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Rodriguez followed up with his excellent rookie season with an even more productive sophomore season excelling in all five scoring categories on his way to finishing as the 8th most valuable fantasy player in standard formats in 2023. Rodriguez was the only player in the American League to hit at least 30 homers, both score and drive in over 100, while also stealing more than 30 bags while Acuna Jr bested him in every category overall. That said, the youngster is still prone to slumps. He hit below .250 in 3 of the 6 months and just 3 of his homers and 21 of his RBIs came in high leverage situations. A monster second half got him to his final numbers, and he really caught his stride once he was left in the second spot of the lineup behind Crawford's on base percentage. You should expect more of the same from Rodriguez in 2024 with fewer slumps in between bursts of awesomeness as he continues to mature as a hitter.

In 2022, Witt Jr missed the memo that rookies were supposed to struggle. In 2023, he missed the long-held belief that sophomores slump as pitchers begin to find weaknesses in younger players to exploit them. The young man was the only other player in baseball besides Ronald Acuna Jr to post at least 30 homers and 40 steals in 2023 and finished tied with Corbin Carroll as the sixth most valuable player in standard league formats. Witt Jr contributed to all five categories while excelling in four of them in 2023. The only area of his fantasy future that could stand to improve is his acceptance of walks as he appears to like them as much as his old man hated to dish them out on the mound. If Witt Jr could boost his OBP over .350, he could lead the league in stolen bases in 2024. As you set your draft preferences for 2024, understand Witt Jr may not even be there if you pick as high as 3rd.

All's well that ends well? Soto was hitting .202 with five homers and 11 RBI as the calendar flipped to May, making many fantasy managers rather nervous watching their first round foundational pick get off to such a poor start. Soto went on to turn things around, hitting 30 homers, driving in 98, and hitting .290 for the rest of the season to finish as the 16th most valuable fantasy player in our standard rankings. He was one of three qualified hitters with more walks than strikeouts in 2023 and has still not fallen below the .400 mark for a season on-base percentage in his entire career. The batting average has taken a tumble since the 2020-2021 season but the volume is still in place for the other statistics. After getting traded to the Yankees for his final year before free agency, Soto will gain a massive home-park power boost, as Yankee Stadium rates as the second best park for lefty power, per Baseball Savant's park factors, while San Diego rated as the fifth-worst such park. There will be immense pressure on him to produce in pinstripes as his free agency looms next winter.

Garcia was likely a title maker for many fantasy managers coming off a season where he set career bests in three categories by maximizing power and being more accepting of his walks. Naturally, the power growth fueled a second consecutive 100 RBI season and the increased time on base allowed him to score 20 more runs than he did in 2022, and the steals went..down? Garcia was 81% successful in his 31 attempts in 2022, but only attempted 10 steals (9 successfully) last season. Some of that comes down to a declining sprint speed which went from the 90's to the 40's in a hurry but there was also more traffic on the bases in Texas than we had previously been. Garcia should be expected to volume his way to another valuable fantasy season in at least three categories while missing minimal time. The strikeout rate it is what it is, but Garcia is clearly able to remain productive with a very supportive team context. He's not Khris Davis consistent in batting average, but he is close.

We are going to say it: Tucker was robbed in 2023. Since Khris Davis left the league, we have lacked a statistically consistent player and Tucker looked to have filled that need with what should have been his 30th homer on the final day of the season. That is, until the official scorer turned it into a triple with an error. That scurrilous decision robbed Tucker of a third consecutive 30 homer season and his first ever 30-30 season. All joking aside, Tucker had a monster fantasy season accepting his walks, rarely striking out, and stepping up as a run producer in the third spot of the lineup while Yordan Alvarez missed time. We have longed to have Tucker hitting in the upper third of the lineup and he did not disappoint with 47 RBIs in 56 games from that spot. Whereas Dusty Baker was reticent to make changes, Joe Espada may change things up to have Tucker hit second and have Bregman in between the lefty at bats. If that happens, Tucker is worth a top five overall pick.

In a time of statistical volatility, it sure is nice to be able to count on the volume Ramirez produces despite the lack of supporting talent around him. Ramirez and Mike Trout lead all active players with five 20-20 seasons as Ramirez has achieved those marks in each of the past five full seasons while both accepting his walks and eschewing striking out. His 2022 and 2023 seasons by batting average and OBP were practically identical, but there was a significant dropoff in RBI as the lineup around Ramirez struggled to get runners into scoring position. Cleveland did not help that cause by focusing on slappy contact hitters and trading away Nolan Jones, but we digress. The 100-RBI plateau may be tough for Ramirez to get to once again if the lineup around him is not improved, but the volume is money in the bank as the hamate bone injury of 2019 is the only injury he has incurred in recent years.

If Alvarez had a 100% health rating, you could make the case for him being the first hitter taken after Acuna Jr. When Alvarez is not playing through an injury or missing time with an injury, he is a run producing monster. Alvarez was limited to 114 games due to hand, arm, and an oblique injury yet still managed to finish in the top 25 for home runs and RBI despite the missed time. Alvarez is doing now what David Ortiz was doing at the end of his career numbers wise, but doing so in 80% of the plate appearances. If Alvarez could ever get a full season, 2005-2007 Ortiz numbers are at the edge of possibilities for him because he is that good of a hitter. He takes his walks and he does not strike out at the rate other hulks like him do while also handling lefties well. Simply put, this is a fantasy foundational player who is a perennial MVP candidate and worth the risk to reach because the numbers he could put up in a 600 plate appearance season will win leagues.

Despite missing 56 games due to hip and toe injuries, Judge cracked 37 homers in 2023, finishing fourth in the American League. The stars aligned in his historic 2022 MVP season and nobody should expect that level of production again, particularly in the stolen-base department (his SB total fell from 16 to just three last season). That being said, Judge is arguably the most prolific power hitter in baseball, and he chased pitches outside the strike zone less than ever last season (career-low 22.5 O-Swing%). He returned to hit .245/.408/.557 with 18 homers and 53 walks in his final 57 games, and manager Aaron Boone said in August that Judge would not need offseason surgery on his right big toe. There is no questioning his hitting ability, though it's fair to question whether the hulking outfielder/DH can hold up to the rigors of a full MLB season as he approaches age 32. Judge has reached 150 games played only twice in his career.

Semien needed a strong final four months to rebound from a slow start in his first season with the Rangers. He was much steadier in his second year and easily better overall with an .826 OPS in 2023 which was nearly 100 points higher than his 2022 mark. Semien's Statcast page was underwhelming as it always tends to be, but he's mastered the art of pulling flyballs down the line and just over the wall to the point that it's impossible to doubt that he simply has that skill. He also cut his strikeout rate in 2023 to 14.6 percent, allowing him to hit for a solid .276 average even with all the weakly- to moderately-struck flyballs mixed in. Finally, Semien continues to be the modern day Iron Man, leading the league in plate appearances for the third straight season. He's about as safe as an early-round pick gets.

In the spring of 2022, Guerrero Jr. famously stated that 2021 was a trailer and now fans will see a movie. Like most sequels, the team and the player has failed to deliver on promises. Guerrero's 2021 nomadic season in friendly run environments helped him established career hights he has failed to come close to in each of the past two seasons. Management tweaked Rogers Centre before the 2023 season, but that did not prevent Guerrero's overall numbers from sliding for a second consecutive season as he and the rest of the club struggled to produce runs despite plenty of traffic on the bases throughout the season. If you treat 2021 as an outlier rather than a ceiling, 2024 Guerrero Jr. should not disappoint you given his skills provide a very high floor. Just remember that sequels are rarely better than the original and Vlady's 2021 season is a cult classic that should be appreciated rather than expected.

Terence Mann told us in Field of Dreams that the one constant through all the years is baseball. He was wrong; the one constant is Devers continues to rake in Boston whether they are in a boom year contending for a title or a bust year beginning another refresh cycle as the club was in 2023. Devers finished just inside the top 30 overall fantasy players in 2023 despite the lineup issues around him with the early injury to Duvall and the ups and downs of the the youngsters Casas and Duran. Devers continued his Saberhagenmetric cycle of 30 homer & 100+ RBI seasons in odd-numbered seasons but may have fallen into the trap of the new shifting rules. Devers had his highest pull percentage in five seasons and hit for his lowest full-season batting average since 2018. His StatCast measures are still extremely red, in a good way, nearly across the board as he enters the prime years for power hitters.

Robert missed nearly half of the White Sox's games across the 2021-22 seasons due to injuries and finished the 2023 campaign on the injured list with a sprained MCL, but prior to that injury he played in 145 games, easily crushing his previous career high of 98. The outfielder was insanely productive with 38 homers, 20 steals and a .264/.315/.542 slash line, which was supported by a 15.2 percent barrel rate that ranked 11th in MLB. The campaign was a resounding success from both a durability and production standpoint -- especially considering Chicago's otherwise anemic offense -- but a 10-point increase in his strikeout rate (to 29.2 percent) is worth keeping an eye on. Robert still carries some minor durability questions since a single healthy season isn't enough to fully shed those concerns, but he'll jump up draft boards after he showcased his full potential as a hitter during a healthy 2023 campaign.

Altuve didn't make his season debut until mid-May after suffering a fractured right thumb during World Baseball Classic play. He also missed about three weeks of action around midseason with a strained oblique. In the 90 games he was healthy, Altuve was dynamite, posting an OPS over .900 for the second year in a row. He also did his usual thing in the postseason, putting up a .906 OPS with four home runs in 11 games. Altuve will turn 34 in May and he's not a bastion of health as he was earlier in his career, nor is he an elite base stealer anymore (although he's rebounded there the last two seasons). The all-around package remains excellent, though, and worthy of an early-round fantasy selection.

Mr. October 2.0 had a monster 2023 season after a somewhat disappointing debut with Texas in 2022. Many expected Seager to benefit from the reduction of overshifting, but nobody saw a 82-point surge and a career-best batting average coming from him. The shift does not get all the credit as Seager previously hit over .300 in two other full seasons, but the shift certainly helped him a bit. Seager along with Luis Arraez were the only two qualified players in baseball with OBP's over .390 despite 50 or fewer walks last year, and he would have easily had 100+ runs as well as RBIs had he not missed time with both a hamstring as well as a thumb injury. He returned from that thumb injury in early August, homered in his first at bat, and went on to hit 17 more regular season homers as a warm up for what he did in October to help Texas win the pennant. Two benchmarks for Seager in 2024: 40 homer and 100 RBIs - two things he has never accomplished in his excellent career to date.

Arozarena's third consecutive 20-20 season may look like more of the same, but there is more under the hood here. While his .254 batting average was the worst of his career and a continued decline in average, he was more accepting of walks than he has ever been in his career and used the OBP resurgence to set a new career high in runs scored. He improved his chase rate on the season, and it would have been even better if not for a massive slump in July as he prepared and then participated in the home run derby which saw him hit .153 with his lowest monthly walk rate of the season. 16 of his 23 homers came before the break and his .279 first half average against his .220 second half average show just how much that slump hurt his overall numbers. Arozarena has seen his fantasy futures rise from risky single-digit round pick to a safe first five round selection in a short time, but this is likely his fantasy peak.

The right-hander's 2023 got off to an inauspicious start, with an ugly arbitration battle publicly straining the relationship between Burnes and the Brewers. Always the consummate professional, Burnes put together another highly successful campaign despite some hiccups, leading qualified National League starters in WHIP while reaching 200 strikeouts for the third consecutive season. His swing-and-miss dominance took a hit as Burnes averaged just over a strikeout per inning (25.5 K%), coinciding with a dip in fastball velocity. His sinking fastball let him down and the 10 wins were a disappointment, but Burnes has four above-average pitches to lean on and still projects as a fantasy ace after being traded to the Orioles in February. If the strikeouts tick back up, Burnes could find himself in the Cy Young discussion once again.

