MLB State of the Position 2024: Every Team's 5-Year Plan at First Base
Some of baseball's biggest stars call first base home, with Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson, Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and up-and-comers Triston Casas, Spencer Torkelson, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Nolan Schanuel represent the future at the position.
Ahead, we've broken down each team's present and future outlook at first base, highlighting their current starter and their top prospect, followed by a prediction for who will start for each of the next five seasons.
Included with each top prospect is his tier ranking based on where he slotted in Bleacher Report's 2024 farm system rankings.
Think of this as the team's five-year plan at the position.
Catch up on the State of the Position series: Shortstop, Third Base
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Present: Christian Walker (Age: 32)
A late-bloomer who flashed potential during a 29-homer, 73-RBI season in 2019, Walker has emerged as one of the most productive first basemen in the league. His 8.9 WAR over the last two years trailed only Freddie Freeman (12.4), Paul Goldschmidt (11.4) and Matt Olson (10.8) among all first basemen, and he is set to reach free agency for the first time after the 2024 season.
Future: Ivan Melendez (Tier 2)
Melendez won 2022 Golden Spikes honors when he hit .387/.508/.863 with 32 home runs and 94 RBI in 67 games at the University of Texas. A limited defensive profile and middling athleticism caused him to slip to the second round and he will go as far as his offensive game carries him. The 24-year-old posted a .923 OPS with 30 home runs in 96 games between High-A and Double-A in his first full professional season.
Five-Year Prediction: Walker (2024), Melendez (2025-28)
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Present: Matt Olson (Age: 29)
Olson inked an eight-year, $168 million extension after he was acquired from the Oakland Athletics prior to the 2022 season to replace longtime first baseman Freddie Freeman. After a solid first season in Atlanta, he exploded for a 54-homer, 139-RBI campaign in 2023 to set the franchise's single-season home run record and finish fourth in NL MVP balloting.
Future: David McCabe (Tier 3)
McCabe hit .386/.514/.784 with more walks (40) than strikeouts (28) during his junior season at UNC Charlotte before going in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. He hit .276/.386/.450 with 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 75 RBI in 123 games between Single-A and High-A in his first full pro season, and while he played exclusively third base, he could also fit at the other infield corner.
Five-Year Prediction: Olson (2024-28)
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Present: Ryan Mountcastle (Age: 26)
Mountcastle and breakout slugger Ryan O'Hearn platooned at first base during the 2023 season, and that will likely be how the position is handled once again to kick off the 2024 campaign. Mountcastle posted a 117 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 18 home runs and 68 RBI in 470 plate appearances last year, and he is controllable through 2026.
Future: Coby Mayo (Tier 1)
Mayo has played primarily third base in the minors, but with Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson expected to man the left side of the infield for the foreseeable future, his future is likely across the diamond at first base. The 22-year-old hit .290/.410/.564 with 45 doubles, 29 home runs and 99 RBI in 140 games in the upper levels of the minors last year, and he could debut early in 2024. Catcher Samuel Basallo could also wind up at first base with Adley Rutschman blocking his path.
Five-Year Prediction: Mountcastle (2024), Mayo (2025-28)
Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Present: Triston Casas (Age: 24)
After getting off to a slow start during his rookie season, Casas hit .317/.417/.617 with 15 home runs and 38 RBI in 54 games after the All-Star break. With a 6'5", 244-pound frame and a compact left-handed swing, he has the offensive tools to be a middle-of-the-order force for the next decade. He will not be arbitration-eligible for the first time until after the 2025 season, and he is under club control through 2028.
Future: Blaze Jordan (Tier 3)
A prolific slugger during his prep career, Jordan signed an above-slot $1.75 million deal as a third-round pick in the 2020 draft. The 21-year-old has split his time between first base and third base during his time in the minors, and his bat will be his ticket to the big leagues. In 122 games between High-A and Double-A, he hit .296/.351/.481 with 32 doubles, 18 home runs and 86 RBI in 2023.
Five-Year Prediction: Casas (2024-28)
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Present: Patrick Wisdom (Age: 32)
If the Chicago Cubs fail to re-sign Cody Bellinger, it will fall to some combination of Patrick Wisdom, Matt Mervis and newcomer Michael Busch to handle first base. Wisdom strikes out a ton and he hit just .205 over 302 plate appearances last year, but he has tremendous raw power and has averaged 37 home runs and 83 RBI per 162 games since 2021.
