After coming off an offensively challenged year for MLB, 2015 has featured a plethora of young talented sluggers at the plate.
By Robby Sabo
This mark was the lowest offensive production seen since the 1972 season’s miserable .244 clip.
In addition, an average of .86 home runs were hit per team each game a season ago. The last time we saw less home runs in baseball, we have to go back to the Bush administration.
No, not George W. We’re talking Bush Sr. in 1992 as he gave way to the Democrat. That season saw only .72 home runs a game per team.
So, considering 2014 was all about the pitcher, commissioner Rob Manfred must be doing handstands about what’s transpired so far in 2015.
While the overall batting average is only up to .252, the power numbers have seen an uptick at .94 per team per game.
Like previously mentioned, handstands for Manfred, because after all, chicks dig the long-ball.
Helping these matters is the new crop of young sluggers Major League Baseball has welcomed in recently. And they’ve arrived in just the nick of time with guys like Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and soon enough, Miguel Cabrera, slowly fading away.
Some guys have been around for a couple years while others are brand new to The Show. However, all of them are 25 years of age or younger.
Here are the Top 10 young sluggers in MLB:
10. George Springer (25), 8 HR
Coming in at No. 10 is the power hitter for the Houston Astros, George Springer.
The front office and fan-base both waited a while for Springer to make his MLB debut, but once he did in 2014 he quickly reminded everybody that he was worth the wait.
Springer smashed his way to a marvelous rookie campaign. In only 295 at bats, Springer put 20 balls over the fences while driving in 51 runs.
This season has been no different. He already has eight homers and 21 RBI including an improving batting average.
Teaming with second-baseman Jose Altuve and newcomer Carlos Correa, Springer should be on a winner in Houston for a long time moving forward.
9. Anthony Rizzo (25), 11 HR
As one of the veterans of this group, Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is already as established as they come.
The man that Theo Epstein decided to build his franchise around already has compiled 82 dingers during his brief 497-game career.
His silky-smooth swing looks effortless, yet generates more power than just about anybody in the game.
8. Manny Machado (22), 11 HR
Well, we knew it would happen eventually, and it turned out we were right.
We, of course, are talking about the eventual breakout for Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado.
This kid oozes talent, not only with the bat, but in the field as well. He can hit for average, power and even swipe a few bases if need be.
His 11 home runs this season is already only three away from his career-high of 14 in 2013 which saw the 20-year old make the All-Star Game.
The only thing that has derailed Machado from breaking out sooner – although he’s still a ridiculous 22 – is health.
7. Joey Gallo (21), 4 HR
If this was a list based purely on baseball acumen then Joey Gallo might not come at No. 7. I mean, come on now, he’s only been in the bigs for a short-while.
Fortunately for him (and everybody else), the kid has such a wealth of power potential that he easily comes in at this spot with ease.
Texas Rangers management couldn’t wait to unleash this beast on the nation, and now that they have, other clubs are scurrying for cover.
This kid homered in his second career MLB at-bat and already has four round-trippers in just 46 career plate appearances.
6. Kris Bryant (23), 7 HR
It’s interesting that, although Kris Bryant hasn’t failed to meet expectations, he hasn’t exceeded expectations like most thought he would.
Still, this guy is the real deal.
Coming in at No. 6, Bryant is the second Chicago Cubs player to be found on this list.
His pure power marvels even the top slugging onlooker. In just 236 career plate appearances during his young MLB career, Bryant has already tallied seven home runs and 35 runs batted in while hitting a pretty poultry .294.
Once 2015 is all said and done, Bryant could easily be a Top 3 guy on this list, even an MVP candidate come 2016.
5. Nolan Arenado (24), 16 HR
Coming as a shock to most I assume, Colorado Rockies stellar third-baseman Nolan Arenado comes in one spot ahead of Bryant.
As good as Arenado is with his bat, he’s that much better on the field. In fact, most would say he’s the best pure infielder in the game today.
Regardless, this is a power list and Arenado fits the bill to a tee.
16 home runs already on the young season (11th in the majors) and 44 career dingers in just 304 games has this guy close to the top of the youth power mountain.
4. Bryce Harper (22), 21 HR
Wasn’t it Bryce Harper who was voted as the most overrated player by his peers this past offseason?
Yes, it was.
How quickly things change.
A bigger explosion we have not seen. Harper burst out of the 2015 gates simply on fire. It’s carried him to obscene total of 21 home runs, only one shy of his career-high of 22 his rookie year in 2012.
To be frank, and this is what I didn’t understand about the overrated talk, Harper’s only kryptonite has been injuries. There’s nothing overrated about the guy. He simply needs to stay healthy.
Harper is equipped with one of the more classical swings in baseball. Not to mention a cannon of an arm.
3. Joc Pederson (23), 17 HR
If Harper is surprise No. 1 of this young MLB season, then Joc Pederson is right on his tail.
We all knew this kid was nasty and coming fast. We all knew he had a great chance of being a star. However, only Andrew Friedman and the powers that be of the Los Angeles Dodgers thought this type of offensive productivity during his rookie campaign was actually possible.
I guess trading Matt Kemp to San Diego was the best move after all?
Pederson has already collected 17 home runs during his brief 80-game career.
2. Giancarlo Stanton (25), 23 HR
How could the guy who led the NL in home runs last year with 37 and currently leads baseball this year with 23 not be this close to the top?
Only if he was over 25 would he not make the list.
Giancarlo Stanton, however, is still remarkably young at 25 years of age.
He is unarguably the top pure power hitter in the game. The only reason he comes in No. 2 on the list instead of No. 1 is because the top guy is a tad younger and is hands-down the top baseball player on the planet.
1. Mike Trout (23), 18 HR
At this point it feels as though Los Angeles Angels stud Mike Trout has been in Major League Baseball for a decade.
He’s won an AL MVP, three Silver Sluggers, a Hank Aaron award, a Rookie of the Year and has been named to three All-Star teams.
What has this guy not done aside from winning a World Series?
Trout is the true definition of a five-tool player. He has speed, arm strength, hits for average, is brilliant defensively, and of course, hits for incredible power.
Already with 18 home runs on the 2015 season, Trout is already over the 100 home run milestone (116) in only 556 career games.
Oh yeah, he’s only 23.
Photo by apardavila