Arizona Diamondbacks — Corbin Carroll
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 25 HR, 76 RBI, 54 SB, .285/.362/.506
The 2023 National League champions don’t have a surefire Hall of Famer on their roster. However, the ’23 NL Rookie of the Year is the best bet to one day reach the Hall. Carroll was sensational throughout his debut season. He showcased his immense talent at the plate, on the basepaths, and in the field. Despite being a smaller player, Carroll possesses plenty of pop. Additionally, the young D-Back is one of the fastest players in baseball. If his rookie season is any indication of his future, Carroll could one day find himself enshrined in Cooperstown.
Atlanta Braves — Ronald Acuna Jr.
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 161 HR, 402 RBI, 767 H, 180 SB, .292/.381/.537
Atlanta has a roster stacked with All-Stars. However, Ronald Acuna Jr. is easily the best of the group. The 2018 National League Rookie of the Year reached new heights in 2023 en route to winning the National League MVP. Acuna Jr. led baseball in multiple categories — runs (149), hits (217), stolen bases (73), and OBP (.416). Taking advantage of the rule changes put in place before the season, the superstar fully showcased his ability on the basepaths — breaking his previous career-high by 36 steals. Capable of hitting for power and average, Acuna is a force at the plate. If he continues to play at this level, he will certainly reach the Hall of Fame.
Baltimore Orioles — Adley Rutschman
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 33 HR, 122 RBI, 264 H, .268/.369/.439
Taken No. 1 overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, Adley Rutschman is the player Baltimore will build around moving forward. One of the best players in the game, Rutschman projects to be an elite catcher for years to come. While playing at collegiate powerhouse Oregon State, Rutschman slugged 28 HR, batted in 174 runs, and slashed .352/.473/.559 over three seasons.
A switch-hitter, the young catcher has an advanced approach at the plate — and he has certainly proved to be a stud at the MLB level. Defensively, Rutschman is elite. He calls a good game, is quick behind the dish, and has a cannon for an arm that limits the running game.
Boston Red Sox — Kenley Jansen
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 420 saves, 45-34, 2.52 ERA, 1159 SO
Boston’s future Hall of Famer built his legacy across the country. At his peak, Kenley Jansen was the game’s best closer and possessed baseball’s best cutter since Mariano Rivera. From 2010-17, Jansen posted a 2.08 ERA with 230 saves and a 0.872 WHIP. The star closer struck out 14.0 batters per nine innings, and finished fifth for the NL Cy Young — and 15th for MVP — in ’17. An intimidating presence on the mound, Jansen has implemented more off-speed pitches in recent years as his velocity has dipped. By the time his career comes to an end, Jansen could become the third closer to reach 500 saves.
Chicago Cubs — Dansby Swanson
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 124 HR, 491 RBI, 913 H, .253/.322/.417
Dansby Swanson has had quite the journey thus far in his career. A 38th-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, Swanson opted to play at Vanderbilt University and ultimately was the No. 1 overall pick in 2015. The Diamondbacks traded the top pick to Atlanta, and that is where Swanson developed into an All-Star. The star came into his own in 2020, helped lead the Braves to a World Series triumph in ’21, and signed a massive deal with the Chicago Cubs following a stellar ’22 season.
Swanson is a great defender — back-to-back Gold Glove in ’22 and ’23 — and is one of the top hitting shortstops in the game. His game should carry over into the latter stages of his career and we can envision him making a push for the Hall.
Chicago White Sox — Luis Robert Jr.
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 74 HR, 210 RBI, 392 H, .279/.327/.500
Moving forward, Robert Jr. has a great opportunity to cement himself as the team’s premier star. He can hit bombs, runs the bases with ease, plays good defense, and can make most throws. In 2023, Chicago’s top player finally put it all together. The star was hampered by injuries in both ’21 and ’22, and only played a total of 166 games over the two seasons. Robert Jr. was great in ’21 before his season came to an end. In ’23, his power stroke was fully realized — Robert Jr. hit 38 homers, 36 doubles and posted a .542 SLG. If he remains healthy, Robert Jr. should be able to compete for MVP honors in the future.
