One player from every MLB team who will take a leap in 2023

Yankees' fans have been excited about young Anthony Volpe for a long time, and barring something unforeseen, 2023 is when they'll finally get to see him patrolling shortstop in the Bronx. Volpe spent the majority of last season in AA where he slashed .251/.348/.472 with 18 homers, 60 RBI, and 31 doubles in 110 games. New York bumped Volpe up to AAA last September and he experienced some expected growing pains, but nothing in the 21-year-olds' history indicates he won't be able to thrive in that environment with more experience. The Yankees have another young shortstop, Oswald Peraza, that debuted last summer, in addition to veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa as other options at position number six, but one way or another look for Volpe to make an impact at some point in 2023.

First baseman Triston Casas was the Red Sox first-round pick in the 2018 draft, and the '23 campaign is shaping up to be his coming-out party. Injuries limited the Miami, FL native to only 76 minor league games last season, in which he slashed a strong 281/.389/.500 with 12 homers and 23 doubles. Projecting those numbers over the course of a full season is one of the reasons Boston is confident he can be a dynamic run producer for them at the game's highest level. His first taste of the big leagues last September did little to dampen the club's enthusiasm, as the left-handed slugger crushed five home runs in only 76 at-bats. Boston might platoon Casas with right-handed swinging Bobby Dalbec early in the year to protect him from tough southpaws, but at some point in 2023, it's fair to assume the club will take the training wheels off and pencil him in at first base each and every day. 

Entering last season Gunnar Henderson was one of the best prospects in all of baseball, and nothing he did in 2022 did anything to diminish his stock. In the minor leagues last year Henderson slashed .297/.416/.531 with 19 homers, 76 RBI, 24 doubles, and seven triples. He was promoted to the big leagues in late August, where he drove in 18 runs with 12 extra-base hits in only 34 games. Baltimore is a team on the rise, and the O's believe both Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman will lead their resurgence and become household names in short order. 

Blue Jays' righty Nate Pearson was once one of the premier prospects in baseball, but as 2023 gets set to begin, he's in desperate need of making the "leap" so to speak. To date, in his career, Pearson has pitched 33 Major League innings and worked to an ERA north of five. In many ways, last season was expected to be the one where he really took the next step, but his campaign, unfortunately, got derailed before it even began. Pearson came down with mononucleosis in spring training and spent most of the year on the 60-day IL recovering and regaining energy. He returned late in the year to make 13 appearances--mostly in relief--in the minor leagues, but the year was essentially a total loss for him. Pearson enters 2023 at 26 years old, and it's time for him to finally showcase the talent that made Toronto take him in the first round in 2017 or risk being labeled a bust. 

Switch-hitting shortstop Wander Franco is already one of the most physically gifted players in our sport, but we've yet to really see the best of him in the big leagues yet. A wrist injury limited Franco to only 83 games a season ago, in which he slashed .277/.328/.417 with 29 extra-base hits. In the postseason he was only able to contribute a single in nine plate appearances as the Rays were eliminated in two games by Cleveland. Franco will only be 22 years old on opening day and has the minor league pedigree to indicate he'll be a star at this level. Tampa Bay fans are excited to see that hopefully materialize in the coming months.

Left-handed swinging George Valera has not yet cracked the Major Leagues, but that is expected to change quickly in 2023. Cleveland signed the outfielder out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent in 2017, and all he's done since entering their system is hit. Across two minor league levels last season Valera slashed .250/.353/.463 with 24 homers, 82 RBI, and 25 doubles. Cleveland surprised some by winning the AL Central a year ago, and they fully plan on repeating in 2023. If Valera's bat continues to produce in Triple-A, don't be surprised if the Guardians usher him to the big leagues rather quickly in an effort to improve their offense. 

The Royals took Bobby Witt Jr. second overall in the 2019 draft, and the second-generation big leaguer did not disappoint as a rookie in '22. Playing in 150 games for Kansas City Witt slashed .254/.294/.428 with 20 homers, 80 RBI, 31 doubles, six triples, and 30 steals. Entering year two he'll obviously look to get even better and improving his OBP should be a primary objective. But this is clearly an incredibly talented player that has all the tools you could ever want and will likely be one of the best shortstops in the league for the next decade. A 30/30 season in 2023 is not out of the realm of possibility, and the leap Witt is looking to take is from a very good player to an absolute superstar. 

