Top 25 MLB players under 25 heading into 2016

It’s hard to get too high on a relief pitcher, but Roberto Osuna is only 22 years old, he already has two years of MLB experience, and almost all of his numbers trended in the correct direction between 2015 and 2016, in basically the same number of games and innings. Sure, his ERA ticked up from 2.58 to 2.68, but that’s negligible when it’s already so low. Meanwhile, his strikeouts increased (9.7 K/9 to 10.0), his walks decreased (2.1 BB/9 to 1.7) and his saves ballooned from 20 to 36 (albeit with more closing opportunities).

Joc Pederson’s weak .246 average leaves a lot to be desired (even though it was an improvement from 2015), but he still managed an OBP of .352, slugged .495 and struck out 130 times, which were all improvements too. Oh, and did we mention the guy can hit home runs? Because that’s kind of important. In fact, many fans remember Pederson best for coming in second place at the 2015 Home Run Derby and launching the longest ball of the night (489 feet). He mashed a total of 26 in 2015 and 25 in 2016, despite missing almost three weeks, so our money’s on the 24-year-old reaching the 30-dinger mark in 2017.

Nomar Mazara finished his rookie season slashing .266/.320/.419 with 20 homers and 64 RBI, but this doesn’t tell the full story. Mazara, then a highly touted prospect, actually made a strong first impression through the first 44 games of the season when he batted .307 with an .827 OPS and eight home runs. Pitchers adjusted to him and his numbers fell back to Earth, but if Mazara can make some adjustments himself in 2017, the still-very-young 21-year-old can carve out a spot in the Texas outfield for years to come.

Although 24-year-old Carlos Rodon will start the 2017 season on the disabled list, his eventual arrival should spell good news for the Chicago White Sox. From 2015 to 2016, Rodon’s ERA and HR/9 went up a tick, but his strikeouts per game improved (9.0 to 9.2), as did his walks (4.6 to 2.9). Even more promising, Rodon made midseason adjustments that resulted in him pitching better in the second half of 2016 compared to the first. With Chris Sale gone and Jose Quintana’s days likely numbered, Rodon could be the future ace the Sox will desperately need.

There’s a lot to like about Lance McCullers. He posted an ERA of exactly 3.22 over each of his two MLB seasons, he struck out an average of 11.8 batters per nine innings in 2016 and has the fastest average curveball velocity for any starter in baseball history. He needs to work on his control, as his WHIP ballooned from 1.186 to 1.543, and his BB/9 also increased from 3.1 to 5.0 from 2015 to 2016. However, if the 23-year-old can manage to stay on the mound, he should have plenty of opportunities to reach his full potential; the Houston Astros just named him their No. 2 starter.

Alex Bregman was an easy call-up in 2016, but things didn’t exactly pan out exactly as he, the Houston Astros or baseball analysts predicted. Bregman began his MLB career with a frigid 2-for-38 effort at the plate but managed to pick things up in the second half and ended the season with a .264/.313/.478 slash line. He hit only eight home runs, but it’s a great sign that all eight came over the last 39 games of the season. Bregman, now 23, will be the starting third baseman for the Astros in 2017, and hopefully he’ll be able to pick up right where he left off.

In his first full MLB season, Javier Baez walked only 15 times, leading to a .314 OBP that didn’t add much to his .273 batting average. However, some pop (14 home runs) helps Baez compensate, as well as the fact that he greatly decreased his strikeout rate (minus the 13 Ks in the World Series). And then there’s defense. While playing the outfield and every infield position, Baez tallied just 15 errors and will likely end up as the Cubs’ regular second baseman. However, he could easily fill in at shortstop, his native position, if Addison Russell ends up on the DL.

After stumbling in his first two MLB seasons as a non-regular, Jose Ramirez had a breakout year in 152 games in 2016. His strikeout rate (10 percent) was fifth-lowest in the entire MLB, and among all third baseman he finished with the highest average (.312), rated the highest as a base runner (thanks in part to his 22 steals) and had the fifth-highest OBP (.363). Of course, one great season is difficult to get excited about, but tell that to the Cleveland Indians, who just inked the 24-year-old to an extension worth $26 million over five years.

