Early Outfield Tiers & Rankings for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

2 years ago by Rephael Negnewitzky

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In This Article hide

2. Tier 1 - MVP Levels

3. Tier 2 - Still Elite

4. Tier 3 - Young Phenoms

5. Tier 4 - High Upside

6. Tiers 5, 6, 7 - The Rest

7. More Fantasy Baseball Advice

Welcome back RotoBallers to another edition of tiers and rankings for the 2023 season. It is the perfect time to enthrall you guys with some fantasy preparation as we creep toward Spring Training. This time around, I present you with the top 75 outfielders as displayed in the corresponding chart.

I personally have not had the opportunity to compose these rankings, but our elite analysts at RotoBaller do quite the job. Nick Mariano, Jon Anderson, and Ben Rosener are credited with assessing this year's rankings. Check out all of their work here at RotoBaller and give it a read!

Here at RotoBaller, our main objective is to direct and assist your fantasy baseball needs. Whether a DFS cheat sheet or a waiver wire pickup, RotoBaller has got you covered. Take a look at our news section to keep up with the constant offseason action! Good luck this season!

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Early Fantasy Baseball Outfield Rankings for 2023

Our very own "Big Pick Nick" Mariano was named the #1 overall most accurate industry expert ranker for the 2018 season, and Ariel Cohen was the top ranker in 2019. In addition, ATC Projections by Ariel Cohen have been the #1 most accurate projections system for the past three years. Be sure to follow their updated rankings and projections all season long!

OF Ranking	OF Tier	Player Name	Overall Ranking	Overall Tier
1	1	Julio Rodriguez	3	1
2	1	Ronald Acuna Jr.	4	1
3	1	Aaron Judge	5	1
4	2	Kyle Tucker	6	1
5	2	Yordan Alvarez	8	2
6	2	Mookie Betts	9	2
7	2	Juan Soto	10	2
8	2	Mike Trout	19	2
9	2	Michael Harris II	32	3
10	2	Fernando Tatis Jr.	33	3
11	2	Luis Robert	36	3
12	3	Cedric Mullins II	43	3
13	3	Randy Arozarena	45	3
14	3	Kyle Schwarber	47	4
15	3	Adolis Garcia	49	4
16	3	Teoscar Hernandez	55	4
17	3	Daulton Varsho	62	4
18	3	Starling Marte	67	5
19	4	Eloy Jimenez	71	5
20	4	George Springer	74	5
21	4	Corbin Carroll	77	5
22	4	Bryan Reynolds	86	5
23	4	Kris Bryant	100	6
24	4	Tyler O'Neill	103	6
25	4	Masataka Yoshida	106	6
26	5	Byron Buxton	110	6
27	5	MJ Melendez	118	7
28	5	Seiya Suzuki	119	7
29	5	Taylor Ward	124	7
30	5	Andrew Vaughn	131	8
31	5	Christian Yelich	133	8
32	5	Jake McCarthy	134	8
33	5	Nick Castellanos	136	8
34	5	Anthony Santander	142	8
35	5	Bryce Harper	143	8
36	5	Amed Rosario	153	9
37	6	Steven Kwan	156	9
38	6	Giancarlo Stanton	160	9
39	6	Ramon Laureano	165	9
40	6	Brandon Nimmo	167	9
41	6	Hunter Renfroe	168	9
42	6	Lars Nootbaar	171	9
43	6	Ian Happ	178	10
44	7	Riley Greene	180	10
45	7	Oscar Gonzalez	191	10
46	7	Austin Meadows	199	11
47	7	Josh Naylor	206	11
48	7	Seth Brown	208	11
49	7	Cody Bellinger	211	11
50	7	Lourdes Gurriel Jr.	212	11
51	7	Thairo Estrada	214	11
52	7	Jeff McNeil	216	11
53	8	Mitch Haniger	217	11
54	8	Christopher Morel	220	11
55	8	Alex Verdugo	225	12
56	8	Joc Pederson	227	12
57	8	Jon Berti	235	12
58	8	Nick Gordon	242	12
59	8	Andrew Benintendi	243	12
60	8	Jake Fraley	246	12
61	8	Gavin Lux	251	13
62	8	Harrison Bader	254	13
63	8	Joey Meneses	257	13
64	8	Austin Hays	264	13
65	8	Michael Conforto	267	13
66	8	Oswaldo Cabrera	271	13
67	8	Whit Merrifield	274	13
68	8	Lane Thomas	276	13
69	9	Manuel Margot	284	14
70	9	Chris Taylor	286	14
71	9	Trent Grisham	289	14
72	9	Marcell Ozuna	290	14
73	9	Jesse Winker	292	14
74	9	Trey Mancini	293	14
75	9	Juan Yepez	297	14

Tier 1 - MVP Levels

This year's pool of outfielders seems to be the most prestigious class heading into the season. Tier 1 comprises the reigning MVP- Aaron Judge, and two former ROY winners in Ronald Acuna Jr. and Julio Rodriguez. Yes I know, Judge is a former ROY himself. Acuna and Rodriguez are certainly on a trajectory to obtain at least one MVP which largely sums up this tier. Julio receives the highest rank out of the aforementioned two, and it doesn't surprise me that Steamer projects a 5.6 fWAR. He is just 19 days removed from turning 22 years of age, and the raw talent that we saw on display last season is an indicator of a monstrous sophomore year.

Acuna Jr. is next on the list, but as a biased Yankees fan, the least I can do is support the newest captain of the Bronx. It is difficult to gauge how Judge will respond to his historic season and Steamer clearly believes that the odds for Judge to repeat are improbable. Steamer gives Judge a 6.8 fWAR with 43 HRs and you should certainly join the Judge bandwagon if you think those numbers are practical.