Jose Miranda played mostly first base as a rookie last season, but the Twins seem focused on moving him to third in 2023. No matter where he lines up on the field, though, the 24-year-old right-handed hitter is going to be a critical bat to Minnesota's offense. In 125 Major League games a year ago, Miranda slashed .268/.325/.426 with 15 homers, 25 doubles, and 66 RBI. His offensive ceiling is enormous, as evidenced by the .344 average and 30 homers he hit in 127 minor league games in 2021, and the Twins are hopeful he can blossom into that type of a star with more experience at the big league level. 

When Luis Robert debuted in 2020, he came to the big leagues with as much hype as any prospect in recent memory. The Cuban-born outfielder has as much raw talent as any player in the sport, and so far the only thing that's held him back is injuries. The pandemic and two injury-riddled campaigns have limited Robert to only 222 games in three years, in which he's hit .289/.334/.474 with 85 extra-base hits. The objective for him in 2023 is simply to stay on the field and let his talent do the rest. 

First baseman Spencer Torkelson was the first pick in the 2020 draft and crushed 30 homers and drove in 91 runs in the minor leagues in '21. He appeared to be on an unstoppable track towards superstardom and when the Tigers chose to keep him on the big league roster last opening day his time was supposed to be right now. Sometimes, though, things don't go as planned. The Arizona State product struggled so mightily to adjust to big-league pitching that he soon found himself demoted back to the minor leagues. In the 110 big league games he did participate in, Torkelson hit just .203 with eight homers in 360 at-bats. After having a full offseason to process what could've gone array, he'll look to get back on the proverbial horse and show Detroit fans he can still be the guy that can carry their offense for years to come. 

Young Logan O'Hoppe has enjoyed a terrific minor league career since being drafted out of high school by the Phillies in 2018, and the '23 campaign figures to be his coming out party at the big league level. O'Hoppe was traded from Philadelphia to the Angels at the deadline last season in a deal that sent outfielder Brandon Marsh to the east coast. And right now as spring training gets set to begin, the 23-year-old is in line to begin the season as the Angels' starting catcher. All young players experience some degree of growing pains, especially catchers, LA is excited about O'Hoppe and believe he can develop into a legitimate everyday backstop in the months ahead.

Going from one AL West catcher to another, the Houston player that will hopefully take the next step in 2023 is University of California product, Korey Lee. The 24-year-old was the Astros' top draft pick back in 2019, and has steadily moved through their system ever since. Lee's bat is his biggest tool and the 25 homers and 20 doubles he contributed in 104 minor league games last year really jump off the page. But there's a lot that goes into being a Major League catcher, and Houston is fortunate to have Martin Maldonado to help teach their young catcher some tricks of the trade. The Astros will likely carry both the veteran and the rookie on opening day with Maldonado probably beginning the season as the starter, but look for those roles to switch at some point in the spring or summer. 

Elon University product George Kirby made his big league debut for the Mariners last May, and quickly became an integral piece of their starting rotation. In 25 starts in 2022 the right-hander delivered a 3.39 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP, while striking out 133 hitters in 130 innings. Kirby does not have to be the ace of Seattle's staff by any means, but he will be a key piece of this pitching staff again in 2023, and after picking him in the first round four years ago the M's do think he could ultimately become a top of the rotation type arm. 

Coming out of Texas Tech in the 2019 draft, third baseman Josh Jung was regarded as one of the premier and most big league ready bats available. And while he's dealt with some career interruptions along the way thanks to COVID and some injuries, that hype may soon be fully realized. In 153 career minor league games Jung has slashed .311/.381/.538 with 30 homers and 43 doubles. He made his big league debut last September, though it would have come much earlier had he not missed most of 2022 with a shoulder injury. In his brief cup of coffee with the Rangers down the stretch Jung flashed some of his tantalizing power, crushing five homers in 26 games, but it was clear the big league level was an adjustment for him. Entering '23 he'll likely be at the hot corner for Texas every day, and the Rangers and their fans are confident he can blossom into a household name in pretty short order. 

Catcher Shea Langeliers was part of the return the Athletics got back from Atlanta in the deal that sent all-star first baseman Matt Olson to the Braves a year ago, and coincidentally the first huge opportunity of his big league career is coming from something involving Atlanta again. Earlier this winter the Braves made another big trade with Oakland, this time bringing catcher Sean Murphy to Georgia. Murphy's departure clears the way for Langeliers, whom Atlanta selected 9th overall in 2019 to assume the starting catcher role for the A's. The Baylor product got a taste of the big leagues last summer and struggled a little, though playing part-time as a rookie is tough for anyone let alone a catcher. Langeliers had a plus bat all through the minor leagues, and in 2023 the Athletics are looking for him to begin to showcase that on the biggest stage. 

