Major League Baseball’s 10 Most Intriguing Players

Jun 25, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets injured starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) throws a session in the outfield before a game against the Oakland Athletics at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

10. Matt Harvey, SP, Mets
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Mets’ future starting rotation, but its legacy relies on Harvey’s health. The 25-year-old has traveled a long road back from Tommy John surgery. He gets his chance to prove if he can still be an elite ace in 2015.

Before his injury, Harvey was 12-10 with a 2.39 ERA in 36 starts from 2012-2013. He was one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant pitchers in the game, surrendering a league-best 0.4 home runs per nine innings pitched in 2013. His strikeouts-to-walks ratio was third-best in the game at 6.161.

Paired with NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Harvey could solidify the Mets’ front-end rotation as one of the most potent in all of baseball. The right-hander must prove he’s healthy above all else, however, and that starts in Spring Training.

Sep 20, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) singles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

9. Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox
Something tells me Abreu’s rookie campaign was only the tip of the iceberg for the Cuban product. The White Sox built this season’s team with the 28-year-old as the cornerstone for a franchise suddenly set to compete for the foreseeable future.

Abreu crushed it last season, hitting .317 with 36 home runs and 107 runs batted in. He led the league in slugging and OPS and was properly awarded as the AL Rookie of the Year for his dominance.

It was thought that teams might figure out how to stop him as the season wore on, but they never did and Abreu only got it better along the way. If his ascension continues, he could be a viable candidate to give Mike Trout a run for his money in the 2015 AL MVP race.

Sep 27, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws during the first inning inning against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

8. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals
Strasburg is something of an enigma this season. His health will forever be a concern and it’s unknown if he’ll even still be a member of the Nationals when the 2015 season gets underway.

What’s more important is whether or not he can “bounce back” from a frustrating season in which he finished with a 3.14 ERA and led all pitchers with 242 strikeouts. Strasburg has not lived up to the immense hype around him when he was first drafted by the Nationals, but he certainly hasn’t underperformed.

At 26 years old and another year removed from Tommy John surgery, he should only improve in 2015. For what team that improvement might come is more intriguing. Speculation is abound with rumors and potential fits for the right-handed fireballer. With Max Scherzer now in time, there is likely an odd man out in Washington and because of his age, talent, injury history and potential, Strasburg seems to be the favorite to get shipped out.

Sep 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) is shown after the bottom of the fifth inning of their game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Pirates won 10-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

7. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
Two years removed from an NL MVP season and now with two consecutive playoff appearances for the Pirates, the 28-year-old McCutchen will look to lead his team further than they’ve gone in 23 years.

The Pirates’ center fielder has firmly established himself among the game’s best players, posting three consecutive .300-plus hitting seasons and leading the league in on-base percentage in 2014 at .410. He can hit for power, too, with four straight seasons of over 20 home runs.

There’s no question the Pirates will need their pitching staff to improve if they’re ever going to survive a competitive NL Central division, but they have a valuable asset in McCutchen to put them in position.

October 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) reacts after scoring a run in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

6. Yasiel Puig, OF, Dodgers
Puig is easily one of the most polarizing figures in baseball, with his flair for the dramatic in the clubhouse and on the baseball diamond. His disappointing NLDS performance now in the rearview mirror, the Dodgers will need him at the top of their game if they’re going to repeat as NL West champion and vie for the franchise’s first World Series appearance since 1988.

The 24-year-old right fielder is coming off two spectacular seasons to kick off his professional baseball career in the United States. Last year, he hit .296/.382/.480 with 16 home runs and 69 runs batted in in 640 plate appearances. His production was not quite as explosive as when he burst on the scene as a rookie in June of 2013, still he has proven to be a reliably consistent hitter who is beaming with value and potential in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup.

As Mark McGwire told the Los Angeles Times before Spring Training got underway, Puig is a legitimate MVP contender and will remain as long as he learns to consistently produce over the course of a full season. He slipped toward the end of last season. Will he be able to keep his focus through August, September and potentially into the postseason in 2015?

