Every MLB Team's Best Player Under 25

The minor leagues exist for one reason: so that MLB teams can develop young players to work through the ranks and eventually bring them to the major league level to be valuable contributors.  These players are usually in their early-to-mid 20s, and if all goes well, they enjoy long and productive careers.  In perfect scenarios, they stay with the teams that developed them for their entire careers and put up Hall of Fame-caliber numbers.

Naturally, the epitome of this type of player is Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.  The man is just 21 years old, and after playing his first full season, he's a candidate for AL MVP.  His skill set is to the point that he's not only the best young player in MLB, but maybe the best overall.

Of course, he isn't the only youngster out there who is doing fine work.  In the next couple of years, he may have some competition in terms of being the best player under the age of 25.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton

Age: 25

Upton had a bit of an off year in 2012, hitting just 17 home runs and driving in 67 runs (down from 31 and 88) while hitting a respectable .280.  His getting off to a slow start didn't curb fans' disappointment either.

Still, the man is one of the most talented outfielders in baseball, and his career is only beginning.  He has plenty of time to adjust his swing and cut down his strikeouts. Assuming team management holds onto him, he's going to play an integral role in the team's success.

Oh, and let's not forget that besides his powerful bat, his speed is decent as well. He swiped 18 bags last year.

Atlanta Braves: Craig Kimbrel

Age: 24

Kimbrel has only been in the league for two seasons, and he's already one of the most dominant closers in baseball.  At 5'11", 205 pounds, he doesn't look like very threatening, but the truth is that his fastball clocks in at near 100 mph.  The size and velocity bring comparisons to former Braves stopper Billy Wagner, who also threw hard despite being on the smaller side.

Over the first two years of his career, Kimbrel could not have asked for better numbers.  He holds a career ERA of 1.46, 0.91 WHIP, and 283 strikeouts in 160.1 innings.  He has also led the NL in saves both of his seasons, with 42 in 2012, and tied with Jonathan Axford of the Milwaukee Brewers with 46 in 2011.

Assuming he can stay healthy, he's going to keep on blowing batters away for a long time as he becomes, quite possibly, the best closer in all of baseball.

Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado

Age: 20

This honor could arguably go to 19-year-old pitcher Dylan Bundy, but he only appeared in two MLB games and thus does not have enough experience to be judged accordingly.  Machado, however, appeared in 51 games and further cemented his status as the next generation's Alex Rodriguez.

In his brief MLB stint that saw him help the Baltimore Orioles get to the ALDS, the Miami native hit .262 with seven homers and 26 RBI.  This was just a small piece of what the man can do.  He has great size at 6'3", 185 pounds and will muscle up with time.  Best of all, he can play both shortstop and third base and has an absolute cannon of an arm.

If he can add some speed to his game, he'll be all the greater.

Boston Red Sox: Will Middlebrooks

Age: 24

After Kevin Youkilis was traded last season, Middlebrooks stepped in and cemented his status as Boston's third baseman of the future.  In just 75 games, he hit .288 with 15 homers and 54 RBI before a broken wrist ended his season.

Still, Middlebrooks' swing is tailor made for Fenway Park, and his defense isn't bad either, as he registered just nine errors at third base.  Assuming last season wasn't a fluke, he's going to play an integral role in the team's march back towards prominence.

Chicago Cubs: Starlin Castro

Age: 22

Despite his age, Castro has come a long way as a shortstop.  His development has been such that team management gave him a seven-year extension worth $60 million.  In 2012, he appeared in all 162 games and hit .283 with 14 home runs and 78 RBI, both career highs, and 25 steals.

The only real mark against Castro is that he tends to zone out and play lazy at times, having committed 83 errors in three seasons and appearing to give a lackadaisical effort in the field.  Still, his work at the plate has continued to improve at such a pace that it's almost worth the sacrifice.  If the Cubs are to work their way out of the woods, it is essential that Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer hang onto him.

Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale

Age: 23

Up until this season, Sale was a hard-throwing lefty out of Chicago's bullpen, and the announcement that he would be a starter in 2012 was a bit shocking.  More often than not, that transition is a bit rough, as players have to get used to throwing more pitches, learning how to throw more pitches, etc.  Yet, despite this change in role, Sale finds himself as an AL Cy Young contender.

In just his third season and first as a starter, Sale went 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, striking out 192 hitters in just as many innings.  His consistency helped the White Sox stay in the race for the AL Central throughout the season, and in 2013, fans will look forward to further great performances from him.

