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Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hot starts you might've missed: Braves' Drake Baldwin, Nationals' MacKenzie Gore lead the list
It's never a surprise when Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are having great seasons and sitting atop the leaderboards in their respective leagues. That's something we've come to expect from the two best baseball players in the world. But so far in 2025, there are some players doing special things that have been flying under the radar. Here are five underrated players off to hot starts this MLB season. Underrated stat: .983 OPS, sixth in MLB (min. 90 PAs) The Braves have a history of finding talented catchers. Whether it was Brian McCann, Javy Lopez, Eddie Perez or even Joe Torre, catching has almost always been a strength in Atlanta. And it looks like the Braves might've found their next great catcher in rookie backstop Drake Baldwin. So far this season, Baldwin has been not only one of the best rookies in baseball but also one of the best catchers. He made the club out of spring training and was forced into the starting role due to the injury to former All-Star Sean Murphy, and Baldwin has thrived with his increased playing time. Through 29 games, Baldwin is hitting .357 with five homers and 15 RBI, and his early-season success has led manager Brian Snitker to continue to get him at-bats, even since Murphy has come off the injured list. Although Atlanta came into the season with the expectation that Murphy would be their starter, as long as Baldwin is hitting, Snitker will need to keep him in the lineup. Underrated stat: 1.307 OPS vs. LHP, third in MLB Who doesn't love a player who can do everything? Since he got his first real opportunity with the Mariners back in 2019, utility man Dylan Moore has always had tools. His calling card has been his defense, which he has showcased at several positions, and he won the AL Gold Glove Award for the utility position last year. But this season, he has turned things up at the plate and become a huge part of Seattle's offense. Specifically, Moore has been one of baseball's best hitters against left-handed pitching. The Mariners' utility man is slashing .364/.488/.818 against southpaws, and his 1.307 OPS against lefties ranks third in all of baseball. After years as one of baseball's best kept secrets, Moore is putting together the best season of his career. He also happens to be a free agent at season's end. Not too shabby. Underrated stat: .341 batting average, third in MLB For years, Luis Arraez's elite bat-to-ball skills were unmatched, but A's rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson seems to have that same special ability. Wilson loves to swing the bat, as shown by his 5.1% walk rate, and when he makes contact, he often finds grass. He is currently second in MLB behind only Aaron Judge in hits, with 62, and he sits third in baseball with a robust .341 batting average, behind Judge and Freddie Freeman. And while the A's rookie likes to swing his way on base, his lack of walks is balanced out by his ability to not strike out. Wilson has struck out only 10 times this season, to go along with his 10 walks. The only qualified player with fewer punchouts in 2025 is Arraez (3). Coming into this season, I predicted that Wilson would win AL Rookie of the Year, and so far, he's making me look pretty smart. Underrated stat: 84 strikeouts and 13.42 K/9, both first in MLB For years, left-hander MacKenzie Gore was supposed to be a star. One of the highest rated high school prospects in the 2017 MLB Draft, Gore was on a path to being one of baseball's best. But as is often the case, it wasn't a linear path forward for the Nationals' left-hander; in fact, it has taken some time for him to find success. After being traded to Washington in 2023, Gore finally got an opportunity to pitch in a rotation full-time, and so far this season, he looks like he's putting it all together. The 26-year-old currently leads MLB in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, something you'd expect from other names like Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal or Zack Wheeler. What has made the difference? Gore's curveball has helped him find the next level in 2025. The Nationals' southpaw currently has a 51.6% strikeout rate with his curveball, the third-highest K% on a pitch in baseball this season. Underrated stat: .185 batting average against, fourth in MLB; 1.47 ERA, fifth in MLB The Texas Rangers have not had the smoothest start to 2025, and the team that was the consensus favorite in the AL West before the season has instead been fighting for its life. But one area that was supposed to be a question for the Rangers, starting pitching, has actually been their biggest strength and kept them in the division race. Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who is pitching in his first healthy season since 2022, has been a revelation in Texas' rotation. The Rangers' right-hander looks like one of the best starters in the American League so far, and a big reason behind that has been the dominance of his four-seam fastball. Opposing hitters are batting just .173 against Mahle's fastball, and when a pitcher is able to set the tone with the fastball, it only enhances the rest of his arsenal, as evidenced by his .185 batting average against overall. Mahle's success underscores how good the Rangers' rotation as a whole has been this season. As a group, Mahle (1.47 ERA), Nathan Eovaldi (1.61), Jacob deGrom (2.29) and Jack Leiter (4.25) rank second in MLB in starter ERA.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hot starts you might've missed: Braves' Drake Baldwin, Nationals' MacKenzie Gore lead the list