Gausman has established himself as one of the game's best starting pitchers on the strength of his trademark splitter. His first season with Toronto in 2022 was a rousing success even as he endured some tough luck on balls in play. He followed up with an even better campaign at age 32, leading the American League in strikeouts with 237 while finishing seventh among qualified starters with a 3.16 ERA. The four-seam fastball that sets up his split-finger was more effective last season, and while there was some giveback with his walk rate, Gausman was still stingy in that regard (second in K-BB% behind only Spencer Strider). His early-career struggles between Baltimore, Atlanta and Cincinnati are a distant memory at this point and the team context is a check mark in his favor even in the AL East.

The 31-year-old was acquired by the Mariners at the 2022 trade deadline and inked a five-year extension two months later; during his first full season with the team in 2023 he posted a 3.34 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 219:56 K:BB in 197 innings. The campaign ended on a sour note, however, with nine runs allowed in Castillo's final two starts, including a 2.2-frame outing against Texas that eliminated Seattle from playoff contention. His strikeout and walk rates (27.3 percent and 7.0 percent, respectively) stayed stable, but his 1.3 HR/9 was the highest since his sophomore season in 2018. Castillo typically excelled at inducing groundballs while playing for the Reds with a career rate north of 50 percent, but he saw his flyball rate jump nearly nine points to 42.4 percent in 2023 while his groundball rate dipped below 40 percent. A barrel rate of 9.4 percent and hard-hit rate of 41.8 percent each represent career worsts, which also lines up with a 3.81 xFIP. Some regression may be in store for Castillo if he's unable to rein in those trends, but he's still likely a fairly safe bet for fantasy managers in 2024 given his track record.

Lopez had an impressive first season in Minnesota by finishing seventh in the AL Cy Young voting and going 2-0 and giving up one run in 12.2 innings in the postseason. Lopez changed his arsenal in the offseason to feature a sweeper as his primary off-speed pitch which resulted in more strikeouts. Lopez had a career-high 29.2% K% and 14.8% swinging K%. He allowed just a .215 wOBA and generated a 36.3% K% on his sweeper. He also set a new high 194 innings while maintaining career-best velocity (94.8 average mph fastball). The Twins signed him to a four-year, $73.54 million contract extension after his trade from Miami as they believe they traded for a true ace and felt validated by his playoff performance.

Valdez has worked the fifth-most innings of any starting pitcher over the past two seasons trailing only Alcantara, Cole, Webb, and Mikolas. The lefty has returned three consecutive seasons of double digit wins, strong ratios, and a voluminous strikeout total and even threw in a no-hitter this season against Cleveland. Valdez was 9-7 with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP after completing that no-hitter on August 1st but was just 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP from then on, which does not even include his very disappointing postseason where he allowed 12 earned runs and lost all three of his starts. Valdez absolutely brings the volume you want from a high-draft pick/cost starting pitcher, but he lacks the elite velocity or K-BB% that fantasy managers like to see from foundational pitchers. His extreme groundball tendencies minmize some of that risk, and the run support in Houston continues to be plentiful. 2022 was his peak, but something between it and 2023 is very possible.

After receiving an encouraging cup of coffee to end the 2022 season, Brown broke camp in the Astros rotation where he stayed all season. He made 31 appearances, with 29 starts. His 5.09 ERA is misleading as his 3.52 xFIP and 3.74 SIERA suggest Brown experienced some misfortune. The main culprits were a bloated .330 BABIP, a low 68.8 percent left on base mark and an extremely high 21.0 percent home run per fly ball clip. It's never all bad luck, but these metrics all scream impending regression. Brown's 18.5 percent K-BB percent ranked an impressive 21st among pitchers with a minimum of 150 innings pitched. The 25-year-old right-hander threw his 96-mph four seamer 46 percent of the time, but his 26.8 percent strikeout rate was driven by his curveball utilized at a 24 percent clip. Brown also toyed with a splitter with encouraging results. The Houston organization is adept at fine tuning their pitcher's repertoire, boding well for Brown to take the next step, beyond what natural regression will provide. Top-30 starting potential from a pitcher coming off a season with a 5.09 ERA is a great target.

After being highly touted as a prospect, Kirby showed great promise in his debut season in 2022. The right-hander took his game to another level in his sophomore campaign, shaving his walk rate from 4.1% to a minuscule 2.5%, the lowest among qualified starters. Kirby has already made history multiple times with his strike-throwing; he tossed 24 consecutive strikes at one point as a rookie and now owns the record for the most quality starts with zero walks (11) by a pitcher age 25 or younger. Kirby lowered his WHIP from 1.21 as a rookie to 1.04 last season while adding more than 60 innings to his 2022 total. His five-pitch mix would seem to give him some room for growth in the strikeout department (career 23.5 K%), but until we see that growth, Kirby should probably remain just outside the fantasy ace tier.

Skubal underwent left flexor tendon surgery in August of 2022 and his rehab extended through the first three months of last season. He was on a limited pitch count initially upon his return and there were some bumps in the road early, but Skubal eventually rounded into form, going 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 52:6 K:BB in his final six starts (36 innings). A ninth-round pick in 2018, Skubal changed up his formula last season, dialing back his slider usage significantly for more four-seam fastballs and changeups. The changeup proved to be a big swing-and-miss pitch for him (50.6 Whiff% per Statcast) -- he still threw his slider, but the changeup became his primary secondary pitch behind the four-seamer. In total, the southpaw pitched just 95 innings last season, but if healthy, he should approach his career high of 149.1 innings set in 2021. Entering his age-27 season, Skubal will face an uphill battle every time he takes the ball for Detroit, but his skills are enticing.

Yet another product of the Guardians' pitching factory, Bibee burst onto the prospect radar in 2022 and followed up with a 2.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 141:45 K:BB across 142 innings (25 starts) in his first taste of the majors last season. He began 2023 at Triple-A Columbus but was up with Cleveland by late April, and he was impressive before hip inflammation ended his season in mid-September. A 3.66 xERA and 4.22 xFIP indicate some regression could be on the horizon, especially given he stranded a likely unsustainable 80.0 percent of baserunners (that figure would rank fourth in MLB for qualified starters). Still, the performance of the young right-hander as a rookie can't be overstated, and he should be able to improve his approach in his sophomore campaign. An equal or better effort in 2024 wouldn't be surprising in his age-24 season, especially with the Guardians' track record of building up and maintaining pitching prospects.

Bassitt cashed in last offseason with Toronto on a $63 million contract, and he pitched well during the first year of the deal with a 3.60 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 186:59 K:BB across 200 innings. That workload set a career high for a third straight year, building on his previous high of 181.2 frames. He dealt with a back issue early in 2023 but didn't miss a start and was healthy the rest of the way. The right-hander certainly isn't the most dominant pitcher with a 22.5 percent strikeout rate last year, but he mixes his repertoire well and reliably limits hard contact. Bassitt has outperformed his underlying numbers throughout his career, so a 4.04 xERA and 4.21 xFIP in 2023 isn't much of a concern. Repeating a fully healthy campaign can be difficult to expect for starting pitchers -- especially in their age-35 season -- but Bassitt enters 2024 as a reliable option for fantasy managers to bolster the middle of their rotations, even if he doesn't quite reach 200 innings again.

Ryan had a roller-coaster season for the Twins as he had a 2.98 ERA with a 9.65 K/9 and 0.91 WHIP through his first 15 starts of the season. He then seemingly ran out of gas by posting a 8.63 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over this next seven starts before he went on the injured list with a strained groin. His final eight starts after he returned were not much better (5.90 ERA) and the Twins limited him to one short two-inning start in the playoffs. Ryan doesn't have great velocity (92.3 average mph fastball) but has an extremely deceptive four-seam fastball that helped him generate an excellent 29.3% K% and 14.2% swinging strike rate. His weakness is as a fly-ball pitcher (31.6% GB%) he can be prone to the long ball. Home runs were especially an issue last season with a career-worst 1.78 HR/9 driven by a high 14.9% HB/FB%. He usually limits the damage for home runs by typically having one of the lowest walk rates in baseball (5.1% BB%). Ryan will be counted on at the top of the Twins rotation and could improve significantly if he can keep the ball in the park and improve one of his off-speed pitches, which all took a step backward last year.

Ragans was two different pitchers in 2023 for two different clubs. He worked solely as a reliever for Texas with too many walks and homers as part of a rather leaky bullpen. It was that situation which led the club to deal the talented lefty to Kansas City for Aroldis Chapman. The deal has been a win-win in the short term, but one Texas will regret for years to come if Ragans continues to shove as he did once reporting to the Royals. He was arguably one of the more valuable pitchers for fantasy managers with a stretch of pitching that will likely lead to him being one of the more pushed up pitchers on draft boards this offseason. He gained velocity, reduced his walks and homers and the outcomes matched the potential. The remaining issue is that he still pitches for a bad club which means he has to pitch his keister off to get those wins. Simply put, this is Nick Lodolo all over again. Don't get caught inhaling helium on draft day.

Berrios put together an impressive bounce-back campaign, shaving more than a run and a half off his ERA after he finished with the worst ERA among qualified starters in 2022. He bumped his strikeout rate back up to 23.5% -- modest, but a big improvement on the previous year and much more in line with his career norms. Berrios offers up four pitches to opposing hitters -- sinker, slurve, four-seamer, changeup -- and he's willing to challenge within the zone even if he doesn't win every battle. It was nice to see that his struggles in 2022 didn't affect his confidence too much, as his walk rate remained low at 6.6%. We've seen what the downside looks like with Berrios, but he has eight years of starting experience at this point and his track record is that of a viable mid-rotation starter. There may still be a buy-low window in fantasy as the memory of his disastrous 2022 lingers.

After eight starts, Pivetta was sporting a 6.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and nine homers allowed in 40 innings. He was moved to a multi-inning relief role where he excelled, posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP over 12 appearances spanning 20 frames. He fanned 25 with just one homer in that stretch. Pivetta spent the last three months of the season jumping between the rotation and serving as a bulk reliever, registering a 3.27 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over his final 82.2 innings, punching out 116 while surrendering a reasonable 13 homers. Pivetta's velocity picked up after he was initially demoted to the bullpen, and he started throwing his slider with more cutting action, both tweaks fueling Pivetta's second half success. He's a bit of a wild card this season as Pivetta exhibited success in several roles, and seemed to be at his best when he wasn't expected to pitch more than five frames, though he ended the season with two scoreless seven-inning starts. Pivetta's second half success can't be ignored, but paying for a repeat is a precarious proposition.

Gilbert has been a rather consistent fantasy pitcher over his first three seasons when you account for the typical variability of starting pitching. His last two full seasons have had similar looks to them by innings pitched as well as peripherals even if the process to those outcomes changed. Gilbert added a splitter to his repertoire last winter and loved it so much that it became both his third pitch and replaced the straight change he threw. It was his whiffiest pitch and one of three offerings which generated at least a 30% whiff rate. Add that to a fastball with an 18% whiff rate and it is easy to see how Gilbert is 26-13 over the past two seasons with one of the better ERAs in the league. Gilbert has a little trouble with the long ball, but his stinginess with walks offsets some of that damage. He has yet to miss a start as a big league pitcher, so just typing that feels like we're cursing him for 2024.

