Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings

Ranking the Top 10 MLB Rookies of the 2024 MLB Season as the newly acquired Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers leads the way

By admin | March 19, 2024

Top 10 Best MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings Preview

The warm weather is slowly approaching, the smell of fresh cut grass is starting to set in, and the 2024 MLB season is just a few short weeks away. As the 2024 MLB schedule is set for an epic opening day including the Seoul Series that opens up the season between March 20-21 as well as the full slate opening day on March 28^th, 2024. Each MLB season a new wave of rookies arrive on the scene as they begin their MLB careers. This includes a strong group of rookies last season including the NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll and the AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson. Leading that charge of top-tier rookies landing on top of the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings Preview is the Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Yamamoto who signed a 12-year $325 million dollar during the off-season is set to anchor down a Dodgers starting rotation that has hopes of helping the team win another World Series this season.

After spending the previous seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto made the jump from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) to Major League Baseball.

While the Dodgers rookie is one of the headline rookies leading into the season, two of the top MLB prospects in all of baseball Jackson Holliday and Paul Skenes both have the potential to make a big impact this season for their respective teams. Joining Holliday, Skenes, and Yamamoto among the best rookies this season include Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers and Evan Carter of the Texas Rangers.

Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings Preview as the 2024 MLB Season approaches:

Honorable Mention

Coby Mayo

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Just missing the list of the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings Preview list is another talented Baltimore Orioles minor leaguer, Coby Mayo. Mayo is just another potential star in the waiting who has the potential to arrive in Baltimore early this season and compete for an everyday spot on a loaded young roster.

The Orioles who are coming off their AL East title last season will look to take another step forward this season while bringing home the franchise their fourth World Series title. The Orioles third baseman has a big bat and the potential to hit 30 plus home runs and drive in 100 plus runs at the MLB level.

Last season over 504 at bats in the Minor Leagues, Mayo posted 146 hits including 29 home runs while driving in 99 runs and posting a .410 on base percentage.

Connor Phillips

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Another MLB team loaded with young talent is the Cincinnati Reds who saw Elly De La Cruz take center stage last season. The next top tier rookie to arrive is Connor Phillips who is set to anchor down a starting rotation spot for the Reds while potentially developing into the team’s ace of the future.

Over a small sample size last season including pitching 20.2 innings in five starts, Phillips struck out 26 batters to go along with a 1-1 record. Over 105 innings last season, Phillips posted 154 strikeouts while showcasing his ability to be a power pitcher.

Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings

10. James Wood

Team: Washington Nationals

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings Preview list is the Washington Nationals rookie James Wood. While the Nationals have produced many top-tier rookies over the years including MLB stars Juan Soto and Bryce Harper, the latest Nationals rookie expected to make big contributions was acquired by the Nationals last season.

Woods, who was acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Soto to the San Diego Padres, has been a stud in the minors since being selected during the 2021 MLB Draft.

Woods, who is from Rockville, Maryland has a strong bat while having the potential to hit for both average and power while also being a threat on the base paths.

9. Colt Keith

Team: Detroit Tigers

It has been an exciting past few seasons for a few of the top prospects and the next wave of MLB rookies including Colt Keith. Keith, who recently signed a six-year extension with the Detroit Tigers, is now poised to take over the duties at second base during the 2024 MLB season.

Keith who is just 22 years old is coming off a fantastic 2023 Minor League Baseball season including picking up 27 home runs and driving in 101 runs batted in over 507 at bats last season.

Taking over the potential starting duties at second base during the 2024 MLB season will open up the door for Keith to compete for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

8. Kyle Harrison

Team: San Francisco Giants

Another MLB rookie starting pitcher who has the potential to challenge for the NL Cy Young Award in the National League is the San Francisco Giants starter Kyle Harrison. Harrison who made seven starts last season showed poise while pitching to a 1-1 record over 34.2 innings of work.

The six-foot two-inch Giants starter has a plus fastball that reaches mid to upper 90’s and has been brilliant during the spring while showcasing to fans his potential as a future ace of the Giants this season.

As the 2024 MLB season approaches, the big question Giants fans continue to ask is Kyle Harrison, the first Giants rookie to win the NL Rookie of the Year since Buster Posey back during 2010.

