MLB Rank 2024: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players

Opening Day is sort of right here, which suggests it is time to ask the query that is on everybody’s thoughts: Who would be the finest participant of the 2024 MLB season?

To create our annual MLB Rank listing of the highest 100 gamers within the sport, we introduced a panel of ESPN baseball specialists with pairings upon pairings of the largest names within the recreation and requested them which participant will probably be higher in 2024.

Nevertheless, that raises the query of tips on how to evaluate gamers who’ve vastly totally different however nonetheless vital roles throughout the game. How do you evaluate the highest beginning pitchers to one of the best sluggers within the recreation? What about gamers who do not have a lot main league expertise? And the place do baseball’s finest relievers land? It appears not possible to pit these stars in opposition to each other, however we did it — and one participant got here out on high.

Our listing options Cy Younger Award winners, MVPs, veterans constructing Corridor of Fame résumés and younger megastars who might dominate MLB for years to come back. However who’s No. 1? And the place does one of the best participant in your group rank?

ESPN MLB specialists Jeff Passan, Buster Olney, Alden Gonzalez, Dave Schoenfield, Jesse Rogers and Brad Doolittle broke down why every participant is ranked the place they’re and what to anticipate from them within the upcoming season.

Leap to group’s top-ranked participant:

American LeagueBAL | BOS | CHW | CLE | DETHOU | KC | LAA | MIN | NYYSEA | TB | TEX | TOR(No high 100 gamers: OAK)

Nationwide LeagueARI | ATL | CHC | CINLAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHIPIT | SD | SF | STL(No high 100 gamers: COL, WSH)

Extra: Snubs, surprises

Subsequent high 100 participant for each group | MLB gamers weigh in on high 100

Stolen bases can take a big toll on a participant’s physique, and 73 is lots. Which begs the query: Would the Braves take into account barely reigning in Acuña, who’s oh-so-valuable in every single place else, within the wake of his knee scare this spring? “Nah,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. In some unspecified time in the future, Acuña will decelerate on his personal. However proper now, Snitker mentioned, “You have to flip a child like that unfastened.”

The Braves will just do that with Acuña, the reigning MVP after changing into the primary 40-70 participant in baseball historical past. The 2023 season noticed Acuña choose up the place he left off in 2019 — earlier than the COVID-shortened season of 2020, the torn ACL of 2021 and the struggles coming off it in 2022 made us neglect this could be the sport’s most dynamic participant. Besides he did it whereas putting out lower than half the time, triggering an absurd .337/.416/.596 slash line. He was simply as athletic and way more refined than when he first burst onto the scene 4 years earlier — and he is at a degree in his life the place he would possibly nonetheless be getting higher.

Season prediction: One other run at MVP, one other season as a catalyst atop the Braves’ prolific offense and, dare we are saying, the primary 50-50 season ever. — Gonzalez

Every little thing we thought of Choose’s function within the Yankees’ success was strengthened in 2023. On the day he slammed his proper foot into the bullpen gate in Dodger Stadium, the group’s report was 35-25. The remainder of the season — with Choose lacking in depth time — the Yankees have been 47-55. The absence of 1 famous person is usually extra significant within the NFL, with quarterbacks, or within the NBA. It is not purported to occur in baseball. However it did with Choose, who has advanced right into a staggering mixture of energy, on-base manufacturing, baserunning and protection. He performed half his video games on a bum massive toe final season and completed with an adjusted OPS+ of 175.

Season prediction: An outdated saying is that one of the best lineup safety comes from in entrance of a hitter, as a result of with runners on base, pitchers are extra compelled to work within the strike zone. Now Choose has Juan Soto in entrance of him. He can have a monster yr. — Olney

3. Juan Soto, RF, New York Yankees

Soto’s protection might stop him from ever being thought of one of the best participant within the recreation, however he is actually within the operating for finest hitter. Certainly, since 2020 he ranks first within the majors in batting runs created, forward of Choose and Freddie Freeman. He was sixth within the class final season after hitting .275/.410/.519 with 35 dwelling runs and 132 walks for the Padres. Now, following the massive commerce to the Yankees, comes the pressures of performing in pinstripes and enjoying for an enormous contract in free company, which he’ll enter after this season. Whereas he did battle these first two months with the Padres in 2022, take into account this: He hit .307/.422/.604 with 23 dwelling runs on the street in 2023. Now he will get to play his dwelling video games at Yankee Stadium. His numbers might explode in 2024, placing an MVP trophy in his sights.

Season prediction: His first 40-homer season, one of the best OBP within the majors, probably the most runs scored within the majors (batting in entrance of Choose will assist there) … and the American League MVP Award. — Schoenfield

During the last half-century, the listing of gamers with extra seasons of 8.0-plus wins above substitute than Betts is as follows: Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Mike Schmidt. That is it.

The identical seven are the one ones forward of him in 6.0-plus WAR seasons, too. The corporate Betts retains is straightforward: the elite of the elite — first-ballot Corridor of Fame kinds.

Prime 100 breakdown by group

Which golf equipment have probably the most gamers on our listing?

8: Braves, Astros7: Dodgers6: Phillies5: Rangers, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Mets4: Yankees, Padres, Guardians, Marlins, Cubs3: Orioles, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Pirates, Brewers2: White Sox, Pink Sox, Giants, Rays, Twins1: Royals, Angels, Reds, Tigers0: Nationals, Rockies, Athletics

At 31, Betts stays in his prime, and he was lately named the Dodgers’ shortstop — a transfer supervisor Dave Roberts referred to as “everlasting, for now” — after splitting time at second, shortstop and proper area final yr. He does every thing proper: hit for common (.307) and energy (39 dwelling runs), get on base (.408 OBP), run nicely (14 stolen bases) and play nice protection. He’s as stable and regular as they arrive, and whereas his OPS might not once more strategy 1.000, hitting in entrance of two different gamers within the high 10 of this listing cannot harm.

Season prediction: A .300/.400/.500 slash line — solely 5 gamers booked one final yr — and probably the most runs scored for a participant for the reason that Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. (The report: Freeman’s 132 final yr.) — Passan

5. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers

Father Time is undefeated however sooner or later, even Freeman has to cease getting higher. That time does not appear to be looming any time quickly, not after Freeman’s age-33 season was arguably his finest marketing campaign but. Since 2016, there have been 35 situations by which a qualifying batter has put up a coveted .300/.400/.500 stat line. Solely seven hitters have achieved it greater than as soon as. 5 of the seven in that group have achieved it twice, whereas Mike Trout has achieved it 3 times. Freeman has achieved it 5 instances.

A metronomic craftsman, Freeman is now 14 years into his journey to Cooperstown. His first seven seasons featured a .288/.373/.484 slash line with 949 hits, 138 homers and 19 steals. The previous seven have seen a .313/.402/.541 line with 1,165 hits, 183 homers and 70 steals. How is that attainable?

Season prediction: Extra of the identical — .300/.400/.500 line, simply to start out, and one other 190 to 200 hits off his countdown to three,000. He is demonstrated no cause to suppose that, at 34, he is about to decelerate. — Doolittle

When wholesome, Seager is as harmful a hitter as they arrive. Simply ask the Diamondbacks, who noticed firsthand what the veteran is able to within the World Collection final yr when he posted a 1.137 OPS in 5 video games. The outcome was a championship for Texas and MVP honors for Seager. However accidents have been half and parcel of his profession so far, and his spring has been slowed down by his restoration from a hernia surgical procedure he underwent in January. It could not impression his common season however hitters are creatures of routine, so it would take him a bit to get going. When he does, be careful. The Rangers are searching for a repeat and have the precise man to steer them there — a now two-time World Collection MVP.

Season prediction: Supplied he is wholesome for a lot of the yr, Seager will set a profession mark in walks in 2024, reminding groups he isn’t the individual to pitch to in clutch conditions. His earlier excessive was simply 67 in 2017. He’ll attain 70 this yr. — Rogers

7. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

Do not blame Cole for the Yankees lacking the postseason final yr for the primary time since 2016, as he went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA, main the AL in ERA, adjusted ERA, innings, pitching WAR (by greater than two wins), WHIP and lowest batting common allowed. He was rewarded along with his first Cy Younger Award after twice beforehand ending second. In his 4 seasons with the Yankees, solely Zack Wheeler tops Cole in Baseball-Reference WAR (bWAR) amongst pitchers, so it has been a sound funding in a pitcher who’s on a Corridor of Fame trajectory. His sturdiness, elite velocity and wonderful command make him the highest pitcher on our board.

Season prediction: Pretty much as good as he was in 2023, Cole did endure a big decline in whiff charge (from the 92nd percentile in 2022 to the forty eighth percentile in 2023). It did not harm him final season, however let’s examine about 2024. I’m wondering if his dwelling runs spike again up a bit like they did in 2022. Meaning he might nonetheless be an ace — simply possibly not a Cy Younger winner. — Schoenfield

Since Alvarez entered the majors in 2019, solely Trout and Choose have a better OPS+ (169 for each; Alvarez is at 165). Over the previous three seasons, Alvarez has averaged 42 homers, 123 RBIs and 109 runs per 162 video games. He’s the entire package deal on the dish. And he does it when the stakes are at their highest, as evidenced by his ridiculous 1.487 playoff OPS final October. The issue for Alvarez has been accidents which have seen his whole video games performed over these previous three stellar seasons drop from 144 to 135 to 114. That is more and more turn out to be the important thing class for him and the Astros as a result of if he performs, he hits — and nearly nobody does it higher.

Season prediction: Alvarez is getting into his age-27 season which, traditionally, has been the commonest profession marketing campaign for a hitter. If Alvarez can get 140 or extra video games, he’ll make a run at 50 homers and fiercely contend for AL MVP honors. — Doolittle

9. Shohei Ohtani, DH, Los Angeles Dodgers

Has a full-time, non-pitching DH ever received an MVP? Nope. Not but, at the very least. However Ohtani, the unanimous AL MVP as a two-way participant in 2021 and 2023, is in some way wanting like probably the most harmful model of himself offensively within the wake of proper elbow surgical procedure. It took solely a few week of exercises for the Dodgers’ $700 million megastar to wow new teammates and coaches with each his energy and his strategy. And when the exhibition video games started, all Ohtani appeared to do was meet the baseball along with his barrel.

Ohtani’s OPS jumped 191 factors from 2022 to 2023, all the best way as much as a serious league-leading 1.066. He added 44 homers and drove in 95 runs for an Angels group that oftentimes gave him little or no help. Now he’ll hit between Betts and Freeman, two perennial MVPs in their very own proper, and he will not have to consider pitching till 2025. Is it attainable for Ohtani to achieve yet one more degree offensively? Yep.

Season prediction: Ohtani will not win his third MVP, however he’ll run away along with his third Silver Slugger whereas hitting over .300 for a second straight yr and driving in a career-high 120 runs. He’ll flirt with 50 homers, too. — Gonzalez

Carroll entered 2023 because the Rookie of the Yr favourite within the Nationwide League and never solely lived as much as expectations however exceeded them, with a spectacular, thrilling season that showcased blazing velocity and shocking pop that can make him one of many high faces of the sport over the following decade. He stole 54 bases in 59 makes an attempt, the second-best proportion ever for a participant with at the very least 50 steals. With 25 dwelling runs, he grew to become the ninth participant to go 25/50 in the identical season. He completed fifth within the MVP voting — all this at age 22, after enjoying simply 142 video games within the minors resulting from COVID-19 and an damage that worn out his 2021 season. With extra expertise, he would possibly add some energy in opposition to left-handed pitchers and enhance his plate self-discipline … and climb even increased on this rating.