Simba famously told us in The Lion King he laughed in the face of danger, and Rutschman certainly did the same in the face of those wondering if there would be a sophomore slump for the young catcher. The 25 year old backstop was a key cog of the AL East champion Orioles lineup finishing as the eighth-most valuable fantasy catcher and the only catcher who could claim at least 20 homers, 80+ RBIs as well as 80+ runs on their resume. If not for the misconfiguration of left field in Camden, Rutschman would have joined Cal Raleigh as the only catcher with 30 homers but that monstrosity is where most pulled flyballs go to die. Rutschman has already earned a reputation for a very discernable eye at the plate as he walks nearly as often as he strike out which is a rarity for both his age and his position. Baltimore values the bat and gave him 46 games at DH so he provides plenty of volume with the added bonus of hitting first or second in the lineup. Simply put, the acquisition cost is worth it.

Perez's .254 average, .292 OBP and 23 home runs in 2023 came close to exactly matching his figures from a year prior, but the homer total is a concern given he played in 26 more games than 2022. The home run and RBI (80) totals are still among the best in MLB for catchers, but the downward trend is clear as he enters his age-34 campaign. With that in mind, it's not a surprise he saw more action than ever out from behind the plate, as he made 29 starts at DH and 23 at first base. Those latter numbers should only increase going forward, though he shouldn't have issues retaining positional eligibility anytime soon. Trade rumors have become more common of late, but the remaining two years and $44 million (including a $2 million buyout for a 2026 club option) on his contract limits potential suitors. Perez is no longer close to being the top catching option for fantasy managers, but his likely high volume should make him a strong producer in 2024, even if the downward trajectory continues.

Despite serving as the No. 2 option in Houston behind Martin Maldonado, Diaz cracked 23 homers and finished as a top-12 fantasy catcher last season. Diaz slashed .282/.308/.538 and Statcast says he actually underperformed in regards to batting average and slugging -- his .287 xBA and .546 xSLG both ranked in the top eight percent of the league. Diaz is not particularly interested in taking walks (2.9 BB%) and his chase rate leaves open some questions about the sustainability of his contact. Further, Diaz's 21.9% HR/FB seems destined to fall, even with the boost provided by the Crawford Boxes. That being said, the Astros have already committed to Diaz being "the main guy" in 2024, and any giveback in the rate stats should in theory be softened by an increase in playing time. He wasn't a big name when he was traded in 2021, but fast forward a few years and Diaz is looking like a key piece on a championship-caliber ballclub.

Affectionately nicknamed "Big Dumper," Raleigh turned in his first career 30-homer season in 2023, finishing fifth at the catcher position in earned fantasy value behind William Contreras, J.T. Realmuto, Jonah Heim and Will Smith. Raleigh is rather one dimensional at the plate, though to his credit he raised his batting average from .211 to a more-palatable .232 last season. He's also drawn walks at roughly a 10 percent clip the last two seasons, helping offset a strikeout rate pushing 30 percent. Raleigh made 14 starts at designated hitter in 2023, and while that number could always take a hit, he projects to remain in the starting lineup most days. The 27-year-old has an exceptional arm behind the plate and at this point is an important part of the leadership and game-calling with the Seattle pitching staff. He temporarily silenced his doubters with his performance at the dish last season, but beware the average can largely offset the power contributions if it gets low enough.

Garver rebounded from an injury-riddled 2022 season with a productive campaign, posting a 138 wRC+, the third highest of his career. Garver played in 87 games, the most since 2019, but he missed just over one-third of the season after hurting his knee in early April. When healthy, Garver was the everyday designated hitter, mixing in 27 games behind the plate. Garver's success in the batter's box was fully supported by his underlying metrics, which bodes well for continuing to log playing time at designated hitter. Garver has never been known for his defensive prowess, so it's not a surprise the metrics were not kind to him in his limited time defensively. Even so, Garver regained catcher eligibility and at least for the upcoming season, he's borderline useful in single-catcher formats and a solid option in two catcher leagues. He will work as Cal Raleigh's backup and the Mariners' top option at designated hitter when healthy, after signing a two-year deal with Seattle this winter.

O'Hoppe had an intriguing yet incomplete debut season with the Angels. He got off to a great start hitting .283 with 4 homers and 13 RBIs in the first few weeks of the season before a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder put him on the shelf until late August. He was a fantasy monster in the final month of the season with 9 homers, 16 runs, and 15 RBIs down the stretch from the catching position. So far, O'Hoppe has hit lefties (.293) much better than righties (.220) but the overall numbers in an abbreviated season are certainly enticing. O'Hoppe is in the lineup more for his offensive upside than his defensive abilities as he is a liability behind the plate in controlling the running game and is still learning to be a better pitch framer. The potential for a 25-30 homer season is in his bat, but the upside here certainly comes with risks of his defensive liabilities costing him at bats unless he DH's more now with Ohtani's departure.

The Guardians didn't hand the reins over to the younger Naylor until mid-June, but regardless he still racked up 2.4 fWAR as a 23-year-old rookie. An impressive athlete at the catcher position, Naylor made his presence felt both at the dish and behind it. He showed good power (11 homers, .232 ISO) and patience (13.0 BB%), finishing 24% better than league average by wRC+. Most enticing for rotisserie players: Naylor's speed. He went a perfect 5-for-5 on the basepaths, and while he's not a burner per se, he is a great runner relative to others at the position. That element of his game gives Naylor the chance to enter rarefied air in fantasy, if he gets the playing time. Cleveland brought Austin Hedges back to help with the workload, but Naylor's plus defense and hitting put him as the clear No. 1 on the depth chart entering 2024. He could surpass 400 plate appearances in a perfect world.

Any concern Heim would split catching duties with Mitch Garver were vanquished early with Garver missing most of April and all of May with a knee injury. During that time, Heim posted a .785 OPS, locking down the primary backstop position. For the season, Heim posted a career-high 103 wRC+ while continuing to excel behind the plate as a receiver and pitch framer. For the second straight year, Heim experienced a second half swoon, posting a .282/.338/.474 line before the break, compared to .217/.282/.656 after. However, Heim's average exit velocity and hard-hit rate were nearly identical in both halves, so he likely benefited from a fortuitous .313 BABIP over the first half and a snake bit .246 mark the rest of the way. Heim has shed the all-glove label, and catchers tend to develop more power as they get older. He'll be entering his 29-year-old season, so it may manifest, but the catcher inventory is such it isn't necessary to chase the potential upside.

Langeliers opened the season as the Athletics primary catcher. He gathered a taste of the majors down the stretch in 2022 but struggled making contact. In his first full season, Langeliers lowered his strikeout rate to a still elevated 29.2 percent while hitting the ball with more authority. However, as a fly ball hitter in the cavernous Coliseum, Langeliers' BABIP was well below average, but his 22 homers was fifth most among catcher-eligible hitters and his 63 RBI tied for 12th highest. Langeliers is still a work in progress behind the plate as his -13 defensive runs saved was the third worst in the league and he graded as one of the poorest pitch framers. Langeliers' 31 percent success rate catching base stealers was one of the best marks in the league. Langeliers will share catching duties with Tyler Soderstrom, with Langeliers likely to get the heavier workload. The volume will generate mixed league worthy counting stats, but Langeliers is a batting average liability.

Wells hasn't changed much as a prospect since the Yankees selected him at the back of the first round in 2020, and he enters the year atop the big-league depth chart after getting 75 plate appearances to close 2023. Per Baseball Savant's three-year rolling average, Yankee Stadium has been the second-best park for lefty power, and the lefty-hitting Wells already has at least 50-grade power, so 20 homers seems doable as a rookie if he gets the workload of a starting catcher. In his minor-league career, the only level where Wells hit better than .261 was High-A, and he had a walk rate of 11 percent or higher at every minor-league stop, so he is going to be more valuable in OBP leagues than batting average leagues. An unsustainably-high 13.8 Barrel% in his small MLB sample helped generate optimistic x stats (.275 xBA, .566 xSLG, .367 xwOBA), and while he won't approach those numbers over a full season, there are enough encouraging signs with Wells that he makes for a viable second catcher in two-catcher leagues. Wells is a mediocre defensive catcher, so the biggest risk in fantasy is that his defense costs him playing time and he only hits 10-15 home runs instead of 20-plus. The projection system Steamer has Jose Trevino and Ben Rortvedt being worth more wins above replacement than Wells on a per plate appearance basis due to their defense, but it still seems like Wells will be given every chance to be the guy given his draft pedigree and offensive upside.

After an injury-plagued 2022 season, Jeffers showed significant improvement by placing second among catchers in OPS and becoming the primary catcher for the Twins by season end. Jeffers had just a .648 OPS in 2022 and played just seven games after breaking his thumb in July 2022. He began the 2023 season as the backup catcher to Christian Vazquez, though the Twins split the workload behind the plate pretty evenly all year. However, Jeffers started behind the plate in every playoff game. Jeffers has good power with above-average exit velocity (5th among catchers) and Hard Hit % (11th among catchers). He draws walks at a good rate (9.9BB%) which helps somewhat offset a high strikeout rate (27.8% K%). He also improved dramatically against right-handed pitching (.828 OPS) after struggling against righties (career .695 OPS) while feasting on lefties (career .840 OPS). Jeffers was seen as a strong defender but declined in pitch framing last season and his other fielding metrics graded below average. That's a concern for increased playing time. The Twins like to utilize two catchers to reduce wear and tear, so Vazquez will likely split duties again, but Jeffers has more upside with the bat and his power.

Jansen has some of the most pop from the catcher position in the league, but unfortunately for him, things on him will not stop popping and he has not been able to stay on the field. His career high for plate appearances came in his rookie season, but he has since missed time in each of the past three seasons as the wear and tear of catching has its costs. His latest injury was a finger fracture on a foul tip while behind the plate which ended his season in early September. He had already set a career high in homers and RBIs before the injury and looked to be on pace for a 20 homer season before the injury. Jansen's approach is rather pull intensive and he is looking to elevate and celebrate on most swings. Both his Pull% and his FB% have been over 50% in each of the past two seasons and that is not expected to change as Jansen plays his final year before free agency while trying to get a nice payday with his next contract given his other flaws. Contract year hope?

It was Reese McGuire starting the first two games of the season at catcher for the Red Sox, but Wong quickly wrestled the job away from him and wound up easily pacing the club with 105 starts behind the plate. Wong had an above-average barrel rate in the 56th percentile and a max exit velocity in the 88th percentile, so he's capable of making hard contact. The 27-year-old is also a terrific athlete for a catcher, moonlighting some at second base while also stealing eight bases to go with a sprint speed in the 76th percentile. Wong's plate discipline (33.3 percent strikeout rate, 5.5 percent walk rate) is dreadful, though, and it's been that way dating back to the minors. Double digits in home runs and stolen bases are possible if he gets regular playing time in 2024, but Wong's xBA of .208, not his actual .235 average, is probably closer to what we should expect.

Expectations for Kirk were high as he was coming off a season where he improved offensively and defensively. His defense got even better, but Kirk's batting took a couple of steps back. He continued to fan at a low 10.7 percent clip, but Kirk's average exit velocity dropped three mph while his hard-hit rate fell seven points to a career low 38.3 percent, only 33rd percentile. Kirk's power, and especially run production plummeted. His struggles at the plate cost Kirk playing time as he was used as the designated hitter only 17 times, compared to 50 the prior campaign. He hit the ball harder for the final three months of the season, so there is optimism for a rebound, but he's still going to share catching duties with Danny Jansen. Kirk's excellent contact rate yields a solid floor, but the playing time upside anticipated heading into last season is on hold.

