LABR NL recap: Influx of new talent adds upside, uncertainty
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — For the first time in three years, the 12 participants in the League of Alternative Reality were all in the same room for the 2023 auction drafts. The return of live drafting was one of the highlights of Baseball HQ’s First Pitch Florida conference after so many fantasy baseball leagues had to do everything online during the coronavirus pandemic.
Defending NL champion Mike Gianella of Baseball Prospectus had the honor of the first nomination — Braves pitcher Spencer Strider — as the rapid-fire bidding, across-the-table glares and exasperated sighs returned to LABR once again.
One team was especially anxious to get the ball rolling. The NFBC duo of Greg Ambrosius and Shawn Childs came out of the gate hot, snagging Strider for $30. Not wasting any time, they also rostered Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis for $34, Mets catching prospect Francisco Alvarez for $1, top Cardinals prospect Jordan Walker at $16 and reigning Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins for $27 — all in the first round of nominations.
By the middle of the third round, the NFBC duo also added Juan Soto (at $43, the NL’s most expensive player), shortstop Bryson Stott ($15) and two more catching prospects to account for $174 of their $260 budget.
DRAFT GRID: Full NL LABR auction results
LABR HISTORY: How the first experts fantasy baseball league began
Youth movement in full force
The popularity of unproven prospects was one of the most interesting aspects of this draft. The 20-year-old Walker, in particular, has drawn considerable attention this spring, making a strong bid for a spot on the Cardinals’ opening day roster despite only reaching Class AA last season.
(His $16 price tag would most certainly have been higher if the draft hadn’t been the day before his two-homer game against the Nationals.)
I don't get out to as many spring training games as I once did, but Jordan Walker's 4-for-4 game with a rope double and two mammoth HRs (both on two-strike counts) may have been the most impressive spring performance I've ever witnessed. #Cardinals pic.twitter.com/IPF4CX1HVP
— Steve Gardner (@SteveAGardner) March 4, 2023
Meanwhile, another NL rookie of the year candidate was even more popular in the draft room. Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll went for $23, despite having just 104 at-bats worth of MLB experience. Dodgers infielder Miguel Vargas also fetched $15 and Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar sparked a bidding war that went to $14.
Speaking of rookies, this year’s NL LABR group welcomed five newcomers to the draft table. First-timers D.J. Short of NBC Sports, Frank Stampfl of CBS Sports and Geoff Pontes of Baseball America were joined by 2022 LABR Mixed auction champion Jeff Zimmerman of FanGraphs and two-time LABR champ (and fantasy Hall of Famer) Ron Shandler.
That infusion of new blood added an entirely different dynamic to the auction room, forcing even the veterans to make adjustments.
MORE: Your ultimate guide to fantasy baseball player rankings
NL draft trends
An interesting characteristic of this year’s NL hitter pool is the distinct dividing lines between tiers of players at each position. Catcher seems as deep as it’s ever been, with the Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto and the Dodgers’ Will Smith at the top of the heap. Both were rostered for a whopping $26, while Willson Contreras hit $23 and five others went between $13 and $18.
Matt Olson was the last of the top four first basemen at $30, with the next-highest, Rhys Hoskins, at $20.
Among second basemen, Vaughn Grissom was the lowest of five who went between $23 and $26, seven bucks more than getting Jeff McNeil a step down. There’s also a clear top three at shortstop and third base. Even an elite trio in the outfield with Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr. ($40) and Mookie Betts ($39) going $10 more than Michael Harris and Kyle Schwarber.
On the pitching side, there are several options if you’re looking for a rotation anchor or stud reliever.
Five starting pitchers fetched at least $30 and eight more topped the $20 mark. Corbin Burnes and Aaron Nola tied for the top spot at $32, barely edging out Justin Verlander ($31), Max Scherzer and Strider.
Meanwhile four closers — Edwin Diaz, Raisel Iglesias, Josh Hader and Devin Williams — went for $20 or more, the first time that’s happened in NL LABR since 2007.
With so many gaps in the pricing, it’s difficult to leave a draft this deep without a few holes on the roster. However, former LABR champions Derek Carty and Doug Dennis managed to have some success playing the middle. Both build competitive squads without paying more than $26 for any single player.
Follow Steve Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LABR NL 2023: Jordan Walker, Corbin Carroll add to draft intrigue
