There is plenty of young talent in Major League Baseball, so is my opinionated list of the top 10 players who are 25 years of age or younger.
10. Madison Bumgarner, SF SP
Age: 24
Many people, including myself, forget (at times) that Madison Bumgarner is only 24 years old. His age isn't the only trait that stands out though, as shocking as it maybe be, Bumgarner just recently won his 50th career game. So far this season, he was 13 strikeouts and a 1-0 record with a 1.74 ERA and 1.65 WHIP. Although his entire career looks a little different, he still has impressive numbers including a 3.07 ERA and a 50-39 record.
9. Manny Machado, BAL 3B
Age: 21
Arguably the best third baseman in the league (if you're for some reason not counting Miguel Cabrerra) is Manny Machado. He has been a little injury-plauged throughtout his young career though. Hitting his two first homeruns to the same fan in his first game by itself was probably enough to get him a top 10 spot on this list.
8. Jose Fernandez, MIA SP
Age: 22
Jose Fernandez might be immature at times, but he is also one of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball. Sports and this article so far have proven over time that age really doesn't really tell the full story about a player. Even though he was only 20-21 years old, Fernandez led his team to victory 14 times, struckout 204 batters while earning a 2.09 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
7. Chris Sale, CWS SP
Age: 25
Just like Madison Bumgarner, people are shocked to hear that Chris Sale is only 25 years old, but unlike Bumgarner, Sale has won both of his his starts so far this season with an WHIP under 1.00.
"I don't think I've ever played with a lefty with as good stuff as him," Chicago White Sox veteran Paul Konerko said. "I've seen Chris throw sliders to righties … usually when a guy buckles, it's a lefty getting it over against a lefty, but he does that to right-handed hitters, and you don't see that much. It's like a [Justin] Verlander curveball to a lefty. He knows how to make right-handers feel uncomfortable because he can come inside on them. He's still young, still getting better, but on the days he doesn't have his best stuff, he still gets people out, which shows a lot of maturity."
6. Giancarlo Stanton, MIA SP
Age: 24
One of the most powerful hitters in all of baseball, Giancarlo Stanton is always a threat to go 'yicketty' (as Atlanta Braves legend and Major League Baseball future hall of famer Chipper Jones would say) even in the gigantic Miami-based stadium he calls home as well as the rest as his Marlins teammates.
He has already hit 119 homers in his career, which is just proof of his power.
5. Bryce Harper, WAS SP
Age: 21
Coming into the league still only a teenager, almost any ballclub would welcome Bryce Harper onto their team with open arms. He might get picked on at times by analysts and and commentators (mainly the Braves commentators named Chip Carey and Joe Simpson) for his immature attitude, Harper is still young and no matter how old he gets, he can learn from the mistakes he makes during his career.
"I could care less what people think," Harper said on Tuesday at the MLB Fan Cave, where he filmed a segment for the league’s new MTV2 show, Off the Bat. "I enjoy playing baseball. I love this game more than anything."
4. Freddie Freeman, ATL 1B
Age: 24
Many experts, especially on MLB Network, considered Freddie Freeman as the National League Most Valuable Player. Even though he didn't win it, Freeman did make his first even all-star game selection last season the huge 'Vote for Freddie' campaign that spawned from Braves country in the Southeast and expanded throughout the entire country and some parts of Canada.
3. Matt Harvey, NYM SP
Age: 25
Considering that Matt Harvey took part in his first ever Major League Baseball season last year, most people would think that he would be of Mike Trout or Bryce Harper age...Or maybe even younger than that, but regardless when healthy (he is on the 60-day disabled list as of right now) he is an Cy Young award candidate to the least.
2. Craig Kimbrel, ATL RP
Age: 25
Even though it is early in Craig Kimbrel's career, many think he will go down as the greatest closer in baseball history...Meaning that he surpass even Mariano Rivera. It'll be awhile until that's certain or not, but it's a good bet in my opinion.
After re-signing Kimbrel last offseason, Braves general manager Frank Wren released this statement:
"We are very excited to agree to terms with Craig, who we feel is the best closer in Major League Baseball," Wren said when the team announced the news Sunday. "He is one of the key pieces of our pitching staff and we are happy to keep him in a Braves uniform for at least four more years."
1. Mike Trout, LAA OF
Age: 21
Undoubtedly the best player who is 25 years of age or younger, Mike Trout is also one of the youngest. Trout was rated by the experts as the number one player going into the 2014 regular season. Trout was quick to impress baseball fans everywhere as his rookie year was one of the greatest rookie season's of all-time. He was only 20 years old at the time and has still only aged a year since which is very imposing to a lot of Major League pitchers and teams.
