As we round the corner and approach the Fantasy Baseball season, it is more important than ever to focus on the hidden gems. These super sleepers can potentially vault your roster to the top. With major changes to the game, including bigger bases and the banishment of the shift, it's vital to get ahead of your opposing fantasy managers.
When it comes to super sleepers, you must factor in draft cost with the potential fantasy payout that the player can provide. When looking at these types of players, I tend to pick younger options and have a bigger chance of breaking out. Typically, a talented prospect with a major discount will provide more potential that an overlooked veteran. Most of the guys on this list fit that bill, but there are some exceptions.
As we look at 2023 super sleeper options, we will be going off of Fantasy Pro's Average Draft Position that takes in multiple different rankings. Below are 10 fantasy options that are going later than the 300 mark. Keep your eye on these players as you enter your draft and check out our Fantasy Baseball Rankings here to get some additional advice!
2023 Fantasy Baseball Super Sleepers - Hitters
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Oscar Colas, Chicago White Sox (ADP: 321)
Oscar Colar is by far my favorite super-sleeper of the 2023 season. When the White Sox signed Colas to a $2.7 million deal in January of 2022, the team thought he would eventually operate as their right fielder. Well, not many expected it to come this quickly.
Oscar Colas
6'1 220
24 years old
Bats: L
Throws: L
CF/RF2023 FanGraphs projection
.263 16 50 .313 .458 .771
92 games 46 runs 3sb 15 2b 2 3b
374 plate apperances
+1.4 WAR
112 wRC+2022 (Minors)
A+/AA/AAA
.314 23 79 .371
81 runs 38bb 120k
24 2b 4 3b 3sb 4cs
526 plate apperances— Dan (@Crazedrat1) December 23, 2022
While it is far from guaranteed, it seems like the door is wide open for him to operate as the starting right fielder this season. Colas had a fantastic 2022 season. He slashed a .314/.371/.524 line with 23 home runs across the minors. The kid can hit, and he already has some professional experience under his belt.
When Colas was just 17, he played professionally in Cuban National Series. Two years later, he was playing in the Japan Western League. Colas wasn’t just a hitter either as he pitched in Holguin, Cuba and did well enough to earn the nickname “Cuban Ohtani.” To have that professional experience at such a young age is extremely valuable. He has now worked his way up into the Top 100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline.
Coming into the 2023 season, Colas is the favorite to take the right field job. With the departure of Jose Abreu, first base is set to be manned by Andrew Vaughn. Although the White Sox signed Andrew Benintendi, there is still an open OF spot. Colas has some competition – Gavin Sheets and Leury Garcia – but his talent has too much potential to overlook.
Fangraphs projects him to hit .250 with 19 homers this season in 469 at-bats. If Colas does win the starting job in Chicago, his ADP will skyrocket. This is probably the cheapest he will be, and it comes with such little risk late in fantasy drafts. Colas is absolutely worth the dart throw, especially with the White Sox’s favorable lineup. Make sure you take a late flier on this kid before it’s too late.
Matt Mervis, Chicago Cubs (ADP: 330)
Mervis was an extremely popular name this past winter. Before the Chicago Cubs signed Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini, it was widely believed that Mervis was set to be the starting first baseman… and rightfully so.
Mervis tore the cover off the ball last season. The 24-year-old smashed 36 home runs with an eye-opening .309/.379/.606 line. The kid can hit. He also had 50 walks and struck out just 107 times.
The left-handed hitting first baseman hasn’t always been a notable name. He was drafted in the 39th round back in 2016 and struggled to hit in the minors. He never had a season with more than 9 home runs before last year. Furthermore, he now is blocked by Mancini and Hosmer. So why does this kid make the list?
First off, there was speculation that the Hosmer signing was simply because the Cubs didn’t believe they were going to get Mancini. While Hosmer should start at first base, and Mervis will mostly likely start the season in the minors, they should be quick to bring up one of their top prospects. Chicago is only paying Hosmer $720,000, making him an easy cut at any point in the season.