Cincinnati Reds — Elly De La Cruz
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 13 HR, 44 RBI, 91 H, 35 SB, .235/.300/.410
Cincinnati appears to be a team on the rise following the 2023 season, and it has a handful of promising young players in its organization. With that being said, De La Cruz appears to have the highest ceiling of them all. The Dominican star debuted at the age of 21 and immediately showcased his immense skill. At 6-foot-5, De La Cruz possesses a ton of pop — and also has elite speed. He struggled a bit down the stretch when opposing teams learned how to attack him at the plate, but he still finished with 13 HR, 35 stolen bases and seven triples in 98 games. As De La Cruz adjusts to MLB pitching, he will blossom into one of the game’s elite players.
Cleveland Guardians — Jose Ramirez
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 216 HR, 746 RBI, 1327 H, 202 SB, .279/.355/.499
Ramirez has solidified his place among the top position players in the sport. The 5-foot-9 infielder generates immense power in his compact frame (having already slugged 216 home runs in his short career). There have been slumps in the past, but Ramirez’s hot streaks are unlike any other player. JoRam has four top-four finishes for the AL MVP — including a runner-up finish in 2020. Ramirez is a great all-around player and continues to excel in nearly every facet of the game. When it’s all said and done, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Guardian make the Hall.
Colorado Rockies — Kris Bryant
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 182 HR, 532 RBI, 1033 H, .276/.371/.492
Two years into his career, Kris Bryant seemed to be on the fast-track to the Hall of Fame. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Bryant debuted with the Chicago Cubs in 2015 and promptly won the National League Rookie of the Year en route to leading the Cubs to the NLCS. The following year, Bryant won the NL MVP and the Cubs won the World Series — ending Chicago’s 108-year drought. Since that time, Bryant has gone to just two more All-Star Games, and has one top-7 MVP finish. Injuries have severely hampered his career, as he hasn’t played more than 80 games the past two seasons. Still, he represents Colorado’s best bet to reach the Hall one day.
Detroit Tigers — Spencer Torkelson
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 39 HR, 122 RBI, 214 H, .222/.302/.399
With Miguel Cabrera retiring after the 2023 season, Detroit is without a surefire Hall of Famer. Javier Baez has fallen off a cliff since leaving the Chicago Cubs. However, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Spencer Torkelson, has a chance to become a superstar. Torkelson was lauded for his power while playing for Arizona State, and it certainly appeared in Torkelson’s second season. After hitting just eight home runs as a rookie in 2022, Detroit’s first baseman launched 31 dingers in Year 2. The former pick has 50-HR power and could very well end his career with 400+ homers. If he does, the Hall may call.
Houston Astros — Justin Verlander
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 257-141, 3.24 ERA, 3342 SO
Houston has a few future Hall of Famers on its roster, but Justin Verlander is the surest bet. As a rookie for the Tigers in 2006, Verlander went 17-9, won the Rookie of the Year, and finished seventh for the Cy Young. With a looping curveball and smoking fastball, Verlander blitzed the American League in 2011 en route to winning both the Cy Young and MVP. During his Triple Crown year, Verlander won 24 games, posted a 2.40 ERA, and struck out 250 batters. More than a decade later, the righty has three Cy’s to his name and three second-place finishes.
Kansas City Royals — Salvador Perez
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 246 HR, 812 RBI, 1411 H, .267/.300/.459
Barring a surprise, Salvador Perez is likely to be with the Royals for the rest of his career. A key cog of Kansas City’s World Series-winning team in 2015, Perez has built a reputation as being one of the best all-around catchers in the game.
