With the season beginning on Thursday, it’s time to throw caution to the wind and get bold! If you’re right, you look like a genius. If you’re wrong, everyone knows your prediction had a fairly small chance of coming to fruition anyway. Some of these predictions may sound a little crazy, but crazy things happen in sports. You would’ve been laughed at if you predicted Cedric Mullins would become the first Orioles player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bags in a season and finish the season inside the top 20 in 5×5 leagues.
Our featured pundits are here to each share one bold fantasy baseball prediction for 2022. You shouldn’t expect these to occur, but anything can happen! Pay special attention to what a few of our analysts think Byron Buxton will accomplish this year.
Q. What is one fantasy baseball bold prediction that you believe will happen this season?
“Byron Buxton finally stays healthy and finishes as a top-three MVP candidate. Buxton has had five-tool superstar potential since he was selected second overall in the 2012 MLB Draft. Before getting injured last season, Buxton had a solid MVP case for the first month of the season. Unfortunately, injuries curtailed his overall numbers in what has become a career pattern. Nevertheless, he finished 2021 with an outstanding .306/.358/.647 slash line with 19 homers and 23 doubles along with a 171 OPS+ in just 61 games. Buxton, who has played more than 100 games just once in seven seasons, is slashing a vast .407/.448/.963 slash with four dingers and 11 RBIs across 10 games this spring. The gold glove centerfielder signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Twins and looks to display his value this season with a type of production that can produce a .300+ batting average with a 40/40 season. He has the talent and pedigree to win the MVP and has league-winning upside.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
“Byron Buxton stays healthy in 2022 and returns first-round value. Last season, Buxton was already on pace to make this happen. In just 254 plate appearances, he hit 19 home runs and stole nine bases to pair with a .306/.358/.647 slash line. Buxton’s spring training has picked up right where he left off in 2021 and he looks primed for a huge season in 2022.”
– Chris Clegg (Fantrax)
“I’m predicting Byron Buxton erupts for a 30/30 season in 2022. According to FanGraphs, in 684 plate appearances since 2019, Buxton has swatted 42 homers and stolen 25 bases in 30 attempts. Nine players had at least 684 plate appearances in 2021. Thus, Buxton’s 2019-21 represents roughly a season’s worth of work. So, if he’s healthy, he has the tools and recent track record of eclipsing 30 homers and 30 stolen bases.”
– Josh Shepardson (FantasyPros)
“My bold prediction for fantasy baseball is that Dylan Carlson will become one of the best values in 2022 fantasy baseball drafts. He is expected to lead off for the Cardinals and could have a 2021 Cedric Mullins-type surprise season, where be he mashes 30 home runs and swipes 30 bags. His sprint speed is in the 73rd percentile per Baseball Savant. The 23-year-old showed an advanced approach at the plate by posting a 0.38 BB:K and demonstrated his ability to lift the ball by increasing his launch angle from 9.3 in 2020 to 15.1 in 2021. Carlson should see an increase in power as his 12.2% HR/FB should improve (17.2% HR/FB in Triple-A), and he finished last season strong by popping three home runs over his previous six games. I have Carlson rostered in the majority of my leagues. While we are on predictions, my picks for this year’s award winners are: AL Cy Young – Shane McClanahan, NL Cy Young – Logan Webb, AL Rookie of the Year – Bobby Witt Jr., NL Rookie of the Year – Oneil Cruz, AL MVP – Bo Bichette and NL MVP – Bryce Harper.”
– Brad Camara (RotoBaller)
“Michael Kopech wins 10+ games and strikes out 200+ batters. I’ve been pounding the table for Kopech this offseason, especially in points leagues and leagues with RP slots for pitchers since he is eligible at both SP and RP this season. What he did in 2021 is absurd when you really think about it: having thrown just 14 1/3 innings over the last three seasons combined — and none since 2018 — he struck out 103 batters over 69 1/3 innings with a 3.50 ERA and underlying metrics that all pointed to his performance being legit. The only thing that might hold him back in 2022 is an innings limit since the White Sox will likely continue to be careful with their soon-to-be 26-year-old right-hander. If he can push past 150 innings, he could easily win double-digit games and strike out more than 200 batters.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
“My BOLD prediction for 2022 is that Chicago White Sox ACE, yes — their ACE, Dylan Cease, is going to finish as a top-five fantasy SP, well above his SP24 and 83rd overall ADP, and be the reason fantasy managers win leagues. He finished second to Corbin Burnes in K/9 and seventh in total strikeouts in 2021. Burnes has an overall ADP of eighth. Cease’s metrics (K/9, BB/9, HR/9 and HR/FB%) are all stellar without drastically bi-polar splits to be afraid of. His 2021 FIP and xFIP both suggest Cease was better than his eventual ERA. While his ERA (3.91) and WHIP (1.25) were not as impressive as his strikeouts, they leave room for improvement, not reason for concern. The metrics are trending in the right direction and as a team’s No. 2 or even No. 3 starter, he is going to pitch like a No. 1 and possibly a Cy Young-caliber overall No. 1 in 2022.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
“If Jacob deGrom returns in 2022, he’ll return as a high leverage reliever. Like John Smoltz and Dennis Eckersley before him, deGrom can be the next dominant closer in baseball, help the Mets in a playoff run and salvage some fantasy value in 2022. If he can’t stand up to pitching over numerous innings, perhaps this is the only path forward for deGrom.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
“Joe Ryan will be a top-25 SP. The Twins have named the rookie their Opening Day starter, which is a vote of confidence after his impressive late-season debut last year. Throughout his career in the minors, Ryan racked up strikeouts and kept free passes to a minimum. As long as he can limit the long ball, the 25-year-old has the tools to break out in 2022.”
– Kyle Bishop (RotoBaller)
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Thank you to all the experts for sharing their bold predictions. Please be sure to give them a follow on Twitter for more great advice. Also, please check out our podcast, which is also available below.
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