Bold Predictions for 2024 Fantasy Baseball – Fantrax Staff

It’s the most wonderful time of year again for fantasy baseball enthusiasts – draft season! This year we continue our annual tradition of breaking out our crystal balls to make our bold predictions. Gasp, laugh, or nod along as five of our most astute writers share their visions for several players best or worst case scenarios this season.

Fantrax Staff 2024 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions

Predictions from Nick Dmytrow –  @NickDmytrow

Eloy Jimenez finishes third in the AL in home runs

Predictions from Ray Kuhn –  @Ray_Kuhn_28

Eloy Jimenez finishes as Top 125 player, borderline Top 100

In many leagues where Eloy Jimenez is UT only he is being under-drafted due to the lack of positional flexibility. This leaves much potential value on the table. Jimenez enters the season healthy and should get some action in RF this season which will help. Through spring action on 3/18, Jimenez is hitting .372 with 12 RBI. When healthy, Jimenez has a proven track record of production and strong contact, and that looks to be the case this year.

Francisco Alvarez finishes as Top 5 Catcher

Acclimating to the big leagues as a catcher is not easy, which Francisco Alvarez did as a 21-year-old last year. While he was streaky at times, the power was very much on display. His 25 home runs in just 423 plate appearances show his upside and his 12.5% barrel rate is certainly attention-getting as well.

Jazz Chisholm should be drafted over CJ Abrams and will finish with a better season (Not drafting this way based on the market)

While Jazz Chisholm needs to stay healthy all season for this prediction to come true, in just 97 games last year he finished with 19 home runs and 22 stolen bases along with 50 runs scored and 51 RBI. CJ Abrams, on the other hand, finished with only 18 home runs in 151 games while driving in 64 just runs. We are really drafting Abrams for his stolen bases, but what he saw last year is likely as good as it will get. The fact that we can draft Chisholm a few rounds after Abrams makes things even better.

Oneil Cruz has a better season than Elly De La Cruz

A few rounds after Elly De La Cruz is typically being drafted, Oneil Cruz is sitting there and it is certainly a better value. If there were any doubts about his health, Cruz has answered them with seven home runs in his first 36 plate appearances this spring. He won’t steal as many bases, but we can work with 20-25 with a similar home run total. There is some upside here after Cruz posted a 15.5% barrel rate last year.

Predictions from Dave Funnell – @Sportz_Nutt51

Jazz Chisholm Jr. will eclipse his career high in games played in a season and be a Top 30 player drafted for next season.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. will eclipse his career high in games played in a season and be a Top 30 player drafted for next season. He changed his offseason diet and regimen and paid a lot of attention to how he would train and exercise. He seems focused and determined. This could be his year.

Juan Soto will hit 50 home runs this season and be higher ranked in the AL MVP voting than Aaron Judge.

Juan Soto will hit 50 home runs this season and be higher ranked in the AL MVP voting than Aaron Judge. He will love the confines of Yankee Stadium and will hit for power. Look at his numbers as a Padre while playing at home vs on the road. It’s time for Soto!

Ronald Acuna Jr. will become the first-ever player to be in the 40/40 club twice.

His speed is incomparable. His power is unprecedented. He is the man and he will once again break records and the hearts of those who don’t roster him in 2024.

Mason Miller will win 10+ games, record 10+ saves, and have more than 10.0 k/9 this season.

His tenure to and from the closer’s spot this season will give him enough chances to not only win games in the middle innings and save them when called upon. Additionally, he will strike out a ton of batters in the process. He is a sneaky add this season in all formats.

Predictions from Matt Heckman – @Heckman_Matt115

Anthony Volpe goes 30/30 finishing as a top-5 SS

Anthony Volpe is the only player who went 20/20 last season that nobody is talking about. He has worked hard on his swing throughout the offseason and could easily take the next step to becoming a star player.

Chase DeLauter (not Langford or Holliday) wins AL ROY

Chase DeLauter has been on fire this spring. Even though he won’t start the season in the Major Leagues he still has just as much upside as the other two top candidates. Expect him in Cleveland soon.

Grayson Rodriguez finishes as fantasy SP #2 behind Spencer Strider

Grayson Rodriguez was the top pitching prospect in baseball entering last season. He also was one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues during the second half of last season. Don’t be surprised if he is the true ace

Predictions from Kirk Snyder – @dynastyinfo411

Triston Casas hits 40 HR

Casas started to put it all together after the All-Star Break last season, slashing .317/.417/.617 with 15 HR and 38 RBI in 180 AB’s. I think that momentum carries over to this season.

Zack Gelof goes for 30 HR/30 SB

Between the minors and majors last year, Gelof had 26 HR and 34 SB in 533 ABs. In his rookie season, he was on a 31 HR/31 SB pace for 600 AB’s.

Grayson Rodriguez finishes as a top-10 SP

After the All-Star Break last season, Grayson had a 2.58 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 76.2 IP. He started flashing his ace potential, which could translate over to this year.

Yainer Diaz finishes as the #1 ranked C

Diaz takes over the starting catcher gig this season. In his rookie year, he was on a 500 AB pace of a .282 AVG, 32 HR, 85 RBI and an .846 OPS.

Bo Bichette does not finish as a top-10 SS

Bichette’s HR, RBI, Runs, and SB have all been on the decline for the past two years. If he’s not swiping bags any more, his fantasy value will greatly suffer.

Predictions from Todd Hedberg – @TheToddMpls

Michael Harris II Goes 30/30, from the 6th Spot in the Lineup

This represents the best-case outcome for Michael Harris II, but based on his average draft position it’s clearly the hope that drafters are holding for him this year. It’s not too hard to believe after he returned to form in the second half last year, hitting .325 with nine home runs and nine steals, flashing the skills he displayed in his breakout 2022 season. While the second half stats wasn’t quite a 30/30 pace, with his continued development he could reach greater production levels.

Michael Wacha Finishes as the Royals Best Pitcher, Ahead of Ragans

This prediction centers around Wacha’s steady performance as an above-average pitcher, finishing with a respectable 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 124 Ks last year. While Ragans has garnered all the hype this offseason, going at least 50 picks higher in most drafts, few have considered his very low floor. So far in Spring Training, we’ve seen control issues return with his ERA over 5.00. Ragans could keep the incredible pace going from the last couple of months of last season to make this prediction look silly, but if the control issues return his value could crater far below Wacha’s.

Anthony Volpe Loses His Everyday Role By the All-Star Break

Prospect hype gets increasingly multiplied when a player steals bases and plays for a big market team. Volpe checked both of those boxes in his promotion last year, despite glaring holes in his plate approach leading to a sub-.250 batting average across higher levels of the minors in 2022. The hitting woes carried into his rookie year where he batted .209 on the year. While some progression is to be expected this season, it’s hard to believe he can quickly jump closer to a league-average number above .250.

Evan Carter Finishes in the Top 30 Hitters

While all eyes are on Wyatt Langford this spring so far, Evan Carter continues to quietly produce at a high level. A key figure in the Rangers’ stretch run last year, he showed off his high-end approach at the plate and surprised us with more power and speed than expected. Despite his wiry frame, Carter will prove his 5-category skillset is real and rise up the hitting ranks quickly.

What Are Your Bold Predictions?

We’d love to see your bold predictions for the upcoming fantasy baseball season, too. Simply comment below and let us know what you think. Then, make sure to bookmark this page to keep it for bragging rights later this year!

For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.