10. Madison Bumgarner, SF SP
Age: 24
Many people, including myself, forget (at times) that Madison Bumgarner is only 24 years old. His age isn't the only trait that stands out though, as shocking as it maybe be, Bumgarner just recently won his 50th career game. So far this season, he was 13 strikeouts and a 1-0 record with a 1.74 ERA and 1.65 WHIP. Although his entire career looks a little different, he still has impressive numbers including a 3.07 ERA and a 50-39 record.
9. Manny Machado, BAL 3B
Age: 21
Arguably the best third baseman in the league (if you're for some reason not counting Miguel Cabrerra) is Manny Machado. He has been a little injury-plauged throughtout his young career though. Hitting his two first homeruns to the same fan in his first game by itself was probably enough to get him a top 10 spot on this list.
8. Jose Fernandez, MIA SP
Age: 22
Jose Fernandez might be immature at times, but he is also one of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball. Sports and this article so far have proven over time that age really doesn't really tell the full story about a player. Even though he was only 20-21 years old, Fernandez led his team to victory 14 times, struckout 204 batters while earning a 2.09 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
7. Chris Sale, CWS SP
Age: 25
Just like Madison Bumgarner, people are shocked to hear that Chris Sale is only 25 years old, but unlike Bumgarner, Sale has won both of his his starts so far this season with an WHIP under 1.00.
"I don't think I've ever played with a lefty with as good stuff as him," Chicago White Sox veteran Paul Konerko said. "I've seen Chris throw sliders to righties … usually when a guy buckles, it's a lefty getting it over against a lefty, but he does that to right-handed hitters, and you don't see that much. It's like a [Justin] Verlander curveball to a lefty. He knows how to make right-handers feel uncomfortable because he can come inside on them. He's still young, still getting better, but on the days he doesn't have his best stuff, he still gets people out, which shows a lot of maturity."
6. Giancarlo Stanton, MIA SP
Age: 24
One of the most powerful hitters in all of baseball, Giancarlo Stanton is always a threat to go 'yicketty' (as Atlanta Braves legend and Major League Baseball future hall of famer Chipper Jones would say) even in the gigantic Miami-based stadium he calls home as well as the rest as his Marlins teammates.
He has already hit 119 homers in his career, which is just proof of his power.
5. Bryce Harper, WAS SP
Age: 21
Coming into the league still only a teenager, almost any ballclub would welcome Bryce Harper onto their team with open arms. He might get picked on at times by analysts and and commentators (mainly the Braves commentators named Chip Carey and Joe Simpson) for his immature attitude, Harper is still young and no matter how old he gets, he can learn from the mistakes he makes during his career.
"I could care less what people think," Harper said on Tuesday at the MLB Fan Cave, where he filmed a segment for the league’s new MTV2 show, Off the Bat. "I enjoy playing baseball. I love this game more than anything."
4. Freddie Freeman, ATL 1B
Age: 24
Many experts, especially on MLB Network, considered Freddie Freeman as the National League Most Valuable Player. Even though he didn't win it, Freeman did make his first even all-star game selection last season the huge 'Vote for Freddie' campaign that spawned from Braves country in the Southeast and expanded throughout the entire country and some parts of Canada.
3. Matt Harvey, NYM SP
Age: 25
Considering that Matt Harvey took part in his first ever Major League Baseball season last year, most people would think that he would be of Mike Trout or Bryce Harper age...Or maybe even younger than that, but regardless when healthy (he is on the 60-day disabled list as of right now) he is an Cy Young award candidate to the least.
2. Craig Kimbrel, ATL RP
Age: 25
Even though it is early in Craig Kimbrel's career, many think he will go down as the greatest closer in baseball history...Meaning that he surpass even Mariano Rivera. It'll be awhile until that's certain or not, but it's a good bet in my opinion.
After re-signing Kimbrel last offseason, Braves general manager Frank Wren released this statement:
"We are very excited to agree to terms with Craig, who we feel is the best closer in Major League Baseball," Wren said when the team announced the news Sunday. "He is one of the key pieces of our pitching staff and we are happy to keep him in a Braves uniform for at least four more years."
1. Mike Trout, LAA OF
Age: 21
Undoubtedly the best player who is 25 years of age or younger, Mike Trout is also one of the youngest. Trout was rated by the experts as the number one player going into the 2014 regular season. Trout was quick to impress baseball fans everywhere as his rookie year was one of the greatest rookie season's of all-time. He was only 20 years old at the time and has still only aged a year since which is very imposing to a lot of Major League pitchers and teams.