Esteury Ruiz, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 18, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 29 Comments

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Really don’t like how the Brewers used — or should say didn’t use — Esteury Ruiz this past year, after he was acquired. Bit worrisome that they acquired Esteury Ruiz at the end of August, then sent him to the minors until September, called him up for three games, then sent him right back down. Not instilling in me a lot of confidence. So, why even do this rookie outlook post to join all my other fantasy baseball rookies posts (not clickbait at all!)? Because Esteury Ruiz’s minor league numbers are some of the sheer goofiest I’ve ever seen. He’s only 23 (about to be 24 in February), but his minor league numbers are…Well, let me try something. His minor league stats are gorgeo827–Damn, tried to type that with the drool hanging from my bottom lip. All right, hold onto your seat and cover your pants tent, because this gonna get you excited: 16 homers, 86 steals between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors. That’s in only 472 at-bats! Oh, and he led all minor leaguers with a .447 OBP. What even, bro? Is this real life or am I tripping on peyote while staring at a Rickey Henderson rookie card? Prospects of note who had a line of .300/.400/.500: Gunnar Henderson, Miguel Vargas, Corbin Carroll and Esteury Ruiz. Welp, that’s great, I am now selling my car and reinvesting all my money into Esteury Ruiz rookie cards. See ya later! So, what can we expect from Esteury Ruiz for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Hope Rain Doesn’t Make Teoscar Grouchy

by: Grey

La La Land! Wait, that’s wrong. Damn it, Faye Dunaway, give me that envelope! …and the Teoscar Hernandez goes to Seattle for Erik Swanson and minor-league LHP Adam Macko! That’s worse than La La Land. Macko better grow ten inches and become the next Randy Johnson for this trade to make sense. Okay, first my thoughts on middle relievers, such as Erik Swanson, then back to the trade. They are failed starters! Take Yusei Kikuchi and make him a middle reliever if you want a middle reliever. What are you doing?! Jays ain’t no Rays, but the M’s might be. Rays know that anyone can be a great reliever. Yanks seemed to figure it out when they took a guy who flamed out in Pittsburgh and made him great–Oh, wait, that could be Gerrit Cole too. Or any pitcher leaving Pittsburgh. Okay, sorry, that Pittsburgh hate is off-topic. Focus! This trade just has me so discombobulated. Why would you trade Teoscar Hernandez for a middle reliever and a lottery ticket arm? The only reasons I can imagine are the Jays aren’t done and will acquire another bat. Or the Jays know something on Teoscar that we don’t know. Something like he wanted out; clashing with some of the other players; something, and I don’t know what. So, Teoscar goes to a much worse park. Seattle is the worst park, by the by. Don’t trust me, ask Jesse Winker. Teoscar is no Winker though, and should be able to hit anywhere. What’s funny, and should be taken with a grain of salt, Teoscar’s expected homers in Toronto last year was 28 (he actually hit 25), and in Seattle it was 31. He’s regularly a top five-percenter in MaxEv, and regular Exit Velocity. Red marks after red marks indicating fire on all the best Statcast numbers. Barrel% upper 94-percenter; HardHit% is 98%; speed is even in the 84 percentile. I ranked Teoscar crazy high last year, and he disappointed, but it’s hard to not fall in love again. He really is that good, and Dipoto is robbing Canada like Mrs. Butterworth’s tapping maples. For 2023, I’ll give Teoscar Hernandez projections of 76/29/83/.264/7 in 517 ABs. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this offseason for 2023 fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Josh Jung, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 15, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 41 Comments