Rogers emerged as Detroit's primary catcher in 2023, thanks in large part to his power production. The 28-year-old mashed 21 home runs in 107 games. He homered roughly once every 16 at-bats, though he was very much a boom-or-bust option at the plate. Rogers batted just .221 and struck out 32.3% of the time. Heading into 2024, fantasy managers won't complain too loudly about a low batting average if Rogers continues to hit the ball over the wall. With a fly-ball rate of nearly 42% last year, the backstop has the look of a player who is certainly trying to rack up home runs. While this leaves Rogers as a fairly one-dimensional option, there are a few reasons to think he could take another step forward. For one, he will be another year removed from the Tommy John surgery that cost him all of the 2022 season. Secondly, the Tigers don't really have anyone on hand to push Rogers for playing time, with journeyman Carson Kelly set to serve as the backup catcher. Rogers has his limitations, but he can be a valuable fantasy asset if he continues to hit for power at a thin position.

In the spring of 2022, Guerrero Jr. famously stated that 2021 was a trailer and now fans will see a movie. Like most sequels, the team and the player has failed to deliver on promises. Guerrero's 2021 nomadic season in friendly run environments helped him established career hights he has failed to come close to in each of the past two seasons. Management tweaked Rogers Centre before the 2023 season, but that did not prevent Guerrero's overall numbers from sliding for a second consecutive season as he and the rest of the club struggled to produce runs despite plenty of traffic on the bases throughout the season. If you treat 2021 as an outlier rather than a ceiling, 2024 Guerrero Jr. should not disappoint you given his skills provide a very high floor. Just remember that sequels are rarely better than the original and Vlady's 2021 season is a cult classic that should be appreciated rather than expected.

The three-year, $58.5 million contract that the Astros handed to Abreu last winter looked like it might have been a big mistake through about the midway point of the 2023 campaign, but he found his groove in late June and went on to post a respectable .776 OPS with 14 home runs and 57 RBI over his final 69 regular-season games. The veteran first baseman then carried that right on into the postseason, slashing .296/.354/.591 with four homers and 13 RBI in 11 playoff games as Houston pushed the eventual World Series-champion Rangers to the brink in the ALCS. Abreu is 37 years old and Father Time remains forever undefeated, but he did enough down the stretch last year to maintain a fruitful lineup spot with the reigning AL West champions in 2024. Elevated by a strong supporting cast, a lofty RBI total could again be within reach even if his individual rate stats continue to decay.

Casas struggled early, posting a miserable .184/.300/.342 line over his first 49 games. The club stuck with the youngster as they liked his approach, and his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate portended better outcomes. Sure enough, Casas went .307/.404/.570 the rest of the way, though his season ended prematurely in mid-September with right shoulder inflammation. Casas' average exit velocity dropped half a tick over the second half, but his hard-hit rate increased six points, fueling a BABIP increase from .229 to .362. Part of Casas' improvement was embracing the pitch clock by meticulously following the same routine for every pitch, and frequently using his timeout when he was behind in the count. Casas is below average defensively, but improved over the course of the season and has the work ethic to keep getting better. Casas will be hard-pressed to match last season's second half over a full season, but he has a solid chance to improve on the year as a whole.

Torkelson had an underwhelming rookie campaign in 2022 with just eight home runs and a .604 OPS in 110 games, but he found his footing during his sophomore season with 31 long balls, 94 RBI, 88 runs and a .233/.313/.446 slash line. The counting stats are impressive given the production came as a member of Detroit's poor offense, which ranked 27th with an 89 wRC+. His defense at first base still leaves plenty to be desired, and he could see more run at designated hitter going forward with Miguel Cabrera headed for retirement. Torkelson's strikeout rate worsened slightly to 25.0 percent, but he improved his walk rate a bit to 10.0 percent. The real progress came in hard contact, as he significantly improved his barrel rate and hard-hit rate (to 14.1 percent and 50.5 percent, respectively). A .252 xBA and .480 xSLG also indicate some unfortunate luck for Torkelson, so it wouldn't be surprising if he takes another step forward in 2024.

Naylor had a career season at the plate despite missing over a month with an oblique injury. The career year was fueled by a few things Naylor had never done, such as hitting .363 with runners in scoring position and hitting .299 against left-handed pitching. He also fully leaned into the roster trend of better contact as Naylor lowered his strikeout rate for a fourth consecutive full season. He also murdered fastballs hitting .352 (.317 xBA.) The amalgamation of those skills is what allowed him to drive in 90+ runs with fewer than 20 homers, something only Naylor, Abreu, Heim, and Bohm did in 2023 and something last done by Asdrubel Cabrera in 2019. In all, Naylor plated 22% of his baserunners, which was only bested by Heim, Mullins, and Seager last season. All of this is to say this big step forward needs to have that first 500+ plate appearance offseason to offset the regression which is likely coming to his run production.

Mountcastle was batting .227/.264/.431 when he was put on the IL in early June with vertigo. He had been in a bad slump in the weeks leading up to illness but it's unclear if they were related. After returning a month later, Mountcastle went on a roll, posting a .326/.407/.492 line the rest of the way. He missed some time in September with a shoulder injury but was able to return for the playoffs. Taken as a whole, it appears Mountcastle improved across the board compared to the previous season, but his batted ball metrics, and expected average and slug were nearly identical both seasons. To his credit, Mountcastle fanned at the lowest rate since his rookie year, which was the pandemic season. Mountcastle undershot his expected homers for the second straight season, which could be due to the renovations in Camden Yards, or a hint there is latent pop. Mountcastle's cost of acquisition should be reasonable, though there are durability concerns since he's never played more than 145 games. Even so, there is a draftable floor, with a chance 2021 is not Mountcastle's apex season.

Our 2023 outlook for Lowe came together rather well in the end as the first baseman regressed to previous levels in the face of the new rules. Lowe remains one of the more disciplined hitters in the league who will patiently work a count while looking for his pitch while being more than willing to accept a walk in any given situation. Lowe's issues against lefties (.223) helped pull his batting average down in 2023, but given he hit .277 and .330 against lefties in the previous two seasons, it would not surprise us to see him recover in 2024 to add some more life to his average. Despite his size, Lowe has league-average speed but Texas has not put him in motion over the past two seasons after allowing him some opportunities in 2021. Lowe is in an enviable position of playing daily in a potent lineup and has the potential to drive in 100 and even score 100 if the guys around him stay healthy all season. 2022 may have been his ceiling, but maybe not.

It took Diaz until his age 31 season, but he finally got to the 20-homer plateau and threw in a league batting title as well in his career year. The homers were a bit front loaded as 12 of his 22 homers came in the first two months of the season before he hit just two over the entire of June and July before closing with 8 more down the stretch as he chased the batting title. He hit .300 or better in every month of the season as the most atypical leadoff hitter in the American League given his size. He leads off because (points to him) he gets on base. His worst monthly OBP split was .390 in June which is how someone built like a fire hydrant was able to score 95 runs. Diaz hit the 600 plate appearance mark for the first time but did have issues throughout the season in his lower back and legs. He is now only first base eligible but was also the sixth most valuable player at the position in 2023. Diaz will not repeat, but his stock has risen.

Given that he missed the final two months of the 2023 season due to post-concussion syndrome, Rizzo's draft-day cost is going to vary widely from league to league in 2024. The concussion happened during an awkward collision with Fernando Tatis in May -- three months before Rizzo was actually placed on the IL -- and he later acknowledged that he was having trouble seeing the ball for much of the summer. That shows in his game logs, as he slashed just .170/.271/.224 with one home run in 188 plate appearances between the beginning of June and the end of July. He suffered through a five-strikeout game July 30 at Baltimore, a few days before mercifully being shut down. While it was an ugly ordeal, durability is usually one of Rizzo's best skills and he can hopefully put last year in the rearview with a reinvigorating kind of opportunity to feast in the heart of the Yankees' beefed-up batting order. He won't be a consensus top-150 pick again but could certainly return that kind of value.

Santana was able to reverse a downward career trend last year in what was his age-37 season. After putting up three straight seasons with a sub-.700 OPS, he upped that number to .741 in 2023 while collecting his highest home run (23), RBI (86) and runs (78) totals in four seasons. Santana's .240 average was easily his best in four seasons, as the veteran switch-hitter no doubt benefitted from the shift restrictions. He even took advantage of the new rules in stealing six bases (his highest total in eight seasons) without being caught. Santana still has his plate discipline skills, remains a very good defender at first base and has been extremely durable throughout his career, so he should have a shot at finding regular at-bats again in 2024.

France looked like a potential fantasy stalwart in the first half of 2022 following solid seasons in 2020-2021, but the right-handed hitting infielder posted just a .646 OPS in the second half of that campaign, and his .250/.337/.368 slash was more of the same.His on-base percentage was buoyed heavily by being hit 34 times, and that's the second time over the last three seasons he's ended up the leading baseball in plunkings. His power numbers dropped considerably with just 12 homers in his 665 plate appearances, and a barrel percentage under seven percent (6.8) suggests that wasn't a case of bad luck. He does seem likely to rebound in the average category, as he struck out in just 17.6 percent of his plate appearances last year, and while he hasn't been among the league leaders in hard contact, the ability to use the whole field while putting the ball in play on a consistent basis should see him closer to the .279 mark he had prior to 2023. Because of the lack of power and a complete lack of speed France is a flawed fantasy player, but a bounceback to the stats he put up from 2020 to 2022 could make him a strong fantasy value in the later rounds.

Pasquantino's 2023 season came to an end on June 9th with a labrum injury to his non-throwing shoulder which required season-ending surgery. His final numbers were not up to the expectations fantasy managers had for him as they reached for him in drafts with him hitting .247/.324/.437 over 260 plate appearances yet the 9.6% walk rate and 11.9% strikeout rate were very impressive for a first baseman. It felt a bit James Loney-ish, but Pasquantino's career line of .272/.355/.444 over 558 plate appearances with 19 homers gives us a better look at what he could be for now. If his shoulder is fully recovered, Pasquantino profiles as a four category contributor for fantasy managers with batting average being the most likely area he could excel in a full season given the challenges of his home park and his lack of foot speed. His fantasy value needs that batting average surge as his run production numbers will lag behind many other options at first base.

It was a roller coaster of a 2023 season for Manzardo, but the dust has settled and he has a chance to compete for a spot in Cleveland's Opening Day lineup. The 23-year-old first baseman/designated hitter came into the year widely considered one of the best pure hitters in the minors. He set new career exit velocity highs (112 mph), but through his first 73 games Manzardo logged an unlucky .238/.342/.442 line that was below average (95 wRC+) in the International League. He was dealing with an off-field issue related to the health of a family member, so his mind understandably may not have always been on baseball. Manzardo, who missed time in the middle of the season with a shoulder injury, was traded at the deadline from the Rays to the Guardians in exchange for Aaron Civale. It was a positive move for his fantasy value, as he pretty clearly profiles as Josh Naylor's long-term 1B/DH counterpart, whereas Tampa Bay is still crowded. Manzardo mashed after the trade (six home runs, .333 ISO, 15.2 K%) in 21 games at Triple-A and also slugged over .500 in the Arizona Fall League. As things stand, Manzardo figures to compete for the big-league roster this spring. He is traditionally much better against righties than lefties, so whenever he makes his big-league debut, it could be on the strong side of a platoon.

The offseason departure of Jose Abreu allowed Vaughn to settle in as the White Sox's primary first baseman in 2023, and he delivered similar results at the plate with 21 homers, 80 RBI, 67 runs and a .258/.314/.429 slash line in 152 games. The production was similar to 2022 but resulted in a barely above-average 103 wRC+ since offense was up across MLB last season. The fact he maintained that solid level of production in a poor Chicago offense is encouraging, though it's also a bit disappointing he didn't take more of a step forward in year three. Now entering his age-26 season, Vaughn has established a decent floor but still has plenty of room for improvement, and he'll need to tap into that upside in order to be a real difference maker for fantasy managers.