Future: Michael Busch (Tier 1)
Busch has nothing left to prove in the minors after hitting .323/.431/.618 with 27 home runs and 90 RBI in 98 games at Triple-A, and he was flipped to the Cubs in exchange for pitching prospect Jackson Ferris in January. Haydn McGeary is another name to watch after posting an .859 OPS with 19 home runs and 88 RBI in 124 games between High-A and Double-A last year.
Five-Year Prediction: Busch (2024-28)
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Present: Andrew Vaughn (Age: 25)
Vaughn still has work to do to live up to being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft, but he had a solid season at the plate in 2023 while shifting back to his natural position following the departure of José Abreu. He posted a 101 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 21 home runs and 80 RBI in a career-high 615 plate appearances, and he looks like one of the few viable building blocks on the South Siders roster. With club control through 2026, he could be an extension candidate if he takes another step forward.
Future: Tim Elko (Tier 3)
A 10th-round pick in 2022 following five seasons at Ole Miss, Elko is already 25 years old and has played just 34 games above the High-A level, so he has some work to do catching up to the developmental curve. He hit .295/.347/.527 with 25 doubles, 28 home runs and 106 RBI last season, but he also struck out 165 times in 131 games.
Five-Year Prediction: Vaughn (2024-28)
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Present: Jonathan India (Age: 27)
With Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz and Noelvi Marte poised to see regular action on the infield, India will be pushed to a super-utility role where he could see action at first base and in the outfield for the first time in his career. The 2021 NL Rookie of the Year looked like an obvious trade candidate heading into the offseason, and after missing time to injuries the past two seasons, he will be looking to rebuild his stock.
Future: Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Age: 24)
Acquired along with 2023 rookie standout Spencer Steer in the deal that sent Tyler Mahle to the Minnesota Twins at the 2022 deadline, Encarnacion-Strand can flat-out hit. He no longer qualifies as a prospect after tallying 222 at-bats in 2023, and he posted a 113 OPS+ with 13 home runs and 37 RBI in his first taste of the big leagues. There is legitimate 30-homer potential in his bat.
Five-Year Prediction: India (2024), Encarnacion-Stand (2025-28)
Cleveland Guardians
8 of 30
Present: Josh Naylor (Age: 26)
Naylor had a breakout season in 2022, and he was even better in 2023, hitting .308/.354/.489 for a 133 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 17 home runs, 97 RBI and 2.5 WAR in 121 games. With Josh Bell gone and top prospect Kyle Manzardo knocking on the door, he could be the team's primary designated hitter in 2024.
Future: Kyle Manzardo (Tier 2)
The Guardians acquired Manzardo at the 2023 trade deadline in a one-for-one swap that sent controllable starter Aaron Civale the other way. The 23-year-old took a step backward at the plate last season after a stellar 2022 campaign, but he still finished with an .802 OPS and 45 extra-base hits in 97 games while playing primarily at the Triple-A level. He will be given every opportunity to win a roster spot this spring, though he will need to be added to the 40-man roster if he does.
Five-Year Prediction: Manzardo (2024-28)
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Present: Kris Bryant (Age: 32)
Two seasons into his seven-year, $182 million contract, Bryant has played just 122 games and tallied minus-0.6 WAR in a Rockies uniform. Originally a third baseman who moved to the outfield, he will now make the shift to first base in an effort to stay on the field after a pair of injury-plagued seasons. It feels like a lot longer than seven-plus years since his 2016 NL MVP win.
Future: Michael Toglia (Age: 25)
The Rockies used first-round picks on Grant Lavigne (No. 42 overall in 2018) and Michael Toglia (No. 23 overall in 2019), but neither has shown any signs of living up to that draft position. Lavigne hit .227 with a .748 OPS and 142 strikeouts in 125 games at Double-A last season, while Toglia has seen sporadic MLB action the last two seasons and posted a 49 OPS+ with six home runs and 21 RBI in 272 plate appearances.
Five-Year Prediction: Bryant (2024-28)
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Present: Spencer Torkelson (Age: 24)
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Torkelson was expected to be an instant star for the Detroit Tigers. He hit just .203 with a 74 OPS+ and eight home runs in 404 plate appearances as a rookie in 2022 while getting demoted to the minors at midseason, but he took a massive step forward last year. The 24-year-old posted a 105 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 31 home runs and 94 RBI as one of the few productive hitters in a lackluster Detroit lineup. He is under club control through 2028.