by: Grey

Robin Williams GIF, “What year is it?” Here’s a guy we’ve (I’ve) only covered for what, the last four years? Each year expecting him to debut. Oh my, I just realized something… Josh Jung — Carl Jung — Carl Jung — Josh Jung! Carl Jung who famously said, “The powers of my depths are predetermination and pleasure. Predetermination or fore-thinking is Prometheus, who, without determined thoughts, brings the chaotic to form and definition, who digs the channels and holds the object before pleasure.” You know what that means, don’t you? You do? Can you explain to me? I think what he’s saying is Josh Jung was held, due to forethinking about how good he was going to be, so putting the horse before the pleasure, and it withheld its true pleasures. Or Jung is just saying I shouldn’t have bothered covering Josh Jung for the past three or so years, and I am very dumb. Thanks a lot, Carl! Geez, what a bummer Carl Jung was, huh? Or am I projecting. Crap, Rudy’s going to sue me, projecting is his thing. So, what can we expect from Josh Jung for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Anthony Volpe, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 14, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 20 Comments

by: Grey

So, this is a tough one to write, that is even harder as I do this in November, when nothing’s been finalized about next year’s rosters. Anthony Volpe could break camp with the Yankees or he could be called up late in the year like the Oswald/o’s. Yankees desperately need to look back at what they did in the mid-90s, and turn the page on signing all these vets, who kinda suck. Israel Diner-Falafel was a terrible signing at the time and it never got better, but this is what the Yankees have done for almost 25 years now. There’s someone reading this who wasn’t even alive for when the Yankees used to promote prospects. Me, being 17 years old, I don’t know any of this. I blew dust off Wikipedia to read about it. That’s right, I started Razzball when I was 5 years old. I was the Doogie Howser of fantasy baseball ‘perts. I don’t even get the Doogie Howser reference that I just made. I’m too young. Was he related to Dick Howser? Dot dot dot. Who I also don’t know — again –> too young. When the Yanks had the Core Four just coming up, I was actually a Yankees fan. Fantasy baseball and moving away from Jersey deadened most of my Yankees fandom, and sanded-down the sharp edges of the rest, but there was one point when the Yankees didn’t just go out and sign every $200 million free agent. That’s why I don’t know how accurate this Anthony Volpe 2023 fantasy rookie post can be about his playing time. I could see the Yankees go to Anthony Volpe in April or sign Carlos Correa for a two-year deal and talk about teaching Volpe to play 2nd. Anything’s on the table. So, what can we expect from Anthony Volpe for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Sal Frelick, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 11, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 15 Comments

by: Grey

“Keston Hiura, Tyrone Taylor, Christian Yelich…Every other bat the Brewers have ruined has nothing to do with Sal Frelick…” is what I chant to myself while surrounded by candles in a meditation room. Yelich had his own ground ball issues; Tyrone Taylor was never supposed to be that good, he only got hyped in the fantasy baseball community; Keston Hiura sucked, but maybe he was overrated by scouts and always kinda sucked, or maybe his batting stance got out of alignment or maybe or maybe or maybe! None of these guys have anything to do with Sal Frelick, and I need to stop trying to put that garbage on this guy. Let’s see what Itch said, “The 15th overall pick out of Boston College possesses double-plus bat control and contact abilities that should let the rest of his game flourish as Sal Frelick climbs the ladder, and someone push Grey off a ladder.” C’mon, man! Itch also said a lot of other stuff on Sal Frelick, that was, honestly, only a fraction of what was said about Frelick. Prospect Itch and Prospect Hobbs have covered Frelick a great deal; they are both very big fans. You can get a good 1000 words on Sal Frelick from Hobbs when Frelick was merely a guy in the 2021 MLB draft. It’s worth the read. So, what can we expect from Sal Frelick for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Brett Baty, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 10, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 16 Comments

by: Grey

Hey, a guy who’s already debuted. Let’s refresh the memory on Brett Baty:

BRETT BATY CRUSHES A HOMER IN HIS FIRST MLB AT-BAT!! pic.twitter.com/iqB8JqBx6h

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 17, 2022

And home run number two:

BRETT BATY HAS HIS FIRST CITI FIELD HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/GElJwq1wjo

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 26, 2022

And pure unadulterated love to help weigh out all the hours you spend listening to true crime:

The uncut footage of Brett Baty’s family reacting to his first career Home Run needs to be seen. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/6g9MPMWYQ6

— John DeMarsico (@JohnDeMarsico) August 18, 2022

Sweet stuff. Not just the swing, but the family love. Speaking of family, it’s me, your daddy, with what I said back in August when he was called up, “It’s Brett Baty as in Brett “Beatty” — not “Batty,” because I know in your head, you see Brett Baty and think Batty. Oh, yeah, I know what is going on in your head. You’re thinking I also pronounced it Brett “Batty.” Wrong! I’m in your head, but you’re not in my head! In my head, I like to pronounce Brett’s last name “Bat-Why,” and with a flourish like it’s Pad Thai. I’ll tell you Bat-Why! Bat-Why because just last week he landed on Itch’s top 25 prospects for dynasty leagues, where he said, ‘Brett Baty has no business in AA. He’s repeating the level after posting a 118 wRC+ in 40 games last year, and he’s slashing .355/.427/.655 with eight home runs in his last 26 games. Who’s in charge of this stuff? What’s happening here? This is dumb, so I think somehow Grey’s behind it.’ Okay, not cool. Bat Why’s numbers at Double-A ended up 19 HRs, .312/.406 in 89 games, as he was finally promoted to Triple-A after Itch’s insistence, and he’s continued to hit there too. The Mets need a third baseman with Eduardo Escobar IL’d and Baty is being called up. I Bat-Why’d on all my teams where I too need a third baseman. He could be the last big call-up. By the why, who doesn’t need a 3rd baseman? The one team who drafted Jo-Jo-Ram in your league? Cool, not me, which is why I Bat-Why’d and that’s Bat-Because.” And that’s me quoting me quoting Itch! So, what can we expect from Brett Baty for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Ezequiel Tovar, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 8, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 12 Comments

by: Grey

“You’re going to be hearing a lot about Ezequiel Tovar this offseason, so why not get started now? *phone rings* One second, sorry. “Hello? Yes, this is Grey. Yes, Grey Albright. Yes, the one with the luscious mustache and full head of hair! Yes, the only person who is five-seven but looks at least six-one! Yes, you’re talking to him! This is Future Me? Grey? I thought your voice sounded familiar. What’s up, Future Me, if I may call you that…Call you Mr. Albright? Uh, okay. What’s up, Mr. Albright? Ezequiel Tovar is hitting .350 with power and speed next year? That’s awesome! What do you mean it’s not awesome? Why? Because Bud Black’s playing the 32-year-old Scott Schebler at shortstop? Is Scott Schebler hitting well? Should I pick him up in eight months as a hot schmotato? Hello…Hello…?” I think he hung up.” And that’s me quoting Future Me! That was from when Ezequiel Tovar got called up at the end of the year. Ya know what’s a little crazy? Your aunt? Yes, but I’m talking about how it’s a little crazy how Rockies writers, who seemingly know the club better than anyone else, never talk about how awful Bud Black is. Likely because Bud is where the bread is buttered for scoops — Bud buttered? Hmm, I wish I didn’t think that. I also think most Rockies fans like Bud. *shrugs* Well, there’s no accounting for good taste or sense. Am I still very worried Bud Black will inexplicably find someone random to play shortstop instead of Tovar? If you don’t learn from the past Future Me, you will only repeat Future Me’s past mistakes. So, what can we expect from Ezequiel Tovar for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Matt Mervis, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 7, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 17 Comments

