10 MLB Players Primed for a Home Run Surge in 2024

The MLB ranks are littered with established power hitters, but there are always at least a few newcomers to the home run leaderboard each year.

Jake Burger (34 HR), Isaac Paredes (31 HR), Spencer Torkelson (31 HR), Brent Rooker (30 HR), Gunnar Henderson (28 HR), Lane Thomas (28 HR), Jack Suwinski (26 HR) and Francisco Álvarez (25 HR) were some of the notable players to reach new heights in home run production in 2023.

So, who's next?

We've highlighted 10 players who have never reached 20 home runs in a single season but could be poised to take a significant step forward in 2024.

Players were selected based on minor league track records, big league production and projected playing time. Included is a quick prediction for each player's 2024 home run total.

Luis Campusano, San Diego Padres

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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres bats against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum on September 16, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 7

Luis Campusano was the first catcher selected in the 2017 draft, and he earned a spot on the Baseball America Top 100 prospect list three years in a row in 2020, 2021 and 2022 while putting up strong offensive numbers every step of the way in the minors.

The 25-year-old has spent the last few seasons behind Austin Nola on the depth chart, and he also split time with Gary Sánchez last season after Nola was demoted to the minors, but he now has a clear path to the starting catcher job ahead of trade pickup Kyle Higashioka.

Campusano hit .331/.375/.500 with six home runs and 28 RBI in 152 plate appearances after the All-Star break in 2023, and with 400 plate appearances a 20-homer season is well within reach.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 20

Jazz Chisholm Jr., Miami Marlins

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 03: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #2 of the Miami Marlins at bat during the NL Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Phillies on October 3, 2023 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 19

Since slugging 18 home runs in 124 games as a rookie in 2021, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has had a tough time staying healthy, but he has been extremely productive when he has managed to take the field.

In 157 games and 625 plate appearances over the past two years—roughly the equivalent of one fully healthy season—he has posted a 117 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 33 home runs, 97 RBI, 90 runs scored and 34 steals.

With full seasons of Jake Burger and Josh Bell to help provide some added production in the lineup, the 25-year-old looks like a prime candidate for a career year if he can just stay upright.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 28

Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 26, 2023: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 13

With a 6'5", 200-pound frame, elite speed, light-tower power and a rocket arm, Elly De La Cruz made his MLB debut on June 6 with as much hype as any prospect in years.

The 22-year-old ultimately hit just .235/.300/.410 for an 89 OPS+ while logging a 33.7 percent strikeout rate, so there is work to be done refining his offensive game, but he also filled up the stat sheet with 15 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs and 35 steals in 98 games.

With strong showings in average exit velocity (79th percentile) and hard-hit rate (75th percentile), it's not hard to envision him developing into a perennial 30-homer threat once he improves his eye at the plate. How much improvement will we see in his second season?

2024 Home Run Prediction: 25

Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies

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DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning at Coors Field on September 17, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 1

Fans outside Colorado might not be familiar with the name Hunter Goodman, and with one career home run in the majors he might seem like an odd choice for this list, but don't be surprised if he's launching balls out of Coors Field all season.

The 24-year-old posted a 1.079 OPS with 21 home runs in 56 games during his junior season at the University of Memphis before going in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, and he has been one of minor league baseball's best power hitters in his two full seasons of pro ball.

• 2022 (A/A+/AA): 135 G, .926 OPS, 33 2B, 36 HR, 106 RBI
• 2023 (AA/AAA): 106 G, .919 OPS, 30 2B, 34 HR, 111 RBI

Unless the Rockies add a veteran corner outfielder late in the offseason, he looks like a prime candidate to break camp with a starting job alongside Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle, with Charlie Blackmon serving as the team's primary designated hitter.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 27

Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers

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SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 04, 2022: Colt Keith #56 of the Salt River Rafters hits a home run during a game against the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on November 4, 2022 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 0

Colt Keith established himself as one of baseball's top offensive prospects during the 2023 season, hitting .306/.380/.552 with 38 doubles, 27 home runs and 101 RBI in 126 games in the upper levels of the minors.