Future: Justyn-Henry Malloy (Tier 3)
With Jace Jung viewed as the third baseman of the future, Henry-Malloy could find his way to the big leagues in a utility role, seeing time at both corner infield and corner outfield spots to get his bat in the lineup. He hit .277/.417/.474 with 25 doubles, 23 home runs, 83 RBI and 110 walks in 135 games at Triple-A in 2023.
Five-Year Prediction: Torkelson (2024-28)
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Present: José Abreu (Age: 37)
The Houston Astros signed Abreu to a three-year, $58.5 million contract last offseason following nine terrific seasons with the Chicago White Sox. It was a rocky transition, as he posted a career-worst 87 OPS+ while hitting .237/.296/.383 with 18 home runs and 90 RBI. He did post an .835 OPS with seven home runs and 28 RBI over the final month of the season, so there is reason for optimism he will rebound in 2024.
Future: Trey Cabbage (Tier 3)
The Astros acquired Cabbage in an under-the-radar offseason deal that sent pitcher Carlos Espinosa to the Los Angeles Angels. The 26-year-old is on the far end of the prospect scale in terms of age, but he hit .306/.379/.596 with 30 home runs and 32 steals in 107 games at Triple-A last season and could make an MLB impact in 2024.
Five-Year Prediction: Abreu (2024-25), Cabbage (2026-28)
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Present: Vinnie Pasquantino (Age: 26)
Pasquantino looked like a prime candidate for a breakout season in 2023 after posting a 135 OPS+ with 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 26 RBI and more walks (35) than strikeouts (34) in 72 games as a rookie. Instead, a torn labrum in his right shoulder limited him to 61 games, and that potential breakout performance was put on the back burner. With club control through 2028, there is still plenty of time for everything to click.
Future: Brett Squires (Tier 3)
Signed for $75,000 as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 draft, Squires began his pro career at Single-A and hit .263/.381/.430 with 21 doubles, 15 home runs, 69 RBI and 32 steals in 122 games. The 23-year-old will need to move quickly through the minors to avoid being a Quad-A guy, but his debut was promising.
Five-Year Prediction: Pasquantino (2024-28)
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Present: Brandon Drury (Age: 31)
Drury turned in a career year in his age-29 season in 2022, and parlayed that into a two-year, $17 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. He posted a 114 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 26 home runs and 83 RBI while splitting his time between second base (700.2 INN) and first base (291.0 INN). He will likely see most of his action at designated hitter in 2024, but he could still see action on the right side of the infield.
Future: Nolan Schanuel (Tier 1)
The Angels selected Schanuel with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2023 draft after he hit .447/.615/.868 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI in 59 games during his junior season at Florida Atlantic. Less than two months later, he made his MLB debut, and he posted a 103 OPS+ with 30 hits and 20 walks in 29 games. The 21-year-old has a clear path to the starting first base job in 2024.
Five-Year Prediction: Schanuel (2024-28)
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Present: Freddie Freeman (Age: 34)
Freeman is two seasons into a six-year, $162 million contract, and he could be putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career when he plays out his age-37 season in 2027. He hit .331/.410/.567 for a 161 OPS+ with 59 doubles, 29 home runs, 102 RBI and 6.5 WAR to finish third in NL MVP voting last season.
Future: Dalton Rushing (Tier 1)
With Will Smith entrenched as the Dodgers' starting catcher and Diego Cartaya also climbing the ladder in the farm system, Rushing could end up shifting to first base once he reaches the majors. The 22-year-old posted an .856 OPS with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 89 games during a full season at High-A, and he is a consensus Top 100 prospect heading into the 2024 season.
Five-Year Prediction: Freeman (2024-27), Rushing (2028)
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Present: Josh Bell (Age: 31)
Bell logged a 119 OPS+ with 11 home runs and 26 RBI in 53 games after he was traded to the Miami Marlins at the deadline, and he exercised his $16.5 million player option to return to the team in 2024. He has a 117 OPS+ in 4,023 plate appearances over eight seasons in the majors, and could provide a lackluster Marlins offense with a major boost.
Future: Jacob Berry (Tier 3)
Berry went No. 6 overall in the 2022 draft after hitting .370/.464/.630 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 53 games as a draft-eligible sophomore at LSU. The 22-year-old has hit just .236/.300/.382 through his first two seasons in the minors and his prospect stock has taken a hit, but he showed potential with a .770 OPS and seven extra-base hits in 17 games in the Arizona Fall League. Troy Johnston is another name to know in the upper levels of the minors.
