The 2024 MLB season is in full swing with the Yankees continuing their strong start that sees them approach 30 wins already. Their recent display beating the Minnesota Twins at Target Field demonstrated the quality of New York’s baseball this year in the American League, while the Phillies have started the National League strong in hopes of reaching the World Series for the first time since their defeat to Houston in 2022.
Both sides, as well as the LA Dodgers, have demonstrated their ability to incorporate youth into their team. Dave Roberts has been able to get the best out of compatriot Shohei Ohtani so far this season, and many pitchers have been left in awe of the Japanese international’s contribution in their win over the San Francisco Giants, while 24-year-old Heliot Ramos, unable to help his team overturn the deficit, still hit an RBI single in the sixth to play his part at such a young age.
There are plenty of other talented under-25s across the MLB roster. Read on, as we take a look at some of the best in the league so far this season.
Eury Pérez – Miami Marlins
A great pitcher is a dying art amongst rookies in MLB but Miami Marlins talented Eury Pérez is breaking that mould, and the 21-year-old is deceptively athletic for a man of his size. Standing at six feet, eight inches tall, the man Mountain was the second-youngest player to appear in an MLB game last season, and is posting elite numbers despite such a young age.
He has dealt with a lot of injuries this year, particularly a frequent elbow injury that has affected some performance before prematurely ending his season for surgery, joining Trevor Rogers, Ryan Weathers and reliever-turned-starter A.J. Puk. on the sidelines.
“I know Eury is really frustrated,” Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said. “He’s really disappointed, but he also understands that this is a minor setback in what’s going to be a really long career.”
The Marlins are rooted 5th in the NL at the time of writing but the good work of Pérez has perhaps not been appreciated as much due to their rut, particularly away from home which is something Skip Schumaker will have been disappointed with.
Gabriel Moreno – Arizona Diamondbacks
When the Diamondbacks splashed the cash last offseason by committing Corbin Carroll to an eight-year, $111 million extension, it was a true statement of intent. As good as the 23-year-old has been, the work of catcher Gabriel Moreno has surely gone under the radar.
After making his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 before being traded to the Diamondbacks during the 2022–23 offseason, he was touted as an outsider for MVP towards the end of 2023 with some of the best MLB betting sites online and at just 24 he forms a strong partnership with Chris Snyder in an exciting Diamondbacks locker room that can compete with the Dodgers if they find more consistent form.
Bobby Witt Jr. – Kansas City Royals
The Royals won four of their last five games and are in a great position so far this season, sitting just a half-game out of the AL Central lead. A large part of that is down to star man Bobby Witt Jr. who took a significant step forward in his second big league season, and this year, after beginning the campaign in the top seven amongst odds to win AL MVP, Witt Jr. has improved all season and now sits just behind Juan Soto of the Yankees. He was selected second overall by the Royals in the 2019 draft and his progress year on year will inevitably see the 23-year-old become one of the best shortstop batters in the league.
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We have failed to mention plenty of other talents, including the likes of Evan Carter, Triston Casas, and Matt McLain, who are all enjoying fantastic individual seasons across their respective sides. It will also be exciting to see the players who return from their injuries towards the end of the MLB campaign and into the post-season, with Zack Gelof looking back to his best after being limited to just 60 appearances in 2023. Overall, the league has a plethora of great young talent worth keeping an eye on.