Season prediction: A 30/60 season is asking lots, however that is not removed from what he did final yr. How about 30/60/.300 with a second straight All-Star begin and top-five MVP end. — Schoenfield

A operating debate final season was whether or not it was attainable that Rutschman had ascended to the league’s No. 1 catcher in his first yr within the majors, surpassing somebody so revered as J.T. Realmuto. However he put all that dialog to relaxation final yr, as he led the Orioles pitching workers to one of the best report within the AL, whereas posting wonderful numbers on the plate — 84 runs scored, 20 homers and a .374 on-base proportion in a staggering 588 at-bats, which is extra at-bats than Yadier Molina had in any season in his profession. Rutschman performed 108 video games at catcher and one other 46 at DH in 2023.

Season prediction: Eleven of his 20 homers got here in video games by which he served as a DH — possibly a coincidence, or possibly a mirrored image of his devotion to pitchers on the times he was behind the plate. His offensive manufacturing will proceed to develop. — Olney

12. Matt Olson, 1B, Atlanta Braves

In some methods, Olson cannot win. Over two seasons with Atlanta, he is performed in all 324 video games. He is hit 88 homers, together with a whopping 54 in 2023, and pushed in 242. Whereas he is received over Braves followers and been a worthy successor to Freeman at first, he nonetheless managed to solely end fourth within the NL MVP balloting final yr regardless of all these dwelling runs and league-leading totals in RBIs (139) and slugging (.604). Amongst these he completed behind have been Freeman and teammate Acuña. The voters have been proper, too, which signifies that Olson’s historic output did not even mark him as one of the best participant on his personal group. Generally life is all about timing. Nonetheless, the Olson period in Atlanta goes simply high quality.

Season prediction: Olson’s profession has all the time been an every-other-year sample, with large peaks adopted by average regressions. If the sample retains up, this can be a regression yr, however on the identical time, Olson has turn out to be a extra constant, much less pull-heavy hitter. What we do know is that he’ll present up — he is missed simply six video games over the previous 4 seasons, in some way defeating the load-management period in skilled sports activities. — Doolittle

Bryce Harper 2.0 is proving to be simply pretty much as good — if not higher — than the unique model. Now at first base and nicely faraway from Tommy John surgical procedure, Harper might be primed for an additional MVP season. Simply as attention-grabbing is his connection to Philadelphia. With all due respect to the now retired Jason Kelce of the Eagles or Joel Embiid of the 76ers, Harper is arguably the face of Philadelphia sports activities. He embodies the town’s raucous fan base and undoubtedly helped anoint Residents Financial institution Park as one of many hardest, if not the hardest, locations to play for opponents within the main league. Harper has made the Phillies one of many elite and extra attention-grabbing groups in baseball.

Season prediction: Harper will produce his third 1.000 OPS season, placing him within the operating for MVP. He reached .900 final yr whereas coping with his elbow ailment. He’ll be even higher this yr and extra snug at first base in addition. — Rogers

One among Tatis’ closest mates within the sport is Acuña. This offseason, Tatis adopted the trail Acuña laid out the yr earlier than en path to an MVP award: He educated beneath Fernando Tatis Sr. and performed some winter ball with a purpose to implement some offensive changes in recreation environments — “like a samurai preparing for battle,” as he put it. Tatis received a Platinum Glove whereas changing to proper area on a full-time foundation in 2023, a tremendous feat unto itself. However he did not really feel fairly proper offensively — comprehensible on condition that he sat out your complete 2022 season with a wrist damage and a PED suspension. Now, Tatis mentioned, “My confidence is thru the roof.” With Soto gone, the Padres want his efficiency to match that.

Season prediction: Tatis completed third in NL MVP voting whereas continuously coping with a shoulder subluxation and enjoying in solely 130 video games in 2023. This yr, whereas hitting leadoff full time, he’ll comply with Acuña’s path all the best way to the top and really win it. — Gonzalez

All Strider did in his first full season as a starter was win 20 video games and submit a better single-season strikeout charge than Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Chris Sale or Max Scherzer ever did. Strider’s stuff is otherworldly: a fastball that sits round 98 mph and arguably one of the best slider within the recreation. And lest you worry that two-pitch pitchers are meant for the bullpen, Strider has proved that his two (and the occasional changeup to left-handed hitters) are a lot sufficient to dominate.

Now comes the half the place the 25-year-old trims his dwelling runs allowed (22 in 186⅔ innings final yr), will get a bit luckier (he had a .316 common on balls in play) and evolves into the famous person everybody believes he is certain to be.

Season prediction: 22-6, 2.41 ERA and probably the most strikeouts for an NL pitcher since Johnson punched out 334 in 2002. — Passan

Witt’s first half in 2023 was … high quality. It nonetheless left Royals followers questioning when their ballyhooed shortstop would morph into the famous person that they had been advised was coming. Because it seems, they solely needed to wait out the All-Star break, after which Witt was one in all baseball’s finest gamers. Starting with a six-RBI outburst on July 28, Witt completed the season with a .967 OPS over his final 56 video games. Extrapolating his manufacturing throughout that stretch to 162 video games: 41 homers, 130 RBIs, 133 runs and 61 stolen bases. Over the winter, the Royals inked Witt to an 11-year extension. He wants loads of assist however the cornerstone of Kansas Metropolis baseball is in place.

Season prediction: Within the minors, it took Witt a while to adapt to a brand new degree, however when he conquered it, he did so in resounding vogue. He hasn’t but mastered the most important leagues — a 56-game pattern remains to be simply that — however count on a top-10 MVP end in 2024. — Doolittle

By some measures, 2023 was a typical yr for Ramirez. He was nonetheless an All-Star and completed tenth in MVP voting, however his OPS+ dropped by 17 factors from the earlier season. It does not assist that he has little safety in a weak Guardians lineup; that is undoubtedly a part of the rationale he is led the league in intentional walks in every of the previous two years.

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However Ramirez is not one to lament what Cleveland does not have. He simply makes probably the most of his state of affairs, often attacking the one good pitch he does get per at-bat. And he continues to be a risk on the bases, stealing at the very least 20 in 5 of the previous six seasons. An .800 OPS or higher is a given for Ramirez — and must be once more this yr.

Season prediction: He will not break Bonds’ report of 120 intentional walks in a single season, achieved in 2004, however Ramirez will lead the league in them as soon as once more. And he’ll set one other profession excessive for himself after incomes 22 IBB final yr. — Rogers

J-Rod had a 30-30 season in 2023 at age 22. He topped 100 runs and 100 RBIs in an offense that did not have a lot help round him. He is an excellent defender and performs with as a lot aptitude and power as anyone within the recreation — and even completed fourth within the MVP voting. But, it is honest to say — and Rodriguez himself would agree — that there is the potential for extra. It felt like a lot of his manufacturing got here in a single month, when he hit .429 in August and had a record-setting stretch of 17 hits in 4 video games. In 4 different months, his OPS was under .800. He wants extra consistency and to chop down on the strikeouts whereas bettering his chase charge (eighth percentile). If that occurs, be careful.

Season prediction: This rating feels honest. Certainly, Rodriguez’s uncooked OPS fell 35 factors from his rookie season as his chase charge worsened from 2022. The expertise is immense and he is clearly already an amazing participant. Let’s predict that the expertise kicks in and J-Rod goes 40-40 … which, in an Ohtani-less AL, makes him an MVP candidate. — Schoenfield

Trout received uncommonly emotional whereas addressing the media in September, within the wake of yet one more injury-plagued season. It wasn’t way back that he was on a path to changing into probably the best participant in baseball historical past. Then got here the COVID-19-shortened season of 2020, which was adopted by a three-year stretch by which he performed in fewer than half of the Angels’ video games whereas coping with accidents to his calf, again and hand. Trout has confronted persistent commerce rumors by frequently pledging loyalty to the hapless Angels, however the actuality is he’ll be 33 in August, is eight years faraway from enjoying a full season and has practically $250 million remaining on his contract. His market is sort of restricted. Trout, briefly, must show himself once more. It is wonderful to even utter that sentence, however that is the truth. Time will be merciless, even to those that as soon as appeared superhuman.

Season prediction: One good thing about Ohtani being gone is that it frees up DH days for Trout. The Angels will reap the benefits of that. And with much less demand on his physique, Trout will show as soon as once more that he’s an offensive power. He’ll win his tenth Silver Slugger if Choose spends extra time in an outfield nook. — Gonzalez

20. Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Turner’s first yr in Philadelphia was underwhelming till a standing ovation from the Philly trustworthy in early August seemingly picked up his spirits — and his recreation. Nobody can say for certain if that made the distinction, however from that time on, he hit .339 with a 1.069 OPS and 9 stolen bases. That was the model of Turner the Phillies signed for $300 million and is more likely to present up once more this yr. His mixture of velocity and energy remains to be a rarity within the recreation regardless of the rise in stolen bases across the league. And although a lot of the yr wasn’t to his liking, he nonetheless managed 26 dwelling runs and 30 stolen bases.

Season prediction: Turner was caught stealing through the playoffs however went your complete common season with out that occuring, going 30-for-30 in stolen base makes an attempt. He’ll do it once more in 2024 — at the very least 30 steals with out getting caught. He is that good, and sensible, on the bottom paths. — Rogers

21. Corbin Burnes, SP, Baltimore Orioles

He is No. 21 total, however possibly extra importantly, Burnes ranks No. 3 amongst pitchers — solely Cole and Strider are forward of him. The circumstances appear to be good for him to contend for his second Cy Younger Award and an enormous payday in free company subsequent winter: After being traded by Milwaukee to Baltimore, he’ll be working with Rutschman – already considered a high-end catcher. He’ll be surrounded by a wonderful forged of place gamers who will help him offensively and defensively. Plus, the form of Camden Yards, with the area gashed into left area, ought to serve him nicely. Not that he wants loads of assist. Burnes held opponents to a .200 batting common final season and had a 3-to-1 strikeout to stroll ratio.

Season prediction: He can have a powerful season and be the best risk to Cy Younger Award incumbent Cole for these honors. — Olney

22. Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

Wheeler, who agreed to a brand new three-year, $126 extension that runs by 2027, leads all pitchers in bWAR and fWAR since 2020. That actually provides him a powerful case as one of the best starter within the recreation, even when he is solely fourth on our listing — and particularly if you wish to give him additional credit score for his wonderful postseason performances through the previous two years.

His ERA was a tad excessive final yr at 3.61, though his peripheral stats have been nonetheless wonderful. His recreation begins with a 96-mph four-seamer that grades out as among the best fastballs within the recreation, particularly when he mixes it with a sinker that he throws nearly solely to right-handed batters that runs in on their arms; he threw the 2 fastballs greater than 60% of the time. Then he provides a cutter, sweeper and curveball, all thrown between 10% and 15% of the time. He turns 34 in Might, so possibly there’s some age-related danger with the extension, however he is been sturdy since he missed two full seasons earlier in his profession with Tommy John surgical procedure.

Season prediction: Strider would be the Cy Younger favourite within the NL resulting from his extra spectacular strikeout charges, however the Braves might play it conservative in his innings. That opens the door for Wheeler, who will take dwelling the trophy. — Schoenfield

Because the 2023 White Sox sank, Robert soared. His 5.0 bWAR wasn’t simply probably the most on the group, it was greater than 5 instances increased than another ChiSox hitter who completed the season with the membership.

