Who significantly steps up their game in 2024?

[Frobby]

What are your early guesses for who significantly steps up their game in 2024?  

My list starts with Jordan Westburg.  His .260/.311/.404 slash line this year was completely acceptable for a rookie, but I think there’s significantly more in the tank.   I don’t know that his BA will move much, but I think you’ll see better plate discipline and significantly more power next year.  I know some posters are viewing him as a placeholder for Holliday and Mayo, or a super-utility guy, but I say this is a guy you’re going to want in your everyday lineup.  

Can a player who just won rookie of the year even have a “breakout?”   Well, Cal Ripken did, and I think Gunnar might.  Took him about a month and a half to get going, but once he did, Gunnar hit .271/.322/.526 over his final 120 games.  He sacrificed some of his early plate discipline in order to get more aggressive, but next year I think you’ll see some of the plate discipline creep back in, without sacrificing the aggressiveness when he gets pitches to hit.  This is a guy who just got better and better as the year went along, and who’s made huge strides each year.  So yeah, I think he’s got another gear still.  

On the pitching side, I’m looking to our long-time no. 1-2 pitching prosoects, Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall.   Rodriguez showed what he could do over the second half of this season (5.90 IP/start, 2.58 ERA, 1.096 WHIP, 8.6 K/9).  I think the innings will creep over 6 per start as he continues to learn how to manage his game, K’s will likely increase (he averaged 11.1 in the first half even while getting knocked around), and he’ll benefit a lot from a winter of absorbing all he learned this year.  

I was very impressed by what Hall brought to the table over the final quarter of the season.  He seemed far more relaxed on the mound, he threw a lot more strikes, and he avoided big mistakes.  Remember this is a guy who didn’t have his normal workout routine last winter, didn’t have his usual velocity to start the year, and had to be shut down for 6 weeks to regain some of his strength.  Assuming he has a healthy winter, he comes into next year with the taste of some success, including two excellent performances in the postseason.   I still think he ends up in the bullpen, and if he does, I expect him to dominate there.   I wouldn’t rule him out as a very effective five-and-dive starter, either.  

Back to the offense, I am going to temper my previously sky-high expectations for Adley based on his basically flat offensive year in 2023 compared to 2022.  But, it still won’t shock me if he does find another gear.  It already feels like he’s an “is what he is” veteran who’s been around forever, but he’s not.  I’m looking forward to seeing what adjustments he makes over the offseason. 
 

Edited October 13, 2023 by Frobby

[Jim'sKid26]

Connor Norby has a bit of a Jeff Kent feel to me. 

[DirtyBird]

Hopefully Adley

[RZNJ]

I agree on Westburg and basically said the same thing you did about him.   Mike Baumann was inconsistent this year but he’s still got good stuff.   Just taking a shot here but but some improved command might propel him to a high leverage reliever next year.

[G54377]

DL Hall could really become a dominant reliever if they went that direction, but obviously they haven't given up on him as a starter yet.

[ORIOLE33]

Gunner's going to have a big year. I'm predicting at least 30 HR's and at least a 280 avg. 

[Too Tall]

I Like Westburg but ........Gunner is going to be a beast. Book it! From Rookie of the Year to MVP. ( Already got my 2024 Orange Colored Glasses on!) And find a way to get Norby up here. Hall and Wells will anchor our bullpen make it strong.

[Frobby]

3 hours ago, ORIOLE33 said:

Gunner's going to have a big year. I'm predicting at least 30 HR's and at least a 280 avg. 

30 homers certainly isn’t much of a stretch considering he hit 28 this year. .280 could be tougher but I wouldn’t rule it out.  

[oriole]

I’ll go with Kyle Stowers and DL Hall. Stowers has shown he can really hit in the minors…given a chance, I feel like he could be a very solid bat. I think Hall just showed what he’s capable of out of the pen towards the end of the year and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him get even better. It might be an interesting idea to consider him as closer next year and then revisit the idea of him in the rotation once Bautista is back.

[dystopia]

Gonna say Adley. 

[O's84]

I'll let you know after the 2024 season.

[Just Regular]

Cowser's an easy pick if you lean on the poor MLB results over the body of work.

I don't see a ton more for either Cowser or Kjerstad to really do at Norfolk, and value in discovering if they can play or not by July, assuming both are still in the organization.

[24fps]

I'm going to go with Adley as well.  He had almost 700 PA in 2023 which is crazy for a catcher IMO.  If they cut his workload back to around 550-600 PA I think it will pay off with better production.

[DirtyBird]

I hope some OH posters step up their games in 2024

[baltfan]

Kjerstad.  He mashes.  Another year and some more swing adjustments and he is going to be a beast.  I just don’t know how well he will play in the field.