Baltimore Orioles superstar Gunnar Henderson swings the bat. PHOTO USA Today Sports Image Like volcanoes rising from the ocean, the latest crop of baseball superstars are so good they’re attracting attention in an area that has received less attention than in recent years.
Today, games in Baltimore, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Seattle and Cincinnati have more eyes than in years. And it’s not just the individual plays that make it a reason to watch; it often plays a star team that is being born.
As legends Todd Helton, Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer are inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend, we watch from afar.
There’s no guarantee of continued success, but as the 2024 season reaches its final two months, there are five players 25 years of age or younger who are potential Cooperstown candidates.
GUNNAR HENDERSON, Baltimore Orioles
There are many reasons why the young Orioles have ascended to one of the best teams in baseball, and Henderson is at the top of the list. The rookie-of-the-year award in 2023 was deserved, and this year was even better with 28 home runs and a .956 OPS by the All-Star break.
More than two decades after Cal Ripken Jr. retired, this generation of Orioles fans has a legitimate superstar at shortstop to call their own. According to FanGraphs, the only player to surpass Henderson’s 6.1 WAR at the break is Aaron Judge.
BOBBY WITT JR., Kansas City Royals
July 19, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) celebrates with his teammates after a win over the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports He has a baseball pedigree from his father, a pitcher, while his son has developed into a do-everything shortstop. Witt inherited his father’s arm and then developed his own game with speed, a glove to envy, an ability to make contact, and a crafty power that helped him finish as runner-up in the Home Run Derby.
The Royals are on the rise again, behind one of the best No. 2 hitters in the game. And to the delight of the Royals faithful, Witt signed through 2034, making him a player to build around.
PAUL SKENES, Pittsburgh Pirates
July 16, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; National League pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates (30) pitches against the American League in the first inning during the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field. Mandatory credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Two months in the major leagues doesn’t make a Hall of Famer, but if a rookie pitcher has shown he has the stuff to make it to Cooperstown one day, it’s Skenes. Consistent fastballs at 102 mph don’t exactly suggest longevity, but Skenes’ big-body isn’t some concoction from a mechanics lab.
After 11 starts, Skenes wasn’t just an All-Star; he was a National League starter. Not only did he live up to his promise as the No. 1 pick.
JULIO RODRIGUEZ, Seattle Mariners
July 3, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) stands in the dugout after a 4-1 loss against the Baltimore Orioles at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports The path to the top of the game is never linear, and Rodriguez spent the first half of this season navigating some twists and turns with numbers below projections: 10 home runs over 97 games before the All-Star break and .690 OPS.
What went wrong this season? Opposing pitchers have better plans of attack now with cutters in hand, while Rodriguez hits fewer balls in the barrel. When he makes solid contact, he hits the ball as hard as ever. As long as he doesn’t get discouraged, Rodriguez will find his way again.
CJ ABRAMS, Citizen
June 30, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) steals second base from Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jose Caballero (7) in the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports The Braves’ Michael Harris II seems deserving of this spot, but we’ll give Abrams the nod for showing continued improvement so far. In 2022, Abrams posted a .604 OPS in the major leagues over 90 games while navigating a trade from the Padres to the Nationals.
If the change, or the pressure to be part of the group tasked with replacing Juan Soto, was a problem, Abrams didn’t show it. In his first full season with the Nationals in 2023, he posted a .712 OPS. That increased to .831 before the season break and his first All-Star nod. Like Witt, Abrams has several tools at his disposal, suggesting a long and successful career.
25 And in the Hall of Fame HONOR
Michael Harris II, Braves; Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks; Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles; Elly De La Cruz, Reds; Anthony Volpe, Yankees; Gabriel Moreno, Diamondbacks; Triston Casas, Red Sox; Matt McLain, Reds; Riley Greene, Tigers