Mervis has too much raw power to keep in the minors. He improved his plate approach and should continue to demolish with his 6-foot-4 frame. The Cubs want to compete this season – they showed that with their Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger acquisitions. While Hosmer could be a solid veteran presence to start the season, Mervis is their future. With such raw power and offensive prowess, he’s a super sleeper to keep an eye on and eventually roster. As soon as he’s called up, you won’t want him on an opposing roster, so draft him before it's too late.
Kiké Hernandez, Boston Red Sox (ADP: 353)
Enrique Hernandez is the oldest player on this list. At 31 years old, he is coming off a subpar season where he hit just .222 with 6 home runs in 361 at-bats. However, there is a lot to like this year.
Kiké Hernandez has been grinding this offseason. 👀
1) Within two weeks of the season ending, he began a hitting program at Driveline.
2) Got fitted for bats tailored to the biomechanics of his swing.
3) Eliminated leg kick + repositioned his hands for a more compact swing. pic.twitter.com/Nkpl6ICqN2
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) February 13, 2023
First off, Kiké didn’t have an established role last season. The infield and outfield were crowded, and he never got going. But if you look under the hood, his advanced stats showed some promise. The former Dodger was in the 84th percentile for max exit velocity, the 72nd percentile for K%, and elite in multiple defensive categories.
Hernandez definitely has the tools to be a solid fantasy contributor. He won’t carry a high batting average, but he has hit over 20 home runs twice in his career while also providing a good source of runs. However, he has truly never had a full-time role. He has only reached 415 at-bats once during his nine seasons. But in 2023, Kike is a super sleeper because he will have a full-time role.
Xander Bogaerts is gone and Trevor Story is expected to miss most, if not all of the 2023 season. Now, Kiké is locked in a shortstop and is projected to hit second in the lineup. Batting next to Matastaka Yoshida, Rafael Devers and Justin Turner would be great for Hernandez. He could push for 20 home runs and close to 90 runs scored. Plus, he has done some major work on his batting stance, which would provide a boost to his batting average. Don’t lose out on this super sleeper.
Brett Baty, New York Mets (ADP: 382)
The New York Mets' top prospect is one of the more exciting super sleepers for 2023. Baty tore up the minor leagues before coming up to the Mets late last season. Last year in the minors, he hit .315 with 19 home runs and a .533 SLG.
Baty profiles as a great hitter with a lot of potential. The former first-round pick is still only 23 and showed some talent in his limited time in the majors at the end of 2022. The only thing dragging his ADP down is the fact that Eduardo Escobar still lurks at third base in New York.
Escobar had a decent first half of the season in 2022, but he fell off after the summer and didn’t look the same. He is entering his age-34 season and is coming off a poor defensive season at third. The battle for third between Baty and Escobar is going to be something to watch this spring.
Baty has reportedly been working hard on his defense this offseason. With the Mets going all in this year, talent should prevail. Even if Baty doesn’t earn the job outright, he should eventually find his way into this loaded lineup. His hitting tools are far too strong to leave out and he plays one of the weakest positions in fantasy baseball. He is one of the better super-sleeper candidates this season. Baty has the potential to be a valuable piece for fantasy managers in 2023.
Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds (ADP: 436)
As Steer made his way through the Minnesota Twins organization, he started to look like a player that could be an offensive weapon on an MLB roster. The former Oregon product has shown impressive power in the minors. In 2021, Steer homered 24 times with a .254/.348/.484 line. In 2022, Steer was just as solid. He hit 23 long balls but improved his line to .274/.364/.515.
One of the reasons that Minnesota decided to trade him last season was that they have a plethora of infielders. But the trade to Cincinnati ended up increasing Steer’s stock. Right now, Steer is projected to be the starting 3B for the Reds. He has raw power that should be maximized in Great American Ballpark.
This season, Steer should have a long leash for a young team that is looking to groom its younglings. Third base is arguably the most barren position in fantasy baseball this season. The 24-year-old Steer could provide power and some speed without being too much of a hindrance in batting average. Furthermore, Steer has a good walk rate that should transition well to points leagues. With a free price tag, he is worth taking a shot on as a super sleeper.
Be prepared for the upcoming season by checking out all the 2023 Fantasy Baseball content on Fantasy Six Pack.