by: Grey

I did a google for Matt Mervis and his ETA and I found he’s going to be promoted to the Cubs in 2022. Very cool, let’s see how he did. Let me do another google for us. Hmm, I’m not seeing any stats for Matt Mervis with the Cubs. They must’ve had some great 1st baseman in the North Side of Chicago, huh? Let’s see…Alfonso Rivas? Hmm…I don’t remember him being, how do they say it, good. I kid, of course, Alfonso Rivas was great (if you don’t know what the word great means). Rivas hit three homers and .235, but in only 101 games. Maybe he needs more of a chance? Say, another 4,000 games? No? Okay. Oh, I’m being told Rivas was only the lefty side of the 1st base platoon for the Cubs! Of course! The righty side must’ve been so much better, right? Let’s see…P.J. Higgins got 38 games at first and hit six homers and .229. Pajamas Higgins must’ve just had a bad year! What? That’s his best season at the plate in eight years of pro ball? Oh, okay. So, my point is obviously that Matt Mervis is going to be the Cubs’ 1st baseman to start the season, unless they want to see more from Pajamas. *weighing options with hands as scales* Pajamas, who sucks worse than feety pee-jays…Or a good prospect. Hmm, tough call. So, what can we expect from Matt Mervis for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Jordan Walker, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 4, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 29 Comments

by: Grey

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Some players seem like they are MLB The Show “Create a player” players. Here I call them Lab Babies. Jordan Walker? Oh, he’s definitely a Lab Baby. You see him and think, “Well, that guy’s 28 years old and has been destroying minor leaguers for years, right?” Then you hear he’s 20 years old and you start stumbling around humping fire hydrants because you’re drunk on rookie nookie. You’re hitting the hooch on that 151 Rum of Sexy Prospect Liquor. You’re drunk all right, but on all natural 80-grade sativa. It’s a strain that grows in prospect journals and gets nothing but shine, no shade whatsoever. Here’s what Prospect Itch has said previously, “I made the trip to see Walker in High-A, but he was on the bench that night, or rather, atop the dugout steps cheering on his new teammates, looking like a human giant. I have no reason to argue against his listed 6’5” 220 lbs, but I can say he dwarfed everyone else on the team. I can also say I saw enough of Walker’s work on MiLB.tv that I want to be driving that bus in dynasty leagues. He features double-plus athleticism for a big man, a controlled swing that explodes through the zone, and plenty of foot speed to make himself a pest on the basepaths. He’s looking like a consensus top ten prospect sooner than later, and I’d like to punch Grey in his head.” Okay, putting aside that last part, this was from Itch last year! Think Itch would be the first person to tell you that Jordan Walker has only got better! So, what can we expect from Jordan Walker for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Grayson Rodriguez, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 3, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 32 Comments

by: Grey

Orioles’ GM Mike Elias on Grayson Rodriguez, “I hope he makes the opening-day rotation.” Hey, Mike, that makes two of us. Elias Sports Bureau asked of Mike Elias, “Are you our father?” Grayson Rodriguez is the biggest pitfall for fantasy baseball rookies posts. I’ve been here already. I thought he’d be up last year. Was very disappointing to not see Grayson Rodriguez. I’d love to lay it all at the feet of the Orioles. “Hey, what are you wearing, Lake Placid Summit Boy’s Adjustables?” That’s me seeing the cheapskates that the Orioles are fitted in. (I googled cheap ice skates, if those aren’t cheapskates, I don’t know. Leave me alone.) Any hoo! It wasn’t all their fault, Grayson had a severe lat strain from about May until September. So, yeah, that sucked. At least he didn’t win Minor League Pitcher of the Year three years in a row. Yes, he won it the previous two years, which is such a jizzoke. The Orioles are cheap eh-eff. This kind of bee ess really needs to end, so I can stop spelling out cuss words. There should be zero incentive for a MLB team to keep a prospect in the minors if he’s ready. Grayson Rodriguez prolly could’ve had a season as good as Alek Manoah last year, if he stayed healthy and was actually in the majors, but he’s throwing darts in the minors. So, what can we expect from Grayson Rodriguez for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Gunnar Henderson, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