Greatest positive factors in MLB Rank Prime 25

PLAYER20242023GAINLuis Robert Jr.2392+69Corbin Carroll1073+63Bobby Witt Jr.1669+53Bryce Harper1358+45Matt Olson1253+41Spencer Strider1550+35Corey Seager640+34Adley Rutschman1135+24

Greater than something, Robert stayed on the sector, logging 145 video games, 47 greater than his earlier excessive. And he additionally does the massive issues — 38 homers, 20 steals and highlight-reel manufacturing in heart area. Whilst he broke out final yr, his strikeouts spiked and his stroll charge solely eked ahead. He turns 27 in August, so that is most likely who he’s, which is not a foul factor.

Season prediction: If Roberts can largely keep away from the IL as he did in 2023, he’ll lead the White Sox in bWAR once more and high 30 homers. He’ll even be fashionable on the commerce rumor mill. — Doolittle

If one of the best skill is availability, there isn’t a one in baseball extra ready than Semien. Over the previous six seasons, he has performed 859 of the 870 video games his groups have performed — tops in MLB with Freeman and 19 greater than the third-highest whole. These aren’t empty video games, after all. Semien hits for energy (25-plus dwelling runs in every of his previous 4 seasons), will get on base and is among the many finest defensive second basemen in baseball.

In two of the previous three seasons, Semien has completed third in AL MVP voting. It is easy to take with no consideration his consistency and across-the-board excellence, however along with his being on the entrance of this devastating Rangers lineup, he is primed to stay a high 25 participant.

Season prediction: Semien turns into the primary AL participant to steer the league in runs outright for consecutive seasons since Trout went back-to-back-to-back from 2012 to 2014. He’ll surpass the 30-homer mark, too, becoming a member of 4 different teammates who do the identical. — Passan

Machado was the MVP runner-up in 2022, and the Padres went all the best way to the NLCS. His numbers dropped off in 2023, and the Padres flamed out spectacularly. And whereas it might be unfair to pin the blame squarely on Machado’s shoulders, it is pretty apparent he units the tone and should be elite once more if the Padres hope to return to the postseason. Higher well being will surely assist. Machado, one of many sport’s most sturdy gamers, performed by a balky proper elbow in 2023 and underwent surgical procedure in October to handle it. He spent the following offseason rehabbing with the Padres’ medical doctors in San Diego and appears on monitor to have as near a standard season as one would possibly fairly count on.

Season prediction: Machado will get some DH days early, however finally he’ll settle into what he all the time is — a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman who will hit about 30 dwelling runs, drive in round 100, preserve his OPS within the .800 vary and play in 150-some-odd video games. At 31, he is nonetheless in his prime. — Gonzalez

26. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros

The final holdover from the Astros’ days within the NL, the extension Altuve signed in February means he is now destined to affix Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell as one-team Houston Corridor of Famers. At a place the place gamers as soon as tended to flame out early, Altuve’s talent set hasn’t tailed off. His 157 OPS+ over the previous two seasons is at peak degree and his .390 OBP throughout that time-frame means he is nonetheless amongst baseball’s high leadoff hitters. Nevertheless, his defensive metrics have began to slip, and he must preserve mashing to carry up his finish of the worth discount. If he retains up his per season tempo of the final half-decade, Altuve might problem the three,000-hit barrier as he nears the top of his contract.

Season prediction: Altuve missed a career-high 72 video games in 2023 however his accidents appear extra random than persistent. If he can bounce again to his earlier 140ish recreation degree, count on him to problem his career-best 31 homers and return to the All-Star recreation. — Doolittle

Lindor’s first season with the Mets in 2021 was a large number — an damage, a .230 batting common, the notorious thumbs-down gesture to the followers — however he is rebounded with two exemplary seasons since. He is performed 160 and 161 video games, respectively, and completed ninth within the MVP voting each years whereas averaging 28 dwelling runs, 102 RBIs and 103 runs. His protection, whereas maybe not fairly what it was with Cleveland, stays above common. Partly as a result of he is performed practically each recreation, he is seventh amongst place gamers in WAR over these two seasons.

Now 30, Lindor is getting into the legacy stage of his profession. By age 29, he ranks ninth amongst shortstops in profession WAR; seven of these forward of him are within the Corridor of Fame, all besides Alex Rodriguez (PEDs) and Jim Fregosi (again issues in his 30s). Lindor is on a Corridor of Fame trajectory with an inexpensive likelihood of ending as one of many 10 best shortstops. I hope Mets followers recognize what they’ve.

Season prediction: Mr. Smile has been Mr. Constant the previous two years, so I will go along with extra of the identical: 30 dwelling runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs and a ninth-place end within the MVP voting. — Schoenfield

28. Kyle Tucker, RF, Houston Astros

Coming off one other excellent yr, Tucker continues to maneuver up the listing of high gamers in MLB. And he appears to be doing it quietly, as teammates resembling Alvarez and Altuve are likely to get extra of the eye. One among Tucker’s specialties is hitting left-handed pitching — he has a profession .846 OPS in opposition to them, together with a whopping .934 mark final season. He must be in line for an enormous pay day as he strikes by the arbitration system towards free company in two years. The Astros are more likely to lock him up earlier than he hits the market, as there aren’t any indicators of him slowing down. He could be getting higher, actually.

Season prediction: After ending twentieth in MVP voting in 2021, Tucker moved up 5 spots the following season then 10 extra final yr, when he completed fifth. He’ll end within the high 5 once more in 2024 — and if he makes an analogous leap as he has in previous years, it might imply taking dwelling high honors. Now that Ohtani is within the NL, Tucker might do it. — Rogers

Riley, heading into his age-27 season, is shortly making a case as the sport’s finest third baseman. Amongst others at his place over the previous three years, he ranks first in OPS (.878), first in dwelling runs (108), second in weighted runs created plus (135) and second in FanGraphs WAR (15.6). His 2023 season provided examples of how he would possibly nonetheless be getting higher, particularly on protection (from minus-six outs above common in 2022 to impartial in 2023) and along with his swing choices (his chase charge completed at a career-low 27.4%). Riley was additionally one of many recreation’s finest performers down the stretch final yr, slashing .300/.368/.601 after the All-Star break. Possibly that is simply who he’s now.

Season prediction: Riley has come shut, however he has but to complete inside the high 5 in MVP voting. That is the yr he does it. — Gonzalez

Since he broke out at age 22 in 2019, Devers has been a metronome of manufacturing over his 4 full seasons. That 2019 season seems to be a bit higher superficially, however that is solely as a result of that was the yr when offense was up throughout the league. His OPS+ figures, not together with 2020, are 132, 134, 141 and 126, respectively.

2024 MLB draft protection

Who will go No. 1 on this summer season’s draft? Kiley McDaniel breaks down the names to know.

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His protection is not nice, he is sluggish and you would like a number of extra walks or hits to spice up his OBP, however he leads the majors in extra-base hits since 2019 — two greater than Freeman. The 11-year extension he signed final yr means he’ll proceed to anchor the Boston lineup for the following decade.

Season prediction: Does Devers have one other degree? He hits the ball as constantly laborious as anybody — 98th percentile in hard-hit charge — however his poor swing choices additionally result in an excessive amount of weak contact. The instruments are there for a .300, 40-homer season, however he is just about established that that is who’s: an excellent hitter and, if not fairly a famous person, a top-10 MVP sort of participant. — Schoenfield

31. Max Fried, SP, Atlanta Braves

Taking a look at splits earlier than and after the All-Star break will be arbitrary, however in Fried’s case his 2023 outcomes on this subdivision mirror pre- and post-injury efficiency. The conclusion: He was simply pretty much as good after his forearm pressure as he was earlier than it. However the forearm was only one illness that confronted Fried final season, together with an ill-timed blister drawback late within the marketing campaign. Over the previous 4 seasons, his 2.66 ERA ranks fourth amongst starters (minimal 100 innings). His profession profitable proportion (62-26, .705) ranks sixth in baseball historical past (minimal 80 choices). In different phrases, Fried is sort of an amazing pitcher. The one class holding him again is a year-by-year innings rely that has been up and down, whilst his professional rata efficiency is regular as a rock.

Season prediction: Now that Fried is 30 years outdated, it is time for him to submit a type of 190-to-200 inning campaigns. Given his perpetually low ERA and the power of the group behind him, that most likely would imply 20-plus wins and his first Cy Younger award. — Doolittle

32. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

Rival evaluators have famous how powerful Alonso will be on himself, and that when he is in a tough patch, he seemingly beats himself up between pitches and plate appearances. This season will probably be a check of that, along with his foray into free company looming forward. His negotiations with the Mets have been put aside and he wants a giant yr following a season by which he mashed 46 homers but additionally hit .217/.318/.504. He is the Mets’ greatest energy supply, however he’ll play beneath a ton of stress this yr.

Season prediction: At each stage in his baseball life, Alonso has thrived within the face of doubts; he turns that inner depth into gas. He’ll have a giant yr, forcing the Mets’ management to make a giant, costly choice. — Olney

If the Blue Jays have excessive hopes for his or her season, they want Bichette (to not point out Vlad Guerrero Jr.) to be each bit the All-Star he was final season — or maybe even higher. It is attainable contemplating how he crushes fastballs. Final yr was his finest but in opposition to warmth — he reached base 33% of the time when he made contact off that pitch. He does not all the time, as he struck out 115 instances in 2023, however that was down from every of the earlier two seasons. With two extra years till free company, the time is now for Bichette to steer Toronto deeper into the postseason. Getting there will probably be a problem as nicely however the Jays shortstop has met a lot of them already in his younger profession.

Season prediction: If wholesome, Bichette can have 200 hits for the primary time. He’ll do it by decreasing his strikeout whole once more this yr, placing the ball in play simply sufficient to achieve that coveted quantity. — Rogers

Maybe this can be a contact excessive for the 31-year-old, however the best way he seared himself into individuals’s minds in October makes it troublesome to argue. Garcia placed on one of many nice ALCS reveals of all time, driving in 15 runs over seven video games and punctuating the sequence with a pair of dwelling runs and 5 RBIs in Texas’ Recreation 7 victory over Houston. Garcia is not an ideal participant. He strikes out an excessive amount of (175 instances in 632 plate appearances final yr) and his right-field protection will be inconsistent. However the thunder in his bat could be very, very actual, and only a few gamers can conjure an October efficiency resembling his when the stakes are at their highest.

Season prediction: .244/.314/.485 with 33 dwelling runs and 113 RBIs — in step with what he is achieved over his three full seasons with the Rangers. — Passan

Guerrero graces the duvet of MLB The Present this yr, however he is three years faraway from placing up video-game numbers. He would’ve received the MVP in 2021 if not for some pitching-hitting phenomenon named Ohtani. Guerrero belted a serious league-leading 48 dwelling runs and slashed .311/.401/.601 that yr. His slash line over the following two seasons dropped to .269/.342/.462 — nonetheless actually good, simply not elite. Guerrero blamed at the very least a few of final yr’s struggles to enjoying by illnesses in his proper knee and left wrist. His underlying numbers in 2023 have been really fairly near what they have been in 2021. The most important situation, it appears, was that he did not do sufficient harm on pitches inside his candy spot — the higher third of the strike zone.

Season prediction: Guerrero continues to make contact at a excessive degree and ranks inside the high 10% of the league in common exit velocity. These are good indicators, even for somebody who does not elevate pitches at a great charge. He’ll have an OPS within the .900s in 2024 — his penultimate season earlier than free company. — Gonzalez

Albies is available in as our fourth-highest second baseman behind Betts, Semien and Altuve. Is he the Thirty sixth-best participant in baseball? That could be stretching issues a bit, however these lists are likely to reward the bat-first gamers and Albies is coming off his finest offensive season (124 OPS+) and is in his prime at 27 years outdated. Throughout his 4 full seasons within the majors, he has averaged 28 dwelling runs, 102 runs and 93 RBIs whereas reaching 30 dwelling runs and 100 RBIs in 2021 and 2023 (sandwiched round an damage in 2022). There aren’t many second basemen now — or ever — placing up these sorts of energy numbers.