While it wasn't by design, the Red Sox and Dodgers switched designated hitters with Turner signing in Boston on a one-year contract, with a player option. The deal called for a bonus every 20 plate appearances between 480 and 560. Turner should have kept going in the negotiation as he finished with a career-high 626 trips to the dish, mostly at designated hitter, but he also played ample first base to qualify at the spot next season, as well as appearing at second and third base. Turner set a new personal best with 96 RBI while falling one short of tying his career mark in runs. Even so, Turner's 114 wRC+ was his lowest since 2013, his last season with the Mets. Turner declined his $13.4 million player option, so his role entering 2024 is unclear. He's avoided the IL for two of the past three seasons, but at 39-years-old, he can't be counted on for another full season. Even so, especially with first base eligibility, Turner can be a mixed league asset, just have a backup corner at the ready.

Semien needed a strong final four months to rebound from a slow start in his first season with the Rangers. He was much steadier in his second year and easily better overall with an .826 OPS in 2023 which was nearly 100 points higher than his 2022 mark. Semien's Statcast page was underwhelming as it always tends to be, but he's mastered the art of pulling flyballs down the line and just over the wall to the point that it's impossible to doubt that he simply has that skill. He also cut his strikeout rate in 2023 to 14.6 percent, allowing him to hit for a solid .276 average even with all the weakly- to moderately-struck flyballs mixed in. Finally, Semien continues to be the modern day Iron Man, leading the league in plate appearances for the third straight season. He's about as safe as an early-round pick gets.

Altuve didn't make his season debut until mid-May after suffering a fractured right thumb during World Baseball Classic play. He also missed about three weeks of action around midseason with a strained oblique. In the 90 games he was healthy, Altuve was dynamite, posting an OPS over .900 for the second year in a row. He also did his usual thing in the postseason, putting up a .906 OPS with four home runs in 11 games. Altuve will turn 34 in May and he's not a bastion of health as he was earlier in his career, nor is he an elite base stealer anymore (although he's rebounded there the last two seasons). The all-around package remains excellent, though, and worthy of an early-round fantasy selection.

Oakland was eliminated from the postseason on the second day of the 2023 season, so it remains a mystery why they let Gelof stay in the minors as long as he did rather than try to push for a prospect promotion incentive pick. Gelof began the season with 12 homers, 20 steals, and a .304/.401/.529 line in Sacramento over 69 games before coming to Oakland and hitting 14 more homers with 14 steals and a .267/.337/.504 line in the same amount of games. All in all, Gelof finished with 26 homers, 100 runs, 76 RBI, and 34 steals in 138 games. All that from someone whose ADP was in the 700's last winter. Strikeouts have been an issue as he has rapidly ascended in the system since coming out of the University of Virginia which will limit the ceiling of his batting average, but he should volume plenty in the other categories as an everyday major leaguer in 2024. His market price year over year has improved more than any other hitter.

Polanco again battled durability issues in 2023, missing significant time due to ankle, knee and hamstring injuries, but he registered a .789 OPS with 14 home runs across 80 games when healthy. Polanco missed the final month of 2022 with a knee injury and his rehab then stalled during spring training postponing his debut until late April. He then missed about eight weeks between two IL stints for a strained left hamstring. When healthy, he had similar underlying metrics as last season with a strong walk rate (10.5%), a slightly better hard hit rate (40.6% to 38.7%), exit velocity (88.4 to 89.0) and Barrel rate (13.8 to 10.2). Defensive metrics were a mixed bag for evaluating his defense, but he's still seen as a good defender when healthy. He also played 15 games at third base when the Twins were thin at the hot corner, which could give him added position eligibility in some formats. Polanco has decent power for a middle infielder and good command of the strike zone, so he can still produce like his All-Star season when healthy. However, he may be a significant health risk since he's missed significant time to injury each of the last two seasons.

In a disappointing season for the Yankees as a team, Torres was a bright spot, posting his best campaign since the 2019 juiced-ball year. He shaved his strikeout rate to a career-low 14.6% over a career-high 672 plate appearances. Torres added just one home run to his 2022 total even while seeing an additional 100 plate appearances, but he's now reached 24 homers in four of his five full seasons -- not game-changing power, but nothing to sneeze at either. Add in double-digit steals each of the last three seasons and Torres is back on the right track, having put his age-24 struggles in 2021 in the rearview mirror. His defense is another story, as shortstop is fully off the table at this point and his marks at second base leave a lot to be desired. Those issues could affect his playing time eventually. For now, Torres will remain an everyday presence in the top half of the Yankee lineup.

Westburg was one of a host of top young prospects to see action with the Orioles in 2023, receiving a promotion in late June. His playing time with the American League East champs was sporadic, as he wound up starting 53 of 86 games (62 percent). Westburg did start seven of the final 10 regular-season contests and all three games of the Orioles' ALDS loss to the Rangers, so his playing time was trending up late in the year and he should be in line for regular starts in 2024. The 25-year-old popped 27 homers in the minors in 2022 and 18 in 67 games with Triple-A Norfolk in 2023 before his promotion, but he managed just three long balls in 68 games with Baltimore while dealing with the cavernous left field at Camden Yards. Westburg's average exit velocity (90.2 mph) and hard-hit rate (44.5 percent) were good, and his sprint speed (88th percentile) was better. The plate discipline, though, needs work.

You know that meme with Spiderman pointing at Spiderman? Imagine it with 2022 Drury and 2023 Drury and that's his 2024 outlook. There were two differences as Drury scored fewer runs last season and he lost third base eligibility. Otherwise, he essentially replicated the previous season. His wRC+ was a bit lower since it's relative to the league and offense went up last year. Getting granular, Drury fanned a little more last season, but his exit velocity and hard hit rate both ticked up, but everything was within normal variance. For the past two seasons, Drury has been a regular, jumping between positions. At some point, he'll transition to more of a super-utility guy and lose playing time, but he's signed with the Angels for another season, and it's unlikely they'll bring in enough players to force Drury into reserve capacity. A lack of speed makes Drury more of a mixed league fill in, but he's proven his power is real, and having corner and middle infield eligibility is useful.

Julien finished seventh in the AL rookie of the year voting as he looks like a potential star for the Twins. Julien offers a mix of exceptional plate discipline and power. He had a .381 OBP and drew walks at a near league-leading 15.7% clip. He also hit 16 home runs with a .195 ISO and was in the 86th percentile for Barrel Rate. His playing time was limited by platoon issues and his defense, however. He hit just .195 with a .447 OPS against left-handed pitching. He also struggled at times at second base (-3 defensive runs saved) and was blocked by Jorge Polanco (when healthy) which led him to be used frequently at DH and even 1B. The Twins should find a spot for him in the everyday lineup against right-handed pitching and should get more exposure to left-handed pitching as he develops.

Gimenez broke out in 2022 with a 142 wRC+ to earn a $106.5 million extension with Cleveland, though he was unable to replicate those results last season. The 25-year-old still provided strong counting stats with 15 homers, 30 steals, 76 runs and 62 RBI, but his OPS dipped over 120 points to .713 despite a rise in offense across the league. His BABIP dropped significantly to .289 that can likely be attributed to a reduced hard-hit rate, which cratered from 37.6 percent in 2022 to 27.0 percent. The second baseman remains an elite defender and had 23 DRS and 18 OAA, both of which rank second in MLB and make him a mainstay in the lineup through his slumps. Gimenez's speed and decent power production provide a strong fantasy floor with plenty of upside for a potential rebound in 2024.

There were a lot of mishaps and moving parts last year in Anaheim, through which Rengifo often served as a source of a calm with his ability to play just about anywhere defensively. Not only did he provide needed versatility, he also registered a career-high .783 OPS (111 OPS+) across 445 plate appearances and ranked third among all Angels hitters in WAR, behind only Shohei Ohtani and Brandon Drury. Rengifo doesn't have standout power or standout speed, so his mixed-league fantasy value is somewhat capped, but he should play almost every day and get regular top-of-the-lineup opportunities as the organization enters a new era following Ohtani's departure in free agency. At the very least, Rengifo projects to be a reliable source of runs scored in his age-27 season.

Lowe's 2021 season happened, but boy howdy does it look like quite the outlier against his other seasons. That season, Lowe showed what he is capable of when his body can remain healthy, something it has not done since that season. 2022 was derailed by troubles in his back, and those resurfaced in 2023, albeit in a different form. Those struggled led to him hitting .209/.307/.401 in the first half of the season with 9 homers and 31 RBIs before the rest at the break was just was the doctor ordered. Lowe went on to hit .253/.348/.484 in the second half with 12 homers and 37 RBIs before a foul ball fractured his knee cap and ended his season. Beyond his health limitations, Lowe still struggles to hit lefties (1 HR, .170) and continues to strike out below the league average rate. He has the ability to hit 30 homers, but given we have seen just one full season from him as he enters his age 29 season, this is not a player you should be reaching for in drafts.

A 28th-round pick, Schneider wasn't really on the prospect or fantasy radar coming into the 2023 season. He earned a look with the Blue Jays in August, though, after posting a .969 OPS with 21 home runs over 87 contests with Triple-A Buffalo. The mustachioed infielder hit the ground running with the big club, homering in his first at-bat as part of an absurd 1.315 OPS with eight long balls in his first 25 major-league games. A 2-for-35 finish pulled his numbers down, but Schneider still had an OPS over 1.000 during his first taste of big-league action. A 17.8 percent barrel rate and 14.9 percent walk rate were very encouraging, but a 30.5 percent strikeout rate and 67.8 percent zone contact rate were not. Which numbers are closer to a real representation of what Schneider is? The answer probably lies somewhere in between, and Schneider isn't guaranteed regular playing time as things currently stand.

Urias' fantasy outlook is cloudy, partly due to a bout of right shoulder inflammation that has endangered his availability for the start of the 2024 season. He was traded from the Brewers to the Red Sox at the deadline last year after missing extended time due to a hamstring strain and struggling to a .535 OPS in 20 games with Milwaukee. While his move to Boston saw a partial rebound, it wasn't enough to convince the organization to keep him around, as Urias was traded again to Seattle in November in exchange for reliever Isaiah Campbell. Not only did Urias report to Mariners camp with the shoulder injury, but there were rumblings about his conditioning coming off a poor showing in the Mexican Pacific Winter League. Although he's still just 26 years old, Urias seems to be running out of chances in the majors. He figures to fill a utility role for the Mariners when healthy.

Kansas City has achieved a commendable amount of success in developing internal position-player talent, even during this recent run of poor overall on-field results. It looked like Massey might join that lineage when he put up an .882 OPS with Low-A Quad Cities in 2021 and a .312/.371/.532 slash line between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha in 2022. The early MLB returns, though, are not so promising. Massey ranked 166th in on-base percentage (.274) out of the 168 big-league hitters who made more than 450 plate appearances in 2023. He connected for 15 home runs and stole six bases but finished in just the 36th percentile in average exit velocity and 49th percentile in sprint speed. It would come as a surprise -- a welcome surprise given his cheap draft-day cost -- if Massey were to pull off a fantasy breakout this year at age 26.

In a time of statistical volatility, it sure is nice to be able to count on the volume Ramirez produces despite the lack of supporting talent around him. Ramirez and Mike Trout lead all active players with five 20-20 seasons as Ramirez has achieved those marks in each of the past five full seasons while both accepting his walks and eschewing striking out. His 2022 and 2023 seasons by batting average and OBP were practically identical, but there was a significant dropoff in RBI as the lineup around Ramirez struggled to get runners into scoring position. Cleveland did not help that cause by focusing on slappy contact hitters and trading away Nolan Jones, but we digress. The 100-RBI plateau may be tough for Ramirez to get to once again if the lineup around him is not improved, but the volume is money in the bank as the hamate bone injury of 2019 is the only injury he has incurred in recent years.