Jan 21, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (left) shakes hands with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo (right) during a press conference introducing Scherzer as a member of the Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

5. Max Scherzer, SP, Nationals
No one has more pressure on them to succeed immediately than Scherzer. The talented right-handed pitcher signed a seven-year, $210 million deal to join the Nationals this winter with one goal in mind: win a championship.

Anything less will make the signing of Scherzer a failure to both Scherzer and the Nationals, who are the favorites to win the World Series following his acquisition. The 30-year-old ace is expected to be the player who can push Washington over the hump surrounded by a bevy championship-caliber talent.

Scherzer has been electric the last three seasons in Detroit, winning 55 games with a 3.24 ERA and averaging an outstanding 241 strikeouts per season. He won the AL Cy Young Award in 2013, but Scherzer will need to be even better in 2015 and onward if he’s going to help elevate the Nationals to World Series champions in the near future.

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) singles against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers
Cabrera is a perennial MVP candidate and that in itself makes him an intriguing player worth watching. But with the departure of a handful of key players for the Tigers in recent years, the team now rests solely on his back to guide Detroit into the postseason once again.

Cabrera was still a solid player last season, though he was hardly as phenomenal as he was in 2012 and 2013. The Tigers have him on contract for a long time at hefty price. They need him to perform at his very best for at least a little while before Detroit devolves into what Sports on Earth’s Will Leitch predicts will be much like the Phillies have been since their National League Championship team in 2009.

The loss of Scherzer is a severe blow that will need to compensated for by the Tigers’ output at the plate. That starts with Cabrera, who has averaged 36 home runs, 122 runs batted in, 42 doubles and a .333 batting average over the past four seasons.

Oct 7, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning during game four of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

3. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers
Far and away the best pitcher in baseball, Kershaw has enjoyed plenty of individual successes. After another dismal postseason effort, however, the focus is on seeing him delivering when it matters most and helping the Dodgers exceed championship expectations that have been placed upon them for the last few seasons.

The 26-year-old has staked his claim as one of the greatest to ever grace a pitching mound, winning the NL Cy Young Award in three of the last four seasons. Now, it’s a matter of translating that regular-season dominance into postseason achievements.

Finally getting over the hump and challenging for a World Series title would push the franchise in the right direction. With a ton of young talent on its way up, the Dodgers might have some time to win, but they’re built to do so right now. There’s no reason they shouldn’t with Kershaw on the mound.

Sep 1, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

2. Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Marlins
If not for a pitch that got a bit too far inside on him and his unfortunately awful team, this power-hitting righty may have been the NL MVP last season. Moving past this incident (BEWARE: not for those with weak stomachs), would be Stanton’s first triumph. Once he does that, it’s time to focus on the task at hand.

The Marlins inked him to a 13-year, $325 million deal this winter with the promise that they’d build around him. That’s yet to be seen, but whether or not the Marlins deliver, Stanton must continue to play at an elite level to at least give his team a chance to compete in the NL East division.

Stanton is coming off a spectacular season during which he appeared in 145 games, launching a league-high 37 home runs into the stands while driving in 105 runs. He also hit .288 and led the league in slugging at .555. There is reason for concern, however.

The 25-year-old right fielder has yet to play a full season in his Major League career. He appeared well on his way before taking a baseball to the face last season, so there’s that. Still, it would be nice to see if Stanton can avoid injury for one full calendar and avoid getting labeled as an injury prone player.

Sep 26, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

1. Mike Trout, OF, Angels
The defending AL MVP is the game’s best player. His prowess at the plate, on the bases and in the field is unparalleled by all other player’s in Major League Baseball. Now that he has finally staked claim to the crown, all eyes will be on him to see if he can remain.

The Angels’ playoff hopes ride on him. They were finally able to claim the AL West title last season, boasting the league’s best record. Unfortunately, they crumbled during the postseason, but with Trout leading the way, they have a great opportunity to take the next step in 2015.

He hit .287/.377/.561 with 36 home runs and a league-leading 111 runs batted in. It wasn’t his best season, but that’s really saying something about Trout’s potential. Trout is the franchise’s presence and future, which means the Angels should continue to contend no matter what happens with oft-injured Josh Hamilton or declining veteran Albert Pujols.

Next: Can Shelby Miller bounce back in 2015?

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