Perez is an eight-time All-Star who is capable of changing a game with his bat and glove. He is a five-time Gold Glove winner behind the plate and has taken home four Silver Sluggers. Perez also took home WS MVP honors in ’15 thanks to his efforts behind home and his .364 BA.
Los Angeles Angels — Mike Trout
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 368 HR, 940 RBI, 1624 H, 206 SB, .301/.412/.582
The Angels have featured a few future first-ballot Hall of Famers in recent seasons — Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Shohei Ohtani. Entering next season, Trout is the only one that remains on the team. Once the undisputed best player in the game, Trout is well on his way to becoming a top-15 player in MLB history. Aside from his gaudy numbers, Trout — who is in his early 30’s — has won three MVPs and has finished as the runner-up four times. He can hit, run, and field his position. Injuries have hurt Trout the past few seasons, but he remains an elite player.
Los Angeles Dodgers — Clayton Kershaw
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 210-92, 2.48 ERA, 2944 SO
From the greatest position player of his generation to the best pitcher — Clayton Kershaw. The current Dodgers roster has a few future Hall of Famers (Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman), but Kershaw is the clear standout. The sensational lefty has the lowest career-ERA of any pitcher since the live ball era began in 1920.
He has won three NL Cy Young Awards, claimed the Triple Crown in 2011, and the MVP in ’14. Kershaw’s arsenal at his peak — mid-90s fastball, the game’s best curveball and arguably the top slider — was unmatched by his peers. Even as he ages, he remains great.
Miami Marlins — Luis Arraez
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 24 HR, 201 RBI, 647 H, .326/.379/.427
Sandy Alcantara has a Cy Young to his name, but we are rolling with Luis Arraez in terms of who we believe has the best shot to reach the Hall of Fame. In his final season with the Minnesota Twins, Arraez won the American League Batting Title with a .316 BA. His performance was strong enough to net an All-Star appearance, a Silver Slugger Award, and a few MVP votes. Arraez was shipped to Miami in the offseason, and he was even better in his debut season with the Marlins. The infielder won his second Batting Title in a row, and finished with an absurd .354 average. If Arraez continues to hit at this clip, he will rack up Batting Titles and build a serious case for Cooperstown.
Milwaukee Brewers — Christian Yelich
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 193 HR, 706 RBI, 1505 H, .286/.376/.464
If Christian Yelich didn’t hit a foul ball off his knee late in the 2019 season, there is a good chance Milwaukee’s superstar would have won his second National League MVP in a row. In addition to being a good fielder (Gold Glove in 2014), Yelich is a beast in the box and on the base paths. Before scuffling in the 60-game season, Yelich had lit the world on fire for the Brew Crew.
Through his first two seasons with the team, Yelich slashed .327/.415/.631 with 80 HR, 207 RBI, and 50 SB. The veteran is a smart hitter and runner. Yelich hasn’t maintained his power surge from 2018-19, but he is easily Milwaukee’s best bet to earn Hall of Fame honors.
Minnesota Twins — Carlos Correa
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 173 HR, 618 RBI, 1051 H, .272/.351/.468
Carlos Correa is a two-time All-Star, a Platinum Glove recipient, former Rookie of the Year, World Series winner, and one of the most controversial players of his generation. Correa’s exploits with Houston in the postseason cannot be ignored. In 79 games with Houston, Correa slugged 18 home runs and hit .272. Of course, his lone World Series with the club came in 2017 — a year in which the Astros were proved to have cheated. Correa’s overall numbers aren’t outstanding, but he represents Minnesota’s best bet.
New York Mets — Francisco Lindor
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 215 HR, 679 RBI, 1323 H, .274/.341/.473
Despite last making the All-Star Game in 2019, Francisco Lindor remains highly-regarded across MLB. Lindor began his career in Cleveland, and he quickly became one of the game’s top shortstops. Lindor flashed great ability both at the plate and in the field. In addition to winning two Gold Gloves, Lindor earned two Silver Slugger Awards and made four-straight ASG’s. While he hasn’t quite kept up his batting average since joining the Mets — .285 BA with Cleveland, .254 in three seasons with New York — Lindor remains a top talent. He certainly has a solid shot at reaching the Hall if he continues at his current pace. The shortstop will be 30 entering the 2024 season and is under contract through 2031.