It's never a surprise when Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are having great seasons and sitting atop the leaderboards in their respective leagues. That's something we've come to expect from the two best baseball players in the world. But so far in 2025, there are some players doing special things that have been flying under the radar. Here are five underrated players off to hot starts this MLB season. Underrated stat: .983 OPS, sixth in MLB (min. 90 PAs) The Braves have a history of finding talented catchers. Whether it was Brian McCann, Javy Lopez, Eddie Perez or even Joe Torre, catching has almost always been a strength in Atlanta. And it looks like the Braves might've found their next great catcher in rookie backstop Drake Baldwin. So far this season, Baldwin has been not only one of the best rookies in baseball but also one of the best catchers. He made the club out of spring training and was forced into the starting role due to the injury to former All-Star Sean Murphy, and Baldwin has thrived with his increased playing time. Through 29 games, Baldwin is hitting .357 with five homers and 15 RBI, and his early-season success has led manager Brian Snitker to continue to get him at-bats, even since Murphy has come off the injured list. Although Atlanta came into the season with the expectation that Murphy would be their starter, as long as Baldwin is hitting, Snitker will need to keep him in the lineup. Underrated stat: 1.307 OPS vs. LHP, third in MLB Who doesn't love a player who can do everything? Since he got his first real opportunity with the Mariners back in 2019, utility man Dylan Moore has always had tools. His calling card has been his defense, which he has showcased at several positions, and he won the AL Gold Glove Award for the utility position last year. But this season, he has turned things up at the plate and become a huge part of Seattle's offense. Specifically, Moore has been one of baseball's best hitters against left-handed pitching. The Mariners' utility man is slashing .364/.488/.818 against southpaws, and his 1.307 OPS against lefties ranks third in all of baseball. After years as one of baseball's best kept secrets, Moore is putting together the best season of his career. He also happens to be a free agent at season's end. Not too shabby. Underrated stat: .341 batting average, third in MLB For years, Luis Arraez's elite bat-to-ball skills were unmatched, but A's rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson seems to have that same special ability. Wilson loves to swing the bat, as shown by his 5.1% walk rate, and when he makes contact, he often finds grass. He is currently second in MLB behind only Aaron Judge in hits, with 62, and he sits third in baseball with a robust .341 batting average, behind Judge and Freddie Freeman. And while the A's rookie likes to swing his way on base, his lack of walks is balanced out by his ability to not strike out. Wilson has struck out only 10 times this season, to go along with his 10 walks. The only qualified player with fewer punchouts in 2025 is Arraez (3). Coming into this season, I predicted that Wilson would win AL Rookie of the Year, and so far, he's making me look pretty smart. Underrated stat: 84 strikeouts and 13.42 K/9, both first in MLB For years, left-hander MacKenzie Gore was supposed to be a star. One of the highest rated high school prospects in the 2017 MLB Draft, Gore was on a path to being one of baseball's best. But as is often the case, it wasn't a linear path forward for the Nationals' left-hander; in fact, it has taken some time for him to find success. After being traded to Washington in 2023, Gore finally got an opportunity to pitch in a rotation full-time, and so far this season, he looks like he's putting it all together. The 26-year-old currently leads MLB in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, something you'd expect from other names like Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal or Zack Wheeler. What has made the difference? Gore's curveball has helped him find the next level in 2025. The Nationals' southpaw currently has a 51.6% strikeout rate with his curveball, the third-highest K% on a pitch in baseball this season. Underrated stat: .185 batting average against, fourth in MLB; 1.47 ERA, fifth in MLB The Texas Rangers have not had the smoothest start to 2025, and the team that was the consensus favorite in the AL West before the season has instead been fighting for its life. But one area that was supposed to be a question for the Rangers, starting pitching, has actually been their biggest strength and kept them in the division race. Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who is pitching in his first healthy season since 2022, has been a revelation in Texas' rotation. The Rangers' right-hander looks like one of the best starters in the American League so far, and a big reason behind that has been the dominance of his four-seam fastball. Opposing hitters are batting just .173 against Mahle's fastball, and when a pitcher is able to set the tone with the fastball, it only enhances the rest of his arsenal, as evidenced by his .185 batting average against overall. Mahle's success underscores how good the Rangers' rotation as a whole has been this season. As a group, Mahle (1.47 ERA), Nathan Eovaldi (1.61), Jacob deGrom (2.29) and Jack Leiter (4.25) rank second in MLB in starter ERA.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hot starts you might've missed: Braves' Drake Baldwin, Nationals' MacKenzie Gore lead the list
It's never a surprise when Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are having great seasons and sitting atop the leaderboards in their respective leagues. That's something we've come to expect from the two best baseball players in the world. But so far in 2025, there are some players doing special things that have been flying under the radar. Here are five underrated players off to hot starts this MLB season. Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves Underrated stat: .983 OPS, sixth in MLB (min. 90 PAs) Advertisement The Braves have a history of finding talented catchers. Whether it was Brian McCann, Javy Lopez, Eddie Perez or even Joe Torre, catching has almost always been a strength in Atlanta. And it looks like the Braves might've found their next great catcher in rookie backstop Drake Baldwin. So far this season, Baldwin has been not only one of the best rookies in baseball but also one of the best catchers. He made the club out of spring training and was forced into the starting role due to the injury to former All-Star Sean Murphy, and Baldwin has thrived with his increased playing time. Through 29 games, Baldwin is hitting .357 with five homers and 15 RBI, and his early-season success has led manager Brian Snitker to continue to get him at-bats, even since Murphy has come off the injured list. Although Atlanta came into the season with the expectation that Murphy would be their starter, as long as Baldwin is hitting, Snitker will need to keep him in the lineup. Dylan Moore, INF, Seattle Mariners Underrated stat: 1.307 OPS vs. LHP, third in MLB Advertisement Who doesn't love a player who can do everything? Since he got his first real opportunity with the Mariners back in 2019, utility man Dylan Moore has always had tools. His calling card has been his defense, which he has showcased at several positions, and he won the AL Gold Glove Award for the utility position last year. But this season, he has turned things up at the plate and become a huge part of Seattle's offense. Specifically, Moore has been one of baseball's best hitters against left-handed pitching. The Mariners' utility man is slashing .364/.488/.818 against southpaws, and his 1.307 OPS against lefties ranks third in all of baseball. After years as one of baseball's best kept secrets, Moore is putting together the best season of his career. He also happens to be a free agent at season's end. Not too shabby. Drake Baldwin (far left) and Tyler Mahle (far right) are among the underrated players delivering for their teams so far this seasons. (Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports) Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics Underrated stat: .341 batting average, third in MLB Advertisement For years, Luis Arraez's elite bat-to-ball skills were unmatched, but A's rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson seems to have that same special ability. Wilson loves to swing the bat, as shown by his 5.1% walk rate, and when he makes contact, he often finds grass. He is currently second in MLB behind only Aaron Judge in hits, with 62, and he sits third in baseball with a robust .341 batting average, behind Judge and Freddie Freeman. And while the A's rookie likes to swing his way on base, his lack of walks is balanced out by his ability to not strike out. Wilson has struck out only 10 times this season, to go along with his 10 walks. The only qualified player with fewer punchouts in 2025 is Arraez (3). Coming into this season, I predicted that Wilson would win AL Rookie of the Year, and so far, he's making me look pretty smart. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals Underrated stat: 84 strikeouts and 13.42 K/9, both first in MLB Advertisement For years, left-hander MacKenzie Gore was supposed to be a star. One of the highest rated high school prospects in the 2017 MLB Draft, Gore was on a path to being one of baseball's best. But as is often the case, it wasn't a linear path forward for the Nationals' left-hander; in fact, it has taken some time for him to find success. After being traded to Washington in 2023, Gore finally got an opportunity to pitch in a rotation full-time, and so far this season, he looks like he's putting it all together. The 26-year-old currently leads MLB in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, something you'd expect from other names like Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal or Zack Wheeler. What has made the difference? Gore's curveball has helped him find the next level in 2025. The Nationals' southpaw currently has a 51.6% strikeout rate with his curveball, the third-highest K% on a pitch in baseball this season. Advertisement Tyler Mahle, RHP, Texas Rangers Underrated stat: .185 batting average against, fourth in MLB; 1.47 ERA, fifth in MLB The Texas Rangers have not had the smoothest start to the 2025, and the team that was the consensus favorite in the AL West before the season has instead been fighting for its life. But one area that was supposed to be a question for the Rangers, starting pitching, has actually been their biggest strength and kept them in the division race. Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who is pitching in his first healthy season since 2022, has been a revelation in Texas' rotation. The Rangers' right-hander looks like one of the best starters in the American League so far, and a big reason behind that has been the dominance of his four-seam fastball. Opposing hitters are batting just .173 against Mahle's fastball, and when a pitcher is able to set the tone with the fastball, it only enhances the rest of his arsenal, as evidenced by his .185 batting average against overall. Mahle's success underscores how good the Rangers' rotation as a whole has been this season. As a group, Mahle (1.47 ERA), Nathan Eovaldi (1.61), Jacob deGrom (2.29) and Jack Leiter (4.25) rank second in MLB in starter ERA.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 things that have stood out through 2 weeks of baseball: Aaron Judge, Wilyer Abreu and more
In the 162-game marathon that is the MLB season, two weeks of games don't provide a ton of data, and there is still a long way to go. But with most teams having completed 12 or so contests, some performances have begun to stand out. Here are five things that have caught my attention through the first two weeks of the regular season. 1. Aaron Judge might hit 60 homers again It's no secret that Aaron Judge is on his way to being the best hitter of this generation. And in a day and age when there is no more Barry Bonds, he might be the closest thing to it. Judge has been locked in to start this season, leading MLB in OPS and tied for the lead in homers, with six. Advertisement After Judge started 2024 slowly but still finished the season with 58 homers, a 1.158 OPS and his second AL MVP Award, you wonder just how great a season could be in store if he keeps up his current pace all season. Judge has hit at least 52 homers in every season in which he played at least 150 games. He has proven to be an offensive juggernaut whenever he's on the field, so if he can stay healthy, we're likely to see another historic season from the Yankees captain. 2. Wilyer Abreu is the Red Sox's best player The Red Sox finally had an offseason that their fan base could be proud of. Boston added third baseman Alex Bregman and starter Garrett Crochet to a lineup that already had All-Stars Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers. Yet the player who has come into 2025 and made the biggest impact is right fielder Wilyer Abreu. Advertisement Abreu had a solid rookie showing in 2024, slashing .253/.322/.459 with 15 homers and finishing sixth in AL Rookie of The Year balloting. And it wasn't just his offense that stood out; it was his defense as well. The Venezuelan right fielder owns one of the best arms in baseball and won the AL Gold Glove Award for right fielders last year. This season, Abreu has started on a heater, with an OPS over 1.200, three homers, three doubles and nine walks already this season. Not only does the Red Sox's right fielder look more comfortable at the plate, but also his bat definitely has a little more juice. With Boston having several talented prospects knocking on the door of the big leagues, Abreu isn't letting his opportunities slip away. 3. The NL West is on a heater to start the season We expected the NL West to be good, given the juggernaut Dodgers and all the moves they made this past offseason, but the division might be the most competitive in baseball. The San Diego Padres have started out hot and went step-for-step with L.A. as they jumped to 9-0. The Padres have said they have a chip on their shoulder and something to prove after falling to the Dodgers in the postseason. Advertisement The San Francisco Giants have also impressed so far. They've featured strong