For most of last summer Mets' catcher Francisco Alvarez was considered the best prospect in baseball, and in 2023 we should begin to see exactly what he can do at the Major League level. Alvarez is only 21 years old with a bat scouts salivate over. In 112 minor league games a year ago he slashed .260/.374/.511 with 27 homers and 22 doubles. New York has little doubt his bat is ready for the big leagues right now, but they do seem to want him to focus on improving behind the plate before giving him the reigns entirely. Having both Tomas Nido and Omar Narvaez allows them to be patient with Alvarez, but if he proves he's the best catcher in camp this March, don't be shocked if they rethink the equation. 

Vaughn Grissom is a natural shortstop but the Braves called him up last summer to replace the injured Ozzie Albies at second base, and he opened eyes as a rookie. In 41 games for Atlanta Grissom slashed .291/.353/.440 with five homers and 18 RBI, and he was a big part of the Braves late-season surge. His production did not surprise club brass who have watched Orlando, FL native tear up the minor leagues with an exciting blend of extra-base power and speed for three years now. In 2023 though, his role on the big league club will be much larger, as after losing all-star shortstop Dansby Swanson to the Cubs in free agency, Atlanta needs Grissom to capably handle a premium position for a full season. 

Speaking of natural shortstops playing second base, let's talk about Philadelphia's Bryson Stott. The 25-year-old was the Phillies' first-round pick in 2019, and ended up playing shortstop almost every day for the eventual National League champions as a rookie. In 127 games Stott slashed .234/.295/.358 with 10 homers, and the Phillies are hoping continued experience at the big league level will help his offensive production grow moving forward. On the diamond though, the addition of all-world shortstop Trea Turner means Stott will have to move to second base, which is potentially something to keep an eye on. 

The Marlins are loaded with talented young pitching, and a guy I'm looking to really take a giant step forward in 2023 is hard-throwing righty Edward Cabrera. In a lot of ways the 24-year-old did just that a year ago, as when he was on the mound with the big league team he thrived. In 14 starts Cabrera pitched to a 3.01 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP, while holding the opposition to a .177 batting average and blowing away 75 hitters in 71.2 innings. But he also missed a large portion of the season with elbow tendinitis. Entering 2023 Miami is staring up at three dynamos in their division, and if they're going to have any chance to compete they'll need Cabrera healthy and dominating for a full season alongside Sandy Alcantara. 

All these months later it is still mindboggling to me that the Nationals actually traded away Juan Soto last summer. That whole situation has already been discussed ad nauseum and we don't need to rehash it here. But I do want to talk about arguably the biggest piece they got back from San Diego in the trade, shortstop C. J. Abrams. The 22-year-old has been an elite offensive player for his entire minor league career, slashing .331/.385/.511 with 54 extra-base hits in 114 games. The Major League level has not been nearly as kind to him, but he's also still very young and very raw and we should give him time. For the Nationals sake though, let's hope we see an enormous leap from Abrams in '23 because they simply need him to become a star given the circumstances that got him to D.C. in the first place. 

Versatile Christopher Morel played five different defensive positions as a rookie for the Cubs in 2022, and really put himself on the map as an exciting part of Chicago's future. In 113 games Morel slashed .235/.308/.433 with 16 homers, 47 RBI, 19 doubles, four triples, and 10 steals. He brought flare and style to a Cubs team that needed an infusion of energy, and instantly became a fan favorite. Entering 2023 Chicago would love to see Morel cut down on his strikeouts and get on base a little more frequently, and they're hopeful he can develop into a core player for this team's rebuild. 

Left-handed swinging Nolan Gorman has been towards the top of prospect rankings for several years now, and the Cardinals have always been intrigued by his bat. The million-dollar question, though, is where is he going to play in St. Louis? Gorman is a third baseman and he's emphatically blocked at that position by Nolan Arenado. Hoping to get an offensive boost from his bat the Cardinals promoted him to the big leagues last May and played him at second base, an experiment that garnered mixed results. At the plate Gorman was up and down, slashing .226/.300/.420 with 14 homers and 13 doubles in 283 at-bats. On one hand, those power numbers translate incredibly well when projected across a full season. On the other, he struck out in over 36% of his at-bats and struggled to get on base if he wasn't hitting for power. Objective number one for Gorman and the Cardinals in 2023 is getting him comfortable at whichever defensive position he's going to play, and then let his bat continue to develop. 

