Baltimore Orioles superstar Gunnar Henderson swings the bat. PHOTO USA Today Sports Images Like volcanoes rising from the ocean, the newest crop of baseball superstars are so good that they are drawing attention to areas with less attention than in recent years.
These days, games in Baltimore, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Seattle and Cincinnati have more eyes on them than they have in years. And it is not just the individual play creating a reason to watch; it is the often stellar team play that is being generated.
As legends Todd Helton, Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer are enshrined in the Hall of Fame this weekend, we’re peering far in the distance.
There are no guarantees of sustained success, but as the 2024 season hits the final two months, here are five players age 25 or under who stand out as potential Cooperstown inductees.
GUNNAR HENDERSON, Baltimore Orioles
There are many reasons why the young Orioles have risen to one of the best teams in baseball, and Henderson is at the top of the list. A rookie-of-the-year award in 2023 was deserving, and this year has been 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 who exceeded Henderson’s 6.1 WAR at the break was Aaron Judge.
BOBBY WITT JR., Kansas City Royals
Jul 19, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) celebrates with team mates after the win over the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports He has baseball pedigree from his father, a pitcher, while his son has developed into a do-everything shortstop. Witt inherited his dad’s arm and then further made his game his own with speed, a glove to envy, the ability to make contact, and sneaky power that helped him to a runner-up finish 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 Royals faithful, Witt is signed through 2034, making him a player to build around.
PAUL SKENES, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jul 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 does not make a Hall of Famer, but if any rookie pitcher has shown he has the stuff to reach Cooperstown one day, it is Skenes. Consistent fastballs at 102 mph do not exactly suggest longevity, but the big-bodied Skenes is not some concoction from a mechanics lab.
After 11 starts, Skenes was not only an All-Star; he was the National League’s starter. He not only has delivered on his promise as the No. 1 selection in last year’s draft, but he now has the intimidation factor to add to his repertoire.
JULIO RODRIGUEZ, Seattle Mariners
Jul 3, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) stands in the dugout following 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 through 97 games before the All-Star break and a .690 OPS.
What has gone wrong this season? Opposing pitchers have a better plan of attack now with cutters on the hands, while Rodriguez is hitting fewer balls on the barrel. When he does make solid contact, he is hitting the ball as hard as ever. As long as he doesn’t get discouraged, Rodriguez will find his way again.
CJ ABRAMS, Nationals
Jun 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 is just as deserving in this spot, but we’ll give Abrams the nod for showing continued improvement so far. In 2022, Abrams delivered 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 of being part of a group tasked with replacing Juan Soto, was an issue, Abrams hasn’t shown it. In his first full season with the Nationals in 2023, he delivered a .712 OPS. That increased to .831 before the break this season and his first All-Star nod. Like Witt, Abrams has a number of tools at his disposal, suggesting a long and successful career.
25 AND UNDER HALL OF FAME HONORABLE MENTIONS
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