Season prediction: Albies is a reasonably exceptional hitter given his below-average hard-hit charges and an especially excessive chase charge. That is often a foul combo, however he makes loads of contact and barrels up sufficient baseballs on the good launch angle to get to 30 dwelling runs. I do not know if he’ll hit .280 once more, however the energy numbers ought to stay intact. — Schoenfield

Is not it good when somebody really lives as much as the hype? Henderson proved to be every thing the prospect gurus mentioned he can be, posting a 6.2 bWAR whereas changing into a unanimous choose for AL Rookie of the Yr in 2023. The scary half: He will be approach higher. He posted a .595 OPS in opposition to lefties, one apparent space for enchancment. Additionally, he was too passive early within the season, then feasted when he developed an aggressive strategy. He took successful in OBP when he grew to become extra proactive, however when he figures out his supreme mix of endurance and aggression, look out. The one query is at which place will Henderson deploy his plus glove? A younger infielder who can maintain down shortstop is a invaluable commodity however the Orioles are wealthy in probably elite younger infielders. No worries: He’ll thrive on the sizzling nook, second base, shortstop, or a mixture of all of the above.

Season prediction: Henderson might ascend to the stratosphere at any level, however within the brief time period, he ought to concentrate on bettering his numbers in opposition to lefties whereas honing his pitch recognition. Fewer chases, a bit extra contact, some platoon balancing and we’re speaking about an MVP run sooner moderately than later. — Doolittle

38. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks will probably be weary of the lengthy and strenuous 2023 marketing campaign they endured final season and Gallen must be on the high of their listing of gamers to observe after he threw a whopping 243 innings, together with the playoffs. In doing so, he established himself as a real ace; a workhorse who can navigate an outing even with out his finest stuff. He proved that a number of instances in October, significantly when it appeared like he was operating out of gasoline. When he seems to be again eventually season, he can level to an All-Star berth, a third-place end in Cy Younger voting and even tallying some MVP votes as excessive factors. However none of these accolades evaluate to main your group to the pennant. Gallen and teammate Merrill Kelly did that.

Season prediction: Gallen’s tallying numbers will come down a bit as Arizona has aspirations to play for seven months once more. Meaning much less innings and strikeouts however not essentially much less success. The 180-inning mark might be his candy spot in 2024. It is the quantity he attained in 2022 when he led the league in WHIP (0.913) and hits (5.9) per 9 innings pitched. — Rogers

Castillo is coming off arguably his finest season, one which noticed him win 14 video games, accumulate a career-high 197 innings, submit a 3.34 ERA and end inside the high 5 in Cy Younger voting for the primary time in his profession. However the ending will hang-out him. Dealing with the division-rival Rangers on the ultimate day of September, with the Mariners nonetheless clinging to faint playoff hopes, Castillo allowed 4 runs earlier than finishing the third inning. It eradicated the Mariners on the second-to-last day of their season, but it surely should not change the truth that Castillo — ninth amongst his friends in fWAR from 2018 to 2023 — is without doubt one of the most interesting pitchers on the planet.

Season prediction: ZiPS (Fangraphs’ participant projections system) has Castillo ending the 2024 season with a 3.27 ERA, the bottom amongst these projected to qualify for the ERA title. It’s going to mark the primary such accomplishment of his profession. — Gonzalez

40. George Kirby, SP, Seattle Mariners

Pitching in its easiest kind: Throw laborious and throw it the place you need. Kirby throws a 96-mph fastball on the high of the zone — whether or not it is a four-seamer or sinker — and throws strikes. Like, on a regular basis. He walked 19 batters in 31 begins and had 16 begins the place he issued no free passes. His stroll charge of two.5% has been bettered simply twice previously twenty years by a certified starter (Phil Hughes in 2014 and Cliff Lee in 2010).

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Kirby improved his slider final season, including extra sweep and vertical drop, after which began utilizing a splitter extra within the second half of 2023, bettering his total strikeout charge. Within the closing recreation of 2023, he unveiled a ridiculous knuckleball with 12 inches of arm-side run and 50 inches of vertical drop that Seager helplessly flailed at — not that we must always count on to see it a lot in 2024. However it certain can be enjoyable to see it now and again.

Season prediction: This rating suggests our voters are extraordinarily excessive on Kirby performing even higher given a number of the beginning pitchers he is ranked above. Cole is the plain Cy Younger favourite within the AL whereas Kirby solely ranks eighth within the present odds at +1500. Is that this a great time to say that Greg Maddux by no means had a 9.05-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio? — Schoenfield

With Miami’s Sandy Alcantara out for the season, Webb will probably be baseball’s finest instance of an old-school beginning pitcher in 2024. He does not produce that a lot swing-and-miss, as his whiff charge ranked in simply the eleventh percentile. As a substitute, he will get hitters to chase (86th percentile), retains the ball down (99th percentile groundball charge) and assaults the zone (99th percentile stroll charge). This strategy allowed the sturdy Webb to get deep into video games and paved his path for an MLB-high 216 innings in 2023. Fortunately, he wasn’t evaluated by old-school strategies, as he completed second within the NL Cy Younger balloting regardless of ending with an 11-13 report. That was a Giants factor: Solely Kansas Metropolis’s Zack Greinke acquired much less run help than the two.8 runs per 27 outs San Francisco put up for Webb.

Season prediction: Fewer innings, extra wins. Webb does not essentially have to strike out extra hitters however he might be rather less aggressive within the zone, which could enable him to surrender much less laborious contact even when his pitch counts rise. With a 1.3 BB/9 charge in 2023, he is received some buffer to work with. Even when none of that occurs, he’s due for higher luck within the win/loss division. — Doolittle

The excessive velocities and devastating actions of in the present day’s pitches prompted a complete business to alter the best way it teaches hitting, triggering the launch angle revolution that noticed gamers chase slug and ignore whiff. Placing bat to ball has by no means been tougher — so Arraez, then, is a wizard. In 2022, he received a batting title. In 2023, he carried a .400 batting common nicely into Might and completed at a major-league-leading .354 clip. His .326 batting common since he debuted in 2019 is 11 factors increased than the following hitter on that listing, Freeman. Solely three others even reached .300 in that stretch. Arraez won’t hit for a lot energy and positively will not impression video games along with his legs, however he’s a throwback to a time when hitting did not look this simple.

Season prediction: Arraez is not a product of batted-ball luck — he’s an elite hitter, one whose talent set is maximized in a giant ballpark just like the one his Marlins play out of. He’ll win his third consecutive batting title in 2024 — achieved within the NL most lately by a person named Tony Gwynn. — Gonzalez

New supervisor Craig Counsell is already marveling at Swanson’s play at shortstop and we have not even reached the common season but. His offense has some unstable facets to it, however the two-time Gold Glove winner is a pitcher’s finest good friend today. Swanson could make the play from the opening on the left aspect of the infield in addition to anybody within the recreation, and it is not all due to his robust arm. He is perfected the pop-up slide and throw — and he can do it lightning fast to nail even the quickest runners. Energy that comes together with strikeouts is a part of his DNA on offense, however his management for the upstart Cubs could be most vital. An offensive season that is a bit extra constant might transfer him up the listing.

Season prediction: It is easy. Swanson will win his third consecutive Gold Glove award. — Rogers

A fixture close to the highest of this listing — Arenado was tenth final yr — he dipped after the Cardinals’ disastrous 2023 season. Following a career-high WAR output of seven.9 in 2022, Arenado posted solely 2.4 wins final yr — a stable season for certain however nowhere close to his expectations. That makes this one thing of a pivotal season for the eight-time All-Star. Arenado turns 33 in April. A powerful push in his mid-30s would solidify his case for the Corridor of Fame, which is powerful already. Greater than that, it might assist the Cardinals rescue themselves from the basement of the NL Central, a spot they’d by no means occupied since its creation in 1994.

Season prediction: Arenado is in line for a bounce-back season. He might not strategy the numbers he put up throughout his 20s in Colorado, however 30 dwelling runs and a return to Gold Glove kind defensively are greater than life like. — Passan

His new Dodgers teammates have been initially intrigued by the javelin, then they have been mesmerized by every thing else — the standard of his stuff, the precision of his command, the effectivity of his supply. With what quantities to a slide step, Yamamoto — 5-10, 176 kilos — fires off a extremely misleading, upper-90s four-seam fastball that may dot to all 4 quadrants of the strike zone. However his command of a rainbow curveball and a darting splitter are simply as exact. The 25-year-old right-hander received three consecutive MVPs in Japan. Throughout that point, he carried a 1.42 ERA and allowed simply 15 dwelling runs in 557 2/3 innings — together with simply two final season. There is a cause for that.

Season prediction: Kodai Senga flourished in his first season within the majors, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 166 1/3 innings for the Mets in 2023. That is most likely a great comp for Yamamoto — besides with three extra wins and a barely decrease ERA. — Gonzalez

46. Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers

He type of will get misplaced amongst all the Dodgers’ stars, and that actually is not going to alter in 2024, however Smith stays a gentle, dependable and underrated catcher. Over the previous three seasons, he trails solely J.T. Realmuto in WAR amongst catchers — and since Smith was higher final season, it registers that he is second solely to Rutschman amongst backstops on this listing. I have been ready for a bit extra offense from Smith since he burst onto the scene in 2019-20, however even when that does not occur, the Dodgers will fortunately take one other .800 OPS season. With Ohtani locked into the DH function, a spot Smith began at 14 instances final season, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if he catches a number of extra video games.

Season prediction: Smith initiatives because the common cleanup hitter behind Betts, Ohtani and Freeman, which suggests he’ll get a ton of RBI alternatives — at the very least when Ohtani hasn’t cleared the bases. He drove in 76 runs in 2023 and 87 in 2022, however as an example he reaches 100 for the primary time and earns his first All-Star begin. — Schoenfield

On one hand, it might be shocking if the good-but-not-great Goldschmidt we noticed in 2023 is just what he’s now 13 years into an amazing profession. That is as a result of he was at his finest just one yr earlier than, main the NL with a 177 OPS+ and profitable his first MVP trophy. Alternatively, he turns 37 in September, and even for future Corridor of Famers, which he could also be, that is typically the way it occurs. Whereas even the 2023 model of Goldschmidt helps a group win video games, to ensure that the Cardinals to bounce again this summer season, they actually need him to indicate that final yr was only a down season, not a brand new, late-career degree of play. You most likely should not wager in opposition to him.

Season prediction: Goldschmidt is getting on, there is no approach round that, however count on him to separate the distinction between his extremely dissimilar final two performances. That participant — say, .290/.380/.510, 30 homers, 100 RBIs, 100 runs — is not peak Goldy, however he is an All-Star. — Doolittle

The comeback participant of the yr in 2023 was simply the Cubs most respected because the group’s offense ran by him. Bellinger’s season was outlined by his success in opposition to left-handed pitching — he was a beast, hitting .337 off southpaws. And he must be as motivated as ever, contemplating he needed to take a shorter-term cope with choose outs in returning to the Cubs after the beginning of spring coaching. One other nice season and Bellinger might very nicely money in on that long-term, mega-contract. He’ll be a number of years faraway from main damage and would have put up back-to-back productive seasons. He simply has to do it now.

