Who Is the Most Untouchable Player for All 30 MLB Teams?
Nearly every MLB organization has at least one off-limits player.
Consider the sheer size of all 30 organizations. Below the big league clubs, the minor leagues feature multiple levels. That is an unparalleled talent pool compared to other sports.
Thus, even the worst teams have talented players they will not move, assuming Mike Trout or Mookie Betts isn't part of the return.
The following is a list of the most untouchable player from each of the 30 MLB teams. Most selections will be major leaguers, but some prospects will be in the mix. We chose the following guys based on a combination of production and upside, in addition to the role they figure to play in their franchise's direction.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen
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The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Zac Gallen from the Miami Marlins before the 2019 trade deadline for their No. 1 prospect, Jazz Chisholm.
Gallen has since posted a 2.80 ERA in 20 starts with the Diamondbacks, almost immediately asserting himself as the team's ace.
Arizona paid a high price for Gallen, but it was well worth it considering its depth at shortstop. The team has another top shortstop prospect in Geraldo Perdomo, and Nick Ahmed, who signed a four-year extension in January, had the position held down.Â
What the Diamondbacks did need, however, was an impact starter. They got that with Gallen, who is just 25, under team control through 2025 and should still be the staff anchor by the time some of Arizona's other talented arms reach the majors.
Atlanta Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr.
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Ronald Acuna Jr. is the Atlanta Braves' no-brainer selection.
The 2018 National League Rookie of the Year is already one of the best players in baseball, ranking 17th in FanGraphs WAR (fWAR) since he debuted that season.Â
In 2019, Acuna nearly posted the first 40-40 campaign since Alfonso Soriano in 2006, finishing with 41 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He is a high on-base guy who can hit for average and power and steal bases, and he boasts defensive upside. Oh, and he is on maybe the best contract in baseball.
Atlanta signed Acuna to an eight-year, $100 million pact last April, and the deal has $17 million club options in both 2027 and 2028. In other words, the Braves have their franchise player under contract for quite some time and have the payroll flexibility maintain a competitive club around him.Â
Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman
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Adley Rutschman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, and the Baltimore Orioles have yet to really witness his potential.Â
The former Oregon State star played 37 games in the minors, excelling in Low-A ball before struggling in High-A. Obviously, Rutschman did not get to play meaningful games or get real at-bats in 2020 with MLB canceling the minor league season.
So the 22-year-old has yet to even scratch his full capabilities. He hit 17 homers and had a 1.327 OPS in his final year with the Beavers, and per Baseball America (h/t NBC Sports Washington), some evaluators believe he can be one of the best catchers in the majors if he makes the big league club in 2021.
That might be a stretch, but it speaks to Rutschman's abilities and promise at a premium position.
Boston Red Sox: Jeter Downs
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In terms of consistent production and age, Xander Bogaerts, 28, should be the Boston Red Sox's most untouchable player.
However, Bogaerts has an opt-out clause after 2022. What happens if the Red Sox are not competitive again next year? Would Boston run the risk of losing him in free agency, or is it more likely to explore a deal?Â
Given that Bogaerts will be just 30 during the 2022-23 offseason, it's possible he'll feel he can make more than his remaining four years and $80 million. Thus, the Red Sox could look to move him, particularly depending on Jeter Downs' progression.
Rafael Devers had a .916 OPS with 32 homers and an MLB-high 54 doubles in 2019. But the 24-year-old has been worth just 2.3 combined fWAR in his other three seasons. That does not scream untouchable, especially when Devers will be a free agent in 2024.
So, we arrive at Downs. For starters, it would be hard to give up the top prospect, considering he was part of the Mookie Betts trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he's also really good.
The 22-year-old Colombian has an .817 OPS across four levels. He can slug and steal bases. Not to mention, Downs can play either middle infield position.
His versatility and upside give make him untouchable. He could also be the immediate replacement in the unfortunate event Bogaerts is traded or leaves in free agency, giving him the nod over Devers.
Chicago White Sox: Luis Robert
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The Chicago White Sox have a wealth of young, talented players, such as Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito, but no one has Luis Robert's upside.
