The Most Improved Player on Every MLB Roster in 2024
If you're feeling a certain sort of suspicion about certain players as the 2024 MLB season inches closer to its midway point, it's not just you.
There really is something different about some guys around the league, and in a good way.
What we're going to do here is shout out the most improved player on every MLB roster. This isn't about breakout rookies or veterans making successful comebacks. It's about guys who are making all of us think, "Huh, I didn't think he had this in him."
All sorts of stats are useful in a discussion like this, but it seemed instructive to zero in on one "telling stat" for each player. Some are more basic than others, but they all sum up what is different about them relative to the 2023 season.
We'll proceed in alphabetical order by city and check off three teams at a time.
Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta, Baltimore Orioles
1 of 10
Arizona Diamondbacks: RF Jake McCarthy
Telling Stat: From a .644 OPS to a .784 OPS
With respect to relievers Ryan Thompson and Justin Martinez, both of whom have sub-1.00 ERAs, can anyone honestly say they had McCarthy as one of Arizona's best hitters in 2024?
To be fair, he did have a good rookie year in 2022. Yet even relative to that season, he's been having superior at-bats (i.e., a 0.6 BB/K ratio) and not merely punishing right-handers. The lefty swinger is batting .400 against lefty pitchers.
Atlanta: RHP Reynaldo López
Telling Stat: From 0 GS, 3.27 ERA to 13 GS, 1.57 ERA
Improvement hasn't been a major theme of Atlanta's season, and to even call what López is doing improvement is arguably a mischaracterization. It's more of a metamorphosis.
Still, the righty was never nearly this good during his previous turn as a starter in 2018 and 2019. He's been liking his slider, as well he should given it's never been so valuable as it is in 2024.
Baltimore Orioles: 3B Jordan Westburg
Telling Stat: From a .715 OPS to an .833 OPS
This spot should, arguably, belong to veteran lefty Cole Irvin, who's reduced his ERA by basically a run and a half from last season. But since some of his underlying metrics suggest he's getting away with too much, let's talk about Westburg instead.
After all, what's not to like about a 118-point OPS increase? And this one is legit, as key figures like Westburg's strikeout rate, exit velocity and launch angle have all taken turns for the better.
Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
2 of 10
Boston Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck
Telling Stat: From a 5.01 ERA to a 2.08 ERA
I won't lie. When Houck scored a spot in Boston's rotation in spring training, I didn't think it would last. He was too vulnerable against lefty batters, and his M.O. as a starter in 2023 was only being good in his first trip through the order.
He's a different pitcher on both fronts in 2024. An improved splitter has helped him limit lefties to a .486 OPS, and he's gone at least six innings in all but two of his 14 starts. He'll have Cy Young votes coming his way if he keeps this up.
Chicago Cubs: RHP Javier Assad
Telling Stat: From a 20.9 K% to a 23.7 K%
The Cubs don't offer much of a selection for this exercise, and even settling on Assad feels like cheating. His 2.75 ERA is impressive, but not that much of a step up from the 3.06 ERA he had across 2022 and 2023.
Assad is nonetheless improving as a strikeout artist, in part because his curveball is now a weapon. He's already racked up 20 punchouts with it, or four times as many as it got in 2023.
Chicago White Sox: LHP Garrett Crochet
Telling Stat: From 0 career GS to 16 GS, 3.25 ERA
Like with Reynaldo López, this is another metamorphosis situation. Crochet always had a good arm. The only difference in 2024 is how that good arm is being used.
Nonetheless, you have to hand it to the guy for just how smoothly he's made the transition from relieving to starting. He's notably been consistent with his mid-to-high 90s fastball, though it's also just one tool with which he's racked up an AL-leading 124 strikeouts.
Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies
3 of 10
Cincinnati Reds: SS Elly De La Cruz
Telling Stat: From a .300 OBP to a .334 OBP
De La Cruz was, of course, a sensation as a rookie in 2023. But the hype mostly wasn't as good as the reality, and especially so amid a dismal stretch after the All-Star break.
