Fantasy Baseball Today - Top Second Base Prospects to Target in 2023! (11/5 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Starting point is 00:00:02 Which second base prospects do you need to know heading into the 2023 season? Let's find out next on fantasy baseball today in five. Welcome into FBT in five. Today is Saturday, November 5th. I am Frank Sample joined by the Welsh. Make sure you follow him on Twitter at Is It the Welsh. Let's start with the top two on this list, who are probably the most likely to make an impact in 2023. Connor Norby with the Baltimore Orioles.

Starting point is 00:00:29 He's got some pop. He's got some speed. And obviously the Orioles are starting to call some. some of their prospects up. And then Michael Bush with the Dodgers, who has big power, think like a Max Muncie type player. He walks a lot as well.

Starting point is 00:00:40 But where is he going to play? Those are the questions. What do you think about Norby and Bush? Yeah, Norby is fascinating with how much of a big push he had this year. He hit 29 homers. He's a 22-year-old that got all the way up to AAA, which that's the big telling thing.

Starting point is 00:00:54 You know, I think if he hadn't gotten to that level, how much would this team push him? But they gave him a little bit of taste of AAA after stealing 16 bases and 29 homers. Sounds very reminiscent of Gunner Henderson, kind of like how Gunner did. And Gunner is now up.

Starting point is 00:01:09 He will be the pride and joy of Baltimore going and vying for a first overall pick or a first pick in the top three new compensation thing. So Conor Norby doesn't really fit that. But he would be the battery mate. Second short, would they bring him up? They gave him the taste. He put up huge, huge offensive numbers,

Starting point is 00:01:26 which you like to see. And I think he checks a ton of boxes, walks a bit doesn't strike out a crazy clip, hit some doubles. I really think there's an opportunity to see him earlier rather than later, and the Baltimore era might start sooner rather than later on. Michael Bush, huge power. I mean, I'm underselling Connor Norby hitting 29 homers. Michael Bush only hit a couple more, but he's built for this.

Starting point is 00:01:49 32 homers hit 20 last year, walks a ton, had 74 walks this year, but he had double the strikeouts on that. And he's with the Dodgers. So like you said, where does he play? I really think he's a clone. He's the mold of what this team likes. Yes, they've still got like the Edwin Rios that are kind of sitting out there, but they've got a lot of decisions to make.

Starting point is 00:02:08 And we don't know what those decisions are going to end up altering the starting lineup. Are they going to put a lot of money into one specific player? Or are they going to spread that money out and, you know, bring a couple of these players back? So if playing time is available, guys like Miguel Vargas, who we've talked about, or Michael Bush are going to get the opportunity. And worst case, Michael Bush is 25 years old. It's time. so maybe it'll be with a new home.

Starting point is 00:02:30 And the big power is going to play. And he is a proximity guy. We're questioning a little bit. Norby's got probably the highest upside. Michael Bush got to play. And I would say he's probably the best bet as far as proximity goes between the two. But Norby is the better fantasy asset. We just don't know any of the guys coming up.

Starting point is 00:02:46 Let's take a look at the next three prospects on this list. And that includes Nick Gonzalez with the Pirates, Edward Julian, with the Minnesota Twins, and Zach Giloff with the Oakland A's, all very different prospects here. Nick Gonzalez, obviously was drafted very highly, seventh overall pick, but you've seen some things out there in the Arizona Fall League that kind of concern you with him. Edward Julian has been the opposite. He's absolutely dominating out in the AFL right now. He's got some power, some speed, lots of OBP.

Starting point is 00:03:11 Zach Gelov with the Oakland A's. He also does a little bit of everything. I don't know that the upside is as high as those other two names that I mentioned, but quick thought on each of those three. Yeah, I mean, going down up, you know, Gelloff is plays insanely good defense out here. he's been primarily playing second base, and I think there's just openings for the A's. They may want to get this going.

Starting point is 00:03:30 They might want to start competing, and hey, we're going to have a guy that's going to be breaking camp and rosters because I think Shea Lingaliers exhausted that eligibility, so I do not believe he will qualify for next season. But, you know, they put him in that second base spot.

Starting point is 00:03:43 I think, like he said, fantasy might be a little bit altered, but he does a whole lot of everything. I'll tell you this, Edward Julian, if he was not in a situation, kind of like in this Dodger situation we talk about, where there are just these guys that would hold him back,

Starting point is 00:03:55 He might be number one because he leads the Arizona Fall League currently in OPS, slugging, OBP, he's a top homer guy, he's got all the hits, he's walking. I think he's 15 walks and 16 strikeouts, four homers, four stolen bases. He's doing everything, probably the MVP of the league. Gunna tonight, today, as we're airing this, going to be doing a home run derby. He wasn't blocked theoretically by all these other versatile players like the Louisa Rise and the Miranda's and the Royce Lewis's and even Nick Gordon's. and we had a clear path, I think he would be number one. He only hit AA, probably going to get to AAA. He's a mid-season guy, but he is a guy that will get some time.

Starting point is 00:04:32 And then finally, Nick Gonzalez, second straight year of the Arizona fall league. He keeps missing time due to injuries. He's got a bad issue with high fastballs. He's just, he's got the issue you don't want with prospects. Like we've seen with Joe Adele, what's Joe Adele's problem? Can't hit off speed and high fastballs bug him. That's what Nick Gonzalez looks like right now. Maybe he's working on stuff.

Starting point is 00:04:50 He looks bigger. He's hitting big tank homers when he does make good, contact. I do believe in the bat speed. I just don't know about the pitch recognition, but I just don't know how much longer the pirates are going to keep babying after two AFL stint. So I think it's time this year that they get a look in the majors because, you know, what are the pirates playing for, really? Lastly, let's get a quick thought on Von Grissom with the Braves. He had five homers and five steals in 41 games with the team. Where would he rank on this list if he didn't debut with

Starting point is 00:05:17 the Braves last year? Numero uno. He would be the top guy of all of them for sure. And he'll qualify at second base for you this year, though I don't think he'll play a whole bunch unless Albies has hurt again. I do think there's a possibility he could break camp and still be with the team on the starting lineup, maybe in the outfield. But stolen base, five tools, Homer. I don't like the strikeout rate and where it went, but guess what? A lot of these guys that we've just talked about all have some of those same warts out there. Grissom just on a fantastic team with a lot of running ability and showed off some of that power like we saw with Harris. So, Fong Grisham would be number one. All right. For more extensive fantasy baseball coverage, listen to the fantasy baseball

Starting point is 00:05:53 Today podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, your smart speakers, or anywhere else podcasts are found. And thanks for listening to Fantasy Baseball today in five. We'll be back again on Tuesday morning. Bye-bye.

Fantasy Baseball Today - Top Second Base Prospects to Target in 2023! (11/5 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

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