The Cuban finished 2020 with 11 homers, nine steals and a .738 OPS, though that does not tell the whole story. Robert was dominant in August, hitting nine homers and posting a 1.015 OPS before slumping to a .409 OPS in his final 94 plate appearances. He recovered in the AL Wild Card Series, notching four hitsâincluding this mammoth homerâagainst the Oakland Athletics.Â
Robert has light-tower power, and he can play a tremendous defensive center field. The 23-year-old won a Gold Glove and ranked in a tie for second in outs above average (OAA), per Baseball Savant.Â
The White Sox also bypassed Robert's arbitration and owe him just $46.5 million in the next five years and have $20 million club options in 2026 and 2027.Â
Chicago has the privilege of sending out a five-tool player to center field every day. That luxury does not come around often.
Chicago Cubs: Brailyn Marquez
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The Chicago Cubs front office does not believe in "untouchables." New president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said so in 2018. Nor should the Cubs believe in such players, given the state of the franchise.Â
Chicago's farm ranks 27th, per Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter. With Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo all scheduled to become free agents in 2022, this could be the offseason to cash in on their trade value or to see what top pitchers Yu Darvish or Kyle Hendricks might bring back in a swap.
But if there is one player the Cubs should not move, it's Brailyn Marquez.
The left-hander appeared in just one game at the end of 2020, and he struggled. Marquez gave up five runs on two hits while walking three and throwing a pair of wild pitches. But again, it was one game.
Marquez, MLB.com's No 63 prospect, could be the most talented pitcher in the Cubs' system. He went 9-5 with a 3.13 ERA in two levels in 2019 and has a lively fastball with a decent changeup and a slider that has plus potential.Â
Marquez will only be 22 in January, so he has plenty of time to develop. Chicago, meanwhile, needs all the arms it can get in the pipeline.
Cincinnati Reds: Nick Lodolo
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Luis Castillo narrowly missed this spot, which instead goes to left-handed prospect Nick Lodolo.
Although Castillo, 28, has emerged as one of baseball's top starters and posted a career-best 2.65 FIPÂ in 2020, the Reds are not necessarily well-positioned to make him a franchise centerpiece.
Cincinnati is cutting costs this offseason. The Reds non-tendered reliever Archie Bradley and traded closer Raisel Iglesias, and they could also move starting pitcher Sonny Gray, whom Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported has interest from "several teams."
Unless Cincinnati quickly repositions, it might not be an established contender by the time Castillo hits the open market in 2024. In fact, Heyman reported the right-hander is "being discussed" in trades.Â
Thus, Lodolo gets the nod. The Reds selected the former TCU star seventh overall in the 2019 draft, and Lodolo promptly struck out 21 in 11.1 innings at rookie ball before making a pair of starts at Class-A.
Young, left-handed arms are invaluable, especially those with the kind of strikeout stuff Lodolo has displayed.
Cleveland: Shane Bieber
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You become pretty untouchable when you win a Cy Young Award at just 25 years old. It should be clarified Shane Bieber did not just win the award. He dominated the shortened 2020 season from wire-to-wire.
The Cleveland right-hander went 8-1 in 12 starts, leading baseball in ERA (1.63), ERA+ (281), FIP (2.07)Â and strikeouts (122). This followed a 2019 during which Bieber was an All-Star and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting.
Cleveland should look to build around Bieber. He is the kind of dominant front-line starter who can carry a pitching staff, and he is also a workhorse.Â
Guys like Jose Ramirez and James Karinchak also garnered consideration, but Bieber is fresh off a pitching Triple Crown and looks like one of the best pitchers of his generation.
Colorado Rockies: Zac Veen
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Trade speculation has swirled around the Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado or Trevor Story. German Marquez could also garner interest, as he did last offseason.
Meanwhile, young players like Garrett Hampson and Brendan Rodgers have struggled in their brief showings at the top level.
Still, Colorado has plenty of reasons to be excited about Zac Veen, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft.
A Florida native, Veen was the second prep player off the board. He has a pretty big frame for a 19-year-old center fielder at 6'4" and 190 pounds. The left-handed hitter has a hit-tool grade of 60 and power grade of 55, per MLB.com, with scouts drawing comparisons to 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker, who is coming off a tremendous season with the Houston Astros.Â
Detroit Tigers: Spencer Torkelson
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The Detroit Tigers had the somewhat unfortunate distinction of holding the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft, but they had the great fortune of drafting a generational hitter.
Arizona State star first baseman Spencer Torkelson dominated the NCAA ranks, clubbing 54 home runs with a 1.192 OPS in 129 games with the Sun Devils. It's unclear whether the Tigers will try to make him a third baseman, though he is probably better suited for first.
