Selecting MLB's 2016 All-Under-25 Team, Position by Position
Established big league stars make the big dollars and generally represent the face of their respective franchises, but young up-and-coming players are often the most exciting guys on the roster.
Cost-effective players with dynamic skill sets can make a real difference for teams that are looking to make a run at a title, and there's more high-end young talent around the league right now than any time in recent memory.
So with that in mind, what follows is a position-by-position look at Major League Baseball's all-under-25 team.
Some specifics before we begin:
- MLB experience: Only players with major league experience were considered, so while guys like J.P. Crawford, Orlando Arcia, Nomar Mazara, Lucas Giolito, Tyler Glasnow and Jose Berrios are all close to big league-ready, they don't qualify just yet.
- Age cut-off: In order to eliminate players who are not yet 25 but will be playing the bulk of the upcoming season at the age of 25, a player must still be 24 or younger on June 1 to be eligible for inclusion. This excluded a notable trio in Nolan Arenado, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz.
- Production vs. upside: Eligible players were chosen based on their current skill level and previous production, not on their ceiling and future upside. Kyle Schwarber might have a higher ceiling than Christian Yelich, but Yelich was the choice in left field based on what he's already accomplished.
- Injured players: While they may not currently be playing, injured players were still considered for inclusion on this list.
A full starting lineup of position players, a starting pitcher and a reliever were selected to this under-25 team, and we included a look at what a full 25-man roster of under-25 players might appear like, so be sure to check that out as well.
Notable 25-Year-Olds
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Before we get started on the best under-25 players, let's take a quick look at the players who have recently graduated from eligibility on this list with a rundown of the top 25-year-olds from around the league:
Top 10 Position Players
- 3B Nolan Arenado, COL (turns 25 on April 16)
- 2B Jose Altuve, HOU
- C Salvador Perez, KC
- 3B Anthony Rendon, WAS
- RF Yasiel Puig, LAD
- RF Stephen Piscotty, STL
- 3B Matt Duffy, SF
- CF Ender Inciarte, ATL
- 2B Joe Panik, SF
- CF Billy Hamilton, CIN
- CF Marcell Ozuna, MIA
Top 10 Pitchers
- SP Gerrit Cole, PIT
- SP Marcus Stroman, TOR (turns 25 on May 1)
- SP Shelby Miller, ARI
- RP Trevor Rosenthal, STL
- RP Ken Giles, HOU
- SP Steven Matz, NYM (turns 25 on May 29)
- SP Julio Teheran, ATL
- SP Zack Wheeler, NYM
- SP Martin Perez, TEX
- RP Carter Capps, MIA
Catcher: Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox
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Born: April 3, 1992 (24 years old)
Player Overview
An injury to Christian Vazquez opened the door for Blake Swihart to take over as the Boston Red Sox's starting catcher last season, and he made his big league debut May 2.
After hitting .293/.341/.469 with 26 doubles and 13 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A during the 2014 season, he got off to a slow start offensively upon reaching the big leagues.
However, he rounded into form after the All-Star break and went on to hit .303/.353/.452 in the second half.
Anthony Castrovince of Sports on Earth listed the young backstop among 13 potential breakout candidates heading into the new season, writing that: "A solid line-drive rate and continued adjustment to big league pitching provide him with plenty of offensive upside."
With Salvador Perez, J.T. Realmuto, James McCann and Carlos Perez all turning 25 years old, Swihart was an easy choice.
Honorable Mentions
- Christian Bethancourt, SD (24)
First Baseman: Greg Bird, New York Yankees
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Born: November 9, 1992 (23 years old)
Player Overview
Greg Bird won't take the field this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum, but with few options at first base, he's still the choice here.
Thrust into the middle of a playoff race last season when Mark Teixeira went down with a leg injury, Bird posted an .871 OPS with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in just 46 games.
He was expected to head back to Triple-A to begin the 2016 season, but given the injury history of Teixeira and a number of other veterans on the Yankees roster, he gave the team valuable depth.
"We've lost an important piece that benefited us greatly last year when Tex went down," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Teixeira will be a free agent next offseason, so Bird will be stepping into a significant role in 2017 and beyond in the middle of the Yankees lineup.
Honorable Mentions
- None
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Second Baseman: Rougned Odor, Texas Rangers
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Born: February 3, 1994 (22 years old)
Player Overview
A .144 batting average earned Rougned Odor a demotion to the minors on May 8 last season, but he returned a month later as a different player.
Starting with a 3-for-3 game in his return to the big league lineup June 15, Odor went on to hit .292/.334/.527 with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 52 RBI over his final 91 games and continued to make an impact into the playoffs with seven runs scored in five games.
Odor will play the entire 2016 season at the age of 22, so there's plenty of reason to believe the best is yet to come from the dynamic young infielder.
Former Rangers infielder and current special assistant to the GM Michael Young gushed about Odor's potential in a recent appearance on the Ballzy podcast (via the Dallas Morning News): "I think he's just a fantastic player. I think the sky is the limit. He has every skill you could possibly ask for. You combine that with his work ethic, his mentality, his approach to the game, his aggressiveness, the obvious enthusiasm he has for the game and the sky really is the limit."