Cincinnati Reds: Aroldis Chapman

Age: 24

If Craig Kimbrel isn't the most dominant closer in the NL, Chapman might be.  Ever since debuting in 2010, he has an astounding 212 batters in just 135 innings while posting a 2.33 ERA.

Still not convinced that he's great?  Well, how about the fact that he's thrown the fastest pitch in baseball history?

Cleveland Indians: Jason Kipnis

Age: 25

Kipnis just barely makes the cutoff, as he turns 26 at the start of next season, but he impressed enough in his first full season that he cannot be ignored.  He only hit .257 but launched 14 home runs and drove in 76 runs.  Most impressive of all were his 31 steals.

Simply put, Kipnis is a great bat in the making.  His lefty stroke has a nice flow to it, and in time, he's going to become more patient and put up great numbers in batting average.  In fact, think of him as Robinson Cano, but with more speed.

Colorado Rockies: None

The Rockies have plenty of players under 25, but the problem is that they were all rushed to the majors.  As a result, the batters are light-hitting, and the pitchers have put up horrible numbers.  The pitchers underachieving isn't that much of a surprise, given the hitter-friendliness of Coors Field, but there's a limit.

The fact that the disappointing 2012 season led manager Jim Tracy to resign says it all.

Detroit Tigers: Austin Jackson

Age: 25

Jackson came to Detroit from the New York Yankees via the Curtis Granderson trade, and in his third season in the Motor City, he established himself as one of the best young outfielders in the game.  He batted .300 with 16 homers and 66 RBI.  Considering he's the leadoff man, those numbers are highly respectable.

The only mark against Jackson is that he's impatient at the plate, having posted just a .377 OBP and 134 strikeouts in 137 games.  Still, he played a key role in the Tigers' march to the playoffs and hit .280 in the postseason. Plus, he has plenty of time to develop.  All in all, he's going to be a solid member of future Detroit teams.

Houston Astros: Jose Altuve

Age: 22

He may be baseball's smallest player at 5'5", 155 pounds, but Altuve gave Astros fans some hope for the future in the midst of another dismal season.  In 147 games, he hit .290 with seven homers, 37 RBI and 33 steals.

That said, as Houston makes the move to the AL West in 2013, it's almost certain that Altuve is going to play a big role in the marketing campaign that precedes the season.  It's scrappy players like him that often win the fans' hearts, and if he can keep up the pace or even improve some, the future will look bright for the Astros.

I guess this means that the saying is true: Big things DO come in small packages.

Kansas City Royals: Salvador Perez

Age: 22

This honor could easily go to either Eric Hosmer or Mike Moustakas, but Hosmer suffered a sophomore slump, and Moustakas still has a lot of developing to do as a hitter.  Perez, on the other hand, showed great poise both at bat and behind the plate despite appearing in just 76 games.  Over that stretch, the Venezuelan hit .301 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI.

On top of that, Perez is just a massive individual at 6'3", 244 pounds.  Once he gets more patient at the plate, he has the potential to be as dangerous as the likes of Joe Mauer or Matt Wieters. And once Kansas City gets some pitching, he will be one of the new faces of the franchise.

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout

Age: 21

In his first full season, over 139 games, Trout hit .326 with 30 homers and 83 RBI.  He also led the majors with 49 steals and 129 runs scored.  In the field, he proved to be quite acrobatic.

I mean, come on.  Do we really need any other evidence of how great the man is?

Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw

Age: 24

Simply put, Kershaw is the best young lefty starter in all of baseball.  He won the NL Cy Young in 2011 when he went 21-5 and led the majors with a 2.28 ERA and the NL with 248 strikeouts.  Low run support handed him a 14-9 record in 2012, but he still led the majors with a 2.53 ERA and struck out 229 batters.

Now that the Dodgers' lineup has some extra pop with Adrian Gonzalez at first base, expect Kershaw's run support to be much higher next season.  He'll continue to put hitters away with ease, as he further cements his legacy, not just in Dodgers' history, but in the history of the game.

Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton

Age: 22

At 6'5", 248 pounds, Stanton is a scary presence at the plate.  A pure power hitter, he can absolutely smash the ball and is also learning to hit for a decent average.  In the Marlins' first year at their new stadium, he hit .290 with 37 homers and 86 RBI.