Season prediction: Bellinger would possibly sacrifice some contact for energy in 2024 as he reduce down on his swing final season — and the group was higher for it. The lefty hit 26 dwelling runs final yr. He’ll simply hit greater than 30 this season. — Rogers

If you happen to have been to attract up a listing of gamers who’ve probably the most cash at stake in 2024, Bregman could be on the high. He turns 30 on the finish of March and is ready to turn out to be a free agent at season’s finish, and one other third baseman, Matt Chapman, was simply slow-played right into a three-year, $54 million deal. If Bregman places up massive numbers this season, he’ll get an entire lot greater than that — and he spent the winter working with weighted bats in an effort to extend his bat velocity and, in flip, the exit velocity of the ball he hits. If he is ready to try this, along with his easy and environment friendly swing, he might have a monster yr.

Season prediction: His finest season was in 2019, when he mashed 41 homers and drew 119 walks, whereas batting .296. These numbers would appear to be in play for him once more, and he’ll profit from having Altuve and Alvarez hitting in entrance of him and Tucker batting behind him. — Olney

Verlander fell off barely from his dominant Cy Younger type of 2022 final yr, going 13-8 with a 3.22 ERA in 162 1/3 innings for the Mets and Astros. That is the purpose after we ought to most likely level out that he did this at age 40, with greater than 3,000 innings beneath his belt.

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Verlander remains to be going robust, however some drop-off is to be anticipated. He reported to camp with a shoulder situation that put him a pair weeks behind the opposite pitchers and can power him to start the season on the injured listing. And although the Astros do not sound involved, it is actually one thing to watch. So is Verlander’s strikeout charge, which fell to 21.5% in 2023, his lowest in eight years. First-pitch strikes have been significantly elusive.

Season prediction: Verlander wants 140 innings — and a clear invoice of well being — to set off a $35 million possibility for 2025. It is most likely a secure wager that he’ll discover a approach to make that occur. His numbers would possibly dip once more in 2024, however not by a lot. Verlander, at 41, remains to be a power. — Gonzalez

51. Kevin Gausman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Throughout his 20s, Gausman’s profession was marked by inconsistency. You actually had no concept how he would do from one yr to the following. Since he turned 30, he has flipped the script and turn out to be one in all baseball’s most constant aces. He is on a three-year run of 31 or extra begins, 184 innings per season, a 3.10 ERA underpinned by a 2.79 FIP and 132 ERA+. Final season, Gausman led the AL in strikeouts and strikeouts per 9 innings. His command wasn’t fairly as sharp because it was in 2022, however the additional whiffs accommodated for that and have been at the very least partially resulting from improved metrics on his already vicious splitter.

Season prediction: So long as Gausman stays wholesome — he went by a bout of shoulder fatigue in spring coaching — there is no cause to suppose his run of success will finish. Pencil in 31 begins, a 2.90 to three.30 ERA, 180 innings, 200 whiffs and quite a lot of Cy Younger votes. — Doolittle

52. Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

Whereas Nola entered free company final fall, it by no means felt like he was going to depart Philly, and he shortly signed a seven-year, $172 million contract. That is a testomony to his sturdiness — he is made at the very least 32 begins in each full season going again to 2018. In that span, he leads the majors in video games began whereas rating second to simply Cole in innings. His ERAs have fluctuated, nonetheless, primarily based on the variety of dwelling runs he has given up. He allowed 32 in 2023, serving to to clarify his mediocre 4.46 ERA regardless of a powerful strikeout-to-walk ratio. There have been additionally some declines in his swing-and-miss charge (from the 68th percentile to the forty eighth) and strikeout charge, however he nonetheless excels at getting hitters to chase his curveball or changeup simply off the plate.

Season prediction: Oddly, Nola’s dwelling run issues got here on the street, the place he had a 5.43 ERA, and never at cozy Residents Financial institution Park. It’s going to actually be attention-grabbing to see how he ages over this contract given his below-average fastball velocity (batters slugged .503 in opposition to it in 2023), however within the brief time period, he must be high quality, and I would count on him to chop possibly a run off his ERA. — Schoenfield

Is Harris simply beginning to attain his potential? If that’s the case, he’ll transfer into the highest 50 briefly order, as he has produced two .800 OPS seasons to start his profession after profitable Rookie of the Yr in 2022. And he is solely only recently turned 23. He matches proper in with the dynamic Braves as a multi-tool participant who has 37 dwelling runs and 40 stolen bases in his first two seasons. Progress is not all the time linear in baseball, however typically gamers comply with a predictable path to success once they enter the league with the type of expertise that Harris possesses. One other leap merely is sensible.

Season prediction: Anticipate a giant season from Harris in a gifted Braves lineup. A 20-20 season is the minimal — 20-30 and even 30-30 is a risk if he can draw a number of extra walks. That is the one space of concern, a 4-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (what he had final season) would possibly preserve his on-base proportion down. However he can enhance that. — Rogers

Arozarena’s unparalleled swag possible helped his rating greater than his numbers, that are superb however not essentially befitting a near-top 50 spot. He isn’t practically the hitter that his teammate Yandy Diaz is, and in the event that they have been to modify locations — Diaz is ranked 74th — neither would really feel significantly misplaced. Nonetheless, Arozarena is an electrical presence in any lineup, able to hitting dwelling runs in bunches, stealing bases and making massive catches within the outfield. He might not be the famous person who took over the 2020 postseason, however at 28, he is sq. in his prime and one of many extra dependable outfielders in MLB. There’s loads of substance to go together with the type.

Season prediction: Arozarena books his fourth consecutive 20-20 season, and whereas he might endure a walk-rate regression – his 7.1% to 12.2% soar between 2022 and 2023 was amongst MLB’s highest — he’ll submit an .800-plus OPS for the primary time since 2021. — Passan

Lopez received to Minnesota, discovered the sweeper and took his recreation to a different degree in 2023, posting a 3.66 ERA in 194 innings and accumulating 234 strikeouts, second most within the AL. Now, with Sonny Grey in St. Louis, he’s the unquestioned Twins ace, all of the extra vital to their possibilities of repeating as AL Central champions. Lopez desires to be even higher, and he had a really particular objective this spring: to have sufficient command of all 5 of his pitches that he can throw them in any rely and, extra importantly, in opposition to any sort of hitter. He has been fairly constant in utilizing his curveball in opposition to lefties and his sinker in opposition to righties. Now he desires to be fully unpredictable.

Season prediction: At 28, Lopez can nonetheless get higher. And given the general weak point of the division by which he pitches, he’ll do higher in AL Cy Younger voting this season — from seventh in 2023 to inside the high 5 for the primary time in his profession in 2024. — Gonzalez

It is going to be a crossroad season for Valdez, who doesn’t have a long-term cope with the Astros in place and is in line to achieve free company on the finish of 2025. The query surrounding the 30-year-old is that this: When he is in place to receives a commission, will he have Clark Kent-type marketability, or will he be the Superman left-hander of the AL? That depends upon whether or not he rediscovers his sinking fastball that largely deserted him on the finish of the 2023 marketing campaign. In his three postseason begins final fall, he allowed 19 hits and 13 runs in 12 innings, with opponents hitting .359 and 4 homers in opposition to him. When his sinker is true, he is a floor ball machine.

Season prediction: He may need to reinvent himself, discovering weapons aside from the turbo sinker, and he’ll have to try this with out Martin Maldonado and as an alternative group up with Yainer Diaz. He is in for a summer season of changes and a few frustration, but additionally development. — Olney

57. Dylan Stop, SP, Chicago White Sox

An offseason of commerce hypothesis has given approach to a spring coaching of hypothesis, however Stop remains to be in Chicago — at the very least for the second — and was named the Opening Day starter again in January. Stop is the one confirmed starter on the group and mentioned offseason therapy allowed him to come back into camp more healthy than ever. Often, he offers with arm soreness through the winter, however he received forward of it this yr and is primed for a bounce-back after seeing his ERA soar from 2.20 in 2022 to 4.58 final season. Anticipate him to get off to a quick begin — it doesn’t matter what group he is on.

Season prediction: He would possibly begin the season with the White Sox, however he will not end it with them. Stop will find yourself on a contending group. It is anybody’s guess the place he’ll be pitching come August. — Rogers

The 11-year, $280 million contract Bogaerts signed with the Padres earlier than final season may need inflated expectations for his first marketing campaign on the West Coast. He began sluggish, hampered by a sore wrist, and ended the season kind of as a facsimile to the All-Star participant he was in Boston.

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Nonetheless, this will probably be a key season for Bogaerts — and the Padres — with an entire lot of contract (and cash) binding group and participant collectively. He hit the ball on the bottom an excessive amount of final yr, however that improved because the season went alongside, so it’s a must to marvel how the wrist was enjoying into that at first. Total, he tailored to Petco Park nicely sufficient, although his dwelling manufacturing wasn’t what he put up at Fenway. It was a stable, not spectacular, NL debut.

Season prediction: As he transitions to second base — a place at which his below-average shortstop arm turns into a plus — count on Bogaerts to stay on the 4-to-5 WAR degree. He is a center infielder who posts a 120 OPS+ or higher each season, and his glove ought to play nicely on the keystone. Neglect the contract; worth the participant. — Doolittle

The reigning NL Cy Younger winner grew to become simply the twenty second hurler to win the award at the very least twice after going 14-9 whereas main the majors with a 2.29 ERA and .181 batting common in opposition to in 2023. There isn’t any denying Snell’s pure stuff is as unhittable as any southpaw starter’s within the recreation, beginning with a fastball that sits at 95-96 mph and including a curveball and slider that each generated whiff charges over 50%. It additionally comes with a excessive diploma of wildness that did not harm him final season, as he went 13-3 with a 1.20 ERA over his closing 23 begins. He grew to become the primary pitcher to steer his league in ERA regardless of strolling greater than 5 batters per 9 innings. Considerations over his wildness and sturdiness — the 2 years he received the Cy Younger, 2018 and 2023, are the one two instances he is pitched greater than 130 innings — could be why he has remained unsigned in free company.

Season prediction: Now we have to see the place he indicators, however does that dominant closing 4 months imply Snell can crush it over a complete season? Unlikely. There’s simply no latest monitor report of a pitcher strolling that many batters and nonetheless pitching constantly at this degree (actually, his stroll charge was the very best for a certified pitcher since 1999), at the very least not since Nolan Ryan. Ultimately, let’s go along with his profession mark: a 3.20 ERA, which remains to be All-Star-level if Snell can keep wholesome. — Schoenfield

60. J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

Is Realmuto going by what principally each participant does as they get deeper into their 30s whereas dealing with such a demanding place — or, as Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson joked at one level late into the 2023 season, is he merely slowed down by being the daddy of 4 kids? Regardless of the cause, Realmuto’s home-road splits final season have been eye-opening. He slashed a mere .198/.257/.320 inside Philadelphia’s Residents Financial institution Park, one of the vital hitter-friendly websites within the majors, and .306/.364/.587 on the street. These splits have been finally the rationale his adjusted OPS went from 130 to 106 from 2022 to 2023, and one of many greatest explanation why he produced 5 fewer fWAR. It is most likely why arguably the sport’s finest catcher is barely sixtieth on our listing.

Season prediction: Realmuto’s barrel charge in 2023 (11.3%) was practically an identical to the place it was in 2022 (11.2%). He, like many others, has hit nicely at Residents Financial institution Park earlier than. He’ll bounce again offensively — and stay stable sufficient behind the plate to nonetheless be thought of among the best at his place. — Gonzalez

61. Josh Hader, RP, Houston Astros

Will any pitcher in baseball historical past make more cash pitching fewer innings than Hader has? Final season, he as soon as once more averaged lower than an inning pitched per look however he was pretty much as good as ever, resulting in that $95 million cope with the Astros. There was a second throughout his profession in Milwaukee the place maybe he seemed like he had been used an excessive amount of — again then he averaged greater than an inning per look — however he rebounded from that dip in high quality vogue. His free agent yr of 2023 was a doozy, as he compiled a 1.28 ERA for the Padres whereas putting out 85 in 56⅓ innings. Anticipate Hader’s utilization to stay the identical in Houston as Ryan Pressly can assist cowl late innings as nicely.