New York Yankees — Gerrit Cole
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 145-75, 3.17 ERA, 2152 SO
While it’s fair to question Cole’s performances in big games since joining the Yankees, there’s no doubting he’s New York’s most explosive arm and one of the best pitchers in the game. Cole has been revered as an elite talent dating all the way back to his time in Pittsburgh. However, it was a move to Houston which truly unlocked his potential.
A two-year run with the Astros led to the inking of a massive $324 million deal with the Yankees. Since joining the Bronx Bombers, Cole has four top-10 Cy Young finishes — including winning the 2023 Cy — and has collected over 800 punch-outs. Cole’s numbers will be sensational when he hangs up his cleats.
Oakland Athletics — Esteury Ruiz
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 5 HR, 49 RBI, 120 H, 68 SB, .248/.301/.339
Oakland is far removed from its glory days. The franchise is moving to Las Vegas in the near future, and it could certainly use an influx of talent before it departs for Sin City. At the moment, there is not a player on the roster who looks like a potential Hall of Famer. For this exercise, however, we will ride with Esteury Ruiz. As a rookie in 2023, the speedster stole 67 bases — leading the American League and trailing only Ronald Acuna Jr. (73) league-wide. Ruiz should continue to torment opposing teams with his speed, but he will need to improve at the plate overall if he wants to have an All-Star caliber career.
Philadelphia Phillies — Bryce Harper
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 306 HR, 889 RBI, 1513 H, .281/.391/.521
Touted as a future Hall of Famer while he was still in high school, Bryce Harper hasn’t disappointed many since arriving in the Big Leagues. While he hasn’t quite lived up to the billing as being the best player in the world that many expected him to be, Harper won an MVP at the age of 22 and added a second MVP to his résumé in 2021.
During his MVP season in 2015, Harper hit .330 and led the league in runs (118), HR (42), OBP (.460), SLG (.649), and OPS (1.109). In ’21, Harper led baseball with 42 doubles, a .615 SLG and 1.044 OPS. Signed with Philadelphia through 2031, Harper will surely put together a Hall of Fame career.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Paul Skenes
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 SO
The No. 1 pick of the 2023 MLB Draft is seen as a can’t-miss prospect. Towering on the mound at 6-foot-6, Skenes possesses a fastball that tops out at 102 MPH. Viewed as the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg, Skenes dominated during his final collegiate season. At LSU, Skenes went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 122.2 IP. The flamethrower has a chance to make Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster in 2024.
San Diego Padres — Manny Machado
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 313 HR, 944 RBI, 1737 H, .279/.339/.490
San Diego has a few players with Hall of Fame potential including Fernando Tatis Jr., but we’re going with Manny Machado. A recent recipient of an 11-year/$350 million extension, Machado has long been one of the best players in baseball. He is a vacuum at third and possesses a cannon of an arm which allows him to make plays others are simply incapable of making. The runner-up for the National League MVP in 2022, Machado enjoyed his best year at the plate over the course of a full-season — he was spectacular in 2020, but the season was 60 games. Through the ’23 season, Machado has six All-Star appearances and one Platinum Glove.
San Francisco Giants — Logan Webb
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 42-32, 3.40 ERA, 598 SO
The Giants were left without a surefire Hall of Famer when Buster Posey retired following the 2021 season. When looking at their current roster, Logan Webb has the best chance of reaching Cooperstown. The durable righty has been one of the game’s best pitchers since 2021. Webb has a 3.07 ERA in 91 starts since the beginning of ’21, and he led MLB with 216.0 IP in ’23. Additionally, Webb paced the league with 1.3 BB9 and 6.26 SO/W. The ace was rewarded with a runner-up finish for the National League Cy Young. Webb is getting better each year and projects to be a Cy Young contender for many years to come.