Honorable Mentions
- Chris Owings, ARI (24)
- Jonathan Schoop, BAL (24)
Third Baseman: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
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Born: July 6, 1992 (23 years old)
Player Overview
Kris Bryant has the potential to emerge as one of game's elite offensive players, but for now the choice at third base has to be Manny Machado.
Finally healthy last season after missing time to a pair of knee injuries, Machado took his game to another level offensively.
"It was awesome,” Machado told Steve Melewski of MASN Sports of his 2015 performance. “Went out and played every game. Did what I had to do and showed people the player I am."
He set new career bests in batting average (.286), OPS (.861), home runs (35), RBI (86), runs scored (102) and stolen bases (20) on his way to a fourth-place finish in AL MVP voting.
That production at the plate was once again accompanied by elite-level defense at the hot corner, as Machado won his second Gold Glove award and has now piled up an impressive 62 defensive runs saved to this point in his career.
Honorable Mentions
- Nick Castellanos, DET (24)
- Kris Bryant, CHC (24)
- Maikel Franco, PHI (23)
- Eugenio Suarez, CIN (24)
Shortstop: Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
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Born: September 22, 1994 (21 years old)
Player Overview
A wave of terrific young shortstop talent has flooded the major leagues over the past few seasons, and Carlos Correa is the best of the bunch.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, Correa made his debut June 8 last season and quickly worked his way into the No. 3 spot in the lineup for a contending Houston Astros team.
As Jayson Stark of ESPN.com pointed out, there has only been three hitters in their age-22 season or younger who have ever started at least 130 games in the No. 3 spot in the batting order for a playoff team. Correa became the third, joining Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial and Cal Ripken Jr.
"The moment was never too big for him," manager A.J. Hinch told Stark. "And the responsibility of hitting in the middle of the order, in the first couple of months of his career, never fazed him. So I saw no reason not to lean on him in that way."
He wrapped up his debut with an .857 OPS that included 22 doubles, 22 home runs and 14 stolen bases along with solid defense for 4.1 WAR, and he's just scratching the surface of his huge potential.
Honorable Mentions
- Xander Bogaerts, BOS (23)
- Francisco Lindor, CLE (22)
- Ketel Marte, SEA (22)
- Addison Russell, CHC (22)
- Corey Seager, LAD (21)
Left Fielder: Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins
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Born: December 5, 1991 (24 years old)
Player Overview
Christian Yelich has yet to develop into much of a power threat, but he's compiled 8.5 WAR already in his career on the strength of strong on-base skills and terrific defense in left field.
The 2010 first-round pick has a .364 career on-base percentage and ranked fifth in the NL with 94 runs scored in 2014.
Following that performance, the Marlins locked him up with a seven-year, $49.57 million deal with a $15 million option that would keep him in Miami through the 2022 season.
Back to his defensive prowess. Yelich has 26 defensive runs saved the past two seasons—tied for third among all left fielders—and he should continue to compete with Starling Marte for the title of best defensive left fielder in the NL for years to come.
Asked to be a table-setter to this point in his career, Yelich has moved into the No. 3 spot in the Marlins lineup this season. Hitting ahead of a healthy Giancarlo Stanton, Yelich could be in for a breakout year.
Honorable Mentions
- Michael Conforto, NYM (23)
- Eddie Rosario, MIN (24)
- Kyle Schwarber, CHC (23)
- Jorge Soler, CHC (24)
Center Fielder: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
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Born: August 7, 1991 (24 years old)
Player Overview
Fans often forget that Mike Trout wasn't always the all-world talent he is today, and he actually struggled quite a bit in his first taste of big league action.
That came in 2011, when he hit just .220/.281/.390 over 135 plate appearances. However, the following season, he put up 10.8 WAR and was an immediate superstar.
The point being, it's unwise to look at a supremely talented player negatively based on early struggles and a small sample size. There's still plenty to like about the long-term potential of guys such as Byron Buxton and Joc Pederson.
In fact, this spot could well go to Buxton next season, as Trout will turn 25 in August. For the time being, though, he's still a no-brainer to man center field on the under-25 team.
In his four full seasons in the majors, Trout has averaged a .308/.403/.568 line with 34 doubles, 34 home runs, 95 RBI, 114 runs scored, 27 stolen bases and a 9.3 WAR. Not much more needs to be said when we're talking about numbers like that.
Honorable Mentions
- Byron Buxton, MIN (22)
- Delino DeShields Jr., TEX (23)
- Randal Grichuk, STL (24)
- Odubel Herrera, PHI (24)
- Joc Pederson, LAD (23)
Right Fielder: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
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Born: October 16, 1992 (23 years old)
Player Overview
With a vastly improved approach at the plate and good fortune in the health department, Bryce Harper finally delivered the monster offensive season we've been waiting for since he broke into the league as one of the most hyped 19-year-olds in recent memory.
