With the Winter Meetings now in the rearview mirror, it is attending to the a part of the calendar the place we are able to actually begin to stay up for spring coaching and the beginning of the 2024 MLB season. And one in every of my favourite issues about this time of yr is projecting which players can take their recreation to the following stage. With that in thoughts, let’s dive into 20 players that could make their first All-Star workforce in the upcoming marketing campaign.
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
I really feel like Mets’ heart fielder Brandon Nimmo is a frequent entry on potential first time All-Star lists, and it is actually fairly stunning he hasn’t but gotten chosen to take part in a Midsummer Classic. Nimmo has simply delivered the 2 finest seasons of his profession again to again, and in 2023 he even added considerably extra energy to his arsenal. In 152 video games final season he slashed .274/.363/.466 whereas setting new profession highs with 24 dwelling runs and 68 RBI. He contributed precisely 30 doubles for the second consecutive season and even tripled six occasions, whereas persistently offering the Mets with an elite leadoff hitter.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Similar to Nimmo’s scenario, how is it even attainable that Giants’ right-hander Logan Webb has not been chosen to symbolize the National League in a single All-Star Game? In his three full big-league seasons, the Rocklin, CA native has by no means completed with an ERA larger than 3.25, his profession WHIP is 1.17, and in ’23 he simply led the majors with 216 innings. The solely potential knock on Webb — although I actually do not view it as one — is that he is by no means actually been a strikeout pitcher. In an period with extra punchouts than ever, Webb’s profession Ok/9 ratio is simply 8.27, and he is solely as soon as struck out greater than a batter/inning. That should not damage him, as all he does is get hitters out persistently, however maybe that is an unlucky sticking level for voters?
Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Naylor has one of the crucial likable personalities in baseball, however do not be fooled by his fun-loving nature. Because in the batter’s field, he is a chilly blooded murderer. In 2023, Naylor loved the most effective season of his profession, slashing .308/.354/.489 with 17 homers, 97 RBI, 31 doubles, and even 10 stolen bases. Cleveland clearly has among the finest players in the sport in third baseman Jose Ramirez, however Naylor stepped up massive time and offered them with a authentic run producer to guard Ramirez in the center of the lineup. If he can construct on his massive yr in 2024, he’ll probably garner severe all-star consideration.
4 of 20
Jordan Montgomery
Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Left-hander Jordan Montgomery is at present one of the crucial fascinating beginning pitchers out there on the free-agent market, and for good motive. The veteran has pitched for 3 totally different groups over the previous two seasons, however he is quietly been glorious for all three, and in ’23 he put collectively in all probability essentially the most full marketing campaign of his profession. In 32 begins cut up between St. Louis and Texas, Montgomery delivered a 3.20 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP throughout 188.2 innings. He made 5 begins for the Rangers in the postseason and was an enormous motive the membership was capable of win its first-ever World Series championship. Montgomery shouldn’t be actually considered as an ace, however his inventory has been rising for some time now, and an enormous first half in ’24 ought to have him squarely in the center of All-Star consideration.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz’s debut final summer season generated extra nationwide publicity than any rookie in latest reminiscence, and his early returns have been merely unreal. In his first month in the massive leagues, De La Cruz slashed .307/.358/.523 with 11 extra-base hits and 9 stolen bases. He finally slumped because the league began to determine him out, however he nonetheless completed with 13 homers, 44 RBI, 15 doubles, seven triples, and 35 stolen bases in solely 98 video games as a 21-year-old. De La Cruz’ expertise is thru the roof, and as he continues to achieve expertise on the sport’s highest stage, the sky is really the restrict.
6 of 20
Francisco Alvarez
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of players that made fairly a splash as 21-year-old rookies in 2023, let’s speak about younger Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez. The Venezuela native was known as up early in the season however did not actually get an opportunity to be New York’s full-time starter for a number of weeks. Eventually, although, his manufacturing merely compelled the workforce’s hand. In simply over 400 at-bats in ’23, Alvarez blasted 25 dwelling runs — lots of which got here in absurdly clutch conditions — whereas accumulating 63 RBI and contributing a dozen doubles. He additionally earned unwavering reward from the workforce’s veteran pitching employees for his work behind the plate. Heading into 2024 the Mets could not be extra enthusiastic about their younger backstop’s future, and he’ll absolutely grow to be a mainstay on NL All-Star groups earlier than lengthy.
