Diamondbacks 2023: ESPN fantasy baseball projections (position players)
Catcher Carson Kelly 2023 projections (241 at-bats, 8 HRs, 30 RBIs, .689 OPS)
ESPN predicts Kelly to have a bounce-back season at the plate. In their projections, they have Kelly’s average, OBP, and SLG percentages all increasing from 2022. With Kelly’s defensive prowess, an OPS close to .700 would make Kelly one of the best all-around catchers in the game…
Catcher Gabriel Moreno 2023 projections (348 ABs, 8 HRs, 61 RBIs, .777 OPS)
Losing Daulton Varsho hurt no doubt. But fans should be excited about a piece that came over in the Varsho trade; young catcher Gabriel Moreno. An interesting part of Moreno’s projections is that ESPN has him logging more at-bats than Kelly. Kelly is outstanding defensively, but with the impressive offensive production they have Moreno posting, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Moreno take the reigns of the catching duties…
1B Christian Walker 2023 projections (584 ABs, 29 HRs, 81 RBIs, .772 OPS)
These numbers need explanation. The Diamondbacks offense a year ago was average and Walker posted a 36 HR, 94 RBI, and .800 OPS season. With off-season additions such as Longoria, Gurriel Jr., and Moreno, this offense has improved drastically. Yet, ESPN has Walker regressing after a career season. I call bologna…
2B Ketel Marte 2023 projections (494 ABs, 16 HRs, 59 RBIs, .797 OPS)
Like Kelly, Marte is projected for a bounce-back season. In 2022, Marte struggled at the plate; he hit 12 HRs, 52 RBIs, and finished the season with a .240/.321/.407 slash line. For some players, a line like that would be good. For Marte, he is 2 years removed from a season in which he finished with a .909 OPS; look for Marte to put up big numbers this season…
SS Nick Ahmed 2023 projections (385 ABs, 8 HRs, 40 RBIs, .645 OPS)
Shortstop Nick Ahmed and catcher Carson Kelly are both very similar. Both are veteran Diamondbacks players that are the best of the best defensively but tend to be below-average at the dish. Coming off a season in which he only played 17 games, ESPN predicts Ahmed to have an OPS under .650. For Ahmed, a .645 OPS would be below his career average (.672). Let’s hope ESPN is underestimating the power of the injury comeback…
3B Evan Longoria 2023 projections (224 ABs, 11 HRs, 34 RBIs, .767 OPS)
As you can see by the number of ABs, ESPN doesn’t see Longoria as an everyday player. That or they think Longo will at some point catch the injury bug. Either way, for Arizona to add a solid glove in the field and a bat that can produce a .767 OPS over the course of 200 plus ABs… Good job Mike Hazen…
IF Josh Rojas 2023 projections (504 ABs, 11 HRs, 56 RBIs, .724 OPS)
Josh Rojas is so valuable to this team. A man that can play multiple different positions and field them all relatively well. Also, a man that can steal 20-plus bases, score 60-plus times, and record an OPS over .720. This man is a certified stud, and it’s no surprise ESPN has him recoridng over 500 ABs. Prepare to see a lot of Ro this season…
OF Corbin Carroll 2023 projections (474 ABs, 21 HRs, 65 RBIs, .892 OPS)
Anybody scroll down just to see Carroll’s numbers? I have said it all off-season, fans should be very excited about this young outfielder. In his short stint with Arizona last year, Carroll recorded an OPS of .830 across 104 ABs. With his first full season coming up, ESPN doesn't have Corbin slowing down. If he does indeed finish with a .892 OPS, he would be a top-10 hitter in all of baseball. Remember this during your fantasy draft this season…
OF Jake McCarthy 2023 projections (481 ABs, 13 HRs, 60 RBIs, .753 OPS)
I think ESPN is downplaying McCarthy’s potential here. I genuinely think he will hit more than 13 HRs, I think he’ll have more than 60 RBIs, and I think his OPS will be higher than .753. But hey, they have to play it safe right? That’s alright, keep sleeping; I am sure Jake wants it that way…
OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 2023 projections (457 ABs, 12 HRs, 63 RBIs, .768 OPS)
Another key off-season addition, ESPN has outfielder Gurriel Jr. bouncing back from a career worse season at the plate. The funny thing is, Gurriel Jr.’s 2022 season, which was the worst in his career, still saw him hit 52 RBIs, score 52 runs, and finish with a .743 OPS. As you can tell, Lourdes has been consistently good in his 5 seasons in the bigs. Fans should be excited about his potential as his career-best season came in 2019 where he recorded an .868 OPS over 84 games. This dude can hit...
OF Alek Thomas 2023 projections (315 ABs, 8 HRs, 35 RBIs, .774 OPS)
Last, but certainly not least, outfielder Alek Thomas. The young gun did not have an ideal year at the plate last season. Over the course of 381 bats in 2022, Thomas slashed .231/.275/.344 for an OPS of .619. Obviously, that is not good, but Thomas is young, still learning, and filled to the brim with potential. Both ESPN and I agree that Thomas will have a breakout season in 2023…