Ready for the insane part?  He only played in 123 games due to knee surgery.  In a full season, we can only imagine how many home runs he can hit.

Milwaukee Brewers: None

The Brewers have no regular players under age 25.

Minnesota Twins: Ben Revere

Age: 24

When it comes to pure speed, Revere has plenty of it.  He came out of nowhere last season and became a regular in the outfield, and his pure contact hitting has proven to be a bright spot for the struggling Twins.  This season, he hit .294 and stole a career-best 40 bases in just 124 games.

Once he plays a full 162 games, one can only imagine how many steals he'll accumulate.  The fact is that he has the potential to become a great leadoff man and will be one of Minnesota's most consistent players over the next few years.

New York Mets: Ike Davis

Age: 25

The Mets may not have much to smile about these days, but Davis and his powerful lefty bat give team management and the fans some hope for the future.  He only hit .227 in 2012, but his OBP was a respectable .308 and he launched 32 dingers with 90 RBI.  Keep in mind, this was one season after an ankle injury limited him to 36 games in 2011.  At the time of his injury, he was hitting .302.

That said, Davis will bounce back in 2013 as the Mets look to get back on track.  So long as their 6'4" first baseman can be consistent at the plate, there should be at least some improvement.

New York Yankees: Ivan Nova

Age: 25

After going 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 2011, his rookie season, Nova experienced a terrible sophomore slump in 2012.  In 28 starts and 170.1 innings, the 6'4" righty went 12-8 with a terrible 5.02 ERA, though he did strike out 153 hitters.  Still, he remains the Yankees' best man 25 or under.

You see, despite his poor 2012, Nova still has a career record of 29-14, which isn't bad at all.  He has a knack for winning games, and that's going to be of great value in the future.  He may have one bad inning but then coast the rest of the way.

No matter how you look at him, it's way too early to give up on Nova.

Oakland A's: Jarrod Parker

Age: 23

In his first full season, Parker proved that he was something special.  He went 13-8 with a 3.47 ERA, 140 strikeouts and 1.26 WHIP in 181.1 innings and was instrumental in helping Oakland clinch the AL West.

But Parker's most impressive performance came in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers.  He was matched up against Justin Verlander, and though Oakland lost the game by a score of 3-1, Parker went toe-to-toe with the reigning AL MVP and gave up just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out five over six-and-a-third innings pitched.

Where other youngsters might have choked under the pressure, Parker's poise was unbelievable, and we look forward to seeing more from him next year.

Philadelphia Phillies: Domonic Brown

Age: 25

Brown has only appeared in parts of three seasons for the Phillies, but he should become a regular in 2013, and his lefty bat will provide some decent power and average.  Those who expect him to smack the ball out of the park left and right will be disappointed, but Brown has plenty of determination and shows great patience at the plate.  Last season, though he hit just .235, his OBP was .316.

Thus, look for him to be a decent table-setter for the Phillies' offense next year.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Starling Marte

Age: 24

The Pittsburgh Pirates are inching closer and closer towards becoming a contending team again, and Marte is going to have an instrumental role in them reaching that goal.  He only appeared in 47 games last season but hit .257 with five homers and 17 RBI along with 12 steals.  The numbers are modest but a good indication of what he can do on the major league level.

At Triple-A Indianapolis in 2012, Marte appeared in 99 games and hit .286 with 12 long balls, 62 RBI and 21 steals, so it's clear that he is capable of forming a speedy and powerful 1-2 punch with teammate Andrew McCutchen.  Come 2013, Pirates fans should be very excited to see this youngster play a full season.

San Diego Padres: Yasmani Grandal

Age: 23

Originally from Havana, Cuba, Grandal is a switch-hitting catcher who is going to take the league by storm in 2013, when he plays his first full season.  He was with the Padres for 60 games in 2012 and hit .297 with eight homers and 36 RBI while posting an astonishing .394 OBP.  In 56 games at Triple-A Las Vegas, he hit an incredible .335 with a .443 OBP, so plate discipline clearly isn't a problem.

That said, just how well Grandal does in San Diego in 2013 remains to be seen.  He has great skills with the bat, but will he be able to overcome the pitcher-friendly Petco Park and hit for good power?  Even if he doesn't, though, he'll still hit for a good average and provide some solid defense behind the plate for the Padres.