Coming up as a starter in the minors, Edwin Diaz had never recorded a single save in his career prior to 2016. However, after the Seattle Mariners converted him to a reliever, Diaz finally found consistency and set a franchise record by striking out 11 batters in a row. He was named the team’s closer on Aug. 1, 2016, and amassed 18 saves over the remainder of the season with an unfathomable 15.3 K/9 and a 1.161 WHIP. The 23-year-old Diaz continued his closing prowess in the World Baseball Classic and looks to carry his success (and his 97 mph fastball and devastating slider) into the 2017 season.

It’s already an accepted fact that Addison Russell is a wiz in the field. He committed only 14 errors in 151 games last year, and in his two MLB seasons, he ranks fourth among all shortstops with 29 runs saved. If his bat can catch up (and his minor league numbers suggest it will), Russell will be the whole package. His average was only .238 in 2016, but he improved his OBP (.321) and slugging (.417), while striking out less and walking more. The 23-year-old’s offensive stats are definitely trending upward, as evidenced by the 13 homers he hit in the second half of the year, versus only eight in the first half.

Coming off a 2016 season in which he earned Rookie of the Year honors from Sporting News, the MLBPA and the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Michael Fulmer will attempt to avoid a sophomore slump in 2017. The 24-year-old Detroit Tigers starter compiled a 3.06 ERA and 11-7 record over 26 starts last season while punching out 132 batters and walking only 42. Although it was just his rookie season, Fulmer’s 4.9 WAR ranked him eighth among AL pitchers and his 94.8 mph fastball velocity ranked him third.

It’s hard not to buy in to the legend of Kyle Schwarber. The guy hit 16 bombs and posted an .842 OPS in his first taste of the big leagues (232 ABs) in 2015, followed by a godlike 1.308 OPS in the postseason. He then tore both his ACL and LCL in an on-field collision only two games into 2016 and was deemed out for the season. Whether it was a fast-healing body or a voodoo spell (perhaps a “Major League”-type situation), Schwarber managed to make the World Series roster and rewarded the Cubs by notching seven hits, drawing three walks and driving in two runs. Where the 24-year-old will stick in the field is yet to be determined, but the Cubs will surely figure out a way to keep his big bat in the lineup.

Rougned Odor swings at pitches outside the strike zone way too often (41.8 percent of the time), but when his plate discipline is on, he makes pitchers pay. Odor smacked 33 homers and 33 doubles while driving in 88 runners in 2016, and his .502 slugging percentage helped his .271 average and lowly .296 OBP. He needs to be a bit more consistent in the field, but having just signed a six-year/$49.5 million extension to stay in a Rangers uniform, the 23-year-old will get plenty of time to work that out.

A season-ending thumb injury limited Trevor Story’s 2016 campaign to only 97 games, but he still raked in limited opportunities, amassing a .909 OPS and hitting 27 dingers (including seven in his first six games). This story is just getting started (sorry, we couldn’t resist the pun). The 24-year-old will have to lower his strikeout ratio (130 Ks in 372 ABs) and his fielding errors to prove the beginning of 2016 was no fluke.

In case you forgot, Gary Sanchez is the Yankee catcher who finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2016 despite playing in only 53 games at the end of the season. This was thanks to an obscene 20 homers and the .299/.376/.657 he slashed during that time (becoming the fastest player to 20 home runs in baseball history), while also mowing down an army of potential base-stealers and compiling a shocking 3.0 WAR. The 24-year-old Sanchez has picked up right where he left off thus far in spring training and is out to prove that 2016 was no fluke, although at this point, few people are claiming it was. The sky’s the limit for Sanchez.

Trea Turner, now 23, was called up at the 2016 All-Star break and promptly played as if he belonged in that game. In only 307 ABs, Turner swiped 33 bags and popped 13 home runs while boasting a .342 batting average. His .370 OBP is a bit worrisome (thanks to only drawing 14 walks), but the fact that he slugged .567 is a good compensation considering his aforementioned overpowering speed. The other uncertainty? Turner is a shortstop by trade, yet the Nationals only played him there twice in favor of the outfield and second base.