A spike in his walk rate from 9.6 to 19.0 percent raised his on-base percentage more than 100 points from .344 to .460, and when he did get a pitch to hit, he generally crushed it on his way to a .330 average and NL-best 42 home runs.
The number that really stood out was his 1.109 OPS, which represented the best single-season mark since Albert Pujols (1.114) in 2008.
Harper will play the entire 2016 regular season at the age of 23, as his birthday is not until Oct. 16, which means he'll be eligible for inclusion on this team once again next year.
Mookie Betts is already one of the game's best all-around talents, and few players have the power potential of Miguel Sano, but for now they are relegated to honorable-mention status as Harper remains the easy choice in right field.
Honorable Mentions
- Mookie Betts, BOS (23)
- Gregory Polanco, PIT (24)
- Miguel Sano, MIN (22)
- Domingo Santana, MIL (23)
Starting Pitcher: Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
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Born: July 31, 1992 (23 years old)
Player Overview
Jose Fernandez burst onto the scene as a 20-year-old in 2013, going 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA, 0.979 WHIP and 187 strikeouts in 172.2 innings to run away with NL Rookie of the Year honors and finish third in Cy Young voting.
However, just eight starts into his sophomore campaign, he was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery.
He returned to make 11 starts last year, looking like his old self in going 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.160 WHIP. Now, further removed from the operation, he's gearing up for a big season in 2016.
Among the more impressive statistics for the young right-hander has been his success at home, as he's still undefeated in 26 career starts at Marlins Park with a 17-0 record and 1.40 ERA.
Expect Noah Syndergaard and Carlos Martinez to both make a strong push to be the best under-25 starter in the game this season, and the eventual arrival of top prospects Lucas Giolito (21), Tyler Glasnow (22) and Jose Berrios (21) will add even more elite young arms to the mix.
Rest of the Rotation
2. RHP Noah Syndergaard, NYM (23)
3. RHP Carlos Martinez, STL (24)
4. RHP Michael Wacha, STL (24)
5. LHP Carlos Rodon, CWS (23)
Honorable Mentions
- Andrew Heaney, LAA (24)
- Lance McCullers, HOU (22)
- Aaron Nola, PHI (22)
- Robbie Ray, ARI (24)
- Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS (23)
- Joe Ross, WAS (22)
- Aaron Sanchez, TOR (23)
- Luis Severino, NYY (22)
- Yordano Ventura, KC (24)
- Taijuan Walker, SEA (23)
Relief Pitcher: Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays
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Born: February 7, 1995 (21 years old)
Player Overview
Used primarily as a starter during his time in the minors, Roberto Osuna broke camp with a spot in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen last year.
After a handful of others faltered in the ninth-inning role, he nailed down his first career save on June 22 and quickly took over closer duties from there.
All told, he converted 20 of 23 save chances with a 2.58 ERA, 0.919 WHIP and 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings as the youngest player in the majors.
The Blue Jays went out and acquired Drew Storen from the Washington Nationals in the offseason, and many expected him to take over as closer, but Osuna managed to hold him off this spring. He already has two saves on the young season.
Hard-throwing Keone Kela looks to have future closer potential for the Texas Rangers, and left-hander Felipe Rivero was quietly effective for the Washington Nationals as a rookie last year with a 2.79 ERA in 49 appearances, but Osuna is an easy choice here.
Honorable Mentions
- RHP Cam Bedrosian, LAA (24)
- RHP Silvino Bracho, ARI (23)
- RHP Miguel Castro, COL (21)
- RHP Keone Kela, TEX (22)
- LHP Felipe Rivero, WAS (24)
Full 25-Man Roster
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For the sake of expanding this argument a bit further, here is what a 25-man roster of under-25 players would look like:
Starting Lineup
- CF Mike Trout, LAA
- LF Christian Yelich, MIA
- SS Carlos Correa, HOU
- RF Bryce Harper, WAS
- 3B Manny Machado, BAL
- 1B Greg Bird, NYY
- 2B Rougned Odor, TEX
- C Blake Swihart, BOS
Bench
- C/OF Kyle Schwarber, CHC
- 3B Kris Bryant, CHC
- SS Xander Bogaerts, BOS
- OF Mookie Betts, BOS
- OF Miguel Sano, MIN
Starting Rotation
- RHP Jose Fernandez, MIA
- RHP Noah Syndergaard, NYM
- RHP Carlos Martinez, STL
- RHP Michael Wacha, STL
- LHP Carlos Rodon, CWS
Bullpen
- RHP Yordano Ventura, KC
- RHP Luis Severino, NYY
- RHP Lance McCullers, HOU
- RHP Aaron Sanchez, TOR
- LHP Felipe Rivero, WAS
- RHP Keone Kela, TEX
- RHP Roberto Osuna, TOR
Note: The final bench spot was a tough choice between Miguel Sano, Francisco Lindor and Maikel Franco, and you can certainly make a case for all three players. The goal was to include at least three actual relievers in the bullpen, so the last spot among leftover starters came down to Yordano Ventura and Taijuan Walker.
All stats and player ages courtesy of Baseball-Reference. Defensive statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.
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