Seattle Mariners — Julio Rodriguez
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 60 HR, 178 RBI, 325 H, .279/.338/.495
One of the biggest stories in baseball in 2022 was Julio Rodriguez’s rapid ascent into superstardom. Entering ’22, Rodriguez had not taken even a single at-bat at the Major League level. Through his first 20 games, J-Rod was hitting .204 and was still yet to homer. Game 21 marked Rodriguez’s first career homer and he never looked back from that point forward.
Over the remainder of the season, Rodriguez provided plenty of highlights (both at the plate and in the field) and registered a .905 OPS. Since 2000, only six rookies have had an OPS above .905. Five of those players went on to win MVP (Trout, Bellinger, Judge, Pujols, and Abreu) and the last is a three-time All-Star with two Home Run Derby wins (Alonso). J-Rod finishing his career in Cooperstown would be a surprise to nobody.
St. Louis Cardinals — Nolan Arenado
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 325 HR, 1061 RBI, 1669 H, .286/.343/.527
Arenado is an all-time great defensively — with a Gold Glove in 10-of-11 seasons and six Platinum Gloves to boot. A stud in the box, as well, Arenado has five Silver Sluggers and could easily finish his career with 500 homers. From 2016-19, Arenado finished no lower than sixth for the National League MVP. Over that time, the star slashed .300/.362/.575 and averaged 40 HR and 124 RBI per season. In ’22, the star finished third for the NL MVP. The California native has shined with the Rockies and Cardinals, respectively. The Hall will call Arenado’s name.
Tampa Bay Rays — Shane McClanahan
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 33-16, 3.02 ERA, 456 SO
The Rays have a penchant for developing pitching, and McClanahan is the most recent example of that. The lefty hurler was a first-round pick in 2018, making his Major League debut two years later. McClanahan finished seventh in Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, and was even better in Year 2. As a sophomore, McClanahan posted a 2.54 ERA over 166.1 IP while earning an All-Star spot and a sixth-place finish in the Cy Young race. The lefty was an All-Star again in ’23, but his season was cut short due to Tommy John surgery. If he remains healthy, McClanahan projects to be one of the best pitchers in the game for the foreseeable future.
Texas Rangers — Max Scherzer
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 214-108, 3.15 ERA, 3367 SO
Our apologies to two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager, but Max Scherzer has earned this recognition. After a decent but not great start to his career, Mad Max became a superstar in his sixth season. Starting with the 2013 campaign, Scherzer has won three Cy Young Awards — one with Detroit, two with Washington — and has eight top-5 finishes. With three Cy Youngs, two World Series, and over 3,000 strikeouts, Scherzer is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Toronto Blue Jays — Bo Bichette
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 89 HR, 312 RBI, 653 H, .299/.340/.487
The son of Dante Bichette, Bo’s bat speed is phenomenal, and his swing is effective. He possesses power, decent speed and hits the ball hard. Given Bichette’s production at such an early age, it’s not hard to imagine the Toronto star winning an MVP or two during his career. Bichette has twice led the American League in hits (2021, 2022), and has established himself as an elite shortstop in short order. Dante’s kid has the looks of a perennial All-Star, future MVP, and potential Hall of Famer.
Washington Nationals — CJ Abrams
Lifetime Stats (through 2023): 20 HR, 85 RBI, 208 H, 54 SB, .246/.293/.383
One of the centerpieces in the trade that sent Juan Soto to San Diego in 2022, CJ Abrams is a superstar in the making. A former top-10 pick of the Padres, Abrams is an elite athlete with plus-speed and good instincts in the box. In his first full season with the Nationals, Abrams stole 47 bases and slugged 18 home runs. As he continues to mature and adjust to Major League pitching, Abrams will ascend into the upper echelon of players in the league.