Torkelson has power to all fields and commands the strike zone. Detroit desperately needs that kind of run producer in the lineup, and it might not be a big surprise to see him rapidly progress through the team's system.
Houston Astros: Alex Bregman
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The Houston Astros felt Alex Bregman was valuable enough to give him a five-year, $100 million extension running through the 2024 season in March 2019.
Bregman then nearly won the American League MVP award, clubbing 41 homers and leading the majors in walks (119) and posting a 1.015 OPS. Perhaps even more impressively, he played multiple defensive positions, with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa missing time, and he played them at a high level.Â
Despite a number of injuries last season, Bregman still managed an .801 OPS and a 122 wRC+. Whereas stars Jose Altuve and Correa struggled, Bregman battled and put together a decent campaign.
Other young players like Yordan Alvarez and Tucker, both 23, look like stalwarts. But their careers are just getting started, and Alvarez is best suited as a designated hitter. Bregman is one of baseball's brightest stars. Entering his age-27 season, he has yet to even reach his prime.
Kansas City Royals: Brady Singer
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Brad Keller has quietly put together a 3.50 ERA in his first 360.1 career innings and could be a rotation fixture for the Kansas City Royals. But Brady Singer might have the bigger upside.
The former University of Florida star made his MLB debut last season, going 4-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 64.1 innings. Singer struck out 8.5 per nine innings. While he did not generate a ton of whiffs, he mixed his pitches to get punchouts and repeatedly used his sinker to help generate a 53.7 percent ground-ball rate.
Kansas City is stacking arms, having also selected left-hander Asa Lacy in the first round of the 2020 draft. Lacy might have the most explosive, projectable stuff of any arm in the system, but Singer is ready to stake his claim as the team's ace.
Los Angeles Angels
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Mike Trout is the best player in the game. It's that simple.
The Los Angeles Angels center fielder has accrued 75.3 fWAR since 2012. The next-closest guy is longtime San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey withâŚ47.1 fWAR. Trout is also rapidly ascending the all-time WAR leaderboard. He ranks 81st in Baseball Reference WAR (bWAR) with 74.6, having passed Hall of Famers like Larry Walker, Jim Thome, Frank Thomas and Reggie Jackson.
Trout has won three AL MVP Awards. His 1.000 career OPS is the highest among active players, as is his 176 career OPS+. Additionally, he has yet to turn 30. He has plenty of prime years ahead.
No wonder the Angels signed him to a massive extension that runs through 2030.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Mookie Betts
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If Trout is the best player in baseball, Betts is not far behind.
The Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder ranks second in fWAR since 2015, with his 38.4 the only mark even in the vicinity of Trout's 46.8. Betts was also the 2018 AL MVP, andâas a five-time Gold Gloverâthe best defensive right fielder in baseball.
Mookie dominated in his Dodgers debut, hitting 16 homers and posting a .927 OPS while also stealing 10 bases and ranking first among right fielders in outs above average, per Baseball Savant. Betts' brilliance continued in the playoffs, and he hit a pair of homers and displayed exceptional baserunning (including four steals) to help L.A. win its first World Series since 1988.
Much as the Halos did with Trout, the Dodgers signed Betts to a long-term extension after acquiring him from the Boston Red Sox last offseason. Now, they have a franchise player for the next decade-plus.
Miami Marlins: Sixto Sanchez
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The Miami Marlins needed Sixto Sanchez to develop into a star given he was the top asset acquired in the 2019 J.T. Realmuto trade.
Indeed, Sanchez was impressive in his MLB debut this past summer.
The 22-year-old posted a 3.46 ERA in seven starts and later worked around trouble in a series-clinching Game 2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series. Sanchez struggled in his lone start against a loaded Atlanta team in the Division Series, but you can't win 'em all as a rookie.Â
What Marlins fans can look forward to is consistent growth. Sanchez's four-seamer averaged 98.5 mph last year. He mixes that velocity with a plus changeup. In fact, the changeup might be Sanchez's best pitch, as opponents hit just .148 against it. Combinations like that can make for aces, just ask Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer.
Sanchez is still incredibly young, but he already has front-line stuff.
Milwaukee Brewers: Christian Yelich
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Christian Yelich had a down year in 2020 yet salvaged what he could.
