Here is one breakout candidate for every American League team in the 2025 MLB season:
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.
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.
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.