7 of 20
Christopher Morel
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Similarly to the sooner talked about Josh Naylor, the Cubs’ Christopher Morel is an lively and enjoyable participant who is simple to root for. The 24-year-old can play practically each place on the diamond, however he is confirmed to be most precious in the batter’s field. In 107 video games with the Cubs in ’23, Morel slashed .247/.313/.508 with 26 dwelling runs, 70 RBI, and 17 doubles. He could stand to be slightly extra selective on the plate and minimize down on his strikeouts, however the energy numbers he delivers are eye-opening. With continued growth in ’24 it is not tough to check Morel blossoming into an all-star caliber participant.
Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
The proven fact that Rays infielder Isaac Paredes was excluded from the American League All-Star workforce in 2023 was merely inexcusable and negligent, and he actually mustn’t be eligible to be on this checklist. In 143 video games final yr, the right-handed slugger slashed .250/.352/.488 with 31 dwelling runs, 98 RBI, and 24 doubles. He was one of many major causes the Rays owned baseball’s finest report for almost all of the season’s first half, and even garnered various AL MVP votes. An identical season in 2024 has to earn him a spot on the all-star squad.
9 of 20
Spencer Torkelson
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigers took right-handed swinging first baseman Spencer Torkelson first total in the 2020 MLB Draft, and whereas his rookie season in ’22 was slightly little bit of a catastrophe, 2023 was something however. Playing in all however three of Detroit’s video games, Torkelson slashed .233/.313/.446 with 31 homers, 94 RBI, and 31 doubles. He nonetheless has work to do to get extra constant, elevate his common, and minimize down on his strikeouts, however this can be a child with gentle tower energy who could finally blossom into the American League’s model of the Mets’ Pete Alonso.
10 of 20
Gunnar Henderson
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Reigning American League Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson emerged as a authentic celebrity in 2023, and the concept of him qualifying for his first All-Star workforce in 2024 appears fairly inevitable. In 150 video games final yr, the younger switch-hitter slashed .255/.325/.489 with 28 dwelling runs, 82 RBI, 29 doubles, 9 triples, and 10 stolen bases. He cut up his defensive time nearly evenly between third base and shortstop, and dealt with each positions with ease — although the approaching arrival of mega-prospect Jackson Holliday will certainly transition Henderson to the new nook full-time.
11 of 20
Michael Harris II
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta heart fielder Michael Harris II was the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year, and the 22-year-old was simply nearly as good as a sophomore. In 138 video games, Harris slashed .293/.331/.477 with 18 dwelling runs, 57 RBI, 33 doubles, three triples, and 20 stolen bases. Most of his statistics have been nearly carbon copies from his rookie marketing campaign, and that stage of consistency is spectacular in such a younger participant. Harris’ protection can also be nothing wanting elite, and personally I’d discover it beautiful if he does not each make the NL All-Star workforce and win a Gold Glove award in 2024.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz is an eerily related participant to the earlier-mentioned Elly De La Cruz in Cincinnati, and it’ll be enjoyable to look at the 2 younger shortstops compete in the identical division for years to come back. Sadly, an harm basically robbed Cruz of his whole 2023 season, however in ’22 he was one of the crucial thrilling younger players in the sport. That yr, the left-handed swinging slugger crushed 17 homers and drove in 54 runs in solely 87 video games, whereas including 13 doubles, 4 triples, and 10 steals. Like De La Cruz, he additionally possesses a cannon of an arm at a premium place and is not afraid to indicate it off. Provided he can keep wholesome, search for Cruz to reestablish himself as a rising star in 2024, and probably even symbolize Pittsburgh on the All-Star Game in July.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Not all that way back, southpaw Jesus Luzardo was thought of one of many absolute best prospects in all of baseball, and whereas issues did not actually work out for him in Oakland, a 2021 commerce to the Marlins was simply what the physician ordered. Over the final two years, Luzardo has blossomed right into a useful member of an excellent, younger Miami pitching employees. In 32 begins a season in the past, he went 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, whereas hanging out 208 hitters in 178.2 innings. Still simply 26 years previous, it is not a stretch to suppose Luzardo’s finest days are nonetheless in entrance of him, and it would not shock me one bit if he developed into an all-star caliber starter in 2024.