Nick Mariano's 2023 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Rankings

2023 fantasy baseball tiered outfield rankings and analysis for 5x5 roto mixed leagues, featuring ranks from RotoBaller's rankings expert Nick Mariano.

Opening Day is starting to appear on the horizon as the draft season hits its apex. We're cranking out content to help you crush it, and with that in mind, my fantasy baseball rankings series now heads to the outfield. And in case you missed any earlier pieces, you can see the rest of the positional rankings articles here:

• Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings
• Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings
• Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings
• Fantasy Baseball Third Base Rankings
• Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings
• Fantasy Baseball Saves+Holds Relief Pitcher Rankings

As you know, the outfield is a lot deeper than any infield position. I'm going to list my top 150 to try to help those in AL and NL-only leagues as well. There are myriad builds possible with the number of outfielders available in the draft room so be sure you monitor your overall construction.

That's enough of my jibber-jabber. Let's jump into the tiered table and analysis below.

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• BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
• PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
• Who should I start? Fantasy baseball comparisons
• Daily MLB starting lineups
• Fantasy baseball closer depth charts
• Fantasy Baseball live scoreboard
• Fantasy baseball injury reports

Outfield Fantasy Baseball Rankings - Roto Leagues

Tier One - Outfield Rankings

The top-four outfielders typically all go within the first six picks of a standard 5x5 draft. These studs offer overwhelming power and speed, with none of them being a batting average liability either. This is a deep position so we don’t need to nitpick the top tier.

Last year, we saw 26 outfielders within the top 90 in Yahoo’s 5x5 scoring (also, Bryce Harper was 91st). This may leave you confident in waiting, and that’s okay, but I assure you the player pool dries up quickly. That 26-figure sounds like a lot, but it only takes 12 teams taking two apiece to run through most of it. You’ll want anchors if you play in a five-outfield format.

Tier Two - Outfield Rankings

Juan Soto had an uncharacteristically poor .242 batting average in 2022, yet still posted a .401 OBP and cracked 27 home runs in 153 games. He’d never had a BABIP lower than .312 across four seasons and then a .249 mark reared its head in ‘22. Most seem to be forgiving him for that given the lofty ADP, which is appropriate.

Mookie Betts may grab 2B eligibility and enjoy some additional RBI opportunities if moved down from the leadoff position. Wherever he goes, he’ll make you happy. His 35 home runs weren’t that surprising, as the 15.6% HR/FB rate is on par with his last five seasons but he had a career-high 47.7% fly ball rate. 30 homers and 15 steals with 200 R+RBI are in the pipeline.

Yordan Alvarez and Mike Trout boast immense power but the medicals will make you sweaty. If Alvarez already has hand inflammation/soreness before the long season begins, then will it really hold up over 162 games? Will Houston manage his workload? Does Trout’s back put him in a similar spot? Alvarez hasn’t had as many years of injury risk as Trout, but his being an active problem puts them on a similar level. I’m not targeting Alvarez as a result, but have snagged Trout between Rounds 2-3 when going pitcher first.

Tier Three - Outfield Rankings

Randy Arozarena casually had a top-25 season as one of just two players to put up a 20/30 campaign in ‘22. If you need to follow up a power-heavy or pitcher start, then Arozarena is a favorite. More daring drafters can go for Michael Harris II and see whether he holds the second spot in Atlanta’s order.

Need power? Snag Kyle Schwarber. Still light on speed? Then head to Camden and tag in Cedric Mullins II. If you feel secure through 3-4 rounds and want to incorporate risk, then Luis Robert has first-round upside if he can stay healthy. A big if, to be sure.

And surging prospect Corbin Carroll only stole two bases in 32 MLB games last year, but was 31-of-36 in 91 minor-league games prior to the promotion. He also socked 23 home runs while hitting over .300 down there. He has a sharp eye and 80-grade speed worth sniping from others’ queues.

Tier Four - Outfield Rankings

I’m not sure folks will ever fully trust players who pop in their age-28 season but Adolis Garcia has been an excellent fantasy weapon across two full seasons now. Power. Speed. An ISO north of .200 against both left- and right-handed pitching in 2022. If you believe, then he’s an excellent value. If you don’t, then you’ll let someone else burn a high pick on him.