Terence Mann told us in Field of Dreams that the one constant through all the years is baseball. He was wrong; the one constant is Devers continues to rake in Boston whether they are in a boom year contending for a title or a bust year beginning another refresh cycle as the club was in 2023. Devers finished just inside the top 30 overall fantasy players in 2023 despite the lineup issues around him with the early injury to Duvall and the ups and downs of the the youngsters Casas and Duran. Devers continued his Saberhagenmetric cycle of 30 homer & 100+ RBI seasons in odd-numbered seasons but may have fallen into the trap of the new shifting rules. Devers had his highest pull percentage in five seasons and hit for his lowest full-season batting average since 2018. His StatCast measures are still extremely red, in a good way, nearly across the board as he enters the prime years for power hitters.

Bregman is entering into the final year of his current contract, and it could be a rather interesting year if new manager Joe Espada makes the obvious tweak in the lineup. Should Espada finally move Kyle Tucker into the 2nd spot and then use Bregman in between Tucker and Yordan Alvarez, Bregman would arguably be the best positioned hitter in baseball. The insulation of the talent in front of him and the threat behind him would put him in great position to once again drive in 100+ runs, something he has not done in the previous three full seasons. Bregman is a rarity in this modern game as a player who walks more often than he strikes out, but that success translates more to his on-base skills (.373 career) than his batting average (.274 career.) Bregman also is more at home facing fellow righties than lefties the past two seasons but his home/road splits aren't as extreme as one might believe. We'll go out on a limb and state that should Bregman hit third this season, he will win the AL MVP.

Paredes had a wonderful breakout season becoming a full-time threat in the Tampa Bay lineup while playing three of the four infield positions. Paredes has a simple approach in that he is up there to pull baseballs, ideally over the fence since he is not the fleetest of foot. Paredes hit all 31 of his homers to left field, and in fact has hit all 53 of his career major league homers to left field. Not only does he pull a lot of baseballs, he also hits a high volume of flyballs which limits his batting average upside despite that he is both accepting of walks and does not strike out as much as one would imagine. His 98 RBI season appeared with him hitting .295 with runners in scoring position after hitting just .175 in those same situations in 2022. RISP production is not a skill so this could evaporate as quickly as it appeared which means the variability of his potential fantasy value in 2024 is rather wide. 2022 is a reminder of his downside.

Despite a strong spring training, Garcia opened the season with Triple-A Omaha. After posting a weak .242/.348/.347 line with the Storm Chasers, Garcia was summoned to the majors where he stayed the rest of the season. His game is hitting the ball hard on the ground with an 87th percentile average exit velocity and 6.1 degree launch angle. He mustered a low 84 wRC+, but Garcia swiped 23 bases. There is always the chance Garcia learns to loft the ball more, but as is he offers a solid batting average floor, with some speed. He batted leadoff in 72 of 123 games but is better suited for a spot lower in the order. He's miscast at third base, but with Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop, and no in-house challenger, Garcia is ticketed for another season at the hot corner. These aren't the ideal traits for a fantasy corner infielder, but Garcia can be useful in the right lineup construction, especially if he continues to hit at or near the top of the order.

It took awhile amid a streak of injuries, but Lewis finally became a regular in the Minnesota lineup and showed he's a budding superstar. Lewis didn't play in his first major league game until May 29 due his rehab from a second torn right ACL in consecutive seasons. He immediately provided a jolt to the offense by hitting .326 with four homers and an .827 OPS in 26 games before being shelved by another injury. He missed six weeks due to an oblique injury but returned to hit .295 with 11 home runs and a .992 OPS in 32 games. He suffered his third serious injury in late September, a strained left hamstring, but was able to return for the playoffs where he hit four home runs with a 1.119 OPS in six games. When in the lineup, Lewis showed outstanding power as his max exit velocity was 55th overall and his barrels per plate appearances were 51st among hitters with his comparable playing time. He also hit four grand slams - the first player in MLB history with five slams among his first 16 career homers. He also has good plate discipline (8.6 BB/9 and just 23.0 K) which could make batting average an asset. Lewis is also fast on the basepaths, but his injury concerns could limit his stolen base attempts. He looks set to be Minnesota's everyday third baseman as the Twins have said he won't play in the outfield given his knee issues and Carlos Correa is entrenched at shortstop. Whether he'll be a premium defender at the hot corner remains to be seen, but staying healthy appears to be the only concern as he looks set to be a cornerstone of the Minnesota lineup.

The Rays are known for slow-playing prospects, but not many hitters reach Double-A at 19 and proceed to hit 20 homers with a .309 average and a 17.1 K% over 81 games, but that's exactly what Caminero did. Tampa Bay rewarded the young slugger's exploits, jumping him over Triple-A for his big-league debut shortly after his 20th birthday and late enough in the season for him to enter this year rookie-eligible and therefore Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick eligible. Caminero only had 26 batted-ball events but still managed a 112-mph max exit velocity, although his minor-league hard-hit data was already superlative, so that didn't shed new light. He hits missiles to all fields and can handle high-end velocity and spin. There's nothing to quibble with offensively, especially when projecting a couple years into the future, aside from the fact he probably won't contribute on the bases. Caminero enters the year eligible at third base (three games), but he also saw brief time at shortstop (two games) and second base (one game). It's always pretty crowded in Tampa Bay, but considering Taylor Walls, Osleivis Basabe and Jonathan Aranda all saw plenty of playing time down the stretch, there should be room for Caminero to carve out an everyday role.

A bat-first infielder without a natural position, Keith is a career .303 hitter in the minors and established himself as one of the best offensive-minded prospects in the game while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A. He slashed .306/.380/.552 with 27 home runs and a 21.0 K% in 126 games across the top two levels of the minors but never got the call to the majors in his age-21 season. Generally a pull hitter who has steadily cut his groundball rate (below 35% at Double-A and Triple-A), Keith logged an excellent 34 percent hard-hit rate in the minors and should be able to produce enough at the plate to make up for his shaky defense. He saw 35 starts at second base and 20 starts at third base while at Triple-A, but he played more total games at third base when factoring in his Double-A usage, so he should enter the year eligible at third base with a chance to add second-base eligibility in season. The fact he didn't get the call last season led to some uncertainty about whether he would open 2024 on the big-league roster, but the six-year extension he signed with Detroit in January means he'll likely be in the big leagues Opening Day.

Jung had a solid rookie season for the world champs wrapped around a six week stint on the injured list with a thumb injury. The young (must...resist...pun) man held his own at the hot corner and enjoyed his spot in the deep Texas lineup to leverage a fair amount of run production despite the missed time due to his injury. The thumb injury truly defined his season as he hit .280 with 19 homers before the injury and just .229 with 4 homers upon his return in late August. His strikeout rate is currently his biggest concern as it was both high overall and both before and after his injury. Jung has struk out nearly 30% of the time with few walks in over 700 plate appearances between AAA and the majors which limits his batting average ceiling and his low OBP hurts his changes for hitting higher in the lineup. This offensive profile feels a lot like a young Nick Castellanos, and while Jung is in a better ballpark, Castellanos's early numbers are a good benchmark for Jung in 2024.

It's quite possible that Moncada's fantastic 2019 season will wind up being a career outlier. He posted a .315/.367/.548 batting line with 24 home runs and 11 stolen bases over 132 games that year and even garnered one down-ballot vote for American League MVP. In his 1,637 plate appearances since the beginning of the 2020 campaign, Moncada has slashed just .243/.325/.395 with middling power and only six total steals in eight total attempts. The 28-year-old third baseman is locked in for a $24.8 million salary in 2024 and carries a $5 million buyout on his $25 million club option for 2025, so he's probably close to untradeable unless he achieves some kind of massive turnaround in the first half of 2024. He remains an underwhelming fantasy option on a White Sox team that seems a bit directionless at the moment.

Davis finished strong with the Giants down the stretch of the 2022 campaign after coming over in a trade with the Mets and he carried that over into 2023, slashing .282/.362/.456 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI over 76 games through the end of June. The 30-year-old cooled off the rest of the way, though, hitting just .211/.284/.364 before ending the season with a shoulder strain. Davis still hits the ball hard (91.1 mph average exit velocity) and he did a better job of making contact in 2023 in cutting his strikeout rate to a more respectable 27.8 percent. His defense was actually much improved last season, although Davis' track record suggests he'll have to hit if he wants to play. He netted a career-high 546 plate appearances in 2023 but is no safe bet to reach that number in 2024.

Toro was dealt to Milwaukee last winter but played in just nine big-league games during 2023, though he took advantage of those opportunities by going 8-for-18 with two homers. The 28-year-old was then traded to the A's in November, which provides an immediate boost to his outlook for playing time in 2024. Toro also had a strong campaign at the Triple-A level last year with a .291/.374/.471 slash line and 10 home runs in 96 games. He has a .636 OPS in 271 big-league games during his career and isn't guaranteed playing time in Oakland, so a wait-and-see approach is likely appropriate rather than risking draft capital outside of a late-round dart throw.

Urias popped 16 home runs and won a Gold Glove as a semi-regular for the Orioles in 2022. He was used in a similar role for the American League East champs in 2023, but Urias' home run output was quartered and his defensive metrics also took a major hit. Where that leaves the 29-year-old heading into 2024 is uncertain, as Urias has seemingly already been passed up by some younger, more talented infielders and the organization also has more on the precipice. At his best, Urias has been an above-average hitter with an above-average glove. His fantasy appeal looks pretty limited, though, as he doesn't stand out anywhere and is facing uncertainty about his role.

It would be fair at this point to call the Angels' 2019 signing of Rendon to a seven-year deal a disaster, as the once-feared slugger has spent more time on the injured list than on the field over his four seasons so far with the club. Over the past three campaigns, Rendon has played in a total of 148 games -- approximately the equivalent of one season -- and posted a modest .701 OPS with 13 homers and 80 RBI. The All-Star hasn't lost his elite eye at the plate, and last year he walked nearly as many times as he struck out (25:27 BB:K), but that isn't going to carry him far in fantasy circles given the diminished power and inability to stay healthy. Shohei Ohtani's departure to the Dodgers opens the door for Rendon to log substantial time at DH next season, giving him a better chance of avoiding more time on the injured list. Still, counting on a bounce-back from a player who will turn 34 in June and who has been a shell of his former self for three years doesn't seem like the wisest investment.

LeMahieu batted .327 and then .364 during his first two seasons as a Yankee, but he's dropped off considerably in the three campaigns since. Last season, the veteran posted the lowest batting average (.243) and highest strikeout rate (22.2 percent) of his career. It could be that the foot injury that derailed the second half of his 2022 campaign continued to bother LeMahieu into 2023, but there's also the distinct possibility that the 35-year-old is simply losing ground to Father Time. Despite the recent falloff, there are a few reasons to believe LeMahieu could rebound to an extent next season: he still has near-elite bat-to-ball skills, and he experienced a mini-resurgence between the All-Star break and the end of August last year, posting an .879 OPS over 37 games before falling off again during the final month of the season. It's unlikely that he'll return to the form that netted him two batting titles, and he's a below-average contributor in power and speed, so fantasy managers shouldn't look to LeMahieu before the very late rounds of drafts. Still, opportunity should be there, either as New York's starting third baseman or as a utility man in a near-everyday role.

In 2022, Witt Jr missed the memo that rookies were supposed to struggle. In 2023, he missed the long-held belief that sophomores slump as pitchers begin to find weaknesses in younger players to exploit them. The young man was the only other player in baseball besides Ronald Acuna Jr to post at least 30 homers and 40 steals in 2023 and finished tied with Corbin Carroll as the sixth most valuable player in standard league formats. Witt Jr contributed to all five categories while excelling in four of them in 2023. The only area of his fantasy future that could stand to improve is his acceptance of walks as he appears to like them as much as his old man hated to dish them out on the mound. If Witt Jr could boost his OBP over .350, he could lead the league in stolen bases in 2024. As you set your draft preferences for 2024, understand Witt Jr may not even be there if you pick as high as 3rd.

