One player from every MLB team who will take a leap in 2024

The Yankees and Red Sox certainly do not come together on trades very often, which is why the winter swap that sent left-handed swinging outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Bronx raised several eyebrows across the league. Verdugo was a productive regular in Boston for four years running, and the team's decision to trade him to the hated Yankees of all teams was perplexing. The Red Sox seemingly had grown tired of disciplining the 27-year-old, as he was benched twice last season for lack of hustle and showing up late to the ballpark. To say the least, though, dealing a player with a lot of upside to your biggest rival over spurts of immaturity has the potential to dramatically blow up in your face. Last season Verdugo slashed .264/.324/.421 with 13 homers, 54 RBI, 37 doubles, and five triples. Playing his home games at Yankee Stadium with the short porch in right field should dramatically boost his power numbers, and I anticipate the fiery Verdugo to report to camp with a chip on his shoulder, and a career year could be upcoming. 

Speaking of high-profile trades, the Red Sox made this winter. In addition to shipping Verdugo to the Bronx, they also traded veteran lefty Chris Sale to Atlanta. Sale was beloved in Boston for leading the 'Sox to a championship in 2018, and while injuries have completely derailed him in recent years, fans in New England were still sad to see him go. Coming back in that deal is infielder Vaughn Grissom, who all of a sudden will be under a lot of pressure to become a core piece of the Red Sox's everyday line-up moving forward. Grissom is a natural shortstop who the Braves initially called up to play 2nd base in 2022 when Ozzie Albies went down with an injury. He showed much promise that season, slashing .291/.353/.440 with 11 extra-base hits in only 141 at-bats. When Dansby Swanson departed via free agency the expectation was Grissom would become the everyday shortstop. Still, he lost a spring training battle to Orlando Arcia and would end up spending the majority of the 2023 season in the minor leagues. The Red Sox represent a bit of a fresh start for the 23-year-old, but with Trevor Story at shortstop in Boston he'll have to again slide to the right side of the second base bag. Grissom has always hit in the minor leagues, and for a Red Sox team in transition, the hope is he can establish himself as a legitimate big-league contributor in his first full Major League season. 

Orioles' right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was a fixture on top prospect lists seemingly from the moment he was drafted 11th overall in 2018, and while he struggled a little as a rookie in 2023, do not expect that to continue. In 23 starts following his promotion, Rodriguez pitched to a 4.35 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP, while serving up 16 home run balls and striking out 129 hitters in 122 innings. Let's compare that to his minor-league track record. In 77 outings on his way through the Baltimore system, the Houston, TX native went 29-9 with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He struck out 475 hitters in 333.1 innings, allowed only a .173 batting average against, and in 2021 was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Year. Yes, the Major Leagues are a different animal, but this kid is too talented, and once he gets comfortable at the sport's highest level, I expect him to develop into an upper-echelon starter. 

Rays' starter Taj Bradley comes into 2024 in a similar boat to the aforementioned Grayson Rodriguez in Baltimore. For years, Bradley was considered the premier pitching prospect in Tampa Bay's system and had dominated his way through most of the Rays' minor league affiliates. He did hit a bit of a speedbump in Triple-A early last season but was very quickly promoted to the Show--likely before he was truly ready. In 23 outings in the big leagues, Bradley admittedly struggled, working to a 5.59 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP. He was noticeably hurt by home runs, surrendering 23 long balls in only 104.2 innings. Bradley gave up only 36 homers in 348.1 minor league frames, and the lesson here is simple. Major League hitters don't miss mistakes, and if he can fine-tune his stuff just a little as a sophomore, he'll deliver a significantly better campaign. 

Second-generation big leaguer Cavan Biggio appeared to be well on his way to blossoming into a big-league star after a tremendous rookie campaign in 2019, but the Notre Dame product has unfortunately been spinning his wheels a little bit in recent years. Injuries and inconsistency have prevented the 28-year-old from getting an opportunity to be a full-time everyday player in Toronto, but that should change in 2024. Biggio is currently slated to be the Blue Jays starting second baseman, but he does have the positional versatility to bounce around a little if needed. Last season he slashed .235/.340/.370 with 21 extra-base hits in 289 at-bats, and Toronto is hoping a more regular role leads to an uptick in offensive productivity. 

