Five MLB hitters ready for breakout seasons

With Opening Day two weeks away, it's time to look forward to Major League Baseball’s regular season.

One of the fun things to think about in the final days of spring training is which players might be ready to have breakout seasons. Here are five hitters who fit that category:

Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets

Alvarez hit 25 home runs as a rookie for the Mets in 2023 but batted only .209. He played through multiple hand injuries over the past two seasons, including a torn left thumb ligament, fractured left hamate and sprained right thumb ligament.

Still just 24, Alvarez is healthy and could hit 30-plus home runs this season. He may be key to a Mets turnaround after last year’s missed postseason.

Moises Ballesteros, Chicago Cubs

The left-handed-hitting Ballesteros debuted with the Cubs last season, hitting .298/.394/.474 with two home runs in 20 games.

Ballesteros, 22, will likely DH, as he is poor defensively at catcher and first base. His hard contact and gap power make him a National League Rookie of the Year candidate.

Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles

Basallo reached the majors last August and struggled, hitting just .165/.229/.330 with four home runs in 31 games. Still, the Orioles signed the 21-year-old to an eight-year, $67 million contract soon after he arrived.

Like Ballesteros, Basallo is a catcher by trade but will serve as the Orioles’ DH. Scouts love the sound of the ball coming off his bat, and he should challenge for American League Rookie of the Year.

Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers

Chourio hit 21 home runs and stole 22 bases as a 2024 rookie, then tallied 21 homers and 21 steals last season. Over those two years, he's slashed .272/.317/.463, and at 22, he seems poised to become a perennial 30-30 hitter for the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers seemingly took a gamble when they signed Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million contract before he had ever played a major league game. However, Chourio will look like a bargain by the time that contract expires.

Kyle Teel, Chicago White Sox

The 24-year-old catcher will begin the season on the injured list after straining his right hamstring earlier this week while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. The Chicago White Sox will be happy to get him back, likely in early May.

Teel had a solid rookie season, hitting .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs in 78 games. Scouts believe he will blossom into an All-Star, and his left-handed bat only adds value.