2022 TOP FANTASY BASEBALL BATS

MLB / Baseball

Written by Gus Cousins (Based on FANTRAX SPORTS)

For those of you who read this, you’re likely done with whatever fantasy drafts on whichever platforms for the 2022 MLB season - and if you haven’t, well, you have just over a week before the season starts!

Brendan Rodgers | Source (Background photo): ESPN

What I’d like to do today is take you through a hypothetical situation; say that I had the opportunity to draft any players I wanted on the condition that I pick three players per position. Essentially, I have the cream of the crop in terms of rostering the best possible team for the 2022 season, in my opinion. Who do I pick? For the sake of simplicity, let’s assume that if I can’t repeat players for multiple spots - as in, if I rank Bo Bichette as one of my top three SS, then I cannot slot him in as one of my top three 2B/SS…you’ll see what I mean!

C: 1. Will Smith 2. Salvador Perez 3. Tyler Stephenson	1B/3B: 1. Nolan Arenado 2. Anthony Rendon 3. Max Muncy
1B: 1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2. Freddie Freeman 3. Matt Olson	2B/SS: 1. Jose Altuve 2. Xander Bogaerts 3. Jorge Polanco
2B: 1. Trea Turner 2. Ozzie Albies 3. Ketel Marte	OF: 1. Mike Trout 2. Juan Soto 3. Mooke Betts
3B: 1. Jose Ramirez 2. Manny Machado 3. Austin Riley	UTL: 1. Bryce Harper 2. Kris Bryant 3. Ronald Acuna Jr.
SS: 1. Wander Franco 2. Bo Bichette 3. Corey Seager	RES: 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. 2. Bobby Witt Jr. 3. Jose Altuve

Many of these are rather obvious, that said, Tyler Stephenson, Austin Riley, and Jorge Polanco I am considerably higher on than the general public (at least in terms of ADP - Average Draft Position). Has anybody noticed how similar Witt Jr.'s swing is to Mike Trout’s? No? Ok, whatever…onto SLEEPERS!

SLEEPERS:

C - Elias Diaz, ROCKIES 1B - Rowdy Tellez, BREWERS

C - Austin Nola, PADRES 1B - Connor Joe, ROCKIES

2B - Wilmer Flores, GIANTS SS - Kyle Farmer, REDS

2B - Isaac Paredes, TIGERS SS - Brendan Rodgers, ROCKIES

3B - Kevin Smith, ATHLETICS OF - Seth Brown, ATHLETICS

3B - Jose Miranda, TWINS OF - Kyle Isbel, ROYALS

JUSTIFICATION

I reiterate this is just my opinion - although history’s on my side! There should be very few surprises in the first section, where I list my top-3 of each position.

Maybe, just maybe, Tyler Stephenson could raise an eyebrow or two, but I am very much a fan of the young Cincinnati catcher. In the eyes of generic fantasy leagues, defensive statistics for any catcher hold little value - if you can get 12-15+ homers (which I believe Stephenson is quite capable of accomplishing) and hit for average (last year he hit .286, 21 doubles) while also being eligible at 1B, I’d take ‘em every day of the week. Plus, he’s now the 1A in Cincinnati now that Tucker Barnhart is out of the picture.

Elias Diaz - one of a number of Rockies’ I’m about to mention - is similar to Stephenson. 18 homers for Diaz in 2021, which actually amounted to more than someone I left off the list: J.T. Realmuto. Diaz just signed a three-year extension with Colorado, so there’s no concern of playtime there either.

Blue Jays fans know of Rowdy Tellez’s raw power, and with a full season as Milwaukee’s first baseman, Brewers fans will know about it too. There are so many good corner-infield options available through fantasy eligibility that it’s hard to go wrong, but if you’re in need of a quality second (or third) tier 1B then Tellez is a strong option. Connor Joe - another Rockie - may be slightly more questionable purely based on his lack of MLB experience, however, his platoon time in 2021 boasted some great numbers. 1B/OF eligible, Joe has a decently high floor as a possible utility/replacement piece.

Flores, Farmer, and Rodgers are all clumped together for men as middle-infielders who are effective backup options for all the notable stars - all three put up middle-to-late teen home run numbers, and they also are all expected to gain larger roles after their successful 2021s. Plus, Rodgers plays in Colorado and we all know EVERYBODY hits in Colorado. Paredes is less of a sure thing, and I like him purely on gut feel. He’s one of a slew of Detroit youngsters who has put up big numbers in the minors and should receive plenty of playing time in 2022 - if you can stash him, stash him. If not, keep your eye out.

Jose Miranda is in much the same boat that Isaac Paredes is in, someone who mashed in AAA (.343/.397/.563 with 17 HRs) but hasn’t played in the Majors. The Twins are aiming for him to start the season in AAA, but as soon as he’s called up I’d take a chance. Defense is what Minnesota’s worried about with him, so as soon as they deem him fit to make his debut is when his value in non-dynasty leagues will blossom. Kevin Smith, well, I just have a funny feeling it’ll work out in Oakland. My guess is that he’ll likely be someone who sits right around 5-8 HRs and hits for average - think David Fletcher except a tad more pop and less contact.

Lastly, the outfielders. There are so, so, so many of them out there, and many have dual eligibility between two or more positions. Seth Brown is a peak ‘Oakland guy’ - 29 years old, late bloomer, he’s the epitome of someone you read about and go “man, he definitely plays on Oakland”. 20 homers last year, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t around there (or better!) again. Isbel has less of a track record in the Majors, however, Kansas City is quite high on the young outfielder. Plenty of hits and a high average is what I expect out of Isbel, with 10-15 HR as a bonus.

With all this said, I - like everyone - am inherently biased in some regard. Do I over-value Colorado hitters? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Beyond who I’ve mentioned, it’s important to remember that there’s always someone out there worth a look. On that note, I leave you with two pieces of advice that lack context - learning about players is half the fun!

#1 - Do not draft James McCann. Do not trade for James McCann. Do not put in a waiver claim for James McCann. Don’t do it.

#2 - I am a fan of Cody Thomas. Do with that what you will.

I’ll be back with pitchers next week!

Psst...Did someone say, Adrian Houser? Funny, I swear I heard someone say, Adrian Houser…