Young Bo Naylor has watched his older brother enjoy significant success in Cleveland over the last several years, and in 2024 he's slated to get the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. The Guardians selected Naylor with the 29th overall pick in the 2018 draft, and after more than 400 games in the team's minor league system he's positioned to serve as Cleveland's starting catcher. In 67 games as a rookie in '23, Naylor flashed potential, slashing .237/.339/.470 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, and 13 doubles in just under 200 at-bats. The Guardians love the 23-year-olds' upside, but they did protect themselves by bringing in veteran Austin Hedges who is capable of stepping in if he struggles. The spring training objective for Naylor is simple--grab hold of this job and don't give it back. 

Royce Lewis was the number one overall pick in the 2017 draft, and when he's been on the field, he's made the Twins look incredibly smart for taking him. Unfortunately, the operative word in that sentence was 'when'. Lewis has been plagued by many unfortunate injuries throughout his professional career that have prevented him from truly breaking out at the Major League level. The Twins certainly hope that begins to change in 2024 and beyond. In 70 career big-league games to date, the 24-year-old has slashed an impressive .307/.364/.549 with 17 home runs, 57 RBI, and 11 doubles. Projecting those numbers over the course of a full season is an eye-opening endeavor, and something Minnesota is crossing its fingers that it will get to witness in the coming months. 

Right-hander Michael Kopech was one of the primary prospects the White Sox received from Boston in the 2016 trade that sent Chris Sale to New England, and Chicago instantly had visions of the Longview, TX native leading its staff for years to come. That has not yet come to fruition, but I'm here to tell you not to give up hope. Kopech is incredibly talented, and while he was solid working primarily out of the White Sox bullpen early in his career, he was extremely effective as a starter for them in 2022. Last season, he took a significant step back, pitching to a 5.43 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP in 129.1 innings across 30 outings. Kopech has been open about battling mental health struggles, and for a 27-year-old, he's been through far more in his personal life than the casual fan probably realizes. His stuff is electric, he's an easy guy to root for, and if he can match up his physical abilities with mental stability in 2024 the sky is honestly the limit. 

Detroit selected center fielder Parker Meadows in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft, and the club has high hopes for the Atlanta, GA native moving forward. After performing well throughout his minor league career, Meadows earned his first big league promotion late last season and showed promise during his brief cup of coffee. In 37 games with the Tigers, he slashed .232/.331/.368 with three homers, 13 RBI, four doubles, two triples, and eight steals. The Tigers have an opening both in center field and in their leadoff spot in 2024, and the hope is Meadows can grab hold of both jobs and establish himself as part of the club's long-term core. 

The Royals have been waiting for Old Dominion alum Vinnie Pasquantino to deliver a breakout offensive campaign for a while now, but injuries in both '22 and '23 have prevented that from fully happening quite yet. Last season, Pasquantino played in only 61 games, slashing .247/.324/.437 with 26 extra-base hits and 26 RBI. The 26-year-old put together quite an impressive resume on his way through the Royals' minor league system, slashing .292/.382/.569 with 56 homers and 71 doubles in 246 games, and that's the kind of output Kansas City would like to see at the Major League level. 

Encinitas, CA-born Mickey Moniak was selected by the Phillies with the top overall pick in the 2016 draft, but the southern California kid never seemed to really fit in playing in the high-intensity northeast. Moniak played relatively well coming up through Philadelphia's minor league system, but struggled mightily at the big-league level, slashing a woeful .129/.214/.172 with just two extra-base hits in 47 games in a Phillies uniform. His fortunes changed dramatically, however, when he was traded to the Angels midway through the 2022 season. Back home in California, Moniak shed the bust label some were so eager to slap on him with an excellent '23 campaign. In 85 games he slashed a strong .280/.307/.495 with 14 home runs, 45 RBI, and 21 doubles, and the Angels are counting on him to build on that heading into his first full season at the Major League level. 