Would you roll the dice on Acuna Jr. despite his inability to stay healthy? He is one of the best out there when he's not plagued by injuries. Last is Kyle Tucker, who is sort of a borderline Tier 1 but has a compelling balance of speed and raw power. He's projected to hit 33 HRs with 19 swipes. I'm loving that combination.

KYLE TUCKER DOES IT AGAIN!! 5-0 ASTROS

pic.twitter.com/v33C9tHiH5
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) October 29, 2022

Tier 2 - Still Elite

Now we have entered the "elite no matter what" class. Tier 1 is solely designed for the four most talented players, but Tier 2 is a diverse bunch with a subtle dropoff from Tier 1. Yordan Alvarez gets the honors for Tier 2 and we all know what he's capable of. He was on a steady pace to be crowned AL MVP but his season got derailed when he suffered multiple hand injuries that jeopardized his MVP campaign. Though Alvarez still managed to compile a 1.019 OPS and Steamer seems to fully corroborate a similar line in 2023, Steamer gives him a 5.5 fWAR, which could be realistic if he makes a few more plate appearances.

Next comes Mookie Betts and although I may not enjoy watching him considering that he is a former Bostoner, I would fully endorse him as a fantasy player. He is a former MVP which certainly ups the ante, and he seems to constantly be in contention for an MVP. His 11.23 ADP is slightly lower than Soto, but the so-called "down year" that Soto had may veer people away from his current ADP.

Finally, Mike Trout. He's the best out there when he is not pestered by his injury-prone body. It would be a commodity at this point to see Trout surpass the 500-plate appearance mark. Let's get him healthy so we can see some MVP-caliber action.

Tier 3 - Young Phenoms

We've got a plethora of options in Tier 3 that are more than sufficient for your outfield vacancies. We've got a perennial talent in Fernando Tatis Jr., who has dealt with some legal issues after testing positive for substance use, and Michael Harris, a rookie sensation with a ton of upside. Transitioning to the pros as a highly-touted prospect, Harris has certainly lived up to the hype. Get a load of this. Steamer projects the kid to amass a 4.3 fWAR. That's certainly not something to pass up on.

Tatis Jr. gets the "could have been" award for 2022, but his ADP is quite high. As of now, it sits at 20.84, but that could change as we get closer to the season. He already missed a chunk of time due to a broken wrist, and his fantasy value is largely contingent on his health. Then we turn the tables to Luis Robert, who has this innate characteristic of being injury-prone. He's had just one season with 400 plate appearances, but NFBC still grants him a 48.96 ADP. Maybe don't draft him there.

Randy Arozarena and Cedric Mullens sort of fall under the same class. They've both got blazing speed along with a comforting amount of raw power. There is a nine-point ADP gap between the two, with Arozarena at 40.46 and Mullins at 49.67. Although they are given a nearly identical fWAR from Steamer, Arozarena clocks in at a 2.8 fWAR, with Mullins 0.3 ahead. Regardless of the projections, it wouldn't hurt to grab them early and secure a dependable outfielder.

Tier 4 - High Upside

Tier 4 is reserved for a very select group of players. They've got loads of upside and can catch fire in a jiffy. Kyle Schwarber, Adolis Garcia, Tesocar Hernandez, and Daulton Varsho are just what you're looking for. Schwarber laced 46 HRs and led the National League, but one drawback is his league-leading 200 strikeouts. I ensure you that you'll get 30+ homers from Schwarber but don't expect an increased batting average. Steamer projects a 28.8 strikeout rate with 38 HRs and a 2.6 fWAR. Not too shabby if you prefer a heavier bat.

Garcia is a classic example of a 25-25 fantasy bargain. He was surprisingly stood up in the All-Star game, but he seems to be improving by the year. If he can increase his average and maintain his HR count, I would even bump up his current 60.44 ADP. You'll be surprised how much value you can squeeze out of Garcia. Hernandez isn't as much of a speedster, but his power is equivalent, if not more valuable, than Hernandez's. He compiled a .807 OPS with 25 bombs and a 129 wRC+ in 2022. I wouldn't be shocked if he matches those numbers in 2023.

Last, but certainly not least, is Varsho, who is evolving into a fantasy sensation. He's versatile and can be platooned behind the plate and in the outfield, and that's why everyone has been flocking over him. The 26-year-old smacked 27 bombs and finished with a .745 OPS. I would love to see a larger offensive output on Varsho's end this season. Steamer gives him a 3.3 fWAR and 26 HRs, and his defensive upside brings it all home.

Tiers 5, 6, 7 - The Rest

The last three tiers that I will be discussing comprise 12 players who all bring something tangible to the table. Starling Marte put up promising numbers for the Mets after amassing a .814 OPS. I had hoped to see a little more out of George Springer and Eloy Jimenez and maybe we will get the healthy version of Jimenez in 2023. Springer, on the other hand, just needs to increase his triple-line numbers and I would fully endorse a few level-ups on his current 82.68 ADP.

Corbin Caroll has shown a ton of upside and it wouldn't amaze me if he lives up to the hype. Bryan Reynolds, Kris Bryant, and Tyler O'Neill are all viable options but that's where it gets tricky. Can Masataka Yoshida match Steamer's 3.8 fWAR?

Byron Buxton seems to be glued to the injured list, but if he can roam the 500 PA threshold, you can expect him to make an impact. MJ Melendez and Seiya Suzuki are both entering their sophomore years and we have seen enough production to deem them as "worthwhile." Taylor Ward is also a solid alternative if he can mirror the likes of his 2022 campaign.

That's a wrap, folks! Good luck next season and make sure to check out all of the RotoBaller content!

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