Kris Bryant celebrated a birthday last week. The NL MVP turned 25. The same age as the AL MVP, Mike Trout.
It speaks well for the game’s future that two players that young won the game’s most coveted award and arguably stand as the majors’ two best players entering 2017.
What speaks even better is just how difficult it was to come up with a top-10 list of those still 24 and under — and not because there were too few candidates.
Think of it like this: Which way would you rank just these three shortstops — Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Corey Seager? Wait, that doesn’t even include Xander Bogaerts, Addison Russell, Dansby Swanson, Trevor Story and Trea Turner. Or Manny Machado, who proved last year he still could play shortstop.
Now, add every other position. Here is my attempt:
1. Machado, Orioles (turns 25 on July 6)
A brilliant defender at third who filled in more than capably at short last year while J.J. Hardy was injured. He has shown durability the past two years after significant knee injuries. Machado had 78 extra-base hits last season, and before you say, “Yeah, but he plays at Camden Yards,” his OPS-plus was better on the road. He already might have passed the more glamorous Bryce Harper for the most desirable free agent in the anticipated class of 2018-19.
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox (turns 25 on Oct. 7)
Not long ago he was a second baseman, now he is a Gold Glove right fielder, and there is little doubt he could return to center. No one saw this level of power coming (31 homers) to go along with 26 steals, durability and a reputation as a team-oriented gamer. He was the runner-up to Trout for the AL MVP.
3. Seager, Dodgers (turns 23 on April 27)
He dispelled concerns if, at 6-foot-4, he was too big for shortstop by handling the position well. He is going to be a consistent 30-40-homer performer from the left side. Seager had a .722 OPS in 214 plate appearances vs. lefty pitching. Doesn’t sound like much, except since 1990 the only lefties 22 or younger who came up as often vs. lefty pitching and performed better were Ben Grieve, Delino Deshields and Ken Griffey Jr.
4. Harper, Nationals (turns 25 on Oct. 16)
The hardest person to place on this list because he can be ranked first or pretty much any place in the top 10. There is a combustibility to his game, positive and negative. He was a phenom even before his first major league season at age 19 in 2012, but has just one great/healthy campaign. But man, what a season in 2015. It shows what is possible for Harper. However, to be the first $400 million player (or $500 million), he does need to be more consistently brilliant.
5. Noah Syndergaard, Mets (turns 25 on Aug 29)
Does getting Syndergaard for R.A. Dickey make Jim Fregosi for Nolan Ryan go away in Mets history? Just for the sheer force with which he throws, Syndergaard would be on any list of pitchers most likely to need elbow or shoulder surgery in his near future. But he also would be on any list of those likely to throw a perfect game. With all the worry, Syndergaard did not wear down late last season, and in the wild-card game he fired seven shutout innings against Madison Bumgarner and the Giants.
6. Lindor, Indians (turns 24 on Nov. 14)
Watching him in the postseason, the name that kept coming to mind was Derek Jeter. Not in how he plays — Lindor is a switch-hitter who is better defensively now than Jeter ever was — but in how he carries himself at such a young age. Like Jeter, he exudes joy, energy, competitiveness, leadership and — most vitally — that no moment is bigger than him. Lindor is going to be one of the faces — smiling faces — of the game for the next decade.
7. Correa, Astros (turns 23 on Sept. 22)
If we have a Jeter, we need an Alex Rodriguez, right? Correa — a tall, lean, power projectable overall No. 1 pick — has been compared to A-Rod since his amateur days. He was not quite as impressive in his sophomore season as his Rookie of the Year debut in 2015 (Lindor finished second). But he has a chance to be a consistent 35-plus homer shortstop who can field the position, a cornerstone to all that the Astros do.
8. Gary Sanchez, Yankees (turns 25 on Dec. 2)
For those ready to give up on talent, remember how long it felt he was in the minors and how disappointing he was in spring training last year not to make the Yankees. Then you remember, yep, he was still just 23 last year and spent the final two months demonstrating his power bat/power arm combo.
9. Turner, Nationals (turns 24 on June 30)
His 2 ¹/₂-month cameo was as impressive as that of Sanchez. It wasn’t known if he could play center or hit for power. Check. Check. He returns to shortstop this season. How many players would you say you would pay to see just run? Washington obtained Turner and Joe Ross (turns 24 on May 21) for mainly Steve Souza, a huge steal.
10. Aaron Sanchez, Blue Jays (turns 25 on July 1)
There is not a lot of pitching on here, and it should be noted Jose Fernandez would have turned 25 on July 31. Toronto took Sanchez 34th and Syndergaard 38th overall in the 2010 draft (with the 32nd pick, the Yanks took Cito Culver). Sanchez proved he is a full-time starter last year, which gave him the nudge over Bogaerts, Russell, Story, Alex Bregman, Byron Buxton, Michael Fulmer, Rougned Odor and Alex Reyes.