Season prediction: Hader will save 40 video games for Houston this yr, a profession excessive. — Rogers

Gilbert has been a sturdy, dependable performer in his two-plus seasons with the Mariners, by no means lacking a begin and profitable 26 video games the previous two seasons with a 3.47 ERA whereas averaging 188 innings. He is 6-foot-6 and throws 96 mph, however his fastball is the least efficient of his pitches. He launched a splitter final season to go along with his slider and curveball, and he is a pleasure to observe as he mixes all 4 pitches and kilos the strike zone (simply 1.7 walks per 9 innings). It is attainable there’s one other gear right here, as nicely, if he can reduce down on the house runs (29 in 2023, 14 off these off his fastball).

Season prediction: You’d suppose Gilbert’s fastball would play up higher since he additionally has elite extension given his peak and supply (99th percentile), but it surely’s a low-spin four-seamer, so he provides up loads of laborious contact. Possibly that does restrict his upside to not fairly Cy Younger-contending ranges, however I might see 15 wins, a 3.20 ERA and possibly his first All-Star choice. — Schoenfield

Would not it look like the higher Montgomery will get, the tougher it’s for him to discover a group that can preserve him round? Absolutely, barring monetary constraints, the Rangers would like to have Monty again after his important contribution final season, a 6-3, 3.11 ERA second-half exhibiting that helped save an injury-ravaged Texas rotation and punch a ticket to October. Over the previous three seasons, Montgomery has averaged 175 innings with a 121 ERA+. He has massive recreation expertise, with a 2.63 over 37⅔ postseason innings. He is achieved all this as a command pitcher who does not depend on elite velocity. And but he is moved from the Yankees to the Cardinals to the Rangers over the previous two years, adopted by a way-too-long wait on the free agent market. Ultimately, he’ll discover a dwelling — and the group that gives it will likely be very joyful.

Season prediction: Montgomery will throw strikes, work the perimeters, present bulk frames and find yourself with one other sub-4.00 ERA. We simply do not know for whom he will probably be doing these items. — Doolittle

64. Tyler Glasnow, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

A lot consideration has centered on Yamamoto, however Dodgers officers are bullish on Glasnow, who they signed to a five-year, $136.56 million contract instantly after buying him from the Rays. He’s already 30, however the Dodgers consider he’s simply beginning to faucet into his potential as one of many sport’s upper-echelon pitchers. He flashed that within the lead-up to Tommy John surgical procedure in 2021, posting a 2.66 ERA and putting out 123 batters in 88 innings. He ranks third amongst beginning pitchers in strikeout proportion since 2019, behind solely Strider and Jacob deGrom. However, alas, Glasnow additionally ranks 124th in innings.

Season prediction: Glasnow will thrive whereas backed by a potent offense, however the Dodgers will probably be cautious with somebody who hasn’t thrown greater than 120 innings in a season. His innings will soar to 150, and he’ll preserve his ERA beneath 3.00. — Gonzalez

The primary baseman talked about casually this spring that he had turned down contract overtures with the Pink Sox, and you may perceive why — the trail he took final season, when he hit .263/.367/.490 with 24 dwelling runs and 65 RBIs and completed third in AL Rookie of the Yr voting, is more likely to take him to future superstardom. He has a uncommon mixture of plate self-discipline and energy, and like some Pink Sox left-handed hitting legends of the previous — Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Wade Boggs, David Ortiz — he’s more likely to have good habits strengthened by the presence of the Inexperienced Monster.

Season prediction: After the All-Star break final season, Casas hit .317 with a .417 on-base proportion and 15 homers. He appears absolutely able to having a breakout yr and ending within the high 10 of the AL MVP race. — Olney

66. Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Marte’s postseason efficiency final yr was one thing particular. He delivered when the Diamondbacks wanted it most within the NLCS, going 12-for-31 within the group’s upset of the Phillies. In 21 profession playoff video games, he has a .974 OPS, cementing him because the under-the-radar star to Caroll’s extra headline-grabbing recreation. At simply 29, however with 9 years within the massive leagues already, Marte could be getting higher — and Arizona has him locked up by 2028. He is merely a stable performer who belongs within the high 100 — although he might by no means break into the highest 50.

Season prediction: Marte flashed energy final season, hitting 25 dwelling runs, however he could be at his finest when he is making contact and easily getting on base. He hit simply 14 dwelling runs in 2021 however his .909 OPS was the second-highest of his profession. Anticipate a cutback on energy, a rise in OBP and a lowered strikeout whole for him in 2024. The D-backs added sufficient energy this offseason that they might not want it from their second baseman. — Rogers

67. Eury Perez, SP, Miami Marlins

There could also be no pitcher in baseball with higher upside than Perez, who, at 20, is the youngest participant on this listing. He’s about as near a create-a-player as there may be on the mound: 6-foot-8, 220 kilos with distinctive physique management, a fastball that sits at 98 mph and a plus slider, changeup and curveball.

Whereas he was barely homer-happy in his rookie season — his 25.4% groundball charge was the bottom of all pitchers in MLB with at the very least 90 innings — Perez flashed dominance as a rule in his 19 begins. This rating could also be a contact excessive as a result of he’ll stay on an innings restrict this season, however as soon as he is unleashed in 2025, he is received a shot to achieve a ceiling few have: one of the best pitcher in baseball.

Season prediction: The Marlins will monitor Perez’s output rigorously this season, and he figures to complete someplace within the 150- to 160-inning vary. His dwelling run charge will dip from round 1.5 per 9 innings, and, accordingly, his ERA will do the identical. He’ll wind up close to the highest of the NL leaderboard with a 2.71 ERA. — Passan

Each group wants a Hoerner, somebody whose worth has subsequent to nothing to do with dwelling runs however who does every thing else nicely. It is not that Hoerner cannot go deep — he is rung up 19 dingers over the previous two seasons — however the longballs are irrelevant. He will get on base, steals and makes contact while you want somebody to make contact. On the sector, Hoerner slid over from shortstop to make room for Swanson, regardless that he was an excellent defender on the six-hole. All he did was win a Gold Glove with metrics that supported that recognition. Add the package deal up and you’ve got a four-to-five win participant simply getting into the prime of his profession.

Season prediction: As Hoerner hits his age-27 season, it is time for him to make his first All-Star group. A .300 common, .360 OBP with the slightest uptick in slug will get him there, together with a tempo on the bases that ought to get him over the 50-steal and 100-run limitations. — Doolittle

69. Sean Murphy, C, Atlanta Braves

Murphy struggled after the beginning of September final yr, OPS’ing simply .451. However his closing numbers — a .251/.365/.478 slash line, 21 dwelling runs, 4.2 fWAR — have been nonetheless actually, actually good. And in some methods he was even higher than that, with an anticipated weighted on-base common of .395, which might’ve landed him inside the high 10 in weighted on-base common if he had sufficient plate appearances to qualify.

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That is one other factor: Murphy, 29, began solely 98 of the Braves’ 162 regular-season video games behind the plate regardless of not touchdown on the IL. The Braves have been cautious along with his workload. And Murphy, who spent his earlier 4 years enjoying dwelling video games in Northern California, admitted that he struggled with the Atlanta warmth in the summertime months.

Season prediction: Murphy has lengthy solidified himself as one of many recreation’s finest catchers, and there is no cause to count on a lot drop-off at this level. He’ll have a greater second half in his second yr in Atlanta and, given the efficiency of the lineup by which he resides, can have his finest offensive season in 2024. — Gonzalez

This rating might look a bit shocking given Hayes’ 15 dwelling runs and 61 RBIs in 2023 have been profession highs, but it surely’s a testomony to what our voters take into consideration his protection — and the assumption that he is headed for a breakout season on offense. First the protection. Hayes ended Arenado’s 10-year run because the Gold Glove third baseman within the NL as his vary issue of three.11 performs per 9 innings simply led all third basemen (the league common was 2.60, so he is making an additional out each different recreation). He is arguably one of the best defender now at any place. On the plate, he hit .299/.335/.539 with 10 dwelling runs over his closing 48 video games. If he can try this over a full season, his 4.0 WAR from 2023 will climb a lot increased.

Season prediction: I will purchase into the late-season energy surge. How about 25 dwelling runs, a Platinum Glove as one of the best total defender within the NL and a 6.0 WAR season that locations him within the high 10 of MVP voting? — Schoenfield

71. Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets

You possibly can’t pin the Mets’ epically disappointing 2023 season on Diaz’s damage. On the identical time, taking a look at it with a yr’s hindsight, it certain seems like New York’s season began to go south as quickly as Diaz’s knee gave approach within the aftermath of a WBC victory for Puerto Rico. We like to level out each different yr patterns in participant careers and Diaz’s is a doozy. His ERAs going again to 2018: 1.96, 5.59, 1.75, 3.45, 1.31 and null. That final one, after all, displays that he did not have an ERA in 2023 due to the damage. The excellent news for the Mets is that we’re again on a fair yr so we will most likely count on a sub-2.00 ERA for Diaz. However in all seriousness, it wasn’t an arm damage, it has been a yr and he is been high quality in spring coaching. Diaz is again.

Season prediction: Diaz’s 2022 season wasn’t simply dominant, it was among the best reliever seasons of the century. Anticipating a repeat of that could be a bit rosy-eyed, however a 1.80 ERA, 15-plus strikeouts per 9 and 30-plus saves look like a secure wager. — Doolittle

De La Cruz, at 22, shouldn’t be solely the youngest hitter this excessive on the listing however might have the best upside of any hitter in baseball. Like Perez, De La Cruz is about as near a create-a-player as there may be on the plate and within the area: 6-foot-5, 200 kilos with a switch-hitting bat that launches balls upward of 500 ft, the quickest foot velocity in MLB and one of the best infield arm within the recreation.

He was fairly strikeout-happy in his rookie season — his 33.7% Ok charge was fifth amongst all hitters in MLB with at the very least 400 plate appearances — however he flashed brilliance with tape-measure dwelling runs and daring baserunning. This rating could also be a bit too excessive as a result of it is in baseball writers’ DNA to wager on expertise, but it surely additionally could also be too low, as a result of if De La Cruz places every thing collectively, he is received a shot to be among the best gamers in baseball.

Season prediction: Whereas he is the Reds’ starter at shortstop, he’ll play loads of third base as nicely. He’ll steal at the very least 50 bases and greater than double his dwelling run whole of 13 from final season. The strikeouts will stay the one factor that holds him again from edging nearer to his near-limitless potential. — Passan

73. Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Guardians

Like Stop, Bieber was the topic of commerce rumors all winter, however surprisingly, he is nonetheless on the Guardians. Set to be a free agent after this season, an enormous platform yr might result in a giant payday for the righty. He isn’t precisely the identical man who received the Cy Younger Award within the shortened 2020 season, however he is nonetheless an efficient pitcher. He belongs within the backend of the highest 100 proper now, however at 28 years outdated, there’s all the time an opportunity Bieber finds himself in that elite class of pitchers once more. He has the expertise, the know-how and, when wholesome, the stuff to assist anybody’s rotation. Like Stop, he might not end the season with the group he is on now.

