2023 Fantasy Baseball ADP Risers & Fallers: Jarred Kelenic and Jordan Walker Are Soaring
The MLB Season and Fantasy Baseball Season are quickly approaching. Spring Training and the World Baseball classic are both in full swing and have already had an impact on a lot of players ADP. This is important to take note of before new drafts start. For this first edition I am going to take a look at ADP changes for a few guys since the start of Spring Training (February 24) to where they are at right now over the last week. All ADP used is from NFBC data.
Fantasy Baseball ADP Risers
Jordan Walker, 3B St. Louis Cardinals
ADP from January 1, 2023-February 23, 2023: 221
ADP from March 2, 2023-March 9, 2023: 139
There is endless helium in perceived value of Walker right now. Fantasy managers did not think he would make the team out of Spring Training when it started, but he is hitting .429 with three home runs and a stolen base so far and it has fantasy managers believing he could be in the cardinals Opening Day lineup. There is a lot of risk taking him at the new price tag he is showing though as the cost of a low hundred pick.
Chris Sale, SP Boston Red Sox
ADP from January 1, 2023-February 23, 2023: 157
ADP from March 2, 2023-March 9, 2023: 142
Sale appears to finally be healthy and he looked sharp in his Spring Debut, tossing two shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts. Sale was one of the most electric starting pitchers in baseball from 2012-2019, but injuries have limited him to just around 50 innings pitched total over the last three years. However, fantasy managers realize that he is an absolute steal at this ADP if he is able to stay on the field.
Jarred Kelenic, OF Seattle Mariners
ADP from January 1, 2023-February 23, 2023: 306
ADP from March 2, 2023-March 9, 2023: 241
Kelenic has been incredible in Spring Training thus far, hitting .368 (7-19) with FOUR home runs and a stolen base. The fantasy community is buying-in and hoping he will finally breakout. He was once a top-three prospect and he has all the tools to be a stud, but it has not happened at the MLB level. He has flashed power and speed, but hasn’t been able to hit for any kind of average. He is worth the risk at this price though.
Fantasy Baseball ADP Fallers
Seiya Suzuki, OF Chicago Cubs
ADP from January 1, 2023-February 23, 2023: 105
ADP from March 2, 2023-March 9, 2023: 158
Suzuki hasn’t officially been ruled out for Opening Day yet, but drafters seem confident that he will start the year on the injured list. His ADP is plummeting right now due to the injury. If players are willing to miss out on Suzuki for what will likely be about two weeks (in my estimation), he could be a value as a player who was recently going over 50 picks sooner in drafts.
Scott Barlow, RP Kansas City Royals
ADP from January 1, 2023-February 23, 2023: 158
ADP from March 2, 2023-March 9, 2023: 164
Barlow’s ADP has continually been trending downward ever since the signing of Aroldis Chapman as many fantasy players believe that Chapman could emerge as the closer for the Royals over Barlow. Spring Training hasn’t stopped that trend, despite the fact that Barlow has outpitched Chapman to this point.
Jose Leclerc, RP Texas Rangers
ADP from January 1, 2023-February 23, 2023: 210
ADP from March 2, 2023-March 9, 2023: 221
A Mix of factors here are working as to why Leclerc’s ADP is dropping. For starters, he has been hurt with a neck stiffness issue. Not a big deal really, but it’s still something noteworthy. He did recently pitch a scoreless inning though. Secondly, the recent signing of Will Smith could be in the back of drafters minds as well. Personally, I still fully view Leclerc as the Rangers closer and already liked him at his previous price, so the ADP dip presents a nice buying opportunity.
Kolten Wong, 2B Seattle Mariners
ADP from January 1, 2023-February 23, 2023: 262
ADP from March 2, 2023-March 9, 2023: 276
Wong’s ADP started crashing the moment he was traded to Seattle and it simply hasn’t stopped as it continues to drop more and more. The move to Seattle is terrible for his fantasy value and it is unlikely we see him match the 15 home runs that he hit last season. On top of that, he is off to a 3-20 start in Spring Training, which isn’t exactly giving any reason to get anyone excited.
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