Teoscar Hernandez had great numbers when healthy but an oblique injury weighed down his seasonal stats. He’s fallen down some draft boards as a result, and many lucky managers have gotten a nice margin on his 30-homer bat.

Tier Five - Outfield Rankings

Taylor Ward is likely my heaviest target of the bunch. You never know when another believer is in your draft room but I’ve regularly seen Ward linger past the 100th pick. He showed league-winning potential in that six-week early stretch of ‘22 before neck/shoulder issues arose following a wall collision.

Even if you don’t buy that as close to his true talent level, you can’t deny the value provided by hitting leadoff on the Angels. His Statcast metrics panel is covered in red and my rosters are covered in Ward. But people struggle to buy into those 28-year-old breakouts!

Tier Six and Below - Outfield Rankings

The players start to fit more of a one-trick-pony mold the further down you go. The trick tends to be hitting home runs, for your information. That’s a neat trick, but we still want some speed and average with our power plants.

As such, I am aggressively drafting Boston’s Masataka Yoshida. Some fear the unknown but Fenway Park is relentlessly hitter-friendly (though less so for left-handed swings) and Yoshida’s bat-on-ball talent is MLB-ready. The 29-year-old has quick hands and hit .326 over his seven years in Japan’s NPB.

How exactly he contributes for us will depend on where Boston hits him. More runs and overall volume at leadoff. More RBI down near the heart. But an average over .280, acknowledging room for way higher, with healthy pop will be taken by me earlier than pick 200.

Tier Seven and Below - Outfield Rankings

Michael Conforto returns to action after a torn left shoulder sunk his prospects of playing in ‘22. It’s hard for me to picture him making it through a full season without some shoulder soreness cropping up, but his early Spring form is promising. The 30-year-old has thwacked four home runs in 35 at-bats and I wanted to see if his swing looked altered in any demonstrable way compared to pre-injury Conforto. San Fran isn’t welcoming for home runs, but he’s a fine flier as an OF5. (This is why I don’t wait on OF early!)

If you want to tap into some Great American Ball Park mojo, then Jake Fraley (aka Rake from State Farm) is a buzzy play. He hit 12 home runs with four steals in just 68 games last year, working mostly against right-handed pitching. We’ll see if the Reds give him a chance against southpaws in ‘23 but those in daily-move formats who can juggle the platooning should enjoy another OPS above .800 this season.

Despite success this Spring, Oscar Colas hasn’t surged up boards as quickly as I’d imagined. The outfielder has a .289/.304/.511 slash line with three home runs over 45 ABs in which he’s only struck out five times. He’s putting his foot down on the job in right field and could pop 20-plus homers from within a powerful White Sox lineup if the collective health holds.

Garrett Mitchell kicked off his Spring with three home runs in only 18 ABs but a hamstring injury has thrown his Opening Day status into jeopardy. Even if it’s delayed, Mitchell’s 2023 season could be a big one. Being cautious with his hamstring is imperative if we want the Mitchell who went a perfect 8-of-8 on steal attempts in his first 28 MLB games. The 24-year-old also put on muscle this offseason in hopes of tapping into his 55-grade raw power. He’ll strike out a bunch but his power-speed play skews toward fantasy intrigue.

Edward Olivares (and to a lesser extent, Kyle Isbel) should get a chance to prove himself in a full-time gig at long last. He’s never received more than 200 PAs over his three years in the bigs but showed promising pop in the minors. His 2019 at Double-A produced 18 home runs, 35 steals, and a .801 OPS in 127 contests.

We’ve yet to see him steadily play or hit that level in the majors, and coaches must have their reasons, but his range of outcomes includes a .260 hitter with 15 home runs and 6-10 steals. Follow the PT! Isbel is more toolsy for fantasy and has 15-20 steals in his wheelhouse, but might struggle to hit above .230. The opportunity is there for either man with Drew Waters’ oblique injury.

Remember Eddie Rosario? While it’s doubtful he wrests everyday play from Atlanta’s depth chart, the 31-year-old may enjoy a mini-renaissance due to improved vision. ATL skipper Brian Snitker has praised Rosario’s Spring and says he looks better in the box. Rosario popped 32 homers in 2019 and another 13 taters in 57 games through the shortened 2020 season. His performance has fallen since then but now he’s had time for his eyes to adjust. Don’t be shocked at a rebound.

More 2021 Fantasy Baseball Advice