Bo Naylor (C - CLE) - Naylor put together a 333/478/667 September coming into Saturday's game (which he did not start), and is showing every sign of being a top-12 player at the position in 2024. He's one of just a few catchers capable of chipping in a handful of SBs, he has the 9th highest OBP of catchers with over 100 PAs, and after 3 homers in the past 5 games he's managed 11 bombs in just 65 games with the Guardians. While his brother is getting a little more press for his own breakout this year (Josh projects as a starting CI in 12-teamsers next season), Bo shows better plate discipline, similar contact ability, and similar power despite being 3 years younger. The lofty launch angle will prevent him from providing a ton in the AVG category I expect, but the OBP is terrific and the power could end up in the 25-30 range. I fully expect him to end up as a top-10 C in 2024, and will definitely be targeting him after the first 4-6 players at the position are gone.
Noelvi Marte (3B - CIN) - Marte was 4-5 with a 2B and a HR on Saturday, extending his hitting streak to 15 games (I'm not counting the game where he was injured in warm-ups, nor the game that he entered as a pinch-runner) and his on-base streak to 21 games. Marte really does look like a star in the making, with at least average plate discipline and contact ability, well above average exit velocity (both avg and max), and very good speed. All this at just 21 years of age (he turns 22 in 2 1/2 weeks)! Yes, the GB rate is rather high (although down almost 20% from August to September) and he's pretty bad defensively, but there is a ton to dream on here. I do believe that he could be a top-12 3B as early as next season, although it may take him a few years to develop the game power that we all want to see.
Edouard Julien (2B - MIN) - I've been really impressed with the 24 year old Julien this year, despite a late-season slide that has brought his line down to 263/381/461 after 3-5 line on Saturday that included his 16th 2B and 16th HR (in just 108 G). The plate discipline and contact ability (elite and above average) make him a natural choice to leadoff for the Twins, despite just average speed and power. Love him in OBP-based leagues, where he could be top-5 at the position, and still believe that he's a top-12 choice at 2B in standard formats as well heading into 2024.
Joe Boyle (SP - OAK) - Joe Boyle moved to 2-0 through his first 3 starts with the A's, touching 100 mph and carrying a shutout into the 7th before allowing 3 runs on a double and a homer. He's shown better control in this small sample than he ever showed in the minors, and if that improvement is for real, I'm very interested in Boyle for 2024. Pitching in Oakland is perfect for his flyball/K approach, and the bat-missing gives him a solid ceiling. The workload looks good (120 IP last year, 133 this year) and the situation is great outside of the run support....it's really all about the control. If he can keep it under 3.5 BB/9, he could be a major profit center next season, but I would absolutely consider him a streaming option only against power-challenged teams and at home.
Logan O'Hoppe (C - LAA) - O'Hoppe extended his hitting streak to 7 games with his 9th homer of the month in the 7-3 loss to Oakland. O'Hoppe's high FB/pull approach combined with some questionable contact ability are likely to keep the AVG down, but he's shown much more patience in the minors than he has in this 50-game sample in the majors this season, so I have some faith that there's even more upside than you might think here. I absolutely have O'Hoppe as a top-10 C heading into 2024, where he will vie with Bo Naylor as my top targets at the position after the first handful of backstops are off the board.