Five-Year Prediction: Bell (2024), Berry (2025-28)
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Present: Rhys Hoskins (Age: 30)
Hoskins posted a 123 OPS+ with 30 home runs during the Philadelphia Phillies' surprise run to the 2022 World Series, but he missed his entire contract year recovering from a torn ACL suffered during spring training. Looking to rebuild his stock, he signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Brewers that includes an opt-out after the first season. In a market thin on impact bats, he could wind up being one of the steals of the offseason.
Future: Tyler Black (Tier 1)
With 2023 first-round pick Brock Wilken now viewed as the third baseman of the future, a move across the diamond to first base appears to be the likely path forward for Black. The 23-year-old developed into a top-tier prospect in 2023 when he hit .284/.417/.513 with 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBI and 55 steals in 123 games in the upper levels of the minors. He could push for an Opening Day roster spot this spring.
Five-Year Prediction: Hoskins (2024), Black (2025-28)
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Present: Alex Kirilloff (Age: 26)
Kirilloff has shown flashes of the potential that made him a first-round pick in 2016, including posting a 117 OPS+ with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 319 plate appearances this past season, but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. Veteran Carlos Santana was signed to a one-year, $5.25 million to provide some depth at the position, and he will likely see regular action at designated hitter.
Future: Aaron Sabato (Tier 3)
One of the best power hitters in the nation during his time at North Carolina, Sabato was chosen No. 27 overall in the 2020 draft. The 24-year-old has failed to make enough consistent contact to fully utilize his power so far in his pro career, but a .905 OPS with seven home runs in 18 games in the Arizona Fall League gives him some momentum heading into 2024.
Five-Year Prediction: Kirilloff (2024-27), Free Agent (2028)
New York Mets
18 of 30
Present: Pete Alonso (Age: 29)
Alonso has been one of baseball's elite power hitters since setting the single-season rookie record with 53 long balls in 2019 to win NL Rookie of the Year honors. He posted a 122 OPS+ with 46 home runs and 118 RBI in 2023, despite hitting just .217 with a lackluster .318 on-base percentage. With free agency looming after the 2024 season, he will be an extension candidate this spring.
Future: Ryan Clifford (Tier 1)
The Astros gave Clifford the equivalent of second-round money as an 11th-round pick in 2022, and he was one of baseball's biggest breakout prospects during his first full professional season. The 20-year-old posted an .854 OPS with 20 doubles, 24 home runs and 81 RBI in 115 games between Single-A and High-A, and the Mets acquired him at the deadline in the Justin Verlander blockbuster.
Five-Year Prediction: Alonso (2024-28)
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Present: Anthony Rizzo (Age: 34)
After posting a 130 OPS+ with 32 home runs during the 2022 season, Rizzo re-upped with the Yankees on a new two-year, $40 million deal last offseason. A concussion and the lasting effects limited him to 99 games last season, and he logged a middling 94 OPS+ with 12 home runs in 421 plate appearances when healthy. He has a $17 million club option for 2025 that carries a hefty $6 million buyout.
Future: Ben Rice (Tier 3)
The Yankees may have unearthed a late-round gem when they selected Rice in the 12th round of the 2021 draft out of Dartmouth. The 24-year-old is a bit behind the developmental curve, but after hitting .324/.434/.615 with 20 home runs in 73 games across three minor league levels while reaching Double-A, he has emerged as a legitimate prospect.
Five-Year Prediction: Rizzo (2024-25), Rice (2026-28)
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Present: Ryan Noda (Age: 27)
The Athletics claimed Noda off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2023 season, and he ended up being one of the most productive players on the roster. The bulk of his value came from his on-base ability, as he posted a .364 on-base percentage and 15.6 percent walk rate while adding 22 doubles, 16 home runs and 54 RBI in a 2.3-WAR season. Despite turning 28 in March, he is under team control through 2028.
Future: Tyler Soderstrom (Age: 22)
Soderstrom is no longer a prospect after spending a few months on the MLB roster last season, but he has a lot to prove after hitting .160/.232/.240 for a 36 OPS+ with 43 strikeouts in 138 plate appearances. A consensus Top 100 prospect at this time a year ago, he posted an .834 OPS with 21 home runs and 62 RBI in 77 games at Triple-A before he was promoted.
