MLB: Top 10 Hot Starts by Veterans Age 30 and Above

There are so many young superstars in Major League Baseball in 2017. But everyone knows the importance of a strong veteran presence. Let’s take a look at 10 veterans age 30 and above who are off to fast starts and have their teams overflowing with hope.

Baseball is a game that can be cruel to players once they reach the age of 30. At some point everyone hits a wall and their skill set begins to diminish. Hitting a major league pitch is arguably the most difficult single act in all of sports, so losing a tick on a player’s fast twitch muscle response can dramatically reduce a veteran’s effectiveness.

The average MLB player peaks in hitting performance at age 27, while elite players peak at age 26. Some very famous players including Albert Pujols have recently fallen off dramatically at age 30, creating some very bad long-term contracts. Baseball, like so many things today, is a young man’s game. The violence with which the modern player swings at a pitch makes it difficult to remain at the top for very long. Most players see a dramatic drop-off around age 30.

Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Nolan Arenado are young players still on their way up. Most players sign a rookie contract and then get one chance to sign a huge contract based on their performance from ages 21 to 25 or so. Few ever get a chance to sign another large contract because most players begin to fade after 27. But even so, 10 veterans are off to surprisingly hot starts.