Season prediction: After an injury-plagued 2023 season, Bieber rebounds for a giant stroll yr. Anticipate him to pitch at the very least 180 innings, exhibiting groups he is as soon as once more efficient and sturdy. — Rogers

74. Yandy Diaz, INF, Tampa Bay Rays

Diaz took his offensive recreation to a different degree throughout his age-30 season in 2022, producing 42% above league common primarily based on adjusted OPS. In 2023, he discovered yet one more degree, main the AL in batting common (.330) whereas establishing profession highs in dwelling runs (22), OPS (.932), weighted runs created plus (164) and virtually every thing else. So, is that this simply who he’s now? Primarily based on this rating, he would possibly reside someplace in the midst of what he was in 2022 and 2023, which the Rays will surely take. ZiPS initiatives a 133 wRC+, tied with Guerrero Jr. and Tucker for twelfth within the majors.

Season prediction: Diaz shed near 10 kilos over the offseason in hopes of gaining extra agility and endurance and enjoying in all 162 video games this season. If he can play in at the very least 150, he’ll attain 30 dwelling runs for the primary time in his profession. — Gonzalez

75. Kodai Senga, SP, New York Mets

This is how good Senga’s “ghost forkball” is: You should buy T-shirts with the slogan “Worry the Ghost Fork.” What number of pitchers have a pitch worthy of its personal T-shirt? And batters ought to worry it: In 188 plate appearances ending with that pitch, they hit .110 and struck out 110 instances, making the ghost fork one of many supreme wipeout pitches within the majors. Senga rode that pitch and a 96-mph fastball to an excellent first season with the Mets, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and the sixth highest strikeout charge amongst certified starters.

Season prediction: He is at present sidelined with a shoulder pressure and can start the season on the IL, making any prediction not possible. It is a disappointing begin to the season given how rigorously the Mets dealt with him in 2023 (making simply three begins on 4 days of relaxation). — Schoenfield

If the Pirates get away of their lengthy sleep and ascend into aggressive relevance within the subsequent few years, then historical past will present that the turning level was their choice to take a position an eight-year deal in Reynolds as a foundational participant. He is demonstrated that he is a well-rounded star, as Andrew McCutchen was early in his profession — in his first 5 seasons, Reynolds has an adjusted OPS+ of 124 whereas enjoying heart area. Final yr, he had 60 extra-base hits, 12 steals in 13 makes an attempt, scored 85 runs and drove in 84.

Season prediction: The Pirates’ lineup round him is deepening, and because the likes of Hayes, Jack Suwinski and Cruz acquire expertise, Reynolds’ run manufacturing ought to enhance. — Olney

Steele has figured it out. After placing up a 1.49 ERA over his previous 10 begins in 2022, he adopted that up by going 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA over 173⅓ innings with a league-low 0.7 homers allowed per 9 innings final season. His 2.69 ERA since that breakout in 2022 started is the seventh finest in baseball. Throughout that time-frame, 96.5% of his choices have both been a four-seamer or a slider. He will get lefties and righties alike with that two-pitch arsenal and there is no cause to suppose he will not proceed to take action. Pitchers like Steele and Atlanta’s Strider have proven that in case you have two elite pitches and the batter cannot inform which one is coming, you are able to do loads of enterprise as a beginning pitcher. Steele did fade a bit down the stretch in 2023, so it is vital for him and the Cubs to determine the basis reason for that.

Season prediction: Steele’s rise has been fueled by the pinpoint command he has along with his stripped-down arsenal. Till massive league hitters begin exhibiting us in any other case, we will count on one other 3.10-ish ERA over 170 to 180 innings. — Doolittle

Correa merely is not going to play 153 or extra video games like he did for Houston in 2016. However even at 135 video games or so, he is a stable participant that can possible be within the again half of the highest 100 for the following few years. His batting common took a giant dip in 2023 regardless of his common exit velocity hovering round his profession numbers. He’ll all the time have respectable energy for a shortstop and at 28 years outdated, there’s nonetheless an opportunity for an enormous yr, however he is largely only a good participant and a pacesetter on a group that wants him to be.

Season prediction: You possibly can bookmark Correa for a .250, 20-homer, 50-BB and 100-strikeout season as his hit whole will go up in 2024, however his numbers will not get him to his third All-Star Recreation. — Rogers

Parting with Starling Marte in the summertime of 2021 may need been troublesome, however Luzardo, the person the Marlins received again in a uncommon one-for-one commerce, has been every thing they might’ve anticipated. In 50 begins over the previous two years, the 26-year-old left-hander has posted a 3.52 ERA whereas putting out 328 batters in 279 innings, additional bolstering their deep crop of promising younger beginning pitchers. With Alcantara spending the 2024 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgical procedure, Luzardo was lately named the Opening Day starter. It was the plain selection — even with Perez and Edward Cabrera additionally within the rotation.

Season prediction: Luzardo reached 178⅔ innings final season, a career-high by a large margin. However he held up simply high quality in September, permitting 4 runs in 18⅓ innings over his final three begins. This yr, he would possibly simply vault himself into the Cy Younger dialogue. — Gonzalez

80. Sonny Grey, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Grey is a throwback pitcher, outmaneuvering hitters with a large arsenal of pitchers moderately than merely blowing smoke previous them. He threw six totally different pitches at the very least 6% of the time final season on his approach to a second-place end within the AL Cy Younger voting.

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He has a four-seamer and a two-seamer, though he makes use of the four-seamer extra in opposition to lefties and the two-seamer in opposition to righties. In opposition to right-handers he is extra more likely to combine in a sweeper and cutter, whereas utilizing a curveball and changeup in opposition to lefties. Since 2019, he ranks tenth in ERA amongst pitchers with at the very least 500 innings — but, as this rating suggests, he is not often regarded as a top-10 starter. He leaves the Twins and joins the Cardinals, though he would possibly begin the season on the IL with a hamstring pressure.

Season prediction: Assuming the hamstring is not a lingering situation, Grey ought to stay a high starter. He is all the time been distinctive at limiting dwelling runs (eight in 184 innings in 2023) and he is improved his stroll charge the previous two seasons. How a few career-high 15 wins and an ERA just a bit north of three.00? — Schoenfield

We’re nonetheless studying what sort of participant Greene will turn into, however there isn’t a doubt that his instruments and talent set are spectacular. His two massive league seasons, throughout which he had nearly the identical quantity of plate appearances, have been very totally different. Final season, he turned a sky-high floor ball charge into a greater combine that featured an encouraging improve in line drives. That fueled Greene’s improved .288 batting common, although the BABIP underlining that (.384) seems to be bloated. The underside line is that Greene hits the ball laborious, performs a premium place and, at 23, remains to be getting higher. He is an important a part of the inspiration for regardless of the Tigers turn out to be.

Season prediction: Greene will put in his first season with 140-plus video games whereas giving freely a number of factors of common and upping his homer whole into the 20s, staking his declare to turn out to be the face of the post-Miguel Cabrera Tigers. — Doolittle

82. Matt Chapman, 3B, San Francisco Giants

The $54 million contract he signed with the Giants mirrored each his previous excellence — as a defender, significantly — and the doubts that evaluators nonetheless have about what sort of hitter he’ll be within the latter half of his profession. Chapman, who turns 31 in April, has batted .226 over the previous 4 seasons, with a excessive charge of strikeouts — together with 165 in 140 video games final season. He hit 17 homers in 581 plate appearances in 2023, however he additionally picked up his fourth Gold Glove — and it is his protection that can all the time be the spine of his worth.

Season prediction: There’s sufficient of a pattern measurement lately to recommend that what you see is what you get — Chapman will hit 20-25 dwelling runs and can have intervals by which he’ll battle to make contact. However his protection will assist the Giants’ pitching workers, particularly Logan Webb. — Olney

83. Ha-Seong Kim, 2B, San Diego Padres

It has been a gentle climb for Kim, who cracks our high 100 for the primary time this yr. His OPS+ has gone up in every of his first three seasons and now, with a better flooring, he has an opportunity to safe his first ever All-Star nod. Reducing down on strikeouts whereas nonetheless sustaining a excessive on-base proportion must be a objective of his for 2024. He had 75 free passes in 2023, a reasonably excessive whole for a non-slugger, and he additionally has 20 homer potential. Mix that with a .350 OBP and Kim might steadily transfer up the rankings a yr from now.

Season prediction: Kim will slug .400 with an .800 OPS in 2024, persevering with a development of offensive enchancment. — Rogers

84. Oneil Cruz, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

Cruz’s first full season within the main leagues ended after simply 9 video games, the product of a fractured fibula suffered throughout a house plate collision that triggered a close to brawl. He says he’s absolutely recovered now, restriction-free, however trusting his legs and regaining his timing will probably be a course of. As soon as that occurs, we’re all in for a deal with. Frankly, we have by no means seen a 6-foot-7 shortstop with the kind of energy, velocity and arm power he possesses. (Yeah, you possibly can say the identical about De La Cruz, however he is two inches shorter!) Cruz nonetheless has loads of creating to do as a hitter, as evidenced by his 126 strikeouts in 87 video games as a rookie in 2022, however that ought to come as he matures. Within the meantime, sheer expertise will carry him a good distance.

Season prediction: Cruz set out for a 30-30 season in 2023, then watched his season finish in lower than two weeks. This yr, his solely objective is to stay wholesome. The remaining, he mentioned, “will come.” OK, we’ll say it for him — Cruz will flirt with a 30-30 season. And he’ll produce loads of upper-90s throws from shortstop. — Gonzalez

85. Andres Gimenez, 2B, Cleveland Guardians

Let’s throw this on the market: Gimenez’s first two full seasons at second base — each ending with Gold Glove Awards — recommend he has an opportunity to turn out to be among the best ever to play the place. He has excellent vary, each through the attention check and superior metrics, excellent arms (simply six errors in 2023) and a powerful arm (he got here up as a shortstop). His offense is a piece in progress, counting on loads of hit by pitches to spice up his on-base proportion, however he has managed to hit 32 dwelling runs the previous two seasons regardless of a number of the lowest hard-hit charges within the recreation. He is a type of guys most of the people will overlook due to the offensive profile, however he is a invaluable participant.

Season prediction: A 3rd straight Gold Glove Award — the straightforward selection right here — and maybe a second straight Platinum Glove as one of the best total defender within the AL as nicely. On the plate? Most likely extra like 2023 than 2022, when he hit .297 due to some luck on his balls in play. — Schoenfield

Longtime Brewers followers will get this reference: Adames is principally his era’s model of Jose Valentin. Adames has gotten to his energy sooner than Valentin and the latter did not have practically as excessive of a strikeout charge, was a switch-hitter and so forth. Nonetheless, they’re each good defensive shortstops with energy and you do not sweat their batting averages. By their age-27 seasons, Valentine’s profession slash was .245/.319/.429; Adames is at .247/.320/.439. (Sure, the league contexts are approach totally different.) You’d prefer to see Adames, now 28, get again a number of the common he had in Tampa however even when he stays on the Valentin path, he’ll proceed to assist groups. If the Brewers drop within the standings, Adames will probably be a preferred identify on the in-season commerce market. He could also be anyway after Milwaukee acquired infield prospect Joey Ortiz over the winter.

Season prediction: Adames has lots to show after his uneven 2023 exhibiting on the plate. He is additionally getting into a stroll yr. Search for Adames to bounce again to the .250ish batting common vary whereas as soon as once more threatening 30 homers. — Doolittle

87. Emmanuel Clase, RP, Cleveland Guardians

One other participant who might be traded midseason, Clase’s worth might by no means be increased than it’s proper now. He is coming off back-to-back 40-plus save seasons for the Guardians however might not be as invaluable to them as he will probably be to a contending group. Nonetheless, he is beneath group management for 3 years, so he might deliver again a haul on the summer season commerce deadline. In that regard, no different place on the diamond modifications worth from December to July greater than closers. Groups typically consider they will make due with what they’ve within the first half of the season after which understand through the warmth of a pennant race {that a} nearer is the lacking and closing piece to their puzzle. Clase might be that man this summer season.