Hard-throwing right-hander Hunter Brown completely dominated the Triple-A level in 2022, and the Astros were eager to usher the youngster into their starting rotation a season ago. As is the case with most rookies, however, his indoctrination at the sport's highest level came with some significant growing pains. In 31 outings, he pitched to a disappointing 5.09 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP, and while he did earn 11 victories, that had more to do with pitching for a very good Astros team than anything else. Brown's calling card throughout his professional career has been his strikeout prowess, which he did flash last season, as he blew away 178 hitters in 155.2 innings. Walks and home runs were both an issue, though, and if he can limit each of those moving forward, he should be headed toward a breakout campaign. 

Cal Poly product Bryan Woo made his big-league debut last June, and heading into 2024 his spot in the Mariners rotation is secure. In 18 starts as a rookie, the 24-year-old finished with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, while holding opponents to just a .227 batting average and striking out 93 hitters in 87.2 innings. Seattle currently has one of the younger rotations in baseball, and they'll need Woo in particular to pitch well as a sophomore if they're going to seriously compete in a difficult American League West. 

Last fall, Texas went on an exhilarating October run that culminated in the organization's first World Series championship. The Rangers got contributions from just about everyone on their roster, but one of the more unlikely sparkplugs during the playoffs was young Evan Carter, who didn't debut in the big leagues until September 8th. Texas selected the 21-year-old in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft, and he wasted little time cruising through the club's minor league system. In 23 September games with the Rangers, he slashed .306/.413/.645 with five homers and four doubles, but he saved his best work for October. Carter racked up 30 total bases in only 60 postseason at-bats, playing a starring role Texas title run. The Rangers are looking for more of the same out of the youngster in his first full season at the Major League level. 

The Oakland Athletics were nearly historically bad during the 2023 season, and losing so convincingly on a night-in and night-out basis had to be especially demoralizing for the young players on the team just trying to get their feet under them at the Major League level. One of the few bright spots for the A's was young lefty JP Sears, who quietly pitched pretty well despite the difficult circumstances. In 32 starts, the Sumter, SC native put up a 4.54 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He struck out 161 hitters in 172.1 innings, and was very clearly the most consistent starter Oakland had. The 2024 season is not expected to go much better for the Athletics, but on a personal level it does provide Sears with an opportunity to take his game to the next level. 

The New York Mets entered last season with astronomical expectations that very quickly evaporated into thin air, and this time around there is a much different vibe at the club's spring training complex in Port Saint Lucie. The Mets still expect to compete, but this team no longer employes most of the aging veterans that were walking around the complex last February.  Instead, New York has put an emphasis on giving their own young players opportunities to break through. One of those guys that stands out to me in particular is right-handed swinging Mark Vientos. The 24-year-old consistently tore the cover off the ball in the Mets minor league system, slashing .277/.347/.499 with 92 homers, 325 RBI, and 108 doubles in 467 minor league games. His power has long intoxicated New York's brass, and while he's hit 10 homers in 254 Major League at-bats, he's never really been given a chance to play every day. That should change in 2024. Vientos is currently slated to be the Mets' starting DH, and he could even end up playing some third base if Brett Baty struggles. If Vientos gets 500+ at-bats in the big leagues I firmly believe he will establish himself as a legitimate offensive player at the sport's highest level, and if he does, it would be an enormous boon for the Mets chances of contending. 

The Phillies have been one of the most exciting teams in baseball over the last several seasons, and one of the reasons for that is the way they're consistently able to get contributions from unforeseen places. A prime example of that from last season is 27-year-old southpaw Christopher Sanchez. After struggling through parts of two big league seasons in Philadelphia, Sanchez entered 2023 as somewhat of an afterthought on the club's pitching staff. He began the season in the minor leagues, but when opportunity came knocking, he answered the bell emphatically. In 19 outings for Philadelphia, Sanchez delivered a 3.44 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .235 batting average and striking out 96 hitters in 99.1 innings. He's done a full 180 from where he was this time last year, and with a rotation spot now in his grasp, the Phillies are looking for him to build on his breakout campaign. 