Young Nick Lodolo was the 7th overall pick in the 2019 draft, and after the Reds promoted him to the big leagues last April he wasted no time flashing his enormous potential. In 19 starts the southpaw turned in a 3.66 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. Opposing hitters managed just a .235 batting average against Lodolo, and he impressively struck out 131 men in 103.1 Major League innings. After that impressive rookie showing, the next step for Lodolo is to show he can develop into a reliable top-of-the-rotation starter, and Cincinnati fully envisions him becoming their ace. 

Center fielder Garrett Mitchell was Milwaukee's first-round pick in the 2020 draft, and the UCLA product really rewarded the Brewers for their decision to bring him to the big leagues late last August. In 28 games down the stretch Mitchell slashed .311/.373/.459 with two homers and eight steals, and he brought stability and plus defense to a position that needed it. Heading into 2023 the Brewers would love to see the 24-year-old cut down on strikeouts and showcase more power, and they're confident he'll be able to do both. 

The most exciting player on the Pirates is unquestionably their 24-year-old shortstop Oneil Cruz who has as much pure athletic talent as any player in baseball. In just 87 games as a rookie in 2022 Cruz crushed 17 home runs and drove in 54 runs, while adding 13 doubles and four triples. Defensively, at 6'7 the Dominican Republic native is enormous for a shortstop, but he makes flashy plays and has an absolute missile of an arm that would make some afraid to play first base in Pittsburgh. The next step for Cruz is more gaining more consistency, as his .233/.294/.450 rookie slash line did leave something to be desired. If he can put it all together though, watch out, because the Pirates will have a legitimate superstar on their hands. 

Losing Trea Turner leaves an enormous hole on the Dodgers infield, but one that will be filled by a young player LA is quietly very excited about. With Turner taking his talents to Philadelphia the Dodgers appeared poised to slide Gavin Lux to shortstop and insert young Miguel Vargas into their everyday lineup at second base. Lux's season-ending injury changed those plans. The 23-year-old got his feet wet in the big leagues late last season and didn't enjoy much success, but his minor league resume is impressive. In Triple-A last year Vargas slashed .304/.404/.511 in 113 games, while crushing 17 homers, driving in 82 runs, contributing 32 doubles, and stealing 16 bases. In a Dodgers line-up loaded with superstars there will be very little pressure on him, and look for the Cuba native to make you remember his name in 2023. 

It sounds a little silly talking about veteran right-hander Seth Lugo as someone who could take a leap in 2023, but his situation is a little more complicated than you might think. Yes, Lugo has spent most of the seven years as a steady and reliably reliever for the Mets, but he's always had the desire to go back to starting like he did in the minor leagues. New York did give Lugo sporadic chances to pitch in the rotation but of his 275 big league appearances only 38 have come as a starter, an he hasn't made a single start since the pandemic truncated 2020 campaign. The 33-year-old signed in San Diego as a free agent this winter mostly because the Padres promised him a chance to pitch in the rotation, and now it's up to him to prove he can handle that workload and be successful in a more intensive role. 

There might not be a player on this list more in need of taking a giant step forward in 2023 than San Francisco catcher Joey Bart. The Giants drafted the 26-year-old 2nd overall in 2018 with an eye towards him being the heir apparent to Buster Posey behind the plate by the Bay. To put it lightly, to this point Bart's college and minor league bat has not translated to the big leagues. In 132 Major League games the Georgia Tech product has slashed .222/.294/.351 with 11 home runs and 155 strikeouts in 370 at-bats. San Francisco still has confidence in his potential, but they need to start seeing some improvement early in 2023. 

Righty Ryne Nelson struggled in Triple-A last season before getting a late-season opportunity with the Diamondbacks last September, but something seemed to click in the big leagues. In three Major League starts the 25-year-old pitched to a 1.47 ERA in 18.1 innings, putting up a 0.82 WHIP and a .145 batting average against. Those starts did not come against weak competition either, as all three were against the Padres and Dodgers. Heading into spring training Nelson figures to compete in camp for a spot at the backend of the Diamondbacks rotation, and the club is hopeful he can prove his late-season success was not a fluke. 

Young Ezequiel Tovar made his big league debut on September 23rd last year, so understandably the nine big league games he has under his belt is a small sample size. But if his minor league history is any indication, the Rockies have every reason to be excited about their young shortstop. In 283 games in Colorado's system Tovar slashed .283/.343/.438 with 31 homers, 148 RBI, 55 doubles, 14 triples, and 74 stolen bases. The Venezuelan-born 21-year-old has long been towards the top of the Rockies' prospect lists, and in 2023 the league as a whole should get to see what he's all about.