Five-Year Prediction: Noda (2024), Soderstrom (2025-28)
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Present: Bryce Harper (Age: 31)
In his return from Tommy John surgery, Harper played exclusively designated hitter and first base, and the longtime outfielder is now set to make the full time transition to first base following the departure of Rhys Hoskins in free agency. The two-time MVP has eight seasons and roughly $208 million remaining on the 13-year, $330 million deal he signed prior to the 2019 campaign.
Future: Carlos De La Cruz (Tier 3)
With a towering 6'8" frame, De La Cruz provides a huge target at first base, and he also saw time at all three outfield spots while spending the 2023 season at Double-A. The 24-year-old posted a .797 OPS with 25 doubles, 24 home runs and 67 RBI in 129 games, and he will need to provide more offensively to find a regular MLB role.
Five-Year Prediction: Harper (2024-28)
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Present: Rowdy Tellez (Age: 28)
The Pirates have done a nice job bargain hunting on the fringe of free agency in recent years, and Tellez fits the bill this offseason. The burly slugger signed a one-year, $3.2 million deal after he was non-tendered by the Milwaukee Brewers, and while he struggled this past season, he is just a year removed from posting a 113 OPS+ with 35 home runs in 153 games hitting in the middle of a contender's lineup.
Future: Garret Forrester (Tier 3)
Forrester hit .341/.485/.522 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 52 RBI in 61 games during his junior season at Oregon State before going in the third round of the 2023 draft. He has a 55-hit, 50-power offensive profile and the overall polish to move quickly through the minor league ranks, and while his defensive profile is limited, he could hit his way to the majors.
Five-Year Prediction: Tellez (2024), Free Agent (2025-26), Forrester (2027-28)
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Present: Jake Cronenworth (Age: 30)
An All-Star as a second baseman in 2021 and 2022, Cronenworth shifted to first base last season with the emergence of Ha-Seong Kim as an everyday player on the San Diego infield. His offensive game doesn't play as well at a corner spot, and he finished with a 92 OPS+ and 41 extra-base hits in a 1.0-WAR season following back-to-back 4-WAR campaigns. He signed a seven-year, $80 million extension last April that begins in 2024.
Future: Nathan Martorella (Tier 3)
In his first full professional season, Martorella hit .255/.361/.437 with 30 doubles, 19 home runs and 88 RBI in 135 games between High-A and Double-A. The 22-year-old walked 82 times at a 14.1 percent clip, and he still has some untapped power potential, so there is plenty of upside heading into 2024. He made 22 starts in left field in 2023 after playing exclusively first base in college.
Five-Year Prediction: Cronenworth (2024-25), Martorella (2026-28)
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Present: LaMonte Wade Jr. (Age: 30)
After filling a super-utility role in 2021 and 2022, Wade took over as the Giants primary first baseman last season following the departure of veteran Brandon Belt in free agency. He posted a 119 OPS+ with 33 extra-base hits and 2.7 WAR in 137 games, and the former Minnesota Twins prospect enters the season with two remaining years of club control.
Future: Bryce Eldridge (Tier 2)
The best two-way prospect in the 2023 draft class, Eldridge has a 50-hit, 60-power offensive profile, and he has been up to 96 mph with a plus slider on the mound. His 6'7", 223-pound frame might ultimately fit best at first base defensively, but his strong arm and solid athleticism also give him the potential to fit in right field.
Five-Year Prediction: Wade Jr. (2024-25), Eldridge (2026-28)
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Present: Ty France (Age: 29)
After a breakout season in 2021 and an All-Star selection in 2022, France took a step backward last year, posting a middling 99 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 12 home runs and 58 RBI in a 0.7-WAR season. The late-bloomer is controllable through the 2025 season, but after hearing his name surface in trade rumors last summer, it wouldn't be surprising to see him on the move before he hits the open market.
Future: Tyler Locklear (Tier 2)
Locklear hit .402/.542/.799 with 25 doubles, 20 home runs and 78 RBI In 62 games during his junior season at VCU before going in the second round of the 2022 draft, and he has continued to rake in pro ball. The 23-year-old had a .907 OPS and 39 extra-base hits in 85 games last season, then hit .285/.415/.473 with five doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI in 20 games in the Arizona Fall League. He could be ready for the majors by late 2024.