The 22-year-old has yet to make his MLB debut, but the Detroit Tigers have not been shy about putting their top prospects on the Opening Day roster in the past, and he should have every opportunity to beat out the likes of Zach McKinstry, Matt Vierling, Andy Ibáñez and Nick Maton for playing time.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter is the early favorite for AL Rookie of the Year honors, but his game is more about gap power and on-base ability. Don't be surprised if Keith ends up leading all rookies in long balls.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 29

Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 11: Royce Lewis #23 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after hitting a home run during game four of the Division Series against the Houston Astros on October 11, 2023 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 15

Since going No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft, Royce Lewis has struggled to stay healthy long enough to showcase his tremendous potential, but it was finally on full display over the last two months of the 2023 season and into the playoffs.

The 24-year-old returned from an oblique injury on Aug. 15 and hit .295/.386/.607 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 140 plate appearances over his final 32 games. He then homered four times in six games in the AL Wild Card Series and AL Division Series, ending the season on a high note.

There is legitimate 30-homer potential in his bat if he can find a way to stay on the field for 140 games.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 33

Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Los Angeles Angels Catcher Logan O'Hoppe (14) at the plate during a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels on September 22, 2023, at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 14

It looked like Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe was going to be a factor in the AL Rookie of the Year race when he hit .283/.339/.547 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 16 games to begin the season.

Instead, he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder on April 20 that cost him the better part of four months. After shaking off some initial rust upon returning in mid-August, he posted an .897 OPS with nine home runs in 101 plate appearances in September.

The 23-year-old had a 26-homer season at Double-A in 2022, so the track record is there to suggest he is capable of maintaining the power he showed in spurts during his rookie season over a full 162-game slate.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 24

Nelson Velázquez, Kansas City Royals

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 11: Nelson Velazquez #17 of the Kansas City Royals bats against the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 17

The Kansas City Royals acquired Nelson Velázquez from the Chicago Cubs in an under-the-radar trade deadline move that sent reliever José Cuas the other way, and he went on to post a 134 OPS+ with 14 home runs in 40 games after the trade.

All told, he homered 17 times in 162 at-bats in 2023, giving him a ridiculous 9.5 at-bats per home run ratio that led all hitters with at least 100 at-bats.

The 25-year-old's production was backed by elite batted-ball metrics, making it easier to buy the repeatability of his performance over a full season. If he does become a core member of the Kansas City offense, he is controllable all the way through the 2028 season.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 30

Mark Vientos, New York Mets

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Vientos #27 of the New York Mets hits a two run home run in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins during game one of a double header at Citi Field on September 27, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 9

Barring a late offseason addition, young sluggers Brett Baty and Mark Vientos are both primed to see regular playing time for the New York Mets during the 2024 season, despite less-than-stellar numbers during their rookie seasons.

Beneath the surface of his .211 average and 30.5 percent strikeout rate, Vientos quietly posted elite average exit velocity (92.5 mph) and hard-hit rate (51.0 percent) metrics, and he had a .739 OPS with six home runs in 93 plate appearances over the final month of the season.

The 24-year-old looks the part of a slugger with a strong 6'4", 220-pound frame, and he hit .306/.387/.612 with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and 50 RBI in 61 games at Triple-A during the 2023 season.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 26

Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals

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BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals prepares for a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 11, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

2023 HR Total: 16

With a 6'6", 245-pound frame and a polished hit tool that belies his age, Jordan Walker checks all the boxes to be a future superstar offensively, and he held his own as one of the youngest players in the majors in 2023.

The 21-year-old played his way onto the Opening Day roster, and while he spent the month of May back at Triple-A to assure he received regular playing time, he returned in June and spent the rest of the year as the team's primary right fielder.

His best month of the season came in September when he hit .304/.363/.490 with 10 extra-base hits in 113 plate appearances, and he has just scratched the surface of his tremendous power potential.

2024 Home Run Prediction: 27