With the 2023 MLB season on the horizon, many players find themselves in a make or break scenario for their careers. Be it because of injuries, regression, or rookie struggles, I’m taking a glimpse into one player on each team that has something to prove.

St. Louis Cardinals

Tyler O’Neill

After a mediocre start to his career, O’Neill came on strong in 2021 and mashed 34 long balls on route to a 6 WAR season and an 8th place MVP finish. With high hopes headed into 2022, O’Neill was either hurt or struggling the entire season. His OPS dropped 200 points and he didn’t even play in 100 games. In 2023 he will set out to prove that his 2021 season was not a fluke.

Atlanta Braves   

Vaughn Grissom

In a small sample size in his 2022 rookie season, Grissom showed potential. He put up a 121 OPS+ in only 40 games, and at the end of the season the Braves decided to make him the shortstop of the future and let Dansby Swanson walk. In 2023, he will have to prove that the Braves made the right choice.

Detroit Tigers

Spencer Torkelson

The former #1 overall pick broke camp with the Tigers in 2022 after just one season in the minors. Torkelson started out cold in Detroit and stayed that way. Slashing just .203/.285/.319 and posting a strikeout rate of nearly 25%, Torkelson bounced back and forth between Detroit and Toledo a couple times. In 2023, Torkelson will have to prove that he is not next in a long line of #1 overall pick draft busts.

New York Yankees

Aaron Hicks

In 2018, Aaron Hicks was one of the premiere hitting center fielders in the league, hitting nearly 30 home runs and posting a 4 WAR season. The Yankees rewarded his efforts with a 7 year, 70 million dollar contract. However, since inking the deal Hicks hasn’t hit double digit home runs and has been a clog in the potent Yankees order. In 2023, he will set out to prove that he deserves his contract, as well as his playing time.

Oakland Athletics

Christian Pache

Not so long ago, Pache was the #12 prospect in baseball and the top prospect in the Braves system. Now, he’s barely holding onto a roster spot on an atrocious A’s team. Pache’s defensive prowess has long been lauded over, but if he cannot even be a league average hitter that will not matter. Pache must prove in 2023 that his bat can pull its weight in order to continue to man center field for the A’s.

Miami Marlins

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Entering his fourth year in the show, Jazz has shown a charismatic personality and has quickly become one of the flashiest players in the league. Despite not even playing a full season yet, Chisholm has been selected to don the cover of the latest MLB the Show video game. However, both Jazz and MLB the Show have caught major heat for this with many claiming Jazz is not enough of a ‘star’ to be on the cover. In 2023, Jazz will set out to prove that his performance can live up to his persona.

Toronto Blue Jays

Jose Berrios

Heading into 2022, Berrios was coming off back to back 9th place Cy Young finishes. However, Berrios’ season went off the rails last season as he led the majors in hits and earned runs allowed. Berrios’ ERA was also above 5.00 for the first time since his rookie season. In 2023, he will have to prove that his 2022 was a fluke and that he can be the ace above the border.

Chicago White Sox

Yasmani Grandal

Grandal is not so far removed from being one of the premiere catchers in baseball. His elite framing ability combined with his switch hitting power and patience to walk made him one of the top backstops in the game. However, in 2022 it all came crashing down, as his OBP fell nearly .120 points and he was hurt yet again, only appearing in double digit games. In 2023, Grandal must prove he can be one of the best signal callers in the league.

Los Angeles Angels

Anthony Rendon

After a fantastic 2019 season where Rendon was an MVP finalist, put up 7 WAR, and had his Nationals win the World Series, Rendon signed a mammoth 7 year 245 million dollar contract with the Angels. Since becoming an Angel, “Tony Two Bags” has disappeared. Rendon has not played a full season and even when he has been on the field his once prolific extra base hit numbers have disappeared. In 2023, Rendon will have to prove his contract is worth it, and that he can still mash doubles and homers.

Baltimore Orioles

Adam Frazier

Baltimore’s roster is filled with low expectations, young players. However, the one notable exception to that is Adam Frazier. Frazier’s first half of 2021 was stellar, he was named an All Star and put up an OPS+ of 141. After that he was shipped off to San Diego and he fell down to below league average. Then, in 2022 he was subpar with the Mariners and was one of the weakest links in their playoff lineup. In 2023, the newest Oriole addition must prove that his All Star season was sustainable.

Texas Rangers

Jacob deGrom

DeGrom was signed to be the guy in Arlington. They’ve shown no objections to spending big on free agents, as we saw with Marcus Semien and Corey Seager last season. However, deGrom’s 2021 and 2022 were both cut short due to injury. The aging hurler must prove that the Rangers’ spending model is worth it and not deter them from these long term deals.

