MLB's 25 Best Players Under 25 Years Old in 2023
With Ronald Acuña Jr., Bo Bichette, Austin Riley, Luis Robert, Yordan Alvarez, Alek Manoah, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Triston McKenzie and several others all already 25 years old or set to turn that age before Opening Day, our 25 best under 25 list looks significantly different than it did a year ago.
There are still some high-profile holdovers, led by Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wander Franco, and they are joined by standout 2022 rookies Michael Harris II, Spencer Strider and Bobby Witt Jr. and several other breakout performers.
Ahead, we've ranked the 25 best players under 25 years old entering the 2023 season, based on a combination of production to date and future outlook.
The age cutoff for inclusion is March 30, 2023, which is Opening Day, and only players with MLB experience were considered for a spot in the rankings. However, you can expect to see a few more exciting young names added to this list with several of the game's top prospects knocking on the door.
For now, here are the 25 best under 25.
Honorable Mentions
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Hitters
SS CJ Abrams, WAS
C Francisco Álvarez, NYM
3B Brett Baty, NYM
1B Triston Casas, BOS
IF Luis Garcia, WAS
IF Nolan Gorman, STL
OF Riley Greene, DET
OF Jarred Kelenic, SEA
C/OF MJ Melendez, KC
OF Garrett Mitchell, MIL
C Logan O'Hoppe, LAA
SS Oswald Peraza, NYY
C Keibert Ruiz, WAS
OF Alek Thomas, ARI
IF Miguel Vargas, LAD
Pitchers
LHP Aaron Ashby, MIL
RHP Brayan Bello, BOS
RHP Matt Brash, SEA
RHP Cade Cavalli, WAS
RHP Roansy Contreras, PIT
LHP MacKenzie Gore, WAS
RHP Brusdar Graterol, LAD
Nos. 25-21
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25. IF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera, New York Yankees (Age: 24)
Cabrera has made multiple starts at all four infield positions and both corner outfield spots since making his MLB debut on Aug. 17. He logged a 109 OPS+ with 15 extra-base hits and 1.9 WAR in 44 games, and he should continue to be a valuable super-utility player who can line up all over the diamond in the coming years.
24. RHP Hunter Brown, Houston Astros (Age: 24)
Brown pitched his way onto the postseason roster last year with a 0.89 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings as a September call-up, and he tossed another 3.2 scoreless innings in the playoffs. With Lance McCullers Jr. sidelined with a muscle strain in his elbow, Brown has a clear path to an Opening Day rotation spot.
23. 3B Jose Miranda, Minnesota Twins (Age: 24)
After hitting .344/.401/.572 with 30 home runs in the upper levels of the minors in 2021, Miranda emerged as a key middle-of-the-order bat for the Twins last year after Miguel Sanó was lost for the year. He posted a 116 OPS+ with 15 home runs and 66 RBI in 125 games as a rookie, and he is expected to settle in as the everyday third baseman in 2023.
22. 1B Andrew Vaughn, Chicago White Sox (Age: 24)
Vaughn turns 25 years old just a few days after Opening Day on April 2, but he still qualifies for inclusion in these rankings. Poor outfield defense has dragged down his overall value the past two seasons, but he had a 111 OPS+ with 17 home runs and 76 RBI in 134 games last year. Now he moves back to his natural position of first base after José Abreu departed in free agency.
21. IF Isaac Paredes, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 24)
Acquired from Detroit in exchange for Austin Meadows just before Opening Day last year, Paredes ended up tying for Tampa Bay's team lead with 20 home runs in 381 plate appearances. He hit just .205 with a .304 on-base percentage, so there is work to do refining his approach, but his power and versatility make him a valuable young player.
Nos. 20-16
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20. LHP Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 23)
Detmers was one of the first players from the 2020 draft class to reach the majors when he made his MLB debut on Aug. 1, 2021, and he became a regular member of the starting rotation this past season. The left-hander posted a 3.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 129 innings, and he tossed a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10.
19. SS Vaughn Grissom, Atlanta Braves (Age: 22)
Grissom had eight multi-hit performances in his first 14 games, and he closed out his rookie season with a 121 OPS+ and 11 extra-base hits in 156 plate appearances. An injury to Ozzie Albies forced him into action at second base last year, and he will now take over as Atlanta's starting shortstop after Dansby Swanson walked in free agency.
18. IF/OF Christopher Morel, Chicago Cubs (Age: 23)
Morel showed a nice mix of power, speed and versatility last season when he posted a 107 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 16 home runs, 47 RBI, 55 runs scored and 10 steals in 113 games. He made double-digit starts at second base, shortstop, third base and in center field, and he is expected to be the primary guy at the hot corner in 2023.