November 1, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 26 Comments

by: Grey

I said something in my Corbin Carroll fantasy the other day, that people might take the wrong way, so to clarify. I think Gunnar Henderson can be better than Bobby Witt Jr., especially in real baseball. I think Corbin Carroll can be excellent, a top 25 overall type bat. When I said I thought Julio Rodriguez was better than Carroll, and Witt Jr. was better than Gunnar, I meant their rookie 2022 seasons vs. these rookies’ 2023 seasons. Can’t expect insane years like what Julio and Bobby did every year. It just doesn’t happen. It doesn’t mean Gunnar Henderson or Carroll can’t be great. Gunnar likely has better contact than Witt Jr., which will lead to a better average. He just doesn’t have the speed as BWJ, so his fantasy value isn’t going to be as pronounced. Fahn-tah-see val-ewe, that’s how fantasy value is pronounced. If I’m being honest, I think we’ve been a little spoiled in recent years with rookies. Haven’t had a real stinker since Michael Fulmer in 2016. Ha, Fulmer out here taking strays in his Google alerts for no reason. In 2017, Aaron Judge hit 52 HRs and .284 as a rookie and Cody Belinger went 39/10, and since then we’ve had some incredible rookie years (I’m ignoring 2020, but Kyle Lewis wasn’t bad in a goofy year). All of that is totally irrelevant for today, but also kinda spoiling us, even if it’s subconsciously. I am merely setting your expectations. Gunnar Henderson is going to rosterable and great, but just try to be realistic. The top of the rookie class will just be a bit lower than last year’s top of the class. So, what can we expect from Gunnar Henderson for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Corbin Carroll, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

October 31, 2022 | Fantasy Baseball Rookies, Featured | 26 Comments

by: Grey

A fantasy baseball It Was A Good Day.

Just wakin’ up in tha mornin’, gotta thank Junior Vlad,
I don’t know but today seems kinda odd,
No barkin’ from any pitchers’ elbows makin’ me look for replacements,
And momma cooked a breakfast and left it by my door — her basement’s,
I got my grub on, but didn’t pig out,
My insulin, I didn’t need to dig out,
Rollin’ around in a field of daffodils,
Not even worried about lactose that I can’t metabolise,
Rememberin’ what it’s like to feel alive,
Lookin’ for a prospect who’s got speed, power and line drives,
Forgettin’ that I have allergies, and a doctor-restricted diet of 1500 calories,
Not sneezing, thinkin’ about the best rookies for 2023 fantasy baseball galleries.
Findin’ an empty cola can to use as an ashtray,
Talkin’ about the best 2023 fantasy baseball prospect, gotta say It Was A Good Day.

Last year’s top rookie in my rookie outlook series was Bobby Witt Jr. (Julio Rodriguez was #2 with the caveat that I wasn’t sure if he was breaking camp; he did, and broke the internet). Year before that, it was Randy Arozarena, before that Luis Robert. The year before was Vlad Jr.; the year before–You get the picture! Every year there’s a #1 rookie going into the upcoming season. Ergo/Therego: Welcome to the 2023 fantasy baseball rookie series and Corbin Carroll for 2023 fantasy baseball! This feels a little more precarious than past years because I like my next rookie (Gunnar Henderson) a lot too, and there doesn’t feel like a clearcut HOLY SCHNIKES THIS GUY’S GONNA BLOW US AWAY. I said to Prospect Itch what I was thinking, “Corbin Carroll’s less than Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. but is better than Gunnar, right?” And he agreed. That doesn’t mean these guys can’t be fantastic. These guys are future superstars in their own right. Gunnar will be in my next post, but today’s: So, what can we expect from Corbin Carroll for 2023 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Author: Grey

Read some of Grey's 4943 posts

Esteury Ruiz, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Hope Rain Doesn’t Make Teoscar Grouchy

Josh Jung, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Anthony Volpe, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Sal Frelick, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Brett Baty, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Ezequiel Tovar, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Matt Mervis, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Jordan Walker, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Grayson Rodriguez, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Gunnar Henderson, 2023 Fantasy Outlook

Corbin Carroll, 2023 Fantasy Outlook