Los Angeles Dodgers

JD Martinez

The Dodgers were a hard team to pick for sure. On one hand, you have guys like Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman who have nothing left to prove. On the other, you have guys like Miguel Rojas and Trayce Thompson whose expectations are on the floor. So my pick for the Dodgers is JD Martinez. Martinez has aged very gracefully as a hitter, and has mostly been able to maintain his double and walk rate. However, JD’s game has always been the long ball. In 2022, his home run pace took a hit as he only sent 16 balls over the fence. In 2023, he’ll have to prove that he’s still got pop left in his bat. 

San Francisco Giants

Michael Conforto

Conforto’s fall from grace was short, fast, and to the point. After being an up and coming star for the Mets from 2017-20, Conforto had a subpar contract year in 2021. During last offseason, he turned down the Mets qualifying offer and then deliberated all of free agency before and after the lockout. Conforto’s agent, Scott Boras, claimed he had a shoulder injury and would not play at all in 2022. This season, Conforto will have to prove the league wrong for not giving him a contract last offseason.

Boston Red Sox

Chris Sale

From 2012 to 2018, the lowest Chris Sale finished in the AL Cy Young balloting was 6th. From 2020 through 2022, Sale has not appeared in more than 10 games. It has been an assortment of injuries and ailments for the southpaw, including pneumonia, Tommy John surgery, COVID-19, a rib fracture, a broken finger and wrist (on separate occasions). In 2023, the 33 year old will have to prove that he’s still got productive innings left in him.

Cleveland Guardians

Myles Straw

After the 2021 season, the Guardians gave Straw a long term deal. Straw gave them more than their money’s worth, ranking as one of the top defenders among center fielders by most defensive metrics. However, for as good as Straw was patrolling the Cleveland outfield, in the batter’s box he left a lot to be desired. Straw only posted a 65 OPS+, which isn’t even the unfortunate part. Straw went to the plate 596 times in 2022, and did not hit a single home run. In 2022, Straw will have to prove he does in fact, have some pop in his bat.

Minnesota Twins

Byron Buxton

Every year is the same story with Byron Buxton. He starts off extremely hot, and many begin wondering if he runs away with MVP within a month or two of Opening Day. After that, he sustains some injury that sidelines and hinders the rest of his season. He hasn’t played even close to a full season since 2017, and has injured close to every part of his body. Below is a complete list of all his injuries since the start of 2018.

Buxton is already 30 years old. If he wants to hang in the league for much longer, he’ll have to prove he can play a full season.

Houston Astros

Michael Brantley

Brantley has quietly been one of the more consistent hitters over the past 10 years or so. However, the 35 year old veteran only managed to play 40 games last season, and seemed to take a step back when he was on the field. With the emergence of Kyle Tucker and Chas McCormick paired with Yordan Alvarez to play the outfield, Brantley’s playing time is not guaranteed. Brantley will have to prove he still deserves at bats for the reigning World Series champs.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Gurriel was a crucial component of one of the most potent lineups in baseballlast season in Toronto. In 2022, his rate stats were mostly on par with his career averages. He continued mashing doubles, and nearly matched his career high in WAR. However, a noticeable regression in Gurriel’s game was his homers. From 2019-2021 Gurriel averaged 30 homers per 162 games. Despite that, in 2022 he only launched 5 long balls. Now that Arizona has given up future All Star and rare catcher/outfield hybrid, Daulton Varsho, to acquire Gurriel, he must prove that he can get his homer pace back on track.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Ke’Bryan Hayes

Hayes is one of the few players in Pittsburgh with any semblance of a bright future. Across the board, he grades out as one of the best fielders at third base. As good as he’s been with the leather, Hayes has yet to put it all together at the plate for a full season. His OPS+ has hovered around 80 for 2021 and 2022. In 2023, Ke’Bryan Hayes will have to prove that he is the hitter, and the player that many believe him to be. 

Seattle Mariners

Jarred Kelenic

There was once a time where Kelenic was supposed to be the next great M’s center fielder and Julio Rodriguez was the unknown wild card. Much has changed since then, and Kelenic’s MLB future is in jeopardy. The 23 year old has hit just .168 and slugged .338 since making his debut and many are worried that he cannot adjust to MLB pitching. In 2023, Kelenic has one last chance to prove that he is the player many thought he was as a top prospect and he can join J-Rod in one of the most electric outfields in baseball.

Chicago Cubs

Cody Bellinger

Despite one of the most promising starts to a career in recent memory, a Rookie of the Year, 2 all star selections, and an MVP in his first 3 seasons, post-pandemic Belli has not been the same. While still an elite center fielder, the slugger has seemingly stopped slugging. His power has been lost, and his 5 star player status has been relegated. On a new team in 2023, Cody Bellinger is going to have to prove to the league, and himself, that that MVP still exists inside him.

