12 Breakout Players Poised For A Big 2024 MLB Season

Seiya Suzuki, OF, Cubs

Suzuki hit .354/.412/.669 with 11 home runs in his final 48 games last season. He seemed to make an adjustment that hints at the outfielder having figured something out. In his age-29 season, Suzuki could emerge as an all-star.

Evan Carter, OF, Rangers

Carter showed flashes of what he was capable of last season in September and October. As a 21-year-old, he reached base in all 17 of the Rangers’ postseason games as Texas won its first World Series. Now we’re going to see Carter continue that success over a full season as he establishes himself as one of the premier young hitters in the game. He is a favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year.  

Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox

Casas smacked 15 home runs and put up a 1.034 OPS in the second half of his rookie season last year. His barrel rate ranked fifth-highest among first basemen. That means that 30 homers is well within Casas’ reach.

Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers

The way scouts talk about Langford is just different. His name was mentioned a half-dozen times by scouts and executives during spring training when asked to choose a breakout hitter. That’s telling because the player pool was not restricted to prospects. Langford has been described as a “freak” whose offensive potential is “real.” One scout praised his feel for the barrel and lofted swing. “He doesn’t chase and he doesn’t miss,” he said.

Colt Keith, 2B, Tigers

While skepticism is warranted in light of the recent track record for young Tigers hitters, there are plenty of indications Keith will hit for impact. As a 22-year-old at Triple-A last year he hit the ball hard, made plenty of contact and didn’t chase out of the zone. He’s a fringy defender, but it won’t matter if he is a plus hitter with a chance for 25 home runs at peak.

Pitchers

Cole Ragans, LHP, Royals

Traded from the Rangers last June, Ragans joined the Royals’ rotation on July 15. In 12 starts, he pitched 71.2 innings and struck out 31% of batters, while posting a 2.64 ERA. Ragans sat 96.8 mph as a starter and earned positive run values on his fastball, slider, cutter and changeup. He looks poised to break out fully for the underrated Royals in 2024.

Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Orioles

Rodriguez was the top pitching prospect in the game in 2023, but he ran up a 7.35 ERA over his first 10 starts. Once he made adjustments, he had a 2.58 ERA in the second half, which is more in line with what to expect in 2024.

Bobby Miller, RHP, Dodgers

Miller is baseball’s next stuff master. As a rookie, he threw five above-average pitch types—four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, curveball and changeup—while his 99.1 mph velocity made him the hardest-throwing starter in MLB. Oh, and Miller went 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA, fully supported by strong peripherals, for a 100-win Dodgers team.

Eury Perez, RHP, Marlins

As a 20-year-old rookie last season, Perez showed hints of what he could do with a 97 mph fastball and full array for swing-and-miss secondaries. He pitched to a 3.15 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. Now, he will emerge as an ace.

Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers

After returning from flexor tendon surgery in July, Skubal gained nearly 2 mph on his fastball and was one of the best pitchers in the game from that point forward. He held those velocity gains into spring training and pitches in a home park that suppresses power. Now, with an improving supporting cast, Skubal is poised to front a solid Tigers rotation and looks poised for a huge season.

Aaron Civale, RHP, Rays

Civale is the same age that Zach Eflin was a year ago, when the Rays helped him find another gear. Civale joined the organization at the 2023 trade deadline and saw his strikeout rate surge to 29.3%. His velocity ticked up throughout the year, particularly on his increasingly effective curveball. Now, with a full offseason in Tampa Bay’s pitching program, Civale could be primed to take a step forward.