Hope springs everlasting for many baseball followers throughout spring coaching.
Yardbarker MLB writers, nevertheless, are right here to ship downers: American League gamers who’re due for a regression this season. (2024 data for every crew are in parentheses.)
AL East
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (91-71) | RHP Albert Suarez | The 35-year-old was a shock breakout star for the Orioles final season (3.70 ERA in 24 begins). However a number of metrics don’t favor a repeat efficiency for Suarez in 2025, together with a low ground-ball and strikeout rate.
BOSTON RED SOX (81-81) | Catcher Connor Wong | Wong’s .280/.333/.425 slash line with 13 house runs might be powerful to repeat in 2025. A glance past the floor explains why: He struck out nearly 5 occasions greater than he walked final season (23.4% strikeout rate versus a 5.7% walk rate).
NEW YORK YANKEES (94-68) | RHP Luke Weaver | Weaver stepped up huge time to turn into the crew’s highest-leverage reliever in 2024 (2.89 ERA in 62 appearances), however there’s a motive New York traded for former Milwaukee Brewers aid ace Devin Williams within the offseason. Weaver’s pitch velocity and strikeout numbers were solid, however he struggled to maintain the ball on the bottom and didn’t do sufficient to stop onerous contact in 2024, which is an issue contemplating Yankee Stadium’s quick nook outfield partitions.
TAMPA BAY RAYS (80-82) | RHP Zack Littell | Littell’s conversion to beginning pitcher from reliever in Tampa has largely been profitable. Nonetheless, his 3.63 ERA over 29 begins final season doesn’t seem sustainable heading into 2025. Key metrics — resembling his strikeout share, ground-ball charge and hard-hit share — are well below league average.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (74-88) | 3B Ernie Clement | Clement has a superb means to restrict strikeouts in comparison with the league common, however he’s far beneath common in stroll charge. He additionally doesn’t hit the ball notably onerous (his 85.5 mph exit velocity is below the MLB average of 89 mph), suggesting a regression in 2025. — Seth Carlson
AL West
ATHLETICS (69-93) | RHP Luis Severino | Severino resurrected his profession with the Mets in 2024, resulting in a three-year, $67M contract to take over because the A’s ace. The transfer from pitcher-friendly Citi Field to the minor league Sutter Well being Park ought to have a drastic affect on Severino in 2025.
HOUSTON ASTROS (88-73) | RHP Ronel Blanco | Blanco pitched a no-hitter in his first begin in 2024 and by no means appeared again, posting a 2.80 ERA, and his 6.1 hits per 9 innings led the majors. Nonetheless, Blanco posted a .221 batting average on balls in play against (league common is .292), indicating Blanco’s profession yr was in all probability a fluke.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS (63-99) | LHP Yusei Kikuchi | The Astros tweaked Kikuchi’s pitch mix after buying him from the Blue Jays, resulting in the very best two months of his profession. He parlayed these two months into a three-year contract price simply over $63M with the Angels, a crew that’s not recognized for getting the very best out of their gamers.
SEATTLE MARINERS (85-77) | OF Victor Robles | Robles appeared to lastly have his long-awaited breakout when he landed in Seattle after being launched by the Nationals. His .328/.393/.467 slash line was fueled by an unsustainable .388 batting average on balls in play (league common is .296). He had a mediocre hard-hit charge and common exit velocity.
TEXAS RANGERS (78-84) | Catcher Kyle Higashioka | Higashioka hit a career-best 17 homers in 2024 however will flip 35 April 20. Add in a .263 on-base share that ranked 310th of 324 gamers with not less than 250 plate appearances and Higashioka is ready up for a disappointing season. — David Hill
AL Central
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (41-121) | LHP Martin Perez | Perez had two distinct seasons in 2024, posting a 5.20 ERA and a 1.651 WHiP with the Pirates and a 3.46 ERA and a 1.212 WHiP with the Padres. The downtrodden White Sox aren’t near both of these groups.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (92-69) | OF Steven Kwan | Kwan had a depressing second half, posting a .206/.316/.302 slash line in 232 plate appearances after the All-Star break. He’s a a lot better hitter than that, however Kwan isn’t more likely to be flirting with .400 within the first half both or approaching a career-best 14 homers once more.
DETROIT TIGERS (86-76) |RHP Jack Flaherty | Lastly wholesome for the first time in three years, Flaherty confirmed the shape that made him one of many prime younger pitchers within the sport final season (13-7, 3.17 ERA). Due to points along with his well being over time (he missed time in 2021 and 2022), it’s truthful to marvel if he can replicate his success.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (86-76) | Catcher Salvador Perez | Perez turned again the clock in 2024 to publish one of many higher offensive seasons of his profession (27 HR, 104 RBI) in 2024. The Royals plan to offer him extra time at first, however he’ll flip 35 on Could 10 and has a variety of put on and tear.
MINNESOTA TWINS (82-80) | RHP Griffin Jax | Jax quietly had one of many higher performances of a reliever in 2024, posting a 2.03 ERA and a 0.873 WHiP with 95 strikeouts. He additionally allowed a .515 OPS in opposition to despite his batted ball metrics being near league common. Jax ought to nonetheless be a key a part of the bullpen, however a step again is probably going. — David Hill
