Nick Winograd | Sports Section Editor
The 2023 MLB season is set to start tomorrow, and baseball fans everywhere are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting year. After an enthralling offseason of personnel changes and superstar turnover, the 2023 season marks a return to some sense of normalcy for America’s pastime.
As always, the season begins with a clean slate for all 30 teams. Everyone has a chance to win it all, and anything can happen over the course of the 162-game schedule. But there are a few storylines that are worth paying attention to as the season gets underway.
One of the most intriguing teams to watch this year is the Houston Astros. The defending champions have been one of the most dominant teams in baseball over the past few seasons, and they’ll be looking to repeat as champions in 2023. Led by stars such as Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, and Kyle Tucker, the Astros will once again be a force to be reckoned with. Tucker participated for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and was a key contributor to the teams’ second place finish in the tournament.
Another team to keep an eye on this year is the New York Yankees. The Yankees have been relatively quiet in the offseason, but they still have one of the most talented rosters in the league. With sluggers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup, the Yankees will be looking to make a deep playoff run. Judge, of course coming off of his historic 62 home run season in ‘22, fans of the Yanks will be looking for an encore from the new captain of the storied franchise.
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2022 season. The Red Sox missed the playoffs last year, but they made some key acquisitions in the offseason, including Japanese phenom Masataka Yoshida and longtime Dodgers’ third baseman Justin Turner. If those moves pay off, the Red Sox could be a contender once again. Additionally, after signing superstar Rafael Devers to an extension, Red Sox fans have a lot to be excited about in 2023.
Of course, there are plenty of other teams worth watching as well. The New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and San Diego Padres all have talented rosters and could make some noise in the postseason. And with so much parity in the league these days, there’s always a chance that an underdog team could surprise everyone and make a deep run. After San Diego acquired Xander Bogaerts from Boston, the left side of the infield looks dynamic, as Bogaerts will pair with Manny Machado, who signed a long term extension with the club in the winter.
One thing that’s certain is that the 2023 season will be full of excitement and drama. From the individual battles between pitchers and hitters to the team rivalries that will play out over the course of the year, there will be no shortage of storylines to follow.
And while there will undoubtedly be some bumps in the road along the way, the return of baseball is a welcome sight for fans everywhere. So grab your peanuts and crackerjacks and settle in for what promises to be a thrilling ride through the 2023 MLB season.
Leave a Reply