Five-Year Prediction: France (2024), Locklear (2025-28)
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Present: Paul Goldschmidt (Age: 36)
A future Hall of Famer coming off an NL MVP performance in 2022, Goldschmidt had another solid year for a disappointing Cardinals team last year, posting a 120 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 25 home runs and 80 RBI in a 3.4-WAR season. His 61.7 WAR for his career already ranks 15th all-time among first basemen, but his career is coming to a crossroads as he enters the final year of his five-year, $130 million contract with the Cardinals.
Future: Luken Baker (Age: 26)
Baker demolished Triple-A pitching last season, hitting .334/.440/.720 with 22 doubles, 33 home runs and 98 RBI in 84 games. He made his MLB debut in June and spent enough time on the active roster to exhaust his prospect eligibility, but he could head back to Triple-A in 2024 where he will provide some power-hitting depth. His 6'4", 280-pound frame limits him to first base and designated hitter duties. Former top prospect Jordan Walker is the more likely heir to Goldschmidt at first base.
Five-Year Prediction: Goldschmidt (2024), Walker (2025-28)
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Present: Yandy Díaz (Age: 32)
Díaz put together a productive under-the-radar season in 2022, then broke out on a national level last season when he hit .330/.410/.522 for a 158 OPS+ with 35 doubles, 22 home runs and 78 RBI in a 5.2-WAR campaign. He won the AL batting title, started the All-Star Game and finished sixth in AL MVP voting. The Rays signed him to a three-year, $24 million extension prior to last season that also includes a $12 million club option for 2026.
Future: Xavier Isaac (Tier 2)
Relative to pre-draft industry rankings, the Rays reached for Isaac with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2022 draft, but he has quickly developed into one of the organization's top offensive prospects. The 20-year-old hit .285/.395/.521 with 20 doubles, 19 home runs and 72 RBI in 102 games between Single-A and High-A last season, and there is still untapped power potential in his strong 6'3", 240-pound frame.
Five-Year Prediction: Díaz (2024-26), Isaac (2027-28)
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Present: Nathaniel Lowe (Age: 28)
Lowe used a red-hot second half during the 2022 season to win AL Silver Slugger honors, hitting .302/.358/.492 for a 139 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 27 home runs and 76 RBI in a 3.3-WAR season. He didn't quite match that level of production for the 2023 World Series champions, but still logged a 111 OPS+ and 2.6 WAR while winning his first Gold Glove. His arbitration eligibility runs through the 2026 season.
Future: Abimelec Ortiz (Tier 3)
Signed for $20,000 as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Ortiz sent his prospect stock soaring when he hit .294/.371/.619 with 20 doubles, 33 home runs and 101 RBI in 109 games between Single-A and High-A. He will go as far as his bat carries him, and he continued to impress in the Arizona Fall League where he logged a 1.060 OPS and three home runs in 50 plate appearances.
Five-Year Prediction: Lowe (2025-26), Ortiz (2027-28)
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Present: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Age: 24)
Guerrero is still chasing his MVP-caliber 2021 campaign when he hit .311/.401/.601 with 48 home runs and 111 RBI in a 6.7-WAR season to finish runner-up to Shohei Ohtani in the balloting. That said, he is also still only 24 years old and has made three straight All-Star appearances as a middle-of-the-order slugger. With free agency fast approaching after the 2025 season, a potential extension will be a focal point this spring.
Future: Spencer Horwitz (Tier 3)
Horwitz has little left to prove in the minors after hitting .337/.450/.495 with 30 doubles, 10 home runs and 72 RBI in 107 games at Triple-A in 2023. He saw regular action in left field and also made three starts at second base last season, and that versatility could be the key to finding a regular role on the MLB roster.
Five-Year Prediction: Guerrero Jr. (2024-28)
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Present: Joey Meneses (Age: 31)
Meneses hit .324/.367/.563 and posted a 164 OPS+ with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 56 games after finally making his MLB debut as a 30-year-old down the stretch in 2023. He hit .275/.321/.401 with 36 doubles, 13 home runs and 89 RBI in 154 games hitting in the middle of a rebuilding lineup last season, and despite his age, he is under club control all the way through the 2028 season.
Future: Yohandy Morales (Tier 2)
One of college baseball's most offensive players in 2023, Morales hit .408/.475/.713 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI in 61 games during his junior season at the University of Miami. The 22-year-old continued to impress in his pro debut, hitting .349/.423/.494 across four levels while closing out the year at Triple-A. He played third base in college, but with Brady House penciled in as the future at the hot corner, he could wind up across the diamond at first.
Five-Year Prediction: Meneses (2024-25), Morales (2026-28)
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