San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner

Age: 23

Bumgarner may be quite young, but he proved this World Series that he has ice water in his veins and is anything but nervous in an important game.  After going 16-11 with a 3.37 ERA and 191 strikeouts during the regular season, the lefty from Hickory, NC took the mound in Game 2 of the Fall Classic all set to face a dangerous Detroit Tigers lineup.  At the time, Bumgarner's postseason had been forgettable with a disappointing start apiece, one in the NLDS and one in the NLCS.

This time, however, Bumgarner was a new man and tossed seven shutout innings and gave up just two hits while striking out eight as San Francisco won the game 2-0.  As he continues to improve, he'll be a key member of what is sure to become a dangerous Giants pitching rotation.

Seattle Mariners: Kyle Seager

Age: 24

The Mariners may have disappointed in 2012, but Seager enjoyed a breakout year, while fellow youngsters Dustin Ackley and Jesus Montero struggled.  In 155 games, the lefty-hitting third baseman hit a modest .259, but with 20 home runs and 86 RBI.  In doing so, he became the first Mariner hitter since 2009 to reach the 20-homer plateau.

Whether or not Seager overachieved remains to be seen, but fans should be optimistic.  The fences of Safeco Field will be moved in next season, which means that the home runs should keep-a-coming, and Seager will continue to blossom, as he looks to help put Seattle back on the baseball map.

St. Louis Cardinals: Lance Lynn

Age: 25

Like Chris Sale, Lynn impressed in his first full season as a starter.  Over 29 starts and 176 innings, the right-hander went 18-7 with a 3.78 ERA and struck out 180 batters as St. Louis made it back to the NLCS, only to lose in Game 7 to the Giants.

Still, despite his posting a 5.73 postseason ERA, fans should look forward to Lynn's second season in the rotation.  He is a scary mound presence at 6'5", 250 pounds and has the necessary arsenal to shut down the opposition.  With most of the regulars returning next season, look for him to help the Cardinals get back to the playoffs yet again.

Tampa Bay Rays: Matt Moore

Age: 23

The Rays may be a light-hitting team, but their pitching is young, deep and full of potential.  In a year or so, Moore may very well be the ace of the staff.  In his first full season, he went 11-11 with a 3.81 ERA and 175 strikeouts in 177.1 innings.

More importantly, we're talking about a pitcher who started a postseason game against the powerful lineup of the Texas Rangers, despite only appearing in three MLB games for his career at that point.  The amazing part is that he absolutely dominated in that game, throwing seven shutout innings and allowing just two hits while walking two and fanning six.

Needless to say, this pitcher is special.

Texas Rangers: Elvis Andrus

Age: 24

Andrus may strike out a bit more than fans would like, but he still plays a great shortstop and is a pesky bat in the Texas lineup.  In 2012, he hit a career-best .286 with 62 RBI and 21 steals, down from the 37 he swiped in 2011.

Still, though Andrus' base stealing skills weren't what fans hoped for last season, he showed great patience at the plate with a .349 OBP.  He is the epitome of a pest at the plate, and come next year, he could very well post a new career-high in batting average.

Toronto Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie

Age: 22

In his first full MLB season, Lawrie played in 125 games and hit .273 with 11 homers, 48 RBI and 13 steals.  Those numbers aren't bad, but they're a far cry from the video game-like stats he posted in the minor leagues.  Still, fans need not worry.

The fact is that Lawrie has a good head on his shoulders and a fine baseball IQ.  He knows what he has to do to bounce back from his generally disappointing 2012 so that he can continue to be a force in 2013, particularly since Jose Bautista will be back in the lineup, and he will thus get some better pitches to hit.

At that point, he'll get the 'Jays back to being the offensive power house they have been in recent years.

Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg

Age: 24

This was a tough pick, as it was between Strasburg and his 20-year-old teammate, Bryce Harper.  In the end, I just had to go with the man who had been so great and dominant throughout the season.

Pitching on an innings limit that shouldn't have even been there to begin with, Strasburg was back to his old self in his first full season following Tommy John surgery.  He went 15-6 with a 3.16 ERA, 197 strikeouts and 1.15 WHIP in 159.1 innings before being shut down as the Nationals went on to have the best record in baseball and clinch the NL East, later suffering a heartbreaking loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.

Strasburg also did well at the plate, hitting .277 with a homer and seven RBI in 47 at-bats.  With his training wheels off in 2013, I seriously cannot wait to see what he will do.