starting pitching, which was to be expected, as well as timely hitting from free-agent acquisition Willy Adames, last season's addition Jung Hoo Lee and longtime Giants veteran Mike Yastrzemski. In fact, while it's extremely early, the Dodgers actually sit third in the division entering play Friday. After starting the season 8-0, they struggled a bit against the Phillies and Nationals, losing both series. But make no mistake, when healthy, this is still the most talented team in the sport. After that, the Arizona Diamondbacks are no slouch, either. As the team that had the best offense in baseball last season, then added first baseman Josh Naylor to the lineup and former NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the rotation, the D-backs shouldn't be ignored. The NL West remains the Dodgers' division to lose, but if the first few weeks of the season have taught us anything, it's that there won't be many easy wins in this division, and the Giants, Padres and D-backs aren't going down without a fight. 4. The Braves have been dreadful to start It was supposed to be the Phillies, Mets and Braves competing atop the NL East in 2025, but so far, Atlanta doesn't look like the team we were expecting. Having begun the season with a 0-7 at the hands of the Padres and Dodgers, the Braves have struggled out of the gate and are currently 3-9. Advertisement Surprisingly, it has been the offense, which is typically Atlanta's strength, that has sputtered most dramatically so far, with a collective .218 batting average that ranks 21st in the sport. Granted, they're missing former NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., who is still a few weeks away from returning from a torn ACL, and starter Spencer Strider, who is currently on a rehab assignment. But even with both All-Stars back on the roster, it'll take much more than those two to get the Braves back on track and to where they ultimately want to go. The good news for the Braves is that it is still very early in the season, and they have the pedigree of a team that when healthy can be one of the sport's best. But they have put themselves in a sizable hole in a division in which one bad week can make the difference between playing in the postseason and watching it from home. 5. Kyren Paris?! Yes, Kyren Paris Arguably the biggest surprise from the first two weeks of the season is the early breakout of Angels infielder Kyren Paris. Paris, who is currently slashing .393/.485/1.000 with a team-leading five homers and MLB-leading 1.485 OPS (min. 28 at-bats), has helped lead the Angels to a 8-4 record — they've won all four series they've played — and an offense that ranks eighth in runs scored. Advertisement Paris, 23, made his debut last season and struggled mightily in his first taste of the big leagues. He hit .118 with one homer and bounced back and forth from Triple-A as L.A. was looking for any production offensively. But considering how young Paris is, he was going to get more time to develop, and he has definitely done that since the end of last season. Through 10 games, Paris has the second-highest OPS in MLB history, behind only Jimmie Foxx and ahead of Babe Ruth. The second-year infielder broke camp with the Angels in what was going to be a utility role, playing both infield and outfield. Now that he's looking like the team's best hitter, manager Ron Washington will have to figure out a way to keep him in the lineup every day.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
6 MLB position changes to watch this spring: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jose Altuve, Mike Trout set to appear somewhere new in 2025
One of the more interesting things to watch in MLB spring training is players moving to new positions, and this season features no shortage of such situations. Sometimes, a player changes position due to declining defense or to avoid injury. Other times, it's because he changed teams or a former teammate left in free agency. Or, in the case of one player on this list, it might just be that he's good enough to be elite defensively at multiple positions. Here are six position changes to keep an eye on this spring. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season] The biggest position change this spring is undoubtedly the Astros shifting Jose Altuve from second base to left field. Altuve, 34, was once as sure-handed as it gets at second, rating well by both the eye test and advanced metrics. In 2015, Altuve took home the AL Gold Glove Award for his defensive prowess. But over the past several years, the 2017 AL MVP's defensive skills have taken a drastic step back as he has gotten older. In fact, since 2022, Altuve ranks as the worst defender at any position in baseball, with minus-41 defensive runs saved. In his entire big-league career, Altuve has never started a game at any position other than second, so left field will be a new challenge for the future Hall of Famer. And while he's athletic enough to move around in the outfield — and Daikin Park in Houston features one of