The Most Exciting Players of 2024
Get ready for an electrifying 2024 baseball season with a closer look at its most thrilling talents. Discover what makes these players the ones to watch, exploring the key questions that define their careers. Learn why they're poised to captivate fans and dominate headlines, demanding your full attention.
Number Five
Jung-Hoo Lee “Grandson of the Wind”
San Francisco Giants Centerfielder
For most people reading this right now you’re thinking “Who”? Lee is a Korean centerfielder and former KBO MVP who has one of the best nicknames around “Grandson of the Wind”. He’s named grandson of the wind because his father was nicknamed “Son of the Wind” His dad Jong-Beom Lee was also a KBO MVP. This offseason he signed with the Giants, and he looks like he could become one of the most skilled players in the game.
The Skillset
At 25 years old, he made a name for himself internationally in last year’s world baseball classic as a great contact hitter. At the plate Lee rarely strikes out and shows good plate discipline. He’s not a guy who’s going to hit a lot of homeruns, but he could make a big offensive impact through his contact skills and speed. His speed plays very well in centerfield and really should help in covering the massive right center in San Francisco. His playstyle is very refreshing in the modern game and could really prove to be valuable.
Fan Favorite?
Lastly, expect Lee to become a crowd favorite not just because of his play but because of his personality. He made a great first impression in his introductory press conference with the Giants. He’s really hard to hate.
'Do I like handsome?' Jung Hoo Lee introduces himself in English | MLB on ESPN (youtube.com)
The Big Questions
How long will it take him to settle in?
Will he find the velocity at the MLB level difficult?
Number Four
Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles Dodgers Designated Hitter
If Shohei were pitching in 2024 he’d be the undisputed number one choice but he’s not this year.
Just a couple of years ago the dream pairing for Ohtani in the batting order was Mike Trout but because of his injury issues we hardly got to see the full potential of that pairing. Now as a Dodger Ohtani enters the best lineup he’s ever been in and is perhaps the best in the MLB. Being paired with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman atop the order is going to present massive for every opposing pitching staff. So often in Anaheim teams were able to work around him but now there’s no way to do it.
Absurd Numbers
One of the biggest stories this year will be the absurd numbers Shohei, Mookie and Freddie put up together. It’s extremely rare to combine three hitters of this talent, they are all probably top ten hitters in the sport. And of course, behind them in the order are other great hitters like Will Smith, Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez. Do not be surprised If the top two MVP candidates this year are just Dodgers.
The Big Question
Will this year be the biggest offensive performance of his career?
Can he stay healthy?
Number 3
Ronald Acuña
Atlanta Braves Right Fielder
A Season to Remember
Last year, Ronald Acuña Jr. didn't just play baseball; he redefined it with an electrifying 40-home-run and 70-stolen-base season, marking a historic achievement in the sport. Leading the charge for the Braves' dynamic offense, Acuña became a beacon of baseball excellence. However, as the Dodgers beef up their lineup this off-season, the pressure is on. Will Acuña outdo himself this year?
Capitalizing on Changes
In 2023, baseball introduced new base-running rules, and Acuña seized the opportunity, stealing bases as if he were playing a game of tag he couldn't lose. With one year of experience under these new rules, the big question looms: Can he steal even more bases in his second year?
Peak Potential at 26
At 26, many players are just hitting their stride, but Acuña isn't just any player. With stats that dazzle, he's not waiting around. The real wonder is how much higher he can climb from here.
Possible Lingering Injury
Yet, it's not all smooth sailing. The Braves are keeping a close eye on Acuña's knee, the same one injured in 2021, ensuring he's fit for the season opener. This situation raises concerns about his running game. Will this impact his legendary base-stealing?
The Big questions
Can Acuña surpass his phenomenal last season?
Will he maintain his health throughout the year?
With the Dodgers loading up, how will the Braves stack up?
Number Two
Juan Soto
New York Yankees Outfielder
One of the best hitters alive is a New York Yankee, this story returns every few years, but it never gets old. On the Padres last year Soto and the team struggled mightily despite their sky-high expectations. Though in the final month Soto went ballistic at the plate and reminded the baseball world how talented he is.
The Yankees Fit
Now joining a Yankees lineup with Aaron Judge will automatically make the Yankees one of the league’s most dangerous options. While Soto has been on other teams with elite hitters in the past the threat of Aaron Judge and a hitter friendly Yankee stadium make Soto potentially more dangerous than ever.
On the concerning side Juan Soto has never been a good defender and with Giancarlo Stanton blocking the DH role the Yankees outfield could have some defensive problems. Alex Verdugo and Aaron Judge are quality defensive outfielders, but neither are true centerfielders. Ideally, you’d like a speedy centerfielder with great range that could help Soto worry about covering less ground. His offense will surely outweigh any defensive issues, but this will be something to watch.
The Future
Juan Soto is in the final year of his contract so a bad year could prove disastrous for the Yankees if they can’t convince him to stay long term. In a very competitive A.L. East it could prove difficult to reach these high expectations.
The Big Questions
Will Soto return to top form in 2024?
Contract Year: Will he sign with the Yankees long term?
Can he return the Yankees to the top of the baseball world?
Number One
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Pitcher
Signing for $325 million out of Japan there’s a ton of hype around Yamamoto. With normal rookies you start to ask the question of will they become a star. Yamamoto is already a star; he likely will not just contend for Rookie of the year but the Cy Young award this year.
A Unique Force
In Japan Yamamoto dominated and established himself as the NPB’s best pitcher. He not only dominated but he managed to eat up tons of innings, often reaching very high pitch counts not common in the modern game. On the bump he has a unique windup that I could see kids trying to replicate once everyone sees him pitch. He is a very interesting pitcher because he only stands at 5’10 which is very small for a pitcher in the MLB. Yamamoto is also known to train his arm by throwing javelins.
His Pitch Mix
His fastball doesn’t reach otherworldly velocity but its thrown hard and well located. Playing off that is the splitter, a staple in Japanese baseball. The splitter falls off the table and is bound to generate countless ugly swings even against the world’s best. His excellent curveball is a rare 12-6 curveball in today’s game. It’s a pitch that has a lot of break and he tunnels it very well off his high fastball.
Spring Training
After a stellar debut Yamamoto struggled against the White Sox giving up six hits. But don’t let the headlines fool you, the White Sox didn’t actually hit him very well. Five of those six hits were just ground balls and most of them weren’t even hit hard, they just found a hole. The stats look concerning, but the reality wasn’t. He’ll bounce back, I have no doubt.
The Big Question
Could he be the best pitcher alive this year?
Just Watch This
References
- OpenAI’s DALL-E “Most exciting players” Graphic Generated March 7th, 2024]