Outfielder Jarred Kelenic was once considered one of baseball's can't-miss prospects. The Waukesha, WI native was drafted by the Mets with the 6th overall pick in the 2018 draft, and New York was crushed by the media when they traded him to Seattle in a blockbuster winter meetings deal a few months later. Looking back now, the trade looks a lot better for the Mets. New York acquired superstar closer Edwin Diaz in the deal, while Kelenic went on to struggle during his three seasons with the Mariners. In 252 games with Seattle, the left-handed swinging outfielder slashed just .204/.283/.327 with 32 home runs, 109 RBI, and 43 doubles. The Mariners gave up on him this winter and sent him to Atlanta in a five-player deal, and while he's now been traded away by two different organizations, players with Kelenic's raw talent don't grow on trees. He's still just 24 years old and playing for the Braves seems to have a way of bringing out the best in players. I expect an enormous breakthrough for Kelenic in 2024. 

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore was touted as the next big thing when the Padres took him with the 3rd pick in the 2017 draft, and for several years he was unanimously considered to be one of, if not the, best pitching prospect in the game. Gore first reached the big leagues in 2022 and pitched to uneven results for San Diego before being traded to Washington in the blockbuster Juan Soto deal. With the Nationals last season, the 25-year-old got his first chance to pitch out of a Major League rotation for a full season, and it's fair to say he was a little inconsistent. In 27 starts, Gore pitched to a 4.42 ERA with a high 1.40 WHIP. He did strike out 151 hitters in 136.1 innings, but home runs were a significant issue as he served up 27 long balls. Gore's talent and stuff is unquestionably big-league caliber, and as he gains more experience at this level, I expect both his command and ability to keep the ball in the ballpark with improve. 

Miami outfielder Bryan De La Cruz has shown flashes of excellence during the past three years, but we may soon look back on the 2024 season as the one where he blossomed into a star. Last season, the 27-year-old played in all but nine of the Marlins' contests, slashing .257/.304/.411. He blasted 19 homers, drove in 78 runs, contributed 32 doubles, and stole four bases. He also possesses a significant arm in the corner outfield positions and gunned down five runners on the basepaths. The Marlins head into 2024 as a team that has enough talent that if things break right could compete in the NL East. De La Cruz taking his game to yet another level would certainly help. 

Last spring, so much of the conversation coming out of Cardinals camp centered around what the team was going to do with its top prospect, right-handed slugger Jordan Walker. The Stone Mountain, GA native was making it abundantly clear that his bat was ready for the show, and the Cardinals were scrambling to find a place for him to play. A natural third baseman, that was simply not an option with Nolan Arenado entrenched at the hot corner in St. Louis. Walker was a little bit of a liability in the corner outfield positions, but the Cardinals simply had to bite the bullet and play him there while also giving him some DH opportunities. The 21-year-old didn't disappoint. In 117 games as a rookie, he slashed .276/.342/.445 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI, and 19 doubles. The Cardinals firmly believe he's just barely scratched the surface of his potential and that a monster 2024 campaign could be upcoming. 

Kansas State product Jordan Wicks was the Cubs first-round pick in the 2021 draft and, a little over two years later, found himself pitching incredibly important games for Chicago. After tossing 20 excellent starts for the Cubs minor league affiliates last season, Wicks was promoted in late August with Chicago in the thick of a pennant race. He ended up taking the mound seven times down the stretch and worked to a 4.41 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP across 34.2 innings. The Cubs disappointingly finished just one win short of an NL Wild Card berth, but the experience Wicks gained last September was invaluable. Heading into 2024, the southpaw is being counted on to successfully occupy a spot in Chicago's starting five, and don't be surprised if he thrives. 

When the Reds took Los Angeles, CA native Hunter Greene with the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 draft, their hope was that the hard-throwing righty would eventually develop into the ace of their staff. Greene moved through the Cincinnati system relatively quickly, and at this point has been a full-time member of the Reds' starting rotation for two years. But he hasn't exactly made good on his prospect hype quite yet. In 46 Major League starts to date, Greene has pitched to a 4.62 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP, while allowing opponents to hit .237 against him and striking out 316 hitters in 237.2 innings. His strikeout percentage pops off the page more than anything else in that stat line, and when you consider how often he prevents hitters from even making contact, it's puzzling how he's given up so many runs. Walks and home runs have been an issue for him, and if he can limit both of those in 2024, he will take his game to seriously new heights. 