An MLB-leading 97 strikeouts show there's still volatility to De La Cruz's game, but he also has more walks (36) this year as he did in all of 2023. He's also already up to five Outs Above Average, though better commentaries have been made on his defense.
Cleveland Guardians: UTIL David Fry
Telling Stat: From a .734 OPS to a .960 OPS
How has Fry gone from being a 27-year-old nobody to a major player on a top contender? Mostly by stringing together much better at-bats, as he's in the 96th percentile for walk rate and in the 7st for strikeout rate.
It also doesn't hurt that the Guardians can put Fry basically anywhere they please. He's thus far started games at catcher, first base, left field, right field and designated hitter.
Colorado Rockies: SS Ezequiel Tovar
Telling Stat: From a .408 SLG to a .477 SLG
Tovar had a solid rookie season in 2023, but it was in the mold of an unexciting throwback. A slick-fielding but light-hitting shortstop? That's an oldie but goodie from the days before Cal Ripken Jr.
But now Tovar isn't a light-hitting type anymore. And don't put it on Coors Field, as his road slugging percentage is up from .377 to .516. Sometimes adding power really is as simple as getting more lift on more batted balls.
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Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals
4 of 10
Detroit Tigers: LF Riley Greene
Telling Stat: From an 8.4 BB% to a 12.5 BB%
This spot would look better on Tarik Skubal...if only he wasn't also awesome in 2023. Frankly, there hasn't been a better pitcher across the last 365 days.
So, minorly obsessing over Greene's approach advancements it is. His walk rate improvement is easily traced back to more selective swings, resulting in him becoming the most well-rounded hitter in an otherwise bleak lineup.
Houston Astros: RHP Ronel Blanco
Telling Stat: From a .251 AVG to a .164 AVG
Among qualified pitchers, only Luis Gil has held opposing hitters to a lower average than Blanco. He has the one complete no-hitter, and his last start saw him make a run at another with seven no-hit innings.
It all still feels a little bonkers, but the basic truth is nobody can hit his primary pitches. The averages against his four-seamer, slider and changeup are all in the .100s.
Kansas City Royals: RHP Alec Marsh
Telling Stat: From a 5.69 ERA to a 3.63 ERA
As its ERA has dropped by a run and a half from 2023, Kansas City's entire pitching staff is a success story. But even if he's not one of the main players, Marsh is an overlooked part.
He's mostly been reliable in his 12 starts, in part because he's cut his walk rate from 11.4 to 7.3. He's also turned his changeup into an effective tool against lefties, who are hitting .179 against it after crushing it for a .415 average last year.
Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins
5 of 10
Los Angeles Angels: 3B/2B Luis Rengifo
Telling Stat: From a .264 AVG to a .313 AVG
Logan O'Hoppe is also deserving of a shoutout, notably in the sense that he's raised his on-base percentage by 28 points over 2023. It's just that in the case of Rengifo, we have a slightly more compelling evolution.
He was a .264 hitter in 2022 and 2023. Now look at him. Specifically at his strikeout rate, which is in the 92nd percentile, and at his fly-ball rate, which is rightfully at 23.7 percent. Some guys just shouldn't be swinging for the fences, and he's one of them.
Los Angeles Dodgers: LHP Alex Vesia
Telling Stat: From a 4.35 ERA to a 1.10 ERA
The Dodgers are another team that doesn't offer many options for this exercise, but allow me to sell you on Vesia by noting the following: He isn't merely dominating lefties.
That typically had been his thing, but in 2024, he's limiting righties to a career-low .490 OPS. It's been "here it is, hit it" with his four-seamer, against which righties are hitting just .098 even as they're seeing it 65.2 percent of the time.