7. Wyatt Langford

Team: Texas Rangers

As all eyes are on another Texas Rangers rookie Evan Carter, another Rangers future star that should make some noise this season is Wyatt Langford. Langford who was selected by the Rangers with the first pick during the 2023 MLB Draft did not disappoint in his first minor league season posting a .360 batting average over 161 at bats including picking up 10 home runs while driving in 30 runs.

In addition Langford also showcased all his tools including his speed while stealing 12 stolen bases to go along with posting nearly a .500 on base percentage (.480).

That same success during spring training including posting 13 hits over 36 at bats has the hype continuing to build about the potential Langford will bring to Major League Baseball this season.

6. Parker Meadows

Team: Detroit Tigers

After years of finding their next young star, the Detroit Tigers have found another potential stud in Parker Meadows who is set to anchor down a spot in the outfield during the 2024 MLB season.

Meadows, who made his MLB debut last season while posting 125 at bats over 36 games played, showed potential at times including posting nine extra base hits to go along with 13 runs batted in. The Tigers rookie also showed poise at the plate picking up 17 walks to go along with the 30 hits helping to raise his on base percentage mark to .338 in a limited role.

Meadows is a rare talent that has all the tools to be a big-time hitter in the majors as well as a player who can swipe 30 plus bases and play Gold Glove caliber defense.

5. Paul Skenes

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Rounding out the Top 5 MLB rookies landing on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings Preview is the Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes. Skenes who has been a big hit this season during spring for the Pirates including striking out fellow top Rookie of the Year candidate Jackson Holliday twice.

While Skenes also lands among the top overall prospects in all of baseball to start the season, the former LSU Tigers starting pitcher will make the leap to the Majors this season while taking a small step forward while emerging as the team’s potential future ace.

Skenes has a big arm while having the ability to reach the 100 Miles Per Hour (MPH) mark while even touching 101 and 102 at various times.

4. Jackson Chourio

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

The next hot prospect set to arrive at the MLB level as a potential opening day rookie is the Milwaukee Brewers Jackson Chourio. Chourio has hit 47 home runs over three minor league seasons while also driving in 191 runs and posting a .286 batting average.

The Brewers rookie who signed an eight-year contract during the winter with the Brewers will now bring his big bat and potential power hitter status to the Major Leagues this season.

In addition to having a big bat, Chourio is also a strong defender in the outfield and has the tools to be the next face of the Brewers for many years to come.

3. Evan Carter

Team: Texas Rangers

After getting a brief stint with the Texas Rangers last season including posting a .300 batting average across 60 at bats during the Playoffs including the World Series. Entering the 2024 MLB schedule, Evan Carter is the favorite to take home the AL Rookie of the Year Award while playing a key role in the Rangers pursuit of back-to-back World Series Championships.

Over 22 games during the regular season, Carter was red hot batting .306 over 62 at bats including picking up 10 extra bases (4 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs).

The power hitting center fielder is a strong defender in the outfield but his big bat and ability to get on base should help him rank among the best rookies in baseball this season.

2. Jackson Holliday

Team: Baltimore Orioles

The hype continues to surround the Baltimore Orioles top prospect and MLB top overall prospect Jackson Holliday. Holliday who is looking to follow and potentially outshine his father Matt Holliday’s career playing professional baseball is expected to make his MLB debut during the 2024 MLB season and potentially to open up the season.

The Orioles prospect is coming off his first full season spread out across four Orioles minor league affiliates last season as a 19-year-old young star. Holliday posted 30 doubles, 12 home runs, and 75 runs batted in across 581 plate appearances.

The young youth movement continues in Baltimore and Holliday will look to follow Gunnar Henderson to the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year.

1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

In at number one on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings Preview list is the Los Angeles Dodgers Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto has built a storied career pitching within the NPB including taking home three Pacific League MVP Awards while being selected as a NPB All-Star five times over his career.

The former Orix Buffaloes starter brings a big arm to the Dodgers rotation while consistently touching 96 Miles Per Hour (MPH) on the radar gun while also touching 100 at times.

Yamamoto will look to bring home the Dodgers first NL Rookie of the Year Award winner since Cody Bellinger back during the 2017 MLB season.

How would you rank these players going into the 2024 MLB season? Rank below to be added in the Rookie Ladder MLB Power Rankings or go to https://www.fanrankings.com/rankings/rookies-mlb and click “User Rankings”.