The 2018 NL MVP began the season in July with just one hit and 12 strikeouts in his first 28 plate appearances. Yelich showed his old form in August, however, hitting seven homers and posting a .937 OPS. The power surge ended in September, but he still had a .404 OBP for the month.Â
There are reasons to be mildly concerned. Yelich's strikeout rate leapt over 10 percentage points, and his isolated power dropped close to 120 points. Yet, he posted the highest average exit velocity and hard-hit rates of his career, per Baseball Savant.
Make no mistake: Yelich is still among the elites. This is the same guy who ranked second in wRC+ from 2018 to 2019. It is also important to remember the 29-year-old was recovering from a broken kneecap suffered at the end of 2019, and he put up OK numbers despite struggling during summer camp.
The Milwaukee Brewers are paying Yelich $188.5 million to be the franchise player, and he is a strong candidate to have a bounce-back season in 2021.
Minnesota Twins: Kenta Maeda
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Do the Minnesota Twins have any untouchables?Â
Byron Buxton has immense two-way value, but durability will always be a question. Outfield prospects Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach could loom larger in the coming years, but they do not quite fit the billing for a team in win-now mode.
Josh Donaldson isn't going anywhere, but he is also a 35-year-old with recent injury history on a $92 million contract. So, let's go with Kenta Maeda.
The Twins acquired the Japanese right-hander from the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter, and boy, did that deal ever pay dividends for 2020. Maeda went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts, striking out 10.8 per nine innings and notching an MLB-best 0.75 WHIP.
Minnesota's rotation depth is imperative to its success in the coming years. That makes Maeda, the new ace of the staff, untouchable. Not to mention, the 32-year-old will earn just $9 million total through 2023.
New York Mets: Jacob deGrom
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Jacob deGrom is the first New York ace to make the list. We will get to the second shortly.
The 32-year-old deGrom is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He won back-to-back NL Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019 before finishing third in last season's voting after posting a 2.38 ERA and leading the NL with 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings.Â
Mets president of baseball operations Sandy Alderson said at the end of last month New York is inclined to spend more in free agency this year, per Colin Stephenson of Newsday. The team has already signed reliever Trevor May and catcher James McCann, and it could still make a big push to land outfielder George Springer.Â
But deGrom is still at the center of it all. He is the pillar of New York's staff, even more so with Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard headed for free agency in 2022.
The Mets are trying to build sustained success by restocking the farm, but they would be wise to capitalize on deGrom's remaining prime years.
New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole
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With due respect to Aaron Judge, you do not pay a guy a record-breaking $324 million over nine years to be a trade chip.
The New York Yankees signed Gerrit Cole in December 2019 to be their ace, which is all the more imperative with the Bronx Bombers facing rotation questions this winter.
Cole might not have been the same dominating force he was in his two seasons with the Houston Astros, but the right-hander was still pretty darn good in 2020.
The California native went 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 starts, finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting. Cole still had success despite a career-worst 1.7 homers per nine innings.
There always seems to be an added mystique about pitching in the Bronx. But Cole handled it well in his Yankees debut, and he is the team's most imperative player. Â
Oakland Athletics: Jesus Luzardo
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It would be perfectly reasonable to label third baseman Matt Chapman, 27, or perhaps first baseman Matt Olson, 26, as the Oakland Athletics' most indispensible player. However, youth, upside and team need give Jesus Luzardo the edge.
The 23-year-old had a solid rookie campaign, going 3-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 59 innings. Luzardo gave up seven runs in 7.2 postseason innings, but Oakland's entire rotation was a mess in October.
We should also acknowledge Luzardo tested positive for COVID-19 in July and had to isolate for two weeks, cutting down on his summer camp workouts.
Luzardo did not have quite as much success with the hard stuff in 2020. But he racked up a 44.5 percent whiff rate with the changeup, and opponents had an expected batting average of .176 against his curveball, per Baseball Savant.
It stands to reason the Peruvian has ace potential if he can cut down on mistakes with the four-seamer and sinker, considering he averaged over 95 mph with both pitches.
The A's are counting on Luzardo and fellow left-hander A.J. Puk to be the faces of the rotation, and the team especially needs Luzardo to realize his star potential.
Philadelphia Phillies: Bryce Harper
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The amount of backlash Bryce Harper seemed to receive after the 2019 season was absurd. Naturally, he responded by hitting 13 homers and posting a .962 OPS.