Mr. October 2.0 had a monster 2023 season after a somewhat disappointing debut with Texas in 2022. Many expected Seager to benefit from the reduction of overshifting, but nobody saw a 82-point surge and a career-best batting average coming from him. The shift does not get all the credit as Seager previously hit over .300 in two other full seasons, but the shift certainly helped him a bit. Seager along with Luis Arraez were the only two qualified players in baseball with OBP's over .390 despite 50 or fewer walks last year, and he would have easily had 100+ runs as well as RBIs had he not missed time with both a hamstring as well as a thumb injury. He returned from that thumb injury in early August, homered in his first at bat, and went on to hit 17 more regular season homers as a warm up for what he did in October to help Texas win the pennant. Two benchmarks for Seager in 2024: 40 homer and 100 RBIs - two things he has never accomplished in his excellent career to date.

We should always be impressed when 22 year olds hold their own at the major league level considering most players that age are still taking a bus to a small to mid-sized town near you. It is even more impressive when said players do something few others do early in their careers. Henderson was one of five corner infielders with 25 homers, 80 runs and RBIs along with 10 steals joining Walker, Freeman, Bellinger, and Goldschmidt while being five years younger than anyone else in that group. Henderson has been everything as advertised so far at the plate and in the field qualifying at both positions on the left side of the infield. The only fantasy flaw in his current profile is he has been just above average in batting average as his plate discipline is still morphing into what it could be while he continues attempting to figure out lefties who have limited him to a .199 average. Those are flaws you can live with for now while enjoying his continued overall growth

Bichette has been a model of consistency since debuting for the Blue Jays in 2019, and his .306/.339/.475 slash line in 2023 closely resembles his career line. His counting stats (20 homers, 73 RBI and five steals) took a bit of a hit as he spent time on the injured list with knee and quadriceps issues during the second half, though he still played in 135 games overall. Bichette's barrel rate remained stable at 9.6 percent, though he boosted his line-drive rate seven points to 27.4 percent to help maintain a .355 BABIP, which should be sustainable since it's only slightly higher than his career average. He recorded 38 steals over the 2021-22 campaigns, so it's surprising he stayed in single digits in 2023 given the rule changes that boosted totals league-wide. The two leg injuries likely played a role in the production drop, but he still had just three steals in 90 games heading into the All-Star break. Regardless of the stolen base total, Bichette has established a strong fantasy floor with a high average and reliable run production heading into his age-26 campaign.

Seen as a long shot to break camp entering spring training, Volpe won the starting job at shortstop for the Yankees with his performance in the Grapefruit League and went on total 601 plate appearances as a rookie. At age 21/22, he hit 21 homers and stole 24 bases, but his batting line settled at just .209/.283/.383. He totaled a meager 122 runs-plus-RBI while stuck primarily in the bottom third of the batting order, though he made 28 starts out of the leadoff spot. Volpe makes for an interesting case study entering 2024 because everything under the hood looks bad, but further development should be expected for the former top prospect. It's possible his crash course last season accelerates that development and Volpe quickly becomes the star player some evaluators expected, but right now he's looking like a playing-time-dependent accumulator. The Yankees stuck by him all year despite some low lows, and a long leash should be expected again in 2024.

Neto began the season with Double-A Rocket City but was soon promoted to the majors. After a slow start, he raised his OPS to .769 but was placed on the IL in mid-June with a left oblique strain. Neto returned after the All-Star break, posting a .566 OPS over the next three weeks. Neto revisited the IL, this time with back stiffness. He came back in early September but continued to struggle with a .547 OPS over the last 17 games of the season. Neto possesses below average power with enough speed to generate double-digit stolen bases; his primary asset is getting on base. In part because he hit more fly balls than he did in the minors, Neto's .272 BABIP was low. The expectation is for it to increase as Neto gets more acclimated to major league pitching. Even so, Neto has limited mixed league appeal, though he could be more useful if his on-base skills warrant one of the top-two spots in the Angels lineup.

Correa's second season with the Twins was a disappointment as he hit just .230 with a .711 OPS. He played most of the season with plantar fasciitis in his left foot which may have limited him at the plate. It hurt his speed and was a factor in his leading the league in grounding into double plays (30). His main struggles were against fastballs, where he was below average (-5 Run Value per Baseball Savant) for the first time in his career, so his decline may not have all been due to health. However, his power metrics were still above average (71st percentile in Avg. Exit Velocity and 75th in Hard-Hit Rate). Correa was still a plus defender despite the foot issues in part due to his riffle arm as he was a finalist for the AL Gold Glove. He also thrived in the postseason again, hitting .409 with three doubles in six games. His return to postseason form happened after his only IL stint for his foot issues, giving hope that the rest caused him to be renewed at the plate and a similar pattern can happen for 2024. He's set at the Twins shortstop for the foreseeable future thanks to a six-year, $200 million contract. While there are long-term concerns about his ankle (a plate inserted in his ankle from a 2014 injury scared of teams signing him last winter), a return to health could lead to a bounceback season.

Pena fanned less and walked more than he did in his rookie season. Pena's average exit velocity and hard-hit rate were essentially the same. However, he flattened his swing, resulting in more grounders and a three mph drop in flyball average exit velocity, cutting his HR/FB mark in half. The change helped boost his BABIP by 25 points, but Pena's power was crushed as he left the yard only 10 times, 12 fewer times than his first season, despite 76 more plate appearances. He stole two more bases, but he profiled as someone who would take advantage of the new rules. It was sage to expect Pena to fall short of his freshman season, but the way he did it was curious, morphing into an extreme groundball hitter. From a fantasy perspective, Pena's transition is better for batting average, but he doesn't steal ample bases to be a top tier shortstop unless he reverts to hitting more flyballs. Pena is why tracking stats when drafting is precarious. He's likely going to be a fantasy asset, but the distribution of his stats has a wide range of possibilities.

Baez's time in Detroit has mostly been a disaster so far. The shortstop signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Tigers before the 2022 season and has proceeded to struggle each of the last two years. After posting a .671 OPS in 2022, he bottomed out with a .592 OPS last year, which was his worst outside of the .551 OPS he posted as a 21-year-old rookie in 2014. By comparison, Baez averaged a .783 OPS across eight seasons before coming over to Detroit. Not surprisingly, his counting stats were down in 2023 as well, as he recorded only nine home runs and 59 RBI across 136 games. Baez lowered his strikeout rate a little bit, from 24.9% to 22.9%, though he continued to rarely take walks and mostly made weak contact on his swings. Now entering his age-31 season, Baez clearly looks like a player on the decline. Some fantasy managers will likely roll the dice given his past performance, though there is nothing in his recent profile to suggest a turnaround is coming anytime soon.

Crawford enjoyed a wonderful breakout season offensively after years of fantasy managers waiting for the production to catch up with the potential with him. Crawford parlayed his excellent OBP skills into scoring 94 runs thanks to a career high walk rate which helped him get on base 38% of the time. Crawford's batting average splits were nil but 16 of his 19 homers came against righties and he was a monster in the second half trying to personally will Seattle into returning to the postseason with 11 homers, 47 runs, and a .282/.401/.492 line during that time. Crawford opened the season hitting 9th but quickly moved to the leadoff and remained there most of the season. That role should continue for him as he has the best OBP chops on the roster. Crawford is one of 23 players with at least 600 plate appearances in each of the past three seasons and just one of five shortstops to do so. He was a bargain in 2023 drafts, but his price has risen significantly this draft season.

After getting traded from Atlanta to Boston this offseason for Chris Sale, Grissom should finally get to be an everyday second baseman in the big leagues. Grissom, 23, boasts a career .320/.407/.477 batting line in 1,474 minor-league plate appearances but was blocked at second base in Atlanta and not seen as a competent enough defensive shortstop to get regular work there. He is a career .287 hitter in the majors (.348 BABIP) and has five homers and five steals in 236 plate appearances. Grissom could push for a 15/15 season with excellent health, but the main selling point is the batting average floor - projection system Steamer has Grissom hitting .285 this year. He will be playing half his games in the second-best hitter's park, per Statcast's three-year rolling average. However, Fenway Park plays neutral for righty homers, as it's the second-best doubles park for righties due to the Green Monster. Grissom may lead off against lefties, but he could hit in the bottom third of the lineup against righties.

Holliday had one of the most impressive full-season debuts any teenage prospect has had in modern memory, and the scary thing is he may just be scratching the surface. He still has a babyface and room to add 20 pounds of muscle in the coming years, but that didn't stop him from logging a .323/.442/.499 slash line with 12 home runs, 24 steals, a 17.4 BB% and a 20.3 K% while being between two and seven years younger than the average player in the leagues he was in while climbing from Single-A to Triple-A as a 19-year-old. His exit velocities aren't as intense as the other hitters in the top five of prospect rankings, but the expectation is that he will hit the ball harder as his body matures. Holliday is a plus runner who hits left-handed, which is important given how his future home park plays (much better for lefty power than righty power). His defense is behind his offense, but it's really hard to nitpick that aspect of his game when most premier teenage shortstop prospects haven't played a game in the upper levels of the minors and he played 36 games at Double-A and 18 games at Triple-A. It's possible Holliday comes to camp 15 pounds stronger and looks ready on both sides of the ball in spring training and forces the issue. However, there's little incentive for Baltimore to expedite Holliday's ascent to the majors if they think he could benefit from a couple months at Triple-A.

Rosario was a solid, albeit underwhelming fantasy option at shortstop from 2021-22, compiling his way to decent five-category production. His Statcast data in 2023, at least offensively, said he was basically the same player, but Rosario's already-modest power numbers sank and he continued to look rather helpless against right-handed pitching (.636 OPS). Also, his defense at shortstop went from bad to borderline unplayable and the Guardians wound up trading him to the Dodgers at the deadline. Rosario was used primarily at second base in Los Angeles, but playing time was sporadic. With major questions about his position and viability versus right-handers, Rosario's future is cloudy, though his landing spot with the Rays offers some hope for a turnaround.

The Guardians are one of the cheapest teams in the league, so while Rocchio doesn't project to perform like an everyday-caliber player in 2024, he may still get those opportunities. The switch-hitting shortstop has been a quality prospect dating back to an impressive pro debut as a teenager in 2018, but despite posting ISO's over .160 and slugging percentages over .425 across High-A and Double-A in 2021 and 2022, his power output has declined steeply since reaching Triple-A and the majors. It's possible he was able to get himself into more hitter's counts that allowed him to swing for the fences more against High-A and Double-A pitching and that has not carried over against pitchers with better control. Aside from limited raw power, Rocchio has a lot going for him. He is an excellent defensive infielder who had an 11.2 percent walk rate and 12.3 percent strikeout rate with 25 steals in 116 games at Triple-A. Barring an offseason acquisition of a more seasoned big-league shortstop, Rocchio could be Cleveland's starter at the position while likely hitting in the bottom third of the lineup.

Shewmake caught some attention during 2023 Spring Training as he was in competition for the Atlanta's starting shortstop job ultimately won and held onto all season by Orlando Arcia. The result of the season was a disappointing .234/.298/.407 line in 526 Triple-A plate appearances leading to a trade to the White Sox in November. Shewmake's struggles in 2023 coupled with the White Sox making multiple additions across the infield may see him return to Triple-A at least to start 2024. Known for his glove more so than his bat, the former first-round pick could eventually factor into a utility role.