The Brewers are loaded with young, talented outfielders, and while Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio are certainly worthy of the attention they're receiving, let's not forget about Garrett Mitchell. Milwaukee made the 25-year-old the 25th overall pick in the 2020 draft, and while his career has gotten off to a bit of a bumpy start, that has more to do with injuries than anything else. Limited to only 47 Major League games over the last two years, Mitchell has slashed .278/.343/.452 with 11 extra-base hits in 126 at-bats. His college and minor league resumes indicate he can be an offensive difference-maker, and I'm excited to see what he can do in a full and healthy big-league campaign. 

Young Pittsburgh shortstop Oneil Cruz took the league by storm as a rookie in 2022, blasting 17 homers and driving in 54 runs in only 87 games. Heading into last season Pirates fans were eager to see what he could do over the course of a full season, and he was being viewed as the face of a new era of baseball in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, all of those things had to essentially be put on hold for a year. Cruz broke his ankle on April 9th after only nine games, and his season was over almost before it even started. This year Cruz is eager to make up for lost time and put himself back on the map as one of this sport's brightest young stars. 

The Dodgers used the 29th overall pick in the 2020 draft to select Louisville product Bobby Miller, and three short years later he was helping Los Angeles win yet another NL West title. Miller was promoted to the Majors last May, and showed plenty of the potential that made him such a high draft pick. In 22 starts he delivered a 3.76 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP, while limiting the opposition to a .226 batting average and punching out 119 hitters in 124.1 innings. Heading into 2024 the righty is safely in the Los Angeles rotation, and the organization is confident he can build on his rookie success in year two. 

Righty Michael King was spectacular out of the bullpen for the Yankees in each of the last two seasons, and that success is what put him in the mix to be included in the Bombers blockbuster trade with San Diego that landed superstar Juan Soto in New York. The Boston College product made 49 appearances for the Yankees in '23 (nine of which were starts) and finished with a dazzling 2.75 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in a career-high 104.2 innings. His ability to go multiple innings in relief made him an incredible weapon for manager Aaron Boone, but in San Diego his role is going to increase incrementally. The Padres are counting on King to be a consistent and productive member of their rotation, and if he succeeds, he'll take his career to an entirely new level. 

When the Giants selected Joey Bart with the 2nd overall pick in the 2018 draft the plan was obviously for the Georgia Tech product to take over behind the plate when future Hall of Famer Buster Posey retired. Bart never held up his end of the bargain, and San Francisco ended up taking another first-round catcher just two years later. And now, in switch-hitter Patrick Bailey, it sure looks like the organization has found its next long-term backstop. In 97 games as a rookie last season, the 24-year-old slashed .233/.285/.359 with seven homers, 48 RBI, and 18 doubles. While the offense was a nice added bonus, the most important thing for any young catcher is to adequately handle the team's pitching staff and play sound defense at a premium position. Bailey passed both with flying colors and heading into 2024 I'm expecting a dramatic leap on both sides of the ball. 

Warrenton, VA native Brenton Doyle was called up by the Rockies in late April last season, and over the next several months showed more than enough promise for Colorado to believe he can a core player for them moving forward. In 126 games, the speedy 25-year-old slashed .203/.250/.343 with 10 home runs, 48 RBI, 16 doubles, five triples, and 22 stolen bases. Doyle was a significant offensive difference-maker coming up through Colorado's minor league system, and as he gains more experience at this level, he should continue to improve. 

Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt debuted for Arizona last May, and to be completely honest, he struggled a bit during his inaugural regular season at the sport's highest level. In 19 outings, he finished with a concerning 5.72 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP, while allowing opponents to hit a gaudy .282 against him. But Pfaadt's rookie season is remembered significantly more fondly than it otherwise would've been thanks to the October he was able to enjoy. The Bellarmine alum made five postseason starts for the Diamondbacks--including two stellar performances in the NLCS against Philadelphia, and club is hoping he can carry the confidence he gained pitching under the sport's brightest lights into 2024.