Miami Marlins: INF Vidal Bruján
Telling Stat: From a .438 OPS to a .649 OPS
Bruján is here because somebody's name had to go here. It would have been mean-spirited to just put "Nobody," chuckle and then move on.
He's made some semblance of progress on offense this year, mainly by shaving 6.9 points off the small-sample-size strikeout rate he had last year. He's also done a bit of everything on defense, playing all three outfield spots and every infield position except for first base.
Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets
6 of 10
Milwaukee Brewers: 2B Brice Turang
Telling Stat: From a .585 OPS to a .738 OPS
Turang's usefulness to the Brewers in 2023 was pretty much limited to the field. Whereas he offered versatility there, he was one of the worst hitters in all of MLB at the plate.
Oh, how the tables have turned. One can easily point to improvements in his strikeout and walk rates and in his exit velocity, but the more basic story is of a guy who's comfortable with his swing and generally feeling more confident.
Minnesota Twins: RHP Griffin Jax
Telling Stat: From a 24.8 K% to a 34.1 K%
Only two pitchers are enjoying a higher strikeout rate increase than Jax, for which his major award so far is a decrease in ERA from 3.86 to 2.30.
Jax's sweeper is still his preferred pitch, but the nature of the offering has changed. He's throwing it 2.6 mph harder on average, and its whiff rate is up from 28.6 to 40.4 percent.
New York Mets: 3B Mark Vientos
Telling Stat: From a .620 OPS to an .895 OPS
Remember when third base was seen as a potential weakness for the Mets coming into 2024? That hasn't been the case since May 15, which marked the beginning of Vientos seeing regular action at the hot corner.
Deservedly so, as he's shaved 8.9 points off last year's strikeout rate while doubling his walk rate. Some better contact would be nice, but this looks like a young hitter adjusting to the speed of the major league level.
New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies
7 of 10
New York Yankees: SS Anthony Volpe
Telling Stat: From a .283 OBP to a .328 OBP
Before anyone asks, Luis Gil is technically still a rookie even though he's spent parts of three different seasons with the Yankees. He's thus ineligible for this list.
Mind you, this is not meant to portray Volpe as a Plan B. He's reoriented his offensive game to be more of a pesky hitter, cutting down on strikeouts and using the whole field. He's also even better defensively, tying for third among shortstops with seven Outs Above Average.
Oakland Athletics: CF JJ Bleday
Telling Stat: From a .666 OPS to an .810 OPS
This spot should probably belong to Mason Miller, but there's just not much left to say about him. He throws really hard and is generally a ton of fun to watch. End of story.
For his part, Bleday's progression had tended to stall out in the years after the Marlins took him No. 4 overall in the 2019 draft. Not anymore, as he's out there with a solid 0.6 BB/K ratio and a steady diet of fly balls. Among his rewards for the latter are an AL-leading 22 doubles.
Philadelphia Phillies: 3B Alec Bohm
Telling Stat: From a .765 OPS to an .840 OPS
Ranger Suárez, you say? Fair point, but let's not so easily forget when he also had a sub-2.00 ERA back in 2021. "He had this in him all along" is an absurd premise, but I'm rolling with it.
For his part, Bohm's 2024 season is only vaguely reminiscent of his rookie breakout in 2020. He may have hit .338 that year, but this year he has a much smaller strikeout rate and is hitting for more power, including by way of an MLB-high 26 doubles.
Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
8 of 10
Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Colin Holderman
Telling Stat: From a .256 AVG to a .141 AVG
This sort of feels like Oneil Cruz erasure, but the book on him hasn't really changed. He's hitting the ball at an elite average of 95.1 mph, but his 32.6 strikeout percentage confirms preventing him from hitting the ball is still doable.
Holderman, meanwhile, is about as unhittable as anyone on a pitch-to-pitch basis. His sweeper now accounts for 45.5 percent of his pitches, and it's been deadly in holding batters to an .095 average.