With Harper, the expectation is he should live up to his historically good 2015 NL MVP season on an annual basis. But the Philadelphia Phillies star isn't Trout or Betts.
Harper is still a tremendous talent, however. He has ranked in at least the top 8 percent in xwOBA in the past four years, per Baseball Savant. Harper has also ranked in the top 10 percent of expected slugging in the last four years, while ranking in the 93rd percentile or higher in walk rate.
His outfield defense is also improving. Harper ranked in the 62nd percentile in outs above average in 2019 after ranking in the lowest percentile in 2018.
So, Harper gets on base at an elite rate (.387 career OBP). He hits the ball out of the yard and can steal bases. Plus, he's shown better ability on the defensive front. Oh, and he only just turned 28 years old.
Harper will likely be with the Phillies for the remainder of his career since he signed a 13-year, $330 million deal ahead of the 2019 season. He is someone you can build your franchise around.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ke'Bryan Hayes
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Pittsburgh Pirates fans had longed to see Ke'Bryan Hayes in the majors, and he did not disappoint when he was called up in September.
Hayes slashed a staggering .376/.442/.682 with five homers, seven doubles and a pair of triples in 95 plate appearances. Granted, the 19-41 Pirates were the worst team in baseball. But Hayes needed just 24 games to lead the club in fWAR.
For those ready to holler "small sample size," there is a point to be had there. But Hayes had an average exit velocity of 92.8 mph and a hard-hit rate of 55.4 percent. Those are hardly fluky numbers. The wildest thing about Hayes' success is he was billed as an even better defensive player, earning a fielding grade of 65 from MLB.com.Â
Pittsburgh has a long way to go in its rebuild. But Hayes has the makings of a building block at the hot corner.
San Diego Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr.
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Fernando Tatis Jr. is of the Acuna-Juan Soto crop of stars who are in their early 20s but are also among the game's best players.
The San Diego Padres shortstop finished fourth in fWARÂ in 2020, hitting 17 homers and posting a .937 OPS while also stealing 11 bases. However, the most impressive part of Tatis' season might have been the defensive improvement.
He had flashed tremendous range and ability at shortstop in 2019, but he also made 18 errors, the eighth-most in baseball.
2020 was a vastly different story. The 21-year-old (along with Arenado) led all infielders in outs above average, just one season after ranking 261st out of 266 qualifiers in that same category.
The Padres have a number of intriguing youngsters. But the five-tool Tatis leads the pack.
San Francisco Giants: Mike Yastrzemski
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Here's the thing with Mike Yastrzemski: On the one hand, he is already 30 years old. But on the other, he is becoming a star for a team hoping to advance its competitive timetable.
The grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski broke into the majors by clubbing 21 homers with an .852 OPS in 2019. Yastrzemski was that much better in 2020, ranking seventh in fWAR after posting a .968 OPS and 160 wRC+. He has asserted himself as an outfield fixture in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Giants have quite a lot of money coming off payroll in 2022 and could go on a big spending spree to make a more definitive run at contention. This makes Yastrzemski a vital asset.Â
San Francisco has depth in the farm, and top prospect Joey Bart figures to get an opportunity in the next few years after making his big league debut in 2020.
Still, if the Giants are more interested in winning now, Yastrzemski is the more untouchable guy.
Seattle Mariners: Jarred Kelenic
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With all due respect to reigning AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis, Jarred Kelenic has made a ton of noise since the Seattle Mariners acquired him from the New York Mets in the December 2018 Edwin Diaz-Robinson Cano trade.
Kelenic made it to Double-A in his first full season with the organization in 2019, finishing the year with 23 homers and a .904 OPS to go with 20 stolen bases across three levels. As a result, Kelenic went from being MLB.com's 62nd-ranked prospect in 2018 to its No. 9 prospect in 2020.
The 21-year-old put together a strong showing in summer camp, including homering twice in an intrasquad game. Seattle understands Kelenic has all kinds of potential. Given his age, the M's will not rush him to the bigs. But his offensive outlook is salivating.
St. Louis Cardinals: Jack Flaherty
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Jack Flaherty was a shell of his 2019 self in 2020, though his struggles deserve context.
The St. Louis Cardinals had an especially strange year as one of the clubs to experience a COVID-19 breakout. The team's health issues even prompted Flaherty to set up a makeshift bullpen while quarantining in his hotel room.
