The story under is a collaboration between writers from MLB.com and Yahoo Sports activities, who’re becoming a member of forces this season to cowl matters from round baseball.
Within the pressure-packed, small-sample theater that’s October baseball, it isn’t all the time the largest names who ship when it issues most.
However you by no means know who else goes to rise to the event and make a reputation for themselves underneath the intense lights. Different under-the-radar postseason sequence MVPs from that timeframe embody rookies (Randy Arozarena in 2020, Jeremy Peña in 2022), in addition to veteran position gamers who authored career-defining moments at the very best time (Howie Kendrick in 2019 or Eddie Rosario in 2021). Simply final 12 months, rookie outfielder Evan Carter (.917 OPS) and veteran reliever Josh Sborz (0.75 ERA) had been two key figures within the Rangers’ championship run.
With that in thoughts, who would be the breakout star of the 2024 postseason, which begins subsequent Tuesday? We posed that query to 6 consultants from Yahoo Sports activities and MLB.com, and right here had been their picks.
A part of the return within the three-way swap involving the Cardinals and White Sox, Edman was one of many extra fascinating July acquisitions, contemplating he hadn’t but appeared within the large leagues this season whereas working his manner again from offseason wrist surgical procedure. However to date, any threat related to buying Edman has confirmed to be a worthy gamble. The 29-year-old has posted a .780 OPS because the Dodgers’ main heart fielder since being activated in mid-August.
Edman’s versatility on either side of the ball primes him for a variety of alternatives to make an influence this postseason. The switch-hitter is a reputable offensive risk batting righty, however can greater than maintain his personal from the left aspect, affording supervisor Dave Roberts the flexibleness to deploy him in quite a lot of methods within the lineup or off the bench as a pinch-hitter — and that’s earlier than you get to his glove. Edman received a Gold Glove as a second baseman in 2021, however has primarily bounced between shortstop and heart discipline since then. With Los Angeles, Edman has grow to be the go-to choice in heart whereas making the occasional look at shortstop to fill in for Miguel Rojas. The truth that Edman can play above-average protection at two of essentially the most demanding positions on the diamond each enhances his general worth and will increase the chance that he’ll be in the course of some pivotal performs throughout the Dodgers’ postseason push. Edman may make a distinction on the basepaths — he entered the season with three straight campaigns of 27 or extra stolen bases and is 6-for-6 as far as a Dodger — including one other factor to the Dodgers’ high-powered offense that would turn out to be useful in October.
Somebody equivalent to Edman rising as a key position participant who might help drive workforce success is a postseason story as previous as time. And with Edman’s capacity to fill so many roles, I like his possibilities of elevating his profile considerably subsequent month.
— Jordan Shusterman (Yahoo Sports activities)
Though he had some brushes with the highlight throughout his time with the Marlins, showing on the quilt of MLB The Present 23 and reaching the postseason twice, enjoying in October as a member of the Yankees might carry him a brand new stage of publicity.
Chisholm has been a terrific addition for New York after being acquired on the Commerce Deadline, clobbering 10 homers to go together with 15 steals and offering very good glove work at third base, a place he’d by no means performed earlier than becoming a member of the Bronx Bombers. The 26-year-old could possibly be a serious X-factor for the membership within the playoffs.
— Thomas Harrigan (MLB.com)
Merrill has been one of many largest surprises in baseball this season. Not solely has he thrived in his rookie season in San Diego, setting himself as much as end top-three in NL Rookie of the 12 months voting, however in his first season within the large leagues and at a premium place, his efficiency has additionally helped propel the Padres towards the postseason.
The Padres have a number of veterans who make them one of many extra harmful groups going into October, however the 21-year-old Merrill has been as vital to the workforce’s success as every other participant. He has been an X-factor all season each offensively and defensively. However the cause Merrill can be this postseason’s breakout star is that he has already confirmed that he lives for the large moments. The Padres’ rookie has hit six game-tying or go-ahead homers within the eighth inning or later this season.
Petco Park is among the most electrical stadiums in baseball, and when the middle fielder hits a giant house run or makes a diving play, the place erupts. That’s what it is going to sound like in October. Each postseason has enormous moments and creates a star who takes the stage by storm. And with these moments discovering the Padres’ rookie all season, the postseason units the stage for Merrill magic to shine as soon as once more.
— Russell Dorsey (Yahoo Sports activities)
It may be notably compelling when a catcher carries his workforce, as a result of he can accomplish that not simply offensively, however by working with the pitching workers, too. Diaz shortly established himself amongst impactful catchers on the plate final season, with a 128 OPS+ in 104 video games as a rookie.
This 12 months, he’s slugging much less, however hitting for common. We all know what to anticipate from the Astros’ veterans within the playoffs, however it might be a lot enjoyable to see Diaz carry over the consistency he’s proven all 12 months into October.
Some days it seems like each gifted younger ballplayer is known as “Jackson.” Whereas Jackson Holliday (Orioles, born in 2003) remains to be determining large league pitching, Jackson Merrill (Padres, born in 2003) has gotten love for electrifying the Padres of their postseason push, leaving Jackson Chourio (Brewers, born in 2004) considerably underneath the radar.
The Venezuelan outfielder’s debut marketing campaign has been a story of two halves. Earlier than the All-Star break, Chourio had a .678 OPS — admirable contemplating he is youthful than “Stranger Issues” star Millie Bobby Brown, however removed from a headline-grabbing efficiency. However for the reason that break, Chourio has exploded to a .940 OPS, the ninth-highest mark in baseball. His ascension helped the Brewers endure the lack of Christian Yelich to season-ending harm and safe one other NL Central title.
— Jake Mintz (Yahoo Sports activities)
Westburg is again simply in time. This was speculated to be his breakout season — Westburg was part of the Orioles’ playoff workforce as a rookie in 2023, however this 12 months his numbers took an enormous leap. The 25-year-old infielder was an All-Star for the primary time, and he had 18 house runs and a 133 OPS+ by the tip of July. However that is when he fractured his proper hand on a hit-by-pitch, which value Westburg nearly two months within the thick of the playoff race.
Now he is lastly returned to the O’s lineup once more, and he is recent for October. In fact, Westburg can be missed due to the Orioles’ largest names, Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. That’s, till he reminds everybody simply why he was a first-time All-Star a number of months in the past, on the postseason stage.