17. OF Dylan Carlson, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 24)
Carlson finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2021 when he posted a 115 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 18 home runs and 3.3 WAR in 149 games. He missed time with thumb and hamstring injuries last year and his production dipped as a result, but the tools are all still there for him to be a star in center field.
16. RHP Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 23)
Greene averaged 98.9 mph with his fastball last season and finished with a 4.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 164 strikeouts in 125.2 innings. The 6'5" right-hander has some of the best pure stuff in baseball, and he finished his rookie season on a high note with a 0.78 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 23 innings over his final four starts.
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Nos. 15-11
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15. IF Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles (Age: 21)
Henderson forced his way onto the MLB roster with a breakout season in the minors, and he logged a 123 OPS+ with 12 extra-base hits and 0.9 WAR in 34 games. He played primarily third base while also making a handful of starts at second base and shortstop, and his mix of advanced hit tool, power and on-base ability makes him the AL Rookie of the Year front-runner.
14. OF Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age: 22)
Carroll sent his prospect stock soaring with a stellar offensive season in the upper levels of the minors, and he had a 133 OPS+ with 15 extra-base hits and 1.2 WAR in 32 games after making his MLB debut on Aug. 29. The D-backs saw enough that they are already exploring a long-term extension.
13. RHP Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins (Age: 24)
Cabrera allowed just 44 hits in 71.2 innings for a .177 opponents' batting average, posting a 3.01 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 75 strikeouts along the way. He threw his changeup more and his fastball less as the season progressed, and finding the best way to utilize his electric five-pitch mix will be the key to fulfilling his vast potential.
12. SS Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 24)
Cruz had the hardest-hit ball of the year (122.4 mph) and ranked among the MLB leaders in sprint speed (98th percentile) and arm strength (97th percentile). The 6'7" shortstop finished with a 107 OPS+ and 17 home runs in 87 games last year, and improving on his 34.9 percent strikeout rate and .294 on-base percentage will be the next step in his development.
11. RHP Andrés Muñoz, Seattle Mariners (Age: 24)
Finally healthy last season, Muñoz was one of baseball's most dominant relievers last season, posting a 2.49 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 13.3 K/9 with four saves and 22 holds in 64 appearances. With a fastball averaging 100.2 mph and a wipeout slider that generated a 50.8 percent whiff rate, he should be one of baseball's premier bullpen arms for years to come.
10. SS Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
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Age: 22
Bobby Witt Jr. entered the 2022 season as one of the top prospects in baseball, and he broke camp with a starting job on the Kansas City Royals infield.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, he posted a 102 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 20 home runs, 80 RBI, 82 runs scored and 30 steals, becoming just the fifth rookie in MLB history with a 20-homer, 30-steal season.
Poor defensive metrics at shortstop (-18 DRS, -8.4 UZR/150) and a middling .294 on-base percentage undercut his overall value, but he has all the tools to be a superstar and the face of the franchise.
9. C Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
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Age: 24
Alejandro Kirk was one of the biggest breakout stars of 2022, hitting .285/.372/.415 for a 126 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 14 home runs and 63 RBI in a 3.9-WAR season.
He earned the starting nod behind the plate in the All-Star Game, and aside from his stellar offensive production, he also only allowed one passed ball, threw out a respectable 26 percent of base stealers and ranked among the top pitch-framers in baseball.
With Danny Jansen and Daulton Varsho also on the Toronto roster, he will likely see regular action at designated hitter once again to keep him fresh and maximize his offensive production.
8. 2B Andrés Giménez, Cleveland Guardians
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Age: 24
Andrés Giménez entered the 2022 season with a tenuous grasp on the starting second base job after he hit just .218/.282/.351 for a 74 OPS+ with 0.8 WAR in 68 games after coming to Cleveland in the Francisco Lindor blockbuster.
He wound up finishing sixth in AL MVP voting, hitting .297/.371/.466 for a 141 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 17 home runs, 69 RBI, 66 runs scored and 20 steals while also walking away with Gold Glove honors.
His 7.4 WAR led all second basemen and ranked fourth among all position players, trailing only Aaron Judge (10.6), Nolan Arenado (7.9) and Paul Goldschmidt (7.8). What will he do for an encore in 2023?
7. RHP Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
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Age: 24
Spencer Strider began the 2022 season in the Atlanta Braves bullpen, tossing two perfect innings with five strikeouts on Opening Day.