Obviously, the outbreak was disruptive and scary, and it led to the Redbirds playing 53 games in just 44 days. It was that much more peculiar for Flaherty, who was on a modified workload as the team tried to protect its young ace.
Given the circumstances, it is hard to get too worked up over the 4.91 ERA. It feels like an aberration, especially considering Flaherty gave up just one run and struck out eight in six innings against the San Diego Padres in his lone playoff start.Â
Instead, Cardinals fans should be more encouraged by the dominance Flaherty displayed in the year prior.
He was a force in 2019, posting a 2.75 ERA while leading the NL in WHIP (0.97) and hits per nine innings (6.2). The 25-year-old was absurdly dominant after the All-Star break, posting a 0.91 ERA.Â
That is the guy the Cardinals are hoping will lead the rotation for years.
Tampa Bay Rays: Wander Franco
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The Tampa Bay Rays are fresh off a World Series appearance, but it is tough to say their most untouchable asset could be anyone other than the No. 1 prospect in baseball.
Wander Franco has attracted plenty of hype since he clubbed 11 homers and posted a 1.004 OPS as a 17-year-old in rookie ball in 2018.
The young shortstop proved the hype was real in 2019, slashing .327/.398/.487 across Low-A and High-A. It will not be long before he is in the big leagues. He even earned a max hit-tool grade of 80 from MLB.com.
Franco is a switch-hitting shortstop who can hit for average and power, and he has plenty of speed and defensive upside. That sounds a lot like another megastar shortstop: Francisco Lindor.
Texas Rangers: Sam Huff
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Sam Huff does not necessarily get this distinction because of his 10-game run with the Texas Rangers, though his production helps.
During those 10 games with the Rangers in 2020, the 22-year-old hit .355 with three homers and three doubles. The raw power he displayed in the minor leagues (28 homers in 2019) seemed to transfer nicely, which bodes well for the Rangers.
Texas is headed for a rebuild after trading Lance Lynn to the Chicago White Sox. The Rangers need assets, and having a power bat like Huff at catcher is a luxury.Â
He will have to improve his plate discipline. The 22-year-old struck out in nearly 30 percent of his plate appearances in 2019, and it only gets tougher further up the ladder.
Still, Huff's power potential at the catching spot makes him a top asset.
Toronto Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
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I imagine picking the Toronto Blue Jays' most untouchable guy as something akin to parents being asked to pick their favorite child.
The Blue Jays have no shortage of young talent, from Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez. Not to mention, a masher in Rowdy Tellez and young catchers Danny Jansen, Reese McGuire and Alejandro Kirk. That says nothing of a loaded farm system.
But it is difficult to pick against Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The 21-year-old has not lived up to the hype he gained during an astonishing minor league career. But Guerrero is incredibly young and has still been productive through his first two seasons.
He ranked in the 93rd percentile in both average exit velocity and hard-hit rate this past year, per Baseball Savant. He hits the ball hard and does not strike out much, ranking in the 84th percentile in K rate.
The key for Guerrero will be elevating the ball more consistently. He had a 50.4 percent ground-ball rate in 2019, and that number rose to 54.6 percent in 2020. But Guerrero also had a 17.6 percent home run-to-fly-ball ratio, per FanGraphs.
If Vladdy can lift the ball, we might see him start to live up to his billing as a generational hitter.
Washington Nationals: Juan Soto
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Whereas Vlad Jr. has the makings of a generational hitter, Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Sotoânot even a year older than Guerreroâalready is a generational hitter.
Soto led the majors in OBP (.490), slugging (.695), OPS (1.185) and OPS+ (212) in 2020, hitting 13 homers and 14 doubles in just 47 games. He also led the majors with a 200 wRC+.
The 22-year-old appears to be getting better each year, which is a terrifying prospect for opposing pitchers. Many coaching staffs are declining to even pitch to Soto. He led the majors with 12 intentional walks last year.
Why should they challenge him? Soto ranked in the 90th percentile or better in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrels last year. He also ranked in the 91st percentile in strikeout rate and the 100th percentile in walk rate. It is pretty hard to pitch to a guy who can do damage in any quadrant of the strike zone and is one of the game's most disciplined hitters.
It should be fun to see how much further Soto can elevate the science of hitting.
All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, Baseball Savant or FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. Prospect rankings via MLB.com. Salary info via Spotrac.
