Rising MLB Players Primed to Be First-Time All-Stars in 2024

Rising MLB Players Primed to Be First-Time All-Stars in 20240 of 16

Ed Zurga

One of the liveliest debates each MLB season comes when the All-Star Game rosters are announced and a handful of deserving players are inevitably snubbed. Those snubs are especially controversial when it’s a player vying for his first career All-Star selection.

There were 33 first-time selections at the 2023 All-Star Game, including Orlando Arcia (ATL), Randy Arozarena (TB), Corbin Carroll (ARI), Yandy Díaz (TB), Jonah Heim (TEX), Josh Jung (TEX) and Sean Murphy (ATL) in the AL and NL starting lineups.

Who might follow suit this year?

Ahead we’ve selected 15 players with the best chances of becoming first-time All-Stars in 2024, based on their previous track record and future outlook.

Let’s start with an honorable-mention list of 15 others who were considered.

15 Others With All-Star Potential1 of 16

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These 15 players didn’t quite crack our final list, but they are more than capable of punching their ticket to the Midsummer Classic for the first time in 2024:

Hitters

SS J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners
2B Zack Gelof, Oakland Athletics
OF Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies
C Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
3B Isaac Paredes, Tampa Bay Rays
C Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals
2B Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies
OF Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs

Keibert Ruiz (257 PA, .300/.342/.467, 22 XBH) and Seiya Suzuki (285 PA, .313/.372/.566, 35 XBH) both took their offensive games to another level after the All-Star break last year, and that could be a springboard to a breakout 2024 campaign.

Meanwhile, someone has to represent the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies, so that greatly increases the odds of Zack Gelof and Nolan Jones earning an All-Star nod after terrific rookie campaigns.

Pitchers

SP Brayan Bello, Boston Red Sox
RP Jhoan Durán, Minnesota Twins
SP Zach Eflin, Tampa Bay Rays
RP Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves
SP Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
SP Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers
SP Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals

Fun fact: With 190 career saves, Raisel Iglesias leads all active pitchers who have never made an All-Star appearance. Only Gene Garber (218) has more saves among all pitchers in MLB history who never made an All-Star team.

Left-hander Cole Ragans quietly posted a 2.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 71.2 innings after the Kansas City Royals acquired him from the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline in exchange for a two-month rental of Aroldis Chapman.

SP Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians2 of 16

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2023 Stats: 25 GS, 10-4, 2.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 45 BB, 141 K, 142.0 IP, 3.6 WAR

The Cleveland Guardians flexed their pitching depth last season when injury struck the starting rotation, welcoming rookies Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Logan Allen to the big leagues with strong results across the board.

Bibee, 25, was the best of the bunch, and he only got better as the season unfolded. Over his final 16 starts, he posted a 2.50 ERA in 93.2 innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs every time out.

That strong finish was enough to make him runner-up in AL Rookie of the Year balloting, and if he picks up where he left off, he could easily earn a spot on the AL All-Star team.

1B Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox3 of 16

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2023 Stats: 129 OPS+, .263/.367/.490, 47 XBH (24 HR), 65 RBI, 2.2 WAR

After a slow start to his first full season in the big leagues, Triston Casas emerged as one of the most productive hitters in baseball after the All-Star break.

1st Half: 291 PA, .225/.330/.398, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 26.1 K%2nd Half: 211 PA, .317/.417/.617, 15 HR, 38 RBI, 23.7 K%His 1.034 OPS after the break trailed only Shohei Ohtani (1.098), Matt Olson (1.077) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (1.039) among all qualified hitters.

With Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson, Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso and Christian Walker all in the NL, his path to an AL All-Star nod at first base is also more clear than it would be in the other league.

SP Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles Dodgers4 of 16

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2023 Stats: 21 GS, 10-7, 3.53 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 37 BB, 162 K, 120.0 IP, 2.0 WAR

Tyler Glasnow has always had elite stuff, it’s a matter of staying on the field long enough to maximize his front-of-the-rotation upside.

The 30-year-old made a career-high 21 starts in 2023, and among pitchers who tossed at least 100 innings, he ranked in the top 15 in strikeouts per nine innings (12.2, third), expected ERA (3.63, 14th) and groundball rate (51.2%, 11th).

His trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers could help unlock his full potential, as they have shown the ability in the past to properly manage pitchers who are not traditional innings eaters. They made Ross Stripling and Alex Wood both All-Stars and squeezed the most out of Rich Hill in his time with the team.

