I hate to be rude, so I won’t be Brash in the truest sense, but Seattle pitcher Matt Brash will make this list, so Brash this list will be.
The individual predictions, however, are a step below that. I can’t exactly call them reasonable predictions for 2022, but I do think these are all within the realm of reason, and I think those kinds of predictions tend to be a little more sticky and useful than the boldest ones.
I hope you’ll join me in the speculatory fun. What are your most reasonably brash predictions for the coming season? Which of these seems most bold to you? (Thanks for reading! I’ll tally everything in this piece up for an article next season, so if you want to get something on the record to amplify your human memory, here is a place to do it.)
Now into the future we go!
Guardians OF Steven Kwan hits .295 with 16+ HR and 12+ SB in about 500 plate appearances.
Stop looking at me, Kwwaaannnnn!!
Giants RHP Camilo Doval saves 20+ games with an ERA under three and WHIP under 1.10.
Yeah yeah I know what Kapler said. Jake McGee. Sure. But who was it in the playoffs last year with the season on the line? Not McGee, that’s who. Baseball’s season is a marathon. San Francisco wins a lot of games. Doval will save a lot of them.
Padres SS CJ Abrams plays 115 games in the majors, stealing 20 bases and hitting 10 home runs.
Preller moves aggressively in most matters, and this season lines up perfectly for an early Abrams debut.
OF Julio Rodriguez hits .290+ with 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Doesn’t feel particularly bold to me, but the stolen bases might surprise some people.
RHP Matt Brash wins the fifth starter spot out of Spring Training and remains in the rotation all season.
I’m not putting stats here only to protect myself because I am irrationally optimistic.
LHP Nick Lodolo pitches 100+ MLB innings with an ERA under four and a WHIP under 1.2.
Plus command from a tricky angle will make Lodolo effective from the jump.
RHP Hunter Greene pitches 110+ MLB innings with 140+ strikeouts and an ERA under four.
Whisper mill had Greene breaking camp with the big club, and the Reds made it official just before this article went to post on Wednesday.
SS Bobby Witt is the best statistical rookie since Bryant. 30-30 season.
Witt has decided to never miss when he swings this spring. Seems like a good strategy.
Eury Perez and Daniel Espino are the top two pitching prospects in baseball entering 2023.
Who’s gonna hit these guys? Watch them pitch if you get the chance!
Corbin Carroll and Luis Matos are the top two position-player prospects in baseball entering 2023. Honorable mention to Kahlil Watson.
My three favorite rocketmen poised to launch themselves up the lists this season. Carroll doesn’t have much atmosphere left above him, but those final ten spots are the toughest ascent.
RHP Art Warren refuses to return the closer gig to Lucas Sims. A timeshare ensues. Warren wins out in the end. 25+ saves.
Warren just doesn’t give up home runs: one so far in 26.1 big league innings. That’s a good trait for a reliever with a 41.5 percent strikeout rate.
OF Oscar Colas dominates after a shaky couple weeks and winds up inside the top 25 on several prospect lists next season.
Icy early, fizzy late.
Atlanta SS Vaughn Grissom is included on Atlanta’s playoff roster and plays a role in their 2022 postseason run.
No numbers here. Just glory. Grissom is a tough out with a center-right approach, and he might just skill-out of the minors by August even though he’s only played a month or so at High-A. I’m not saying he’ll bump anyone off their spot, but things happen, and Grissom will look like a possible solution to any roster problems that bubble up late season.
Cubs LHP Justin Steele enters next season locked into the starting rotation.
Oh hey, here’s a bold one. Steele pitched well late last season and his pitch mix matches well with the current era.
Reds LHP Reiver Sanmartin wins ten games.
On the Reds? Yeah, dude, the Reds.
Oakland 3B Kevin Smith goes 15/15 in 500+ plate appearances.
I’m a little worried about the contact skills, but the defense, power and speed all play at the highest level.
Bonus: Non-Prospect Predictions:
RHP Tony Gonsolin wins and holds the five-spot while healthy this season, spinning 150 solid innings and winning 14 games for his efforts.
Bet against Dodgers pitching at your own peril. Gonsolin was solid as a swingman but will settle back into his plus command as a starter.
Yankees 1B Anthony Rizzo hits 30+ home runs.
If this doesn’t happen in New York, Rizzo might be in trouble.
Thanks for reading!
I’m @theprospectitch on Twitter.
