MLB Rankings: Five Best Hitters 22 or Younger
MLB is filled with young superstars that are already making themselves household names in their early 20’s.
Major League Baseball is currently blessed with an elite pool of talent that is 22 years old or younger. Legends like Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, and Mike Trout were all dominant that early in their careers, posting impressive numbers during their age 22 season or earlier. All of them were MLB All-Stars before the age of 22.
All of these players proved themselves at such a young age and they all have something in common; they went on to have long and prosperous careers.
Dominance at such a young age, something that used to be a rarity, is something that has become a common theme in today’s league.
Narrowing down the talented players 22 years old or younger was not easy. Here are the honorable mentions for the best hitters 22 or younger.
Ozzie Albies, 2B, ATL
Ozzie Albies falling short of the top five just illustrates how many great hitters there are that are 22 or younger.
In his already third season, Albies led the National League in hits and at-bats. He batted .295 and stole 15 bases, both 10th respectively in the NL.
The 22-year-old hit 24 home runs for the second consecutive season, while driving in 86 runs, slugging 43 doubles though 160 games.
The All-Star second baseman improved his consistency at the plate in 2019. He raised his average 34 points compared to last season while appearing at the plate 16 more times this season.
Albies has already proven to be an emerging star in this league and is one of the long-team pieces of the consecutive National League East champion Atlanta Braves, as he signed seven-year, $35 million extension prior to this season.
Vlad Guerrero Jr., 3B, TOR
As he is an honorable mention for this list in 2019, Guerrero Jr. has a strong chance to be at the top of this ranking at the end of next season.
His explosive power was on display at the 2019 Home Run Derby when he broke the record for most home runs in a derby with 91.
The 20-year-old had 126 hits, 15 home runs and 98 RBI, while batting .272. These stats are beyond impressive for somebody this young. However, Guerrero has not reached his potential yet. His development will continue as he ages, and he is going to get better and better throughout his career.
2020 will be his first full season and everybody is looking forward to seeing what kind of numbers he puts up in his age 21 season.
Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, SDP
Despite missing most of his rookie season, Tatis Jr. displayed his ability to be a five-tool player. He was swift with great range at shortstop, quick on the base paths, and hit for both power and average.
Through 84 games, the shortstop has 106 hits, 22 home runs, 53 RBI, and 16 stolen bases, while batting .317 with an OPS of .969. This was pure dominance through just over half a season.
Just like Guerrero Jr., he is 20 years old and the best has yet to come. He is far from his ceiling and has more potential to fulfill.
As San Diego searches for a new manager, they look forward to the return of Tatis Jr. and hope to make 2020 a brighter season.
5. Gleyber Torres, 2B/SS, NYY
Gleyber Torres posted impressive numbers in 2019 and was one of the most consistent hitters for the AL East champions, the New York Yankees.
In his second season, the two-time All-Star hit 38 home runs, drove in 90 runs, scored 96 runs and had an OPS. of 871. He was sixth in the American League in home runs.
Torres is only the second Yankee to hit 30 plus home runs in a single season at the age of 22 or younger, joining Joe DiMaggio who hit 46 home runs in 1937.
He adds more value to the Yankees’ lineup because he has been a better hitter when there are runners on base.
In 2019, he hit .278. When runners were on base, he hit .306. When there were runners in scoring position, he was a .344 hitter, with 11 of his home runs coming with RISP.
This early in his career, he has already proven to be clutch and able to come up big during important moments of the game.
Torres showed a glimpse of being an MVP candidate and has shown he has immense power. Only 22, he has shown he can carry a team and power a division-winning lineup.
4. Yordan Alvarez, DH/LF, HOU
Yordan Alvarez is one of the most anticipated players in the 2019 postseason. His regular season campaign was jaw-dropping.
Through 87 games, the 22-year-old slugger had 27 home runs, drove in 78 runs, batted .313 with an OPS of 1.067. If Alvarez had enough at-bats to qualify, he would be second in the American League in OPS. and be fourth for batting average.
Alvarez had an unbelievable 87 game stretch. After his debut in early June, he ranked second in the American League in RNIS, third in on-base percentage and slugging and fourth in OPS.
He put up crazy numbers and most of that is due to his phenomenal pitch recognition. Alvarez knows how to identify the zone and dominate pitches on the inner half and above the waste. He really knows how to get under a ball and drive it far.
Breaking multiple Houston Astros rookie records, including their franchise rookie home run record, he surpassed Ted Williams’ record set in 1939 for runs batted in in his first 45 games, by driving in 51 runs.
Already an electric and dangerous hitter, he looks to contribute to the Astros’ postseason dominance and bring the World Series trophy back to the city of Houston.
3. Rafael Devers, 3B, BOS
If you look at Rafael Devers’ 2019 statistics, it is crazy to think he is not the best hitter 22 or younger. In his third season for the Red Sox, he was one of the best hitters in the American League.
Leading the American League in double, he also ranked fifth in batting average, fourth in RBI, second in runs scored and hits, and ninth in OPS. and slugging percentage. Only one other player recorded over 200 hits this season, the other being Whit Merrifield.
Devers did all that at the age of 22. It is a crime that he was not an All-Star this season, but there was so much competition at third base in July.
Despite the Boston Red Sox missing the playoffs, Devers is going to be high on many ballots for the AL Most Valuable Player award.
The American League East should be scared that Devers is only 22. He is going to be a pest for the whole entire league for a long time. He emerged as a superstar in 2019. He could be a favorite for the MVP award heading into the 2020 season.
Demonstrating both power and average at the plate, Devers is a dangerous threat and could be one of the best hitters in the game within the next few seasons.
2. Juan Soto, LF, WSN
The 20-year-old phenomenon put on a show in 2019. He was even more impressive than his 2018 campaign when he was just 19. The Nationals’ superstar hit .284 with and had a .949. OPS.
Soto was a huge reason why Washington was so successful this season and why they are currently playing in the National League Division Series.
Barely into his twenties, he was already one of the better hitters in the National League. In the NL, he ranked ninth in RBI, seventh in runs scored, third in walks, and sixth in OPS. Soto will be a threat in NL East, and the whole league, for a long time.
With 34 home runs this season, Soto became the seventh MLB player in history to reach 30 home runs before his 21st birthday.
He was huge in the Wild Card Game, delivering go-ahead RBI single in the 8th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Soto is another player who was snubbed of an All-Star game appearance in 2019, despite turning plenty of heads this year. The Dominican Republic native could be even more impressive when he is 21. The Washington Nationals look to have Soto for the long haul, and he is going to be a huge part of their franchise moving forward.
1. Ronald Acuna Jr., CF, ATL
The 2018 National League Rookie of the Year properly transitioned into an MVP candidate this season. Likely to finish in the top five on the NL MVP ballot, Acuna had a ridiculous 2019 season and helped the Atlanta Braves with their second consecutive NL East title.
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The 21-year-old All-Star was an all-around player in 2019. He became the youngest major leaguer ever to enter to 40-30 club, after finishing the season with 41 home runs and an NL-best 37 stolen bases.
The Venezuela-native finished fourth in the NL in home runs, 10th in RBI, and first in runs scored, plate-appearances, and stolen bases.
Even though his first full season in the majors did not disappoint in the slightest, he does have areas where he needs to improve. His main concern is the amount he strikeouts and his lack of hustle. He has shown he has the speed and needs to utilize it more. He had way too many 330-foot singles.
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Acuna is a young slugger who dominates breaking pitches. With over 40 home runs in his age-21 season, Acuna has the brightest future ahead of him out of all the players 22 or younger. He is drawing crazy comparisons already and his 2020 season will indicate his superstar trajectory.