OF Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves5 of 16

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2023 Stats: 114 OPS+, .293/.331/.477, 54 XBH (18 HR), 57 RBI, 20 SB, 3.4 WAR

In two big-league seasons, Michael Harris II has already racked up 8.7 WAR while hitting .295/.334/.494 for a 123 OPS+ and averaging 39 doubles, 24 home runs and 26 steals per 162 games.

Still only 23 years old, he hit .325/.356/.522 with 34 extra-base hits in 290 plate appearances after the All-Star break last season, and on top of his strong numbers at the plate, he was also a Gold Glove finalist in center field.

The biggest hurdle in his pursuit of an All-Star selection is the sheer number of All-Star candidates the Atlanta Braves have on their roster, as it ultimately becomes a numbers game with 15 teams needing at least one representative each.

SS/3B Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles6 of 16

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2023 Stats: 125 OPS+, .255/.325/.489, 66 XBH (28 HR), 82 RBI, 6.2 WAR

Here is the full list of all the players who topped the 6.2 WAR season that Gunnar Henderson put together in 2023 on his way to unanimous AL Rookie of the Year honors:

Shohei Ohtani (10.0)Mookie Betts (8.3)Ronald Acuna Jr. (8.2)Matt Olson (7.4)Gerrit Cole (7.4)Marcus Semien (7.4)Corey Seager (6.9)Freddie Freeman (6.5)All seven of those guys were All-Stars, so Henderson was baseball’s WAR leader among players who didn’t earn a spot in the 2023 Midsummer Classic.

Expect that to change in 2024.

2B Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs7 of 16

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2023 Stats: 97 OPS+, .283/.346/.383, 40 XBH (9 HR), 68 RBI, 43 SB, 5.1 WAR

It won’t be easy for Nico Hoerner to break through in a crowded field of options among NL second basemen.

Luis Arraez and Ozzie Albies were the league’s All-Star selections last year, and now Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts are both shifting to the position as well, creating a logjam of potentially worthy options.

However, following a breakout 2023 season, Hoerner belongs in that same conversation of top-tier options, and his combination of table-setting offensive skills, Gold Glove defense and major market exposure should help his case.

SS Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres8 of 16

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2023 Stats: 110 OPS+, .260/.351/.398, 40 XBH (17 HR), 60 RBI, 38 SB, 5.8 WAR

Is there a more underrated player in baseball than Ha-Seong Kim?

The 28-year-old has improved drastically in each of his first three seasons stateside after starring in the KBO, and he is now coming off back-to-back 5-WAR seasons for the San Diego Padres.

An improved walk rate (8.8 to 12.0 percent) and more aggressive approach on the bases (12 to 38 SB) helped take his offensive value to another level, and he also slugged a career-high 17 home runs while playing his usual elite defense all over the San Diego infield.

The Padres think highly enough of his glovework that they have given him the starting shortstop job, shifting Xander Bogaerts to second base just one season into his 11-year, $280 million deal.

3B Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins9 of 16

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2023 Stats: 150 OPS+, .309/.372/.548, 22 XBH (15 HR), 52 RBI, 2.4 WAR

Since he was selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft, Royce Lewis has played in a grand total of 420 professional games.

The 24-year-old has only reached 100 games in a season twice, and he has played in 104 total games over the past two years between the minors and the big leagues. In other words, health is the single biggest X-factor in his pursuit of an All-Star selection and a true breakout performance.

His 2023 numbers were recorded over just 58 games, so there is superstar potential there if he can maintain that level of production over a full season. He has a clear path to the starting third base job and a prominent spot in the middle of the Minnesota Twins lineup.

OF Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets10 of 16

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2023 Stats: 127 OPS+, .274/.363/.466, 60 XBH (24 HR), 68 RBI, 3.9 WAR

Among active position players who have never made an All-Star appearance, only Kevin Kiermaier (35.5 WAR) ranks ahead of New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (21.0 WAR) in terms of career WAR.

The 30-year-old inked a new eight-year, $162 million prior to last offseason, then set career-high marks in hits (162), home runs (24), RBI (68) and total bases (276) while setting the table atop the Mets lineup.

Beneath the surface of those numbers, he also ranked among the MLB leaders in hard-hit rate (83rd percentile), average exit velocity (87th percentile) and chase rate (91st percentile), showing an advanced approach and quality batted-ball marks. In other words, more of the same should be coming in 2024.

SP Eury Pérez, Miami Marlins11 of 16

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2023 Stats: 19 GS, 5-6, 3.15 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 31 BB, 108 K, 91.1 IP, 2.5 WAR

The Miami Marlins treated Eury Pérez with kid gloves last season, limiting him to 91.1 innings in the big leagues by sending him back to the minors midway through his terrific rookie season, but they could turn him loose in 2024.