He eventually moved into the starting rotation at the end of May and finished with a 2.67 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 131.2 innings spanning 20 starts and 11 relief appearances to finish runner-up to teammate Michael Harris II in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
With a fastball that averaged 98.2 mph and a lethal slider that limited opposing hitters to a .139 batting average with a 52.2 percent whiff rate, he managed to keep hitters off-balance despite being essentially a two-pitch pitcher.
6. CF Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
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Age: 22
The Atlanta Braves promoted Michael Harris II straight to the majors from Double-A at the end of May, and he ended up running away with NL Rookie of the Year honors over teammate Spencer Strider and St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan.
Harris hit .297/.339/.514 for a 135 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 64 RBI, 75 runs scored and 20 steals in 22 attempts.
His 5.3 WAR ranked fourth on an Atlanta Braves team that won 101 games, behind only Austin Riley (6.5), Max Fried (5.9) and Dansby Swanson (5.7), despite the fact that he only played in 114 games.
After hitting primarily ninth in the batting order as a rookie, he will now be asked to step into a more prominent role offensively.
5. SS Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays
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Age: 22
With 153 career big league games under his belt, Wander Franco has essentially played the equivalent of one full season's worth of games over the past two years.
During that time, he has hit .282/.337/.439 for a 122 OPS+ with 38 doubles, 13 home runs, 72 RBI, 99 runs scored, 10 steals and 6.1 WAR, though he missed significant time last year with a quad strain and a fractured hamate bone.
The young phenom hit .322/.381/.471 over the final month of the season after nearly two months on the injured list, and the breakout everyone was expecting going into 2022 could still be right around the corner.
The Depth Charts projections at FanGraphs peg him as a top-20 player in terms of WAR for the upcoming season.
4. OF Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
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Age: 24
Fernando Tatis Jr. spent the entire 2022 season watching from the sidelines, first with a fractured wrist and then while serving an 80-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy.
He still has 20 games remaining on that suspension, so he won't be part of the Opening Day lineup, but before the end of April he will join a San Diego Padres lineup that also features Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth.
When he last took the field, Tatis hit .282/.364/.611 for a 166 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 42 home runs, 97 RBI, 99 runs scored and 25 steals in 130 games to finish third in NL MVP balloting and take home Silver Slugger honors.
The expectation is that he will shift to being a full-time outfielder once he returns following the offseason addition of Bogaerts. After a 21-error season in 2021, that move could be for the best.
3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
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Age: 24
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had an MVP-caliber season in 2021 when he hit .311/.401/.601 for an AL-leading 167 OPS+ with 48 home runs, 111 RBI and 6.8 WAR to finish runner-up to Shohei Ohtani in the AL balloting.
He fell short of matching that level of production last year but remained one of the game's best young run producers, posting a 132 OPS+ with 35 doubles, 32 home runs and 97 RBI in 160 games.
On top of his offensive contributions, he also won the AL Gold Glove at first base, a position he just started playing a few years ago after debuting as a third baseman.
He has three years of club control remaining, but the Blue Jays could start extension talks this spring. Guerrero told reporters in September that he is open to a long-term deal to stay in Toronto, and he is undoubtedly a franchise cornerstone.
2. CF Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
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Age: 22
Julio Rodríguez played his way onto the Opening Day roster last spring and helped the Seattle Mariners snap a postseason drought that stretched all the way back to Ichiro Suzuki's rookie season in 2001.
The young five-tool talent hit .284/.345/.509 for a 147 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 28 home runs, 75 RBI, 84 runs scored and 25 steals while also providing standout defense in center field on his way to a 6.2-WAR debut.
The next step in his development will be improving on a 25.9 percent strikeout rate and 7.1 percent walk rate. If his minor-league track record is any indication, he is capable of making strides in both areas.
The Mariners locked him up with a long-term extension in August, and he checks all the boxes to be one of the faces of baseball for the next decade.
1. OF Juan Soto, San Diego Padres
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Age: 24
Juan Soto posted a 149 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 27 home runs and 5.6 WAR in 153 games with the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres last season, and it was regarded by many to be a disappointing season.
That speaks volumes to the reputation he has established at such a young age.
Despite hitting just .242 last season, he still finished with a .401 on-base percentage and an MLB-leading 135 walks against just 96 strikeouts, and he did it while spending most of the season with limited protection in the Nationals lineup.
Now he will serve as a key cog in a stacked Padres lineup, and even if teams continue to pitch around him, his mix of elite on-base ability and 30-homer power potential make him one of the truly elite offensive players in the game.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs.
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