Season prediction: Clase will not report a fourth straight 70-appearance season, an enormous whole for a more in-depth. He gave up a bit extra harm final season — 68 hits, up from 43 the yr earlier than in the identical quantity of innings pitched — so Cleveland might preserve his commerce worth excessive by taking it simple on him. — Rogers

88. Jeremy Pena, SS, Houston Astros

Peña’s breakthrough season in 2022, which noticed him contend for AL Rookie of the Yr, win a Gold Glove and assist lead the Astros to a championship, was adopted by some steps ahead and a few steps backward. He made higher swing choices in 2023, growing his on-base proportion by 35 factors, however his energy dropped considerably. His 22-home run season in 2022 was adopted by simply 10 in 2023, together with zero over his final 73 video games. This spring, Peña unveiled a way more refined, managed batting stance designed to make him extra environment friendly and strike baseballs with extra authority. The Astros have raved about it to date. They do not actually need far more offense from him, however they will actually take it.

Season prediction: Peña’s first two years have seen him produce a 98 OPS+, with 100 representing league common. However we’re shopping for the brand new stance and the offensive resurgence that can include it. He’ll get again to hitting extra dwelling runs, ending with a 110 OPS+ and, due to his stable protection, 5.0 fWAR. — Gonzalez

89. Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Rangers

Texas selected Jung with the eighth choose within the 2019 draft for his bat, a right-handed thunderstick that crushed the minor leagues earlier than his 2022 debut. In his first full season final yr, he was within the AL Rookie of the Yr combine earlier than a late-season damage sidelined him for six weeks. He returned in time for the postseason, the place he hit .308/.329/.538 and, maybe extra surprisingly, performed distinctive protection at third, the place some evaluators had puzzled if he would stick when he was drafted. At 26, Jung is now a no-doubt third baseman, and whereas he is received loads of room to work on his swing choices — he struck out 5 instances as a lot as he walked final yr — he might make his second All-Star group in as a few years.

Season prediction: A calf pressure has sidelined Jung for many of spring coaching, and the Rangers will take it simple with him, with Ezequiel Duran a a lot succesful fill-in. Thirty dwelling runs is not out of the query for Jung, nor a .500-plus slugging proportion, and energy plus glove makes up for the relative lack of on-base proportion. — Passan

90. Kyle Schwarber, LF/DH, Philadelphia Phillies

Schwarber, if nothing else, is constant. You possibly can rely on him for dwelling runs and strikeouts, with some walks and the occasional single combined in. It says lots about his recreation that over the previous two years, he completed sixteenth and nineteenth in MVP voting regardless of hitting .218 and .197, respectively, with a mixed 415 strikeouts. However, oh, these dwelling runs are nearly all the time majestic and he appears to hit them when the group wants them most. His management has been nicely documented, as has his constant look within the postseason — he is been dwelling through the playoffs simply as soon as in his profession.

Season prediction: Schwarber hit a 483-foot dwelling run final season, third longest in MLB. He’ll high that this yr, reaching 500 ft for the primary time in his profession. — Rogers

You possibly can’t actually name a participant who signed a $162 million contract underrated — particularly one who performs in New York — however Nimmo most likely nonetheless flies beneath the radar even after a second straight wonderful season. He had been injury-prone earlier in his profession, lacking vital time in 2017, 2019 and 2021, however has now had back-to-back 150-game seasons, justifying the Mets’ gamble — at the very least within the first yr of that massive contract. With a profession .380 OBP, he is among the best within the recreation at getting on base and his career-high 24 dwelling runs in 2023 got here with an elevated launch angle, which suggests the facility surge was legit.

Season prediction: The “Happiest Man in Baseball” — no person smiles greater than Nimmo — can have his happiest season but with 30 dwelling runs and his first All-Star choice. — Schoenfield

92. Evan Carter, LF, Texas Rangers

Let’s begin with a wholly unfair leaderboard. Amongst gamers with at the very least 75 profession plate appearances, right here is your all-time high 4 in OPS+: 1. Babe Ruth, 206; 2. Ted Williams, 191; 3. (tie) Barry Bonds and Carter, 182. Carter adopted that small-sample triumph throughout his late-season debut by placing up a .917 OPS within the postseason, serving to the Rangers to a championship.

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And now, the 21-year-old will probably be Texas’ beginning left fielder on Opening Day. One factor we already know is that the second won’t be too massive for him. One to-do merchandise for Carter: He hasn’t hit lefties in any respect. After reaching MLB, he was 0-for-10 within the common season, and within the minors, he had a .253 slug in opposition to southpaws, managing one double in 106 plate appearances.

Season prediction: Carter will not stay a 182 OPS+ man and should still have to sit down in opposition to most lefties. However he is so good in so some ways, he’ll problem for AL Rookie of the Yr honors, with teammate Wyatt Langford probably being one in all his chief opponents. — Doolittle

93. Gabriel Moreno, C, Arizona Diamondbacks

Of all of the trades lately, the Diamondbacks’ pilfering of Moreno from the Blue Jays in December 2022 when he was a high prospect will probably be one of the vital consequential. In his first full season final yr, Moreno proved himself among the best catchers within the massive leagues — a game-changing defender behind the plate with a bat that is a lot able to holding its personal. Whether it is greater than that — if Moreno can hit greater than seven dwelling runs (his whole in 2023) whereas sustaining a batting common that, at .292 on days he caught, was tops within the massive leagues — we’re speaking perennial MVP candidates. As is, Moreno’s flooring is exceptionally excessive, and at simply 24, he is primed to be a power for the following decade.

Season prediction: Moreno, who confirmed as much as camp this yr in unbelievable form, takes a leap, batting .285, getting on base 35% of the time and slugging greater than .450 with 18 dwelling runs and 81 RBIs whereas transferring up within the Diamondbacks’ much-improved lineup. — Passan

A few of the defensive metrics — significantly outs above common and Statcast’s outfield-jump measurement — graded Chisholm as an above-average heart fielder in his transition from the center infield final yr. However as soon as once more, he could not keep wholesome. Bouts with turf toe and an indirect pressure restricted him to 97 video games in 2023 — one yr after a decrease again pressure and {a partially} torn meniscus saved him out for the common season’s closing three months. Chisholm, 26, is bursting with expertise, evidenced by his 19 dwelling runs and 22 stolen bases in restricted motion final yr. However sooner or later we have to see it over a full season.

Season prediction: This one is extra of a hope than a prediction: 150 video games. We’re all pining to see a completely unlocked Chisholm. Let’s hope 2024 is the yr we lastly get it. — Gonzalez

Volpe hit simply .209 with a .283 OBP in his rookie yr in New York, however there may be potential right here as he grew to become the primary Yankee ever with a 20-20 season and the primary since Derek Jeter to win a Gold Glove on the all-important place on the diamond. The Yankees consider he can management the strike zone higher in his second season, which ought to preserve him squarely within the high 100 when you think about his different skills as a baseball participant. His flooring is respectable, however what’s the ceiling? We should always discover out extra about that in 2024.

Season prediction: Volpe will sacrifice some energy for extra contact and fewer strikeouts. He’ll elevate his common 35 factors, however will not attain 20 dwelling runs this season. — Rogers

He isn’t the participant he was throughout his 2018-19 peak, when he received back-to-back batting titles whereas ending first after which second in MVP voting, however Yelich did have his finest season since 2019, hitting .278/.370/.447 with 19 dwelling runs, 28 stolen bases, 106 runs and three.6 WAR final yr. Most significantly, he is managed his again points the previous couple of years and performed 144 video games in 2023 (though he missed 12 in September when his again flared up). With a slew of speedy outfielders to select from — particularly if Jackson Chourio cracks the Opening Day roster — Yelich may even see extra DH time this yr, however he ought to as soon as once more serve the Brewers as one of many high leadoff hitters within the recreation.

Season prediction: Extra of the identical, assuming he stays wholesome. At 32, there is no cause to count on something totally different, so as an example 20 dwelling runs, 25 stolen bases and a .265 common. — Schoenfield

97. Cal Raleigh, C, Seattle Mariners

There simply aren’t that many on a regular basis catchers anymore. Final season, simply 9 backstops certified for the batting title and Raleigh was one in all them. Solely Realmuto (535) had extra plate appearances as a catcher in 2023 than Raleigh’s 494. No catcher hit extra dwelling runs than him, with 24 of his 30 dingers coming whereas he performed behind the plate. (The remaining have been whereas he was DHing or pinch hitting.) Raleigh will get on the sector a lot as a result of he is a switch-hitter with energy and never a lot of a platoon cut up. Simply as vital, he can defend. In accordance with Fangraphs’ consensus defensive measure (Def), solely two gamers within the majors provided extra defensive worth in 2023. Raleigh remains to be beneath the radar, however he is emerged as one in all baseball’s finest catchers.

Season prediction: Let’s simply say that you just should not draft Seby Zavala, Raleigh’s backup, on your fantasy group. Raleigh will once more rack up 140-plus video games, threaten 30 homers and construct a case for Gold Glove consideration. — Doolittle

98. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

At age 35, he’s the third-oldest participant within the Prime 100 — solely Verlander and Goldschmidt are senior to him — and that appears to suit the narrative of his profession as a late bloomer. He was pitching in Korea in his age 29-season, and since then, he has seemingly gotten higher and higher, utilizing his repertoire and expertise in opposition to hitters increasingly more successfully — to the diploma that final October, he was standing on the mound in a World Collection recreation.

Season prediction: His 3.29 ERA final season was one of the best full-season efficiency of his profession, and there is no cause to suppose he’ll decelerate. He’s his era’s Jamie Moyer, and he’ll have one other stable yr for the Diamondbacks. — Olney

Williams’ first full season as nearer was a dominant success: 36 saves, a 1.53 ERA, his second All-Star look and a ridiculous .129 batting common allowed that led the majors amongst pitchers with at the very least 50 innings and ranks because the eighth lowest ever. That was hardly a fluke given he allowed a .151 common in 2022. Williams lives off his changeup, a pitch so good it has its personal nickname, “The Airbender.” He throws it greater than 50% of the time, which makes his 94 mph fastball look 110 mph. Like Hader earlier than him, Williams carried a light-weight workload — simply 58 innings in 2023 — so it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if new supervisor Pat Murphy pushes him a bit tougher.

Season prediction: Aroldis Chapman’s .119 common allowed in 2014 is the bottom ever for a pitcher with at the very least 50 innings. With three fewer hits, Williams would have damaged that mark. So let’s go along with a .117 common allowed. — Schoenfield

100. Walker Buehler, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Getting back from a second Tommy John surgical procedure will be fairly daunting, even for somebody as gifted and as assured as Buehler. The 29-year-old right-hander was racing to return in time to assist the Dodgers in final yr’s playoffs however needed to shut it down after only one rehab begin. Now, he is being constructed again up slowly. He’ll start the season on the IL, then be positioned on an innings restrict upon activation in 2024 — his closing season earlier than free company. The final time we noticed Buehler, he had established himself as one of many sport’s elite beginning pitchers and likewise one in all its finest big-game performers. What he’ll be transferring ahead stays a thriller.

Season prediction: The 2024 season will in some ways operate as a transition yr for Buehler. The Dodgers will most likely preserve his innings to the low lots of, hoping to protect him largely for October. However Buehler’s skill and competitiveness will nonetheless enable him to return as one in all baseball’s most devastating starters. — Gonzalez