10. Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds
In his age 26 season, Suarez broke out for the Reds. He slashed .283/.366/.526 with 34 home runs and 104 RBI. He earned his first All-Star appearance, setting career highs in homers, RBI, OPS, and slugging percentage.
Suarez’ breakout entering his prime is part of the reason the Cincinnati Reds felt confident adding pieces like Yasiel Puig and Sonny Gray in an effort to end their long rebuild.
What stands out most about Suarez is the type of contact he consistently makes. When making contact with a pitch, Suarez made “soft contact” just 8.4% of the time, among the lowest in the league. Meanwhile, his hard contact rate was almost 50%, and in a ballpark like Great American, this should only be the beginning of Suarez’ breakout.
9. Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics
It can be argued that Chapman should be higher on this list, but given the strength of the position, it is admittedly difficult to place him higher. But at just 25 years old and having a breakout year in 2018 with .278/.356/.508 and 24 home runs.
His walk rate of nearly 10% and a strikeout rate in the low 20s tells us that he has an above average approach at the plate too, which should allow him future success. Chapman’s contract is also well above average, with a 57% hard-hit rate, and fly ball rate above 40%.
Defensively Chapman is a complete star, with 29 DRS and a 9.4 UZR last year, earning his first Gold Glove award in his only full season.
Chapman has already started the 2019 MLB season with a bang too, hitting a home run against the Mariners in the opening series in Japan last week, and the A’s third baseman could be on his way to his first All-Star appearance.