It’s virtually baseball season, which suggests we’re effectively into projection season. Till we get to see all of it play out on the sector, we are able to check out the way it could go.
Generally sure projected stat traces actually stand out, and get us serious about how outstanding the season is perhaps for that participant. FanGraphs Steamer projections, there are gamers whose numbers would attain the report books.
Right here’s a have a look at 10 gamers who’re projected to do one thing historic.
Bobby Witt Jr.: Third consecutive 30-30 seasonLast yr, Witt turned the primary shortstop in MLB historical past with a number of seasons of at the very least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases. This yr, he’s projected for 31 house runs and 36 stolen bases, which might be his third 30-30, all consecutive. Witt is simply the eighth participant to report at the very least two consecutive 30-30 seasons, becoming a member of Ryan Braun (2011-12), Alfonso Soriano (2002-03, 2005-06), Vladimir Guerrero Sr. (2001-02), Barry Bonds (1995-97), Ron Gant (1990-91), Bobby Bonds (1977-78) and Willie Mays (1956-57). The factor about that record? The one participant with three straight is Barry Bonds, which suggests Witt could be the second to take action in baseball historical past. Witt is the one participant in MLB historical past to have at the very least 20 house runs and 30 stolen bases in every of the primary three seasons of his profession, so he’d be the primary to take action in every of his first 4, as effectively.
Juan Soto: Eighth straight .400 OBP, fifth season with 25+ homers and 125+ walksSoto’s projected .421 on-base proportion would lead MLB, forward of Aaron Choose’s .399. This might mark the eighth season of Soto’s profession, every with at the very least a .400 on-base proportion. The one AL/NL gamers to have at the very least a .400 OBP in every of their first eight or extra seasons are Ted Williams (first 17 seasons), Frank Thomas and Wade Boggs. Because it stands, Soto’s streak of seven straight such seasons to begin his profession is tied for fourth, with Ferris Fain, who debuted in 1947, and Roy Thomas, who debuted in 1899. Soto is projected for 35 homers and 128 walks. This might be his fifth season with at the very least 25 homers and 125 walks. His 4 such seasons already are fourth most in a profession, behind solely Bonds (10 seasons), Babe Ruth (10) and Williams (eight). Soto’s energetic streak of 4 consecutive seasons performed with these totals is tied for second longest, with Bonds from 2001-04, behind Williams’ six from 1941-42 and 1946-49 (navy service 1943-45).
Shohei Ohtani: 43 house runs, 34 stolen bases and 141 pitching strikeoutsOhtani was unimaginable final yr, establishing the 50-50 membership. Now, in 2025, we get the return of two-way Shotime. He’s projected for 141 strikeouts on the mound and 43 homers on the plate. There’s just one participant in MLB historical past to have greater than 15 house runs as a hitter and at the very least 100 strikeouts as a pitcher in a season: Ohtani, in 2021, ‘22 and ‘23. Along with his 34 projected stolen bases, Ohtani would be a part of the record above of consecutive 30-30s. This might be Ohtani’s fourth season with at the very least 40 homers and 20 stolen bases, tying Alex Rodriguez for probably the most such seasons in a profession. His three such seasons as of now are tied for second most, with Bonds and Jose Canseco.
Paul Skenes: MLB chief in ERA and strikeoutsSkenes’ stellar rookie season was simply an appetizer. With a 2.80 ERA and 242 strikeouts, he’s projected to steer the Majors in each classes. At 23 years and 122 days outdated on the ultimate day of the season, Skenes could be the fourth-youngest to steer all certified MLB pitchers in ERA for a season since earned runs turned official in each leagues in 1913, based on the Elias Sports activities Bureau. The one pitchers to take action at a youthful age than he might be when the common season ends are Dwight Gooden in 1985 (20 years, 324 days at season’s finish), Mark Fidrych in 1976 (22 years, 50 days) and Dutch Leonard in 1914 (22 years, 177 days). Add in main MLB in strikeouts, too, and the one pitcher to steer in each in a season earlier than turning 24 is Gooden.
Aaron Choose: 46 house runs and 170 wRC+Choose is projected for one more monster yr on the plate. His 46 house runs would mark his fourth season with at the very least 45. Simply 10 gamers in MLB historical past have at the very least 4 such seasons: Ruth (9 45-HR seasons), Bonds (six), Rodriguez (5), Sammy Sosa (5), Ken Griffey Jr. (5), Mark McGwire (5), Harmon Killebrew (5), Ryan Howard, Mays and Lou Gehrig. Choose has reached 50 homers in every season he hit 45. If he can get there once more, a fourth 50-homer season would tie Sosa, McGwire and Ruth for many. He’s additionally projected to have a 170 wRC+ — that means he could be 70% higher than league common, offensively. This might be Choose’s fourth consecutive season with at the very least 35 homers and a 170 wRC+. The one gamers to do this in at the very least 4 straight seasons are 1926-32 Ruth (seven), 2000-04 Bonds (5) and 1920-24 Ruth (5). Because it stands, Choose’s three-season streak is tied for fourth longest with 2000-02 Jason Giambi and 1963-65 Mays.
Luis Arraez: Fourth consecutive batting titleIn main the NL in batting common for the Padres final season, Arraez turned the primary participant to win a batting title in three consecutive seasons with three completely different groups (2023 Marlins, 2022 Twins). This yr, he’s projected to steer MLB with a .307 common. Simply six gamers in MLB historical past have received 4 or extra straight batting titles, per Elias. They’re Ty Cobb (1907-15, 9), Rogers Hornsby (1920-25, six), Tony Gwynn (1994-97), Wade Boggs (1985-88), Rod Carew (1972-75) and Honus Wagner (1906-09).
Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki: 30% strikeout ratesWe haven’t seen Sasaki in MLB but, however given his skilled profession to this point, we all know there might be loads of strikeouts. To that time, he’s projected for a 31.6% strikeout price. Snell is projected for a 31.0% strikeout price and Glasnow at 30.7%. We all know this Dodgers rotation has an opportunity to be fearsome, and right here’s one other method to quantify that potential. With Sasaki, Snell and Glasnow, the Dodgers have three pitchers projected for a 30% strikeout price or increased. No staff in MLB historical past has had three pitchers with at the very least a 30% strikeout price and 75 innings pitched every in a season.
José Ramírez: One other 30-30 seasonRamírez is projected for 30 house runs and 31 stolen bases. He’s already the one participant in Cleveland historical past with a number of 30-homer, 30-SB seasons, and would now be as much as three. Ramírez is certainly one of two third basemen with a number of 30-30 seasons, and his third would tie Howard Johnson for many on the place. He additionally would be a part of the record above of consecutive 30-30 seasons.
