Every year MLB teams have that one standout player that breaks out in a big way. So here is one breakout candidate for each team in 2025:
Baltimore Orioles – Jordan Westburg 2B/3B
Last season, a wrist injury limited Westburg to 107 games. Westburg slashed .264/.312/.481 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI in 416 at-bats.
Boston Red Sox – Ceddanne Rafaela OF
Rafaela enters 2025, coming off a successful first full season in the Majors. In 544 at-bats, Rafaela slashed .246/.274/.390 with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 23 doubles, and five triples.
New York Yankees – Luis Gil RHP
Gil missed all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2024, making 29 starts, and finished with a 3.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts in 151.2 innings.
Tampa Bay Rays – Ryan Pepiot RHP
A knee injury interrupted Pepiot’s first season in Tampa Bay, but the righty made 26 starts. He finished the season with a 3.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 142 strikeouts in 130 innings.
Toronto Blue Jays – Jeff Hoffman RHP
The veteran joins Toronto as the favorite to close out games. Last season, with Philadelphia, Hoffman produced his best season, finishing with a 2.17 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 10 saves, 21 holds, and 89 strikeouts in 66.1 innings.
Atlanta Braves – Spencer Schwellenbach RHP
Schwellenbach started 2024 in A before jumping to AA. Atlanta needed starting pitchers, and Schwellenbach received his call u,p skipping AAA. In 21 starts, Schwellenbach posted a 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts in 123.2 innings.
Miami Marlins – Xavier Edwards SS
Edwards earned the starting shortstop job after a strong 2024 season. He slashed .328/.397/.423 with one home run, 26 RBI, 31 stolen bases, and five triples in 265 at-bats. Edwards’ speed could see him finish 2025 as the league leader in stolen bases.
New York Mets – Brandon Sproat RHP
Injuries are hitting the Mets hard this Spring Training. Brandon Sproat is on the fast track to a 2025 Open Day roster spot. Last season, between A+, AA, & AAA, the righty posted a .3.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts in 116.1 innings.
Philadelphia Phillies – Andrew Painter LHP
Painter was vying for a starting rotation spot during Spring Training 2023 at 19-years-old. Unfortunately, the power lefty underwent Tommy John surgery, missing all of 2023 and 2024. He may not make the rotation out of Spring Training, but he will debut this summer. He finished the 2022 season with a 1.56 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 innings between A+, A, and AA.
Washington Nationals – Dylan Crews OF
Before his 2024 late-season call-up, Crews slashed .270/.342/.451 with 13 home runs, 68 RBI, and 25 stolen bases at AA and AAA. With the Nationals, the 2025 NL Rooking of the Year-favorite accumulated 119 at-bats, finishing with three home runs and 12 stolen bases.
Chicago White Sox – Noah Schultz LHP
Schultz is aiming for a rotation spot during Spring Training. Even if he starts the 2025 season at AAA, he will arrive in Chicago by June. The southpaw finished 2024, between A+ and AA, with a 2.24 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts in 88.1 innings.
Cleveland Guardians – Jhonkensy Noel OF
Noel started the 2024 season in the minors but received his promotion to Cleveland after slashing .295/.359/.578 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI at AAA Columbus. With Cleveland, Noel hit 13 home runs and drove in 28 runs through 179 at-bats.
Detroit Tigers – Colt Keith 2B
Keith finished 2024 with a strong rookie campaign. He slashed .260/.309/.380 with 13 home runs, 61 RBI, and seven steals in 516 at-bats.
Kansas City Royals – Vinnie Pasquantino 1B
Vinnie Pasquantino is poised for a monster season after a strong 2024 campaign. In 496 at-bats, he slashed .262/.315/.446 with 19 home runs and 97 RBI.
Minnesota Twins – Brooks Lee 2B
Before his 2024 call to Minnesota, Lee slashed .331/.391/.570 with eight home runs and 30 RBI. With Minnesota, he accumulated 172 at-bats, finishing with three home runs, 27 RBI, and three stolen bases.
Chicago Cubs – Matt Shaw 2B/3B
Shaw has his eyes set on breaking camp with Chicago. He finished 202,4 slashing .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs, 71 RBI, and 31 stolen bases between AA and AAA.
Cincinnati Reds – Matt McLain 2B
McLain missed the entire 2024 season following shoulder surgery. During his rookie 2023 season, he slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.
Milwaukee Brewers – Joey Ortiz 3B/SS
Ortiz was dealt to Milwaukee before the 2024 season. In his first full season, he slashed .239/.329/.398 with 11 home runs, 60 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 440 at-bats.
St. Louis Cardinals – Masyn Winn SS
Winn capped off his 2024 rookie season, slashing .267/.314/.416 with 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 32 doubles, and five triples. He’s primed for a giant leap in year two.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Jared Jones RHP
Paul Skenes took MLB by storm in 2024, but fellow rookie Jared Jones had a strong rookie season. Through 22 starts, the righty posted a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts in 121.2 innings.
Athletics – Jacob Wilson SS
Wilson was a late-season call-up in 2024. Between Rookie, AA, & AAA, Wilson slashed .433/.474/.668 with seven home runs, 39 RBI, and 28 doubles in 208 at-bats.
Houston Astros – Hunter Brown RHP
Brown is primed for a breakout 2025 season after improving during his second season. He finished 2024 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 179 strikeouts in 170 innings.
Los Angeles Angels – Nolan Schanuel 1B
Drafted 11th overall in 2023, Schanuel reached the Majors the same year. With little minor-league experience, the Angels’ young slugger has been forced to figure things out in the Majors. He finished 2024 slashing .251/.343/.362 with 13 home runs, 54 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 519 at-bats.
Seattle Mariners – Bryan Woo RHP
Woo reached Seattle in 2023, making 18 starts. He finished 2024, making 22 starts, and posted a 2.89 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts in 121.1 innings.
Texas Rangers – Wyatt Langford OF
Langford enters Spring Training after a modest 2024 rookie season, slashing .253/.325/.415 with 16 home runs, 74 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. All signs point to a massive leap in 2025.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Brandon Pfaadt RHP
Pfaadt enters 2025 looking to become a household name. He finished his 2024 rookie season making 32 starts, finishing with a 4.71 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts in 181.2 innings.
Colorado Rockies – Zac Veen OF
Veen projects as the next Rockies All-Star, but injuries have delayed his call to the Majors. He’s off to a strong start in Spring Training, stating his case for an Opening Day roster spot. He finished 2024 slashing .258/.346/.459 with 11 home runs, 35 RBI, and 21 stolen bases between four levels in the minors.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Yoshinobu Yamamoto RHP
A right shoulder issue limited Yamamoto to 18 starts during the 2024 season. He finished with a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 105 strikeouts in 90 innings.
San Diego Padres – Jeremiah Estrada RHP
Estrada finished a strong 2024 season in the Padres bullpen. In 62 appearances, Estrada posted a 2.95 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts in 61 innings.
San Francisco Giants – Jerar Encarnacion OF/DH
Encarnacion spent most of his career as a minor leaguer in the Marlins organization. He joined San Francisco before 2024 and finished the season slashing .352/.438/.616 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI. He earned a late-season call-up to San Francisco, hitting five home runs and driving in 19 runs in 113 at-bats.
