2023 MLB Fantasy: Five Hitters to Target on the Waiver Wire (Week 14)

We’ve hit the last week before the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. With the unofficial end to the first half on the horizon, it’s time to get the ship right in fantasy baseball. Here’s a look at our fantasy bats to target, which includes several young shortstops and some sleepers for AL and NL-only formats.

Nick Madrigal

College baseball fans should be fully aware of what Nick Madrigal can do at the plate. The former Oregon State standout hit .361 over three seasons in the NCAA, but injuries have limited him over the past three seasons. Now healthy, the Cubs infielder has started to come alive at the plate. From June 24-July 1, Madrigal went 10-26 (.385) with a home run, a stolen base, and two RBI.

Madrigal’s fantasy value will be limited, simply because he doesn’t hit for much power. However, he does have great bat-to-ball skills and can swipe bags every now and then. He’s more of a deep sleeper that has increased value in NL-only leagues, but his versatility and hit tool does carry some weight.

Mickey Moniak

It’s been seven years since the Philadelphia Phillies took Mickey Moniak first in the 2016 MLB Draft. The California native had growing pains in his first couple of stints in the Majors, but has seemingly found his groove with the Angels. Moniak owns a .307/.336/.658 with nine home runs and 24 RBI on the season. Seventeen of those runs driven in have come since the start of June.

The one real drawback to Moniak is that the Angels have largely platooned the 25-year-old. Over the past two weeks, Moniak has sat on the bench against Clayton Kershaw, Kyle Freeland, and Tommy Henry, all lefties. That does hurt his overall value, but the former top MLB Draft pick has seen regular time against righties.

Lars Nootbaar

The numbers on Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar since the 25-year-old returned from the IL have not been impressive. Since his first game back on June 19, Nootbaar is 8-38 (.210), but there are promising signs. Nootbaar picked up hits in six of his last nine games, and drilled his fifth home run of the season on July 1 against the Yankees.

Nootbaar regularly bats in the top third of the Cardinals lineup, a good thing for both his runs scored and RBI opportunities. He does have good pop, and his excellent vision at the plate does benefit him in a number of different ways at the plate.

Anthony Volpe

Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe had a strange month of May. Despite the fact that the 22-year-old stole five bases and cranked six home runs in the second full month of 2023, Volpe hit just .174. Volpe’s cold stretch continued into the month of June, but he’s finally getting into a good place at the plate. The New Jersey native will enter play on July 3 with a seven-game hitting streak, and Volpe’s recorded hits in 10 of 12 games between June 20-July 2.

As of July 2, just seven players in MLB have at least ten home runs and 15 stolen bases — and Volpe is one of them. The Yankees young star has the tools, but has struggled with staying disciplined. But over the last few weeks, the Yankees have been rewarded with their patience.

Ezequiel Tovar

We finish off with another shortstop in Ezequiel Tovar. The 21-year-old hit .297 (11-31) with two home runs and ten RBI for the Rockies since June 24. On the season, Tovar owns a .269 average as of July 3, and the young Rockies infielder hit nine home runs and drove in 41 to this point.

Tovar’s been arguably the third-best hitter on the Rockies this season, behind Elias Diaz and Ryan McMahon. He won’t walk a lot, nor steal many bases, but he does have good contact skills and can elevate the ball