With workhorse ace Sandy Alcántara sidelined while he recovers from Tommy John surgery and Braxton Garrett slowed by shoulder soreness this spring, Pérez will be counted on to anchor the rotation alongside left-hander Jesus Luzardo who is also a candidate to be a first-time All-Star.

Still just 20 years old until April 15, the Marlins could still be careful not to overexpose him. At the same time, Pérez has arguably the highest ceiling of any up-and-coming pitcher in the game, and his first of many All-Star selections could come this year.

C Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners12 of 16

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2023 Stats: 112 OPS+, .232/.306/.456, 54 XBH (30 HR), 75 RBI, 3.2 WAR

A third-round pick in the 2018 draft out of Florida State, Cal Raleigh has quickly developed into one of the best all-around catchers in baseball, giving the Seattle Mariners the franchise backstop they have been lacking since the days of Dan Wilson.

The 27-year-old led all catchers with 30 home runs last year, and that came after he posted a 122 OPS+ with 27 home runs and 63 RBI during a breakout 2022 campaign, so he has already established himself as one of the best power hitters at the position.

He also ranks among the game’s best pitch-framers, threw out 26 percent of base-stealers last year and deserves a ton of credit for anchoring a young Seattle rotation that has emerged as one of the best in baseball.

SP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers13 of 16

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2023 Stats: 15 GS, 7-3, 2.80 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 14 BB, 102 K, 80.1 IP, 2.0 WAR

Tarik Skubal missed the first three months of the 2023 season recovering from flexor tendon surgery, and he had a few rocky starts in July while shaking off the rust, but he was one of the best pitchers in baseball over the season’s final two months.

Over his final 10 starts, he went 6-2 with a 2.15 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and a 75-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 58.2 innings, and his stuff was even better than his pre-injury form.

The 27-year-old averaged a career-high 95.8 mph with his fastball and generated an elite 50.6 percent whiff rate with his changeup, leaning more heavily on it as his primary secondary offering. Now he is poised to make the Opening Day starter atop a new-look Detroit Tigers rotation after Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty were added in free agency.

1B Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks14 of 16

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2023 Stats: 123 OPS+, .258/.333/.497, 71 XBH (33 HR), 103 RBI, 3.8 WAR

Christian Walker was a potential non-tender candidate after posting an 88 OPS+ and 0.5 WAR in 115 games during the 2021 season, but the Arizona Diamondbacks gave him another shot and he has been one of baseball’s best first basemen the last two years.

2022: 125 OPS+, 63 XBH (36 HR), 94 RBI, 5.1 WAR2023: 123 OPS+, 71 XBH (33 HR), 103 RBI, 3.8 WARThe 32-year-old has also won back-to-back NL Gold Glove Awards at first base, and his role as the primary run producer on a D-backs team that made a surprise run to the World Series should help elevate his profile.

The list of top-tier first basemen in the National League is a long one, so he will need to put together a strong first half to have a chance of earning a spot.

SP Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants15 of 16

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2023 Stats: 33 GS, 11-13, 3.25 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 31 BB, 194 K, 216.0 IP, 5.5 WAR

Logan Webb is the San Francisco Giants best homegrown starter since their system churned out Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner to set up their run of three World Series titles in a span of five years.

Over the past three seasons, Webb has posted a 3.07 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 515 strikeouts in 556.2 innings, good for sixth in the majors in innings pitched during that three-year span.

The 27-year-old had a 3.25 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in an MLB-leading 216 innings last year to finish runner-up in NL Cy Young balloting, and his 24 quality starts were tied with Gerrit Cole for the MLB lead.

There’s a strong case to be made that he is the best active pitcher who has never made an All-Star Game appearance.

SS Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals16 of 16

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2023 Stats: 120 OPS+, .276/.319/.495, 69 XBH (30 HR), 96 RBI, 49 SB, 4.4 WAR

Bobby Witt Jr. flashed his vast potential as a rookie in 2022 with a 20-homer, 30-steal season, though a .294 on-base percentage and some middling defensive metrics showed there was still work to be done on his development.

The 23-year-old took that next step forward last year, showing a more well-rounded offensive game while joining Alex Rodriguez (1998) and Jimmy Rollins (2007) as the only shortstops in MLB history with a 30-homer, 40-steal season.

The Royals rewarded him with an 11-year, $288.8 million extension, and the face of the franchise in Kansas City has the potential to be a fixture at the Midsummer Classic for the next decade.