Critics will point to 24-year-old Aaron Sanchez’s lack of strikeout prowess (7.5 K/9 in 2016, a career high) as a weakness, but when you post a 3.00 ERA, induce ground balls 54.4 percent of the time and limit hitters to a 36.2 pull percentage, Ks don’t matter nearly as much. And hey, all of this was still good enough for an All-Star selection and a seventh-place finish in Cy Young voting.

In three full MLB seasons, 24-year-old Xander Bogaerts has steadily increased his walk totals, OPS and runs scored, which is a great sign for the him and Boston Red Sox. So are the 21 home runs he somehow popped in 2016. And although Xander might not be next Ozzie Smith, he still earned a Silver Slugger at the shortstop position over the past two seasons.

It’s hard to make a big deal of a rookie season, but few rookies post slash lines of .308/.365/.512 while walloping 26 long balls and earning All-Star, Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove honors. The 22-year-old's overall 6.1 WAR thoroughly explains why Seager finished third in MVP balloting.

Matt who? Noah Syndergaard is the true ace of the Mets, and his 2016 campaign proved it. Syndergaard posted a sizzling 97.9 mph fastball velocity, which broke the record previously set by... himself, in 2015. Add in a 2.60 ERA, a 6.0 WAR (sixth in the league among all players) and a frightening 10.7 K/9 average, and it’s no wonder he earned the nickname “Thor.” Oh, and the 24-year-old starter put on extra weight this offseason in an attempt to get stronger and throw even harder. Dear hitters, just stay home in 2017.

After just missing Rookie of the Year honors in 2015, 23-year-old Francisco Lindor’s sophomore season saw him earn an All-Star selection; a Gold Glove; and finish ninth in MVP voting for his .301 average, 15 homers and 78 RBI on a strong Cleveland Indians team. Even if he doesn’t hit, any team would be lucky to have the speedy, sure-handed Lindor patrolling the shortstop position.

Carlos Correa’s .274/.361/.451 slash line might not seem overly impressive at first, but he actually finished fourth overall in offensive WAR in 2016 thanks in part to 20 home runs, 96 RBI and an impressive 36 doubles. This is also the same kid, now 22, who was named Rookie of the Year in 2015 and also received some MVP votes that season. Most baseball analysts predict the Houston Astros shortstop still has his best years ahead of him, and his performance in the World Baseball Classic supports this theory.

With two Gold Gloves, three All-Star selections and three top 10 finishes in MVP balloting already, it’s shocking that Manny Machado is still only 24 years old. He has clearly already established himself as one of the top third basemen in the game (his 2.3 defensive WAR ranked him sixth in the AL among all position players in 2016) and finished last season third in the league for total bases, fourth for extra bases and sixth in hits with a .294/.343/.533 slash line, 37 homers and 96 RBI.

Considering the fact that Bryce Harper owns four All-Star selections, one MVP award and 121 career homers, it’s easy to forget that he’s still only 24 years old. Even in what many considered a down year in 2016, Harper still hit 24 dingers, drove in 86 runs, scored 84 times and notched his second-highest OBP while drawing 108 walks. Further quieting his critics, Harper has been raking during his 2017 spring training games with the Nationals, leading the league in home runs while batting over .300 with an unreal OPS north of 1.200. Now he just needs to stay healthy.

If it wasn’t for some guy named Mike Trout, 24-year-old All-Star Mookie Betts would have been a shoo-in for AL MVP in 2016. The five-tool Red Sox outfielder slashed .318/.363/.534, smacked 31 home runs, drove in 113 runs, scored 122 and also swiped 26 bags. He ranked in the top 10 in almost every offensive category (he finished second in WAR with a godlike 9.6), earned Silver Slugger honors and compiled an outstanding 2.8 defensive WAR while winning his first Gold Glove. 2016 was only Mookie’s second full MLB season, so the best might still be yet to come for the young outfielder.