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland right-hander Tanner Bibee completed second to the earlier-mentioned Gunnar Henderson in the AL Rookie of the Year voting final season, and in 2024 I’m anticipating the pair to be teammates on the American League All-Star workforce. The Guardians gave Bibee the ball 25 occasions in ’23, and he pitched to a 2.98 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP, whereas punching out 141 hitters in 142 innings. He earned 10 wins and served up solely 13 lengthy balls all season. The Guardians rotation is at present in slightly little bit of flux with Shane Bieber a possible commerce candidate and Triston McKenzie coming off an harm, so there’ll be some stress on Bibee to not expertise regression as a sophomore.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Righty Kyle Bradish was a part of the return the Orioles bought from the Angels in a 2019 Winter Meetings commerce that despatched Dylan Bundy to the West Coast. That transaction is trying an increasing number of one-sided as time goes on. Bradish first reached the massive leagues in 2022 and was up and down in a comparatively small pattern dimension, however ’23 was a completely totally different story. In 30 begins, he delivered a robust 2.83 ERA with a superb 1.04 WHIP, whereas incomes 12 victories and hanging out 168 hitters in 168.2 innings. Bradish was an enormous a part of Baltimore’s dominant 2023 common season, and if he can duplicate that success in ’24 he’ll be squarely in the center of all-star workforce discussions subsequent summer season.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia’s Bryson Stott was a stable position participant as a rookie in 2022, however final season proved his ceiling is considerably larger than that. After shifting to second base to make room for star free-agent shortstop Trea Turner, Stott’s protection did not undergo in any respect whereas his offensive manufacturing soared. In 151 video games, he slashed a superb .280/.329/.419 with 15 dwelling runs, 62 RBI, 32 doubles, and 31 stolen bases. He’s grow to be an integral piece of a enjoyable and thrilling Phillies core, and if he can proceed to enhance in ’24 he could discover himself representing his workforce in the Midsummer Classic.
Joe Rondone/Arizona Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
After a mediocre starting to his profession in Queens with the Mets, right-hander Paul Sewald went to Seattle and shortly turned his fortunes round. With the Mariners, he emerged as one of many recreation’s higher set-up males and later took the membership’s nearer job. In want of reduction assist on the commerce deadline final summer season, the Diamondbacks swung a take care of Seattle to carry him to Phoenix. Sewald ended up enjoying an enormous half in Arizona’s run to the National League pennant, and heading into 2024 he jumps off the web page as a possible first time all-star subsequent summer season.
Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Wichita State product Alec Bohm’s Phillies’ tenure bought off to a difficult begin, however 4 years into his profession he is now entrenched as a part of the workforce’s cloth and core. Once a legal responsibility at third base, Bohm has improved his scorching nook protection immensely, whereas steadily blossoming into one of many workforce’s most harmful offensive players. In 145 video games in 2023, the right-handed hitter slashed .274/.327/.437 whereas setting new profession highs in dwelling runs (20), RBI (97), and doubles (31). If he can construct on that success in 2024 the concept of him qualifying for the all-star workforce shouldn’t be farfetched.
19 of 20
Christian Walker
Joe Rondone / USA TODAY NETWORK
Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker isn’t any stranger to potential first-time All-Star lists, and greater than something, his yearly absence from the Midsummer Classic is a product of simply what number of good first basemen play in the National League. It’s no secret that the massive right-handed slugger has been one of many higher energy hitters in baseball during the last two seasons, crushing greater than 33 homers and driving in greater than 94 runs in back-to-back years. His situation is the truth that Pete Alonso, Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson, and Paul Goldschmidt all play in the NL, and that quartet is hard to overhaul.
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Righty Logan Gilbert was the Mariners’ first-round choose in the 2018 MLB Draft, and he is wasted little time growing into an upper-echelon starter in Seattle. In 88 profession begins up to now, Gilbert has pitched to a 3.76 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP, whereas incomes 32 victories and hanging out 491 hitters in 495.2 innings. He’s now firmly established as a robust and productive member of Seattle’s pitching employees, however at 26 years previous I really feel it is protected to imagine his ceiling could be even larger. If Gilbert can take the following step in 2024, he could discover himself on the American League All-Star workforce.
Justin Mears is a contract sports activities author from Long Beach Island, NJ. Enjoys being annoyed by the Mets and Cowboys, studying Linwood Barclay novels, and being yelled at by his toddler son. Follow him on twitter @justinwmears.
Discussion about this post