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MLB 2024: Hot Rookies, and Pitchers Throwing Hard

This 2024 season, we’ve seen many rookies playing quite well offensively and young pitchers throwing hard and then landing on the IL. Pitchers have been dropping like flies, and rookies have been flying sky-high, putting up impressive stats.

Pitching Woes and Rookies Making Headlines This Season

Rolling Rookies This Season

So far in the 2024 MLB season, we’ve seen many rookies making offense and pitching look effortless. They’ve been putting up impressive numbers and making great plays in the outfield. All these rookies will make a case and chase the title of Rookie of the Year. There are many talented rookies this season, but here are some notable rookies who have stood out:

Wilyer Abreu

Abreu has produced some noteworthy stats so far this season, including leading the Boston Red Sox in defensive runs saved (DRS) (+4). He also ranks second in fWAR (0.8), third in wRC+(149), third in OPS (.885), and fourth in wRAA (4.6).

Davis Schneider

Schneider has picked up where he left off last season and has played well offensively and defensively in 2024. He’s been consistent in the outfield and has made some stunning catches. He hasn’t missed a beat, and when Schneider is in the lineup, the Blue Jays have won games and played well. He’s earned more playing time with his consistency, and he deserves to be in the lineup daily.

Mason Miller

Miller converted his seventh straight save chance, which ranked him first among all MLB rookies in 2024. The closer’s fastball averaged 101.3 mph and hit 102.4 mph, and he has 25 Ks in 12.1 IP.

Evan Carter & Wyatt Langford

Carter has five home runs, 10 walks, 10 RBIs, 19 hits, and 17 runs. Pitchers should never underestimate or sleep on Carter’s power at the plate. He’s a rookie who has put on a show in several games for the Texas Rangers this season. Wyatt Langford has an inside-the-park home run, 9 RBIs, and 24 hits this season for the Ranger, and both have been productive as a duo. Langford certainly has wheels and speed, and his first career home run was certainly one that stood out.

Jackson Merrill

Merrill, this 2024 season, has 28 hits, a home run, a .308 batting average, 12 RBIs, and four stolen bases this season. As you can see from the Twitter video, Merill plays with a lot of energy and intensity. He is the youngest on the Pittsburgh Pirates and one of the top players on the team. This youngster is a stud offensively, and his ability to go the other way is beautiful.

Why Pitchers Should Be Changing Their Approach

This 2024 season, we have seen many talented young pitchers go on the IL due to arm and elbow injuries. It’s phenomenal that pitchers can throw at such a hard and fast speed (some even more than 100 mph). But has throwing hard so often led to all these injuries?  It’s being called an epidemic with all these injuries that have been cursed by talented pitchers. Maybe it’s not always about throwing hard and fast. Should slower, quality pitches be the new focus?
Speed is only half the equation when it comes to pitching. We’ve seen how hitters second guess at the plate when pitchers throw off-speed pitches. Slow curve balls or sliders are dirty and lethal pitches that do damage against opposing hitters. If you think about it, pitchers would also last more innings if they focused more on quality. When you can have a pitcher, especially a starter, pitch deep into games, it helps to have your bullpen rest. But when you have a starter who only pitched a few innings, it puts more pressure on your bullpen. We can’t even count with our fingers anymore with the number of pitchers that have gone on the IL. Spencer Strider, Gerrit Cole, Blue Jays prospect Brandon Barriera, Shane Bieber, and Lucas Giolito are just some names to mention.
Main Photo Credits: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
Vanessa Serrao

Vanessa Serrao

Vanessa is a freelance baseball writer for Last Word On Baseball. She is also an author and is pursuing a career in sports journalism. She loves the Toronto Blue Jays, but covers MLB breaking news.

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