Just a few video games into the Main League Baseball season, many gamers have sparkled on the diamond. However what participant on every staff has displayed long-term greatness (or potential long-term greatness) ok to be thought of a candidate for the Corridor of Fame?
Right here, Yardbarker MLB writers choose one participant on each Nationwide League staff who suits the class (or doubtlessly might).
Statistics are by Sunday’s video games.
NL East
ATLANTA BRAVES | LHP Chris Sale | Though it took till his 14th MLB season to safe his first Cy Younger Award, Sale has been among the best pitchers within the sport for greater than a decade. The 15-year veteran has a profession 3.04 ERA and a pair of,421 strikeouts (18th all time amongst lefties).
MIAMI MARLINS | RHP Sandy Alcantara | Not like Sale, Alcantara (41-55, 3.32 ERA) secured his first Cy Younger Award at 26 in 2022. If the two-time All-Star stays constant, he has the stuff to pave himself a path to the Corridor of Fame.
NEW YORK METS | SS Francisco Lindor | With a profession 49.8 WAR, two Gold Gloves and a Platinum Glove, Lindor could go down as among the best defensive shortstops of all time. The four-time All-Star’s offensive capabilities aren’t too shabby, both (.274 batting common and .816 OPS).
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES | 1B Bryce Harper | Is it doable to be a shoo-in for the Corridor of Fame once you’re drafted? Dubbed baseball’s “chosen one” earlier than even enjoying within the massive leagues, Harper has lived as much as the billing by incomes two MVPs, a Rookie of the Yr award, 4 Silver Sluggers and an NLCS MVP. All that’s lacking from the resume of the eight-time All-Star and Residence Run Derby champ is a World Sequence ring.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS | LF James Wooden | How can a 22-year-old who has appeared in simply 82 big-league video games be a major HOF candidate? There’s a variety of projecting right here, in fact, however Wooden has the instruments to be productive on the MLB degree for a very long time; his pace and energy could quickly earn him accolades. — Lauren Amour
NL West
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | OF Druw Jones | But to advance above Excessive-A earlier than this season, the 21-year-old has great pedigree (his father Andruw is knocking on the HOF door). The second total decide within the 2022 MLB Draft has the talents to make a big effect on the plate and within the area.
COLORADO ROCKIES | SS Ezequiel Tovar | In his first full MLB season in 2024, the 23-year-old completed with 75 extra-base hits, rating second in that class within the Nationwide League, behind solely Most Precious Participant Shohei Ohtani’s 99. He additionally grew to become simply the fifth shortstop in MLB historical past to hit 26 homers throughout his age-22-or- youthful season, becoming a member of Corey Seager, Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken Jr. and Willie Wells.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS | DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani | The Dodgers have a number of candidates for Cooperstown, however how can anybody go towards one of the best participant in baseball? In his seven earlier MLB seasons, Ohtani has three MVP awards and made historical past by turning into the primary participant to hit 50 homers (slamming 54) and stealing greater than 50 bases (swiping 59) final season.
SAN DIEGO PADRES | 3B Manny Machado | Now in his 14th MLB season, the 32-year-old has loads of time to construct on his Cooperstown resume. Machado wants eight homers to succeed in 350 and 97 hits to succeed in the magical 2,000 milestone, numbers that will make HOF voters take much more observe of an distinctive profession.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | RHP Justin Verlander | The 42-year-old is the energetic chief in quite a few pitching classes, together with wins (262), innings (3,420.2) and bWAR (Wins Above Alternative, per Baseball Reference, 80.5). Verlander has three Cy Younger Awards, an MVP award and two World Sequence titles throughout his 20-year MLB profession. — Kevin Henry
NL Central
CHICAGO CUBS | SP Shota Imanaga | As a rookie final season, Imanaga made a powerful impression, ending fourth within the NL Cy Younger voting and fifth within the NL Rookie of the Yr race. Plus, he earned an All-Star Sport spot and completed 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 29 begins.
CINCINNATI REDS | SS Elly De La Cruz | By his first two years within the majors, De La Cruz has showcased a uncommon mixture of pace and ability, making him one of many hotter names within the majors. In 261 video games, the 23-year-old switch-hitter has 106 extra-base hits and 102 stolen bases, together with an MLB-leading 67 final season.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS | OF Jackson Chourio | The Brewers believe in MLB’s No. 1 prospect, signing him to an eight-year, $82M contract earlier than he made his MLB debut. As a rookie in 2024, he made MLB historical past because the youngest player with a 20-home run, 20-stolen base season and have become the one participant apart from Babe Ruth to hit two game-tying home runs in a postseason sport.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES | RHP Paul Skenes | In lower than two years, Skenes went from No. 1 total decide within the MLB Draft to beginning within the All-Star Sport, profitable NL Rookie of the Year and putting third within the NL Cy Younger voting. He completed his rookie season 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 begins in 2024.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS | 3B Nolan Arenado | One of many best gloves in baseball historical past, Arenado has a transparent path to Cooperstown. Now in his thirteenth MLB season at 33, he has put collectively many accolades (eight All-Star alternatives, 5 Silver Slugger Awards, 10 Gold Gloves and six Platinum Gloves — probably the most by any participant in MLB historical past). — Taylor Bretl
