players that hit at least 20 home runs and stole at least 30 bases in 2022, with the other being Bobby Witt Jr. So why is Witt Jr. going as a first-round pick and Arozarena is outside the top 30 picks? Part of it is the youth of Witt Jr. is a bit overvalued, but part of it is Arozarena being way underappreciated. I also don’t think that 2022 is Arozarena’s ceiling, though I do think he will likely repeat what he did last year.
Cedric Mullins (OF – BAL) | 48.34 ADP
Maybe I am a little biased as I am a known Cedric Mullins supporter, but I don’t understand why people are fading him once again. Yes, his 2022 was a step back after his 2021 breakout, but it was also expected. He still had a fantastic year that resulted in a top-30 year, and you are getting him two rounds after that.
Bryan Reynolds (OF – PIT) | 93.79 ADP
Bryan Reynolds is a player that is unappreciated for what he does. He hits for power and average while not being a zero in the other categories. I know that people are afraid of the Pittsburgh lineup, but the top half is getting better, and there is a chance he is traded at some point in the season after he requested a trade in the offseason. If that were to happen, he would be a massive bargain instead of the good one he is right now.
Lars Nootbaar (OF – STL) | 191.84 ADP
Lars Nootbaar has been a popular sleeper target already this draft season, and I am a bit surprised that his ADP has not risen higher. He has all the physical tools with power and speed for a breakout. There is also a belief that he could lead off, which would be huge on what looks like one of the best lineups in baseball. The question is how many plate appearances we could see. If Nootbaar gets 650 plate appearances, he could be one of the best deals in the draft.
TJ Friedl (OF – CIN) | 376.11
My love for TJ Friedl is no secret. He has power and speed and is in the conversation to lead off in Cincinnati, which is one of the best parks in baseball to hit in. In 2022, he hit eight home runs and stole seven bases in just 258 plate appearances. If you prorate that out to 600 plate appearances, it looks like an 18/17 season He isn’t even being drafted in 10 and 12-team leagues, which makes him a perfect late dart throw with a ton of upside.
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