the shortest left fields in baseball, with the Crawford Boxes — Altuve's arm strength could prove to be an issue for the Astros. This is one of the biggest storylines entering the 2025 season. This is a move that feels like it has been in the works for some time. The Angels' priority this season is getting Mike Trout to play in as many games as possible, and that requires keeping him as healthy as possible. And so, in an effort to lessen the wear and tear on his body, Trout is moving from center to right for the Halos. There's no question that Trout is more than capable of manning right field. Plus, he told reporters that he's going to work with Angels instructor Torii Hunter, who successfully transitioned from center field to right at the end of his career. The reality is that if the Angels really wanted to ensure that Trout stays healthy, they would just make him the every-day designated hitter. But the superstar would likely push against that, given his desire to play the field. All other recent plans to keep Trout healthy have failed. Maybe this will be the one that works. The newest member of the Boston Red Sox is not only in a new ballpark but also, apparently, preparing for a new position. Second base has been an area of need in Boston in recent years, and while he has started only one game at second in his career, the sure-handed Bregman will likely make a smooth transition. But unlike some of the other players on the list, Bregman probably shouldn't be moving from his original position. The two-time World Series champion won the AL Gold Glove Award at third just last season while rating above average at the hot corner in both DRS and OAA. Meanwhile, Boston's incumbent at third base, Rafael Devers, has been a below-average defender his entire career. Even so, the expectation upon Bregman's signing was that he would play second, and Devers has made loud and clear his displeasure about possibly giving up his position, telling reporters that he plays third and doesn't want to move. It'll be interesting to see how manager Alex Cora and Co. sort this out. Either way, Bregman helps Boston defensively, but this is a situation worth keeping an eye on. Seems like deja vú that we're discussing Mookie Betts moving to shortstop for a second consecutive spring. But this time, it's not because of an emergency. Following the Dodgers' reconfiguring of their outfield over the winter, with the signing of Michael Conforto and the return of Teoscar Hernandez, Betts will be the full-time shortstop after playing half the season there in '24. Playing in the infield again has been a possibility for Betts for years, but he's one of the best right fielders the game has seen, so it made perfect sense to keep him there. Now, Betts will get the chance to focus solely on playing short, with a full spring training to prepare. In a small sample last season, he looked like a guy who had played the position before. Betts rated fairly well by defensive metrics, earning +3 defensive runs saved. There were times when making throws was an issue, but that's an area Betts worked on over the offseason. The three-time World Series champion is one of the best athletes in the game, and if there's anyone we can assume will not only transition to a new position but also excel there, it's Mookie Betts. Unlike the other players on this list, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has extensive experience playing at his 2025 position. Toward the end of his tenure with the Marlins, Chisholm played center field full-time, but he came up as a shortstop before moving to second base when he reached the big leagues. The Yankees had a need at third base when they acquired Chisholm at last summer's trade deadline, and he was an adequate short-term solution there. Despite rating as a -2 DRS, he graded out as being well above average at third by outs above average, which rated him as +6. But now, with the departure of Gleyber Torres from the Yankees' infield, Chisholm will return to his familiar home at second base. The Bahamas native has always been athletic, which has served him well while moving around positions. During his past stints at second, he rated as elite at the position, with plus marks in both DRS and OAA. After years of defensive lapses at the keystone, the Yankees should enjoy a big boost with Chisholm at second. Jonathan India is a solid player, and his best tool has always been his bat, with an ability to get on base at a high clip, but the past few seasons in Cincinnati, finding a spot for him in the lineup and a place to hide him defensively became an issue. After Altuve, India rated as the second-worst defender in MLB by defensive runs saved. But unlike Altuve, who was once an above-average defender at second base, India never had that reputation. Now playing in Kansas City after an offseason trade to the Royals, India will man left field, where he'll need to quickly familiarize himself with one of the largest outfields in baseball. We'll see how long it takes for him to get adjusted to his new home.
