In my last article, I began the countdown of the 21 players who will generate the most buzz in 2021.
That brings me to my top ten, the guys you absolutely cannot miss this season.
Trevor Bauer
Bauer will make $40 million in 2021 after inking a lucrative short-term deal with the Dodgers. Is Bauer — he of the 3.90 career ERA — really worthy of being baseball’s highest-paid player?
The righty has much to prove for someone coming off a Cy Young season. And if you’re a fan of schadenfreude, he makes for a fascinating case study. Bauer’s every start will be must-see TV, both for fans who wish him success and critics desperately hoping for Fernando Tatís Jr. to take him deep every time they face off.
Click here for more on Bauer and why the Mets dodged a bullet by not signing him.
Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani gave us a tantalizing taste of his two-way talents in 2018 when he slashed .285/.361/.564 at the plate and made 10 starts — some of them dominant — on the mound for the Angels.
Ohtani has been belting moonshots this spring, leading experts to wonder whether he can regain his status as the “Japanese Babe Ruth.” Health is of primary concern for Ohtani: since winning the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year award, he’s undergone Tommy John and knee surgeries while also suffering a flexor strain in his right elbow.
Fernando Tatís Jr.
From his record-breaking contract (14 years, $340 million), to his MLB The Show cover appearance, to his frequent coverage on social media, all signs point to Tatis as the face of baseball.
It’s a well-deserved distinction for the 22-year-old phenom, who is a game-changer in every respect. Tatís owns the best infield arm in the majors, has the blazing speed to score on infield pop-ups, and can be expected to hit 40+ home runs annually. A healthy Tatís could help the Padres stay in contention with the Dodgers for the NL West division crown.
Randy Arozarena
Arozarena was the story of the 2020 playoffs, setting all-time records for most hits (29) and home runs (10) in a single postseason. Baseball fans are so familiar with Arozarena by this point that many will be stunned to learn that he’s still classified as a rookie. That’s right: while he logged 20 games for the Rays in the postseason, Arozarena has played just 42 regular season games for his career. Whether Arozarena builds off his historic playoff run will bear watching as the season unfolds.
Lance Lynn
Lynn isn’t generally seen as an ace, but he is a high-end workhorse with remarkable durability. The righty, who leads the majors in innings pitched since the start of 2019, will help anchor a White Sox rotation also featuring Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel. Lynn won a World Series with the Cardinals a decade ago…could ring #2 be on the way?
Nolan Arenado
For all he accomplished with the Rockies (eight Gold Gloves, 235 home runs), Arenado never got the chance to play for a consistent winner. Moving to the Cardinals should rejuvenate the third baseman, who still has seven years remaining on his contract. Arenado’s offensive performance away from the mile-high comforts of Denver will be a hot topic as soon as he endures his first lengthy slump.
Wander Franco
What makes Franco the top prospect in all of baseball?
According to MLB Pipeline, the 20-year-old shortstop “has the physical tools and natural ability needed to become the top switch-hitter of his generation.”
High praise for a player with fewer than 800 professional plate appearances, but not necessarily hyperbole. Franco has elite bat-to-ball skills, as evidenced by his minuscule swinging-strike rate (4.3 %) in the 2019 season. Despite his inexperience, don’t be surprised if Franco arrives in the big leagues this season.
Kris Bryant
There was a time when Kris Bryant could do no wrong on a baseball field. In 2013, he won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best amateur player. Two years later, he won the NL Rookie of the Year, then took home the MVP award the year after that. Injuries — including a lingering shoulder issue — have since kept him from replicating that early success. The 29-year-old Bryant is entering his walk year and will look to reestablish his value before he hits free agency. Two other core Cubs — Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo — are also impending free agents, leaving the Cubs front office with some difficult decisions to make this offseason.
Francisco Lindor
Lindor always has a smile on his face, and why not?
He’s a megawatt star in the prime of his career, plays in the sport’s most rabid market, and will soon sign a massive contract. Though he has yet to play a regular season game in a Mets uniform, the Flushing Faithful is anxious for him to remain in the orange and blue long-term. My bet is that Lindor’s natural showmanship will make him a hit on Broadway this summer.
José Altuve
Altuve’s dismal 2020 numbers (.219/.286/.344 slashline) fed the narrative that he was a major beneficiary of the Astros’ sign-stealing operation.
Before that scandal arose, Altuve was a surefire future Hall of Famer well on his way to 3,000 career hits. How the three-time batting champ rebounds from his most futile season to date may ultimately determine his legacy.
Searle’s Final Say
As a die-hard baseball fan, I’m ecstatic to have a full six-month season of games to follow. Although we were deprived of over 100 games in 2020, this season will give us more time to appreciate the sport’s most talented stars. Do you agree with my 21 to follow in ’21? Who am I missing? Sound off below!
