Who Are The Best MLB Rookies Right Now?

The next wave of young stars have arrived in Major league Baseball as the future continues to look promising with these stars on the diamond. After a stellar Rookie of the Year race last season in both the American and National League, the same pace has been set to start the 2024 MLB season as both leagues are loaded with talented players looking to take home the next set of awards among the rookie class. One of those rookies has been the Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga who lands at the top of the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings list right now.

Imanaga, who just arrived within the league after signing as an off-season international free agent, has been brilliant to start the season pitching to a 1.88 earned run average over his first 11 starts of the season.

Landing just behind the Cubs starter among the top rookies right now in Major League Baseball is another talented rookie starting pitcher in the New York Yankees Luis Gill who currently sits at 8-1 on the season to go along with a 1.82 earned run average while pitching among one of the top hitting offenses in all of baseball.

Joining those two top performing rookies include Michael Busch of the Chicago Cubs, Colton Cowser of the Baltimore Orioles, and Ceddanne Rafaela of the Boston Red Sox.

Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings right now list:

Honorable Mention

Joey Ortiz

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Position: Third Baseman

Just missing the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings right now is the Milwaukee Brewers rookie third baseman Joey Ortiz.

Ortiz, who was a former top prospect in the Baltimore Orioles organization, was the key piece of the deal that sent Corbin Burnes to the Orioles during the off-season. As Burnes has been great to start the season, the early production of Ortiz has the Brewers excited for his career.

Over 54 games on the season, Ortiz ranks among the leaders in rookies in hits (44), doubles (44), and runs batted in (21) while also picking up 24 walks and scoring 24 runs on the season.

Gavin Stone

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Starting Pitcher

While the 2024 MLB season kicked off some excitement for the Los Angeles Dodgers after a busy off-season that saw the team add Shohei Ohtani as well as fellow rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Gavin Stone was one of many lesser known players on the Dodgers team to get overlooked.

Nonetheless it has not slowed down the 25-year-old starter who has been strong over his first 11 starts of the season including allowing just a 2.74 earned run average over 62 innings of work. To go along with those numbers Stone has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his first 11 starts on the season.

Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings

10. Mason Miller

Team: Oakland A’s

Position: Closer

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings list is the Oakland A’s rookie closer Mason Miller. Rewind a few weeks back and Miller was a top three rookie contender on this list.

However, the hard throwing reliever who showcased his potential earlier on against a stellar New York Yankees lineup has taken a step back of late while still ranking among the best young relievers in baseball.

Miller, whose fastball is often topping the 100 miles per hour mark, has picked up 11 saves to start the season while pitching to a 2.08 earned run average and 51 strikeouts over just 26 innings of work.

9. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Starting Position

The off-season was a busy one for the Dodgers who shelled out a ton of money to multiple free agents including international free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

While the signing came at the cost of $325 million over 12 years, the early success has been promising as the 25-year-old rookie starting pitcher has posted a 6-2 record over his first 12 starts of the season to go along with a 3.32 earned run average.

While expectations are high for the Dodgers this season, the pressure of success in his rookie season has not shown on the field to start the season. To go along with the solid record the Dodgers rookie has struck out 76 batters over just 65 innings of work on the season.

8. Wilyer Abreu

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Right Fielder

One of two talented Boston Red Sox rookies to land among the top rookies in all of baseball is the Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu. Known for their history of spending, the Red Sox are turning back to their talented recruiting department and development staff while rebuilding their major league roster.

Abreu has been a bright spot to the Red Sox lineup including picking up 46 hits over his first 169 at bats while posting a solid .272 batting average. After spending some time last season with the Red Sox, Abreu has taken advantage of his every day playing time while picking up 14 doubles, two triples and six home runs to start the season.

In addition to those strong numbers Abreu has posted a .344 on base percentage mark to go along with a solid 1.9 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) mark.

7. Masyn Winn

Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Position: Shortstop

Over the years the St. Louis Cardinals have had a knack of finding talented players through the draft and through international free agency. That can be said for Masyn Winn who has been a bright spot for the Cardinals all season while delivering strong play at the shortstop position to start the season.

