Now that the baseball season has officially begun, all 30 of the league’s teams are surely expecting output across the lineup. It’s time to look at the best MLB breakout candidates for 2024.
We’re talking about young players who are on track to become superstars in the coming years and may one day be regarded as one of the best players in MLB history. Obviously, it’s too early to draw such judgments, but it’s not too early to begin discussing some of the best young players in the game.
Wondering who will emerge as the MLB’s breakout performers this season? We are keeping an eye on a few players who have previously found success in the major leagues but have yet to reach their full potential.
It’s almost certain that some of them will make substantial improvements this season. With so many potentials to consider, we have narrowed down our top 7 MLB breakout candidates for 2024.
1. CJ Abrams
When you think about CJ Abrams, think of how he went from being the sixth overall choice in the draft to playing a key role in the trade that brought Juan Soto to the Padres. The Nationals had big hopes for him at the time, and now, a year and a half later, Abrams is beginning to live up to those expectations.
Abrams drew everyone’s attention in spring training with his significant improvement, and he’s taken that momentum into the 2024 season with an outstanding start. At only 23 years old and with roughly 1,000 major league at-bats, he still has a lot of potential to improve, especially since he missed the 2020 season due to the epidemic. With his talent and opportunity for improvement, the future seems bright for Abrams.
2. Hunter Greene
Although Hunter Greene has always had incredible velocity when throwing the ball, his career in Major League Baseball (MLB) has been about developing his secondary pitches and making everything work together. It appears like he will eventually do it.
Greene has already made 46 MLB starts while he was just 24 years old in 2024. His knack to rack up strikeouts has been steady, despite his first two seasons’ weak overall performance. He can develop into a top-tier starter if he gets greater control of his pitches. Hopefully this next third season will provide Greene with the breakthrough he needs to establish himself as one of the league’s best players.
3. Grayson Rodriguez
The Orioles’ acquisition of Corbin Burnes eased Grayson Rodriguez of some of the pressure of leading the squad. That doesn’t mean Rodriguez can’t step up, though.
His 2.58 ERA and 5-2 record in the second half of 2023 proved his mettle; he recovered from a tough beginning in which he had a 7.35 ERA in his first 10 outings. It seemed as like we were watching him grow up in front of us.
Rodriguez’s 2024 season has gotten off to a similarly strong start. He appears to be challenging Burnes for the starting position in Baltimore and has a good chance of being one of the league’s best starts this season.
4. Spencer Torkelson
Spencer Torkelson represents the high draft choice that the Tigers have been hoping for—a payout that they have been anticipating for years. Selected as the top overall pick in the 2020 draft, he displayed potential as a first baseman, putting up an amazing 66 extra-base hits in his first full season in the major leagues last year, including 31 home runs.
Expectations are high that Torkelson will really step it up in 2024 and become a true star. Even while he may still need to improve his consistency in hitting for a high average, his raw power implies that he is capable of hitting 40 home runs or more. Torkelson is still a young slugger to watch, even though the current season has started off a little slowly.
5. Hunter Brown
The Astros are counting on Hunter Brown to step up big this year after a number of starters were injured early in the season. He has already shown himself in crucial postseason moments in the last two years.
Brown recorded 13 defeats and a 5.09 ERA in the regular season of 2023, despite his 11 victories as a starter. However, there appears to be something about his pitching approach that suggests he may develop into a top pitcher. That is seen by his steady strikeout rate since entering the main leagues. Brown may become an important member of Houston’s rotation in 2024 with more time on the mound and improved form.
6. Francisco Alvarez
Last season, Francisco Alvarez took the challenging position of starting catcher in the major leagues—an amazing achievement for a 21-year-old. Considering the difficulties of such a duty at such a young age, it’s really amazing, but Alvarez performed wonderfully.
His batting average of.209 may not have been very impressive, but his 25 home runs more than demonstrated his power. Alvarez’s play has distinguished him despite the Mets’ early-season troubles as a unit in 2024. Interestingly, since making his big league debut, he has significantly improved his defensive game. It’s clear that Alvarez is rapidly putting together his talents, and at just 22 years old, he’s about to become an all-star catcher.
7. Luis Campusano
Following a similar track to Alvarez’s rise, catcher Luis Campusano also stood out as potential. Campusano, who is 25 years old, made his MLB debut in 2020, but injuries have slowed his down.
Due to injuries, he played in just 49 games the previous season. Notwithstanding the setbacks, Campusano put up strong performances in the field, finishing with a.847 OPS and a batting average of.319. He is currently serving as San Diego’s primary catcher and is already making headlines with his hitting ability in the 2024 season.
Campusano has a good chance of breaking out and establishing his position as one of the league’s top catchers if he stays fit throughout the season.
In conclusion, a new generation of talent is ready to make an impact on the MLB, therefore the 2024 season looks to be an interesting one. These seven breakthrough potential, who range from exciting rookies to rising stars, have the power to captivate fans and completely change baseball’s future.