MLB All-Star Break: 5 Things we’ve learned midway through 2015
2. A youth movement is happening across MLB
Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Astros have a 20-year-old super prospect in shortstop Carlos Correa currently swallowing up big league pitching. The thing is, the Astros finished second last in the AL West last season with only 70 wins. This year, according to ESPN, they are fielding the second youngest roster of any MLB team while holding a division lead in the AL West from April 19 to July 11. Right now, they sit only half a game back of the Angels.
It’s not just the Astros and Correa, though. Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are in their early twenties but have been performing like players in their prime years for multiple seasons now. Joc Pederson and Trout might be two of the best center fielder’s in the game today, and both Los Angeles outfielders don’t turn 24 until next season.
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The list goes on with young, talented players making the moves to the pros at an early age and finding enough success to stick on 25-man rosters. Again, there’s Bryant and Addison Russell with the Cubs, Devon Travis with the Blue Jays and Billy Burns with the Athletics to add to the list of standout rookies alongside Pederson. All are 25 years of age or younger.
The Tampa Bay Rays were scarcely thought to be preseason contenders in the AL East this year. They have the second youngest roster in the division after only Baltimore but currently reside only 3.5 games back of the division lead, once more proving that youth and vitality for the game are good things to have.
Players aged 25 or younger have accounted for 379 of the league’s 2,521 home runs hit so far this season — or 15 percent — and leading the way is 25-year-old Giancarlo Stanton with 27, followed by 22-year-old Harper with 26 tying the same mark set by 23-year-old Trout.
The re-building Atlanta Braves look to be off to a great start with their strategy as well. Despite having by far the youngest rotation in the league, they have three starters aged 24 or younger with ERAs of 3.10 or better.
Even the All-Star Game itself is no exception, with youngsters landing on respective rosters beginning to be a typical trend. There are 20 players aged 25 or younger who will represent the AL and NL squads in the Midsummer Classic this year.
Next: Be more like the St. Louis Cardinals