The 22-year-old infielder is just one of the many talented players under the age 25 playing in the majors this season while also producing.

Over 54 games, Winn currently ranks tied for sixth among rookies in runs batted in (21), first in hits (54), fourth in doubles (11), and tied for fourth in stolen bases (8). As Winn continues to stuff the stat sheet the future looks bright in St. Louis at the shortstop position.

6. Paul Skenes

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Position: Starting Pitcher

In a couple of weeks who knows where Paul Skenes will land among the top rookies in baseball, however after a stellar four game stretch to start his career it is easy to see why Skenes is ranked as the top overall prospect in baseball.

Over those four outings Skenes has allowed six total earned runs while striking out 30 batters across just 22 innings of work.

While the sample size is small, the former LSU Tigers star is showcasing his potential after a strong start that saw the Pirates prospect dominate the minor leagues to start the season. Only time will tell how far on the list Skenes could move over the remaining portion of the 2024 MLB schedule.

5. Colton Cowser

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Left Fielder

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings right now is the Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser.

Cowser, who is looking to repeat the success of teammate Gunnar Henderson who won the AL Rookie of the Year Award for April, got off to a hot start taking home the AL Rookie of the Month Award while posting six home runs, six doubles and driving in 18 runs over 74 total at bats.

Overall Cowser has batted .234 on the season with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 26 runs batted in while also playing solid defense across the outfield while playing multiple outfield positions.

4. Ceddanne Rafaela

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Center Fielder

Another bright young rookie making a case for the American League Rookie of the Year Award is the Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.

While Rafaela has posted solid numbers to start the season at the plate, it’s his stellar defensive plays on the year that makes the Red Sox center fielder climb the list of top rookies in baseball this season.

Despite those catches not impacting his overall statistics, Rafaela does continue to produce for the Red Sox at the plate while leading all rookies with 33 runs batted in on the season.

Overall, Rafaelas stat line includes nine doubles, two triples and seven home runs to start the season to go along with 42 hits and eight stolen bases.

3. Michael Busch

Team: Chicago Cubs

Position: First Baseman

When you are looking around at the top young hitters in baseball it is hard to look past the Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch.

Busch has been a bright spot within the Cubs lineup while ranking among the leaders of rookies in multiple statistics to start the season. Currently the Cubs first baseman leads all rookies in home runs picking up eight over his first 168 at bats on the season.

To go along with that production Busch currently ranks tied for first in runs scored (28), eighth in hits (40), third in runs batted in (23), and seven in doubles (8) over 56 games played on the season.

2. Luis Gil

Team: New York Yankees

Position: Starting Pitcher

The case could easily be made for the New York Yankees rookie starting pitcher Luis Gil to land atop the list of the best rookies in baseball this season.

Luckily for both Gil and the Chicago Cubs Shota Imanaga both young stars would be the front runners for their respective divisions Rookie of the Year Awards. Gil enters play the first week of June, sitting tied for third in baseball in wins with eight while posting an 8-1 overall record.

The Yankees rookie has also allowed just 14 earned runs over his first 69.1 innings of work this season helping land second in baseball with an overall 1.82 earned run to start the season.

1. Shota Imanaga

Team: Chicago Cubs

Position: Starting Pitcher

Landing atop the rankings among the best rookies right now on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2024 Rankings list is the Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga. Imanaga has been brilliant along with fellow rookie starter Luis Gil of the New York Yankees to start the 2024 MLB season.

While the Cubs have struggled at times it has also hurt the overall numbers of Imanaga this season leaving the rookie with just a 5-1 overall record over his first 11 starts. Nonetheless, the Cubs have found ways to win games with him on the mound including posting nine wins over that stretch.

Imanaga is currently just one of two rookies with an earned run average below two (1.88) while pitching at least 60 innings on the season. The Cubs starter has also posted 65 strikeouts over 62.1 innings of work while allowing less than two earned runs in 10 of his first 11 starts.

How would you rank these players going into the 2024 MLB Summer? 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”.

Related Links:

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