Colorado Rockies

Kris Bryant

A much similar story to Bellinger, Bryant got his career kicked off with a Rookie of the Year and an MVP award. However, Bryant had sustained success for much longer in his career, being an All Star as recently as 2021. That being said, Bryant has earned a reputation as injury prone and 2022 was no exception. He only appeared in 42 games, and did not play at all in August or September. Bryant also has big shoes to fill, as Colorado traded franchise anchor Nolan Arenado to St. Louis after the 2020 season. Bryant was signed to be the replacement third baseman, despite only appearing in left field last year. In 2023, Bryant must prove he is the superstar the Rockies signed him to be.

Philadelphia Phillies

Nicholas Castellanos

After a stellar 2021 season, Castellanos signed a massive 100 million dollar contract for the Phillies. However, it wasn’t quite the season the Phillies had hoped for. Despite the World Series appearance, Castellanos barely put up a third of his homer total from ‘21 and his OPS+ was below 100. This year, he’ll have to prove he’s the big right handed stick to compliment Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber he was signed to be.

New York Mets

Pete Alonso

The individual Mets have very little to prove. So I got a little creative with this pick. Pete Alonso, as a baseball player, has nothing to prove. BUT, Pete Alonso the 2x Home Run Derby Champ?! That man has something to prove. After putting on a show in Cleveland and Denver, Alonso did not three-peat in LA. He’ll need revenge not only on reigning champ Juan Soto, but also Julio Rodriguez for eliminating him in the semis.

Tampa Bay Rays

Wander Franco

When Wander Franco was the #1 prospect in baseball, word on the street was that he would instantly be one of the top shortstops in baseball, a la Alex Rodriguez. Franco has left no doubt about his otherworldly patience at the plate, but he’s had two noticeable weaknesses in his game. Primarily, he’s only hit 13 home runs so far, and for a highly touted 60 grade power tool player, that just will not cut it. Additionally, he’s yet to play in a full season, clocking in at 70 and 83 games played in 2021 and 2022. In 2023 however, he’ll have a chance to prove he can be the everyday superstar for the Rays that he was heralded to be.

Cincinnati Reds

Joey Votto

Unfortunately, 2022 looked like the beginning of the end for Joey Votto. The future Hall of Famer only appeared in 90 games, to a sorry tune of .201/.319/.370 and only 11 home runs. While Votto does not have much more to prove in a traditional sense, the Reds are a barren team when it comes to any sort of expectations. The 38 year old Votto will have to prove in 2023 that he can fend off father time for just a bit longer.

Kansas City Royals

Aroldis Chapman

2022 was a disaster of a season for the flame throwing southpaw. His /9 stats became atrocious. His BB/9 crept up 3 (compared to his career through ‘21) and his SO/9 fell by 5. His ERA of 4.46 was nearly double his career and he lost the Yankees closer role for the first time since donning the pinstripes in 2016. Heading into the postseason, Chapman skipped a mandatory workout and subsequently got left off the postseason roster altogether. On a new team in 2023, the ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ must prove he can still be an elite closer.

Milwaukee Brewers

Jesse Winker

2021 had looked like the Winker’s emergence. As a member of the Reds, he slashed .305/.394/.556 and hit the 20 homer mark for the first time. Many thought the 27 year old had broken out, including the Mariners front office. The M’s made a deal to bring Winker to Seattle and he grossly underperformed. Winker was dead weight in the Mariner’s lineup and even lost his job down the stretch. In 2023, Winker has got to prove that 2023 wasn’t some fluke.

San Diego Padres

Juan Soto

The Juan Soto trade last July was heralded as one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. The Nats gave up a 23 year old absolute superstar, with 3 years of team control remaining. It was unheard of, and many didn’t believe the trade would happen until it was finalized. However, Soto’s time in San Diego was measly at best. Perplexingly, Soto only swatted 6 homers in brown and yellow. Soto has a very simple and very achievable task in 2023: be the superstar the Padres traded for.

Washington Nationals

Dominic Smith

Stephen Strasburg

Patrick Corbin

Best for last right? All three of these guys has one pretty big thing to prove for the worst team in baseball.

Dom Smith once seemed like a part of the future with the Mets. Unfortunately, he has not hit a home run since July 2021. As a bat first first basemen, this is a major problem. If Dom wants a future in baseball, he’s got to show he can still plant a ball in the seats.

Patrick Corbin was an integral part of the Nats 2019 World Series winning team. He was stellar the whole season, and even saw some crucial bullpen innings against the Astros. However, since that WS win, Corbin leads the majors in losses, hits given up, earned runs allowed, and is third in homers allowed. In 2023, all Corbin has to prove is that he isn’t the worst pitcher in baseball.

Speaking of integral parts to that 2019 team, World Series MVP, Stephen Strasburg. After winning WS MVP, the Nats opted to sign him long term and let the aforementioned Anthony Rendon walk. Since then, Strasburg has only appeared in 8 games, equating to about 4 million dollars per start so far. In 2023, the former first overall draft pick has got to prove he still has a lot more value to provide in DC.

Tomorrow is Opening Day. Hopefully at the end of the season we will look back on this list and see that a lot of these guys proved that they belong.