Some big names are coming back from an injury-plagued 2022 season and could dramatically change the fantasy landscape this year.
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Everyone mentioned below still has a premium skill set, but managers are losing sleep until we see him on the field for an extended period of time. let’s take a look:
A combination of injuries and suspension have ruled Tatis out for the rest of 2022 and he will start this season in similar fashion. But when his suspension expires in late April, the 24-year-old could immediately return to a top five overall fantasy property. Still, Tatis’ shoulder and wrist surgeries last fall have added a layer of concern that he won’t be putting his best foot forward right away. The San Diego star needs to hit the ground running in order to justify his current Yahoo ADP of 22.5.
Chisholm showed exciting potential last year in 60 games (.860 OPS, 14 HR, 12 SB) before he was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his lower back. The 25-year-old could be a 30-30 player throughout the campaign this year, and he has switched positions in the outfield, which will soon make him a multi-position asset.
In short, I like the idea of drafting Chisholm at my current Yahoo ADP (51.9).
Albis couldn’t stay healthy last year, as he missed three months with a fractured foot before suffering a fractured pinky finger in his second game back in September. His performance had deteriorated before the foot injury, as his final .2022 OPS (.703) was the lowest of his six-year career. To further complicate matters, the infielder is also returning from October shoulder surgery.
Additionally, the role of Albis is a source of concern. The 26-year-old has spent most of his career playing out of premium lineup spots, but the Braves have other good candidates to fill those roles this season. Overall, there are too many risk factors for me to draft albies at their current Yahoo ADP (50.9).
A top-50 pick in recent years, Anderson has dipped to a current Yahoo ADP of 73.8 after missing nearly a month last season with a right groin strain and the final two months with a torn tendon in his left middle finger. because of. Anderson is still on the right side at age 30, but he’s never been a sustainable player, missing 32 percent of his team’s games over the past four seasons. Still, I like the idea of drafting a 29-year-old on his depreciated draft cost.
O’Neal is coming off a season where nothing went right. His injuries began in late May with a right shoulder injury, and by the end of the campaign, he missed time with both hamstring injuries. Unsurprisingly, the Canada native saw his year-to-date OPS decline by more than 200 points, ruining all the buzz he created over his breakout 2021 campaign (34 HR, 15 SB, .912 OPS) .
Overall, I think O’Neal provides reasonable value at his current Yahoo ADP (105.1), and I hope he’s on some of my 2023 rosters.
Although Lowe missed a few games in 2022 due to a triceps injury, it was due to his lower back that he appeared in only 65 contests. The 28-year-old finished the season with a .691 OPS, which was the first time his final mark was below .850 since his rookie year in 2018, and is now being selected in the Yahoo Draft with a 153.5 average. , A healthy Lowe profiles as someone who will hit 35 homers, which excites me to take a chance on him in the middle rounds this year.
One of the breakout starters of 2021, Peralta missed nearly 2.5 months last season with a right shoulder strain before spending a couple of weeks on the IL in September due to right shoulder fatigue. He returned at the end of the campaign to throw 7.2 innings in three appearances, which certainly wasn’t enough to prove he could be a reliable starter this year. I’m fine with drafting Peralta, but I want a little discount on his current Yahoo ADP (Pick 137.0).
Sale’s career has derailed in recent years. The lanky lefty missed most of 2020 and 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Expected to be healthy last year, he instead missed the first half of the season due to a stress fracture in his rib cage, and after returning for two starts (one of which lasted less than an inning), He fell off his bike and got injured. a fractured wrist that ended his season.
With fewer than 50 innings pitched each of the past three years, Sale has given managers plenty of reason to worry that he may not be the ace (career 3.03 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) he once was. I would go from drafting the 34 year old to his current Yahoo ADP of 161.1.
The ultimate boom-or-bust player, Mondesi appeared in only 15 games last season before suffering a torn ACL that required season-ending surgery. The Royals were vocal in their frustration about their inability to stay healthy, which was likely the driving factor behind their decision to be traded to Boston. Mondsee is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day and has played in just 50 games over the last two years, but he remains a good option to open the season in Fantasy IL slots due to his ability to steal massively when healthy. . His current Yahoo ADP of 216.4 seems reasonable.