San Diego Padres: LF Jurickson Profar
Telling Stat: From a .689 OPS to a .905 OPS
I totally spaced on Profar as the Padres' biggest surprise of 2024 in an earlier piece, so this is me setting the record straight. He may be 31, but this is really the first time he's lived up to having been baseball's No. 1 prospect in the early 2010s.
He's always had a knack for contact, but now his walk rate, exit velocity and hard-hit rate are all at career-best levels. The switch-hitter has never been better from the right side, where he's hitting .341.
San Francisco Giants: RHP Jordan Hicks
Telling Stat: From 0 GS, 3.29 ERA to 15 GS, 2.82 ERA
Here we have another metamorphosis, and arguably the most impressive of the bunch. The Giants apparently did, but who else could have expected that a hard-throwing yet wild reliever could be converted into such a reliable starter?
Hicks has been precisely that, and the reasons for it go beyond his career-low 8.8 walk percentage. His increased splitter usage is also paying off. Even when it's 40.9 whiff rate isn't getting higher, it's another source of ground balls to go with his sinker.
Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays
9 of 10
Seattle Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo
Telling Stat: From an 8.4 BB% to a 1.7 BB%
It's just as notable that Woo has gone from a 4.21 ERA as a rookie in 2023 down to a 1.67 ERA this year. But sometimes a guy gets stuck on minutiae, as I am here in observing how he's faced 136 batters and walked only three of them.
That's one way to not beat yourself, and Woo and the strike zone really are that tight. He's found the zone with 62.4 percent of his pitches, easily the best rate among all starting pitchers.
St. Louis Cardinals: DH/RF Alec Burleson
Telling Stat: From a .390 SLG to a .434 SLG
Another, simpler way to view Burleson's power progression is that he's already hit two more home runs in 66 games this year (10) than he did in 107 games last year (eight).
He is indeed driving the ball better, having raised both his average launch angle and his exit velocity. And he hasn't even had to sacrifice contact to do so, as his 14.6 strikeout rate is still solidly in the 89th percentile.
Tampa Bay Rays: C Ben Rortvedt
Telling Stat: From a .461 OPS to a .676 OPS
The Rays tend to be pretty good at finding gold where other teams basically gave up, and that tradition is alive in Rortvedt. To go from a Yankees castoff to a functional everyday catcher is something.
The lefty swinger is hitting over .400 on balls to both right and left field. He's also a sturdy defensive presence behind the dish, rating better than most catchers with his framing and pop time.
Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals
10 of 10
Texas Rangers: 3B Josh Smith
Telling Stat: From a .185 AVG to a .298 AVG
It was supposed to be a different Josh manning third base for the Rangers this year, but that one (Josh Jung, for the record) has been out since April 2 with a fractured wrist.
Smith has been more than up to the task of holding down the fort, in part because his revamped swing is producing a ton of line drives. Among AL hitters, only Justin Turner and Adley Rutschman are hitting line drives more frequently.
Toronto Blue Jays: LF/CF Daulton Varsho
Telling Stat: From a .389 SLG to a .438 SLG
Even with two 20-homer seasons in his back pocket, Varsho is technically hitting for power better than ever in 2024. His slugging percentage may not edge his .443 mark from 2022, but it's not as close in isolated power.
Behold the wonders of pull power. Fly balls and line drives to right field account for 26.0 percent of the lefty swinger's batted balls, marking a new career high.
Washington Nationals: SS CJ Abrams
Telling Stat: From a .712 OPS to a .790 OPS
Abrams has unfortunately made less of an impact on the bases this year. After stealing 47 bases in 51 attempts in 2023, he's only 10-for-16 so far in 2024.
Him putting more of a charge into the ball is a nice trade-off, though. He's added 1.6 mph to his average exit velocity and 6.6 percentage points to his hard-hit rate. If he keeps it up, he'll have a chance to make the leap from 18 to as many as 25 homers.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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