Rodriguez followed up with his excellent rookie season with an even more productive sophomore season excelling in all five scoring categories on his way to finishing as the 8th most valuable fantasy player in standard formats in 2023. Rodriguez was the only player in the American League to hit at least 30 homers, both score and drive in over 100, while also stealing more than 30 bags while Acuna Jr bested him in every category overall. That said, the youngster is still prone to slumps. He hit below .250 in 3 of the 6 months and just 3 of his homers and 21 of his RBIs came in high leverage situations. A monster second half got him to his final numbers, and he really caught his stride once he was left in the second spot of the lineup behind Crawford's on base percentage. You should expect more of the same from Rodriguez in 2024 with fewer slumps in between bursts of awesomeness as he continues to mature as a hitter.

All's well that ends well? Soto was hitting .202 with five homers and 11 RBI as the calendar flipped to May, making many fantasy managers rather nervous watching their first round foundational pick get off to such a poor start. Soto went on to turn things around, hitting 30 homers, driving in 98, and hitting .290 for the rest of the season to finish as the 16th most valuable fantasy player in our standard rankings. He was one of three qualified hitters with more walks than strikeouts in 2023 and has still not fallen below the .400 mark for a season on-base percentage in his entire career. The batting average has taken a tumble since the 2020-2021 season but the volume is still in place for the other statistics. After getting traded to the Yankees for his final year before free agency, Soto will gain a massive home-park power boost, as Yankee Stadium rates as the second best park for lefty power, per Baseball Savant's park factors, while San Diego rated as the fifth-worst such park. There will be immense pressure on him to produce in pinstripes as his free agency looms next winter.

Garcia was likely a title maker for many fantasy managers coming off a season where he set career bests in three categories by maximizing power and being more accepting of his walks. Naturally, the power growth fueled a second consecutive 100 RBI season and the increased time on base allowed him to score 20 more runs than he did in 2022, and the steals went..down? Garcia was 81% successful in his 31 attempts in 2022, but only attempted 10 steals (9 successfully) last season. Some of that comes down to a declining sprint speed which went from the 90's to the 40's in a hurry but there was also more traffic on the bases in Texas than we had previously been. Garcia should be expected to volume his way to another valuable fantasy season in at least three categories while missing minimal time. The strikeout rate it is what it is, but Garcia is clearly able to remain productive with a very supportive team context. He's not Khris Davis consistent in batting average, but he is close.

We are going to say it: Tucker was robbed in 2023. Since Khris Davis left the league, we have lacked a statistically consistent player and Tucker looked to have filled that need with what should have been his 30th homer on the final day of the season. That is, until the official scorer turned it into a triple with an error. That scurrilous decision robbed Tucker of a third consecutive 30 homer season and his first ever 30-30 season. All joking aside, Tucker had a monster fantasy season accepting his walks, rarely striking out, and stepping up as a run producer in the third spot of the lineup while Yordan Alvarez missed time. We have longed to have Tucker hitting in the upper third of the lineup and he did not disappoint with 47 RBIs in 56 games from that spot. Whereas Dusty Baker was reticent to make changes, Joe Espada may change things up to have Tucker hit second and have Bregman in between the lefty at bats. If that happens, Tucker is worth a top five overall pick.

If Alvarez had a 100% health rating, you could make the case for him being the first hitter taken after Acuna Jr. When Alvarez is not playing through an injury or missing time with an injury, he is a run producing monster. Alvarez was limited to 114 games due to hand, arm, and an oblique injury yet still managed to finish in the top 25 for home runs and RBI despite the missed time. Alvarez is doing now what David Ortiz was doing at the end of his career numbers wise, but doing so in 80% of the plate appearances. If Alvarez could ever get a full season, 2005-2007 Ortiz numbers are at the edge of possibilities for him because he is that good of a hitter. He takes his walks and he does not strike out at the rate other hulks like him do while also handling lefties well. Simply put, this is a fantasy foundational player who is a perennial MVP candidate and worth the risk to reach because the numbers he could put up in a 600 plate appearance season will win leagues.

Despite missing 56 games due to hip and toe injuries, Judge cracked 37 homers in 2023, finishing fourth in the American League. The stars aligned in his historic 2022 MVP season and nobody should expect that level of production again, particularly in the stolen-base department (his SB total fell from 16 to just three last season). That being said, Judge is arguably the most prolific power hitter in baseball, and he chased pitches outside the strike zone less than ever last season (career-low 22.5 O-Swing%). He returned to hit .245/.408/.557 with 18 homers and 53 walks in his final 57 games, and manager Aaron Boone said in August that Judge would not need offseason surgery on his right big toe. There is no questioning his hitting ability, though it's fair to question whether the hulking outfielder/DH can hold up to the rigors of a full MLB season as he approaches age 32. Judge has reached 150 games played only twice in his career.

Robert missed nearly half of the White Sox's games across the 2021-22 seasons due to injuries and finished the 2023 campaign on the injured list with a sprained MCL, but prior to that injury he played in 145 games, easily crushing his previous career high of 98. The outfielder was insanely productive with 38 homers, 20 steals and a .264/.315/.542 slash line, which was supported by a 15.2 percent barrel rate that ranked 11th in MLB. The campaign was a resounding success from both a durability and production standpoint -- especially considering Chicago's otherwise anemic offense -- but a 10-point increase in his strikeout rate (to 29.2 percent) is worth keeping an eye on. Robert still carries some minor durability questions since a single healthy season isn't enough to fully shed those concerns, but he'll jump up draft boards after he showcased his full potential as a hitter during a healthy 2023 campaign.

Arozarena's third consecutive 20-20 season may look like more of the same, but there is more under the hood here. While his .254 batting average was the worst of his career and a continued decline in average, he was more accepting of walks than he has ever been in his career and used the OBP resurgence to set a new career high in runs scored. He improved his chase rate on the season, and it would have been even better if not for a massive slump in July as he prepared and then participated in the home run derby which saw him hit .153 with his lowest monthly walk rate of the season. 16 of his 23 homers came before the break and his .279 first half average against his .220 second half average show just how much that slump hurt his overall numbers. Arozarena has seen his fantasy futures rise from risky single-digit round pick to a safe first five round selection in a short time, but this is likely his fantasy peak.

Langford fell to the Rangers at No. 4 overall in the 2023 draft, but he could have gone 1-1 in that draft or any other to a team focused on getting a quick-to-the-majors impact bat. After slaughtering pro pitching to the tune of a .360/.480/.677 slash line with 10 home runs and 12 steals in 44 games while climbing from rookie ball to Triple-A, he now has a case as the top prospect in the game and as the top prospect to target for 2024 fantasy production. In a couple years, those elite prospects two and three years younger like Jackson Holliday and Jackson Chourio may be on Langford's level of impact, but right now he looks like a man among boys at the top of prospect lists. He posted a 117-mph exit velocity at Florida and regularly logged exit velocities north of 100 mph in pro ball. While Langford won't end up in center field, especially given the Rangers' other options, he is a plus runner who puts his speed to use on the bases and he walked more than he struck out in the SEC and in his pro debut. Given that Langford may be the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year, the Rangers are incentivized to give him a full year of service time, as it could net them a Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick at the end of the first round in 2025.

Santander's triple slash improved across the board as he benefited from legislating the shift. The switch-hitter faced a shift 89.4 percent of the time as a lefty in 2022, posting a .219 BABIP. Last season, he was shaded 65.3 percent of the time when batting left-handed, leading to a .292 BABIP. The higher BABIP helped counter a career high strikeout rate, though it wasn't egregiously high. Santander's homers dropped, but his percentage of extra base hits increased four points, so his slugging percentage improved. After stealing just three career bases heading into last season, Santander was 5-for-6 with the new rules, so there's some hope he'll run a tad more. Santander's defense remained a tick above average in right field, assuring he'll continue to play nearly every day, even as the Orioles continue to promote prospects to the majors. There isn't an area where Santander pops with upside, but he's a durable and reliable compiler on a team with a potent lineup.

The back of Carter's baseball card looks pristine and he shined on a big postseason stage, but there is one glaring weakness to acknowledge: his inability to hit lefties. He should be a fantastic option near the top of the lineup against righties and has the speed to steal 20-plus bases. Carter's hard-hit data is middling, especially for a top prospect who is big-league ready. However, he is a master at getting the barrel to the ball and taking opposite-handed pitchers out to the pull side. Carter's 13.4 O-Swing% was incredibly low, especially for a rookie hitter who also slugged .645 in 75 MLB plate appearances. For now, he is a premium platoon prospect. He went hitless with one walk and six strikeouts in 11 plate appearances against big-league lefties and notched one extra-base hit (a double) while striking out 28 times in 106 plate appearances against southpaws at Double-A and Triple-A. The Rangers are loaded, so Carter may platoon, but he could still go 15/20 with a high OBP and won't turn 22 until August.

Another year, another season marred by injury for the three-time American League MVP. Trout managed to stay healthy for most of the first half before he suffered a fractured wrist in early July, and he'd appear in just one contest the rest of the way. He ended up playing in only 82 games, while his .263/.367/.490 slash line is the worst of his career in all three categories since his debut campaign in 2011. The 32-year-old still hit 18 homers and walked at a 12.7 percent clip, but his strikeout rate remained high at 28.7 percent. Trout also continued to square up the ball consistently with a 16.0 percent barrel rate and 51.5 percent hard-hit rate, both of which would rank near the top of the league among qualified hitters. Trout has played in more than 85 percent of the Angels' games just twice over the past seven seasons, with one of those instances being the shortened 2020 campaign. The durability concerns aren't going anywhere with Trout on the wrong side of 30, but he'll still be a clear difference maker for fantasy managers in 2024 if he's able to play even 120 games, which seems close to the best-case scenario given he hasn't reached that mark since 2019.

A 19th-round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2019, Carpenter bucked the odds by even reaching the majors. He continued to surprise in 2023 with 20 home runs, six steals and a 121 wRC+ in 459 plate appearances. The last of those 20 homers came Aug. 23 -- Carpenter went 34 games without a long ball to finish the season, slashing just .256/.313/.308 in that stretch. In addition to that disturbing trend, Carpenter managed just a .657 OPS against left-handed pitching for the season, leaving open the possibility for a strict platoon role. His overall body of work was impressive enough for Carpenter to project as a regular in Detroit between the corner outfield and DH, but it's understandable to still be skeptical, especially with the way last season ended for him. HIs home park does him no favors.

The expected stats will tell you Stanton was unlucky last season, as he had the ninth-highest gap between his xwOBA (.329) and actual wOBA (.297). The problem is that a .329 wOBA isn't anything special. Prior to the 2022 campaign, Stanton had never posted a wOBA below .344 during the Statcast era, and on five occasions it was .370 or higher. Yes, Stanton remained prolific in terms of his quality of contact, but even that was down a bit and he also saw his walk rate fall below 10 percent for the first time since 2018. Injury was again a problem, this time with the hamstring being the culprit. Given that he's now 34, Stanton's injury issues are probably likely to get worse before they get better. The only silver lining here is that Stanton's draft day cost will never be cheaper, and he's certainly capable of still providing power when on the field.

George Springer's 2023 season surprised fantasy managers in many ways. The biggest surprise of them all is the 33 year old player eclipsed the 140 gamed played mark for the first time since he played all 162 in 2016. He also went out and posted the first 20-20 season of his career which was his first full season with even double-digit steals since the 2015 season. The 21 homers was a disappointment given the tweaks made to Rogers Centre to improve offense, but those improvements did not materialize into extra homers for anyone on the roster let alone Springer. His RBI production was held back with him hitting leadoff for most of the season and the bottom of the order not being on base as much as hoped. We cannot recommend looking for more of the same from this veteran given how much newness was introduced from Springer in 2023 as much as we can safely say repeating 20 homers is the only thing he is likely to repeat in 2024.